Donald Trump has praised the US fighter pilot who was rescued from an Iranian mountain over the weekend.
The airman was on board an F-15E Strike Eagle jet that was shot down by Iranon Friday, the first US aircraft to be downed by Iranian fire since the US and Israel launched the war at the end of February.
While a second crew member was located shortly after the crash, Sky News understands he was left stranded in rural Iran, and was rescued on Sunday.
At a news conference at the White House on Easter Monday, the US president said that both pilots were “incredibly brave” and that Iran was “not so strong like they were about a month ago”.
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Here’s what we know about the airman’s condition, the mission to rescue him, and what the president and Iran have said.
From Sunday: How the rescue of US pilot in Iran could have played out
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How did the US save the airman?
After the crash on Friday, official and semi-official Iranian news organisations reported that a regional governor had offered a bounty for the F-15E crew – around $60,000 (£45,360).
A US official told the Reuters news agency the plane was flying over Isfahan province when it was brought down, and the two airmen ejected separately.
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They said that the first pilot was rescued while the second airman – the jet’s weapons specialist, and according to Mr Trump on Truth Social a colonel – remained in Iran.
Speaking to Reuters, the US source said the American officer sprained his ankle in the crash and hid in a crevice on a hilltop.
The airman later established contact with the US military and confirmed his identity.
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What Trump didn’t mention in message about dramatic airman rescue
After this, a senior Trump administration official said the CIA had run a deception campaign earlier, hoping to confuse Tehran by planting information that US forces had already located the missing airman and were moving him before the operation took place.
An official told Reuters the US military then took additional steps, jamming electronics and bombing key roads around the location to prevent people from getting close.
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They said the aircraft eventually sent to extract the airman and rescue forces were smaller turboprop aircraft, capable of landing on small airfields and relatively light.
Mr Trump provided more details of the operation at a later briefing, revealing that US military personnel faced gunfire at “very close range” during the rescue, which involved 155 aircraft, he said.
Among the craft deployed were four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers and 13 rescue aircraft, he said.
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Iran releases footage of aircraft debris
The president told reporters the unidentified airman was hiding in mountains and kept climbing higher in order to improve the chances for a successful recovery.
He said, for the rescuers, it was like looking for “a needle in a haystack”.
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Hundreds of US forces took part in the mission and helped prevent Tehran from finding him first, he said, adding that “hundreds of people could have been killed”.
The plan was not approved by everyone, Mr Trump said, pointing to unnamed members of the military who told him “‘You just don’t do this’”.
He said he understood that, “but I decided to do it”.
During his press conference, Trump provided intricate details of the rescue over the weekend of the second airman in Iran.
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“This is a rescue that’s very historic,” he said.
Trump explained that the airman, a colonel, had landed in Iran a “significant distance away from the pilot” who had been rescued on Friday.
The second airman was “injured quite badly and stranded in an area teeming with terrorists from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – rough group – as well as besieged military, militia and local authorities.
“Despite the peril, the officer followed his training and climbed into the treacherous mountain terrain and started climbing toward a higher altitude, something they were trained to do in order to evade capture,” he said.
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The serviceman was “bleeding rather profusely,” and treated his own wounds but “contacted American forces to transmit his location” using what Trump said is a “very sophisticated beeper-type apparatus” that he said “saved his life.”
“We immediately mobilised a massive operation to retrieve him from the mountain hold-out,” Mr Trump said.
“The heroic F-15 weapons system officer had evaded capture on the ground in Iran for almost 48 hours,” he said.
“In a breathtaking show of skill and precision, lethality and force, America’s military descended on the area” before they “engaged the enemy” and “rescued the stranded officer, destroyed all threats and exited Iranian territory while taking no casualties of any kind”.
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Trump said that eventually there was a problem leaving Iran because of the “wet sand” and the “weight of the plane.”
“Then we also had all the men jumping back onto the planes, and they got pretty well bogged down. And we had a continued contingency plan which was unbelievable,” he said.
Trump said that “lighter, faster aircraft” flew in to take the Americans out of Iran with the airman. The U.S. destroyed the aircraft that were stuck in the sand, he said.
What happened during the rescue mission?
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The initial search effort encountered fierce resistance, with two Black Hawk helicopters involved in the search reportedly hit by Iranian fire but they escaped.
In a separate incident, a pilot ejected from an A-10 Warthog fighter aircraft after it was hit over Kuwait and crashed, the officials said, though the extent of crew injuries was unclear.
The conflict has killed 13 US military service members, with more than 300 wounded, the US Central Command says. No US troops have been taken prisoner by Iran.
Two MC-130 aircraft that ferried some of the roughly 100 special operations forces into rugged terrain south of Tehran suffered a mechanical failure and could not take off.
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Their commanders made a high-risk decision, ordering additional aircraft to fly into Iran to extract the group in waves.
US troops then destroyed the disabled MC-130s and four additional helicopters in Iran.
During the operation, Mr Trump was relatively quiet online, with a local reporter checking if he was at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC.
After the mission was finished though, the US president said on Truth Social: “Over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History”.
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He added that the airman was injured, but “he will be just fine”, before saying: “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!”
At an Easter event at the White House, Mr Trump said of the rescue that “normally you’re in very hostile territory, and I don’t think it gets much more hostile than (Iran) are, and they’re capable fighters”.
“You don’t mind when the enemy is weak, but that enemy is strong, not so strong like they were about a month ago, I can tell you”, he added.
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“In fact, right now they’re not too strong at all in my opinion, but we’re soon going to find out, aren’t we?”
The US president also said that “what we did yesterday is we picked up not one – we picked up two” – referring to the first pilot thought to be rescued. It’s unclear whether he misspoke.
He added: “We kept the first one quiet, and we were able to keep it quiet for about a day, which made it a lot better. But those two pilots were incredibly brave, and we thank them.”
What has Iran said?
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Iran’s state TV showed on Sunday a picture of black smoke from what it said was a destroyed American transport plane and two helicopters.
Iranian state media on Friday also said a second US plane – an A-10 aircraft – crashed after being hit by Iranian forces.
The US military has not commented on the status of that aircraft or its crew.
And on the US’s rescue efforts on Sunday, Iran said several aircraft were destroyed.
SNL star Chloe Fineman is facing growing criticism for a story about pulling down a child’s pants (Picture: Getty)
Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman is facing backlash after the resurfacing of a tale where she discussed ‘pantsing’ a six-year-old during summer camp.
The 37-year-old US comedian, who joined the SNL cast in 2019, recently took part in a Vanity Fair ‘How Well Do You Know Each Other’ interview alongside co-stars Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Ashley Padilla, Jane Wickline, and James Austin Johnson.
In a since-edited out clip from the 22-minute video, which has now resurfaced on social media, Chloe asked her fellow NBC comics if they knew which job she was once fired from (and later rehired) with a ‘bonus point’ if they could reveal why.
This led to her sharing the story of how she lost her job as a summer camp counsellor when she was 16.
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I was fired as a camp counsellor. I pantsed a boy. He would lift my shirt all the time. It was a different time.
‘He would be like: “Hey, could I have a hug?” And then I’d go to hug him and he’d lift my shirt, like a d**k.
‘And then I was like: “I’m going to get back at you.” And so we were on a hike, and I was like: “Hey, Ollie, go look over there. It’s a hawk.” He looked and then I yanked his pants down, and then I was fired.’
She joked that the six-year-old boy’s ‘little ding-a-ling was out’ as he wasn’t ‘wearing underpants’ with Padilla responding: ‘Oh, honey, I think you’re on a list somewhere.’
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Her other co-stars gasped in shock at the tale, with many covering their faces, with Fineman claiming it was ‘a different time’.
The original clip is now circulating on social media, with fans also sharing their horror at Fineman attempting to share the anecdote humorously.
She is best known for being part of the SNL cast but has also featured in several movies and TV shows (Picture: NBCUniversal Media, LLC)
‘This is such a disturbing thing to admit in an interview and omg the uncomfortable laughter among the cast mates, I feel so bad for them,’ X user Kylie wrote.
‘Can’t comprehend how any public figure in 2026 would share this story proudly and publicly, regardless of whether or not they personally think it’s an issue,’ sarahlovesnimbus added.
‘This is so much worse than I thought,’ cellularsodacan added.
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‘I am actually stunned she pulled the “it was a different time” line here,’ Jessi reflected.
This is not the first time the screenstar has shared this story. She also recounted it on the Jake Shame podcast, Therapuss, last May, which is still on YouTube in full.
She also told the same story on the Jake Shane podcast last May (Picture: 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC)
The tale is told in much the same way, with similar details.
Beyond SNL, Fineman has also starred in several major movies and TV shows, including Freakier Friday, Big Mouth, Despicable Me 4, Babylon and Dickinson.
She is set to star in the upcoming Amazon Prime sequel, Red, White and Royal Wedding.
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Metro has reached out to Chloe Fineman’s representatives and Vanity Fair for comment.
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Fans of I’m A Celebrity believe one cast member will quit the South Africa spin-off series just days in, after their debut during the launch on ITV on Monday night
22:53, 06 Apr 2026Updated 22:54, 06 Apr 2026
Viewers of I’m A Celebrity South Africa believe that one campmate will quit very soon after the launch episode.
Proceedings kicked off on Monday night on ITV1, as hosts Ant and Dec greeted the brand new cast of the spin-off series. Of course every single one of them have been here before, sort of.
They are all former stars of the original series in Australia, while some filmed in Wales during the Covid pandemic. They have all faced the trials, camp dramas and the rest before now.
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With that, one of the stars of the show made their return having quit their original series very early on. Gemma Collins made a brief debut on Monday but the last time she did the series, she left after just 72 hours.
Now, fans are predicting yet another early exit very soon on the series as it continues. Gemma is tipped “not to last” by viewers, while many are excited to see her take part.
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A fan said: “Let’s take bets on how long Gemma Collins will last!! I’ll be surprised if she makes it till the end of tomorrow nights episode.” Another agreed: “First boot hopefully, maybe 3 days again.”
A third viewer said: “I do think she may quit again, but maybe after a few days this time.” Others were just thrilled to see a glimpse of her appearance after having to wait the entire first episode, which she did not feature in much at all.
Gemma was only in the preview for the next episode. One fan said: “We watched an hour and a half to see 3 seconds of Gemma,” as another wrote: “I’m only here for Gemma and Scarlett.” A further post said: “Gemma Collins is going to save this series!”
This year’s cast includes Adam Thomas, Ashley Roberts, Scarlett Moffatt, David Haye, Beverley Callard, Seann Walsh, Sinitta and Sir Mo Farah all taking part.
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Gemma Collins, Craig Charles, Jimmy Bullard and Harry Redknapp complete the line-up. Coronation Street star Beverley jumped at the chance to say yes after appearing in the Welsh version during the pandemic.
She confessed: “I was really flattered when I got the call. In fact, I was gobsmacked! But I said ‘yes’ because Wales was so different. We didn’t get to experience the Australian jungle and the bedroom was minus one. To be part of the South Africa jungle is going to be a very different experience.”
This year, bosses have changed the format after fan complaints about the lack of viewer involvement, with everything pre-recorded in the last version. This time there will be a live final filmed in London.
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The final will take place on Friday April 24th, three weeks after the show begins for a live final – with plenty of drama and twists. The public will get to choose who wins in a live episode, while the first series saw Myleene Klass crowned as the champion, and show Legend.
Elizabeth Deakin, 92, has been reported missing from Aberdeen.
There are growing concerns for the welfare of a pensioner who suffers from dementia after she vanished this afternoon. Elizabeth Deakin has been reported missing from Aberdeen.
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The 92-year-old was last seen on King Street in the city at around 12.30pm on Monday, April 6. Officers are concerned for her welfare and they are appealing for information. Elizabeth is described as 4ft 2in, of medium build, with grey hair.
When last seen she was wearing a cream coat, black trousers, and a brown hat. She was also carrying a black handbag and using a black and dark green walking frame.
Inspector Kim Wilkie said: “Extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace Elizabeth. She is vulnerable and has dementia, so may appear confused or disorientated.
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“I’m asking for the public’s help. Have you seen Elizabeth, or someone matching her description, since around lunchtime this afternoon? Do you have private CCTV or dash-cam footage from the area which may have captured her movements and could help us trace her movements? If you have any information, please come forward.”
Anyone who can help is urged to call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 1907 of April 6.
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The Cheesecake Guy founded by Matt Kaplan, who is originally from The Big Apple, is situated on the Shambles, and is known for (you guessed it), “authentic” New York cheesecakes that are a “heavenly”.
Visitors said they have “never tasted a cheesecake as good as this” when stopping by the sweet treat paradise.
On The Cheesecake Guy website, Matt reveals: “I moved to York in 2014 from West Palm Beach, Florida.
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“My wife grew up in Yorkshire and I loved it when I first visited, so much we decided to live here.
“In less than a year we had packed everything up, and were moving here, dogs and all!
“I was born in New York so living in ‘Olde’ York seems fitting!”
He adds: “Baking is in my blood, my grandfather owned his own bakery, Sherry’s, on 110th and Broadway in New York in the 1960s and 1970s, so it might not be a surprise to my grandmother that this is what I love to do.
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“I can always remember him bringing home baker’s boxes at the end of each day!
“All my cheesecakes are baked – in my opinion the only way to make a cheesecake!”
Just some of the current cheesecake flavours available include vanilla, Biscoff, chocolate orange, Galaxy caramel, lemon, Kinder Bueno, peanut butter, banana, and so many more.
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The Cheesecake Guy offers ‘a taste of New York in Old York’
On social media, Yorkshire-List praised The Cheesecake Guy for offering “authentic New York treats”.
In a video, the local food and travel expert commented: “Fancy a taste of New York in Old York? You’ll find The Cheesecake Guy on York’s famous Shambles and they’re whipping up authentic New York treats day in, day out.
“The owner was born and bred in New York and his family ran a popular New York bakery in the 60s, so you’re getting a truly authentic experience.
“Their baked cheesecakes are the star of the show with plenty of delicious flavours, from Biscoff to cookies and cream, and strawberry.
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“The pistachio had to be our favourite.”
It continued: “As for the décor, it’s giving New York coffee shop and we loved all the quirky little wall stickers.
“If you’re in York, The Cheesecake Guy is definitely worth a visit.”
Matt shares that he loves to make new flavours on request and can make many of the flavours gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan – just email to find out more.
Other customers seem to agree with the Yorkshire-List as over on Tripadvisor, The Cheesecake Guy has a “very good” 4.7/5 rating.
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This customer commented: “Met the cheesecake guy himself today Matt.
“Incredibly nice man and the cheesecake was first class best I’ve had.
Have you ever had a New York cheesecake? (Image: Tripadvisor)
“Didn’t even get chance to snap it before I’d eaten half of it. Recommend the pistachio. Will be back.”
Another recent guest posted: “A little taste of heaven! We ordered a selection of the moni cheesecakes and they were the perfect little treat!
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“Each one was packed with mouthwatering sweetness and full of flavour bit not too much going on. Perfectly enjoyable.”
Someone else put: “Just the best cheesecake ever in the quirkiest street in York. Amazing flavours, and wonderful staff. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in York.”
Meanwhile, this profile commented: “Had the baklava cheesecake. Never tasted a cheesecake as good as this.
“This place must be visited if you want something exceptional whilst in York.”
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Have you been to The Cheesecake Guy in York? Let us know what your favourite cheesecake flavours are.
Britain’s Katie Boulter suffered a first-round defeat to Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz Open.
Boulter, 29, went down 7-6 7-6 on clay to world number 87 Ruse, who will now face Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska or American Ann Li in the last 16.
Boulter lost her first two service games in the opening set but twice broke before she was edged out in a tie-break.
The British number three broke Ruse’s serve for a third time to take an early advantage in the second set but her opponent immediately responded in a see-saw encounter.
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Boulter staved off match point at 6-5 down to force another tie-break, but Ruse claimed two mini breaks to move 5-2 ahead before serving out to seal her win.
World number 62 Boulter won the fourth WTA Tour title of her career at the Ostrava Open in February and reached the last eight at the Merida Open in Mexico.
However, she did not make it past the second and third rounds respectively at Indian Wells and the Miami Open prior to this loss.
ZANJAN, Iran (AP) — A black banner hangs over the border crossing and portraits of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stare down, promising vengeance against the United States and Israel.
But on the 12-hour drive south to the capital, Tehran, daily life continued, with only occasional signs of the ongoing war, including a Shiite religious center that officials say was damaged by a recent airstrike.
Associated Press reporters made the journey on Saturday after crossing into Iran from Turkey. They gained a glimpse of the country at the center of a regional war that has jolted the world economy and shows no sign of ending five weeks after Khamenei was killed in the opening U.S. and Israeli salvo.
The Associated Press has been granted permission by the Iranian government to send an additional team into the country for a brief reporting trip. AP already operates in Iran. The visiting team must be accompanied by a media assistant from a government-affiliated company. AP retains full editorial control of its content.
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Pedestrians walk by a destroyed building within the Grand Hosseiniyeh, with the mosque visible in the background, which officials at the site say was hit by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes Tuesday, in Zanjan, Iran, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Pedestrians walk by a destroyed building within the Grand Hosseiniyeh, with the mosque visible in the background, which officials at the site say was hit by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes Tuesday, in Zanjan, Iran, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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A religious center damaged by an airstrike
The first major sign of the war’s destruction came in the northwestern city of Zanjan, about six hours’ drive from the border.
Iranian officials say an airstrike hit a religious community center, known as a husseiniyah, killing two people and destroying a clinic and a library. Other parts of the compound, some of which is centuries old, suffered damage, including its golden dome.
When asked about the strike, the Israeli military said it had hit “a military headquarters,” and that it tries to avoid harming civilian facilities, without elaborating.
“It has hurt me a lot and distressed me a lot,” said Somayeh Shojaei, a local resident who has attended religious and cultural events at the center. “With these airstrikes, (the U.S. and Israel) are showing their malicious intent to the whole world,” she said.
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The strike killed the library’s caretaker and a volunteer with the Iranian Red Crescent first responders, according to Jaafar Mohammadi, the provincial director of cultural and Islamic guidance.
He said poor people had received free treatment at the clinic and students had made use of the library that housed more than 35,000 books, including antique manuscripts.
He said he did not know why the complex was targeted.
“Iran wanted to negotiate for peace with (U.S. President Donald) Trump, but Trump responded with war,” Mohammadi said. “He started the war, but we will definitely be the victorious side.”
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A picture of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hangs on the side of the road in the outskirts of Tehran, Iran, early Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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A picture of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hangs on the side of the road in the outskirts of Tehran, Iran, early Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Life goes on in much of Iran despite fear and uncertainty
The U.S. and Israel have carried out thousands of strikes across the country, and Trump has threatened to bomb Iran “ back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.” Over the weekend, he reiterated a Monday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil and gas.
Iran’s surviving leaders have remained defiant and in control, rejecting what they say are unreasonable U.S. peace proposals. Israel has given no indication it plans to let up on its strikes, and has called on Iranians to overthrow their leaders.
Even as the war generates global turmoil — and fear and anxiety within Iran — daily life goes on.
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In city after city on the road to Tehran, AP reporters saw normal traffic, businesses open and people walking the streets. A restaurant served Iranian delicacies like grilled lamb and rice, barley soup and saffron drinks as R.E.M.’s “Losing my religion” played on loudspeakers.
Many women could be seen going about their day without wearing the theocracy’s mandatory head covering, the enforcement of which has eased in recent years.
The team passed through two checkpoints on the approach to Tehran without being stopped.
Destroyed government buildings and police stations in Tehran
The city was eerily quiet after midnight. There had been heavy airstrikes on the mountains overlooking the capital the previous night.
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Tehran is on the front lines, having seen wave after wave of strikes that the U.S. and Israel say are aimed at the military and internal security forces. Authorities in Iran say over 1,900 people have been killed. It’s unclear how many were soldiers or civilians.
The AP reporters saw several government buildings and police stations that had been destroyed. They passed a number of checkpoints operated by plainclothes Basij, an internal security force, and uniformed members of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
They were stopped once and asked to open the car and show press cards before being waved onward.
Fuel is heavily subsidized, such that a gallon (4 liters) of gasoline costs around 15 U.S. cents. But people are only allowed to purchase around 5 gallons (20 liters) at a time. There were no signs of gas lines.
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Back in Zanjan, Mohamoud Maasoumi, a retired soldier, said the conflict with the U.S. — “the world’s arrogance” — goes back to a 1953 CIA-backed coup that is seared into the minds of many Iranians. He expressed hope that Iran’s leaders would defend the country.
“The enemy sees that we are not ever succumbing,” he said.
___
Associated Press writer Sam Metz in Ramallah, West Bank, contributed.
ITV experienced coverage issues this morning (Picture: Timon Schneider/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
ITV viewers were left baffled and increasingly anxious on Monday evening after the broadcaster suffered a widespread outage.
To make matters worse, the outage happened just hours before the highly anticipated launch of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! South Africa.
The disruption began at around 6:30pm, with multiple regions across the UK reporting issues ranging from missing news bulletins to silent broadcasts and frozen logos.
Instead of the usual evening programming, some viewers were met with blank screens, looping idents, or regional branding cards lingering far longer than intended.
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One confused viewer wrote on X: ‘What’s happened to ITV? They’re broadcasting a floating logo for ITV Westcountry instead of the evening news.’
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Others described similarly surreal experiences, with one saying: ‘Interesting night on @ITV no national news, just the network logo and for those of us watching @ITVWales complete silence, utterly bizarre.’
Another user shared footage of an automated apology message, noting their feed had briefly cut out before returning: ‘Same region but mine went for 60 seconds max. Plus an apology for “some of you”.’
One post wrote: ‘Multiple ITV1 regions are being affected by what appears to be a major fault… the regional news and national news has been largely blacked out in some parts of the country.’
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The outage also caused knock-on scheduling issues, with programmes starting late or being partially cut.
One viewer joked: ‘Granada was boring too, network ITV logo then just stuck on end card for 20 minutes and cut in The Chase 2 mins late or something.’
As the outage persisted, attention quickly turned to the 9pm premiere of the all-stars edition of I’m A Celebrity, with many hoping the issue would be resolved in time.
‘Yeah wtf is going on. Hope it comes back on for I’m a Celeb,’ one worried fan posted.
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Some viewers were worried it might effect I’m a Celeb (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
Many users shared imaged of the logos that came up in their regions during the outage (Picture: X)
The new series, titled I’m A Celebrity South Africa, sees returning campmates heading into the South African wilderness in a bid to be crowned the ‘Legend of the Jungle’, following in the footsteps of 2023 winner Myleene Klass.
Hosted once again by Ant and Dec, the pre-recorded series promises even tougher trials than its Australian counterpart, with early teasers hinting at heightened stakes, shocking moments, and plenty of stomach-churning challenges.
Luckily, ITV seems to be back up and running now, with fans crossing their fingers that it’ll stay that way for the premiere.
Metro has contacted ITV reps for comment.
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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes is hoping for a major summer overhaul at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)
Paul Scholes has encouraged Manchester United to completely overhaul their first-team squad in the summer, naming eight players he would strongly consider offloading if he was in charge of the club.
United have risen to third place in the Premier League table following a remarkable resurgence under interim head coach Michael Carrick in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.
Without the distraction of any cup competition during their run-in, the Red Devils appear well-positioned to secure Champions League qualification for the first time since their group-stage exit in 2023.
Given United sit seven points better off than sixth-placed Chelsea with seven matches remaining, it would require an almighty collapse for Carrick’s men to miss out on Europe’s premier club competition.
Senne Lammens was also brought in from Royal Antwerp for a fee of around £18million and has provided an assured presence between the sticks which was so badly lacking when Andre Onana was number one.
But attentions are beginning to turn to the transfer market once again, with United’s hierarchy ready to release yet more funds while identifying central midfield as a key area of focus.
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The Red Devils have moved up to third since Carrick replaced Amorim (Picture: Getty)
United return to action at home to bitter rivals Leeds next Monday (Picture: Getty)
Casemiro confirmed in January that this season would be his last at the Theatre of Dreams and several players will be expected to follow the Brazilian out the exit door when the transfer window opens for business.
On the latest The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes discussed potential ins and outs while playing a game of ‘Keep or Sell?’ with former United team-mate Nicky Butt.
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The legendary ex-United and England midfielder pulled no punches with his answers, going into some detail about which squad members he thinks should be safe – and those who should be on the chopping block.
If it were up to Scholes, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee would all in the frame to leave along with Casemiro.
Keep or Sell? United’s goalkeeper and centre-backs
Senne Lammens
Scholes: ‘Keep.’
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MatthijsDe Ligt
Scholes: ‘I think it’d be between him and Harry Maguire who you’d keep, I think you’d keep just one of them. If he [De Ligt] was fit, I’d probably just go for him.’
Harry Maguire
Scholes: ‘Look, I think he’s been really good and he’s brought himself back from the dead really. I think he’s been sensational with what he’s done, I’m so so pleased for him, but I’m thinking about a Manchester United team you want to win the league and the Champions League and that’s where United should be aiming. I’m not sure you’d do that with Maguire, unless you’ve got someone like a Rio [Ferdinand] next to him then possibly, yeah.
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‘It’s Manchester United, you’ve got to be talking about winning the Premier League. If it’s one of four, you’d probably take him but I’d have De Ligt in that as one of four. I think they’re both quite similar but De Ligt is a little bit younger so that’s on his side, he’s a little bit quicker, so I’d probably just go for De Ligt.’
Maguire is enjoying his time under Carrick (Picture: Getty)
LisandroMartinez
Scholes: ‘Do you know what? After, publicly we got a bit of s*** [for their recent comments about Martinez], in all seriousness, when he was playing I thought he was really good. I do, I genuinely think he was really good. When I’m talking about one of four, you think about Maguire and De Ligt with a Martinez… I don’t think he suits them. I think they need somebody more dominant, more quick, more strong, someone who just takes the ball of centre-forwards, “Get out my way!”, Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand.
‘The one thing I like about him is he’s got a great left foot, he plays really good, but are you winning the Premier League, the Champions League with him as your centre-half? Again, I think every centre-half they’ve got, they need a better one next to them.
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‘I’d probably just keep him.’
LenyYoro
Scholes: ‘I think he’s struggled, me. I think there’s something in there, I think he needs a bit of time, but if you had to make a choice now, I’d probably sell him.’
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Keep or Sell? United’s full-backs
DiogoDalot
Scholes: ‘Just keep. He’s a squad player for me.’
NoussairMazraoui
Scholes: ‘Sell. I don’t know where he fits in. He’s been like a right-sided centre-half and they don’t play with three centre-halves anymore. if there’s three centre-halves then you’d probably have him as one of five or six but I think it’s probably time to let him go now.’
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Scholes would sell Mazraoui this summer (Picture: Getty)
Patrick Dorgu
Scholes: ‘They brought him in as a wing-back and he’s not really played much there. I’d probably sell. I’m not sure what position he is. Again, if you keep him then he’s just a squad player.’
Luke Shaw
Scholes: ‘When he was playing consistently, I don’t think there was a better left-back in the world, not just Europe. But if you’re asking me now, and he’s done alright appearance-wise this year, but I’d sell him. He doesn’t play enough games.’
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Scholes is expecting Ugarte to make way in the summer (Picture: Getty)
Keep or Sell? United’s midfielders
MasonMount
Scholes: ‘I’d probably sell him and I like him, he’s a great footballer. But he’s never going to play in front of Bruno Fernandes. I’m not sure what other position he could play and he doesn’t play enough games.’
Bruno Fernandes
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Scholes: ‘Talk about player of the year, in a team that, in the first half of the season were terrible, he could be that player. Keep him.’
Casemiro has confirmed he will leave Old Trafford this summer (Picture: Getty)
Scholes: ‘Yeah, I think it’s right [he’s going]. I think he’s turned his fortunes around, he’s been very good, but United need strengthening in that position massively.’
ManuelUgarte
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Scholes: ‘I think he’ll go.’
KobbieMainoo
Scholes: ‘Keep.’
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Scholes won 11 league titles with Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
Keep or Sell? United’s attackers
Matheus Cunha
Scholes: ‘Keep.’
JoshuaZirkzee
Scholes: ‘Sell.’
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Scholes thinks United should cut their losses on Zirkzee (Picture: Getty)
AmadDiallo
Scholes: ‘Keep.’
Bryan Mbeumo
Scholes: ‘Keep.’
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BenjaminSesko
Scholes: ‘Keep. I like him, me, I think he’s alright.’
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United have a week remaining before they return to action at home to bitter rivals Leeds in the Premier League.
The Red Devils haven’t played since dropping points in a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on March 2020 and will spend the coming days putting in the hard yards at an intensive training camp in Dublin.
Carrick has named a 25-man party for the trip to the Republic of Ireland, with Martinez and Dorgu both included following injury layoffs.
Dalot and Tom Heaton miss out due to illness, while De Ligt is still yet to return following a back injury he sustained in November.
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After facing Leeds, Champions League -chasing United lock horns with Chelsea, Brentford, Liverpool, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, before travelling to Brighton on the final day of the season.
Will Man Utd secure Champions League qualification?
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Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors, in Murton, took Gold for regenerative tourism and Silver in the accessible and inclusive category at the North East Tourism Awards.
Its 55-acre parkland — transformed from reclaimed land — now supports woodland, wetlands and wildflower meadows, along with the North’s first Pollinator Parks Garden, which promotes biodiversity and visitor wellbeing.
Partnerships with Climate Action North have helped deliver wellbeing walks, biodiversity surveys and educational events, while local involvement remains central through artisan markets, school projects and community clean-ups.
Sustainability efforts include on-site solar energy generation, water-saving technologies and refill stations aimed at cutting single-use plastics.
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Dalton Park claimed a double win at the North East Tourism Awards (Image: Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors)
Last year, more than 193,000 kWh of renewable energy was produced on site, saving over 47 tonnes of CO₂.
A solar-powered e-bike charging hub has also been introduced to encourage greener travel, as part of a drive towards carbon neutrality by 2050.
Accessibility remains a priority, supported by collaboration with the North East Autism Society.
The introduction of ‘quiet mornings’ and sensory-friendly resources has created a more welcoming experience for visitors.
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Sales during these quieter hours have increased by more than five per cent year-on-year, reflecting rising demand for inclusive shopping environments.
Centre manager Richard Kaye said: “Winning Gold for regenerative tourism and Silver for accessible and inclusive is a fantastic achievement. It highlights our commitment to creating a destination that’s both environmentally responsible and genuinely inclusive.”
The centre, owned by Patron Capital and managed by Global Mutual, is home to more than 65 premium and high street brands, combining strong retail performance with an ongoing focus on sustainability and accessibility leadership.
The documents, spanning nearly 700 years, have been digitised through a partnership between the University of York and Ancestry, and include Bishops’ Transcripts along with Wills from the Prerogative and Exchequer Courts of York, held at the university’s Borthwick Institute for Archives.
Gary Brannan, keeper of archives and research collections at the Borthwick Institute, said: “People have a huge desire to trace their roots, and the discoveries they make can be intensely personal and profoundly moving.
“Individuals living around the world are always rightly proud to discover they have roots in Yorkshire.
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“These records are quite unique as they are incredibly well kept and cover a long time span in a community that is always growing and changing.”
Covering the years 1389 to 1858, the collection reveals stories of ordinary lives and personal tragedy, from a 17th-century mother’s final moments to communities affected by plague and shipwreck.
Researchers can now access the 1613 will of Ann Stackhouse, who gave her final wishes to a midwife while dying in childbirth.
The records are freely available onsite at the Borthwick Institute and by subscription through Ancestry.co.uk.
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