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John Swinney ‘blagging’ SNP supporters on independence as ‘he knows he’s not going to win a majority’

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Daily Record

Anas Sarwar said the next five years had to be focused on “fixing the SNP’s mess” and not focusing on the constitutional debate.

Anas Sarwar has accused John Swinney of “blagging his own supporters” over claims the SNP can win a majority of MSPs at May’s election and in turn secure a second referendum on independence.

Speaking at the launch of the Scottish Labour manifesto in Edinburgh today, Sarwar made a direct pitch to Scots who previously voted Yes to ending the union in 2014.

With three weeks until polling day and the SNP on course to another five-year term, the Labour leader said: “After almost 20 years, it is time to change the government. This is the first real opportunity in a generation to do that. An opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

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“And to everyone here or watching at home, my message is this – It’s not about how you voted in the past. It’s not about whether you have voted Labour before. It’s not about what side of the past arguments you were on.

“It’s about bringing our country together and making it better right now.”

Sarwar was speaking to audience of Labour activists and candidates at the University of Edinburgh where he insisted their party could still take power at Holyrood next month despite trailing the Nationalists in the polls.

He insisted fixing the country’s crumbling public services had to take priority over the SNP’s ongoing insistence that it was on the brink of ending the Union.

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Swinney has argued he would have a mandate for an IndyRef2 if his party can win 65 or more MSPs in May – a position which was yesterday shot down by Wes Streeting, the UK Health Secretary.

READ MORE: Millionaire Malcolm Offord branded a ‘chancer’ as party leaders blast Reform UK chief over immigrationREAD MORE: Inflation-busting Scottish Water bills will be lowered if Labour wins power, Anas Sarwar pledges

Sarwar said: “I’m being direct and honest with people in this election campaign about what my view is – I don’t support independence, I don’t support a referendum.

“But I’m not asking anyone to change their mind on independence. What I’m saying is, this election is not about whether the SNP get a majority or not – it’s about whether the SNP stay in power.

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“The next Parliament has to be about bringing our country together, to make it better right now. And if in the future, there’s a stronger Scotland, and it decides a different kind of destination, so be it. But the next five years is about fixing the SNP’s mess, and building that better future.

Sarwar added: “John Swinney knows he’s not going to win a majority. He’s blagging his own supporters. And the reason why he’s doing it, is he knows every minute he spends talking about that, is a minute he doesn’t have to talk about his record on the NHS or schools. And frankly, I think people will see right through it.”

Streeting, a senior Labour minister, yesterday ruled out an IndyRef2 even if the SNP won a majority.

“We are not going to introduce chaos into the UK by having an independence referendum, absolutely not,” he said.

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Angus Robertson, SNP campaign director, said: “Today showed that Labour have a complete lack of ideas and no vision for Scotland’s future. Anas Sarwar has had five years to develop this manifesto and he has come up with nothing.

“We’ve heard it all before from Labour – but we know exactly what we get with them.

“Broken promise after broken promise – energy bills up, Grangemouth closed and the Winter Fuel Payment debacle.

“We already have one disastrous Labour government and we don’t need another one. The SNP is the only party with a positive vision for Scotland and a serious plan for government.”

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NI mum says ‘do your research’ after claiming fat jabs turned tongue black

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Belfast Live

“I would rather give birth to five kids at the same time than go through with the pain again”

A Northern Ireland woman claims weight loss injections turned her tongue jet black – and left her needing her gallbladder removed.

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Sarah-Jayne Crawford, 32, started taking Wegovy in August 2024 after reaching 19 stone 9 lbs, a size 20. The mum-of-one was hoping to shed a few pounds before her wedding day in November, 2025 and paid £199 through an online pharmacy for a month’s supply of the jabs with a 0.25mg dosage.

But 12 weeks – and another £350 later – after increasing to 1 mg, things took a worrying turn when Sarah began suffering “sharp pains” in her upper stomach along with frequent bouts of vomiting, before waking up one morning in December to find her tongue had turned jet black.

The strange symptom left her unable to eat spicy foods – including peppers and onions – alongside severe mouth pain and foul “egg-smelling” sulphur burps.

Fearing the worst, she took herself to A&E at Antrim Area Hospital, where CT and MRI scans revealed “multiple” gallstones blocking her bile duct, as well diverticulitis – an inflammation of irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine – and she stopped taking the jabs completely.

In February 2025, she underwent a cholecystectomy to remove the organ entirely – after the gall stones were discovered

Now almost recovered and off the jabs, Sarah – who weighs 18st 8lbs – is still baffled by the bizarre black tongue symptom, and is speaking out to warn others about the potential risks of weight-loss injections.

Sarah, a personal secretary for the NHS, from Antrim, Northern Ireland, said: “Wegovy was my last resort. I know a lot of people who are on the jabs and it worked like a dream for them.

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“I had been battling my weight for what felt like forever and I was dying to slim before my wedding – but dieting, exercising and starving myself never worked.

“Before, I had heard stories about the dangers and my friend even joked about gallstones. But when the pain left me unable to leave my bed I knew something was up.

“The black tongue seemed like a cherry on top and a warning of what was to come. Never did I think this would happen to me.”

Sarah had “always struggled” with weight her entire life.

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But it wasn’t until she was proposed to by her partner, Curtis, 30, a mechanic in September 2022 that it prompted her to drop a few sizes.

Knowing “traditional methods never worked” for her, Sarah paid £199 through an online pharmacy for two-months supply of Wegovy at 0.25mg dosage.

“At the start, everything seemed fine,” she said.

“My appetite slowly disappeared and I felt great for the wedding. But I wasn’t noticing a huge amount of change.”

Over the following weeks, Sarah paid a further £350 on Wegovy and eventually upped her dose to 1mg. But after 12 weeks on the jabs, she started experiencing “episodes of intense pain” in her upper stomach and “bouts of vomiting.”

The stinging had quickly progressed to an “excruciating” trapped wind sensation and she was left bed bound.

And within a 24-hour period, the mum was shocked to discover that her tongue had turned black – and she was left unable to eat spicy foods.

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“It all happened so quickly,” Sarah said.

“It went from really sharp pains that were enough to leave me bed bound. To having sulphur burps, that smelt of egg, and a black tongue. It was terrible.

“I have a child, so it was very difficult to take time off work. But the pain was so unbearable I couldn’t walk.

“I would rather give birth to five kids at the same time than go through with the pain again.”

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According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, semaglutide (the active agent in Wegovy which boosts glucose control and weight loss) is known to cause dry mouth, halitosis (bad breath) and sulphur-smelling burps from slowed digestion – and can reportedly contribute to a black-coated tongue.

Concerned, Sarah immediately stopped taking the jabs and went to A&E at Antrim Area Hospital where an emergency MRI and CT scan revealed she had multiple gallstones blocking her bile duct – leaving her at risk of pancreatitis.

She was booked in for a total cholecystectomy – a procedure to remove the gallbladder – on February 10, 2025, and her surgeon encouraged her to stay off Wegovy so she could go under the anaesthetic.

“By this point, I was 18 stone and had hardly lost any weight,” she said.

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“The procedure was about an hour and I cracked on with the recovery. I’m slowly transitioning back to normal and eating more food now – but I’m still far from normal.”

Over a year later, Sarah has married and now weighs 18 stone 8lbs. Since coming off the jabs back in December 2024 her tongue has regained its colour.

She credits the majority of her weight loss to being ill rather than the jabs themselves – and is still unsure how the Wegovy caused her tongue to turn black as no doctors could explain.

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“I did my research and thought I’d be OK,” she said.

“But it was the complete opposite. It’s not worth it. Weight loss jabs are a temporary fix.

“I’m proof that anything can happen once you inject yourself and I have now changed my mindset. Please do you research before you commit – I can’t stress enough how much women are putting themselves at risk.”

A spokesperson from Novo Nordisk, a Wegovy manufacturer, said: “Patient safety is of the utmost importance to us at Novo Nordisk.

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“To ensure healthcare professionals have a detailed understanding of our medicine’s safety profile, the adverse reactions we have observed in clinical trials are detailed in our medicine’s Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC).

“In the registrational trials for this medicine, cholelithiasis (acute gallstone disease) was reported in 1.6% of patients and led to cholecystitis in 0.6% of people living with obesity treated with semaglutide 2.4 mg.

“For this reason, acute gallstone disease (cholelithiasis) is listed as a “common” potential adverse reaction for Wegovy (semaglutide injection) in the product’s UK SmPC and should be considered when patients are being evaluated for this medicine.

“As part of this work we also monitor reports of adverse drug reactions through routine pharmacovigilance. If you know of someone who might be experiencing side effects from any medicine, we would advise you to report it to your healthcare provider, and via the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.”

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Huge flames rip through Valleys house and spread to car as inferno lights up street

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Wales Online

A group of men travelled from Weston-super-Mare to Ferndale and targeted the house over a drug debt

Four men jailed after arson attack

Shocking video has emerged showing the moment a devastating blaze ripped through a home in Ferndale after men poured petrol through a pensioner’s letterbox and window in the middle of the night.

Grandmother Carol Ford’s home was ruined after it was targeted in an arson attack over an unpaid drug debt.

In the video released by South Wales Police huge flames can be seen coming out of windows at the front of the property and a car parked opposite the home.

Officers can be heard knocking on doors in Protheroe Street in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, to evacuate the street as they spoke about how it was going to be a “large evacuation process” and asked who lived in the neighbouring houses.

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On Friday, April 10, four men were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court over the attack which completed destroyed Ms Ford’s home of more than 60 years, gutted three cars, and caused considerable damage to the neighbouring homes. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Alfie Wheeler, 19, Auryn Gustur, 19, Connor Pitt, 24, Lewis Manito, 33, all travelled from Weston-super-Mare to the street and targeted the house over a £137,000 drug debt Ms Ford’s grandsons Matthew and Gavin Ford owed.

Pitt, Gustur, and Wheeler were being sentenced after having pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life while Manito pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and perverting the course of justice by disposing of the vehicle he drove.

On July 27, 2025, the four men travelled from the seaside town in two vehicles. Manito drove Pitt while Gustur and Wheeler were driven by Wheeler’s partner Storm Truman. The court heard how she was being kept in the dark about the reason for the journey and was acquitted following a trial of a charge of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The men met up and Pitt left Manito’s vehicle with a petrol can before the three were driven to the property by Truman while Manito stayed in the area for support before disposing of his van.

In the early hours of July 28 the balaclava-clad men poured one petrol canister through the letterbox and a second through a window they had smashed.

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Bodyworn footage from the incident showed police officers arriving at the scene at around 1.30am and rapidly evacuating nearby properties.

Firefighters can then be seen tackling the fire which filled the entire residential street with thick black smoke.

During the sentencing the court heard how Ms Ford luckily managed to flee her home just in time and how the fire service had to battle hard to save neighbouring properties.

In the 82-year-old pensioner’s victim impact statement the court heard how her only possession which survived the fire was her set of false teeth and she said money could never replace the memories she had lost through the devastating blaze.

Judge Paul Hobson told the defendants: “Your actions devastated the street and the people who lived there.”

The police footage also showed the four men being pulled over by police and arrested.

Pitt, of Canterbury Close in Weston-super-Mare, was handed an overall sentence of 18 years comprising 13 years in prison and an additional five-year licence period. Gustur, of Russell Avenue in Weston-super-Mare, was sentenced to 15 and a half years overall made up of a 10-and-a-half-year custodial term and five years on licence.

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Wheeler, of Hosegood Drive in Weston-super-Mare, was sentenced to 13 years in total with eight years in custody and a five-year extended licence. Manito, of no fixed abode in Bridgend, was sentenced to nine years in prison.

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Iran-US war latest: Trump insists Tehran wants to make a deal as US blockade in Strait of Hormuz begins

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Iran-US war latest: Trump insists Tehran wants to make a deal as US blockade in Strait of Hormuz begins

What is the ‘Gate of Tears’? Key shipping route that could be attacked by Houthis and disrupt global economy

Daniel Haygarth13 April 2026 18:45

Tankers race to leave Hormuz ahead of blockade as US warns ships face ‘diversion and capture’

Tankers race to leave Hormuz ahead of blockade as US warns ships face ‘diversion and capture’

Dan Haygarth13 April 2026 18:30

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IEA is ready to further tap global oil reserves if needed, chief says

The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said ⁠on Monday he hopes another oil stockpile release is not needed but “we stand ready to act” if the energy shock resulting from the war with Iran ⁠requires it.

The 32-member ​IEA agreed ⁠last month to release 400 million barrels of oil from reserves, the largest ⁠coordinated release ever, in a bid to ​calm ⁠oil markets.

The US, ‌the world’s largest oil and gas producer, agreed to release 172 million barrels from its Strategic ‌Petroleum Reserve.

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“I hope, very much ‌hope, we don’t need to do it but if it is needed we are ready to act,” ⁠Birol said. Birol reiterated at an Atlantic Council event that the war has resulted in the worst global energy disruption ever and said that more than 80 oil and gas facilities including production, terminals and refineries across the Middle East ‌have been damaged by war with Iran.

Benchmark oil prices are trading near $100 ‌a barrel. Due to ⁠the vast extent of the production shut-ins ⁠and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the oil ‌releases are “not a ​solution,” Birol said, “it’s just ‌reducing the pain.”

Dan Haygarth13 April 2026 18:29

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Trump’s blockade threatens piracy and risks outright war against China

Trump’s threats to the Strait of Hormuz will make America a pirate nation and risk conflict with China, making Beijing seem like the grown-ups, explains world affairs editor Sam Kiley.

Dan Haygarth13 April 2026 18:14

Trump claims offensive Jesus meme was him ‘as a doctor’ healing the sick

Trump claims offensive Jesus meme was him ‘as a doctor’ healing the sick

Dan Haygarth13 April 2026 18:05

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Trump: ‘We may stop by Cuba after we’re finished with Iran’

Donald Trump speaks next to Sharon Simmons after receiving a McDonald’s order via DoorDash, which she delivered to him in front of the Oval Office at the White House in Washington (Reuters)

Donald Trump ⁠that ​the ⁠US ‌may “stop by” ‌Cuba after ‌its current ⁠focus on tensions with ‌Iran ​concludes.

Dan Haygarth13 April 2026 18:02

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Trump doubles down on criticism of Pope

Donald Trump said ⁠on Monday that ⁠Pope ​Leo ⁠XIV was ⁠wrong ​on issues ⁠of ‌law and order, continuing his criticism with the pontiff over crime, policing and views on US war ‌with ​Iran.

He earlier branded Pope Leo XIV as “weak” on crime and “terrible” on foreign policy, in a late-night Truth Social blitz which also saw him uploading an AI-generated image of himself dressed as Jesus, which has now been deleted.

Daniel Haygarth13 April 2026 18:01

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Trump deletes post depicting him as Jesus Christ

A picture depicting Donald Trump as Jesus Christ has been deleted from the president’s Truth Social account after a wave of backlash from religious right figures accusing him of blasphemy.

The image, posted to his account after he delivered a screed against Pope Leo XIV, depicts the president dressed in a white robe with a glowing hand on the forehead of a man in a hospital bed.

Dan Haygarth13 April 2026 17:56

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Trump claims 34 ships went through Strait of Hormuz yesterday

In another post on Truth Social, the US president said: “34 Ships went through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, which is by far the highest number since this foolish closure began.”

Daniel Haygarth13 April 2026 17:48

Trump: ‘We can’t let a country blackmail or extort the world’

The US president is holding a press conference at the moment.

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He says ​that ⁠Iran ⁠wants to ​make ⁠a ‌deal and that ‌he will not ‌come ⁠to any agreement that allows Tehran to ‌have ​a nuclear ‌weapon.

“[The sticking point] was over nuclear, […]Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.

“And we agreed to a lot of things but they didn’t agree to that. And I think they will agree to it, I’m almost sure of it. In fact I am sure of it, if they don’t agree there’s no deal, there will never be a deal.

“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. And we’ll get the dust back. We’ll get it back either way; we’ll get it back from them, or we’ll take it.”

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He adds that he believes Iran is “really blackmailing the world”.

“Iran will ‌not have a ​nuclear weapon,” ‌Trump tells ⁠reporters at the White House. “We ⁠can’t let a country ‌blackmail ​or extort the ‌world.”

Daniel Haygarth13 April 2026 17:47

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Row over expansion of Harrogate Spring Water

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Row over expansion of Harrogate Spring Water

North Yorkshire Council officers have recommended that councillors approve Harrogate Spring Water’s proposal to increase the size of its plant in the town’s Harlow Moor Road when they meet on Friday.

The committee previously deferred a decision on the expansion amid objections from campaign groups and local politicians over the loss of around 500 trees in Rotary Wood.

The committee said they needed to know the terms of a proposed section 106 agreement between the applicant and the council before making a decision, rather than leaving it for officers to decide after a decision had been taken.

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Councillors also wanted more information on proposed measures to mitigate the loss of the trees, including plans for a new wet woodland near the bottling plant.

But officers say that the information provided by the applicant is sufficient and the expansion should be approved.

In a report to members, planning officer John Worthington says the principle of the development for the expansion was determined with an outline planning application approved in 2020.

He added: “The matters for consideration under this application only relate to access, scale, layout, appearance and landscaping.

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“The scale, access and layout comply with the parameters conditioned at outline stage and are considered to be acceptable.

“The proposed landscaping has been reviewed by officers and amended through the application process and is considered to be acceptable.

“The appearance has been altered through the application in response to officer comments and is also considered to be acceptable.”

But the recommendation has angered local councillors.

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Green Party councillor for the Harlow and St George’s division, Mike Schofield, said: “This application has become a masterclass on how not to run a planning process. The application was originally approved without an environmental screening opinion.

“Because that wasn’t done at the proper time, all the safeguards are out of sequence. The normal order is information and surveys, plans and then development. But they’ve put the cart before the horse and done plans before surveys – and somehow the council experts say that’s ok.

“And as for the Section 106, which is meant to offer protections – this is an utter betrayal of our community, our water and our woodland. It offers so much flexibility that it gives no guarantees – for access, for mitigation and for biodiversity net gain. What a sham.”

Ahead of the meeting, Harrogate Spring Water has outlined how the expansion could help more than half its suppliers double their contract revenue.

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Ian Swann, operations director at Harrogate Spring Water, said: “Harrogate Spring Water has a long history of working with suppliers based here in Yorkshire and across the North.

“The vast majority of what we use every day is already sourced regionally and our expansion plans would increase demand across our supply chain as part of normal operations, keeping more value in the local economy.

“The proposed expansion is currently subject to the planning process. The projected impacts outlined are based on Harrogate Spring Water’s current supply chain and highlight how increased production capacity would subsequently increase total spend on regional suppliers.”

Harrogate MP Tom Gordon has requested that the Government make a ruling on the application due to the controversy surrounding the plans.

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But ministers said it should be decided by local councillors.

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Border chaos explained – why Easyjet passengers missed flight as new travel rules start

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Daily Mirror

With EasyJet passengers missing flights, and tourists with other airlines left affected too, the Mirror can explain more about the rules that have come into affected at European Union nations

Brits have been plunged into travel chaos after long delays due to new EU border rules had led to some passengers missing their flights home and ending up stranded abroad.

Around 100 EasyJet passengers were left behind when a flight from Milan’s Linate airport to Manchester left travellers behind who were stuck in massive lines, on Sunday. The new European Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully rolled out across the EU on Friday and it requires people from third-party countries, including the UK, to go through biometric and facial recognition checks.

Huge lines hit major airports in several cities, including Paris, Lisbon and Milan, as desperate travellers were forced to wait to clear immigration.

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Some stranded passengers claimed people were vomiting and passing out in the huge queues at Milan’s Linate airport, on Sunday, as they also dealt with a heatwave.

READ MORE: Spanish airport launches ‘Brits only’ lanes to cope under new border rulesREAD MORE: Historic 180 year-old ferry to UK seaside towns ending as ‘no takers’ to run it

What is the EES?

The EU’s Entry/Exit System started on October 12, 2025, but it was rolled out fully on Friday, April 10. It is a new digital border system for people from third-party countries, including the UK, entering the Schengen area.

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This new system has replaced the old method of officials manually stamping passports when people arrive into the Schengen area.

What will the new process look like for Brits?

British travellers could now be asked to create a digital record at the port or airport on arrival, on their first visit to a Schengen area country after this new system. People no not have to fill anything out before they travel and the EES registration is free of charge.

Travellers could be asked to have a photo taken at a dedicated booth and submit their fingerprints. People could also be asked to provide fingerprints or a photo when they leave the Schengen area.

The government noted that the EES may take “each passenger a few extra minutes to complete”, but once done, the EES record is valid for three years.

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What issues have travellers faced so far?

One Brit revealed she was among the 100 people desperate to get home after the EasyJet flight took off from Milan and abandoned them. Carol Boon, 59, speaking to the BBC, said she had been away for a hen do but was left stuck in a “very stressful” situation at the airport with “people arguing, someone fainted, someone was sick”.

Another traveller, Max Hume, from Leeds, told the BBC that he spent a staggering £1,800 to get back home as soon as possible and travelled through Luxembourg.

EasyJet told The Mirror that the ordeal was “outside of our control” and said it held the flight for nearly an hour, adding: “These delays are unacceptable and so we continue to urge border authorities to ensure they make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed so our customers’ travel plans are not impacted.

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“Should a customer miss their flight due to EES delays they are offered free flight transfers on a later easyJet flight. For customers who book on other airlines they will need to contact their travel insurance to make a claim.”

Another passenger slammed EasyJet for the ordeal and claimed she was only offered £12.25 in compensation from the airline. Speaking to the BBC, the 17-year-old student, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, said she was forced to wait 20 hours in the airport with her boyfriend until they could get a flight the next day.

Kiera said these new flights would set her mum back £520 and they were going to Gatwick instead of Manchester. The student added that the couple got to the airport hours ahead of their flight but still didn’t make it on. She said: “We got here at seven-thirty for our flight at eleven so were super early. We got to Border Control and it was a massive queue of people.”

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READ MORE: EES system: Warning Brits face two-hour queues at European airports this Easter

Jet2 has issued a fresh alert to passengers at Faro Airport, in Portugal, after reports of “congestion” through the site. In response to a passenger’s post online, a spokesperson for the airport said “the queues are completely out of our control”, adding: “We kindly recommend customers arrive to the airport as early as possible, to allow plenty of time to make it through.”

A spokesperson for ABTA, the association of travel agents and tour operators, says: “We’re advising passengers to go straight to passport control as soon as you have gone through check-in and security; that way you get the EES checks out of the way as early as possible.

“We’re also advising passengers to follow their transport provider’s advice on when to arrive at airports/ports etc. If flying, the usual rule is to arrive at the airport for a flight from Europe at least two hours before, so we’d encourage people to apply that as a minimum, but to also check with their airline and airport.”

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Chaos erupts on quiet street as families brawl with weapons in vigilante revenge

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Daily Record

Armed with weapons including a plank of wood studded with nails, the Jenkins clan started brawling in the street with two brothers who earlier that day had smashed up their house with golf clubs

Shocking CCTV captures armed revenge attack

This is the disturbing moment a family took the law into their own hands and sought retribution for an attack on their property.

Armed with an array of weapons, including a nail-studded plank of wood, the Jenkins family launched into a street brawl with two brothers who had earlier ransacked their home with golf clubs.

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Handing down prison sentences to five individuals involved in the incident, a judge at Swansea Crown Court stated that while the disorder had been triggered by the golf club-wielding siblings, the Jenkins family had armed themselves and embarked on an act of “vigilantism” with complete disregard for the impact on the wider community or the terror they would inflict upon local residents.

The court was told that the roots of the violence lay in the belief held by brothers Adam Miller and Kristian Thomas that Corey Jenkins was involved in drug dealing in the Ravenhill area of Swansea.

On June 6, the pair acted on this belief by seizing golf clubs and heading to the Jenkins family home on Rhodfa’r Brain, where they proceeded to smash several downstairs windows.

Following the attack, the two men made their way to the nearby home of a relative, David Dallimore. For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter, reports Wales Online.

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In retaliation, four members of the Jenkins family – Paul, Christopher, Corey and Lisa Jenkins – armed themselves with various weapons and descended on Mr Dallimore’s address, where “large scale public disorder” erupted in the street. During the disorder, which was captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage, Corey Jenkins brandished a plank of wood “studded with nails” and a metal pole, while Paul Jenkins carried a hammer and Christopher and Lisa Jenkins wielded sticks.

During the brawl, Thomas “struck out” with a metal pole and struck a neighbour of the Jenkins family, Kirsty Choi, on the head while she was attending to a member of the Jenkins family who was lying on the ground.

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Paul Jenkins, 64, Christopher Paul Jenkins, 45, Corey Jenkins, 23, and 45 year old Lisa Dawn Jenkins, all of Rhodfa’r Brain, Ravenhill, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon when they appeared in the dock for sentencing.

Paul and Christopher Jenkins have previous convictions, while Corey and Lisa Jenkins have no prior criminal history.

Kristian Dale Thomas, 39, of Tudno Place, Penlan, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to criminal damage and been convicted at trial of the unlawful wounding of Miss Choi when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

He was described as carrying an “extensive” criminal record, including handling stolen goods, possession of offensive weapons, affray, and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

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Adam Miller, 34, also of Tudno Place, Penlan, had previously pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon when he appeared alongside his brother. He was also said to have an “extensive” criminal history featuring offences including affray, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, arson, public disorder, and criminal damage.

Both men were cleared at trial of violent disorder relating to the Rhodfa’r Brain incident. Mr Dallimore was likewise found not guilty.

Judge Catherine Richards stated Miller and Thomas had sparked the confrontation when, “wanting to take the law into their own hands”, they travelled to the Jenkins’ residence and smashed windows.

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She stated the Jenkins family had subsequently armed themselves with weapons and participated in an act of “vigilantism” with no regard for its effect on the broader community or the alarm they would generate among neighbouring residents.

Following reductions for their guilty pleas Paul Jenkins and Christopher Jenkins were each handed 18 months in prison, while Corey Jenkins received 22 months in prison.

Lisa Jenkins was given 18 months in prison suspended for 18 months and was instructed to complete 250 hours of unpaid work in the community and comply with a nightly curfew for the next two months.

After reductions for his guilty pleas, Miller received nine months in prison. Thomas was handed 26 months in prison.

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Those defendants given custodial sentences will serve 40 per cent of their terms behind bars before being released on licence to complete the remainder in the community.

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Coatbridge High School pupils enjoy employability advice and interactive workshops from housebuilder Cruden

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Daily Record

The informative move came as work begins on a new housing development for North Lanarkshire Council at Bank Street in Coatbridge.

Pupils at Coatbridge High School benefited from various employability advice and interactive workshops delivered by five-star housebuilder Cruden.

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The informative move came as work begins on a new housing development for North Lanarkshire Council at Bank Street in Coatbridge.

Cruden has begun work on site at the former Sharks Mouth pub on Bank Street, supporting the local authority’s regeneration plans to deliver much-needed new homes for the local community.

The development will transform the vacant site into 16 high-quality, energy-efficient homes for social rent and supported accommodation, helping meet housing needs while contributing to the ongoing regeneration of Coatbridge town centre.

Ahead of construction starting, Cruden has delivered a series of community benefit initiatives with pupils at Coatbridge High School, aimed at inspiring the next generation to explore careers in construction and the built environment.

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This included three STEM-focused measurement workshops with the school’s maths classes to demonstrate how maths applies in real working environments on construction sites.

Cruden also supported the school’s careers day as well as leading a careers advice session and separate CV writing and interview skills workshops.

READ MORE: Specsavers’ Airdrie and Coatbridge staff reach combined 160 years of service

Most recently Cruden hosted a ‘Meet the Apprentice’ session where pupils had the opportunity to hear directly from those in early-stages of their careers in the industry.

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These sessions helped pupils understand the practical use of classroom learning and gain insight from Cruden into the wide range of roles available across the construction sector, from trades and apprenticeships to professional and technical careers.

Michael Palethorpe, production and community benefit manager at Cruden, said: “Delivering community benefits is a central part of how we approach every project.

“While the new homes at Bank Street will provide much-needed affordable housing locally, it’s equally important that the development creates meaningful opportunities for the community while construction is underway.

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“Our engagement with pupils at Coatbridge High School over recent months has been a fantastic opportunity to show how subjects like maths connect directly to real careers in construction.

READ MORE: Man rushed to hospital with ‘serious injuries’ after single-vehicle crash in Coatbridge

“By giving young people practical insight into the industry and the different pathways available, we hope to inspire the next generation to consider careers in the sector.”

Anna Cairney, DYW programme executive for Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire, added: “Positive employer engagement is vital in delivering our mission to give young people meaningful, first-hand experience of the world of work while still at school.

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“The range of workshops and activities delivered by Cruden at Coatbridge High School is a strong example of the impact that sustained engagement can achieve.

“These sessions have provided pupils with valuable insight into how their learning is applied in real-world careers, particularly in areas such as problem-solving, measurement, and technical skills.

“Hearing directly from apprentices and construction professionals has helped bring classroom learning to life and encouraged pupils to consider a wide range of future career pathways.”

READ MORE: Singer-songwriter James Grant returning to Airdrie Town Hall

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A spokesperson from North Lanarkshire Council said: “This development will transform a vacant town centre site into high-quality homes for local people while supporting the continued regeneration of Coatbridge.

“As well as delivering much-needed housing, it is encouraging to see Cruden engaging with local young people through workshops and careers advice that highlight the wide range of opportunities available within the construction industry.”

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Resident Evil Zero remake will have online co-op suggests new leak

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Resident Evil Zero remake will have online co-op suggests new leak
Resident Evil Zero – it wouldn’t take much to improve it (Capcom)

The next Resident Evil remake will make some major changes to the original, according to the latest rumours, with a return to online co-op for the mainline series.

Even with a new hack having taken place this week, and it being the most anticipated video game in history, we still know next to nothing about GTA 6. And yet there are some franchises that leak every little detail long before they can ever be formally announced.

Call Of Duty is one of those and another is Resident Evil, with most of the basics about Requiem having been leaked well before they were officially confirmed. Naturally, the rumours didn’t end there and there’s currently believed to be at least two remakes underway, as well as the inevitable sequel to Requiem.

While talk of a new Resident Evil 1 remake suggests it’s the furthest out, there’s been confusion over whether Resident Evil Zero or Code: Veronica is set to be the next one or not. Capcom hasn’t announced either, but news has leaked about online tests that suggests Zero is well underway.

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The latest rumour, from Marcox on X, is that Capcom is currently testing online co-op for Resident Evil Zero, with the remake apparently being codenamed Chambers – after co-lead Rebecca Chambers.

As a reminder, the original Resident Evil Zero on GameCube was a purely single-player game, but it had two player characters, the other being felon Billy Coen. You could switch control between them and when they weren’t split up the AI would control whoever you weren’t.

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This was seven years before the co-op mode in Resident Evil 5 but while Zero may have acted as a useful experiment for the developers, the dual protagonists didn’t add much to the game, which is one of the least regarded of the mainline entries.

That arguably makes the prospect of a remake more interesting, as nobody’s going to care if Capcom make major changes to Zero, especially in regards to co-op.

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Resident Evil 5 and 6 are the only mainline entries to feature co-op and after their poor reception Capcom has not returned to the option again, except in the two Resident Evil Revelations spin-offs.

In that sense, Zero might again serve as a prototype for Resident Evil 5, which no rumour suggests Capcom is so far planning to remake. Although that is an especially difficult prospect, as not only did the game have a mixed reception in terms of its gameplay but the African setting caused controversy back in 2009 and has not aged well since then.

At the moment, it’s currently believed that Zero and Code: Veronica will be released over the course of 2027 and 2028, and while this latest leak suggests Zero will be first, that’s not certain.

Resident Evil 10, the follow-up to Requiem, is believed to be aiming for around 2029, with the Resident Evil 1 remake sometime after that.

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The further you get the less accurate such dates become though, whether the current information is accurate or not. But with Requiem proving to be the fastest-selling Resident Evil game ever you can guarantee that Capcom will want to follow up on that as soon as possible.

Resident Evil Zero screenshot
The original version didn’t have co-op (Capcom)

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‘Relentless’ thriller Netflix fans can’t help but binge-watch in one night

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Wales Online

A “criminally underrated” drama with a supernatural twist is ready to stream on Netflix.

Netflix fans are being encouraged to watch this “genuine and powerful” drama that has garnered widespread acclaim from audiences.

Crime drama fans have their next binge-watch sorted, with UK audiences only now discovering the Taiwanese series The Resurrected, which launched on Netflix in October.

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The English-dubbed thriller, featuring supernatural elements, tells the tale of two bereaved mothers whose daughters were abducted by a human trafficking ring.

Through a forbidden ritual, the mothers bring back to life a criminal mastermind behind a fraud operation in their quest for vengeance against those responsible for taking their children.

Upon its initial release, the nine-episode drama became a phenomenal success for Netflix viewers in territories including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand, and is now making a lasting impression in the UK.

READ MORE: Is Netflix’s shark thriller Thrash based on a true story?READ MORE: Geordie star begins filming iconic spy thriller for BBC

While one viewer described The Resurrected as “criminally underrated”, another echoed: “Why is this so underrated?!! More people should watch this show.

“It was intense and I couldn’t stop binging through all the episodes.”

A third commented: “It was honestly worth the watch. I’m very particular about the things I watch.

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“If it’s boring, I tend to turn it off and never finish it, but I binge watched this all in one night. Finished it at 7am.”

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Tyson Fury has come out of retirement to face Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash in London on April 11. The fight will stream live on Netflix, which fans can get for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle or £24 Ultimate TV bundle, the latter of which also includes HBO Max and Disney+.

Another viewer concurred: “This drama has one of the freshest and most creative plots I’ve seen in years.

“The acting is absolutely fabulous – every performance feels genuine and powerful.

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“The younger actors deserve special mention too; their performances are truly remarkable and add great depth to the story.”

The Resurrected boasts an entirely Asian cast, featuring Shu Qui from A Beautiful Life, Angelica Lee, known for her role in The Eye, and Fu Meng-Po from Father to Son.

The Resurrected is available to watch on Netflix.

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LIVE - Chorley Road closed in Blackrod as emergency services respond

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