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A tsunami warning has been issued after Japan was hit with a huge 7.4 magnitude earthquake, with 10ft waves expected “immediately” following the quake

A tsunami warning has been declared after Japan was struck by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake, with waves of up to 10ft forecast to arrive “immediately”.

The enormous three-metre (10ft) tsunami is anticipated to reach Iwate prefecture and parts of Hokkaido “immediately” following the quake, which was recorded at 4.53pm local time (7.53am UK time).

Further tsunami activity is also anticipated across Aomori, Miyagi and Fukushima within the next hour, though these waves are only expected to reach three feet, according to Japanese media.

The earthquake struck at a depth of six miles, with its epicentre located in the Pacific Ocean. The tremor was reportedly powerful enough to rattle large buildings as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles from the quake’s origin.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned: “Evacuate immediately from coastal regions and riverside areas to a safer place such as high ground or an evacuation building.

“Tsunami waves are expected to hit repeatedly. Do not leave safe ground until the warning is lifted.”, reports the Daily Star.

The office of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has confirmed it has established a crisis management team in response to the earthquake.

There will be 12 famous faces that will be taking on Lord Alan Sugar’s ultimate business challenge.

Celebrities will face a range of weekly business challenges set by Lord Sugar over six weeks.

The winner will be crowned the first Celebrity Apprentice winner and receive £100,000 for a charity of their choice.

First-ever Celebrity Apprentice line-up confirmed

The BBC has confirmed the 12 celebrities taking part in the special series.

They are:

• Alexandra Burke – Singer
• Danny Miller – Emmerdale’s Aaron Dingle
• Gethin Jones – TV presenter
• Jordan Banjo – Diversity dancer
• Kay Burley – Journalist
• Maddie Grace Jepson – Actress and online personality
• Max Balegde – Presenter, podcaster and content creator
• Sheli McCoy – Gladiators star Sabre
• DJ Spoony – UK garage star
• Richie Anderson – TV and BBC Radio 2 presenter
• Laura Smyth – Comedian and writer
• Toni Laites – TV personality

For the celebrity series, the boardroom will relocate to a London City skyscraper, providing a new setting for Lord Sugar’s final deliberations.

On the new series, Lord Sugar said: “We’ve not done anything like this before, and it’ll be entertaining to see these 12 celebrities being put through six weeks of some brilliant business challenges.

“But just because they’re celebrities, it doesn’t mean they’re going to get an easy ride, especially when there’s £100,000 at stake for their chosen charity.”

The news comes just days after Karishma Vijay was crowned the winner of The Apprentice 2026 (regular series).

She beat 19 other candidates to win the popular BBC show, securing a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar for her skincare brand, Kishkin.

When is The Celebrity Apprentice on TV?

According to reports, filming for the upcoming series started recently, with it expected to air later this year on BBC One.

The BBC said that broadcast details for The Celebrity Apprentice will be confirmed in due course.

Let us know what you think about the show’s line-up in the comments below.

Ant and Dec have spoken out about David Haye’s treatment of Adam Thomas on I’m A Celebrity South Africa

Ant and Dec have waded into the David Haye controversy, declaring that the incident which triggered bullying complaints was “not nice” to witness.

The former boxer had already found himself mired in controversy following sexist remarks he made about his girlfriend and other women, before he then rounded on Adam Thomas after the actor said he was feeling too unwell to participate in Termite Terror.

It was the latest outburst to leave the South Africa camp reeling, with Gemma Collins subsequently revealing she felt compelled to “protect” the actor.

The presenting duo have now spoken out, making the rare decision to openly criticise the behaviour of an I’m A Celebrity contestant.

The Geordie pair say Haye simply does not know when to stop, as his comments from last week continue to cause uproar amongst the show’s viewers, who have firmly turned against the sports star.

Ant shared his thoughts on the ITV1 show’s podcast I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked, making clear his displeasure at Haye’s choice of words.

He said: “It’s not a nice watch. He just kind of picks and picks at them. Adam has had a bit of a tough time and he’s not coping well. Clearly the banter has got too much. But David won’t stop.”

Echoing his co-presenter’s sentiments, Dec said: “It’s kind of crossed the line from banter. I don’t find it comfortable to watch.”

Adam, who lives with the autoimmune condition psoriatic arthritis, had asked to be excused from the Bushtucker Trial on Friday after feeling unwell and dehydrated.

Haye said he was being “useless” and stated that he “doesn’t like men like that”.

Gemma Collins was among the celebrities visibly uncomfortable with David’s remarks, and she opened up about it on I’m A Celebrity: Unpacked.

Gemma said: “I think David Haye might have seen a weakness in Adam, there were times where I had to protect Adam in there.

“If I was going full GC mode on David Haye, and a lot of them, then it would’ve been a disaster in there but I had to remain calm and composed and just remember that I’m not here to be performative. I am here as me. I think the fact that I stretched my arms out, I’m sort of saying to ’em all, without biting their heads off, ‘enough’”, reports the Mirror.

She continued: “I knew if it was ever gonna get too bad I would be taking David on. You know, bring on the next heavyweight champion fighting the world….. because if I feel that something’s too much, I’m not afraid to step up.”

Shedding light on how his condition affects his daily life, Adam had previously explained: “It is an autoimmune disease. Basically means my immune system is attacking my own body. It causes a s**t-load of pain.”

Speaking out over the weekend, Adam shared an image from the show — which was filmed towards the end of last year — and wrote on Instagram: “Not going to lie, this picture breaks my heart, as I know on the inside what I was dealing with and truth be told I thought it was all my fault. I now know that’s not the reality… My time in I’m a Celebrity South Africa was one of the toughest things I’ve ever been through, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“Watching it back hasn’t been easy at all. There were moments I felt pushed to my absolute limit, and if I’m honest, times I didn’t even recognise myself. Living with arthritis is something I don’t really talk about, as much as I should do…but in there it really took its toll. My biggest fight was pretending to put on a brave face and trying to hide the pain! that can be exhausting within itself.

“There were days my body just didn’t want to keep going, but I did. I won’t sit here and say I handled everything perfectly, because I didn’t. I wish I spoke up for myself sooner. I wish I stood my ground instead of trying to keep the peace, but I’ve learned that being kind doesn’t mean being weak, and sometimes it takes going through tough moments to find your voice.”

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Japan, sparking warnings of tsunami waves as high as 3 metres.

The strong quake erupted off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday afternoon local time, the Japan ‌Meteorological Agency said.

Officials are warning of tsunami waves as tall as 3 metres could hit the Iwate prefecture and parts of Hokkaido.

The earthquake was so strong people in Tokyo reported the capital ‘shook quite a bit’.

The ‌tremor had an epicentre in the ⁠Pacific Ocean and was 10 km deep, according to the JMA.

Earthquakes with a magnitude between 7.0 and 7.9 are considered major and could cause serious damage, according to Michigan Tech university.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

The Emmerdale star opened up about his I’m A Celebrity… South Africa experience in an emotional Instagram statement, revealing how arthritis struggles and confrontations left him feeling broken

Adam Thomas has revealed he felt “broken” by David Haye during filming of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa. The 37-year-old actor, recognised for his parts in Emmerdale and Waterloo Road, is currently appearing on the all-stars version of Ant and Dec‘s jungle survival programme, nearly a decade following his initial appearance on the main series.

Earlier in the week, boxer David, who had already attracted criticism for sexist remarks he’d made, attempted to pressure Adam into participating in Termite Terror, refusing to acknowledge that the former Strictly Come Dancing participant simply wasn’t feeling well enough.

Adam suffers from arthritis, a condition he has discussed publicly. Describing its impact, he previously stated: “It is an autoimmune disease. Basically means my immune system is attacking my own body. It causes a s**t-load of pain,” and he has now confessed that watching his I’m A Celebrity experience unfold on television has been difficult.

Accompanied by a photograph from the programme, which was recorded near the end of last year, Adam posted on Instagram on Sunday evening: “Not going to lie,this picture breaks my heart, as I know on the inside what I was dealing with and truth be told I thought it was all my fault. I now know that’s not the reality… My time in I’m a Celebrity South Africa was one of the toughest things I’ve ever been through, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“Watching it back hasn’t been easy at all. There were moments I felt pushed to my absolute limit, and if I’m honest, times I didn’t even recognise myself. Living with arthritis is something I don’t really talk about, as much as I should do…but in there it really took its toll. My biggest fight was pretending to put on a brave face and trying to hide the pain! that can be exhausting within itself. There were days my body just didn’t want to keep going, but I did.”

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Adam continued: “I won’t sit here and say I handled everything perfectly, because I didn’t. I wish I spoke up for myself sooner. I wish I stood my ground instead of trying to keep the peace, but I’ve learned that being kind doesn’t mean being weak, and sometimes it takes going through tough moments to find your voice.

“Since coming out, I’ve taken time to process everything, and I’m in a much better place now. I let go of the anger, had the conversations I needed to have, and chose peace.

“What I’m most proud of, is at times like this I wanted to walk, I wanted to quit but I didn’t . Even when I wanted to walk away, even when it felt like too much, I never give up! and that means everything to me.

“He broke me in there, he pushed me to my limits, and I’ve told David this and he’s apologised and that’s that! I’ve moved on now, am not one to hold a grudge. But thank you for all your lovely messages and all the kind words We all face people and situations that try to break us, but sometimes those moments are what rebuild you stronger than ever. Be kind.”

Adam was flooded with supportive messages from fans, with one commenting: “You came over in there as such a beautiful human @adamthomas21 You know your own truth You were Always my Winner,” reports the Mirror.

A further supporter wrote: “Your genuine and kind. You rose above it and kept going. That is strength. You’ve put it behind you and that stands for everything you are. Thats why you have everyone’s support,” while another added: “Those living with these awful autoimmune diseases are the real strong ones. Try living in pain daily and still putting a smile on your face and looking as if you’re not in pain. The fatigue is often worse than the pain. And symptoms can creep up on you at any moment. No warnings.”

Tensions reached breaking point when Adam attempted to rest and confessed he would struggle to take part in a Bushtucker Trial due to feeling dehydrated. David fumed: “Dehydrated?! We’ve all got the same amount of water! Adam is doing it and that’s it!

“When is your top form gonna come? Why aren’t we forcing this dude to go and do it? Coincidentally, every time there’s something to do, he’s not feeling well.”

It was at this moment that Gogglebox favourite Scarlett Moffatt, who claimed victory on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2016, stepped in and pleaded with David to “stop it”.

Earlier in the series, he had made remarks about his girlfriend Sian. While discussing his partner’s cooking for the group, he remarked: “She’s like tall, blue eyes. She’s lovely. She’s got the personality of a proper ugly bird.”

Despite Scarlett urging him to leave it there, he pressed on with his outburst, adding: “She has. Most ugly girls realise they don’t they’re not pretty enough to… they gotta have a personality to banter and to tell jokes and s**t, so people overlook the fact that they’re not aesthetically amazing, straight away.

“Which is what’s called Ugly Duckling syndrome, where girls are ugly, when they start off, and then they and then they kind of they, they get pretty as they get older. But they still got the personality of when they’re ugly. Does that make sense?”

In the tirade, which left incensed viewers outraged, he added: “You get a girl who’s pretty from day one, you get a girl who’s different day one. Everyone goes ‘You’re so beautiful. You’re amazing’. She grows up thinking, I’m amazing. Everyone loves me. I can open any door. I can go anywhere I want.

“They don’t have to have a personality, because most super pretty girls are just idiots. But then their ugly friend, they’ve got work a bit harder, be more personable. They got to be nicer to everyone. Gonna get you a drink.”

I’m A Celebrity… South Africa is on ITV1 and ITVX

Balamory, which first aired in 2002 but was cancelled three years later, is making its grand return with some familiar faces returning alongside new ones.

The revival series, once again set in Scotland, was announced by the BBC in 2024 and is now set to air.

CBeebies series Balamory returns today for 2026 revival

Balamory was one of the most popular children’s shows of the early 2000s.

The story centres on a fictional small island community off the west coast of Scotland, dealing with community residents and their issues.

It celebrates friendship, co-operation and the importance of supporting one another, encouraging young people to think about how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

The programme became famous for its catchy theme tune, which began with the line: “What’s the story in Balamory, wouldn’t you like to know?”

In 2022, the BBC celebrated 20 years of Balamory by uploading episodes of the programme to BBC iPlayer.

The two new series, which will include some of the original characters, will consist of 10 episodes each.

Balamory returns tomorrow.

Here is a sneak peek at the new titles! pic.twitter.com/tsMRpteF40

— sᴜᴘᴇʀ ᴛᴠ (@superTV247) April 19, 2026

Who is returning in the new Balamory series?

The BBC shared a first look at the return of the Scottish children’s programme earlier this month.

The new series “retains the heart and humour that made Balamory a household favourite, while introducing refreshed storytelling and playful adventures”, the BBC said.

It adds: “The lovable community of quirky characters celebrate each day with rainbow-coloured comic adventures, filled with songs, friendship and fun.”

There are four returning characters that fans of the original series will recognise, these are:

• Julie Wilson Nimmo – Miss Hoolie
• Andrew Agnew – PC Plum
• Juliet Cadzow – Edie McCredie
• Kim Tserkezie – Penny Pocket

New characters are Danielle Jam as scientist and inventor Ava Potts, Carl Spencer as vet Dr Ollie and William Andrews as The Harbourmaster.

4 of the original cast are back for the Balamory revival with 3 new ones joining (Image: BBC)

How to watch the original Balamory episodes

There were more than 200 episodes of the original series, some of which can be watched on BBC iPlayer.

It was filmed in a town called Tobermory on the Isle of Mull in Scotland.

On the revival, Kate Morton, Senior Head of Commissioning for CBeebies, said: “Balamory holds a very special place in the hearts of families across the UK, so bringing it back after 21 years has been a real joy.

“It’s wonderful to welcome back beloved characters like Miss Hoolie, PC Plum and Penny Pocket, who have shaped so many childhoods, while also introducing a new generation of Balamory residents who bring fresh energy, humour and heart to the island.

“The spirit of curiosity, creativity and community that defined the original series remains at the core of this new chapter, and we can’t wait for young viewers and their grown‑ups to rediscover the magic of Balamory together.”

Recommended reading:

How to watch the new series of Balamory

The Balamory revival series will air today, Monday, April 20.

It will be broadcast on CBeebies at 5pm, with all 10 episodes available on BBC iPlayer the same day.

Did you watch Balamory as a child? Let us know in the comments.

The county’s police say an alleged assault on a woman in The Buck Inn at Whitby took place at about 11.40pm on Saturday (April 18).

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A force spokesman said: “The suspect, a 39-year-old man, was arrested nearby and later bailed with conditions while further enquires continue.

“The woman did not require any medical attention.

“We’re appealing for members of the public who witnessed the incident to come forward and give a statement.

“Please email sarah.roberts@northyorkshire.police.uk if you have any information that could help our investigation.

“Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Sarah Roberts, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.”

Please quote reference 12260069821 when passing on information.

Ivy Rose Smith, four, who is originally from Saltburn, and now living in Redcar, was diagnosed with life limiting condition, Leigh Syndrome, on April 15 2025.

The condition is a rare and severe genetic neurodegenerative disorder that mainly affects infants, causing rapid loss of motor and cognitive skills, breathing problems and muscle weakness.

Life expectancy is often limited to three to five years.

Ivy Rose Smith, four, from Saltburn was diagnosed with rare Leighs syndrome last year (Image: FAMILY)

Ivy, who is well known in the Saltburn area, has recently moved with her family to Redcar so they could find a home better suited to her needs.

Her grandmother, Suzanne Dickinson, 59, said the anniversary of Ivy’s diagnosis was particularly difficult and inspired the family to focus on making the most of their time together.

And so, she set up a post on a Facebook page dedicated to sharing Ivy’s story with a bucket list of things she has always wanted to do- and within 24 hours, all were organised for the family, meaning they have a busy year of memory making ahead.

Ivy and her nana Suzanne (Image: FAMILY)

Ivy lives with her mum, Melissa Smith, 39, and dad Patrick Smith, and has a 17-year-old brother, Oliver Smith.

The family say they are focused on making the most of every moment together that they have left with Ivy while also raising awareness of the condition.

Ivy and her mum Melissa (Image: FAMILY)

Speaking on behalf of the family, her nana, Suzanne Dickinson, said: “She was born healthy and normal, and we had no worries.

“It wasn’t until around the year and a half mark that we realised she wasn’t hitting milestones as she was expected to be doing.

“She was then unwell with covid and lost some of the skills she did have, such as standing and taking a few steps, and she went back to crawling, and that’s when more tests were arranged.

“We had to wait a while for results to come back, but we were aware at this point of mitochondrial conditions and were hoping for the best case scenario for Ivy.”

Ivy Rose Smith, four, from Saltburn was diagnosed with rare Leighs syndrome last year (Image: FAMILY)

“Unfortunately, we found out that she had Leighs which is one of the worst ones, and we were all just devastated for her.

“But she is such a little fighter and just so determined to do everything herself, she doesn’t let it stop her.

“She now has an NG tube fitted to feed her so she has gained some weight and strength and is currently able to use her walker.”

From top to bottom Aunty Sophie, Aunty Emily, mum Melissa, nana Suzanne and Ivy (Image: FAMILY)

Suzanne added: “The year anniversary of the diagnosis hit me hard, and that’s what made me think we just need to try and make as many memories as we can with Ivy, so she always has something to look forward to, to fulfil life as much as we can for her.

“She is an absolute blessing. People always stop and are drawn to her. She is adorable, strong willed and determined.

“When I posted her bucket list on Facebook, I wasn’t expecting really anything to come of it, just hoping people had contacts or mates rates for some things, as it is not cheap.”

The family on some of the adventures they have already completed with Ivy (Image: FAMILY)

“There will be a time that she is not with us, and I don’t want her life to just come and go. I want something lasting, and that’s why we are trying to fundraise and raise awareness for her.

“The bucket list has now all been arranged, so we have a lot planned, such as a motorhome holiday, Flamingo Land, CBeebies world, Lap land, she is even the mascot for the Middlesbrough last game of the season, which will be special.

“I can’t thank everyone who has shared her story or helped fulfil her bucket list enough. We are just so grateful for the opportunities to give us more memories with Ivy.”

The family on some of the adventures they have already completed with Ivy (Image: FAMILY)

Ivy Rose Smith, four, from Saltburn was diagnosed with rare Leighs syndrome last year (Image: FAMILY)

The family on some of the adventures they have already completed with Ivy (Image: FAMILY)

Leigh syndrome is a rare genetic condition that mainly affects the nervous system. Symptoms usually appear in infancy or early childhood.

Common symptoms include:

• Loss of previously learned skills such as sitting, walking or talking
• Weak muscles and poor movement control
• Breathing problems
• Difficulty feeding or swallowing
• Poor growth or weight gain
• Seizures
• Vision or hearing problems
• Extreme tiredness or low energy

These symptoms occur because the condition affects the body’s mitochondria, which produce energy for cells, particularly in the brain and muscles.

Easter break is over, but many British holidaymakers are still heading off on their spring-time trips

Thousands of passengers pass through Manchester Airport every day, with more than 1,000 flights arriving and departing daily, connecting Manchester to more than 200 destinations.

With summer just around the corner, we will soon be entering one of the busiest periods for travel. Over Easter break, which has just come to an end, many families across the UK have jetted off to get some spring-time sunshine, making it a busy time for air travel

While the travel industry is nearing its peak season for the year, airports have been facing significant disruption over recent weeks and months.

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The ongoing conflict in the Middle East which started at the end of February has caused flights to be delayed and cancelled. Some tourists have even been left stranded in faraway places for days.

Major airlines which operate within the affected region, such as Emirates and Etihad, have now resumed flights. However, the Foreign Office guidance still advises against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the uncertainty, travel agents report that Brits are still keen to go on holiday abroad and the appetite for travel remains strong.

Below are the latest delayed (by more than 30 minutes) and cancelled flights from Manchester Airport today (Monday, 20 April) according to FlightRadar24.com, as of 8.30am.

Delayed flights

• 8:15am Qatar Airways flight QR22 to Doha – estimated departure 9:25am

Cancelled flights

• 8:40am Aer Lingus flight EI3611 to Belfast