A chef has shared his favourite method to cook bacon – and it’s not in a frying pan.

Bacon is cherished by many for its flavour, texture and adaptability. Not only is it amongst people’s favourite breakfast items, but it’s equally delicious in sandwiches, burgers, sprinkled over salads, or combined with vegetables for that wonderfully salty, crispy texture. That said, there’s debate over the optimal way to cook bacon.

As someone who dislikes frying bacon in a pan, Chef David Chang appeared on the Anyday YouTube channel to demonstrate how he prepares “the crispiest bacon” using a quicker technique.

He explained, “This fast and easy method will save you time and cleanup while still giving you perfectly crispy bacon every time.

“Say goodbye to greasy stovetop messes and hello to deliciously crispy bacon in no time. This is a game-changer for all bacon lovers.”

While it might seem unusual, David revealed he favours microwaving bacon as it’s speedier and safer than pan-frying, reports the Mirror.

Nevertheless, he pointed out several factors to consider when microwaving bacon: the thickness, the quantity being cooked and how the rashers are arranged.

The thicker and greater the amount of bacon you’re preparing, the longer the microwave time required, and ensure the bacon doesn’t overlap so it cooks uniformly.

David chooses streaky bacon and arranges the rashers in a microwaveable container with a lid that allows steam to escape.

While the majority of microwave bacon cooking guidance suggests using kitchen paper, the chef observed that he doesn’t usually employ it, as he maintains that having bacon fat, which he describes as “liquid gold”, available is a “very important tool in your kitchen”. He pointed out that it can be utilised in numerous other dishes.

For those opting for kitchen paper, place the bacon on it and add additional sheets to absorb the fat as it cooks and to avoid splatters inside the microwave.

He prepares the bacon in the microwave for approximately six minutes before removing the rashers and allowing them to rest.

David explained, “Whenever you cook bacon, and you want it to get crispy, you want to let it rest.”

Following the six-minute microwave cooking of the bacon, both with and without kitchen paper, the chef discovered it achieved the crispiest result with kitchen paper, as the fat is soaked up.

For the kitchen paper bacon, the chef suggests adding it to a BLT, while for the bacon prepared without kitchen paper that retains some flexibility, he advises it is best served with eggs or a cheeseburger.

“For me, this marathon is a new chapter,” Mrs Martin said. “Running with a newly healed heart is my way of honouring Olive and showing my students, and myself, that even after immense grief, you can find strength and joy. It’s a reminder that life keeps going and I’m ready to see how much further I can go.”

NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP) — A volunteer firefighter died battling a wildfire in northern Florida while more than 120 homes have been destroyed in southeast Georgia and thousands more remain threatened by two large blazes, one of which investigators suspect was sparked by a foil balloon touching power lines, officials said Friday.

An unusually large number of wildfires are burning this spring across the Southeast, where scientists say the threat of fire has been amplified by a combination of extreme drought, gusty winds, climate change and dead trees still littering some forests after being toppled by Hurricane Helene in 2024.

In northern Florida, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that volunteer firefighter James “Kevin” Crews suffered an unspecified medical emergency while suppressing a brush fire. Crews was rushed to a hospital where he died Thursday evening, according to a news release posted to social media.

“Kevin was the epitome of courage and dedication,” Hilliard Volunteer Fire Chief Jerry Johnson said in a statement. “His sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

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‘No way to stop this fire’ without soaking rain

After getting a firsthand look at firefighting efforts in southeast Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters that state officials believe 87 homes burned in rural Brantley County this week are the most destroyed by a single wildfire in the state’s history.

An additional 35 homes have been lost to a larger fire burning in sparsely populated Clinch and Echols counties near the Florida state line, Kemp said. That blaze has burned about 50 square miles (129 square kilometers), an area twice the size of Manhattan.

Kemp said officials suspect the Brantley County was sparked by a foil party balloon that touched live power lines, creating an electrical arc that ignited the ground. He said investigators suspect the larger fire started with a man welding a gate outside.

Spread across nearly 12 square miles (31 square kilometers) and still growing, the Brantley County blaze was 15% contained Friday, the Georgia Forestry Commission said. An estimated 4,000 homes in the county were under evacuation orders Friday, said commission spokesperson Seth Hawkins.

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“There’s no way to stop this fire,” Kemp said. “They’re having to contain the flanks and the back of it and then, hopefully, we get a change in the weather.”

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No fire deaths or injuries have been reported in Georgia.

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Firefighters are battling more than 150 other wildfires in Georgia and Florida that have sent smoky haze into places far from the flames, triggering air quality warnings for some cities.

‘We’ve lost everything, but I’m one of the lucky ones’

The two explosions at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant came decades apart in the dead of night.

The first, at 1:23 a.m. on April 26, 1986, spread a cloud of deadly radiation that raised fears across Europe and shook the very foundations of the Soviet Union. Some say it led to its eventual collapse.

The second, at 1:59 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2025, was blamed by Ukrainian officials on a Russian drone with an explosive warhead. While not as catastrophic, it sparked new anxieties about Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor, striking the site that symbolized so much suffering for Ukraine.

“What once seemed unthinkable — strikes on nuclear facilities and other hazardous sites — has now become reality,” said Oleh Solonenko, head of a radiation safety shift at Chernobyl, which Ukrainians transliterate as Chornobyl.

The drone hit the outer layer of what is known as the New Safe Confinement structure, or NSC, the vast, $2.1 billion archlike shell that was completed in 2019 to enclose the original, hastily built concrete “sarcophagus” to keep the damaged Reactor No. 4 and its deadly debris from leaking radiation. Moscow denied targeting the plant, alleging Kyiv staged the attack.

It sparked a fire on the structure — which is tall enough to cover the Statue of Liberty — but did not penetrate it, damaging an area with low contamination. Monitors detected no rise in radiation levels outside the arch, and no one was injured.

Still, the International Atomic Energy Agency warned that the damage could significantly shorten the arch’s 100-year lifespan, upending its core safety function.

For Klavdiia Omelchenko, who works with over 2,200 engineers, scientists and others at the defunct plant, it rekindled memories of a horrible spring day 40 years ago.

A lifetime near Chernobyl

Omelchenko was a 19-year-old textile factory worker in 1986, asleep in her home in Pripyat, where most of Chernobyl’s workers lived. She didn’t hear the explosion at Reactor No. 4 during a routine test.

She woke to rumors of an accident, but only understood its scale weeks later — after being evacuated with a small bag holding her documents and some cosmetics. Her former home was now inside Chernobyl’s “exclusion zone,” a 2,600-square-kilometer (1,000-square-mile) area that remains uninhabited.

Soviet authorities did not immediately reveal the scope of what became known as the world’s worst nuclear disaster, which spewed a cloud of radiation over what is now Ukraine and Belarus, and caused alarm across Europe. Dozens of people died in the immediate aftermath, while the long-term death toll from radiation is unknown.

Omelchenko never found another home and came back in 1993 to work in the plant’s cafeteria. That return “wasn’t as scary as now. Back then, at least, there was no bombing,” she added.

To her, the full-scale invasion in 2022 and last year’s drone attack are more fearful than radiation.

She said she got headaches after the 1986 accident and later had surgery for a precancerous condition, but at age 59, she dismisses the risk of contamination.

“We grew up in it,” she said. “We don’t pay attention to it anymore.”

Covering the sarcophagus

Yellow daffodils bloom beside wartime fortifications at the Chernobyl plant as workers in ordinary clothes, with badges and special permits, pass through the restricted zone.

It has not produced electricity since 2000, when the last of four reactors was shut down. A global effort built the protective NSC — a landmark project designed to stabilize the site and enable the dismantling of the crumbling Soviet-era sarcophagus covering the reactor.

But Russia’s invasion has put that project on hold.

Liudmyla Kozak, an engineer who has worked at Chernobyl for over two decades, was on duty when Russian troops seized the plant in February 2022. The staff kept operations running under armed guard for nearly three weeks, exposing personnel to radiation doses well beyond the limits of their normal rotation schedules.

“We had no hope we would make it out alive — it was really that scary,” she said.

Kozak said workers slept on floors and desks, with Russian soldiers occupying key areas. Equipment was damaged and stolen, she added. The troops also drove heavy vehicles through contaminated areas and dug trenches, stirring up radioactive dust.

“With the drone strike as well, it will be much more complicated,” Kozak said.

The IAEA found the damage has left the arch unable to fully perform its core functions, which is containing radioactive material and enabling the safe dismantling of the reactor remains. Left unrepaired, the structure would gradually weaken, increasing radiation exposure risks to Ukraine and other countries.

Dismantling work on hold

Serhii Bokov, who oversees operations for the NSC, said he was on duty early on Feb. 14, 2025, when the dull blast from the drone rippled through the structure.

He and his colleagues ran outside, smelling smoke, but initially saw nothing. A nearby military checkpoint confirmed a strike, and firefighters arrived about 40 minutes later.

Climbing up into the structure, they finally found fire smoldering through the outer membrane. Hoses were stretched across the arch as crews battled flames that kept resurfacing. The fire took more than two weeks to extinguish fully.

“There was no feeling of fear, none at all. It was just a fire — something we practice in drills — only this time it was real,” he said. “I didn’t think, honestly, that we could lose the entire arch.”

The damage is patched and hidden on the inside, while a sealed breach is visible on the outside.

Every night, Bokov walks more than a kilometer (about 1,100 yards) through the structure via what workers call the “golden corridor” — a passageway lined with yellow panels shielding them from radiation. It passes abandoned control rooms, including that of Reactor No. 4.

When the NSC was completed in 2019, he was proud of being part of something extraordinary, watching it rise and take shape, and being a member of the team keeping it running.

Now, however, the structure is no longer fully sealed. While there is no immediate radiation risk, work on dismantling the sarcophagus is on hold — set back, Bokov believes, by at least a decade.

“Everything depends on how quickly we can restore this and return to normal operations — and to preparing for dismantling,” he said.

Bokov believes the arch can continue functioning in its current state for some time. But the real concern is the stability of the sarcophagus beneath it — and why it’s urgent to resume its dismantling.

Oleh Solonenko, head of a radiation safety shift at the plant, said the drone damaged the outer layer of the protective NSC but did not fully penetrate it. The damage occurred in an area with low contamination, with no rise in radiation detected beyond the arch.

Still, the incident showed how the war has upended assumptions about nuclear safety, he said.

Without urgent repairs, the risk of the sarcophagus collapsing significantly increases, Greenpeace Ukraine warned in a report by engineer Eric Schmieman, who spent years at Chernobyl and helped design the NSC.

“It is difficult to comprehend the scale of the deadly, hazardous conditions inside the sarcophagus,” he said. “There are tons of highly radioactive nuclear fuel, dust and debris. Now it is critical to find a way to restore the key functions of this facility.”

___

AP reporters Vasilisa Stepanenko and Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv contributed.

___

The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape: https://apnews.com/projects/the-new-nuclear-landscape/

A reader argues that Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream is one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch 1 and a major improvement on the original.

The rollout for this game is one that I was extremely invested in – I loved the demo, I had every promotional video on repeat, and I stayed up until midnight on launch day to be one of the first people to play the game. So, was the game worth the hype?

As with Nintendo’s best games, the gameplay shines. The evolution from Mii only being able to visit isolated parts of the island to them roaming an open world island already elevates this game above the predecessor. Seeing Mii walking with and past each other, and following them directly into the restaurant, makes the core gameplay and Mii interactions feel organic and part of the wider world.

There’s nothing more satisfying than solving an issue with one Mii outside and seeing several more walking around the island or talking in the background. Dragging Mii to another Mii or making them explore a newly built part of the island gives me a sense of autonomy over a game that could’ve been completely hands-off and randomised. The cut scenes for key Mii interactions reminds me of the ones from The Sims 2, in the best way, and it’s always fun deciding the topics of discussion and having them be added to the island lexicon.

If that was all, then this game would still be great, but the Island Builder and Pallet House is the real gem. The grid-based system makes editing the island in the builder surprisingly smooth, despite the busy interface, helped by being able to use the directional buttons. Meanwhile, Pallet House allows you to make objects for your Mii and island. You don’t have to be an artist, thanks to the templates and stamps. These two features alone adds depth to the gameplay, which was a frequent debate with its predecessor and has continued in the build-up to this game.

While the predecessor was only suited for short bursts, due to a lack of meaningful functionality, the ability to customise your island and drag the Mii anywhere on the island enables continuous experimentation even when the Mii have no requests. Also, the game just looks plain lovely. On ground level, the world looks way more detailed than recent Pokémon games and is one of the most attractive Switch games in recent memory, making for the perfect swansong for the Switch 1.

Of course, it isn’t perfect. The absence of the concert hall is disappointing, especially as its music plays in the restaurant. The open world approach could’ve justified this, but shops still continue to be menus, so keeping the concert hall separate wouldn’t have been out of place.

More understandable is there being a 70 Mii cap, due to the complexity of the game, although a Switch 2 patch with a higher Mii limit would be great. It’s also not lost on me that this game is the fourth Nintendo game in the last year (after Mario Kart World, Metroid Prime 4, and Pokémon Pokopia) to use open world elements, and it’s obvious that object creation is ripped straight from Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While it’s resulted in massive improvements to gameplay, the pattern is starting to feel obvious and formulaic.

Overall, this is the ideal evolution of a franchise that deserved a lot more attention. While this style of gameplay was never going to suit everyone, it’s a lot stronger as an interactive game than its predecessors and is worth a purchase if you’re looking for a funny and casual title.

By reader Connor Lamb

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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Vijay Chawla, 67, raped the 72-year-old woman in Manchester in March of 2023 after she repeatedly told him to stop.

He was arrested after the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, came forward to police and more than three years on has been sentenced for his crimes.

Detective Sergeant Sam Cullen, of Greater Manchester Police’s Criminal Investigations Department, said: “Firstly I would like to thank the victim in his horrifying incident to come forward and report their abuse to us, allowing us to conduct a thorough investigation.

“I commend the victim in this case for supporting our investigation, which has resulted in today’s sentence and sees justice served against Chawla.

The case was heard at Manchester Crown Court (Image: Phil Taylor)

“Our officers will provide support, conduct thorough investigations, and take firm action against offenders.

“Your allegations will be taken seriously, and you will be treated with dignity and respect.”

Chawla, of Rectory Lane, Bury was arrested after the woman told police about the rape the day after it happened.

Officers say that despite her repeatedly telling him to stop, Chawla forced himself on the woman and subjected her to a terrifying ordeal.

Police were called to the scene, and the woman was immediately supported by specialist officers and support services.

Chawla was arrested on the same day and later released pending further investigation.

He was found guilty of rape and sexual assault at a trial at Manchester Crown Court in January this year and this week was brought back to court to be sentenced.

Chawla was jailed for seven years.

While the US president is a self-avowed fan of the royals, he regularly criticises the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and dismissed UK aircraft carriers as “toys” compared with US equivalents. The King is, of course, the head of the British Armed Forces. And the political relations between the US and the UK, and other Nato allies, are at a perilously low ebb.

Matthew Weller, 44, died after a crash with a VW Passat at the junction of Blackburn Road and Birch Street in Accrington town centre on the evening of Wednesday April 22.

A murder investigation was launched and Mr Weller’s family have now paid tribute to him.

A statement from the family said: “Matt was a much-loved son, brother, and uncle. He was a music lover and left an impression on those that knew him.

“Rest peacefully Matt, you will be missed.”

Police on the scene in Accrington town centre (Image: Phil Taylor)

Lancashire Police say the VW Passat failed to stop at the scene and was later found abandoned on Barden Road.

They say they were called by the ambulance service to report the incident shortly after 10pm on Wednesday.

Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Mr Weller died in hospital.

Officers say the VW Passat was recovered for examination while five men have been arrested on suspicion of murder, and remain in custody.

A large area was taped off (Image: Phil Taylor)

A police scene remained in place in Accrington town centre for much of the following day with a large area cordoned off as officers went about their work.

The cordon was still in place as of Thursday in the area around the junction of Blackburn Road and Birch Street.

Officers are continuing to appeal to the public for anyone who may know anything about the incident to come forward.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “Our enquiries are very much ongoing, and we are continuing to ask anyone with information or footage, including mobile phone footage, or doorbell and dashcam footage that could assist our enquiries to please get in touch.

“We are also still keen to hear from anyone who saw the VW Passat following the incident or who may have any CCTV or Ring doorbell footage from the area around Barden Road and Lynton Road where it was found abandoned.

“We are appealing directly to anyone with information to do the right thing and get in touch on 101 quoting log 1508 of  April 22.”

It’s the kind of place you might pass through without realising what’s tucked away behind the stone cottages and winding country lanes.

But take a closer look, and you’ll find Roman ruins, riverside trails, family-friendly stops, and a warm, welcoming feel – all within easy reach of Consett and just a short drive from Durham.

1. Walk in the Footsteps of the Romans

History seeps from the soil in Ebchester – quite literally.

The village is built on the site of the Roman fort Vindomora, which once guarded the crossing of the River Derwent along the ancient road Dere Street.

Though the fort has mostly disappeared into the fabric of the village, you’ll find Roman stones repurposed in walls, houses, and even the village church.

Take a wander along Church Street and let your imagination roam 2,000 years back.

2. Riverside Walks and Wildlife

Ebchester’s riverside setting is a real draw for anyone who loves a scenic stroll.

The Derwent Walk, a former railway line turned green corridor, skirts the village and offers a peaceful, car-free route for walking, cycling or even horse riding.

The River Derwent itself is a magnet for birdwatchers, with kingfishers, herons, and dippers often spotted along the water.

It’s especially beautiful in spring when the woods fill with wild garlic and bluebells.

3. Family-Friendly Pubs and Hidden Cafés

What’s a village day out without a proper pit stop?

Ebchester and its surrounding area are home to cosy pubs with beer gardens, perfect for a relaxed bite with the kids or a drink in the sunshine.

A short drive takes you to nearby spots like Shotley Bridge, where you’ll find a choice of cafés and tearooms – ideal for cake after a riverside ramble.

4. Easy to Reach, but Feels a World Away

One of the best things about Ebchester is how easy it is to get to, yet how peaceful it feels once you’re there.

It’s less than 10 minutes from Consett, around 20 minutes from Durham, and close to major roads like the A694 and A68.

That means you can be walking in a riverside meadow or exploring Roman ground in no time, without the traffic and crowds of more well-known tourist spots.

5. Perfect for a Seasonal Ramble or Spring Day Out

This time of year is perfect for a visit.

The riverside paths are coming into bloom, and nearby attractions like Derwent Reservoir and Hamsterley Forest are just starting to buzz with spring activity.

Ebchester makes a great starting point for a spring walk, or even a picnic with the dog and a stop at a farm shop on the way home.

Keep an eye on local village halls and noticeboards too – Ebchester is known for its pop-up plant sales and local events that give it a real community feel.

Stuck between public opinion hostile to the Trump administration, and the economic and defence capability necessities of trying to keep Washington onside as much as possible, many of Europe’s Nato (and EU) nations, lead by France and the UK, are preparing along with other nations, an international maritime patrol and mine-sweeping capabilities for the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities have ended. In the hope, amongst other things, of somewhat placating President Trump.