Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart, of the Metropolitan Police, said in a statement: “I can confirm that officers from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime team are in the process of carrying out search warrants at two addresses, one in the Wiltshire area, and another in the Camden area.

LONDON (AP) — British police on Friday searched two properties linked to ex-ambassador Peter Mandelson as part of a probe into potential misconduct stemming from his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart said that “officers from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime team are in the process of carrying out search warrants at two addresses, one in the Wiltshire area, and another in the Camden area.

“The searches are related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office offenses, involving a 72-year-old man.”

Mandelson, 72, has homes in Wiltshire in western England and the Camden area of London.

The former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour Party is being investigated for potential misconduct in public office over documents, part of a trove of Epstein files released in the United States, suggesting he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago.

Mandelson has not been arrested or charged.

Misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who fired Mandelson from his ambassadorial job over earlier revelations about his Epstein ties, is facing a political storm over his decision in 2024 to appoint him to Britain’s most important diplomatic post.

From sightseeing to sunbathing and avoiding seasickness, there is plenty to consider when packing for a cruise.

You need to prepare for different temperatures at a variety of cruise port stops and there may even be dress codes on board.

Storage space can vary on cruise lines depending on the type of cabin so it is important to pack efficiently.

Cruise lines tend to have similar weight limits to airlines for luggage but unlike going on a aeroplane, you can have as many suitcases that will fit in your cabin.

This is especially helpful if you are UK-based and sailing from a port such as Southampton as you just need to fit your cases into a car and transfer them onto the ship.

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There is no need to overpack, though.

While there are, of course, the holiday essentials you’d expect to ack – such as a toothbrush, suncream and spending money, as well as the obvious items including swimming costumes and comfortable shoes for exploring – it’s worth noting that many essentials may be available to buy on the ship or even provided for free.

We asked cruise experts what items passengers really do and don’t need in their suitcase for a sailing.

Themed and formal nights

If you like getting dressed up, don’t forget to pack your tuxedo or cocktail dress.

Most cruises will have a formal or cocktail night where guests are encouraged to wear smart attire.

These aren’t compulsory but can be a fun way to have a more elegant evening and get some smart pictures while on holiday.

There may also be themed party nights such as a 1980s disco so you may want to pack your leg warmers or come equipped with fun accessories.

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You can often find out what the themes will be by checking Facebook groups for previous sailings or reading through your booking information and itinerary before you board.

“Staterooms have plenty of storage, so guests have more space than they think,” said Janet Parton, vice president of business development for the UK, Europe and Australia at Celestyal.

“We favour relaxed style cruising, and our cruises include casual days and a few slightly smarter evenings, so a small selection of versatile outfits that can be mixed and matched is ideal.

“It’s also worth considering dining. Breakfast and lunch are generally casual, while dinner is usually smart casual, with more formal wear for gala nights. On Celestyal, we also host sail away parties and celebration evenings such as our blue-and-white themed Greek night and a white night, which are always popular and give guests the chance to dress up if they wish.”

Read more: My wild weekend on a 1980s cruise

The essentials

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You will want to bring your own toiletries such as a toothbrush and makeup, but there are some items you can leave at home.

Parton added: “Before setting sail, always check what’s already included on board. Items such as hairdryers, pool towels and toiletries are provided, which saves luggage space for gifts and unique souvenirs from destinations.”

Read more: The best cruise deals for winter sun

The benefits of a backpack

There are lots of items you may need to carry around a cruise ship such as you phone or cruise card, and you may need your passport and money when exploring ashore.

A backpack is therefore a pretty useful item to pack for a cruise.

Ambassador Cruise Line’s chief experience officer Bob McGowan said: “Having a compact bag whilst at dinner, enjoying a show or popping to the bar can be handy – helping to avoid that moment of panic when you realise you’ve left your phone in the restaurant – whilst a rucksack is great for a big day of exploring once in port.”

Parton added:”Keep a small day bag handy for shore excursions, with essentials such as a swimming attire for a cooling dip in the sea or pool onboard when you return, sunscreen and a hat, a reusable water bottle and local currency. Any necessary medication should go in your carry-on so it’s accessible straight away.

“With a little planning, guests can pack lighter, stay organised, and enjoy every moment on and off the ship.”

It is also worth having a backpack ready with swimwear and any other essentials you may want on embarkation day while you are waiting for your suitcase to be delivered to your cabin.

Prepare for seasickness

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Even seasoned sailors can get seasick so whether you are a first-time cruiser or an experienced passenger, it is always worth packing motion-sickness tablets.

Some passengers also use sea bands or put special patches behind their ears, which are designed to alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness.

Read more: How to avoid getting seasick on a cruise

“Having a few seasickness tablets stowed away in your suitcase can provide peace of mind, even if you don’t end up using them,” McGowan added.

“Alternatively, many cruise brands including Ambassador have seasickness tablets freely available to offer to travellers when on board.”

Holiday reading

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A book is a must-have item on any type of holiday but McGowan says passengers shouldn’t worry about bringing too many on a cruise.

He explained: “Most cruise ships have their own library or at the very least a book swap arrangement so you can find a whole selection of literature to choose from during your sailing.”

Read more: The best cruise ships you must travel on in your lifetime

Create your own storage

Most cruise cabins will have a cupboard and drawers, but you can create extra storage. One top tip is using metal hooks that you can purchase off Amazon for around £5. These cling to the walls of a cabin to provide another area for your items.

Lindsay Haslehurst, head of product and commercial at Cruise118.com, said: “Almost all cabin walls are metal, so metal hooks are a game-changer for hanging hats, lanyards, or even wet swimwear.”

Cruise ducks and decor

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Many cruise passengers take part in an onboard scavenger hunt tradition where guests hide ducks around a ship for other travellers to find. You can either keep your stash or hide it for someone else.

This can be a great way to keep the kids occupied while on long sea days so it is worth packing your own to take part.

Some guests even bring magnets or items from home to decorate their cabin door, which can make it easier to spot your stateroom.

Read more: The best bucket list cruises

Students from Sedgefield Community College visited Hardwick East Park yesterday (February 5), ahead of the 2026 English National Cross Country Championships.

They took part in a series of mini races on part of the course that thousands of runners from across the country will tackle later this month.

The championships will be held on Saturday, February 21, marking the first time the event has returned to County Durham in 25 years.

National Cross Country Championships heads to Sedgefield later this month (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Students from Sedgefield Community College (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Organised by the English Cross Country Association alongside Sedgefield Harriers, the championships will feature 10 separate junior and senior races, starting at 11am.

During their visit, students from four year groups competed in a series of ‘Queen and King of the Hill’ races on part of the course, with prizes awarded to the fastest runners.

With financial support from North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, Sedgefield Harriers is investing additional resources into promoting the championships and encouraging more people to take up the sport.

The project aligns with the mayor’s ambition for the North East to become the UK’s first ‘Region of Sport’.

Students from Sedgefield Community College at the launch event (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Sue Dobson, chair of Sedgefield Harriers, said: “There’s a real buzz around the club and Sedgefield in general as we prepare to host the national championships of our sport. Loads of Harriers have signed up to take part, including some of our junior runners.

“A lot of them are students at Sedgefield Community College and we hope that their energy and enthusiasm will inspire more young people in the area to take up athletics.”

For more information about the championships, visit www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk

Students from Sedgefield Community College (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Lesley Strickland, events and sports lead at the North East Combined Authority, added: “Hosting the Nationals is a fantastic chance to showcase County Durham and inspire people of all ages to get into running.

“Grassroots sport is where healthy habits start, and events like this can spark that first step.”

Student Lewis Amer said keeping active has helped him develop socially.

He said: “I enjoy being active and healthy. I particularly enjoy the social aspects of sport. These are really important to me. I have made lots of friends through having an active lifestyle and also develop many personal qualities like teamwork and communication.”

Students from Sedgefield Community College (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Steven Hepples, leader of sport and promotion of active lifestyles at Sedgefield Community College, said: “Events like this are fantastic for everybody in the local community. This includes the young and the old.

“Providing opportunities to spectate at, or even be a part of, such an event will hopefully inspire more people to lead healthy, active lifestyles.

“Whether trying something for the first time or achieving personal performance goals, we all need to find our own motivation to lead a health active lifestyle. Events like this in our community will support this.

From all of us at Sedgefield Community College, we would like to wish all competitors and organisers every success.

A British man has died after falling from the sixth-floor balcony of a hotel in Spain.

The country’s National Police are investigating the circumstances behind the death of the 37-year-old in the Costa del Sol town of Torremolinos in the early hours of Wednesday, according to local newspaper Diario Sur.

Emergency services had received several calls alerting them to the fall of a man from a hotel balcony.

Paramedics attended, but were unable to save the man’s life.

The man was staying at the hotel with his wife and two young children, both under the age of 10, the police investigation has found.

Read more from Sky News:
‘Suffolk Strangler’ survivor describes being chased by him
When will the rain end? What the Met Office are saying

According to Diario Sur, which cited the investigation, the couple had been drinking alcohol.

The woman, it is reported, said she went to the bedroom to sleep, while her husband stayed alone on the balcony, at which point he fell.

The newspaper said that she told police that she was sure the fall was an accident .

Parts of the East Coast Mainline are closed this afternoon – affecting train travel between York and Doncaster.

The incident was reported at 2.20pm today (February 6) with the entire mainline set to be impacted by the travel delays.

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Major disruption is expected until the end of the day and trains may be severely delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised

“A failure of the electricity supply between Doncaster and York means that the line towards York is blocked. As a result, trains running between these stations may be severely delayed or revised,” said a spokesperson for National Rail at time.

Network Rail engineers are on site and are investigating the issue.

Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on the following services and routes:

• CrossCountry between Doncaster, Leeds, York and Newcastle / Edinburgh
• Grand Central between London Kings Cross and Doncaster / Bradford Interchange / York
• Lumo between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh
• Northern between Doncaster, Leeds, York and Newcastle
• TransPennine Express between Manchester, Leeds and York / Newcastle
• LNER between Doncaster and Leeds
• Northern between Doncaster and Leeds
• TransPennine Express between Leeds and York
• LNER and CrossCountry between York and Newcastle
• TransPennine Express between Newcastle and Edinburgh
• ScotRail between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street from 16:30

You do not need to amend your ticket to use it on these services.

Police received a report of a serious assault in the early hours of Monday (February 2) and were called to an address in the Eston area just before 3am.

It was reported that a man had entered the property, violently attacked the woman and fled with two mobile phones.

The woman was taken to James Cook University Hospital for treatment for her injuries.

A 34‑year‑old man was arrested on Thursday (February 5).

He remains in custody and now faces questioning on suspicion of aggravated burglary, theft, stalking and assault.

A spokesperson from Cleveland Police said: “Safeguarding measures have been put in place for the woman and enquiries by Redcar & Cleveland CID are ongoing.”

People in North Korea, including schoolchildren, are being executed for watching Squid Game and other foreign media, according to new testimony.

Citizens also face being killed for listening to K-pop, a South Korean music genre that includes bands like BTS.

Interviewees have described a climate of fear in which the South’s culture is treated as a serious crime.

The less well-off are more likely to suffer the harshest punishments, while wealthier North Koreans are able to pay corrupt officials to dodge prosecution, it is claimed.

The testimonies were revealed by Amnesty International after conducting 25 in-depth interviews with escapees who have fled the secretive state run by Kim Jong-un‘s regime.

The escapees said watching globally popular South Korean dramas, such as Squid Game, Crash Landing on You, and Descendants of the Sun, can lead to the most extreme consequences, including death.

‘Multiple executions’

One interviewee said they heard from an escapee with family links how people, including high school students, had been executed for watching Squid Game in Yanggang Province, which is close to the Chinese border.

Another execution for distributing the South Korean show was previously documented by Radio Free Asia in neighbouring North Hamgyong Province in 2021.

“Taken together, these reports from different provinces suggest multiple executions related to the shows,” Amnesty said in a statement.

Interviewees also described the perils of listening to foreign music, particularly K-pop from South Korea, with the popular band BTS named in their testimony.

In 2021, The Korea Times reported that a group of teenagers were caught and investigated for listening to the group in South Pyongan Province, which neighbours the capital, Pyongyang.

‘Homes sold to avoid re-education camps’

Choi Suvin, who fled North Korea in 2019, said people would sell their own homes to avoid punishment.

“People are caught for the same act, but punishment depends entirely on money,” the 39-year-old said.

“People without money sell their houses to gather $5,000 or $10,000 to pay to get out of the re-education camps.”

This inequality was further evidenced by the case of Kim Joonsik, who was caught three times watching South Korean dramas, but avoided punishment because his family had connections.

The 28-year-old, who left the country in 2019, said: “Usually when high school students are caught, if their family has money, they just get warnings.

“I didn’t receive legal punishment because we had connections.”

He contrasted his fate with that of three of his sister’s school friends.

In the late 2010s, the girls were condemned to years-long sentences in North Korea’s labour camps because their families could not afford bribes.

‘Executions to brainwash’

People, including schoolchildren, were made to attend public executions as part of their “ideological education”, the interviewees said.

Ms Choi described seeing someone executed for allegedly distributing foreign media in 2017 or 2018, in Sinuiju, near the Chinese border.

“Authorities told everyone to go, and tens of thousands of people from Sinuiju city gathered to watch,” she said.

“They execute people to brainwash and educate us.”

Kim Eunju, 40, said: “When we were 16, 17, in middle school, they took us to executions and showed us everything.

“People were executed for watching or distributing South Korean media. It’s ideological education: if you watch, this happens to you too.”

‘Ideological cage’

Sarah Brooks, deputy regional director at Amnesty, said: “These testimonies show how North Korea is enforcing dystopian laws that mean watching a South Korean TV show can cost you your life – unless you can afford to pay.

“The authorities criminalise access to information in violation of international law, then allow officials to profit off those fearing punishment.

“This is repression layered with corruption, and it most devastates those without wealth or connections.”

She added: “This government’s fear of information has effectively placed the entire population in an ideological cage, suffocating their access to the views and thoughts of other human beings.

“People who strive to learn more about the world outside North Korea, or seek simple entertainment from overseas, face the harshest of punishments.

“This completely arbitrary system, built on fear and corruption, violates fundamental principles of justice and internationally recognised human rights. It must be dismantled.”

Under North Korea’s 2020 Anti-Reactionary Thought and Culture Act, South Korean content is “branded rotten ideology that paralyses the people’s revolutionary sense”.

Those caught consuming such media face between five and 15 years of forced labour under the act, with heavier sentences – including death – for distributing it or organising group viewings.

Fifteen interviewees described how a specialised police unit dubbed the “109 Group” would hunt for foreign media, conducting spot checks on people’s homes, and street searches of mobile phones and bags, all without a warrant.

One defector recalled members of the unit warning: “We don’t want to punish you harshly, but we need to bribe our bosses to save our own lives.”

Read more:
K-pop stars BTS reveal comeback tour
Kim Jong-un dismisses deputy in rare public rebuke

Security agents ‘watch it secretly’

Nonetheless, consumption of foreign media is widespread in North Korea, the escapees said.

They described how dramas, films and music were smuggled in from China on USB drives, which are then plugged into notebook computers.

One interviewee said: “Workers watch it openly, party officials watch it proudly, security agents watch it secretly, and police watch it safely.

“Everyone knows everyone watches, including those who do the crackdowns.”

Most of those interviewed were aged between 15 and 25 years old when they escaped.

The most recent departure had fled in June 2020, with 11 more having left between 2019 and 2020.

Escapes have been rare since 2020, when COVID-19 border closures sealed the country off from the outside world.

The 2025 film has been called the ‘most underrated movie’ of last year and is available to stream on Sky Cinema and NowTV. It’s so good, it’ll leave you crying and laughing all at once

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People are being encouraged to watch the ‘most underrated film’ – and it’s left viewers in tears. Cinema enthusiast Eccy Reviews regularly posts about new films and series on social media and he’s done it again with his latest film.

Recently, he named The Ballard of Wallis Island as a film you’ll want to watch over and over again. The 2025 movie, available on NowTV and Sky Cinema, tells the story of “an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island tries to make his fantasies come true by getting his favourite musicians to perform at his home”. Directed by James Griffiths and penned by Tom Basden and Tim Key, the film has been nominated for Best British Film at the BAFTA Awards.

He stated: “Everybody is finally talking about this film, calling it the most underrated film of last year.

“I told everyone to go and watch it months ago, begging people to go and watch it because this is funniest, emotional and heartwarming of last year.

“I have never cried so much at a film when I wasn’t even expecting it. The comedy is so on point, it’s such an enjoyable watch. It is a film I will definitely revisit time and time.”

Responding to his video, one user commented: “Ballad of Wallis Island is a 10/10.” Another added: “I’ll watch this at the weekend now it’s on Sky.” A third said: “Oooh, weekend film.”

One viewer on IMDb said: “The second I saw the location settings I knew that this film is going to be a great one.

“A simple story with some great performances especially by Charles and Amanda, they nailed their characters with their unique style of innocence as people cut off from the rest of the world.

“Adding to that, the soundtrack took it to another level. If you love movies with minimal characters happening at a remote location and with great soundtrack then you’ll definitely love this.

“You might even cry a little bit if you’re an emotional person, I mean I did when Herb saw those paper clippings and found out why Charles was doing what he did.

“A really heartwarming film with a touch of light humour, I definitely recommend you guys to watch this.”

Someone else added: “The Ballad of Wallis Island is a quiet gem that blends dry humor with deep emotion.

“At its heart, it’s a romantic film – not just in the traditional sense, but in its celebration of love, loyalty, and human connection.

“The characters may start from very different places, but their arcs are believable and rewarding, unfolding with care and subtlety.

“The film handles grief and pride with nuance, and never feels manipulative or forced. It’s slow-paced in the best way: giving space to linger, to feel, and to reflect.

“Poignant, charming, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, this is one of those rare films that stays with you long after the credits roll.

“Highly recommended for those who appreciate sincere, character-driven storytelling.”

Taylor Swift has released the Nineties-inspired music video for her hit single “Opalite”, revealing that she invited her fellow guests from The Graham Norton Show – and Norton himself – to co-star with her.

Irish actors Cillian Murphy and Domhnall Gleeson, actors Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith, and Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, who appeared with Swift on the show last October, all make an appearance in one way or another.

Gleeson stars as a man in an unhappy relationship, while Swift is in a similar situation. After being convinced to try a mysterious product, “Opalite” – advertised by a grinning Murphy – they find each other and fall in love.

Capaldi stars as a mall photographer taking pictures of Gleeson and Swift together, before getting in on the pictures himself, while Turner-Smith and Lee appear in cameos on retro TV screens.

“My favorite part about writing is that first spark of an idea,” Swift, 36, wrote on Instagram as she announced the video’s release.

Praising the “insanely charismatic and loveable” Norton, Swift spoke of how “lucky” she felt to be paired with such a lineup on the Irish host’s chatshow.

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“It can happen at any time, for any reason. The idea for the ‘Opalite’ music video crash-landed into my imagination when I was doing promo for The Life of a Showgirl,” Swift said, referring to her most recent album.

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“When we were all talking during the broadcast, Domhnall made a light-hearted joke about wanting to be in one of my music videos,” Swift recalled. “He’s Irish! He was joking! Except that in that moment during the interview, I was instantly struck with an *idea*. “

She continued: “And so a week later he received an email script I’d written for the ‘Opalite’ video, where he was playing the starring role. I had this thought that it would be wild if all of our fellow guests on the Graham Norton show that night, including Graham himself, could be a part of it too. Like a school group project but for adults and it isn’t mandatory.”

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Swift said she was delighted when everyone accepted: “I had more fun than I ever imagined – made new friends, metaphors, and fashion choices. It was an absolute thrill to create this story and these characters.”

The “Opalite” music video is currently only available to watch on Spotify and Apple Music.