The BBC has been given access to a military base in Iraq where UK forces have been working together with their US counterparts during the conflict in the region.

The US announced an extended but fragile ceasefire on the US-Israel war in Iran – but prior to the ceasefire up to 28 drones were fired at the base on a daily basis.

“You hear weapons of destruction going off around you, and it’s bloody difficult,” an RAF air specialist at the base told the BBC’s defence correspondent Jonathan Beale.

British and US forces were working side by side at this military base long before the war with Iran started – in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Sharp differences over the war Iran have certainly strained transatlantic relations. But on this base the two are still joined at the hip.

Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said the close co-operation between the two militaries was a “message that needed to be elevated”. Since the conflict began “We’ve helped move Americans out of harms way; we’ve helped protect them and they’ve helped protect us,” Carns said – though he stressed that British forces were in a “defensive posture”.

Air Chief Marshal, Sir Harvey Smyth, said he’d met with the US commander of the base who’d been “effusive in praise” of UK forces. “I think our relationship is as strong as ever, and this operation has brought us even closer”, he said.

But that certainly hasn’t been reflected in the language between Washington and Westminster.

The reserve is expected to expand from 78 hectares to around 280 hectares

Plans to more than triple the size of a scenic nature reserve in Cambridgeshire have moved forward. Paxton Pits in Little Paxton near St Neots is set to expand from 78 hectares to about 280, making it one of the largest in Cambridgeshire.

Plans were initially submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council. The land was due to be transferred in phases over the coming years as gravel extraction is completed, with the new lease extending until 2087.

In the latest update, District Councillor Martin Hassall for Buckden, Diddington, and Southoe has confirmed that the final phase of excavation is scheduled for late summer to early autumn.

The footpath to the Ouse is now reportedly open and the quarry operator is currently submitting the paperwork to convert it into a bridleway. The bridleway from Diddington Pit to the Quarry, which continues to the Paxton Pits Visitor Centre is due to open by this summer, according to Cllr Hassall.

The nature reserve is expected to have three more lakes, islands for wading birds, and a variety of habitats. Extension leases for the reserve are due to be signed this month and a soft opening is expected to follow.

Councillor Hassall said: “The quarry team is working in full accordance with the current planning permission. A new planning and restoration application is underway. Site inspections from October and January were positive, with consultations indicating no technical issues.”

The councillor explained that ‘Area B’ was revisited based on new information and it was determined that significantly less inert material is required for restoration. This specific detail needs final approval and might be a delegated decision. If not, it would likely go to the June Planning Committee.

The project will also provide 27 kilometres of footpaths, 8.4 kilometres of cycleway, and new bird hides and viewpoints.

Steven Gerrard believes Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka need to start for Arsenal in next week’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.

The tie is finely poised heading into Tuesday’s encounter after Mikel Arteta’s side earned a 1-1 draw against Atletico in the Spanish capital.

Viktor Gyokeres gave Arsenal the lead from the spot before Julian Alvarez converted a penalty of his own following a Ben White handball.

Arsenal were perhaps unlucky not to have another chance from the spot when Eberechi Eze went down in the box, with referee Danny Makkelie awarding a penalty before reversing his decision after a VAR review.

The Gunners will still fancy their chances of prevailing in the tie and reaching their first Champions League final since 2006, particularly having beaten Atletico 4-0 at the Emirates earlier in the competition.

But Gerrard insisted that Arteta will need more attacking firepower to ensure that result, and urged the Spaniard to start both Eze and Saka next Tuesday after the pair were benched for the first leg.

‘I think in the second leg that have got to get Eze on the pitch,’ he told TNT Sports post-match.

‘I think he gives hem just that little bit more spark, little bit more power. He just looks that little bit more dangerous for me.’

Asked if Saka should also come into the team for the second leg, Gerrard added: ‘He does for me. You play your big-game players in the second leg.

‘You can understand them wanting to change and freshen the energy up and change the squad about, but you play your biggest players in the second leg of a Champions League semi-final.’

Gerrard also reserved special praise for Declan Rice, who showed a different side to his game in the first leg when asked to play in a deeper midfield role.

‘I thought he was immense, especially in the first half,’ Gerrard added. ‘He was dominant, in and out of possession, played a slightly different role, slightly deeper.

‘I think he was asked to drop in between the centre halves just to give them the extra man in the build-up because they were pressing with two centre forwards.

‘But I think out of possession, the way he rgains the ball, the way he covers ground, he’s some size and he’s some profile. I thought it was an outstanding performance from him once again.’

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The BBC expert said: “Do not get seduced by this.”

BBC’s Dr Xand has issued a serious warning as a new health trend has been gaining traction online, promoting testosterone tests, supplements and medications to both men and women. The doctor clarified that, while it can offer benefits for certain people, others may be exposing themselves to “fatal” consequences.

The expert warned on Morning Live: “The bad news is that it does not seem to have the benefits that are claimed for it.” He clarified that it may only provide genuine benefits for people whose bodies are not physically producing sufficient amounts of the hormone.

Dr Xand delivered his scathing assessment of a recent claim that testosterone could ‘defy ageing’ for both men and women: “That headline is not just misleading, it is completely incorrect, wrong and dangerous.”

The doctor explained the medication can be “seductive” to people as many may feel they are experiencing the symptoms of low testosterone.

Common symptoms of low testosterone include:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Mood changes
• Low libido
• Losing muscle and bone strength
• Hair changes

He added: “That’s sort of most middle-aged men. Most people can look at that list and go; ‘yeah, a lot of days. I feel a bit like that life gets a bit tougher’. The answer is that it does not solve those problems.

“Those problems are caused by stress, lack of exercise, poor diet, poor sleep, all these things that all of us have in our lives that are hard to solve and those things will lower your testosterone, but pushing your testosterone levels up does not seem to fix it.”

A further worry for Dr Xand is the potential for people to exceed recommended doses: “Then it becomes dangerous. The side effects of testosterone, even at low, doses can include headache, acne, irritability, and aggressiveness mood changes, infertility is probably the biggest one.”

The specialist noted that consuming testosterone at any dosage could permanently impair a person’s fertility and might result in them developing a dependency on the substance.

He added: “If you are taking it as a sort of improvement, wellness, bodybuilding, sports drug, you’re at risk of very severe heart disease. Even fatal side effects. So this is why I think it’s very dangerous. You can manipulate your blood tests so that you can get a low result and get a big prescription from a wellness clinic and that can lead you down a very dangerous road.”

The hormone can significantly influence numerous essential bodily functions, ranging from bone density and muscle mass to hair growth and mood. Both sexes produce the hormone, though women typically require lesser quantities, and testosterone medication was originally intended to assist those whose bodies were unable to produce sufficient levels naturally.

However, it has also been utilised as an anabolic steroid that gained popularity within gym and bodybuilding circles, though it carried a well-documented range of side effects. Only in recent times has it begun to be promoted as more of a holistic wellness product.

Dr Xand explained: “15 years ago, there were lots of concerns with it. We didn’t really know much about it was thought it might increase cancer it might increase heart disease, but it also might do all kinds of great things for you.

“Since then, there have been a couple of big trials that have looked at testosterone therapy in thousands of men in multiple countries in Europe. And so now we have some answers and the good news is that this is an inexpensive drug that does seem to be safe so it doesn’t seem to drive a lot of cancer.

“It does increase your risk of a few non-fatal heart conditions, but at the kind of doses you might get on the NHS it’s not hugely dangerous.”

Historically, women had no dedicated testosterone prescription available to them and were required to use men’s products when prescribed. However, there is potential evidence that testosterone therapy can work well for women during menopause.

Despite this, Dr Xand stressed: “It’s not for everyone and your GP can guide you through it. The marketing is designed to sell you a test to sell you a drug and then to send you all sorts of other things, all of which you should be going to your GP for and looking at.

“Do not believe it. Do not get seduced by this, if you are having a hard time with any aspect of your health, talk to your GP. The NHS is not against using testosterone, it will use it appropriately. Please, please, please do not go to a wellness clinic.”

Municipal elections in the occupied West Bank and in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah on April 25 have been quickly framed by Fatah, the dominant faction within the Palestinian Authority (PA), as a sweeping victory.

But it’s worth taking a closer look at how the election was organised. Candidates were required to commit to the political programme of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), which which includes the recognition of Israel, the renunciation of terrorism and the pursuit of a two-state solution. It was a condition that was widely seen as effectively excluding Hamas, which does not support these policies.

Hamas – which is understood to be preparing to hold elections for its leadership, which has been decimated during the 30-month conflict in Gaza – did not field candidates. A number of other groups, including the People’s Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Palestine People’s Party, FIDA, and Palestinian National Initiative, also opted not to field candidates in the election.

It’s important, when looking at the turnout and results, to bear this in mind. In the West Bank, turnout reached around 56%, but Fatah-affiliated lists were elected unopposed in 197 councils, roughly half of all municipalities in this round.

In the Gaza Strip, voting took place only in the central city of Deir al-Balah. Here, turnout was significantly lower, at around 23%, reflecting the mass displacement, incomplete voter registries and widespread loss of life. The Fatah-backed list won six of 15 seats. A list widely seen as aligned with Hamas secured two seats, with the remainder going to non-affiliated groups.

For the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, these municipal elections serve several purposes. They are presented as a way to reaffirm a political link between the West Bank and Gaza, and to signal a continued role in Gaza’s future governance. They also offer a platform promising reforms to the watching world at a moment when the PA faces pressure to demonstrate political legitimacy.

À lire aussi :
Council elections take place for some Palestinians – but continuing mass displacement makes Gaza poll farcical

While regular municipal elections have been held in the West Bank, presidential and legislative elections have not been held since 2005 and 2006. In the intervening two decades, concerns over the concentration of power under Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas have intensified. In this context, the municipal elections represented a lower-stakes form of participation. It was a way to show electoral activity without reopening the broader question of national leadership.

Rather than a clear mandate, the results point to a constrained political landscape, shaped as much by exclusion and limited participation as by electoral competition. What these elections will change on the ground is unclear, particularly in Gaza, which remains stricken by 30 months of war.

Gaza in ruins

According to the UN, over 1.9 million people – between 80% and 90% of Gaza’s population – are displaced – six months into what is supposed to be a ceasefire. Families live in damaged homes, tents or overcrowded shelters, without reliable access to clean water, electricity, food or healthcare.

According to the World Health Organization, only 19 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals function even partially and nearly half of essential medicines have run out. Conditions in displacement sites are deteriorating. Around 81% of sites show signs of rodents or pests, affecting 1.45 million people and increasing public health risks.

A recent joint World Bank–EU–UN assessment estimates that the recovery and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will cost more than US$70 billion (£52 billion). The restoration of housing alone accounts for US$18 billion in damage, while more than 68 million tonnes of debris will need to be removed before rebuilding can begin.

But reconstruction depends on access to materials, land and infrastructure and Israel continues to control all of these. Israeli authorities control the entry of aid into Gaza, funnel deliveries through a single crossing, impose inspection regimes that delay or halt shipments, and close crossings altogether. Aid entering Gaza fell by 37% in the three months to April 2026, as raids and other ceasefire violations continue.

Reconstruction without Palestinians

While the people of Gaza remain in these conditions, outsiders are moving ahead with plans to shape Gaza’s future. In November 2025, the UN Security Council endorsed resolution 2803, backing a US-led initiative known as the Board of Peace to oversee the territory. When it first met on February 19, the Board of Peace pledged around US$17 billion – including US$10 billion from the US and additional commitments from Gulf states such as the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Palestinians have no representatives on the Board of Peace, which is chaired by the US president Donald Trump, who also sets the agenda and calls meetings. Israel, however, does, as do Trump’s most prominent envoys, Jared Kushner and Steven Witkoff, who both have considerable business and real estate interests in the Middle East.

Palestinian civil society organisations have warned that the Board of Peace excludes Palestinians from meaningful decision-making and undermines their right to self-determination. European governments have also raised concerns about the concentration of authority in the hands of the US president and the lack of oversight.

Control over funding is also taking shape. The Gaza Reconstruction and Development (Grad) fund is structured as a World Bank Financial Intermediary Fund, with the bank acting as “limited trustee”. In practice, this means the World Bank manages donor money but has no say in how the money is spent. But World Bank president Ajay Banga also sits on the Board of Peace executive board, placing the institution inside the political structure that sets priorities.

In documents related to the Grad, the World Bank describes this moment as an opportunity to “fundamentally reshape” Gaza’s economy through private investment. The vision, as has been widely covered in the media, is to transform Gaza into a “hub” in the Imec development corridor that links India to the Middle East and beyond. The rebuilt Gaza would include a major port, high-tech industrial development, data centres and tourism resorts. Little provision has been made for the restoration of Palestinian homes, healthcare or water and power infrastructure.

À lire aussi :
Donald Trump’s vision for Gaza’s future: what a leaked plan tells us about US regional strategy

Recent discussions with the Dubai-based port operator and logistics company DP World appear to highlight Board of Peace priorities. In April 2026, representatives linked to the board explored bringing the company in to manage key parts of Gaza’s supply chains, including warehousing, tracking systems and the movement of both humanitarian and commercial goods.

The talks also included proposals for a new port in Gaza or on the Egyptian coast, as well as a free-trade zone. It’s a plan for market-led development in its most concentrated form, which envisages the reconstruction of Gaza to serve regional and global economic interests. It reflects external priorities, not the needs on the ground in Gaza.

The M61 motorway was blocked due to a vehicle fire near Bolton tonight (Wednesday, April 29).

The fire was on the northbound carriageway between Junction 2 and Junction 3 near Kearsley.

The incident was first reported shortly after 10.30pm, which traffic queueing in the area as a result of the blaze and the road reopening by 11.30pm.

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Inrix, the traffic data company, said: “All traffic being temporarily held due to vehicle fire on M61 Northbound from J2 to J3 A666 St Peters Way (Kearsley roundabout).”

A National Highways spokesperson said: “The M61 in Lancashire is blocked northbound between J2 and J3 near Kearsley following a vehicle fire.

“Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service are leading at scene. There are delays of 20 minutes and approx. 1 mile of congestion on approach. Please allow extra time if you’re travelling in the area.”

Harvey Browne threatened to kill the victim while on court bail

A man has been jailed after trying to drown his pregnant girlfriend. Harvey Browne, 20, tried to push the victim down into bath water at their home in Godmanchester last August.

He also subjected her to physical abuse including punching her in the stomach. Officers arrived after concerned neighbours contacted the police and arrested Browne.

Browne had threatened to kill the victim while on court bail and said he would “put her in a coffin” before police could help her. Browne, of Moselle Avenue, Haringey, Greater London, was arrested for sending communication threatening death or serious harm.

He pleaded guilty to this offence and assault ABH. Browne was sentenced to two years and nine months in a young offender institution at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday, April 27. He was also given a restraining order.

Detective Constable James Lewis, who investigated, said: “This was a brutal assault carried out behind closed doors designed to cause fear and suffering for the victim, who I would like to commend for the courage she has shown throughout the investigation.

“Domestic abuse can take many forms and often escalates quickly. If you or someone you know is experiencing violence or controlling behaviour, please know that support is available and we will always take reports seriously.”

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Ubisoft is testing the waters with a remake of one of Assassin’s Creed most beloved entries, but this stale franchise is too beholden to past glories.

Few games have made an impact through a single trailer like Assassin’s Creed. The CGI clip, shown at E3 2006, promised an evolution of Ubisoft’s Prince Of Persia acrobatics in an open world historical setting. It was a leading showcase of where third person action games were heading at the start of the Xbox 360 era, and graphically it set the world alight.

The original Assassin’s Creed failed to live up to this promise. It was highly repetitive and pretty shoddy despite its visual splendour, while the sci-fi Animus twist largely got in the way of the 12th century hijinks. The series, however, executed on its original promise with Assassin’s Creed 2, which replicated the Italian Renaissance period with a dynamite (and still series’ best) protagonist in Ezio, who led its two sequels Brotherhood and Revelations.

It’s been over 15 years since Assassin’s Creed 2, and while Ubisoft has iterated on the formula with ship battles, role-playing systems, and more varied settings, the series has never achieved the same creative fervor. In many ways, Assassin’s Creed 2 is the series’ equivalent of Activision’s Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, a defining template which was so successful, and worked so well, there’s been little reason to deviate from it since.

Like Call Of Duty, Assassin’s Creed games are now simply part of the furniture in the gaming landscape. They’re consistently solid, and remain a financial bedrock for Ubisoft, but it’s a well-worn, familiar concept which long ago stopped being cutting edge.

Ubisoft’s new strategy for dusting off the cobwebs is trying Capcom’s successful recipe with Resident Evil; in other words, remakes. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches in July, but there’s also rumours of additional remakes, including a potential overhaul of the original game from 2007.

The latter, if true, could be an interesting rework because it is a barely playable relic at this point, but based on the conservative improvements seen in the Black Flag Resynced trailer, we don’t have much faith that Ubisoft is looking to meaningfully upgrade anything beyond the obvious.

There are improved visuals, talk of refreshed combat, new parkour animations, and better tailing missions, but you’re still gallivanting through the same V-shaped trees and waiting to parry enemies in an awkward circle.

It’s perhaps unfair to expect a substantial series’ overhaul in a remake, but going back to the bones of a 13 year old game – which doesn’t feel too divorced from last year’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows in terms of gameplay – only reinforces how stagnant and dry the entire series has become.

When you compare it to the player choice seen in Baldur’s Gate 3 or the immersive, layered systems in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Assassin’s Creed feels dated and lifeless.

Ubisoft has little incentive, at least financially, to change anything at this stage but Assassin’s Creed is in dire need of a creative uproot if it wants to continue for the next decade.

Movement-wise, it needs to compete with the slick transitions in Insomniac’s Spider-Man. It could also take some structural cues from Io Interactive’s Hitman, where the sandbox levels are far more dense with assassination opportunities and reactive systems in enclosed scenarios.

Assassin’s Creed games aren’t known for their bold narratives, but maybe a radical, unexpected shift in setting could spark some creative verve. Go more contemporary with a Second World War spy slant, or lean into the sci-fi premise and shoot forwards in time instead. Fundamentally, surprise people with something fresh beyond the swords and sandals.

Ubisoft is promising a ‘very different type of Assassin’s Creed game’ for its next mainline title, codenamed Hexe, which will be a ‘darker, narrative-driven’ experience. It remains to be seen what that means exactly, but based on the studio’s track record over the past decade, it’s hard to imagine it isn’t just another production line sequel with a setting swap.

Assassin’s Creed is one of the biggest franchises in gaming, and was once a creative force in the realm of third person action games, but Ubisoft has allowed it to coast into an outdated and predictable mould. It’s about time it stopped dredging up the past, and gave players an exciting, rejuvenated reason to be excited about its future.

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Diego Simeone was unhappy with Arsenal’s penalty decision after Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night.

Viktor Gyokeres put Arsenal in front from the penalty spot late in the first half after he was barged over in the box by Atletico centre-back David Hancko.

Atletico were then awarded a penalty of their own in the second half after the ball struck Ben White’s hand from Marcos Llorente’s shot, and Julian Alvarez stepped up to equalise for Simeone’s side.

Arsenal felt they had a second penalty when Hancko mistimed an interception and stood on Eberechi Eze’s foot, however, Dutch referee Danny Makkelie reversed his initial decision after watching several replays on the VAR screen.

When asked about Gyokeres’ penalty decision in the first half, Simeone said: ‘In my opinion, the first penalty involved contact from behind, the player anticipated the contact and went down.

‘In Champions League semi-finals, you need a penalty that is truly a penalty.

‘The referee understood that it was. On the other occasion, thanks to VAR, he understood that it was a penalty because initially it wasn’t a handball, and then, in the second instance, also thanks to VAR, it wasn’t a penalty.

‘VAR sometimes gives you the benefit of the doubt and sometimes it takes it away.’

Arteta, meanwhile, admitted Arsenal were ‘fuming’ with the decision to overturn Eze’s penalty claim in the second half.

‘The decision and then what happens for a period of time. The referee has to watch it 13 times, it’s clearer than that,’ Arteta said.

‘It’s impossible, and yeah, we are all fuming about it.

Asked if Atletico’s supporters and animated coaching staff had an impact on the decision, Arteta replied: ‘That has nothing to do with that.

‘I’m sure they are very well aware of what the reaction is going to be. It’s normal, that reaction, we need to apply the rules.

‘The same thing that I’m saying, that they applied the rules on Ben White’s penalty, that is difficult to accept, but it is a penalty with a handbook.

‘And what they said at the beginning of the season, Ebs is a clear and very obvious penalty. That’s it.’

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