A meeting between officials from the West Dunbartonshire HSCP and the council will take place amid protest from care staff outside this afternoon – with their union accusing HSCP chiefs of ignoring calls for a pause.
12:41, 07 May 2026Updated 12:44, 07 May 2026
The union representing home carers in West Dunbartonshire have accused health chiefs of railroading plans for a controversial re-organisation of the service through ahead of another crunch meeting this afternoon.
The changes to social care have caused anger among some carers due to alterations to rotas which have been branded as “unworkable”.Councillors at the local authority recently voted narrowly in favour of recommending a pause for more talks between unions and the West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP),
But those calls have fallen on deaf ears, as fears about potential ‘fire and re-hire’ practices being introduced “by stealth” are also raised by union officials.
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Workers held a rally on Thursday afternoon outside the West Dunbartonshire Council offices in Dumbarton ahead of the meeting between council supremos and HSCP managers.
AnnMarie Carrigan, GMB organiser at West Dunbartonshire Council, said: “The council’s vote was decisive and councillors clearly wanted this disruptive redesign paused to allow constructive discussions.
“Instead, the HSCP continues to steamroller through changes which will have a devastating impact on the lives of committed workers.
“Are councillors content that their clearly stated wishes are being ignored by unelected and apparently unaccountable officials?
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“The refusal of the HSCP to pause and seriously engage with their staff in defiance of councillors’ wishes is abject and risks legal repercussions for the local authority.”
A poll of workers on the home care service carried out by the union evealed nearly nine out of ten (85 per cent) say their mental health has suffered because of the anxiety and stress caused by new working patterns.
It added that 72 per cent said the changes have cost them money because they have been forced to reduce their hours, with eight out of ten (80 per cent) believing the redesign has impacted their lives away from work.
In response, a spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire HSCP hit back at “misleading and inaccurate information” over the home care re-design.
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The spokeswoman added: “The majority of employees have confirmed the new hours and shifts are more suitable for clients’ needs, and we continue to work with the very small number of employees to reach a mutually acceptable solution for their particular situation.
“We have been liaising with employees and Trade Union Representatives for more than three years and continue to do so while we embed changes to ensure our high standard of care at home continues.”
When Sir David Attenborough was born in 1926, George V was on the throne, Stanley Baldwin was in Downing Street, and the BBC, the institution where he would spend many productive decades, was, itself, still in nappies.
Over the years, Attenborough has become the face and voice of natural history the world over. From chasing animals through jungles and deserts, to observing the myriad changes to our ecosystem in his near century on planet earth, Attenborough has been a guide through the wild citizens and untouched places of our world.
Here, ahead of his 100th birthday this week, we look at some of the moments from his televisual oeuvre that have defined Attenborough for generation after generation.
Attenborough and the puffins, Wild Isles
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As the years have gone by, Attenborough’s forays in front of the camera have become increasingly rare. Appearing in 2023’s domestic-focused Wild Isles, Attenborough sits amid a colony of Pembrokeshire puffins. “Never has there been a more important time,” he implores the audience, “to invest in our own wildlife.” In its accessibility and urgency, it shows a man still, somehow, in his prime.
Attenborough and the leatherback, Blue Planet II
David Attenborough and a leatherback turtle on ‘Blue Planet II’ (BBC)
At the ripe age of 91 years old, Attenborough could’ve been forgiven for reclining on a beach in the Caribbean. That he would do so, back in 2017, in the moonlit company of leatherback turtles is typical of the man. “Whoops,” he exclaims, with a half-chuckle, as a giant leatherback turtle prepares to lay her eggs. All that’s missing from the scene is a striped beach towel and pina colada.
Attenborough vs curling at the Winter Olympics, Radio 1
Attenborough’s voice and intonation make him ripe for parody, a fact he made light of when appearing on Greg James’s Radio 1 show back in 2014. Lending his dulcet tones to the women’s curling event at the Winter Olympics, he narrated proceedings in trademark fashion. “The frisking is frantic,” he said, as the stone slid down the Sochi ice, “and often futile.” The seriousness of his voice paired with the lack of self-importance has been key to his success (both as a sports commentator and, more often, a wildlife presenter).
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Attenborough on Raine Island, Planet Earth III x Zoo Quest
“As far as I know,” Attenborough told viewers, during 2023’s Planet Earth III, “I was one of the first people to film on Raine Island, back in 1957.” It was 66 years ago when Attenborough first set foot on this coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef to witness the world’s largest population of green turtles for an episode of his show Zoo Quest. Reflecting on this so many decades later, with the same issues at stake, is a remarkable feat of both zoological and televisual longevity.
Attenborough and sloth, The Life of Mammals
David Attenborough saying ‘boo!’ to a sloth in ‘The Life of Mammals’ (BBC)
In 2002, Attenborough was back to his roots as a hands-on zoologist for this 10-part series about earth’s dominant animal class. But it was an intimate interaction shared with a sloth (“the most extraordinary plant predator”) that captured viewers’ imaginations. “Boo!” he says to the sloth, with somewhat uncharacteristic playfulness. The central American herbivore looks back at the naturalist, stretching its head out in measured curiosity, and for a beautiful moment it’s ambiguous as to who is scientist and who is subject.
Attenborough vs python, Zoo Quest
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Back in the 1950s – long before bravura herpetologists had turned snake wrangling into a TV artform – a young Attenborough found himself in Indonesia, face to face with an enormous python. Not much older than 30, Attenborough already possessed that recognisable voice of his – but what is utterly unrecognisable is the figure nimbly scuttling up a tree, khaki shirt unbuttoned to reveal a rippling torso. The conscientious tone that would come to typify Attenborough’s later narration is entirely absent as he stuffs the python’s head into a burlap sack and grins for the camera in his moment of triumph.
Attenborough at Glastonbury 2019
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David Attenborough addressing the Glastonbury crowd in 2019 (Maja Smiejkowska/Shutterstock)
Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Jay-Z: all the biggest acts in the world have played the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. So, it was oddly fitting when, in 2019, this titan of the natural world took prime position at Worthy Farm to give a rousing speech about the festival’s accomplishments in divesting itself of plastic. “This great festival has gone plastic-free,” he told the enormous crowd. “That is more than a million bottles of water that have not been drunk by you in plastic bottles.” The roar that greeted the nonagenarian’s rather banal appearance was the sort usually reserved for teen idols or ageing rock superstars.
Attenborough and the Cargo Cult, The People of Paradise
It’s not unfair to say that David Attenborough walked so that men like Bruce Parry and Anthony Bourdain could run. In 1960’s The People of Paradise, a youthful Attenborough deviated from his zoological background for a sojourn in the cultural anthropology arena. His episode amongst the Cargo Cult of Vanuatu, who worship a mystic figure called “John Frum” is particularly excellent. Watching it in 2023 is a good reminder of how much smaller the world seemed when Attenborough first began broadcasting.
The clever killer whales, Frozen Planet II
One of Attenborough’s key skills as a narrator is his ability to read meaning into animal behaviours, parsing them for a lay (read: human) audience. One of the most striking examples came during 2022’s Frozen Planet II. A pod of killer whales swim in formation to create waves that displace a delicious, succulent seal skulking safely on an ice floe. “It’s an ingenious solution,” he says, with almost grandfatherly pride, as the whales rip the seal to smithereens and sup on its exquisite blubber.
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Lizard vs snakes, Planet Earth II
There’s nothing audiences love more than the rare moments when the animal kingdom pits one species against another. The best example of this, in recent years, comes from 2016’s Planet Earth II. A death match is waged between a lizard – sprinting through the desert as though it’s in Mad Max – and countless deadly snakes. This was one of the first clips from an Attenborough documentary to go viral on social media, aided by a legendary slot on Channel 4’s Gogglebox.
Attenborough and the Queen, The Queen’s Green Planet
When David Attenborough met the Queen (ITV)
ITV really bagged the big guns for its 2018 documentary, The Queen’s Green Planet. David and Elizabeth, the nonagenarians, who were born just a couple of weeks apart in 1926, were filmed going for a pleasant stroll in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. The conversation itself isn’t exactly scintillating – the Queen compares a variety of trees to her awful children – but there’s something pleasing about the sight of these two figures, both of whom had acquired living (at the time) legend status, pottering around the garden.
Attenborough and Obama, 2015
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In his later years, Attenborough began to transition from naturalist to campaigner. In 2015 he sat down in the Oval Office with then-President Barack Obama to discuss life on our “blue marble”. The two discuss the renewable energy transition, population urbanisation and educating children about the natural world. But what’s most striking, perhaps, is that both these men look infinitely more statesmanlike than those politicians now convening at COP after COP to talk about these same issues.
Attenborough and Lonesome George, Galapagos 3D
“This is the rarest living animal in the world,” whispered Attenborough, as Lonesome George, the last Pinta Island tortoise, crawled beside him. Attenborough’s 2013 series Galapagos 3D – made during the short-lived 3D fad – saw him get up close and personal with a creature who, having been born in 1910, made the silver-haired presenter look like a spring chicken. Even more remarkably, the tortoise died a fortnight later at the age of 102, making it his last on-camera interview. Attenborough was not, to my knowledge, questioned in connection with the tortoise’s death.
Attenborough and the mountain gorillas, Life on Earth
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Probably the most instantly recognisable on-camera sequence from Attenborough’s decades at the BBC, this 1979 encounter with mountain gorillas at Dian Fossey’s sanctuary in Rwanda is a remarkably tactile piece of broadcasting. These huge apes – who could comfortably rip his face off and use it as a banana dish – start to tussle with the presenter in the foliage. Rather than run for his life, Attenborough submits, even grinning broadly as two baby gorillas remove his shoes. For a man best known to a whole generation as a disembodied voice, it is a wonderfully corporeal moment.
Attenborough and the baby rhino, Africa
David Attenborough and a rhino in ‘Africa’ (BBC)
What’s better than a full-sized rhino? A baby one, of course! On all-fours in the African savannah, Attenborough comes face to face with a pint-sized rhinoceros. They squeak at one another, the older man replicating the younger mammal’s juvenile calls. “Enchanting creature,” Attenborough muses afterwards, but that shot of them locking eyes – one gnarled and wrinkled by evolution, the other craggy and lined with age – remains iconic. It is a moment not of enchantment, but of fraternity.
Attenborough’s butterfly, Micro Monsters
Big cats, giant snakes, great apes: these showstopping animals might take the headlines, but Attenborough is as adept working on a far smaller canvas. There is no more poignant example of this than a scene from 2013’s Micro Monsters, in which a butterfly lands on the presenter’s index finger. The insect seems to hold its poise while Attenborough delivers his trademark narration, his eyes staring inquiringly at the patterned wings just a few inches from his face.
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Attenborough’s orangutan, Zoo Quest
Zoo Quest, the show that made Attenborough’s career as a presenter, was based on a premise that now seems wildly dated: the staff of London Zoo, and the BBC, travel the world to capture animals for the site’s permanent collection. All the same, the show introduced the British public to far-flung locales and their equally eye-catching denizens. The highlight is, perhaps, the search through Indonesia for an orangutan. Tracking discarded fruit on the floor, Attenborough spots their distinctive orange fur through the foliage. The ape proceeds to hang there “screaming and breaking off branches to throw down at [Attenborough]”. Fair enough – anything to avoid a trip to 1950s London.
Attenborough at COP26 2021
With Britain hosting COP26, the global climate change summit, it was natural that the organisers would turn to the nation’s most respected voice on issues of the natural world. Opening the summit in Glasgow, Attenborough delivered a rousing speech against a backdrop of dramatic images of planet earth – together with illustrations of humanity’s impact on it. “If working apart we are a force powerful enough to destabilize our planet,” he told attendees of the conference, “surely working together we are powerful enough to save it.” At a conference famous for half-measures and backroom deals, it was a spine tingling moment of public performance.
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Dancing with the capercaillie, The Life of Birds
The capercaillie – the horse of the wood – is the world’s largest grouse. Up in Scotland, Attenborough gets up close with the local alpha male. “He is so charged up,” Attenborough observes wryly, as the bird, tail feathers standing erect, bears down on him. Moments later, the capercaillie has, somewhat over-dramatically, knocked the long-in-the-tooth presenter to the ground. “Now, now!” he exclaims, with a chuckle, as the beak of the capercaillie rattles with indignation.
Attenborough, tortoise and Graham Norton, The Graham Norton Show
David Attenborough jokingly narrating raunchy tortoise video on ‘The Graham Norton Show’ (BBC)
Attenborough has a long association with animals mating. “Does it get to the point where you just feel like an old perv?” asked Graham Norton when the esteemed knight of the realm sat on his red couch in 2012. Attenborough was a fixture of talk shows, from Parkinson to Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, and a very good sport. Following his cheeky enquiry, Norton made Attenborough provide his trademark narration to grainy video footage of a tortoise attempting to have its way with a rubber Croc. “The humble tortoise gently mounts his chosen mate,” Attenborough says soberly, “in a dance as old as time itself.”
Evil shoebills, Africa
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Attenborough’s reassuring voice was often utilised to good effect in heart-warming stories of survival against the odds, but it could also run counter to that grain. There’s no better example than in 2013’s Africa, when two shoebill chicks start to fight in their mother’s absence. “This is more than scrap between two siblings,” Attenborough growls, as the comically grotesque shoebill bites at its runty brother’s neck. “It reveals a dark side.”
Lions vs elephant, Planet Earth
The BBC’s Natural History unit has always been at the cutting edge of technological developments. Underwater photography, drones and infrared are now staples of their broadcasts. Back in 2006, for the first series of Planet Earth, the team caught an extremely rare natural event using what was then considered state of the art technology: night vision. “They’re specialist elephant hunters,” Attenborough says of a pack of lions chasing their next meal, using narration sparingly as audiences bear witness to the elephant being dragged to the ground. He concludes, with trademark pragmatism, that “this elephant will feed the whole pride for at least a week”.
Cllr Michael Pavlovic said the council is supporting landlords following the Renters’ Rights Act coming into effect this month.
The Renters’ Rights Act signals the end of Section 21 “no fault” evictions, meaning private landlords will not be able to evict tenants without a valid justification.
Landlords must also reasonably consider renters’ requests to live with a pet.
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Rather than fixed contracts, tenancies in the private rented sector will also roll on from month to month or week to week, giving renters more flexibility. Tenants can end them with two months’ notice.
There are also fairer rent rules, with landlords only able to raise rents once a year and tenants able to challenge unfair hikes.
Potential bidding wars should be avoided as landlords must stick to no more than the advertised rent price.
Landlords can now only ask for up to one month’s rent upfront and they cannot refuse tenants because they receive benefits or have children.
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Full-time students can be evicted at the end of the academic year if the landlord gives them four months’ notice. These new rules do not apply to social tenants or lodgers.
Cllr Pavlovic said 20 per cent of homes (or 17,000 properties) in York are privately rented and in “very high demand as those looking for a rental property will know”.
“This new legislation gives tenants more rights and security – if they honour their contracts.
“We’re also supporting landlords and so far, we have trained 200 to help them understand and act on their new obligations. They in turn must help make their tenants aware of these changes.”
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Andy Simpson, chair of York Residential Landlords Association (RLA), said the Renters’ Rights Act represents a “significant change for both tenants and landlords”.
“Landlords will want to see the new system work well, with tenants having clear information about their rights and responsible landlords having clear guidance on what is required of them.
“It is important that landlords receive clear communication well in advance of changes taking effect, so they have the time and certainty needed to prepare properly. These reforms must be implemented in a fair, practical and proportionate way, with good landlords supported to continue providing much-needed homes in York.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Council on the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, with the aim of securing positive outcomes for both tenants and landlords.”
Thriller fans won’t want to miss this star-studded drama led by Mad Men icon Jon Hamm.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
14:38, 07 May 2026
A “life or death crisis” thriller is heading to screens from the creative forces behind acclaimed productions such as The Night Agent and Big Love.
Adapted from the highly regarded podcast of the same name, American Hostage is a “high-stakes” eight-episode psychological thriller guaranteed to keep audiences gripping their seats throughout.
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Set against the backdrop of the 1970s, American Hostage recounts the “harrowing true story” of beloved Indianapolis radio journalist Fred Heckman, who was taken hostage by Tony Kiritsis and forced to broadcast a live interview on his widely followed radio programme.
Scheduled to launch in autumn 2026 on MGM+, the role of Fred Heckman is portrayed by Mad Men and Landman star Jon Hamm.
He is joined by Giovanni Ribisi, renowned for his appearances in Saving Private Ryan, Friends, Avatar and Sneaky Pete, who takes on the role of Fred’s captor Tony Kiritsis.
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Telly fans can get seven days of free access to binge top series like Outlander with a free trial of Amazon Prime’s MGM+ channel.
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Rounding out the cast are several well-known faces, including The Killing’s Mireille Enos, The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper, and Jonathan Tucker, best known for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Adding further excitement to the production is the involvement of co-creator Shawn Ryan, whose impressive portfolio includes The Night Agent, Timeless, SWAT and The Shield.
Ryan is partnered with fellow co-creator and co-showrunner Eileen Myers, whose previous credits include Big Love, Dark Blue and Masters of Sex.
Offering an early glimpse of the forthcoming series, MGM+ has released a handful of teaser images, amongst them a shot of Hamm’s Fred Heckman in his radio studio.
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The second shows Fred alongside his wife, portrayed by Mireille Enos, standing in close proximity while appearing startled by something on a television screen.
Michael Wright, global head of MGM+, remarked: “The combination of prolific producers Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers, a singular talent like Jon Hamm, and our partners at Sony Pictures Television, is a match made in MGM+ heaven .
” This is a fascinating story about real people engaged in a real-time life-or-death struggle to keep a desperate hostage situation from spinning out of control, and we’re thrilled to bring it to audiences around the world.”
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American Hostage will be available to watch on MGM+ later this year.
A car meet-up was organised in memory Shea McGreevy on Monday evening in West Belfast
Police have said five vehicles were damaged and two officers injured as they issue a renewed appeal for information following a car meet-up in West Belfast that led to violent disorder.
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A car meet-up was organised on Monday, May 4, in memory of Shea McGreevy who died in a jet ski accident the previous week which saw large numbers of cars and scramblers gather on the Stewartstown Road and engage in dangerous driving.
Police attending the scene were attacked by a large group who had their faces covered.
The PSNI has now issued a renewed appeal for information asking people to contact them.
Chief Inspector Ferguson said: “At approximately 7.30pm, officers attended after receiving reports of cars and scrambler bikes gathered in the area and engaging in dangerous driving.
“A large number of people with faces covered emerged from the crowd and began to throw masonry and other projectiles at police.
“Five police vehicles were damaged and two officers sustained injury.
“I am appealing to anyone who may have any information or CCTV, dash-cam or other footage that could assist in identify those responsible, is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1141 04/05/26.
Gary Brunton had been out with his friends on Bank Holiday Monday (May 4) evening, when it is believed he fell from the staircase leading to the flat above the Demi Sports Bar, on Albert Road in Consett.
The 51-year-old from Consett was taken to hospital with serious injuries but died on Wednesday (May 6).
Today (May 7), his family paid tribute to him, saying: “Losing Gary has left our entire family heartbroken beyond words.
Gary Brunton (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)
“He will leave an enormous gap in the lives of not just our family but also his friends, who he loved so much.
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A fire service car next to the Demi Sports Bar, Consett (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
“To never see him again is breaking our hearts. We are going to miss him every day.
“We ask for privacy while we grieve and try to come to terms with our unimaginable loss.”
An investigation is underway, and police are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward.
Yesterday afternoon, a fire service car remained parked outside the scene, while fire service staff were inside the venue.
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A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) spokesperson said: “We are working collaboratively with partner agencies and other authorities to support the investigation.
“Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this incident.”
James McClean has voiced his opinion on the UEFA Nations League fixtures
14:05, 07 May 2026Updated 14:17, 07 May 2026
James McClean has voiced his opinion that the Republic of Ireland’s forthcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel ought to be cancelled.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s squad are scheduled to take on Israel on 27 September away from home, with the return fixture taking place at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium seven days later.
Earlier this week, a coalition of prominent figures and footballers urged the Football Association of Ireland to withdraw from both fixtures. Musicians Paul Weller and members of Kneecap, alongside actor Stephen Rea and several current and former players, put their names to an open letter demanding a boycott as part of the Stop the Game initiative, led by Irish Sport for Palestine.
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Taking to his Instagram story on Thursday to share the letter, McClean offered his perspective on the situation.
He wrote: “You can write every letter, sign a million petitions, protest every day of the week but it will be like pissing into the wind for the sheer fact that there is not a backbone within the FAI.”, reports the Irish Mirror.
“It’s a tough one in fairness for the players and I get it, it’s an opportunity to play a football game for your country, that being said I can’t see too many if any objecting to the game being played anyways, the decision should be taken out of their hands.
“Simply the game should never be going ahead, if there is one country that should recognise oppression and the turmoil that brings then it’s Ireland.. although with the decision makers in this country you’d be mistaken to think we ever had any history of it.
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“There’s my thoughts for what it’s worth, have a great day.”
Shamrock Rovers captain and PFAI chair Roberto Lopes was amongst those who put their name to the correspondence sent to the FAI.
“We have to stop the game. As players and fans, our natural instinct is always to get out there and compete, but this is a moment where we need to look at the bigger picture,” he said.
“We can’t ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine; the sheer loss of life there has to take precedence over any sporting consideration.
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“Ireland has an opportunity here to lead-to be a pioneer and do what others won’t. We need to be brave enough to say enough is enough. We can’t just stand by. Please, stop the game.”
The letter stated: “To the Football Association of Ireland, Irish fans are rightfully known across the globe as “the best fans in the world”, but with this comes a responsibility to the Irish people whom our country represents. We call upon you to refuse to participate in the two scheduled UEFA nations league games against Israel.
“Firstly, on the basis of the clear and ongoing serious breaches of UEFA and FIFA statute regarding Israeli teams playing on occupied Palestinian lands. As a member of UEFA you have a duty to upload these rules if UEFA will not.
“Secondly, on the basis of a brutal system of apartheid and acts of genocide, both of which are accepted by the Irish government. It is inconceivable that we would be willing to be silent and give cover to such crimes in the name of football.
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“We call on you to ensure the Irish football team is not used to mask UEFA rules breaches, apartheid and war crimes. And to respect the call to boycott the game by the majority of players, fans and communities across Ireland.
“Last November, 93% of FAI members voted to instruct the Association to go to UEFA and call for Israel’s suspension under those statutes. We call on you to full respect and represent this mandate.
“Through your leadership and courage we show the world that whilst others may stand idly by, Ireland will not.
“Just as history rightly celebrates the Dunnes Stores workers during South African apartheid, the FAI will be celebrated by future generations of Irish people for doing the right thing when others did not. Yours in sport. Stop the Game.”
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The Stop the Game campaign has emphasised: “This campaign is only beginning and we will do everything in our power to ensure Irish football is not used to give cover to apartheid and genocide.”
Research shows Brits struggle to identify well-known species of birds highlighting a significant wildlife knowledge gap
Forest Holidays launch Nestflix
A quarter of Britons are uncertain they could distinguish between a robin and the red kite. A survey of 2,000 adults found barn owls, pheasants and blue tits are amongst the birds the nation finds difficult to recognise – despite them being familiar species and native to the UK. Kestrels, starlings and even herons also appeared in the top 30.
More than a third (34%) blamed their lack of knowledge and disconnect with the great outdoors on being overwhelmed by digital content, and 21% say they are more likely to see birds on screens than outside.. But it also emerged 36% watch ambient nature content online to unwind.
The research was commissioned by Forest Holidays to support the launch of ‘Nestflix’, a tongue-in-cheek, alternative streaming-style platform featuring aptly titled shows such as Beaky Blinders and Game of Crows, filmed across British forests to help people better connect with our country’s wildlife.
The nature travel specialist is also partnering with the Get Birding podcast, hosted by Sean Bean, to celebrate the bird life found across the nation’s woodlands.
Gerry O’Brien, a forest ranger at Forest Holidays, said: “In today’s digital world, it’s easy to default switching on a screen to unwind – but often what we really need is to switch off properly.
“With Nestflix, we wanted to playfully remind people – via the kind of content they love – that the greatest show on earth actually isn’t found on a streaming platform – it’s happening all around us in nature.
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“From birdsong at dawn to the fascinating drama of animals in our forests, the natural world offers the perfect antidote to endless streaming and sometimes, the best way to truly unwind is simply to log into nature.”
The downsides of screen exposure are well documented, with more than half (53%) agreeing it results in missing out on fresh air and physical activity, while just under a third (32%) also recognise it affects their sleep quality.
Despite this detachment, birdwatching is starting to experience a resurgence in popularity throughout the UK, with nearly half of respondents (44%) already taking part in the hobby – whether consistently or more occasionally.
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This involvement is mirrored in schemes such as the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which draws hundreds of thousands annually, while rising enthusiasm is also visible online, with posts tagged #birdwatching on social media platforms continuing to climb.
When weighing up a nature-centred getaway, 37% identified the opportunity to unwind and decelerate as most appealing, and for 26% they recognised this kind of retreat as a chance to boost mental health.
Notably, observing wildlife in its natural environment leaves the most enduring impressions for people while away, with 37% of those surveyed via OnePoll stating forest walks have remained with them most vividly.
Gerry O’Brien added: “Our research shows many people feel disconnected from nature, but it’s encouraging to see that they realise the benefit in spending time outdoors and the hugely positive effect that can have on how we feel.”
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BIRDS BRITS ARE LEAST LIKELY TO IDENTIFY IN THE WILD:
It follows disorder in the Nailors Row area earlier in the week
An 11-year-old boy has been arrested on riot offences following disorder in Derry earlier this week.
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Police made the arrest on Thursday, May 7, as part of an investigation into disorder that took place in the Nailors Row area of the city earlier this week.
The boy was arrested arrested on suspicion of offences including riotous behaviour and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He has since been released on bail.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police in Derry/Londonderry have today, Thursday 7 May, made a further arrest as part of their investigation into recent disorder at the Nailors Row interface in the city earlier this week.
“An 11-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of offences including riotous behaviour and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He has since been bailed to allow for further police enquiries to be conducted. “The investigation to identify all those involved continues, and anyone with information, including dash-cam, CCTV or other footage, can contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1383 of 05/05/26 or submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
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“Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”
Wold Top Brewery’s Alpine Pale is the spring/summer edition and is available exclusively in selected Asda stores throughout Yorkshire and the north of England.
Wold Top’s MD, Kate Balchin, said: “We were speaking to the buyer at Asda about range changes, and they mentioned that a new, seasonal beer, with the same ABV for each one, would be a great addition to their range, so this is what we’ve done!
“It’s a brand new recipe focusing on the different flavours imparted into beers by hops from different growing regions. Alpine Pale is a fresh, pale ale made using European hops, which bring soft floral notes, a gentle spice and a clean, refreshing finish. It will be followed later in the year by beers brewed using British hops, American hops and New Zealand hops, respectively.”
Alpine Pale, 4.6% ABV, is gluten free and vegan friendly.
Wold Top was founded in 2003 and is located on the Mellor family farm at Hunmanby Grange near Filey.
The team use home-grown barley and water from the farm’s borehole to produce a range of award-winning cask, keg and bottled beers that are available nationwide.
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In 2024, the brewery was overall winner in the York Press Business Awards, also winning the sustainability category.
Yes, too much caffeine can lead to jitters, a bad night’s sleep, and even high blood pressure.
But there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that moderate coffee consumption (roughly three cups or less a day, or 200-300 mg per day of caffeine) could actually be good for us.
The paper, published in JAMA, involved 131,821 participants, who the researchers followed for 43 years.
The data came from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. None of the participants had dementia, Parkinson’s, or cancer at the start of the study.
Every two to four years, the scientists asked participants to share their caffeine intake as part of dietary questionnaires.
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The researchers compared these self-reports to health data across the years, including cognitive tests they asked people to complete throughout the study. In the decades of follow-up, just over 11,000 people developed dementia.
And once they’d compared the results, the researchers found that:“Greater consumption of caffeinated coffee and tea was associated with lower risk of dementia and modestly better cognitive function, with the most pronounced association at moderate intake levels”.
In this study, “moderate” caffeine consumption was about two to three cups of coffee a day, or one to two cups of tea daily.
Even in the “high” consumption bracket, though (up to five cups of coffee a day), dementia risk seemed to be 18% lower. And cognitive decline seemed slower n caffeinated coffee drinkers, too.
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Does that mean drinking coffee will definitely lower my dementia risk?
This was an observational study, which only showed a link between coffee consumption and dementia.
Researchers couldn’t prove for sure that it was the coffee itself that made the difference; although they tried to account for things like diet quality, things like medications could have impacted the results.
Still, the results were not seen for those drinking decaffeinated coffee or tea, suggesting there might be something about caffeine that could help the brain.
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