President Donald Trump said Friday the leaders of Russia and Ukraine have agreed to his request for a three-day ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners, saying it could be the “beginning of the end” of the long war between them.

However, in the Middle East, the shaky ceasefire in the U.S. war with Iran is being strained even further.

The U.S. said it thwarted attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and retaliated against Iranian military facilities. Hours later, U.S. Central Command said its forces disabled two more Iranian tankers that were trying to breach an American blockade on Iran’s ports.

Washington, meanwhile, awaits a response from Tehran in negotiations to end the war.

And in U.S. politics, Republicans are moving quickly to try to capitalize on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that significantly weakened Voting Rights Act protections for minorities. Alabama lawmakers passed a plan Friday for new congressional primaries if courts allow different districts this year, while Virginia’s top court struck down Democrats’ redrawn U.S. House maps, giving Republicans a win.

Here’s the latest:

Justice Department sues to block ban on local immigrant detention agreements in New Mexico

The lawsuit says termination of a county agreement for the Otero County Processing Center would drastically limit the state’s capacity “to detain illegal immigrants.”

The county-owned facility — one of three privately operated immigrant detention centers in New Mexico — includes four immigration courtrooms and space for more than 1,000 detainees.

Federal prosecutors said the state and city laws infringe on federal authority by trying to regulate immigration policy and preventing longstanding cooperation between local and federal officials.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the Legislature was within its right in responding to “inadequate medical care, deaths in custody, and conditions that fell well below acceptable standards” at immigration detention facilities.

The Department of Justice has filed similar lawsuits targeting state or city policies seen as interfering with immigration enforcement, including those in Los Angeles, New York City, and Minnesota and cities there.

UN chief calls on all parties to abide by the ceasefire

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern at the reported exchange of fire between Iran and the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, his spokesperson said.

“He underscores that this is a critical moment for de-escalation and urges all sides to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday.

Guterres calls on all parts to refrain from action “that could lead to renewed escalation or undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts,” Dujarric said.

Iran’s envoy urges UN to ‘condemn unequivocally’ the US blockade and attacks on 2 Iranian oil tankers

Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the “unlawful” U.S. actions “constitute a grave and dangerous escalation that further destabilizes an already fragile region and poses a serious threat to international peace and security.”

The Iranian envoy warned in letters Friday to the U.N. Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the consequences of U.S. actions in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz “could be catastrophic” and extend far beyond the Middle East.

The U.S. “would bear full responsibility,” Iravani said. The U.S. military said Friday that its forces had disabled two Iranian tankers that were trying to breach an American blockade of Iran’s ports, part of U.S. efforts to get Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

He called on the secretary-general and Security Council to urge the U.S. “to comply with its obligations under international law and refrain from further provocative actions.”

Global food prices hit highest level in three years due to Iran war, UN says

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said Friday its food price index was up 2% in April from the prior year, hitting its highest level since 2023. The index tracks international prices for commodities like grain, rice and sugar.

The FAO said vegetable oil saw the biggest increase. Higher crude oil prices are increasing demand from the biofuel industry for seed oils. Concerns about lower production in Southeast Asia is also raising prices, the FAO said.

Wheat prices were up 0.8% due to concerns about drought in the U.S. and Australia as well as high fertilizer prices tied to the war. The FAO said farmers may shift from wheat to less fertilizer-intensive crops this year, which would tighten wheat supplies and raise prices.

Qatar’s top diplomat and the US vice president discuss Mideast negotiations

The tiny, gas-rich Gulf Arab state of Qatar — which hosts the biggest U.S. military base in the Middle East — has a long track record as a mediator between Iran and its regional adversaries.

In March, the kingdom said it was not directly mediating between the U.S. and Iran, however it voiced support for all diplomatic channels to end the war.

In Friday’s meeting in Washington with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is both Qatar’s prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, expressed the need for all parties to engage with the ongoing mediation efforts that would eventually lead to a “comprehensive agreement that achieves lasting peace” in the region.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Al Thani and Vance reviewed Pakistani mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation, without providing further details.

Vance’s office did not immediately comment on the meeting.

US won’t say whether Iran oil spill was caused by airstrikes

The Pentagon declined to comment Friday on whether there had been recent strikes on Kharg Island, Iran’s main crude export terminal.

Based on the imagery taken earlier this week, the spill occurred before the most recent round of U.S. strikes in the region. Kharg Island is on the other end of the Gulf from the Strait of Hormuz, hundreds of miles away.

Satellite images show oil is still spilling from an Iranian terminal

Satellite images taken Friday show an apparent oil spill covering about 71 square kilometers (27 square miles) off Kharg Island, Iran’s main crude export terminal, said Ami Daniel, CEO of maritime intelligence firm Windward AI.

The slick was first spotted on satellite images Tuesday.

Although the spill’s origin is unknown, cleanup efforts will probably not be launched in waters where the U.S. and Iran have been trading fire, Daniel said.

Nina Noelle, an international crisis operations expert with Greenpeace Germany, said it appears unlikely the spill will impact land, though it could still possibly affect some sensitive marine habitats.

Trump administration appeals court ruling against new global tariffs it imposed after a stinging Supreme Court loss

On Thursday, a split three-judge panel of the Court of International Trade in New York found that Trump’s 10% global tariffs were illegal after small businesses sued.

In a filing Friday, the Justice Department said it would appeal the 2-1 decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. The trade court had ruled that the tariffs are “invalid’’ and “unauthorized by law.’’

At issue are temporary 10% worldwide tariffs the Trump administration imposed after the Supreme Court in February struck down bigger double-digit tariffs the president had imposed last year on almost every country on Earth. The new tariffs, invoked under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, are set to expire July 24.

Trump’s Greenland envoy is expected to make his first visit to Arctic island this month

Later this month, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who is doubling as the president’s special envoy to Greenland, is expected to make his first visit the Danish territory that Trump has said the United States must take over for national security reasons, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The person, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Landry is scheduled to attend Future Greenland, a business conference, in the capital city of Nuuk, but did not provide any further details about the governor’s itinerary.

Trump announced earlier this year he was levying new tariffs against eight European nations to press for U.S. control over Greenland. But he quickly backed off the threat after global markets tanked.

The president has paid scant attention, at least publicly, to Greenland in recent months as he’s focused on the Iran war, Venezuela, and Cuba.

Greenlandic media outlet Sermitsiaq first reported on Landry’s expected visit.

—By Aamer Madhani in Washington

Alabama lawmakers pass plan for new US House primary if courts allow different districts

Republican state senators gave final approval to the legislation on Friday, sending it to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey.

The action in Alabama came on the same day that the Virginia Supreme Court dealt a major setback to Democrats by overturning a redistricting plan that could have helped Democrats win as many as four additional House seats.

The Alabama bill could set aside the results of the May 19 primaries, if courts lift an injunction requiring it to use a map with two districts that have large Black populations.

Trump says Russia and Ukraine have agreed to his request for a 3-day ceasefire and a prisoner swap

The U.S. president said Friday that such a halt to hostilities could be the “beginning of the end” of the long war between the two nations.

Trump announced on social media that the ceasefire would run Saturday through Monday. Saturday is Victory Day in Russia, a holiday that commemorates its victory over Nazi Germany 81 years ago in World War II.

Trump says he’s “pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE.” The Republican president said the ceasefire includes a suspension of all kinetic activity and the exchange of 1,000 prisoners by each country.

Democrats had hoped to win as many as 4 additional US House seats under Virginia’s redrawn map

Don Scott, the Democratic speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, said Democrats respect the court’s opinion while noting the voters of the state had approved of the new congressional map.

“We gave this decision to the voters — exactly where it belongs — and they spoke loud and clear,” he said in a statement. “They voted YES because they wanted to fight back against the Trump power grab.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticizes recent US military actions against Iran

He said “every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure.”

In a post on X, Araghchi said “Iranians never bow to pressure” and questioned whether the U.S. actions were a crude pressure tactic or the result of “a spoiler once again duping POTUS.”

Araghchi also boasted that Iran’s missile inventory and launch capacity was at “120%” of prewar levels, attaching a screenshot from a U.S. newspaper report that said the CIA had found Iran managed to retain more of its weaponry after the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign than previously thought.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the US strikes were a ‘clear violation’ of the ceasefire

The violence came as Washington awaited a response from Tehran in negotiations to end the war. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters he expects to hear from Iran later Friday.

“I hope it’s a serious offer,” Rubio told reporters. “I really do.”

US military shows smoking oil freighters in latest confrontation with Iran

The U.S. military posted video of two Iranian oil tankers as their smokestacks were struck by an American fighter jet Friday, marking the latest confrontation between the U.S. and Iran.

Both countries exchanged fire off Iran’s coast on Thursday as U.S. Navy warships passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. also disabled another Iranian ship earlier this week.

“U.S. forces in the Middle East remain committed to full enforcement of the blockade of vessels entering or leaving Iran,” Adm. Brad Cooper, the leader of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement.

Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redistricting plan, dimming party’s midterm hopes

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down the voter-approved Democratic congressional redistricting plan, delivering another major setback to the party in a nationwide battle against Republicans for an edge in this year’s midterm elections.

The court ruled the state’s Democratic-led legislature violated procedural requirements when it placed the constitutional amendment on the ballot to authorize the mid-decade redistricting. Voters narrowly approved the amendment April 21, but the court’s ruling renders the results of that vote meaningless.

“This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void,” the court said in its opinion.

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US forces disabled two more Iranian tankers that were trying to breach an American blockade

That’s according to U.S. Central Command in a social media post.

In the social media post on Friday, it says a U.S. Navy fighter jet fired into the smokestacks of ships in the Gulf of Oman after they tried to pull into an Iranian port.

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The newly unveiled website housing documents on UFOs has a decidedly retro feel

It features black-and-white military imagery of flying objects displayed prominently on the page, with statements displayed in typewriter-like font.

The first release includes 162 files, such as old State Department cables, FBI documents and transcripts from NASA of crewed flights into space.

One document details an FBI interview with someone identified as a drone pilot who, in September 2023, reported seeing a “linear object” with a light bright enough to “see bands within the light” in the sky.

“The object was visible for five to ten seconds and then the light went out and the object vanished,” according to the FBI interview.

Another file is a NASA photograph from the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, showing three dots in a triangular formation. The Pentagon says in an accompanying caption that “there is no consensus about the nature of the anomaly” but that a new, preliminary analysis indicated that it could be a “physical object.”

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Rubio defended Trump after weeks of his criticisms of the pope

And Rubio said the U.S. believed it could still have a “productive and fruitful and important relationship” with the Catholic Church.

Rubio spoke to reporters in Rome, a day after his meeting with Pope Leo XIV during a fence-mending visit to Italy and the Vatican.

He was asked if he would recommend that Trump stop criticizing Leo’s position on the Iran war.

“The president will always speak clearly about how he feels about the U.S. and U.S. policy,” Rubio said. “The president of the United States is always going to act in what’s in the best interest of the United States.”

Rubio came to Rome after Trump repeatedly criticized Leo’s calls for peace and dialogue. The back and forth that ensued riled Italian leaders who came to Leo’s defense.

“The president’s perspective is clear. He thinks that Iran is a threat, and it needs to be addressed. And that position remains unchanged,” Rubio said.

US employers added a surprising 115,000 jobs last month despite economic shock from the Iran war

Hiring was better than the 65,000 forecasters had expected, though it decelerated from the 185,000 jobs created in March. The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.3%.

The Iran war has caused the biggest disruption of global oil supplies in history and sent average U.S. gasoline prices surging past $4.50 a gallon this week. But the conflict hasn’t done much damage to the American job market so far.

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Pentagon begins releasing new files on UFOs and says the public can draw its own conclusions

In addition to the Pentagon, the effort is led by the White House, the director of national intelligence, the Energy Department, NASA and the FBI.

The Pentagon said Friday in a post on X that while past administrations sought to discredit or dissuade the American people, Trump “is focused on providing maximum transparency to the public, who can ultimately make up their own minds about the information contained in these files.”

The Pentagon says additional documents will be released on a rolling basis.

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Rubio says Iran’s reported plan to create an agency to control Strait of Hormuz is ‘unacceptable’

And he warned that if Tehran attacks U.S. Navy ships “they’re going to get blown up.”

Rubio fielded questions at the end of a two-day fence-mending visit to Rome and the Vatican after sharp disagreements over the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV.

He was asked about reports from a shipping data company that said Iran has created a government agency to vet and tax vessels seeking passage through the strait.

“Is the world going to accept that Iran now controls an international waterway?” Rubio asked. “What is the world prepared to do about it?”

He also warned Tehran against attacking American maritime assets in the region. The U.S. said it thwarted attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The red line is clear. They threaten Americans, they are going to be blown up,” he said.

Rubio says US expecting Iran response Friday

The secretary of state, traveling in Italy, said the U.S. is anticipating a response from Iran on the ongoing diplomatic discussions sometime later Friday.

“We should know something today,” Rubio, who doubles as the White House national security adviser, told reporters.

He added: “I hope it’s a serious offer. I really do.”

Judge rules Trump administration’s cancellation of humanities grants was unconstitutional

The Trump administration’s cancellation of more than $100 million in humanities grants to scholars, writers, research groups and other organizations was unconstitutional, and the Department of Government Efficiency had no authority to end the funding, a federal judge in New York ruled on Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon in Manhattan sided with The Authors Guild, several other groups and several people who had their grants canceled and sued DOGE and the National Endowment for the Humanities. McMahon permanently barred the administration from terminating the grants and criticized DOGE’s use of artificial intelligence in nixing the funding.

Government lawyers had argued that the cuts of more than 1,400 grants of congressionally approved funds were legal moves to implement President Donald Trump’s directives, eliminate grants associated with diversion, equity and inclusion and reduce discretionary spending under the administration’s priorities.

The White House and Department of Justice, which defended against the lawsuit, did not immediately return emails seeking comment Thursday evening. It was not immediately clear if an appeal was planned.

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Federal court rules against new global tariffs Trump imposed after loss at the Supreme Court

A federal court ruled Thursday against the new global tariffs that Trump imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court.

A split three-judge panel of the Court of International Trade in New York found the 10% global tariffs were illegal after small businesses sued.

The court ruled 2-1 that Trump overstepped the tariff power that Congress had allowed the president under the law. The tariffs are “invalid″ and “unauthorized by law,” the majority wrote.

The third judge on the panel found the law allows the president more leeway on tariffs.

If the administration appeals Thursday’s decision, as expected, it would first turn to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, based in Washington, and then, potentially, the Supreme Court.

At issue are temporary 10% worldwide tariffs the Trump administration imposed after the Supreme Court in February struck down even broader tariffs the president had imposed last year on almost every country on Earth. The new tariffs were set to expire July 24.

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Trump drives across Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to inspect new blue coating he’s putting on it

Trump on Thursday went on an unannounced trip to the Lincoln Memorial to see the Reflecting Pool after he had it coated in a color he calls “American flag blue.”

The Republican president was driven across the new coating before he got out of his SUV to make a statement and answer questions from reporters who had been taken there to await his arrival before the sun set.

The new blue coating will hide the pool’s gray stone, a color Trump said was “never good.” The project cost nearly $2 million, he said.

“It never had the color people wanted, but now it’s going to have the great color,” he said, standing in the pool surrounded by some of his Cabinet secretaries, including Doug Burgum of Interior and Markwayne Mullin of Homeland Security.

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Cardiff saw their URC play-off hopes suffer a blow as they went down to a 40-17 defeat at the hands of Glasgow at Scotstoun.

The hosts ran over six tries in the end, with Johnny Matthews scoring a brace, with Cardiff unable to bag the consolation of a losing bonus point.

Here’s how the players rated on the day.

Cam Winnett 7 – STAR MAN

Had a couple of really good moments defensively, including a superb tackle to deny Steyn in the second half. Embodied Cardiff’s refusal to give up on the night despite Glasgow’s dominance. Forced the line-out that earned Cardiff’s second try too.

Jacob Beetham 7

Made a great tackle to deny Horne early in the second half. Scored what felt like a potentially important third try late on too. Made several good carries too A decent outing.

Josh Adams 6

Caught out a little for Glasgow’s second. But took his own try really nicely. Lots was made of his role at 13 and despite his touchdown didn’t really have as much influence as he would have liked. Hooked at half-time due to a knock.

Ben Thomas 6

Guilty of several sloppy passes and gave away one of several costly turnovers for his team. Did make some decent tackles, however.

Tom Bowen 5

Shoulders some of the blame for Glasgow’s third. Quiet in terms of attacking influence too.

Callum Sheedy 5

Nearly set Beetham up for an early try in the first half. Decent enough in possession but influence was largely nullified.

Johan Mulder 6

Fairly good in possession. Won a couple of turnovers and set up Adams for his side’s first try.

Rhys Barratt 6

Part of a front row that was kept very busy all night. Missed just one tackle, however, and competed well enough.

Liam Belcher (capt) 6

As above really.

Keiron Assiratti 6

Not quite as involved as his front row colleagues, but didn’t really do an awful lot wrong.

Josh McNally 5

A frustrating night. Fairly quiet and was then withdrawn before failing an HIA.

Rory Thornton 6

Made a couple of handling errors and conceded two turnovers, but still competed fairly well in the tackle.

James Botham 7

No player made more tackles, some of which were really important. Ran out of steam a little towards the end, but was by no means the only one. A good shift.

Dan Thomas 6

Given a torrid time in the end. Made a number of missed tackles as Glasgow turned the screw, but still made a fairly decent contribution.

Taine Basham 7

Did quite well, to be fair. Made a string of tackles and carried more than any other Cardiff player.

Replacements

George Nott 6 (on 32′)

Played his role in Cardiff’s second try and made several decent challenges on the night.

Jennings 5 (on 40′)

A fairly quiet outing.

Evan Lloyd 6 (on 57′)

Spirited enough defensively but ran out of steam as Glasgow turned the screw.

Danny Southworth (on 57′) 6

Bagged his side’s second try and produced little to really take issue with.

Sam Wainwright (on 57′) 5

Another who was pretty quiet.

Ioan Lloyd (on 65′) 7

Some really good carries late on. Showed a willingness to beat his man and often did so with success. Set up the third try.

Ellis Bevan (on 65′) 5

Pretty quiet.

Alun Lawrence (on 65′)

As above, really.

Here are three decisions made by the authority in County Durham that you might have missed this week (May 4-8):

Application withdrawn for HMO in Gilesgate Moor

A proposal to convert a single-family home into a small house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Gilesgate Moor has been withdrawn.

The application, submitted on March 16 for 21 Kepier Crescent, included internal alterations and plans for additional parking and cycle storage.

Read more about the objections leading to the withdrawal here: ‘Enough is enough’ Residents hit back at plans for HMO on Durham street

Proposal to convert home into dog grooming parlour approved

A partial change of use has been approved in Newton Aycliffe, allowing part of a residential property to operate as a dog grooming parlour.

The application, received in late February for 26 Defoe Crescent, was granted on May 5.

Caravan use granted for residential addition in Bournmoor

In Bournmoor, permission has been granted to use an existing caravan as supplementary accommodation alongside a main dwelling.

The application for 15 Ellesmere was approved on May 6.

Labour lost six seats in Cambridge as the party suffered losses across the country

The leader of Cambridge City Council warns “there are no easy answers” after losing his seat to the Green Party. Friday’s local election count turned out to be a good day for the Greens – who walked away with seven seats, six taken from Labour.

Speaking after the election, Cllr Holloway said he was still “pleased” that Labour remains the largest party even without a majority. He added that he was proud of their “strong record” while in power on “building council homes, supporting our communities, protecting nature and tackling the climate crisis.”

He said: “I think there are a lot of people who are feeling disillusioned – feeling a bit fed up and it felt to me like a bit of a protest vote and a bit of a desire for something new.

“But there are no easy answers and the Greens offer an easy answer – there is not an easy answer in a complex world. In a world where economies are struggling, where there’s war, we need serious politicians – we don’t need people who are going to give easy answers.”

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Standing in the Petersfield ward, he lost to Kathryn Fisher, who said she was “absolutely ecstatic” to win in a “fantastic day for the Cambridge Greens”.

She said: “I think it’s a massive achievement and a message to the Labour Party saying that people are not happy with what you’re doing.”

The first Green victory was in Abbey – already one of their strongholds – where Matthew Howard was replaced with Maria Margaret Cleminson. But, as results were declared the party continued to win – taking Arbury, Castle, Coleridge, Newnham, Petersfield and Romsey from Labour.

The Liberal Democrats held on to all four of their seats which were up for grabs – Market, Queen Edith’s and two seats in Trumpington, one of which was vacant.

The A64 eastbound between Askham Bryan (A1237) and Askham Bar / Bishopthorpe (A1036) is closed until 6am on Saturday (9 May).

This is due to a burst water main causing significant flooding in this section.

Yorkshire Water is working to have the water main repaired as soon as possible.

Traffic will be diverted via the A1237 ring road.

A spokesperson for National Highways said: “If you are planning to travel in this area, please allow plenty of extra time for your journey as significant delays are expected.

“Please follow the signed diversions and don’t rely on sat navs.

Up to date information on closures on our network is available at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/trave…/road-closure-report/

Updates will also be shared at https://www.yorkshirewater.com/

P6 and P7 youngsters from St Augustine’s Primary embraced the tech-themed challenge with great aplomb.

Coatbridge school pupils were ‘Pytch-perfect’ as they got a byte-sized taste of university life.

P6 and P7 youngsters from St Augustine’s Primary embraced the tech-themed challenge with great aplomb.

Following an intensive eight-week training course, they took part in a coding jam in the ICT suite of the prestigious Livingstone Tower at Strathclyde University.

The challenge was to create a Space Invaders video game using the Pytch programming language – a bridge between the child-friendly Scratch and the industry standard Python languages.

A St Augustine’s Primary spokesman told Lanarkshire Live: “Staff from the computing science department were highly impressed with how the pupils handled the high school and university level challenge with ease.

“The children themselves found creating virtual alien invaders an out-of-this-world experience!

“We’d like to congratulate them on their success, and thank Strathclyde University for all of their support.”

READ MORE: St Andrew’s Hospice appeals for help to fund specialised beds for 18-bedded Inpatient Unit

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And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

The four-part drama based on the 1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas, starring Pierre Niney, and has been branded a “masterpiece” by viewers.

A period drama hailed as a “masterpiece” and divided into four episodes is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

The Count of Monte Cristo is a 2024 film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ celebrated 1844 novel.

Pierre Niney leads the cast as Edmond Dantes, a young sailor wrongfully imprisoned for treason on his wedding day.

After escaping the fortress where he has been held for over a decade, he reinvents himself as a wealthy Count, forging a new life beneath a false identity.

Concealed behind this façade, he embarks on a mission to exact revenge upon those who betrayed him, reports the Mirror.

The synopsis reads: “Falsely accused, imprisoned for 15 years – now he’s out for revenge on those who wronged him. An epic drama of betrayal, love and vengeance starring Pierre Niney.”

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The 2024 film has been split into four parts for BBC iPlayer after becoming a huge hit when it first premiered.

One fan hailed it an “excellent adaptation from the beautiful novel, with another calling it “absolutely terrific”.

One viewer branded it a “masterpiece”, while someone else said: “I truly loved this movie and I am not an avid movie watcher, easily one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.”

“A dream come true for Monte Cristo fans,” one said, as another review was titled “Absolutely stunning”.

“Go out of your way to see this one,” one viewer advised, while someone else called it “unmissible”. They continued: “I was absolutely captivated by the film from start to finish. Every moment kept me on the edge of my seat, and I wasn’t bored for a single second.”

“A gorgeous modern production of timeless epic,” another person said, while one fan called it “spectacular”.

Despite the widespread praise, French actor Pierre Niney previously admitted he was “pessimistic” about the project at the start.

He told Forbes: “I remember thinking ‘It’s not going to be made, they’re not going to find the money’. It would take people crazy enough to embark on a 1200 pages book to make one movie.

“So I was pessimistic at the start, thinking it was too good to be true. And actually it’s even better than what I had imagined, so it will stay engraved in my memory forever.”

The Count of Monte Cristo is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

A joint statement from both , who married in 2003, said “there are no other parties involved in this decision”.

The post on Instagram said: “After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.

“This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire for what is best for both of us.

“We remain great friends and more importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.

“There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this transition together.

“We will not be making any further public comments. Tess and Vernon.”

The former Strictly Come Dancing presenter, 57, and the BBC Radio 2 DJ, aged 52, are parents to daughter Phoebe, born in October 2004, and Amber, born in May 2009.

Both are former models who carved out successful careers as presenters.

Their marriage made headlines in 2010 when Vernon admitted he sent explicit texts to around five women, going on to apologise to hundreds of thousands of listeners on the Radio 1 show he hosted at the time.

He interrupted the programme to tell his two million listeners he had been “foolish and stupid”.

However a month later, Daly said their partnership was “worth fighting for” because they had had “10 great years together” and shared “two beautiful kids”.

She told the One Show: “Dealing with it in private is difficult enough, but dealing but with it in public is even harder”, adding that she was touched by the amount of support she had received.

Tess was born in Stockport and Vernon is from Horwich.

Their birthdays, in April, are just a day apart.

Although both were well-known faces when they married in 2003, they shunned offers of six-figure deals with glossy celebrity magazines for exclusive photographs of their wedding.

The couple, both dressed in white, instead posed for fans’ photographs outside St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, in Horwich, near Bolton.

Strictly launched the following year and Tess took up her role next to the late Sir Bruce Forsyth.

She helmed the BBC dancing competition’s main show for 21 years with Claudia Winkleman, joining her every Saturday from 2014, after Sir Bruce stepped down.

Both stepped back last year, both choking back tears as they signed off for the final time in December.

In the shadow of the 2008 global financial crisis, trust in the financial system was at a historic low. Banks had failed, markets had collapsed, and confidence in central institutions had been deeply shaken.

It was in this moment of uncertainty that an anonymous figure, Satoshi Nakamoto, published the Bitcoin white paper – a nine-page document that quietly introduced a radical new idea: a financial system that would not rely on trust in institutions at all.

Rather than banks or governments, transactions would be verified by a shared digital network run collectively by its users – a system that became known as blockchain. But blockchain was never just about technology – it was about rethinking mechanisms of trust, so it could be engineered rather than delegated.

Nakamoto’s vision was made possible through a consensus mechanism known as “proof of work” (PoW), which required participants to solve complex computational problems to validate transactions. The system was intentionally costly to operate. That cost was precisely what made it secure: changing the shared record of transactions would require immense resources, making manipulation economically unviable.

But as bitcoin’s popularity grew rapidly – from a niche experiment in 2009 to a network processing hundreds of thousands of daily transactions within a decade – so did its demands. Maintaining trust through continuous computation proved expensive – not just financially but environmentally.

The energy consumed by PoW systems began to rival that of entire countries, raising an important question: was this the most efficient way to produce trust?

A blockchain revolution

In 2022, the major global blockchain Ethereum – which underpins the second-biggest cryptocurrency after bitcoin – adopted another model of trust known as “proof of stake” (PoS). This was a response to the growing concern about the bitcoin blockchain’s excessive energy demands.

Rather than relying on large numbers of computers competing to solve mathematical problems, PoS selects validators based partly on how much cryptocurrency they lock into the network as a financial stake. They then help confirm transactions and maintain the system, without the energy-intensive process of mining used in bitcoin.

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Ethereum’s energy consumption fell by more than 99% following the shift, according to the Crypto Carbon Rating Institute. This suggested blockchain systems could be used at much greater scale without proportionately increasing their environmental footprint.

This chart illustrates Ethereum’s claimed energy use compared with some other industries and activities, demonstrating the large drop after its switch from a PoW to PoS blockchain system:

However, this increased energy efficiency introduced another kind of trade-off. Under PoW, influence is determined by access to computational resources. Under PoS, it is tied to ownership of financial assets – raising questions about whether control of this technology would be increasingly unequal.

This is not necessarily a flaw, but a reflection of a broader reality. Trust is never costless, and different systems distribute that cost in different ways.

Today, many newer blockchain platforms including Ethereum, Cardano and Solana use PoS. Bitcoin, though, continues to rely on PoW – in part because supporters argue its high computational cost remains central to both its security and principle of decentralisation.

Beyond cryptocurrencies, different blockchain systems are increasingly being explored for applications ranging from tracking goods in supply chains and energy trading to digital identity systems and cross-border payments. And this is ushering in a third evolution in blockchain trust technology: “proof of authority” (PoA).

Trust reconfigured again

Unlike its predecessors, PoA relies on a limited number of pre-approved validators – typically, organisations whose identities and reputations are known. This means only approved or verified participants can validate transactions within a particular network.

PoA-style systems and permissioned blockchain networks have already been adopted or tested by hundreds of organisations worldwide – particularly in finance, supply chains and energy infrastructure. In finance, banks including JP Morgan have explored private blockchain networks where only approved participants can validate and share transaction records.

This might seem like a major departure from blockchain’s original ethos. If trust is placed back in the hands of identifiable institutions, what remains of Nakamoto’s decentralised vision?

But in many real-world situations, such as tracking goods or processing financial transactions, participants do not require anonymity. They prioritise reliability, speed and accountability.

Rather than eliminating trust, PoA reorganises it. Although blockchain is often associated with anonymous cryptocurrency activity, its record-keeping structure makes transactions highly traceable and easier to audit over time.

For banks, companies and governments testing blockchain systems, this approach is often more practical than fully open blockchain networks that anyone can join. Brazil has used a government blockchain based on proof of authority, and the United Arab Emirates has promoted blockchain use across its public services and for some government transactions.

What is emerging is not the end of trust but its reconfiguration. Blockchain began as an attempt to bypass traditional institutions. Its evolution points to something more nuanced: a future where trust is reconfigured with the involvement of banks, payment providers, technology firms, energy companies and governments.

These organisations are not removing trust from the system – they are reshaping how it is created, verified and maintained.

Reform and the Greens picked up councillors across the region, as they did across England

Greater Manchester could give Labour the answer to turning its fortunes around, an MP has said – without mentioning Andy Burnham or Angela Rayner’s names.

Speculation is rife that the mayor and the former deputy Prime Minister will launch leadership bids to oust Keir Starmer following a disastrous set of local election results. Labour had haemorrhaged 1,357 councillors by 10pm on Friday (May 8), including sweeping losses in Manchester, Wigan, Salford, Oldham, and Tameside.

Reform and the Greens picked up councillors across the region, as they did across England. In the face of a two-pronged attack, some Labour figures have called for the Prime Minister’s resignation – and some want Burnham or Rayner to replace him.

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However, a Greater Manchester MP says the formula for Labour’s revival is clear to see in Bury – and it doesn’t mention either.

James Frith, MP for Bury North, released a 227 word statement on Friday explaining how Labour ‘bucked the trend’ to stay in power and won more seats than Reform did at the polls.

He said: “In Bury, we bucked the national trend and outperformed much of Greater Manchester, resisting the scale of political shift seen elsewhere across the region and the country.

“It may be too soon and overstated to offer it as a good example to follow but the exception is worthy of noting. Reform can be beaten back.”

He added most of Reform’s support in the town came from right-leaning areas: “In Bury North, only Conservative-held wards switched to Reform, and one was a defection earlier in the campaign, reinforcing the point that Reform’s advance was strongest where the Conservatives switched or collapsed rather than where Labour stood strong, present and reliable in our community.

“Where Labour won off the Tories in Bury North, this felt like the electorate understanding the threat to the one-time all one-nation Remain Tory ward and so they did the best thing to defeat Reform there, and voted Labour.

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“Labour still faced real challenges, with the Workers’ Party taking a seat from Labour, abetted by the Green vote. Despite the only Labour loss Labour still finished ahead of Reform who were a close third in a busy field.

“Ultimately, Reform will be only the second-largest opposition party on Bury Council, as the independent Radcliffe First group remains the official opposition to the Labour-led, Labour-retained council.”

The other reported leadership hopefuls is Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Numerous senior Labour figures have come out to back the Prime Minister.