The aircraft crashed in a wooded area of Lamar County, Alabama, near the Mississippi border, with both pilots transported to a medical facility for evaluation

Two pilots successfully ejected from a US Air Force T-38 Talon II jet during a training exercise on Tuesday, according to an official statement from Columbus Air Force Base.

The aircraft came down in a wooded area of Lamar County, Alabama, close to the Mississippi border.

ABC reporter Austin Pratt, who is at the scene, confirmed that both pilots have been taken to a medical facility where they are currently being assessed by medical personnel.

The official statement from the base read: “The cause of the mishap is currently unknown and will be investigated by a Safety Investigation Board.”

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Columbus Air Force Base is home to the 14th Flying Training Wing of Air Education and Training Command’s 19th Air Force.

The wing’s primary mission centres on specialist undergraduate pilot training using the T-6 Texan II, T-38C Talon and T-1A Jayhawk aircraft.

The incident follows a daring US rescue mission to recover the crew of “Dude 44,” an F-15E Strike Eagle downed over the rugged terrain of southwestern Iran.

After the aircraft was struck by a shoulder-fired missile, the pilot and weapons system officer were forced to eject into hostile territory, triggering the mission to bring them home before they could be captured by Iranian forces.

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The high-stakes operation saw U.S. Special Operations forces and CIA operatives work together to locate the airmen in the mountains of Isfahan province.

While the pilot was snatched up quickly, the weapons system officer spent a harrowing 24 hours evading capture in a mountain crevice before being pulled out under heavy fire.

A survey of more than 2,000 people across the UK who had listed their home in the past three years found that, among those whose properties did not sell, more than a third (34%) said, with hindsight, the price they had set was too high, despite believing at the outset that it was fair.

Filming wrapped in Belfast last month

Game of Thrones and Blue Lights stars are among the big names announced as part of the cast of the upcoming Belfast series Close to Home.

The new Channel 4 four-part drama, based on Michael Magee’s debut novel, revels in the reckless decadence of youth and celebrates a generation growing up in the wake of the troubles.

Produced by the multi-Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning Element Pictures, previously announced to lead the series are Anthony Boyle as Sean, Jessica Reynolds as Mairéad, Seamus O’Hara as Anthony, and Oisín Thompson as Ryan.

READ MORE: Close to Home: House of Guinness stars to reunite for new Channel 4 drama set in BelfastREAD MORE: Channel 4 series ‘Close to Home’ led by Anthony Boyle wraps filming in Belfast

Joining the cast are Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones) as Dearbhla, Conor MacNeill (Industry) as Marty, Gerard Headley (Specky Clark) as Finty, Kerri Quinn (Say Nothing) as Jackie, Hannah McClean (Blue Lights) as Bernice, Jeanne Nicole Ní Áinle (How to Get to Heaven From Belfast) as Julia and Lalor Roddy (That They May Face the Rising Sun) as Fra.

Adapted for the screen by author Michael Magee, the series will be directed by Diarmuid Goggins. Filming wrapped in Belfast last month.

A description of the series reads: “Close to Home tells the story of Sean, a young man who finds himself back in Belfast. Back from university and back into old habits.

“Back on the mad all-nighters, the borrowed tenners and missing rent, the casual jobs that always fall through. Back with his brother, his ma and all the things they never talk about. Back where the promised prosperity of peacetime has yet to arrive and every street has a story to tell. One night, Sean assaults a stranger at a party and everything is tipped into chaos.”

Close to Home was commissioned for Channel 4 by Gwawr Lloyd, Interim Head of Drama and Gemma Boswell, Commissioning Editor, Drama. Executive Producers are Christopher Aird, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures, Michael Dawson, Michael Magee, Diarmuid Goggins and Anthony Boyle. Martin Mahon serves as Producer.

The series will be distributed internationally by Fremantle and is filmed with support from Northern Ireland Screen and Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland. Transmission details will be announced in due course.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter

While some people can spring out of bed at six in the morning and go straight into their day, others prefer to wake up later as they’re most productive in the afternoon or evening. This difference is due to your chronotype – the biological tendency to prefer certain times of day for sleep, waking and activity.

But these aren’t the only factors affected by your chronotype. A growing body of research also suggests that your chronotype can affect the benefits you see from exercise.

People who naturally rise early and feel sharpest in the morning are “early chronotypes”, whereas those who prefer to wake later and function better in the afternoon or evening are “late chronotypes”. People who fall in between are “intermediate chronotypes”.

Your chronotype is determined by your circadian rhythms – the body’s natural daily cycles that repeat around every 24 hours. Although these are strongly influenced by our environment, they function even without external cues such as daylight and food. These rhythms affect our physiology, behaviour and health.

Our circadian rhythms are controlled by the body’s circadian system, which is made up of tiny biological clocks composed of proteins, which are found in organs and tissues. These clocks rely on genes that help coordinate when different processes happen, such as when we feel alert or sleepy.

The circadian system also influences many other bodily functions, including blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar regulation and blood vessel function. As these factors are also affected by physical activity, this may explain why aligning your workouts to your natural chronotype can be beneficial.

Some studies support this, suggesting that the time of day people exercise can influence health outcomes – including cardiovascular fitness and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and some cancers.

However, as these were observational studies (which only show associations rather than cause and effect), they can’t definitively prove that the findings were solely caused by the timing of the exercise.

But a recent randomised controlled trial has investigated whether aligning workouts with chronotype could enhance the benefits of exercise. The researchers specifically looked at people who were at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Participants were grouped according to their chronotype, which was measured using a specialist questionnaire. Morning types exercised between 8–11am and evening types exercised between 6-9pm. A third group exercised at the opposite time to their chronotype (morning types in the evening and evening types in the morning).

Participants whose exercise was aligned with their chronotype experienced greater improvements in blood pressure, aerobic fitness, blood glucose, cholesterol and sleep than participants whose training times were misaligned with their chronotype.

But though these improvements show that timing exercise to your chronotype can enhance its health benefits, there are a couple of important nuances.

Even the group that exercised at the supposedly wrong time still experienced health benefits, showing that exercise is beneficial even when it doesn’t align with your chronotype. The study also did not include intermediate chronotypes, who make up around 60% of the adult population. For these people, the timing of exercise may be less important.

Based on the available evidence, exercise timing appears to be a meaningful consideration, particularly for people who are strong morning or evening chronotypes.

Beyond your chronotype

So how do you know your chronotype?

Most people have an intuitive sense of this based on when they naturally prefer to sleep and wake. However, work schedules and care-giving responsibilities often force us into routines that conflict with our chronotype. Over time, this makes it harder to be sure of your chronotype.

For this reason, researchers developed a questionnaire to help you determine your chronotype. The 19 questions include what time you feel you’re at your peak and how easy you find it to wake up in the morning.

Once you have a clearer sense of your chronotype, you can start thinking about when to schedule your training.

However, chronotype isn’t the only factor that can affect training and how you respond to exercise. This is good news for those who may not be able to align workouts with their chronotype.

For instance, body temperature usually peaks in the afternoon regardless of chronotype, which enhances muscle function. This is why strength, speed and coordination tends to be best in the afternoon, making it a prime window for resistance training and technical practice for most people.

Habitual training time can also shift performance over time as the body adapts to the time you regularly train. So even if you’re naturally a night owl, consistent morning training may eventually make you perform better at that time.

Another critical factor to consider when deciding when to workout is sleep.

If you haven’t slept well the night before, research suggests it’s better to exercise earlier in the day, regardless of your chronotype. This is because the drive to sleep, known as “sleep pressure”, builds steadily from the moment you wake up and peaks just before you fall asleep. By evening, growing sleep pressure makes exercise feel harder and can impair your performance.

Exercising late in the evening can also reduce sleep quality, particularly when the session is intense. As a general rule, leave at least a two-hour gap between exercise and bedtime.

There’s no single best time to exercise that works for everyone. While the evidence on the long-term health benefits of matching exercise time to chronotype is growing, some principles apply broadly.

Peak performance varies by chronotype, and matching your workout time to yours may help you train harder and achieve better health benefits. However, any exercise is better than none – regardless of timing.

If you’re a night owl but can only train in the morning, a warm-up is essential. Wear extra clothing and start with 10-15 minutes of light aerobic activity to gradually increase body temperature and increase alertness.

If evenings are your only option, opt for moderate or low-intensity activities (such as yoga or a jog) to avoid disrupting sleep.

Katie Macavoy was described as an “incredible mum” with a “big heart”

A devastated father has honoured his “incredible” partner following her sudden death just 24 hours after being discharged from hospital. Cameron Lewis, 28, shared with the ECHO the tragic loss of Katie, mother to their one year old son Dylan, who passed away on April 25.

Katie, 29, had been hospitalised for a month while recuperating from an operation on her spine. Cameron revealed the family had voiced worries about what they suspected might have been blood clots in her arm post-surgery.

He said: “We asked a lot of different doctors about this but we never got anything confirmed. We obviously never thought it would be as bad as it was.”

Katie was discharged on April 24, but Cameron explained she deteriorated rapidly.

He said: “She had only come home the day before and mentioned that when she stood up she became really short of breath.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.

“She stood up to get ready for bed, looked really faint and was struggling to breathe, so I ushered her sit down. She fell and, presumably, had a fit where she lost consciousness.

“I called an ambulance after trying to get her into a safe position. When paramedics arrived she had a second fit, which killed her.

“She was scared and confused in her last moments. I tried to comfort her and calm her so they could help her, but it didn’t help.”

The coroner is now examining the circumstances surrounding Katie’s death.

Cameron explained the pair first crossed paths while at Wrexham University, where he pursued music while Katie focused on ceramics and art. In a heartfelt tribute, he remarked: “Katie was the finest person I’ve ever met. She had such a big heart. She was wary of people, but if you were lucky enough to earn her trust, she had so much love to give.

“She was so caring. No matter how small your problems were, she would take them seriously if they mattered to you.

“She was really smart and so creative.”

The pair relocated to Merseyside half a dozen years back, initially settling in Huyton before moving to Stockbridge Village this past November following Dylan’s arrival.

Cameron revealed they were captivated by Liverpool due to its vibrant music and cultural landscape.

He explained: “We’d visited a lot of different cities, but Liverpool was the closest big city to us. I’ve always loved music and The Beatles, and Katie really loved the arts.

“We loved the city and thought it would be the perfect place to settle down.”

In the aftermath of Katie’s passing, Cameron has journeyed back to Gloucester with young Dylan.

He shared: “We could have stayed in Liverpool, but because Katie died at home it would have been very difficult to remain there.

“At the same time, leaving means leaving behind so many memories. Me and Katie didn’t really have a large support network around us, and I want Dylan to grow up with that support around him.”

Reflecting on Katie’s role as a mother, Cameron painted a picture of the profound connection she forged with their little boy.

He said: “She loved Dylan so much. She would have done anything for him. She was so calm with him; being a mum came naturally to her.

“She always wanted to do whatever made him happy. Her whole focus in life was making him smile.”

A fundraising appeal has been set up to assist with Katie’s funeral expenses, with any surplus funds earmarked for Dylan’s future care.

Reflecting on the outpouring of generosity, Cameron said: “I just want to thank anyone who chooses to donate. It’s easy to see stories like this and think of them as something far away, without realising there are real people going through it.

“So when someone takes the time to empathise and support us, I think that’s an incredibly generous thing to do.”

Those wishing to contribute to Cameron’s fundraising appeal can do so here.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after the incident involving a black Toyota Corolla earlier this month

It happened in Acaster Lane in Acaster Malbis, York, at 8.11pm on Saturday, May 2, near the junction with Poplar Farm Caravan Park.

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“The vehicle was coming into Acaster Malbis from the direction of Bishopthorpe, and has collided with a 10 year old girl who was cycling in the road. The vehicle has shown some brake lights, before driving off, and failing to stop,” said a spokesperson for the force.

They added that the child received some bruising to her leg, but has no serious injuries and is currently recovering.

Police said they are keen to hear from anyone who saw the collision, the vehicle involved, or its registration plate, as well as anyone who was inside the car or can identify the driver.

Anyone who can help should email matilda.pearson@northyorkshire.police.uk, quoting reference NYP-02052026-0616.

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has hit back at Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has labelled Jamie Carragher’s memorable verdict “disrespectful” after the pundit urged him to leave the club in 2024. The seasoned midfielder has since answered his doubters following his renaissance at Old Trafford.

The Brazil captain has proved crucial in Michael Carrick’s side clinching a Champions League spot this season. Casemiro has scored nine goals in 33 league appearances from defensive midfield to end his four-year spell on a high note.

However, the 34-year-old previously suffered difficult patches of form at United. After a 4-0 thrashing by Crystal Palace in May 2024, Liverpool icon Carragher declared that Casemiro’s days as an elite player were finished.

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“There’s a saying I always remember as a footballer, ‘Leave the football before the football leaves you,’” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level and move.”

Two years later, the five-time Champions League winner has arguably delivered his best season in English football. Casemiro has responded to Carragher after being reminded of his “leave the football before the football leaves you” comment by former United defender Rio Ferdinand, who has also been clashing with his ex-England colleague.

“So… It’s your opinion. I respect your opinion. I don’t like it because it’s disrespectful. It’s disrespectful to me,” Casemiro said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel.

“What I win in football. But football changes. Life changes. Life changes. So, look now. It’s about this. For me, the best thing in this moment we speak in Spain is I live in the big dark. I live in a good feeling.

“Everyone misses Casemiro. You know? About this, I decided to leave because I live in good. Because it’s the same in Madrid. Everyone misses me there. Everyone misses this team. Now, it’s the same. So, life changes.

“It’s the life. Everyone forgets very quick. Everyone forgets very quick. But, again, the mentality.”

Before joining United, Casemiro spent eight-and-a-half years at Real Madrid, winning a litany of major honours, including three La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues. Earlier this season, the Brazilian confirmed he would be leaving United in the summer, despite calls to extend his time at the club.

While Casemiro has hit back at Carragher, the pundit has already acknowledged his error. In February, the 48-year-old revisited his scathing assessment of the United midfielder following a run of impressive displays under new manager Carrick.

“It is now fair to say the football has not left him,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “Casemiro is well within his rights to, if he wants to come back at me and say, ‘Leave the punditry before the punditry’s left you!’ He could definitely get one of those back in. Credit to him, he looks a completely different player.”

Head to the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel to watch part 2 of the full interview live from 8am on Wednesday 13th May.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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In the US, where it is available, the price is cheaper than current injectables, at around $149 per month for the lowest dose, compared with over $1,000 a month for some GLP-1 injections (although US President Donald Trump has announced deals that aim to lower the cost of popular weight-loss drugs).

Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of a brain tumor, his family announced Tuesday.

Collins spent 13 years as a player in the league for six different franchises. He revealed in 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came toward the end of his playing career.

Collins had been diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma, which has an extremely low survival rate. He was 47.

“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” Collins’ family said in a statement released through the NBA. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

Just last week, Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was too ill to attend and his twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted for him.

“I told my brother this before I came here: He’s the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known,” Jarron Collins said while accepting that award.

Jason Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in his career. He helped the New Jersey Nets reach two NBA Finals and in his best season averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds for them in 2004-05.

“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.

“On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues.”

Jason Collins revealed his sexuality in a first-person account for Sports Illustrated in April 2013. He was a free agent at the time, said he wanted to keep playing, and went on to play in 22 games with Brooklyn the following season.

“If I had my way, someone else would have already done this,” he wrote at that time. “Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.”

His decision was widely lauded, with star players such as Kobe Bryant quickly speaking out in support of Collins. There was even support from the White House and then-former President Bill Clinton — whose daughter, Chelsea, went to Stanford with Collins. At Stanford, Collins was roommates with someone who was part of another American political dynasty, that being Joe Kennedy III, who spent eight years in Congress representing Massachusetts.

Collins, in the piece for Sports Illustrated, wrote that he realized he needed to go public about his sexuality when Kennedy walked in Boston’s gay pride parade in 2012 — but Collins couldn’t do the same.

Until then, Collins kept his feelings about gay rights close to the vest. He wore jersey No. 98 for the majority of his final three playing stints with Boston, Washington and Brooklyn — a nod to the year that Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming, was killed. He also wore 46 in one game for the Nets, since it was the only jersey the team had available when he signed.

Collins made nearly 61% of his shots in his career at Stanford, which remains a school record. He was an honorable mention selection for The Associated Press’ All-America team in 2001, a few months before the Houston Rockets took him with the 18th pick in that year’s NBA draft.

“It’s a sad day for all of us associated with Stanford basketball when we lose one of the program’s greats,” former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said. “We all have great memories of Jason and the kind of person he was. It’s hard to separate Jarron and Jason because they thought so alike, but even though he was an identical twin, Jason was unique in his own way. The impact he had on Stanford was immense, as he could match up against anyone in the country because he was big, smart, strong and skilled, all while being a very bright and nice person.”

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The collision tragically claimed the life of 16-year-old Callum Hutchinson

A young boy of 10 has been hailed as a living miracle by his family following his ongoing from a horror car crash last month.

Christopher Faulkner was left in a critical condition after the two-vehicle crash near Nutts Corner in Antrim on Sunday, April. 26

The collision tragically claimed the life of 16-year-old Callum Hutchinson, from Borrisokane, Tipperary, who was a passenger in the same vehicle as Christopher. Two further individuals sustained injuries in the incident.

The driver of the second car, a 29-year-old man, has since been charged with a number of offences including causing death due to dangerous driving, reports the Irish Mirror.

The devastating news came as the Faulkner family, from Longpavement in Limerick, were already mourning the loss of siblings Scarlett and Jason.

Scarlett, 28, passed away at Cork University Hospital three weeks after she was attacked at the roadside in Birdhill on 21 March, while her 34-year-old brother Jason died just two days later on April 19.

A social media update regarding Christopher’s condition stated: “Update for everyone. We just got the best news of our lives.

“Thank you God, Jesus and our lovely Lady. His scans are back. Christopher’s brain is healing.

“Doctors just confirmed he doesn’t need surgery on his neck. Thank you Jesus.

“They are going to take out his breathing tubes sometime today. He is on the road to recovery.

“Christopher is a living miracle. We will forever thank God, Jesus and our lovely Lady for our miracle. My sister and brother-in-law asked me to thank everyone from the bottom of their hearts.

“We will never forget the prayers, love and support shown to our boy. We will be forever grateful to everyone. God is on your side, our miracle boy.”

Earlier on Monday, an update confirmed that Christopher had been transferred to Temple Street Children’s Hospital, home to the “best neurosurgeons in Ireland.

“Christopher will be having lots of brain scans, neck and spinal scans,” it read.

“My sister Julie and William asked me to please everyone pray so hard that the doctors will be happy with these scans.”

A 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named due to her age, has been charged in connection with the fatal assault on Scarlett Faulkner on March 21 in Birdhill, Co Tipperary.

A 40-year-old woman, who is also subject to a court-imposed anonymity order, has been charged in connection with the assault and both have been remanded in custody.

The teenager faces a charge of assault causing serious harm to Ms Faulkner, while the woman faces four charges, including violent disorder, reckless endangerment and two counts of burglary.

Both are due before Nenagh District Court again on May 15.

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