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NewsBeat

Makerfield by-election LIVE as constituents tell us they doubt Andy Burnham’s chances against Reform surge

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Manchester Evening News

Sir Keir Starmer insisted his premiership is not over and he wants to lead Labour into the next general election, according to PA.

He said: “I do want to fight the next election. Obviously, I recognise that after the local election results, the elections in Wales and Scotland as well, that the first task is obviously turning things around and making sure that my focus is in the right place.

“The last 10 days, there’s been a lot of activity, which hasn’t been as focused in my view as it should have been, and I remind myself every day that I was elected to office to serve the people, to serve the country, that’s what I believe in, and that’s what I’ll be getting on with.”

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He said he would not “walk away” and would not set out a timetable to stand down if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election.

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Man due in court after two-year probe into body found in Clydebank flats

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Daily Record

The 58-year-old was found dead within a property in the Overtoun Court area of the West Dunbartonshire town.

A man has been charged over the mystery death of another man in Clydebank in 2024.

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Officers from Police Scotland made the arrest and charge on Monday, May 18, following the death of Alistair Brennan on Thursday, October 17 2024 and a 19-month investigation.

The 58-year-old was found dead within a property in the Overtoun Court area of the West Dunbartonshire town.

A 28-year-old man is due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday, May 19, over the death of Mr Brennan.

Following searches of the Overtoun Court flats, bomb squads were called in when officers discovered a “suspect item” 11 days after Mr Brennan’s death. Several homes in the surrounding area were evacuated and train services were disrupted.

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A controlled explosion took place on Monday, October 28, 2024. Two men were arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

A Police Scotland statement read: “A 28-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death of Alistair Brennan in Clydebank.

“The body of 58-year-old Mr Brennan was discovered within a property in the Overtoun Court area on Thursday, 17 October, 2024. Officers arrested the man on Monday, 18 May 2026. He is due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 19 May, 2026.

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“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”

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Pete Hegseth gives Trump impersonation to bash Biden-era military policy and rally for MAGA candidate in Kentucky

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Pete Hegseth gives Trump impersonation to bash Biden-era military policy and rally for MAGA candidate in Kentucky

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave his best impersonation of Donald Trump during a rally for the president’s preferred candidate in Kentucky.

Hegseth arrived in Kentucky to campaign for Ed Gallrein, who is staging a Trump-backed primary challenge against Rep. Thomas Massie, who has recently been a thorn in the president’s side.

“President Trump told me, when he first offered me this job, he said, ‘Pete, you’re gonna have to be tough as s***,’” Hegseth said, while mimicking Trump’s voice and mannerisms — even down to the trademark hand gestures seen during rallies.

“’They’re gonna come after you,’ and boy, was he right,” he said, continuing his impersonation, to laughter and applause.

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“But that’s also what Ed represents, a warfighter, a man forged through service,” he added.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth campaign with Republican candidate Ed Gallrein, who is running against Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in Kentucky’s 4th district.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth campaign with Republican candidate Ed Gallrein, who is running against Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in Kentucky’s 4th district. (Getty)

Hegseth attempted to skirt around the fact he is a cabinet official and said he did not violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from participating in partisan political events.

“I’m here in my personal capacity as a private citizen, a fellow American, and a fellow combat veteran here to support Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein,” he said.

The defense secretary arrived in Kentucky’s 4th district to support Gallrein given the fact that Massie has regularly broken with Trump on everything from his “One Big, Beautiful Bill” to passing legislation to force the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

“President Trump does not need more people in Washington who are trying to make a point, especially from his own party, he needs people willing to help him win to vote with him when it matters the most,” Hegseth said.

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“Thomas Massie has acted like his job is to stand apart from the movement that President Trump leads, instead of strengthening it,” he said. “When President Trump needs backup, Massie wants to debate process when the movement needs unity, especially at the biggest moments.”

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has emerged as a major critic of the Trump administration during Trump’s second term.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has emerged as a major critic of the Trump administration during Trump’s second term. (AFP/Getty)

Along with criticizing the Trump administration for spending, Massie has repeatedly voted with Democrats on War Powers Act resolutions to rein in the Trump administration during its war in Iran.

Elsewhere in the speech, Hegseth recited his normal grievances about the “war on warriors” during the Biden administration, which he used as the title of his book, and rattled off how he had rolled back a number of policies he said had hindered service people.

“While all this is happening, the people who actually fight America’s wars were watching their institution, the one they loved so much, consumed with nonsense, woke trainings, political indoctrination, diversity quotas, climate seminars, pronouns, dudes in dresses, not kidding,” he said. Hegseth also pointed out an attendee in the crowd who had a shirt that said “I identify as ‘American,” to applause.

Massie is just the latest Republican to be targeted by Trump. Over the weekend, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana lost his primary to Rep. Julia Letlow and former Rep. John Fleming largely because of the fact that Cassidy voted to convict Trump for his actions on January 6, 2021.

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In addition, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, an ally of Massie’s who signed the petition to release files related to Epstein, had a public falling out with Trump despite being one of his most vocal supporters for years. That led to Greene resigning from Congress at the beginning of this year.

In addition, Trump criticized Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) for campaigning with Massie over the weekend despite her longstanding support of the president.

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James Bond star says she was ‘sad’ when franchise was sold to Amazon MGM

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James Bond star says she was ‘sad’ when franchise was sold to Amazon MGM

James Bond star Léa Seydoux has admitted she was saddened by the news of Amazon MGM Studio’s acquisition of the iconic franchise.

In February 2025, long-serving producers of the spy series, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced they were handing over creative control to the Jeff Bezos-founded streamer.

“I was a bit sad when I heard that it was sold,” Seydoux, 40, told Variety in a new interview.

The acclaimed French actor — who starred as Dr. Madeleine Swann, the love interest of Daniel Craig’s 007 in Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021) — however, expressed relief that the next installment is in the hands of her Dune: Part Two director, Denis Villeneuve.

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“Now that it’s Denis, I was like, ‘Oh, at least it’s him, so it will be cinema,’” she said, further praising the Oscar-nominated Canadian filmmaker as “super cultured — he knows so much about cinema, but not only cinema.”

Léa Seydoux (third from the left) said she feels hopeful for the James Bond franchise with Denis Villeneuve at the helm of the first installment in the Amazon era
Léa Seydoux (third from the left) said she feels hopeful for the James Bond franchise with Denis Villeneuve at the helm of the first installment in the Amazon era (Getty Images for EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Universal Pic)

Villeneuve, 58, was appointed as the director of the franchise’s first film under Amazon MGM in June 2025. The news left 007 fans divided, with some excited to experience the Arrival director’s take on the British spy and his exploits, while others were skeptical about his ability to keep up with the high-octane storylines of Bond.

“Some of my earliest moviegoing memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory,” Villeneuve said in a statement at the time.

“I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”

Seydoux starred as Dr. Madeleine Swann in ‘Spectre’ and ‘No Time to Die’
Seydoux starred as Dr. Madeleine Swann in ‘Spectre’ and ‘No Time to Die’ (Local Library)

Since Craig’s final outing as Bond in No Time to Die, feverish speculation has ensued about who will take over. A number of high-profile actors have been rumored to be in contention for the role of 007. At one time, Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson was considered the favorite to take over from Craig, with others including Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson and Jacob Elordi in the running.

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It was later reported that Villeneuve might be searching for an “unknown” actor to play the lead. Last week, it was announced that auditions for the role are officially underway.

“The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right,” Amazon MGM said in a statement.

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San Diego police say threat has been ‘neutralized’ after reports of mass shooter at Islamic center: Latest updates

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San Diego police say threat has been ‘neutralized’ after reports of mass shooter at Islamic center: Latest updates

Shooting threat has been ‘neutralized,’ SDPD says

Police have “neutralized” the reported shooting threat at a San Diego mosque, officials said Monday afternoon.

We’re still waiting for more details about the nature of the threat, potential victims, and deaths or arrests.

Josh Marcus18 May 2026 21:16

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PHOTOS: Police swarm scene of reported shooting at San Diego Islamic center

(Reuters)
(Reuters)
(Reuters)

Josh Marcus18 May 2026 21:09

‘Active shooter’ reported at San Diego Islamic center with police rushing to scene

Police are responding to reports of an active shooter near a mosque in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego on Monday.

“SDPD is on scene at the Islamic Center of San Diego in the 7000 block of Eckstrom Ave for a reported active shooter,” the San Diego Police Department wrote on X at 3:03 pm ET. “Please avoid the area. Updates to follow.”

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In an update 40 minutes later, police said the scene is “still active but contained,” adding that “significant resources” had been deployed and that a reunification area had been established nearby.

At least one individual was killed, according to KGTV.

Brendan Rascius will be following this story live and passing on the latest updates.

Josh Marcus18 May 2026 21:04

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Governor briefed on shooting

“Gavin Newsom has been briefed on an evolving situation in Clairemont community of San Diego, near the Islamic Center,” the governor’s office wrote on X. “The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local law enforcement. We are grateful to the first responders on the scene working to protect the community and urge everyone to follow guidance from local authorities.”

Josh Marcus18 May 2026 20:50

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Scene of shooting is ‘active but contained’

The scene of Monday’s shooting is “active but contained,” according to San Diego police.

“We have significant resources on scene at this time,” the department wrote on X.

Josh Marcus18 May 2026 20:49

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A reported shooting at a mosque in San Diego

San Diego police are responding to the scene of a reported shooting at a large mosque in the area.

We’ll be covering all the latest news about this incident live.

Josh Marcus18 May 2026 20:46

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MOVIE REVIEW: We see if sequel ‘Mortal Kombat II’ is a flawless victory

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Daily Record

Bloody, brutal fight scenes are the follow-up’s highlight but information-heavy story lacks punch.

Picking up where the 2021 flick left off, Earth’s champions – including Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) – are pitted against the dark rule of Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) in a battle that threatens the planet’s existence.

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Anyone wondering where the heck the familiar tournament from the hit games was in the first film will be satisfied as it’s here in all of its bloody, brutal glory.

The fight scenes are the highlight of returning director Simon McQuoid’s sequel as characters face off in a variety of imposing, colourful locations armed with superpowers and wild weapons.

The showdowns reach their apex during a clash at the blue portal which feels ripped straight out of the video games, while a fiery trip to the Netherrealm also packs a punch.

Urban, long suggested as a fans’ dream casting choice as Cage , adds much needed star power and wit, Adeline Rudolph’s brave, strong-willed Kitana gets a lot of focus and Josh Lawson remains a funny, zinger-laden anti-hero as the back-from-the-dead Kano .

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But while Ford is physically intimidating and wields a mighty hammer, Kahn is a generic villain who completely sidelines previous movie baddie Shang Tsung (Chin Han), and Tadanobu Asano’s Lord Raiden also spends much of his screen time laid out on a slab.

It’s very difficult to adapt a fight-heavy game like Mortal Kombat and this follow-up struggles with its story beats.

The script’s tactic is basically throw fireballs of information dumps at the audience and hope we take it all in and the flick follows a face-off, little bit of chat then another face-off format throughout.

READ MORE: MOVIE REVIEW: We see if sequel ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ was worth the two-decade wait

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A side mission regarding an all-powerful amulet swells the running time but feels otherwise unnecessary – and its possession would surely make the whole tournament redundant?

Outside of nostalgia increasing love for the 1995 film, the bombastically brutal Mortal Kombat II is probably as close to an effective live-action take on the games as we’re likely to get – frustrating flaws and all.

What is your favourite flick based on a video game?

Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.

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Mortal Kombat II is showing in cinemas now.

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Pep Guardiola LIVE updates amid blockbuster claims Man City boss has decided to leave

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Manchester Evening News

Guardiola has insisted he has “one more year” left on his contract at City amid speculation over his future. Asked in his pre-match press conference before the FA Cup final whether it could be his final trip to Wembley, Guardiola said “no way”.

He then playfully suggested, while smiling, that he has “one more year [on his] contract” – before making a swift exit from the room. Guardiola was scheduled to leave anyway as it was the last question.

Pep Guardiola during the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea

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Americast – Americanswers… on 5 Live! Has Zohran Mamdani achieved a miracle in New York?

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Americast - Has Jeff Bezos brought down the Washington Post?

Available for over a year

NYC’s new mayor says his new budget will save the city billions without having to cut key services. In a social media post, Zohran Mamdani told New Yorkers his administration “uncovered a $12 billion budget deficit. Today, I’m proud to say we brought it down to zero. We didn’t close the gap on the backs of working people.”But beyond the headlines, how accurate is this, and what do New Yorkers say about it?

In this episode, Justin, Anthony and Marianna answer your questions with Matt Chorley on 5 Live.They also talk about whether Trump’s social media posts now carry less weight, particularly when it comes to Iran, and a new move by Senate Democrats to take funding away from the president’s plans for a new ballroom. And, how the US president is further expanding the brand of Donald Trump, including with a Trump-branded gold phone.

HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent

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• Email Americast@bbc.co.uk
• Or use #Americast

This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.

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Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you’re reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl
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Cardiff City swoop for another Premier League talent and Dylan Lawlor reveals dream

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Wales Online

Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Monday, May 18.

Cardiff City set to land another Premier League talent

Cardiff City are poised to sign another highly-rated Premier League academy talent after agreeing a deal to bring teenage midfielder Pedro Araujo to south Wales from Crystal Palace.

The 16-year-old attacking midfielder will sign a scholarship agreement with Cardiff and is set to officially join the club ahead of the 2026/27 season.

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Araujo, who can also play as a striker, is regarded as an exciting attacking prospect and enjoyed an impressive campaign in Palace’s youth system last season, registering 12 goals and 11 assists.

The Brazilian-British youngster began his academy journey with Arsenal, spending four years there between Under-7 and Under-11 level before a spell with Stevenage at Under-12s.

He then joined Crystal Palace as an Under-13 and has spent the last four years developing in the Premier League club’s academy system.

Standing at 6ft 1in and comfortable with both feet, Araujo is expected to link up with Cardiff’s Under-18s squad next season as the Bluebirds continue a major push to strengthen their academy pipeline.

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He is set to join fellow new arrival Cass Machin, the midfield talent Cardiff are also expected to sign from Manchester City.

Machin, another technically gifted young midfielder, has been with Manchester City since Under-9 level and is viewed as one of several ambitious academy additions being targeted by Cardiff this summer.

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Dylan Lawlor reveals Cardiff City dream

Dylan Lawlor says he dreams of playing in the Premier League with Cardiff City after opening up on his breakthrough season and the academy pathway finally opening up for young Bluebirds.

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The centre-back has emerged as one of the success stories of Cardiff’s youth system over the last year, taking advantage of the opportunities presented following the club’s relegation to League One and subsequent rebuild under Brian Barry-Murphy.

And the defender admits he now hopes he can continue climbing with his boyhood club in the Championship and beyond.

“Obviously I’ve got aspirations to play at the highest level,” Lawlor told Cardiff City TV.

“I’d love to do that with Cardiff. Fingers crossed. We’ll see what happens in the Championship.”

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Lawlor also passionately defended Cardiff’s academy setup, insisting the work being done behind the scenes has not received enough recognition amid the turbulence surrounding the club over the last 18 months. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.

“The academy is unbelievable,” he said. “It hasn’t been given enough credit with the club’s situation.

“Going down to League One has maybe made it easier to get players into the first team. There are so many good players in there who never really made it.

“But there is now opportunity and you’ve got to credit the manager, too.”

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For years, one of the biggest criticisms levelled at Cardiff was the lack of a genuine pathway into the first team for academy players.

Lawlor admits that uncertainty was something he himself wrestled with while coming through the ranks.

“For me, coming through, there was always the question: ‘Is there a pathway?’ Because you never saw players coming through,” he explained.

But seeing the likes of Rubin Colwill, Joel Bagan and Isaak Davies establish themselves gave Lawlor belief that it was possible.

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“Then when you saw Rubin, Joel and Isaak break through, there was that bit of hope and inspiration you could get there,” he added.

“I hope that gets passed down to the boys in the academy now and they can see there is a pathway to the first team.

“I loved it when Rubin, Isaak, Kingy (Eli King) broke through. It gave me that enjoyment as a fan and I hope I give that to the fans now.”

Wintle reacts to Ng contract news

Ryan Wintle has reacted to the news that close friend and team-mate Perry Ng has signed a new long-term contract with Cardiff City.

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The Bluebirds confirmed on Monday that Ng had extended his stay in south Wales until 2028 in what is being viewed as a major boost ahead of the club’s return to the Championship.

And Wintle was among the first to publicly congratulate the defender, reposting Cardiff’s announcement on his Instagram story alongside the message: “Congrats Perry laaaa.”

The pair go way back, having both come at Crewe before later reuniting at Cardiff during lengthy spells in the Welsh capital.

Their friendship has been clear to see throughout their time at the club, with both players becoming key figures during difficult periods as well as Cardiff’s successful promotion-winning campaign this season.

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Ng’s new deal comes at an interesting time for Wintle himself, however.

The midfielder is currently due to fall out of contract next month, alongside fellow promotion hero Joel Bagan, with uncertainty still surrounding both players’ futures.

Ng’s contract extension was viewed internally as hugely important business by Cardiff, particularly given interest from clubs in the top half of the Championship and concerns among supporters that the 29-year-old could move on this summer.

Since joining Cardiff in January 2021, Ng has made 233 appearances, scored 15 goals and won the club’s Player of the Season award twice.

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The right-back enjoyed another outstanding campaign under Brian Barry-Murphy, reclaiming his starting place after competition from academy graduate Ronan Kpakio before starring in the second half of the season as Cardiff secured promotion back to the Championship.

Speaking after signing his extension, Ng said: “I’m delighted to have signed this new deal. I’ve loved my time at the Club so far.

“I’ve grown a lot in my five-and-a-half years in South Wales. I feel like I’ve made a home for myself here.”

While Ng’s future is now secure, attention may soon turn towards whether Cardiff can also tie down Wintle and Bagan as preparations continue for life back in the Championship. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

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Scanlon issues message to fans

Calum Scanlon has issued a heartfelt message to Cardiff City supporters following the end of his loan spell in south Wales.

The young left-back joined Cardiff on loan from Liverpool during the second half of the season but found opportunities limited due to the outstanding form of Joel Bagan, who established himself as arguably the best left-back in League One during the Bluebirds’ promotion-winning campaign.

Scanlon ultimately made eight appearances after arriving from Anfield and, although it was perhaps not the volume of minutes he would have hoped for, the 21-year-old did well when called upon.

The defender has now reflected positively on his time at Cardiff in an end-of-season social media message.

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“A pleasure being part of such a good team,” he wrote.

“Thank you to all the staff, fans and players who helped me every day, and made me feel welcome from the start.

“Time to rest and keep pushing.”

Despite fierce competition for places, Scanlon remained a well-liked figure around the squad and benefited from being part of a successful dressing room under Brian Barry-Murphy.

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Bagan’s form meant opportunities were difficult to come by, with the academy graduate producing arguably the best football of his Cardiff career and cementing himself as the club’s first-choice option on the left side of defence.

But Scanlon still managed to show flashes of his quality during his cameo appearances and gained valuable senior experience during Cardiff’s successful return to the Championship.

The Liverpool youngster is expected to head back to Merseyside this summer before a decision is made on the next stage of his development.

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*Sign up to our daily Bluebirds newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here. Cardiff City correspondent Glen Williams is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here, on Instagram, on TikTok and on Facebook.

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Want Firmer, Tastier Tofu? Boil It

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Want Firmer, Tastier Tofu? Boil It

Silken tofu isn’t really the best option for crispy, fried chunks. But during a recent craving, it was all I had in the cupboard, so I “pressed” it in a rookie attempt to firm it up.

That, as you can see, was a silly mistake. You are not meant to press this type of tofu: I placed too much weight on the delicate block, leading it to split. (I don’t eat tofu often. Can you tell?)

My dinner plans changed to a vegan scramble out of necessity.

But as it happens, pressing might not have been the best approach for the dish I wanted, even if I’d picked an appropriate ingredient. Food scientists and regular tofu eaters often boil, instead of pressing, tofu to prep it – a method I tried and instantly loved.

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A misguided attempt to “press” tofu, which didn’t work and (almost!) ruined the block

Why might boiling tofu work better than pressing it?

Food site Epicurious said it gives tofu a “bouncy, firm texture”, adding that “the technique has long been prevalent in Chinese cooking”.

In a YouTube Short, food scientist and author of Tofu Mastery and Everyday Tofu, Wendy Luong (known online as Wendy the Food Scientist) said boiling the food in salted water is the “only… proper way to prepare tofu”

“Because of osmosis, water goes out [of the tofu], and salt goes in” as it boils. “The protein network opens up, leading to improved texture and better flavour absorption”.

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Cookbook author Hetty McKinnon explained, “I think there’s a Western inclination to take the water out of tofu, but tofu really benefits from water. With this technique, the salt in the water is infusing flavour and drawing out moisture at the same time.”

Did it work?

Shocker: people a lot more experienced with the ingredient than I am were right.

I placed my next, post-disaster block of tofu (the method isn’t recommended for silken kinds) into very salty, boiling water for three minutes. Then, I drained it.

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As little as 60 seconds of the treatment can help to firm up tofu and remove the “grassy” flavour. Instead of boiling the block in a pan, meanwhile, some pros place boiling, salted water over tofu and let it sit for 15 minutes; others brine slices.

I found that a quick boil left my tofu firmer and springier, far more capable of withstanding rapid stirring and tossing in sauce.

If it can save me, it ought to be more than capable of helping a cook who didn’t make all the errors I had – I’ll be keeping the trick in my back pocket from now on.

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‘Let’s just get this sorted’ – Things could be about to change for the NI ‘city without a toilet’

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Belfast Live

‘Let’s just get this sorted’

A Northern Ireland “city without a toilet” is to make a new public facility a top priority.

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Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s recent corporate committee heard concerns of years of delays and cross-party lobbying without a plan for a loo.

A report on council priority projects was presented to the chamber for the next 12 months with Dundonald Ice Bowl’s £64m redevelopment first on the list, but no sign of toilets.

READ MORE: NI council to combat ‘horrendous’ online abuse of councillors.

READ MORE: Landlord fees rocket as NI scheme seeks change in wake of child’s death.

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Downshire West DUP Alderman Allan Ewart said: “As you know I have been pushing for toilets in Lisburn city centre. If that was agreed by the council that we push ahead, is this report saying we won’t be able to do it in the next year?”

New signage to direct people to usable toilets in Lisburn were recently put up in March after four years of campaigning by a councillor with a kidney disorder.

Lisburn South DUP Alderman Paul Porter added: “I think Allan might be being too soft there. I am very proud of what we do here as elected members, but for years we were known as the city without a toilet.

“The fact that we have to lobby so hard. Several councillors from several parties. So I don’t think there is any confusion in the direction of travel.

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“But I just want to make sure we are not here at the end of September or November and before you know it we are round robin again. Let’s just get this sorted.”

The council website shows that the local authority operates four public toilets in the total district of more than 150,000 people, with two in Lisburn at Wallace Park and Castle Gardens and one each in Moira and Royal Hillsborough. There are no opening times listed for the toilets.

The most up-to-date public survey carried out by the council (2022) revealed 64% of respondents still being dissatisfied by the public toilet provision even after being shown an online map of their location.

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CEO David Burns responded: “The report is definitely not saying that. What we will do is for the governance and audit committee to bring forward a report in June to identify the projects of each directorate.

“I would fully expect your request to feature on there. Members did give a clear indication that they would like a report back and the workload has been reprioritised to deal with that.”

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