The former Manchester United manager has been linked with a return to Portuguese football having been out of work since leaving Old Trafford in January

Representatives of Ruben Amorim have released a statement confirming the Portuguese manager will not return to work in Portugal, emphasising his desire to pursue his career overseas. The former Manchester United boss had been touted as a potential successor to Jose Mourinho at Benfica, with ex-United chief Mourinho poised to take over at Real Madrid after agreeing to rejoin the Santiago Bernabeu.

Amorim, who established his managerial reputation with Sporting Clube de Portugal, joined Old Trafford with considerable acclaim. But he experienced a difficult 14-month tenure in charge before being dismissed by the club in January.

United’s form has subsequently improved significantly under Michael Carrick, who is now widely anticipated to be given the head coach role permanently. Amorim, on the other hand, maintains strong connections to both Sporting and Benfica and shares a close friendship with Benfica president Rui Costa, who worked as the club’s sporting director during Amorim’s playing spell at the Estadio da Luz.

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Their relationship had generated speculation about a potential homecoming to Benfica as manager. Nevertheless, AS1 Sports, the agency acting for Amorim, has stated that he will not assume control of any Portuguese club.

The 41-year-old has previously managed SC Braga, Sporting and Casa Pia during his spell in his homeland.

The statement read: “In light of the latest news regarding Ruben Amorim’s future, particularly by SIC’s ‘Jornal da Noite’ – it is important to clarify the following: Ruben Amorim made the decision a long time ago to pursue his career abroad.

“Therefore, he has not had any meetings with Portuguese clubs to discuss working conditions, structure, squad, salaries, or any other matters; anything said beyond this is mere speculation and has no basis with reality.”

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.

With Amorim having taken himself out of contention, reports now suggest Fulham manager Marco Silva is poised to assume the role at Benfica, with an ‘agreement in principle’ already said to be in place.

Silva, who has been at Craven Cottage since 2021, is understood to have favoured a homecoming over prolonging his tenure with the west London club. When quizzed about his prospects, Silva acknowledged he has never ruled out embracing a fresh challenge.

“[The Premier League] is a league that, I won’t hide, fulfils me – It’s a league where I believe all coaches have that goal and that little bug of wanting to try it one day,” he said in an interview with DAZN Portugal last week.

“It’s a league where I want to see my team fighting for other things, I want to see my team able to fight for something more, and that has always been the goal.

“But I’ve also never closed any doors to anything, I’ve never said that I wouldn’t be in league A, B, C or D in the future. Regardless of controlling all the decisions I might make regarding it, the future is open.”

Born in Lisbon, the manager had brief spells in charge of Sporting and Estoril before taking the reins at Olympiacos, subsequently going on to manage four English clubs – Hull City, Watford, Everton and Fulham.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident on Douglas Street around 9.10am on Thursday, May 21.

Hamilton properties have been evacuated and a road is closed after a car crashed into a building.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident on Douglas Street around 9.10am on Thursday, May 21.

The road is currently closed between Clydesdale Street and Almada Street. It is unknown if there are any injuries at this time.

Police say a number of properties have been evacuated “as a precaution” and members of the public have been urged to avoid the area.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Douglas Street in Hamilton is closed between Clydesdale Street and Almada Street following a report of a car crashing into a building, around 9.10am on Thursday, 21 May, 2026.

“A number of nearby properties have been evacuated as a precaution and members of the public are being asked to avoid the area.”

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READ MORE: Hamilton-based butcher enjoys success Scottish Craft Butcher Awards

The King and Queen have kicked off the final day of their three day visit to Northern Ireland with a visit to Newtownards.

Bringing Their Majesties’ NI visit to a close, The King and Queen are visiting the Co Down town and its community.

The King is visiting Ards Allotments, which was founded by Maurice Patton after watching Charles visit an allotment on the news more than 20 years ago.

Charles is meeting the community of volunteers, gardeners and growers who use the allotment space to grow fresh produce as well as forging social connections.

Elsewhere Camilla is set to meet survivors of domestic abuse being supported by Women’s Aid in Newtownards.

The royal couple arrived in Belfast on Tuesday. Their latest Northern Ireland visit began with a vibrant celebration of music, creativity and rich, diverse cultural heritage, as they joined organisers and performers to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann coming to Belfast this August, for the first time.

The King and Queen also visited Titanic Distillers where they met distillery staff, learned about the whiskey‑making process and had the opportunity to sample some themselves.

In the afternoon, the royal couple went their separate ways. The King visited the W5 Life (Learning Innovation for Everyone) programme, at Belfast SSE Arena, which works in partnership with the King’s Trust, Microsoft and Almac to build Stem capability and open up new career pathways.

Meanwhile Queen Camilla visited Fane Street Primary School, which has 285 pupils representing 45 countries and speaking 47 different languages.

Later during audiences at Hillsborough Castle, King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

On Wednesday, The King received an unwanted memento from a visit to Newcastle where he celebrated the work of local charities – a splattering from a seagull. The Queen carried out a solo royal visit in Royal Hillsborough which included pouring a pint of Guinness.

The royal couple ended their day by hosting a garden party at Hillsborough Castle, the King’s official residence in Northern Ireland, and the Queen met soldiers and officers from The Rifles, the regiment she serves as Colonel-in-Chief.

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The group have moved to the car park of Newbury Community Centre in Farnworth.

The Bolton News received reports of the encampment on the evening of Tuesday, May 20, with images showing multiple caravans parked across the site at Buckley Lane, Bolton.

Their arrival comes just a day after travellers were reported to have parked up in Peel Park, Little Hulton, on Monday, May 19.

Unauthorised encampments happen when groups stop on land without the landowner’s permission.

Councils and police have legal powers to deal with encampments, but they must follow specific procedures before people can be moved on.

It is not yet known how long the group intends to remain at the site.

Bolton Council has been contacted for comment regarding the encampment and whether any action will be taken.

The Rose & Crown, located in Westhoughton on Bolton Road, will welcome customers once again from 12pm on Thursday, May 21.

The refurbishment was funded by Proper Pubs, the community-focused operator division of Admiral Taverns, and marks a fresh chapter for the venue under the leadership of new operator Ray Lester.

Mr Lester said: “I’m delighted to be taking over The Rose & Crown, and it’s been fantastic to see the transformation come together over the past few weeks.

“The space is already looking great, and I’m really excited to start welcoming customers through the doors – both familiar faces and those visiting for the first time.”

With more than 10 years of experience in the industry, Mr Lester said he hopes to establish the Rose & Crown as a vibrant social hub for the neighbourhood.

The pub now features brand new flooring, fixtures, fittings and furniture throughout, as well as updated décor, along with dedicated darts and pool areas in the lower bar.

Outside, customers can enjoy new covered areas to socialise, additional lighting and a children’s play area.

A broad drinks selection will be available, including Madri, Fosters, Coors, Carling, Guinness, Murphy’s and Strongbow, along with a new cocktail menu.

The Rose and Crown before the refurbishment (Image: public)

The Rose & Crown will also host regular entertainment, including live music, karaoke, quiz nights and pub teams for both darts and pool.

In addition to its social offering, Mr Lester said he plans to support the wider community by collecting food donations for the local foodbank and raising funds for a defibrillator on site.

Matt Gurney, operations director for Proper Pubs, said: “It’s a real pleasure to welcome Ray to The Rose & Crown, and it’s been fantastic to watch the refurbishment come to life.

“We look forward to welcoming the local community into the pub, especially for the reopening event on the 21st of May.

“On behalf of myself and the whole team at Proper Pubs, we’d like to wish Ray every success in his new venture – it’s great to have him on board.”

Proper Pubs operates more than 200 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

The company runs an annual programme of events and fundraising campaigns to connect with and support the communities it serves.

Earlier this year, Proper Pubs collected 21,619 Easter eggs for donation to local charities, and last Christmas its operators gathered 17,500 selection boxes for those in need.

In addition, the pub group raised £80,255 for Admiral Taverns’ charity partner, Claire House Hospice.

In 2025, Proper Pubs donated enough food to help feed 1,300 people for a week through UK foodbanks, and has been recognised in a UK-wide defibrillator installation campaign.

So far, the campaign has helped save 11 lives.

In recognition of its community focus, Proper Pubs was named a finalist in the Best Community Pub category at the 2026 Great British Publican Awards.

The company also received the title of Community Pub Operator at the Publican Awards in 2024.

The reopening of The Rose & Crown is seen as another positive step in the company’s ongoing efforts to invest in people and places that matter.

With new facilities, regular events and a renewed focus on supporting Westhoughton, the pub aims to re-establish itself as a gathering place for all generations.

The Rose & Crown is located at 222 Bolton Road, Westhoughton, Bolton.

Eastbourne House, which supports up to 72 older people including those living with dementia, was praised for its compassionate and personalised approach to care.

In a routine inspection carried out in February, the CQC rated the home as outstanding in the categories of effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.

The home, operated by HC-One No.2 Limited, retained its previous rating of good in the safe category.

Alison Chilton, CQC deputy director for adult social care in the north, said: “At Eastbourne House, people told us they felt genuinely at home.

“We found an exceptionally skilled and compassionate team who empowered people to be themselves and live as they wanted to.”

Ms Chilton highlighted how staff went “above and beyond” to make residents feel valued, including helping a lifelong football fan celebrate their 100th birthday by arranging for them to walk onto the field with their favourite team and flip the coin to start the match.

She said: “They told us it was one of the best days of their life.

“Many other residents were celebrating in a local pub and watching the event on TV.”

The CQC noted that staff supported residents through difficult times with sensitivity and respect.

In one example, after a resident experienced a decline following a bereavement, staff encouraged them to take part in a fundraising activity in memory of their loved one, helping them reconnect with their sense of purpose and community.

Inspectors also observed that residents appeared happy and relaxed and spoke positively about the kindness and respect shown by staff.

They were encouraged to pursue their interests and take part in meaningful activities, while being supported to remain as independent as possible.

Staff used clear and accessible communication methods, such as picture menus, to help residents express their preferences.

The end-of-life care provided was also commended, with some staff choosing to sit with residents during their final moments even on their days off if family could not be present.

Leadership at the home was described as supportive, knowledgeable, and visible, with a strong culture of learning and continuous improvement.

I’m not surprised that Talk Like Yoda Day exists. Over 40 years since his Star Wars debut (puppeteered and voiced by Frank Oz), Yoda remains a recognisable figure in pop culture. This is in part due to his distinctive and frequently imitated version of English.

What stands out about Yoda’s speech is his unusual word order. Think of some of his most famous lines: “Patience you must have, my young Padawan” and “Your path you must decide”. This is clearly not the typical English word order, but it’s not random either. Yoda’s word order mirrors the syntax of British Sign Language (BSL). By building your sentences like Yoda, you can master a key aspect of BSL grammar.

In Yoda’s sentences, the topic comes first. In linguistics, the topic of the sentence is the word or phrase that represents what the sentence is about. The other parts of the sentence provide extra details on this topic. Through a syntactic process called topicalisation, the topic is brought to the front of the sentence.

Topicalisation is uncommon in English, but can be used for emphasis. Generally, English sentences follow this word order: subject then verb then object. For example: Anna (subject) ate (verb) a biscuit (object). What is the topic of this sentence? In fact, it could be any of those sentence elements. It depends on which information the speaker thinks is most important.

If the speaker wishes to place emphasis on what they have chosen as the topic of the sentence, topicalisation is a useful tool. Consider the difference between these two sentences:

The biscuit was eaten by Anna.

It was Anna who ate the biscuit.

In the first sentence, what was eaten is important. In the second sentence, who ate the biscuit is important.

Topicalisation is closely linked with question words – who, what, where, why and sometimes how. Each of these questions picks out a different topic. If you were asked, “What did Anna eat?”, it would probably feel odd to answer, “It was Anna who ate the biscuit”. This is because the topic of that response focuses on who, not what. Subconsciously, on a linguistic level, we understand what the topic of the answer should be, even though we may not be used to thinking about sentences in terms of topics.

There is an important difference between topicalisation in English and how Yoda structures his sentence. For Yoda, topicalisation only involves moving the topic; the rest of the word order remains intact. Yet, in English, we need some extra words to facilitate the topic moving. In English, it sounds much more natural to say, “Patience is what you must have, my young Padawan”, although this is very unlike Yoda.

Yoda and BSL

British Sign Language (BSL) is the primary or preferred language of the British Deaf community. There are around 151,000 BSL users, of whom 87,000 are deaf.

A common misconception is that BSL has the same grammar as English. BSL has its own syntax, separate from English and from other sign languages. BSL is what linguists call a topic-comment language. A sentence commonly starts with the topic and is then followed by further details that build on the topic, known as the comment.

No matter whether the topic is a subject, verb or object, it comes first. So, how can you sign the sentence “Anna ate a biscuit”? Using our question words as a guide, we can identify three possible topics: Who ate the biscuit? What did Anna do? What did Anna eat? For each of these scenarios, you sign the topic first, followed by the rest of the sentence:

BSL: Anna eat biscuit.

(Translation: “It was Anna who ate the biscuit.”)

BSL: Eat biscuit Anna.

(Translation: “What Anna did was eat the biscuit.”)

BSL: Biscuit Anna eat.

(Translation: “It was a biscuit that Anna ate.”)

As with Yoda’s English, in BSL, topicalisation elegantly rearranges the elements in the sentence, without the need for extra words. As well as a prominent position, topics can be marked with so-called “non-manual features”, such as a head nod or widened eyes during the topic sign, or a pause after signing the topic.

The topic-comment structure is a very important aspect of BSL grammar. Unfortunately, it is something that hearing learners can struggle to use consistently. In the worst case, you may feel tempted to give up and use English word order instead. But this isn’t BSL, and it could make your signing unclear and difficult to follow for a Deaf person.

Learning a language with a different grammar might seem difficult, but it is associated with many benefits for the brain, such as increased creativity and improved working memory. It is an opportunity to think about how to express your thoughts differently, which might develop your creative problem solving.

Language is also a powerful social and cultural tool for connecting with other people. In 2021, a survey by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People found that people who are deaf or have hearing loss are twice as likely to experience mental health problems compared to people without hearing loss. The survey reported that nearly 47% of respondents felt excluded in everyday life and 33% felt lonely. By learning some BSL, you are working towards making our society more inclusive of people who are deaf.

Rather than getting lost with verb or subject order, remember: talk like Yoda. Start with what is the most important part of the sentence and then provide details. As I’m sure the wise Yoda would agree, sign language learn you should.

The driver of the car was unharmed and no arrests have been made

A man has been taken to hospital following a crash on a road in a Cambridgeshire town. Cambridgeshire Police were called at around 7.54pm yesterday (Wednesday, May 20) to Lynn Road in Wisbech with reports of a crash involving a car and a motorcycle.

A 26-year-old man, who was driving the motorcycle, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the car was unharmed. No arrests have been made but police are making enquiries into the incident.

Anyone who saw what happened, has dashcam footage, or was in the area around the time of the incident should go to the police. Anything can be reported through the force website quoting incident 474 of 20 May. If you do not have access to the internet, you can call 101.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “We were called at 7.54pm to Lynn Road, Wisbech, following reports of a collision between a car and motorcycle.

“The motorcyclist, a 26-year-old man, has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the car was unharmed. No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.

“Anyone who saw what happened, has dashcam footage of the collision, was in the area at the time or the moments leading up to it, can report it through the force website or by calling 101, quoting incident 474 of 20 May.”

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Rowntree Park in Terry Avenue is now home to Walk on the Wild Side, a free digital tree trail created by the Friends of Rowntree Park and developed with local app creators Boon & Moil.

The interactive trail guides users around 20 trees, from native varieties to ornamental species, offering identification tips, facts, and seasonal observations.

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Abigail Gaines, from the Friends of Rowntree Park, said: “We wanted to create something that encourages people to slow down and really notice the nature around them.

“Rowntree Park is full of incredible trees that many people walk past every day without knowing their stories.

“This trail is a fun and gentle way to connect with nature, whether you’re visiting alone, with friends, or as a family.”

Walk on the Wild Side is a free app from Friends of Rowntree Park (Image: Friends of Rowntree Park)

The app includes a map and illustrated tree cards, making it easy for users to learn about tree characteristics as they walk through the park.

A shortened version of the trail is available for younger children, and the route takes around 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

The app can be used without booking, works on older devices, and is designed to function even with limited connectivity.

The Friends of Rowntree Park is a volunteer-run charity focused on maintaining and enhancing the park through gardening, wildlife projects, and community events.

Walk on the Wild Side is a free app from Friends of Rowntree Park (Image: Friends of Rowntree Park)

Their work aims to help people connect with nature and each other while ensuring the park remains a welcoming green space for everyone.

Illustrations for the digital tree trail were created by local illustrator Ellie Lewis.

For those who prefer a physical guide, a leaflet version of the trail is available for a small donation at the York Explore Reading Café within the park.

The app is free to download.