THEY say fortune favours the brave – and rewards await if you can find the courage to plunge into the natural swimming pond at the Yorkshire Spa Retreat.

After watching other spa goers dip their toes into the dark water then pull them back up with a squeal and a shiver, I vowed to go straight in.

The chill of the water sent a shock through my entire body, like an awakening that alerted all my senses. Just 20 or so breaststrokes took me to the exit point and as I pulled myself up the ladder, my body tingled all over.

I felt amazing. Alive. And really, really well.

The sense of wellbeing was only enhanced as I reclined into the curved, pool-side bed, and wrapped the white fluffy robe around me.

A few marshmallow clouds passed above, breaking up the perfect blue of the sky.

Bliss.

I’d come to the Yorkshire Spa Retreat, just outside Helmsley, for some R&R with my friend.

We’d been invited to try a taster of its new three-day Wellness Retreat programme, combining yoga, Pilates, mindfulness and nutrition to help rebalance the mind and body.

Yoga and Pilates take place in the studio at the Yorkshire Spa Retreat. Photo supplied

It was an opportunity to switch off and tune into some luxury ‘me-time’. The only thing I had to pay attention to was the next item on my ‘Wellness Retreat’ itinerary.

For me, it was a date with a massage therapist, in one of the cute wooden studios that border the fresh-water lake and swimming pond which form the centrepiece of this rural spa.

After earning a decent sweat in the pool-side sauna, I refreshed under the cool outdoor shower, and let the jets of the large outdoor hot-tub begin the task of easing my tight muscles.

This was enhanced by the 30-minute massage, which kneaded the knots in my upper back and shoulders. A body oil scented with orange lingered in the air and on my skin for hours after.

Inside one of the thermal suites at Yorkshire Spa Retreat. Photo by GARETH BUDDO

We were staying the night in one of the Spa’s luxury lodges. Complete with two bedrooms, a shower room, and kitchen/dining/living area, it was a real home-from-home. We loved the Nespresso coffee machine and the giant TV on which we could watch our current Netflix binge.

Best of all, however, was our own outdoor hot-tub, which bubbled invitingly, and would be perfect whatever the weather.

Our fridge was packed with healthy goodies for our breakfast the next morning, including a tub of thick Greek yoghurt, a punnet of berries, and portions of fresh fruit, as well as bottles of orange juice and milk. Slices of sourdough bread, with butter and jam, meant we could have toast alongside the decent supply of tea and coffee.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. We had a table booked at the on-site restaurant – the Dome. This is an attractive space, with views overlooking the lake and spa area.

The food was a winner too. A two-course dinner is included in the price of the package, and the menu offered plenty of choice for all tastes and dietary preferences. We shared some houmous with pitta, then I enjoyed the salmon dish. This was a generous piece of fish, pan-fried so the skin was nice and crispy, and paired with a pile of crushed new potatoes and seasonal greens. A lovely, light, creamy sauce was served alongside, and a ‘crown’ of three juicy king prawns took the dish to the next level of satisfaction.

My friend also enjoyed her dish – the vegan buttermilk burger, served in a pretzel bun, with fries and Asian slaw on the side.

Salmon dinner at The Dome.

She also ordered a dessert, and was pleased with her choice – a pavlova of raspberry meringue with fresh berries and Chantilly cream.

Back at the lodge, we swapped our glad rags for PJs and settled on the sofa for a catch-up and some guilt-free late-night TV knowing that we didn’t have to get up for work or household chores the next day.

Day two began with an optional 8.30am fitness class in the on-site Barn Gym & Studio.

I gave that a miss, but did turn up for the Pilates class one hour later and ended up having a one-on-one session with Meredith, a young exercise tutor from Mexico newly settled in North Yorkshire.

Mexico’s loss is our gain, as Meredith was exceptional; I’ve been practising Pilates for 30 years, but she was able to introduce me to new moves and I loved her slow and steady programme.

A guided walk on the Moors was planned for the afternoon, followed by a meditation and yoga session.

Inside the Dome restaurant of the Yorkshire Spa Retreat

But our 24-hour pass away from normal life was due to expire, and after a filling and healthy brunch back at the Dome, our return to York beckoned.

For a feel-good top up, just a short drive away from York, the Wellness Retreat at the Yorkshire Spa comes thoroughly recommended.

Find out more at: www.yorkshire-spa-retreat.co.uk/wellness-retreats

The post mill was deemed by Historic England to be in “poor condition” and “slow decay”

Throughout the county of Cambridgeshire, there are multiple beautiful buildings with captivating stories to tell that are suffering from deterioration and decay. As a result, these selected buildings have been placed on the Historic England ‘at risk’ register.

One at risk building is Great Gransden Windmill in Mill Road. This windmill is said to be one of the oldest in England.

The Grade II listed building dates back to the 13th century and parts of the existing structure date back to the early 17th-century. The mill stopped working over 100 years ago, when it was in a poor state of repair.

A local legend says that in 1867 a book of black magic entitled ‘An Infidel’s Bible’ was hidden in the mill, causing it to stop working. Interestingly, when the book was removed, the mill began to work again. The sails were removed in 2015 due to safety concerns. Aside from the sails, the structure needed extensive work to keep it standing.

Historic England deemed the building to be in “poor condition” and “slow decay” and the mill was added to the list. However, a major repair program is now well underway, according to the mill’s website. The work will help to restore the windmill – the fifth-oldest post mill in the UK – to its former glory.

Two wooden sails and frames for two canvas sails were lifted into position in 2023. The restoration involved a significant community effort to get it to that stage, with volunteers helping to paint, build and transport materials throughout the works.

These plans were a significant milestone in bringing the mill back to life. Although, Historic England requires both physical completion of all interior repairs and a legally secured, sustainable future plan before the monument can be removed from the ‘at risk’ register.

A post mill is the oldest type of European windmill, and its entire wooden body is balanced and rotates on a single central post.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday gave his endorsement to a January study by the Department of Health and Human Services that calls for cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every American child.

An executive order from Trump directs federal agencies to align their policies behind the study, which recommended an overhaul long called for by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The study found that the United States recommends more childhood vaccines than many peer nations.

The Trump administration previously moved to narrow the number of recommended childhood vaccines in response to the report, but the move was blocked by a federal judge in Massachusetts. The administration is appealing the decision.

The study recommends vaccinating all children against 11 diseases. Several others would be recommended only for high-risk groups or when doctors recommend them in what’s called “shared decision-making.” That includes vaccines for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and RSV.

Trump’s order adds weight behind the study at a time when the administration had appeared to be trying to shift focus away from Kennedy’s more contentious vaccine policies and toward more mainstream topics like healthy eating.

The order directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the study and “take any appropriate steps” to update its vaccine recommendations. It says the CDC should “provide maximum flexibility to parents and doctors” and directs agencies to make sure all actions, regulations and funding are aligned with the study.

The order adds that any changes should ensure that Americans retain their current access to vaccines.

States, not the federal government, have the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren. While CDC requirements often influence those state regulations, some states have begun creating their own alliances to counter the Trump administration’s guidance on vaccines.

Trump directed HHS to carry out the study in December.

Kennedy is a longtime activist against vaccines and has sought ways to inject his skepticism about the shots into national guidance. Last year, he announced the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women, a move questions by public health experts who saw no new data to justify the change.

Last June, he fired a 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee and later installed several of his own replacements, including multiple vaccine skeptics.

The January report found that vaccine recommendations for American children had increased in recent decades. It also highlighted countries where no vaccines are required to attend school.

The live final of Britain’s Got Talent 2026 will air this evening with 10 acts battling it out to become champion and a special guest performance is also on the cards

The winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2026 will be revealed tonight.

ITV have cleared the schedule for a bumper edition of the long-running talent show. Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI will be on the judging panel once again as hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly oversee the proceedings.

However, it is down the public vote alone which act will win. There’s 10 acts in the running, with five of them securing their place via a golden buzzer. The other five were voted through by the viewing public during the five semi-final heats.

What time is the Britain’s Got Talent 2026 final on?

The live grand finale kicks off at 7pm and will air on ITV1 for two and a half hours with the winner revealed just before the programme ends at 9.30pm.

ITV bosses have teased a “surprise guest act” will take to the stage on the night, with fans speculating it could be Alesha’s band Mis-Teeq following the news the trio are reuniting to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their first album.

Former BGT contestant Susan Boyle has also sparked rumours she could be performing after debuting her glam new look sporting a blonde bob as she enters a “new era”.

Which acts are in the Britain’s Got Talent final?

Singer Matty Juniosa got the golden buzzer in the first semi-final, whilst dog act Anastasiia and Salsa were voted through by the public. On night two, it was dance group Sadeck Berrabah and LMA who received the Golden Buzzer, and magician Fabian Fox was sent through by viewers at home.

The three semi-final saw fire juggler Liwei Yang bag the golden buzzer, whilst viewers sent comedian Ted Hill through to the next stage of the competition.

In semi-final four, poet Sonny Green won the golden buzzer whilst magician Rafferty Coope was voted the public’s favourite to go through and, finally, drone art collective Celstial got the last Golden Buzzer of the series and The Hawkstone Farmers Choir got through thanks to the public.

How to vote during for Britain’s Got Talent winner?

Fans can vote by visiting itv.com/vote. You can type this web address in, or, if a QR code is displayed in the show, you can use this to go straight there. For the best experience, ITV advise doing this on your mobile phone but you can also use a tablet or computer.

The first time you want to place a vote, you will need to verify your mobile number – even if you are using a tablet or computer. To do this, click/tap ‘Log In’ and enter your UK mobile number.

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Once you receive the passcode, you will receive this via a free text message, enter it on the website and click/tap ‘Verify Your Mobile’. You will then be asked to create a memorable passcode to use each time you log in. When a vote is open it will automatically appear on the website.

Your device will remain registered and logged in to the website unless you log out or delete cookies on your device. If you log out or delete the cookies on your device, you will have to log in to the vote website by using your memorable passcode.

What does prize does the Britain’s Got Talent champion get?

The lucky winner will win a life-changing £250,000 cash prize and a spot at The Royal Variety Show Performance later this year.

Britain’s Got Talent 2026 live final airs Saturday, May 30 at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Ulster Championship winners Armagh host Derry in Round 1 of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on Saturday evening at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds

Armagh will take on Derry this weekend in Round 1 of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh side arrive brimming with confidence following their Ulster title triumph earlier this month, and continue to be regarded as one of the frontrunners for the Sam Maguire this summer.

Derry GAA, on the other hand, are eager to bounce back from their Ulster championship disappointment and will view this fixture as a significant chance to make an early impact in the All-Ireland series.

Here’s everything you need to know about the match:

Where is the match being played?, reports the Irish Mirror

BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh.

What time is throw-in?

The match is scheduled to commence at 7:15pm on Saturday, May 30.

Can I watch the match on TV?

The fixture will be available to stream live on GAA+ and has not been selected for free-to-air television coverage.

Betting odds

Armagh enter the fixture as favourites with bookmakers:

Armagh – 4/9

Draw – 8/1

Derry – 9/4

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It was a VERY special return from Take That last night, bringing The Circus back to life for the first time in 17 years. Our reporter was there in 2009 and 2026 and delivers her verdict on the key moments and big changes.

So Take That have only gone and done it. They’ve not only done what no band has ever done before in bringing back a major tour in its entirety, but they’ve actually made The Circus Live even bigger, better and more bedazzling than the first time around.

I was there in 2009 when the band first brought The Circus Live to stadiums across the UK – and like the 1million of us with tickets back then was left utterly gobsmacked at the scale and ambition of this incredible show. So I headed along to the opening night of this 2026 reboot at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton thinking I knew what to expect.

Yes, I knew I’d be wowed. But wow oh wow oh wow, it was just so breathtaking and beautiful, and I don’t think I expected to feel quite so emotional about it all.

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Needless to say, I now just want to go back and do it all again.

Opening with Greatest Day, the trio of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald seem determined to deliver exactly that to their fans with this humdinger of a two hour show. It rattles through 25 of Take That’s biggest songs, all performed with total pizzazz thanks to the spectacular circus themed staging.

So, my advice if you’re heading along? Soak up every single minute. As Mark said at the end of the opening night: “Thank you for making this such an incredible memory, we will hold this in our hearts forever.” He could probably speak for every single person in the stadium with that thought.

Here’s more of my thoughts after that spectacular opening performance.

You won’t know where to look

Never has a show more fittingly been described as a “feast for the eyes”. It’s a true spectacular – and at times there is SO much going on across the different stages (the main stage, the B stage and the rising promenade between the two) that you will not know where to look.

They have 40 talented performers on stage with them throughout this show, and each one gives their own incredible performance, whether it be acrobat, clown, trapeze artist or stilt-worker, this really is a joybomb of a show.

I mean, there is fire, rain, glitter bombs… oh and a full on firework finale. Even the costumes are even more glitzy – look out for the sequin-encrusted clown outfits and bowler hats, and the very wow red suits for Relight My Fire at the end.

It will probably make you leave thinking “I really need to go and see this again”, just to try and watch again all the incredible detail. And, having spoken to a number of fans in the queue on the way in, it sounds like many of you have already planned this with repeat tickets for the ongoing tour.

You will laugh, and you will cry

Any time-served Take That fan will go along to see their idols prepared for ALL the emotions. But this show, this Circus, really does give all the feels.

I have to be honest and say my eyes were prickling with the watery stuff on more than one occasion, and indeed from the opening moments when they emerge so spectacularly from the balloon-encrusted stage. And my skin was definitely rippling with lots of goosebumps throughout this show.

I was not prepared to feel quite so emotional though when Gary took to the stage for his solo bit at the piano – The Circus is one of my favourite songs, but seeing it played as a stunning tightrope walker made his way across the crowd was really something else.

Never Forget backed by a vast drummer band, while the audience all held their arms aloft as one was also a standout, blub-worthy moment.

But this is Take That – and you know you’re never far from a party trick or two. They masterfully weave between tender moments and the big razzle dazzle. And proper laugh out loud stuff too when they embark on their big unicycle moment. Howard and Mark zipping down the promenade stage to cheers – followed by Gary toddling along in his little three-wheeler.

You may also get a bit wet…

Be warned if you’ve got tickets in the standing zone, as you may well find you’re heading near the “splash zone”. This is basically anywhere near the B stage where much of the action starts in the show.

There are signs warning you of this if you do get to this area, but the main song to look out for is Back for Good, which comes with a spectacular monsoon of magic that has the lads pulling their umbrellas out.

The elephant in the room

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Oh yes the elephant. You will be seeing thousands of videos on your TikTok, Facebook and Instagram feeds of this bad boy in the weeks ahead.

But honestly, no social media post can truly compare to seeing it, feeling it, being there when the lads emerge on top of this 30ft animatronic beauty to walk through the audience to the stage. It’s powered by the performers – just make sure you take a close look when you see it – even down to the swishing tail, brought to life by a dazzling and daring acrobat.

Soundtracked by tearjerker The Garden, it’s not only one of the best ever Take That moments, it’s also one of the most special moments in British live music history.

And the other elephant in the room…

Ah yes, there’s no getting away from the fact that it is a little sad that former bandmate Jason Orange does not return for this Circus reboot. He was such a huge part of the show last time around, with his fabulous dancing and unicycling, as well as the tender moments when he took centrestage to perform his big solo on Wooden Boat, as well as taking lead vocals on How Did It Come To This.

While the 2026 setlist stays pretty true to the original, it’s no surprise really that the big changes are to reflect the fact Jason is not with them, so no Wooden Boat or How Did It Come to This. Instead, we get a lovely moment with Mark centrestage to sing 90s classic Babe, backed by Howard on drums and Gary on the piano.

In a fitting move to reflect the band moving forward as a trio, there’s also room for their newest song, You’re a Superstar, which is already turning into a firm fan favourite.

On opening night we also got some special little piano moments from Gary too – he performed snippets from Love Ain’t Here Anymore and Nobody Else before the tearjerking The Circus. I do wonder if he might switch it up and play different little ditties at this point during each night of the show, but we’ll have to wait and see on that.

Get there early

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Yes, I know the diehard fans don’t need to hear this. They’re the ones camping out overnight to be sure they’re the first through the doors when they open.

But for those who may not have seen the show before, you really do want to be making sure you enjoy every single moment of what’s in store.

And that means getting there for the support acts too. On this tour, you’re treated to two performances that would be worthy of their own headline billing in the shape of 80s and 90s pop princess Belinda Carlisle and rockers The Script.

With this in mind, here’s how it played out on opening night. Stage times are always subject to change but this gives you a good guide of what time you need to be getting in and finding your seat or your place on the floor.

Stage times on opening night

Doors open: 5pm

Belinda Carlisle: 6.25pm –

The Script: 7.20pm

Take That: 8.30pm

Show ends: 10.30pm

And finally… you’ll still be singing and dancing at the end

The show may come to a close at 10.30pm, but trust me when I say you’ll leave on a high – and still be singing and dancing on your way out.

When the lads leave the stage, the song that straight away comes on is Dirty Dancing classic I’ve Had the Time of My Life and what a belter it was.

On opening night, it was such a joy to watch everyone singing and dancing away as the lights came up. Some even attempted that famous Johnny and Baby dance lift although I suspect for health and safety reasons that’s not one to be advised, but it did give us all a good giggle all the same.

The Setlist in full

I know not everyone likes the spoilers, so this is your time to scroll away now if you don’t want to know the songs that are in store.

But for those who do like to know, this is the setlist from the opening night on Friday, May 29 at the St Mary’s Stadium.

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Greatest Day

Hello

Could it Be Magic

Pray

A Million Love Songs

Back For Good

The Garden

Shine

Up All Night

Babe

You’re a Superstar

Love ain’t Here Anymore

Nobody Else

The Circus

What is Love

Do What U Like/Promises/It Only Takes a Minute/Take That and Party

Said it All

Never Forget

Patience

Relight My Fire

ENCORE:

Hold up A Light

Rule The World

Where they go next

If you’re now thinking you need to see this show (and if you’re a Take That fan, then trust me, you do), then be quick. There’s not many tickets left as the rest of the tour heads out across the UK and Ireland over the next six weeks.

Here’s the 16 remaining tour dates in full.

Saturday 30 May – Southampton, St Mary’s Stadium

Thursday 04 June – Coventry, Building Society Arena

Friday 05 June – Coventry, Building Society Arena

Saturday 06 June – London, Wembley Stadium (Capital’s Summertime Ball)

Saturday 06 June – Coventry, Building Society Arena

Tuesday 09 June – Sunderland, Stadium of Light

Friday 12 June – Glasgow, Hampden Park

Saturday 13 June – Glasgow, Hampden Park

Tuesday 16 June – Cardiff, Principality Stadium

Friday 19 June – Manchester, Etihad Stadium

Saturday 20 June – Manchester, Etihad Stadium

Sunday 21 June – Manchester, Etihad Stadium

Thursday 25 June – London, Stadium

Friday 26 June – London, Stadium

Saturday 27 June – London, Stadium

Wednesday 01 July – Manchester, Etihad Stadium

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli combat soldier saw his teammates yelling in celebration, congratulating one another. They had just struck a vehicle of Palestinians driving near the Israeli-controlled part of the Gaza Strip, killing everyone inside.

The reservist said scenes like this had become common after a fragile ceasefire took effect in October. In the weeks he was stationed in Gaza, he said, he saw soldiers relishing the chance to go after those who crossed — or came close to crossing — the so-called yellow line that divides the strip into Israeli-controlled and Palestinian areas.

“It was a jungle,” the soldier, in his 20s, told The Associated Press. “After the ceasefire, the order was: If someone crosses the line, you shoot them.”

As diplomatic efforts to strengthen the deal have stalled, three soldiers described to AP a sense of confusion in the embattled territory, with a lack of clarity on rules of engagement around the yellow line. Some commanders paid lip service to the agreement, the soldiers said, while privately voicing desire for the war in Gaza to continue. Sometimes, troops were too far away or acted too quickly to recognize who they were shooting, one soldier said — a concern echoed in comments from a whistleblower group of veterans.

The soldiers’ accounts are a rare glimpse into what’s happened in the Israeli-controlled part of Gaza since the deal went into effect seven months ago. The soldiers — reservists deployed throughout Gaza between October and January who’ve since returned — spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared being ostracized over their comments. They said they were speaking out because they were angered and saddened by what they saw.

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AP has documented shootings of Palestinian civilians, including children playing, close to the yellow line. And the soldiers said it felt like the killings never stopped amid the tenuous deal.

“To call it a ceasefire is a joke,” one soldier told AP.

Gaza’s yellow line has been ambiguous, and Israel has taken control of more land

When the ceasefire went into effect, Israel withdrew troops to a buffer zone demarcated by a yellow line, giving it control of just over half the strip. Under the agreement, Israeli forces are meant to complete a fuller withdrawal, though there’s no timeline for that. The U.S.-backed diplomat overseeing the truce says progress is deadlocked over the central sticking point of disarming Hamas, upon which all other issues — including Israeli withdrawals and reconstruction — hinge.

In the meantime, Israel has expanded control over additional territory in Gaza. Both sides have accused the other of violating the ceasefire.

The line’s exact location has been ambiguous and sometimes invisible. In some places, it’s marked with yellow blocks and barrels; in others, it at times hasn’t been indicated at all.

The Israeli military invited AP this week to see a section of the yellow line in central Gaza, near the Maghazi refugee camp. The line there was visible, demarcated by a wide dirt path and small yellow markings. To the east was a desolate stretch of open space leading to a heavily fortified Israeli military post about 500 meters away.

An Israeli military commander said Hamas is active on the other side of the line and frequently sends people — militants and civilians — toward the line and even across it to test the army’s readiness and responses.

“There is no reason for anyone to come near the line,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity under military rules. “There’s nothing here.”

The army says the entire line, which stretches the length of Gaza, is now clearly marked.

Since the ceasefire went into effect, more than 900 people have been killed in Gaza — dozens of those close to or over the yellow line, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry doesn’t say how many are militants, but unarmed men and children have been among the dead.

Israel’s military has said most of the people killed crossing the line posed a threat to troops. But soldiers who spoke to AP and Breaking the Silence — the whistleblower group that has collected troops’ testimonies throughout the war — say that at times soldiers were too far away, acting too quickly and under too much pressure to tell.

Israel’s army told AP that the area adjacent to the yellow line is a “sensitive operational environment” with signs saying approaching is prohibited. It said the army doesn’t target civilians solely for approaching the line and that its rules of engagement require the use of warnings before using force. In situations involving an immediate threat, forces are authorized to act, it said.

One soldier says troops must act fast, with information sometimes based on a hunch

It was the combat soldier’s second tour in Gaza when the ceasefire began. He said he was posted several hundred meters from the yellow line and saw several people trying to cross it killed by soldiers.

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An image taken on board appeared to show a man in a blue shirt being escorted off the aircraft by several police officers.

A United Airlines flight has been forced to make an emergency landing after an “unruly passenger” allegedly tried to storm the cockpit.

United UA2005 had left Chicago and was half way into its journey to Minneapolis on Friday night when it diverted to Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin.

The emergency landing came after an individual on board became disruptive, according to airline officials. Several passengers claimed on social media that the flier was ranting in Russian and there was a mid-flight struggle.

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