A source close to Ferguson is very clear that the only thing she should be blamed for is “a sort of financial incontinence”. And there might be some truth to this. For though her personal extravagance is legendary, Andrew Lownie writes in his biography Entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, that at one point Fergie had 17 staff including “a cook, driver, maid, butler, dresser, nanny, three secretaries, a personal assistant, lady-in-waiting, accountant and accountant’s assistant, two gardeners, a flower arranger, and dog walker.” As well as not one but two people to pick up after her dogs.

Ringleader Walid Saadaoui, 38, planned to shoot countless Jewish people at a march against antisemitism in Manchester before hijacking an ambulance and driving to kill yet more people.

But his plans unravelled after he was arrested in the car park of the Last Drop Village Hotel in Bromley Cross on May 8, 2024 with a car full of AK-47 assault rifles he had planned to use for his attack.

He did not know at the time that one of his co-conspirators, a man known only as “Farouk”, had been an undercover operative who had been monitoring his activities all along.

After having been found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism at a trial at Preston Crown Court last year, Saadaoui was brought back to court this week to learn his fate.

Harpreet Sandhu KC, prosecuting, said: “These defendants were prepared to kill several hundreds of people by using four high-powered, military-grade AK47 assault rifles, two handguns and more than 900 rounds of ammunition.”

He added: “The impact of that which was planned would have been profound, it would have been significant, and it would have been far-reaching.”

Saadaoui sat on the dock dressed in a plain white shirt and tie as Mr Sandhu laid the scale of the plot bare to a packed courtroom at Preston Crown Court.

Saadaoui and Hussein hoped to take part in a huge shooting plot (Image: GMP)

Not with him was his co-conspirator Amar Hussein, 52, who had been arrested at the place he lived and worked at Salim Appliances in Great Lever on the same day as Saadaoui in 2024.

But sat with Saadaoui was his younger brother Bilel, 37, who had been found guilty of failing to disclose information about an act of terrorism.

Mr Sandhu told the court that Saadaoui and Hussein planned to strike “in the heart of the Jewish community in Manchester”.

Saadaoui’s plans included carrying out “reconnaissance” in Jewish areas and joining Jewish community Facebook groups to look for targets.

One of the weapons they planned to use (Image: GMP)

Mr Sandhu quoted Amanda Bomsztyk of the Community Security Trust who said: “The ever-present risk of terrorist attacks posed by antisemitism means that very few Jewish communal events can take place without high-level security”.

Mr Sandhu said Saadaoui had “prepared for martyrdom” by making sure his family were taken care of financially and visiting his mother in Tunisia one last time.

The court heard how Saadaoui had been receiving advice from high-ranking ISIS members and had a key to the group’s safehouse off Chorley Old Road, where he planned to store the weapons.

But the deadly plan never came to pass thanks to undercover operative Farouk, who Saadaoui first met at Queens Park after communicating online and believed to be a fellow ISIS supporter.

Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein in a car (Image: GMP)

Farouk monitored Saadaoui and Hussein’s activities throughout and ensured that the guns they received had been deactivated.

After a lengthy trial last year Saadaoui, of Crankwood Road, Abram and Hussein, of no fixed abode, were both convicted by a jury of preparing acts of terrorism.

Younger brother Bilel, of Fairclough Street, Hindley was found guilty by majority verdict of failing to disclose information about an act of terrorism.

Walid Saadaoui was the ring leader of the plot (Image: GMP)

Dr Felicity Gerry KC, defending Saadaoui, said that “despite asking for weapons Mr Saadaoui was unable to source them without Farouk”.

She said that her client’s role was ultimately less than that of the undercover operative Farouk.

But Dr Gerry said: “Saadaoui had asked her to apologise on his behalf to the Jewish community and the “wider community at large”.

She said this for the antisemitic things he said in recordings of his conversations, though he still denied having prepared terrorist acts. 

Danny Robinson KC, for Hussein, says his client asked him to deliver no mitigation or submissions on his behalf.

Ali Naseem Bajwa KC, for Bilel Saadaoui, said he “had a general idea of terrorist activity” that involved a death and that something significant was going to happen on May 8, 2024.

He said there was “little or no risk” that the terror attack would have been carried out, given that the elder Saadaoui had been seemingly constantly monitored. 

Mr Bajwa told the court Bilel had no previous convictions, had positive character references and that he has “relatives very dear to him”.

But The Honourable Mr Justice Mark Wall reminded the defendants, including Hussein, who he said had shown his “cowardice” by not attending, how devastating the attack would have been.

He said: “I am sure that you intended to use AK47 Kalashnikov automatic weapons to launch a terror attack on the streets of Manchester.”

He added: “Your attack would have led to the deaths of people of all ages, including children.”

Mr Justice Wall said that Saadaoui and Hussein were both “fervent supporters of ISIS” and that their victims would have been “unarmed and defenceless”.

Walid Saadaoui, Amar Hussein and Bilel Saadaoui have all been jailed (Image: GMP)

He said: “Had you been successful in carrying out this plan, this would likely have been one of the deadliest terror attacks ever carried out on UK soil.”

Mr Justice Wall concluded Saadaoui and Hussein had been “very close” to being able to carry out their plan.

He said the date of it appeared to have been whenever the Jewish community of Greater Manchester held their latest march.

Saadaoui showed no visible reaction as Mr Justice Wall sentenced him to life in prison with a minimum term of 37 years.

The absent Hussein was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 26 years.

Bilel Saadaoui has also been jailed (Image: GMP)

Younger brother Bilel was jailed for six years and went down to the cells in silence.

Speaking outside court after the hearing, Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said: “Today’s sentencing brings a conclusion to one of the most significant terrorist plot disruptions we have seen in the UK for several years.

“Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein intended to target members of the Jewish community in an evil act born out of hate and intolerance.

“If they had been successful, then what followed would have been devastating and potentially one of the deadliest terrorist attacks to ever take place on UK soil.

Walid Saadaoui plotted to smuggle weapons to the UK (Image: GMP)

“Walid was the ringleader.

“Through conversations with an undercover operative, we know – in detail – the extremist views that he held. He was the driving force behind the plot and he recruited Hussein to join him.

“He claimed during the trial that he was merely paying lip service and actually intended to sabotage his own plot at the last minute. This account is FAR from the truth.

“In Hussein he found a like-minded individual who did not need to be convinced to join. Hussein spoke openly to detectives following his arrest about his support of ISIS and cast judgement on others who did not hold the same extremist views that he held.

“Walid also discussed the plot and the action he had been taking openly with his brother, Bilel.

Walid and Bilel Saadaoui (Image: GMP)

“Although Bilel was not an active participant in preparations for the plot, the fact he knew what was planned but chose to remain silent makes him as guilty as the others.

“Being aware of a plan to cause such devastation and knowing that you could act to prevent it, but choosing not to, is simply not good enough.

“Our overwhelming priority during this proactive operation was ensuring public safety and we never lost sight of that.

“Each decision we made was rooted in this principle and the operation was highly controlled and resourced throughout.

“It was important for us to build the strongest possible case to take these dangerous men off the streets for a significant period of time and protect the public from them long-term.

“As evidenced by the sentences passed today, we have achieved that.

“I want to thank all those involved in this operation. We’ve worked with colleagues across CT and local policing, partner agencies and community organisations. The scale of the operation has been huge, and we would not be here without everybody’s efforts.

“I’d also like to express my sincere gratitude to the undercover operative who put himself in significant danger each time he met with two would-be terrorists.

“At any point he could have become a target himself, but he risked his personal safety in the name of wider public protection.

“This case has taken place at a time of heightened concern and anxiety within the Jewish community.

“The trial began the week after the appalling terrorist attack that took place in Greater Manchester and concluded soon after the Bondi Beach attack in Sydney.

“We have worked closely with stakeholders, including the Community Security Trust, throughout proceedings to address any concerns and provide reassurance.

“We will continue to do so and we remain dedicated to making sure all communities feel safe from the threat of terrorism and bringing those who would seek to harm them to justice.

“I hope that the significant outcome from this highly resourced, proactive investigation underlines that commitment.”

Little Amélie or the Character of Rain is as much about animation as an artform as it is an adaptation of Belgian author Amélie Northomb’s book The Character of Rain (2000).

The French animated feature, co-directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, makes sophisticated use of animation style to interrogate the formation of the self in early childhood.

The film begins with Amélie telling us that she began as a god – a tube-like god – before being born into a “vegetative” state as a baby girl. After a spectacular time-lapse montage, Amélie recounts awakening as a toddler in the Kansai region of Japan in 1969 when an earthquake shocks her into being. This is her first true memory of being in the world.

All of this is shown through multiple transformations staged within carefully controlled contrasting colour schemes. Characters move in and out of Amélie’s life with their own colour palettes that refract through their surroundings, reinforcing Amélie’s understanding of them.

So, when Amélie’s Belgian grandmother visits and awakens her further by feeding Amélie white Belgian chocolate, she does so while wearing a cream-coloured outfit. The chocolate glows when Amélie eats it, and an animalistic Amélie transforms into a glowing little girl. Colour becomes one of Little Amélie’s key pleasures, amplifying themes and character interactions alike.

The uses of such contrasting and reflective colour become central to the film’s storytelling, providing a narrative framework that mirrors Amélie’s comprehension of the world.

These careful uses of colour build in importance through a series of transformations and magical moments that illustrate Amélie’s emerging stages of selfhood. Amélie’s god-like powers persist as she affects her environment, whether mundanely blowing on the surface of a pond or magically parting the sea when her family goes to the beach. And Amélie is affected by her surroundings in turn, changing shape, size and at one point transforming into raindrops during a downpour.

More than this, Vallade and Han place Amélie at the visual centre of the film, positioning shots from her point of view and at her level. In doing so they allow audiences to spend time alongside Amélie, revisiting their own childhoods.

Amélie’s explorations of her world – running through her home, feeding carp, or playing with spinning tops – all bring us visually into her worldvieww. This alignment between us and the film’s little protagonist make her moments of existential turmoil all the more compelling, especially when she learns her family is to leave her haven in Japan to return to Belgium.

Such moments hint at the philosophy underpinning the film’s narrative. Amélie is aligned with not just rain, but also the natural world, echoing the work of animation greats like Hayao Miyazaki. But, even while Amélie finds refuge in nature, in her darkest moment she desires a return to its most primordial form.

Little Amélie is also about connections across cultures. The connection between Amélie and the world are most explicit when her family’s housekeeper, Nishio, teaches Amélie how to write her name in Japanese. Nishio explains “You are the rain”, and teaches Amélie that part of her name, “Amé”, means rain in Japanese. They write the symbol together in condensation on a windowpane. This act reveals to Amélie what she sees as an immediate, inherent connection to Japanese culture. But, as this sequence foreshadows, Amélie’s understanding of herself as Japanese is as tenuous and fleeting as her imagination of herself as a tube.

Culture takes on a negative hue when lingering wartime resentments cause conflict between the loving Nishio and the family’s cold landlady, Kashima. When Nishio explains how she lost her family during the second world war firebombing of Kobe, the carrots being dropped into stew transform into bombs dropping while the washing of rice stands in for Nishio’s experience of being buried by the explosion that killed her family.

It is Nishio, too, who guides Amélie into the lantern festival that is used to celebrate those lost in the war (much to Kashima’s angry dismay). Without schooling to guide her, Nishio becomes Amélie’s conduit into culture, expanding her world beyond the haven of home. Nishio and Amélie develop a shared experience and understanding of Japan in these moments, framed with beautiful seasonal Japanese gardens and traditional shrines as well as the family home. As a result, the film lingers on how our identities in childhood are a product of our connections.

Through the exaggeration and amplification of these connections, Vallade and Han’s Little Amélie produces a story that reaches for metaphysical heights, even as it remains true to the small scale and scope of Amélie’s childhood world. It is the character of the film’s animation – its shifting scales, uses of colour and predilection for transformation – that reveal Amélie to audiences, making her, not a god, but a guide back to our own childhood experiences of the world.

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New Royal Family biography says Prince William asked his father for immediate action after the Duke’s infamous 2019 Newsnight interview

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New bombshell claims suggest that Prince William pleaded with the King to cast out Andrew after the bombshell Newsnight interview and Epstein links

In William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, a new biography penned by the Mirror’s royal correspondent Russell Myers, The Mirror has lifted the lids on the turbulent relationship between the Prince of Wales and his uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The book suggests that in the wake of the programme and the catastrophic it had on the Windosor’s reputation, William contacted his father urging him and the Queen to act swiftly, worried about both his own prospects and the public’s reaction.

A source revealed : “Once you understand the fact that everything that happens in the here and now, affects everything in the future, William’s future, it is very easy to put yourself in his shoes. He never much liked his uncle and wanted him out of the picture immediately before the rot further set in.

“William’s view was that he [Andrew] got himself into the whole mess, so he should be left to his own devices to sort it out away from the family.”

William rowed with Charles over banishing Andrew at Sandringham Christmas, leading Charles to “put him in his place”

In a clear sign of his wish for further harmony in his family, Charles invited his former sister-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York, to join the royal family and walk alongside her ex-husband Prince Andrew to church at Sandringham.

It would be the first time she had participated in this tradition in 32 years. The King’s decision to bring his brother back into the family fold was an issue William fundamentally disagreed with, to such a degree that he challenged Charles directly.

A source with knowledge of the conversation said that William was “very much put in his place”, and that while he did not agree with the view that Andrew’s exile should be limited, he did not provoke his father further. William’s negative view of his uncle Andrew had predated the Duke of York’s fall from grace. For years the Prince of Wales had questioned what benefit his uncle was to the wider operation. “Long before he was embroiled in the scandal [involving Virginia Giuffre], he’d always thought his uncle was a bit of an ignoramus”, a palace source revealed.

“He would question ‘what does he actually do?’.

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“But it was more than that. He’d seen how Andrew behaved in front of staff, ordering people about, the aggressive or dismissive manner, they’d never seen eye to eye.

“William has a relationship with his cousins [Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie] … so he takes no umbrage with them, but there’s no love lost for Andrew or Sarah.

“In an alternate dimension Andrew probably thought there would be a way back into public life if the scandal or the headlines died down, but it would have always had to be while his brother was King. William didn’t think either of them [Andrew or Sarah] should be anywhere near the family, publicly or otherwise, but he was overruled by his father.”

William said Andrew’s presence “was a stain on all the family”

William and Catherine joined the family at Sandringham alongside the King and Queen. Here, for the first time, in an arrangement familiar to many blended families across the country, Camilla’s children and grandchildren were present for the extended festivities.

The harmonious scenes were to last only slightly longer than the Christmas leftovers. As soon as the new year had begun, Andrew was once again in the spotlight, facing a raft of lurid allegations. His fate was sealed following the release of court documents related to a New York defamation case brought in 2015 by Andrew’s accuser Virginia Giuffre, against Ghislaine Maxwell, the duke’s former friend who procured underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse. Details in the legal papers suggested the Duke of York had indulged in “daily massages” during frequent visits to the late paedophile’s Florida mansion, had committed ‘acts of sexual abuse’ and took part in an “underage orgy”.

William again implored the King to act: to strip Andrew of his titles and banish him from the family for good in order to protect the reputation of the institution.

While Andrew had always vehemently denied the allegations, both publicly and privately to his family, one palace source close to William said: “The Prince of Wales was adamant the whole episode would never go away and, despite how others may have felt, there was absolutely no upside in Andrew being protected. His view was crystal clear, Andrew shouldn’t be anywhere near the family under any circumstances, not by association, not at family functions, anywhere. Every single time there was a new revelation, which no one knew when it was coming or what the next one would be, it was a stain on all of the family.”

William and Catherine always united in banishing Andrew

William and Catherine’s personal view has been that their best option is to keep their distance from the source of the problem. They knew that the disturbing claims of sexual abuse that have pursued Andrew for more than a decade, allegations he has always vehemently denied, had permanently damaged him in the public’s eyes.

And his now famous BBC Newsnight interview, where he failed to apologise for his connection to Epstein, or acknowledge the victims of sexual abuse, was, for William and Catherine, terminal for their relationship with him.

The late Queen sought to protect her son from complete banishment, clinging to the hope that he would one day be exonerated. Similarly, while acknowledging that his brother could never return to public duties, Charles attempted to honour his mother’s wishes and for a long time stopped short of pushing for Andrew’s complete banishment. By contrast, William made it clear that once he became king there would be no such mercy.

Since 2019 the ever more depressing drip of information relating to Andrew and Epstein has presented a serious challenge to the institution. Buckingham Palace has not acted for the prince since he stepped down from public duties, suggesting he was a private individual, and in doing so sought to further distance itself from him. But with every Balmoral meet-up or Christmas walkabout that came around, questions were raised as to how close to the King, or William, Andrew actually was. Did the royal family think this would all blow over if they kept quiet, or kept him close? William and Catherine have never seen it that way.

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Adam Zoubir, partner at Harcus Parker solicitors, said he was “delighted that this settlement provides a resolution for our clients”, adding: “This is the end of the claim against UCL, but we continue to represent tens of thousands of students who were at other universities during Covid.”

Bluebird Care Northallerton, Thirsk and Catterick is backing a national campaign after research revealed that 65 per cent of UK adults have not prepared for care in later life, with 48 per cent unsure where to begin.

The campaign is fronted by broadcaster Si King, who has shared his personal experience of care while supporting his mother through Alzheimer’s disease and his friend and fellow Hairy Biker Dave Myers through serious illness.

Mr King said: “Care is something most of us avoid thinking about until life forces the conversation.

“I’ve seen first-hand how quickly everything can change, and how little we often understand about care until we’re right in the middle of it.

“I’m proud to be working with Bluebird Care to help people start talking earlier, understand their options, and keep living on their own terms for as long as possible.”

Research commissioned by Bluebird Care also found that nearly a quarter of adults believe they may need to sell their home to cover care costs, which are estimated to average around £200,000 per person over a lifetime.

Despite this lack of preparation, preferences for care are clear.

Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) said they would rather stay in their own home or live with family than move into a care home.

Bluebird Care Northallerton, Thirsk and Catterick is now calling for earlier conversations about care.

The home care provider has launched a Good Care Checklist, which includes practical advice for families to help them understand care choices and navigate the system.

The checklist is available at bluebirdcare.co.uk/the-good-care-guide.

A bookshop has opened in Wales that sells nothing but romance novels. As well as being unique, avid readers have said it can be described as nothing other than “beautiful”

In Wales it’s fair to say you can find beauty around every corner, and another gorgeous spot has emerged in the form of a new bookshop. Love Stories Bookshop opened just months ago, and it’s already captivated the thousands of people who’ve visited so far.

You’ll find it nestled in Cardiff‘s Castle Arcade and it’s fair to say it’s a total romance lover’s dream, as it sells nothing but books that tell love stories. While it may be Valentine’s Day on February 14, it seems that love can be celebrated every day of the year if you’re willing to explore the pages of a new book.

It’s not the only independent bookshop to have opened in Wales in recent years either. Following the pandemic, another team also decided to take the plunge and set up shop.

Love Stories Bookshop runs under the watchful eyes of Aimee Cummings, 31, and Charlie Seddon, 33. The couple suddenly decided to open the bookshop back last year, and people are already falling in love with it.

When asked what it’s been like since the shop opened its doors, Aimee said: “It’s fantastic. It’s been amazing. We couldn’t have asked for better. The whole response to the shop has been fantastic.

“I have always been a romance book lover. Even before I realised I absolutely loved them, I was always reading love stories.

“People have been so kind. We don’t have many independent bookshops in Cardiff.”

Aimee explained it all stemmed from a trip to New York back in 2024. At the time, the couple visited a romance bookshop and fell in love with it, even though they didn’t think too much of it at the time.

“It got to the start of 2025, and I was just finishing my PhD,” added Aimee. “I was searching for jobs, and nothing stood out to me.

“I just said to my partner ‘we should open a bookshop’, as just one of those things people say. Charlie said ‘we should do that’, and that’s how it happened.”

They then visited a shop called Book Lovers Bookshop in Edinburgh to get some advice from the staff there. Aimee admitted the team were “fantastic”, and answered all their questions.

Eight months later, and they were opening their own shop in the heart of Wales, and they couldn’t be more pleased with their decision. Aimee said they even had one customer recently who came in as a treat for her birthday, which was “lovely”.

She said: “The love of bookshops it still there. People like to come in and talk about their favourite books.

“You can come in, and chat to me about your favourite books. If we are able to offer that service, that makes us so happy.”

Based on the comments on the shop’s Instagram page, it’s clear to see customers are more than thrilled with the shop. In fact, dozens have reached out to say just how much they adore it.

One person said: “A gorgeous bookshop! Congratulations on opening, and I can’t wait to make many return trips.”

Another added: “Such a beautiful bookstore. I can’t wait to visit again.” A third replied: “This makes me so happy! Congratulations on your first day. I can’t wait to visit!”

Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “Yes please! More independent bookshops in Cardiff!” Someone else also chimed in with: “Such a lovely shop! I can’t wait to come back already.”

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 is expected to arrive soon as the tech giant slashes the price of its previous models.

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Samsung is slashing prices across its Galaxy S25 series as the new S26 is expected to launch soon. To celebrate its partnership with the Winter Olympic Games, Samsung just cut more than £30 off the Galaxy S25 FE.

Shoppers can get the deal at the Samsung website, where all they have to do is enter the code GOLD5 during checkout. This knocks 5% off the price, reducing it from £649 to £616.55.

A similar deal is up for grabs with the standard Galaxy S25, which drops from £799 to £759.05. However, the voucher code isn’t valid for long and will expire on February 25.

The deal makes Samsung cheaper than Amazon, where the original prices of £649 and £799 still apply. Samsung isn’t the only retailer reducing its prices, though, as Sky Mobile just cut the Galaxy S25 Ultra from £43 to £31 per month and £12 upfront.

This monthly deal saves £432 but only includes a 100MB data allowance, so most customers should consider choosing a larger add-on. The S25 Ultra is the most powerful model in the S25 series, with Samsung still charging a hefty £1,249 when buying outright.

Get 5% off the Samsung Galaxy S25

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£649

£616.55

Samsung

Get the deal here

Shoppers can get 5% off the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE by using the coupon code GOLD5.

The deals come as Samsung is expected to unveil its new Galaxy S26 line-up later this month. The tech giant usually launches its new phones at the annual Unpacked event in February, so if history is anything to go by, we could see the new phones in a matter of weeks.

Nothing has been officially announced yet, but reports by SamMobile suggest February 25 is the date Samsung fans need to mark in their calendars. Leaks suggest this is when Samsung is most likely to reveal the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra, which should land on UK shelves in March.

However, with prices for the S26 expected to start at £799, recent price cuts may tempt consumers into sticking with the cheaper S25 FE. Over at the Daily Express, Technology Editor David Snelling said the affordable S25 felt ‘super premium’ despite its lower price tag.

“It’s another decent device from Samsung,” he said. “It feels super premium in the hand and has a pixel-packed 6.7-inch display.

“Despite its lower cost, the S25 FE comes packed with upgrades including a triple-lens rear camera with 50MP main lens, huge 4,900mAh battery and fast charging. There’s also a bigger vapour chamber to keep things cool under pressure and it’s surrounded by an enhanced Armor Aluminum frame to help it stand the test of time.

“There are all the AI smarts found on the standard S25, including full Google Gemini access, plus other features such as fast charging. No, it doesn’t get the impressive Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the cameras can’t match the Ultra, and there are fewer colour choices, but if those things don’t worry you, then the FE is one to watch out for.

“The only issues from my short time with this phone could be that it only comes in one large screen size, and it is still pretty expensive. Samsung has got some promotional offers, but I can’t help thinking a £599 price tag would seem more appealing.”