This local shop in a small corner of Carmarthenshire was saved from closure because the people who use it refused to give up. Now, a new shop is being built, complete with a cafe, which will benefit the community for generations to come

In April 2008 the UK Government announced that more than 2,000 Post Office branches across the country would close. It was a move, we were told, that would “modernize and restructure services”.

In reality its main achievement was to hurtle parts of Wales, particularly rural areas, into a modern age where community spirit is becoming harder to maintain, where neighbours are strangers, where half-an-hour drives to the nearest town offer the best opportunity of communication, companionship even.

The loss of a village shop and post office can decimate communities. Jobs are lost, social hubs wiped out. Property values go down, isolation goes up. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here.

Whether it’s a pub, a shop, a post office, a village hall, communities need something, otherwise a village is essentially just a road you travel through on your way to somewhere else.

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As part of the nationwide changes made in 2008, Dryslwyn Community Shop and Post Office, serving the hamlet of Dryslwyn and the village of Cwrt Henri in Carmarthenshire, faced up to the reality of a new way of life.

Set in the gorgeous Towy Valley between Carmarthen and Llandeilo, this community, bound together by a post office that had served its people since the mid 1800s, was to lose its focal point. It was in no way financially viable to keep the post office open, and it closed on March 28, 2009.

But thanks to dozens of volunteers, various donations, and plenty of community spirit, the shop reopened, less than a week later, on April 3, 2009, only this time as a not-for-profit, volunteer-led project which proved that if there is a will, there is always a way.

That was almost 17 years ago, and the shop is still thriving. In 2021, it won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest honour awarded to a voluntary group. It was one of the last awards signed and sealed by Queen Elizabeth II before she died the following year.

“When they said in 2008 that the post office and shop would have to close, a lot of the people around here just said ‘no’ and didn’t accept it, so everyone clubbed together, volunteers came forward and we worked with the owner of the land and the shop was saved,” said Michele Powell, a director at the shop and one of the army of volunteers who keep it running.

“It’s been a big success since then, we didn’t even close during Covid-19. We have two part-time staff but everybody else who works here is a volunteer – there’s around 40 of us, all from the local area.

“We’re a not-for-profit organisation so everything we make just goes back into the shop, and we also provide grants to other local organisations.”

While the shop continues to thrive, it is about to embark on a new chapter which will safeguard its future for generations. The existing building will return to its owner, and the community shop will be relocated to an adjacent piece of land in a new 2,000 sq ft building which will boast not just a shop and post office but also a cafe.

The idea was first discussed as something of a dream years ago and now, with construction under way following the gifting of a piece of land by local man Tom Lloyd, that dream will become a reality this autumn when the new shop is set to have its grand opening.

“We had been thinking about a move for a while,” said Michele. “I mean, this place is lovely, but it can be a bit cold and there’s no toilet! The owners have been very supportive, but a change in their plans gave us that bit of a kick to get on with our plans.”

Michele added: “Without a local shop, people wouldn’t know each other. We support people. We know what they want, they ring us up, we put things aside for them. We know we’re not going to get people doing their weekly shop here but it’s a vital part of the community.

“The new building will expand on that; there will be more space for people to meet up, there will be more parking, and a cafe.

“It’s very exciting. I was in a pub up the road the other day and people kept asking about the new shop, so there’s definitely a buzz about it. It’s just brilliant for Dryslywn and Cwrt Henri and for the future of the wider community.

“We’ve evolved as a shop because we’ve had to. We’re small but we can react in ways that a big supermarket can’t because we know our customers and they tell us what they want.

“There will always be a call for a local shop, for people who don’t want to drive miles and miles to the nearest big shop in a town. And of course, people love coming in for a chat!”

Strolling around the Dryslwyn Community Shop and Post Office is like taking a warm and reassuring walk back in time; it has a nostalgic sheen to it which reminds you of what every village once had but many have since lost.

Pens, Sellotape, glue, newspapers, Welsh tea towels, magazines, a book swap service, ring binders, wellies, milk, groceries, fresh (and very nice!) chicken salad rolls……there’s also a side room you can use as an internet cafe with printing facilities. They think of everything here.

Another volunteer who helps make the local shop tick is Nigel Jones. He always had something of a calling to one day work in a post office.

“My wife started volunteering here because it’s up the road from us, and then a couple of years later I started too,” said Nigel, who is chair of the new build project, SiopNEWydd Dryslwyn.

“My father ran a post office in Llanybydder for years so it felt a bit like going back to my roots; as a kid I was used to post office life!

“The project for the new shop really got off the ground during Covid, when we had a lot of meetings online, and then we had meetings where the community just told us what they wanted. The message was clear: they wanted to keep the shop and the post office, and also add a cafe, if it could be done.

“We’re very fortunate that the land owner gifted us half an acre of land to build the new shop on, while the existing tenant using the land kindly agreed to end his tenancy early.”

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Volunteers have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure grant funding from the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the National Lottery, and various charitable organisations.

“We have a local volunteer called Dr Rosie Plummer who has put all the grant applications together and it’s been a remarkable success,” said Nigel.

In total the project is expected to cost more than £1m and promises to be “light in its environmental impact, big in its social impact”.

The community may need to source even more volunteers for the new venture if how busy business already seems to be is anything to go by.

Talking to Nigel on a typical Tuesday morning is difficult because he keeps being called back to fulfil his till duties as customers bustle in and out of the shop.

“It was a bit of a dream previously and I think some people thought it might never happen, but it’s very exciting because you can see it happening now, you can see it being built,” said Nigel.

“Having a bigger premises with a cafe will be a big change. Some people don’t want to have a cup of tea when they come here in case they need to use the toilet and we don’t have one!

“So the new building will be totally different. It will bring new challenges and that’s what it’s all about.”

The importance of securing the shop’s future is not lost on anyone connected to it.

“It’s so important for everyone because it means they can get out and about without having to travel into towns all the time just to get basic goods,” said Nigel.

“The cafe will only add to that. We haven’t got the room here for people to have a sit down and a chat, so the new building will give people that opportunity.

“It’s been a long and winding road but we’ve always been heading in the right direction! Planning permission came through in 2023 but getting to that point was the easy bit. There’s more work to be done but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

“Without the volunteers there would be no shop at all, it’s as simple as that. It’s about people giving something back, and it says a lot about a local community that there are so many people willing to give up their time.”

With the hard work, dedication and commitment shown by a small group of people, this shop, which in reality is so much more than that, has thrived since disaster almost struck 17 years ago.

And with a new building on the way which guarantees its future, this community hub will continue to bring people together, just as it did two centuries ago.

In a Valentine’s Day Truth Social message, President Donald Trump railed against “jerk” TV host Bill Maher for being “anti Trump” on his show, despite the two enjoying a “great dinner” together at the White House last year.

The president, who often uses his social media to lash out at late-night hosts, claimed he had indulged Maher’s request to have dinner at the White House, and even invited him to the White House Christmas Party, only to have Maher insult him on Real Time with Bill Maher.

“I’d much rather spend my time MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN than wasting it on him,” Trump wrote Saturday. “Bill continues to suffer from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS!), and there is nothing that will ever be done to cure him of this very serious disease.”

Hitting at Maher, Trump said the late-night host was “extremely nervous” and “had ZERO confidence” when he met him last year in the Oval Office.

“To soothe his nerves, immediately, within seconds, asked for a ‘Vodka Tonic,’” Trump wrote, later calling Maher an “underrated lightweight.”

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“I’ve never felt like this before, I’m actually scared,” Trump claimed Maher said to him. The president went on to say that Maher “seemed to be a great guy” and was “very respectful” about their meeting on his show.

However, his opinion on Maher seems to have changed after comments made on his show Friday evening, in which he mocked the president for writing on Truth Social that China will take over Canada and “terminate all ice hockey.”

“What the f***,” Maher said on his show after reading Trump’s Truth Social post out loud. “I think this is the kinda thing that is causing his popularity to go down.”

The president insisted he “jokingly” remarked about China taking over Canada and terminating ice hockey.

“He went on and on about the Hockey statement, like ‘What kind of a person would say such a foolish thing as this,’ as though I were being serious when I said it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Despite his frustration, Trump said he thought Maher was still “slightly more talented” than fellow late night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, or Stephen Colbert.

The Independent has asked Maher’s representative for comment.

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Maher, known for his political satire, often uses his show to bring on a diverse group of voices in an effort to unify the country at a polarizing time.

Last year, Maher dined with Trump, alongside Kid Rock and Dana White, at the White House. Afterward, he gave a relatively positive review of the president, calling him “gracious.”

But Trump appeared angry Saturday that Maher has returned to criticizing him and his administration, rather than acknowledging his perceived successes such as the Dow hitting 50,000 points and Trump’s immigration agenda.

“Fortunately, his Television Ratings are so low that nobody will learn about his various Fake News statements about me.”,Trump wrote.

The White House mansion’s eastern facade appears to have been “excellently preserved” when demolition crews tore down the East Wing to make way for President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom, an administration official said in a memo made public Friday.

Contractors took pains to protect the White House residence during demolition, keeping heavy equipment at a safe distance and removing some pieces by hand, Joshua Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration, wrote to the commission charged with approving plans for Trump’s ballroom. Some sections of the building were stabilized ahead of time, and vibration and crack movement were monitored, he wrote.

The National Capital Planning Commission, which is led by a top Trump aide, had requested more details about the demolition that began with little advance notice last fall. The agency has jurisdiction over construction and major renovations to government buildings in the region.

The East Wing demolition prompted a public outcry when it began without the independent reviews, congressional approval and public comment that are typical for even relatively minor modifications to historic buildings in Washington. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to halt construction of the ballroom.

The memo documents the history of the East Wing dating back to Thomas Jefferson’s presidency and lays out the White House’s justification for tearing it down, saying it was not feasible to preserve it while meeting Trump’s goals for the project. The completed ballroom will include an improved visitors center for security screening and will lessen the need for road closures during major events, Fisher wrote.

Curators documented and preserved artwork, furniture and other items of historical significance, including “the East Wing cornerstone and plaque, movie theater furniture, the East Colonnade columns, the Porte-cochere columns, interior wood paneling, chandeliers, historic windows and doors, and other hardware and fixtures,” he wrote.

“Our goal is to ensure that some of these items will be integrated into the new structure,” Fisher added.

Engineers are studying whether the West Colonnade, which connects the White House residence to the West Wing offices, can support a second story that would make it more visually symmetrical with plans for a larger East Colonnade connecting to the ballroom, the memo said. No decisions have been made.

The White House also submitted the most detailed renderings of the ballroom published to date. It shows a massive new building that dwarfs the size of the demolished East Wing and matches the height of the historic White House mansion.

The project is scheduled for discussion during a March 5 meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission.

The Office for Product and Safety Standards (OPSS) issued recall alerts for items sold at some of the UK’s biggest retailers in recent weeks.

Customers are urged to stop using the products immediately and follow the instructions in the recall alerts.

These are the product recalls you should be aware of.

Asda recall

Asda is urgently recalling a children’s toy sold in the UK supermarket because it poses a “choking risk”.

The supermarket giant issued an urgent recall for its Hapello Power Train on Thursday February 12.

It was found that in some cases the toy may release the orange steam dome from the top of the train, meaning the toy could pose a choking hazard to users.

In light of this, Asda are urging anyone who bought the toy to ‘stop using it immediately’ and have pulled it from their shelves online and in-store.

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The recall affects products with the barcode number 5063089308547.

Shoppers who bought the toy, which was sold between August 2024 and February 2026, are urged to return it to their nearest store for a full refund.

An Asda spokesperson said: “We’ve found that in some cases this product may release the orange steam dome from the top of the train (circled above), which could pose as a small part choking hazard.

“We’ve taken the decision to recall the product.

“If you’ve purchased the Hapello Power Train, please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund.

“You don’t need your receipt. The product was sold between 2024 and 2026.

“We’re very sorry for any inconvenience caused. If you’d like any further information, please contact: Asda Customer Relations – 0330 053 0111.”

Peppa Pig recall

Ladybird has been forced to recall Peppa Pig and Hey Duggee books due to a potential “choking hazard”.

The publisher Penguin Random House UK has issued an urgent product recall of specific printings of Peppa Pig and Hey Duggee books.

The books affected by the recall include a glitter varnish finish on the covers that is lifting and can be peeled off.

It warns that small flakes of glitter varnish could present a choking hazard to small children.

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A report issued by the Office for Product Safety and Standards last week states the books pose a particular threat to children under 36 months who have a natural curiosity to place objects in their mouths.

Safety chiefs warn that the product does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

Shoppers are being urged by both the Office for Product Safety and Standards and the publisher to remove the book from small children and return it to the retailer for a full refund.

A Ladybird spokesperson said: “As a precautionary measure, Ladybird are voluntarily recalling copies from specific printings of the above Peppa Pig and Hey Duggee books because of the discovery of a manufacturing fault where the glitter varnish finish on the cover of the books is lifting and can be peeled off.

“Small flakes of the glitter varnish could be a choking hazard to small children.

“The issue relates to a limited number of printings dating from 2020 and 2021 which were manufactured at a specific printer in the United Kingdom.”

The affected ISBN number for Peppa Meets Father Christmas is 9780241321539, Peppa’s Night Before Christmas is 9780241448625, Peppa Loves Easter is 9780241476406, Peppa Goes to Hollywood is 9780241476772 and Duggee and the Christmas Badge is 9781405947350.

The issue affects a number of printings from 2020 and 2021.

Boots recall

Shoppers at Boots and TK Maxx are being urged to stop using an eye cream “immediately” because of a risk of skin damage.

An urgent recall has been issued for the Hello Sunday The One For Your Eyes Mineral Eye Cream SPF50 after recent quality testing revealed it has a lower SPF level than is listed on the label.

Hello Sunday said they were “voluntarily” recalling the eye cream, which had been sold at Boots and TK Maxx, after testing reported lower SPF levels than declared.

As a result, the product may not provide adequate protection and could increase the risk of sun-related skin damage.

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Boots and Tk Maxx are urging anyone who bought the eye cream, to “stop using it immediately” and return it for a full refund.

The recall affects all batch numbers and expiring dates.

A Boots spokesman said: “Recent test results by the brand showed the product failed to meet the level of SPF stated on the product label.

“As such, the product is being immediately recalled.

“Customers are asked to stop using the product immediately and to return the product to the point of sale for a full refund.

“If customers purchased the product through an authorised retail partner, they should contact them directly for a refund.

“If you purchased the product from Boots, please return to your local store for a refund.”

Hello Sunday said they had not received reports of any incidents related to the issue, but were still “proactively and voluntarily recalling” the product.

Tesco recall

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Tesco shoppers have been issued a warning to stop using a mug sold by the supermarket giant.

A recall has been issued ahead of Valentine’s Day on a novelty mug that shoppers may be tempted to buy for their partners.

Tesco issued a product recall of the F&F Home ‘Valentine’s You’ll Do’ XL Mug after discovering the potential risk of the mug cracking.

The report claims that a small number of customers reported the mug may crack when boiling water is poured into it, causing a potential safety risk.

In a statement to shoppers, Tesco asked that the mugs be returned to supermarkets for a full refund.

Customers were also urged to stop using them immediately.

A Tesco spokesman said: “We’re recalling all batches of the F&F Home ‘Valentine’s You’ll Do’ XL Mug.

“This is due to a small number of customer reports that the mug may crack when boiling water is poured into it, presenting a potential safety risk.

“If you’ve bought an affected product, please stop using it immediately.

“Instead, return it to a Tesco store where a full refund will be given. No receipt is required.

“Use our store locator to find your nearest Tesco UK or Tesco Ireland store.

Recommended Reading:

“If you need more information and are in Ireland, please contact Tesco Customer Services on 1800 248 123.

“If you are in the UK, you find a range of ways to get in touch via our contact us page.”

Hobbycraft recall

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Arts and crafts supplier Hobbycraft has issued a recall for one of its DIY craft boxes, suitable for children.

After independent testing of its Giant Box of Craft, containing a children’s sand product, traces of asbestos have been identified.

The company says it has been found “in a limited number of samples”.

Immediately, the product was removed from sale following the concerns raised and Hobbycraft says “there is no evidence of any injury or harm to customers.”

Hobbycraft confirmed some of its Giant Box of Craft items contain asbestos (Image: Hobbycraft)

Hobbycraft added: “In co-ordination with Trading Standards and the Office for Product Safety & Standards, we are voluntarily recalling the Giant Box of Craft with immediate effect.

“This recall is being undertaken as a precaution, in line with regulatory guidance and our own commitment to product safety.”

If you bought the Giant Box of Craft product, which contains 1,000 pieces of craft supplies and costs £6, you are advised to stop using it and keep it out of reach of children.

UK High Street shops that no longer exist

Hobbycraft said: “Full instructions on safe handling, disposal and refunds are available on our website, through our customer services team, and in stores, and we are in the process of proactively contacting customers where we have their contact details.”

Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose recall

Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose are urging dog owners not to feed a recalled pet food to their dogs because it may contain pieces of plastic.

The retail giants have recalled the Lily’s Kitchen Pasta al Ragu with beef, oregano and basil after the manufacturer due to potential plastic contamination.

Shoppers who bought the dog food are being advised to return it to their local store for a full refund.

The affected product is the 400g can and affects all the stock with the best before date of July 31, 2027.

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A Lily’s Kitchen spokesperson, via the Tesco recall, asked customers to accept their ‘heartfelt apologies’ for the inconvenience.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “Lily’s Kitchen is recalling a specific batch of Lily’s Kitchen Pasta al Ragu with Beef, Oregano and Basil Dog Food 400g.

“This is because this product may contain pieces of plastic. If you have bought an affected product, please do not feed it to your pets.

“Instead, contact Lily’s Kitchen via phone: 0207 433 1863 or email hello@lilyskitchen.co.uk .

“Please be assured no other products are affected by this voluntary recall. Lily’s Kitchen has isolated the issue and are confident that they have resolved this matter.

“Please accept Lily’s Kitchen’s heartfelt apologies for the inconvenience.”

A Morrisons spokesperson added: “We have been informed by the Brand Owner that the product may contain small pieces of plastic. As such they are requesting that we recall this product from sale.

“If you have purchased this product, please don’t use it and return it to us for a full refund. We don’t need a receipt.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and assure customers of our continuing commitment to the highest standard of product quality and safety.

“Thank you for shopping with us and if you need more information please contact Morrisons Online Service Department on 0345 322 0000.”

A Waitrose spokesperson said: “We are recalling Lily’s Kitchen Pasta al Ragu 400g due to plastic contamination.

“Do not feed to your pets. Package up the item. Return the product to your local Waitrose & Partners branch for a refund.

“Contact: Waitrose Customer Care 0800 188 884. We apologise that it has been necessary to recall the product and for the inconvenience caused.”

Hot water bottle Recall

A hot water bottle sold online has been urgently recalled due to a potential fire risk.

The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued the alert for the Southern Arbor Electric Rechargeable Hot Water Bottle, which was listed on TikTok Shop and found to pose a “serious risk of fire.”

The OPSS warned the product could ignite while charging, especially if misused without proper instructions.

The OPSS recall notice said: “This product presents a serious risk of fire because there is a lack of thermal protection to prevent overheating when it is subject to misuse.

“As there are no supplied instructions, it is possible that no water will be added to the product, and while it is plugged in and charging it may ignite while the user is not present, causing harm to consumer and home.”

The recall was issued on Monday and includes model QM-01, PSD number 2511-0055, with barcode 69615846554 and serial/batch number 54513127286.

Other safety concerns include an adaptor with incorrectly sized pins, which does not meet UK electrical standards.

The product fails to comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and the Plugs & Sockets (Safety) Regulations 1994.

As a result, it has been removed from TikTok Shop and recalled from end users.

Consumers are advised to stop using the product immediately and contact the distributor to request redress.

TikTok has been approached for comment.

Edson Brandao, who turns 60 in late February, has revealed the three-ingredient morning drink he consumes daily which helps him to maintain his youthful appearance

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Maintaining youthful-looking skin requires considerable effort, though it’s certainly achievable. Whether you’re taking daily collagen supplements or maintaining a regular fitness routine, establishing an effective regimen can take time and money.

One gentleman who prioritises his appearance is Edson Brandao – and he shared how others can follow suit. The 59-year-old Brazilian, who turns 60 in February, authored Young After 40: The Definitive Guide to Stay Younger and Healthier where he outlines his secrets to maintaining an ageless look. He’s also accustomed to sharing his anti-ageing strategies with his social media following – and his most recent post proves no exception.

Sharing with his 731,000 Instagram followers, Edson disclosed that he drinks a three-ingredient beverage every morning which he maintains offers numerous health advantages.

He wrote: “Why do I drink chia water every day?” The video then provided details about the drink, described as the “most powerful natural detox drink on Earth”.

It continued: “The seeds absorb the water and form a gel called mucilage, this gel goes into your gut cleans your intestines, soft brushes toxins, reduces bloating and keeps you full for hours and that’s just the beginning.

“This simple drink helps balance blood sugar levels, cuts cravings, boosts metabolism, supports heart health with omega-3 and even hydrates your skin from the inside.”

The video also revealed the ‘real secret’ which entails adding lemon juice to ‘supercharge it’. This citrus fruit also provides vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals and assists your liver in burning fat, supporting digestion, reducing water retention and promoting clearer skin.

To prepare the drink, combine water with chia seeds then allow 10-15 minutes for absorption. To enhance it further, squeeze in half a lemon, stir and consume it on an empty stomach.

In the video, the information concluded: “Do this for just 7 days, your stomach gets so much flatter, skin looks fresher and your energy goes up.”

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Healthline reports chia seeds and water offer numerous benefits. It said: “Eating them soaked in water may help promote hydration, healthy digestion, and lower hunger, which can support weight loss goals.

“They’re a good source of fibre, protein, unsaturated fats, and antioxidants. They also include several important micronutrients, including calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc.”

It also states chia seeds in water may reduce high blood pressure and inflammation, while offering benefits for heart health, bone health, blood sugar management and potential skin benefits.

The NHS recommends people should incorporate 1 tablespoon of chia seeds or flax seeds into their meals.

Ensure you consult your GP or pharmacist if you wish to lose weight safely, alternatively visit the NHS website for additional guidance.

Thomas Markle says he has “a long way to go” in the wake of his December ‘life or death’ surgery, as he battles to walk again.

Thomas Markle has revealed the harrowing details of his “life or death” battle after undergoing an emergency leg amputation back in December. The 81-year-old—who has been hit by a string of devastating health scares in recent years—was rushed to a hospital near his new home in the Philippines after falling seriously ill.

Doctors were forced to perform a gruelling three-hour operation to remove his leg to save his life.

The former Hollywood lighting director is no stranger to health struggles, having already survived a stroke and two heart attacks. He moved to the island of Cebu last year, but his new life was turned upside down by the shock surgery two months ago.

Now, opening up about his “new reality,” the resilient dad-of-three admitted he is “adjusting slowly” to life with one leg as he begins the difficult journey of learning to walk again.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday , Thomas shared a rare moment of joy from his recovery, describing a celebratory lunch with the “wonderful” nurses and fellow patients who have been by his side. Refusing to let his spirits sink, he told how he enjoyed a spread of red roses and chocolates, saying: “I’m being very well taken care of and I am grateful for all the wonderful care I am getting.”

He added: “I am adjusting slowly and doing a lot of physiotherapy. I am feeling very happy and am making good progress. I have a long way to go but am getting used to my new circumstances.”

Despite initial claims that Meghan had failed to contact her father about his leg operation, it has now emerged that she desperately called round local hospitals to try and find out more details about her estranged father’s health. Her spokesperson then confirmed she had “reached out” by delivering a letter to her dad. But the mystery deepened when Thomas claimed he was “confused” by reports that his youngest child had tried to get in touch with him.

Her spokesperson later released a blistering statement in an attempt to clarify the conflicting reports. It read: “It has been exceedingly difficult for the Duchess to contact her father privately, despite her efforts over the past several days. With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands.”

Despite Thomas and Meghan’s mum Doria breaking up when Meghan was just three-years-old, Meghan always had a close relationship with her father while growing up in California. She lived with Thomas between the ages of 11 and 18 while her mum travelled, and even called him “thoughtful, inspiring, hardworking” in a 2014 social media post.

But her mother, Doria, blasted her ex for his actions of staging the photos and talking to the press, saying in the Sussex’s documentary that she was “absolutely stunned” by his behaviour, adding that “as a parent, that’s not what you do. That’s not parenting.”

Thomas did not stay quiet over the years that followed about his daughter, repeatedly taking part in further interviews about her. He dubbed their exit from royal life the “dumbest thing they could have done”, and due to the estrangement, has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.

But despite the ongoing turmoil, Thomas has said he will love his daughter forever. Appearing on Good Morning Britain back in September, he claimed: “I’ve always been here for her, I love her, I’ll love her forever. I want her to reach out to me and let me see my grandkids and let me have a little peace. It’s been five years.”

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday last night, Mr Markle gave an update on his health, saying it was ‘great fun’ to be able to join other patients and nurses for a celebratory lunch, complete with red roses and chocolates. The retired Hollywood lighting director added: “I’m being very well taken care of and I am grateful for all the wonderful care I am getting.”

He added: “I am adjusting slowly and doing a lot of physiotherapy. I am feeling very happy and am making good progress. I have a long way to go but am getting used to my new circumstances.”

Mr Markle became estranged from Meghan on the eve of her 2018 wedding to Harry. He has never met his son-in-law or his grandchildren Archie, six, and Lilibet, four.

MUNICH (AP) — About 250,000 people demonstrated on Saturday against Iran’s government on the sidelines of a gathering of world leaders in Germany, police said, answering a call from Iran ’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for cranked-up international pressure on Tehran.

Banging drums and chanting for regime change, the giant and boisterous rally in Munich was part of what Pahlavi described as a “global day of action” to support Iranians in the wake of deadly nationwide protests. He also called for demonstrations in Los Angeles and Toronto. Police said in a post on X that the number of protesters reached some 250,000, more than the organizers had expected.

“Change, change, regime change” the huge crowd chanted, waving green-white-and-red flags with lion and sun emblems. Iran used that flag before its 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the Pahlavi dynasty.

At a news conference, Pahlavi warned of more deaths in Iran if “democracies stand by and watch” following Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters last month.

“We gather at an hour of profound peril to ask: Will the world stand with the people of Iran?” he asked. He added that the survival of Iran’s government “sends a clear signal to every bully: kill enough people and you stay in power.”

An estimated 350,000 people marched on the streets of Toronto as part of the Global Day of Action Rally, Toronto Police spokesperson Laura Brabant said.

At the Munich rally, demonstrators sported “Make Iran Great Again” red caps, mimicking the MAGA caps worn by U.S. President Donald Trump ‘s supporters. Among those sporting the caps was U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who gave a speech to the crowd during which he was photographed holding up the headwear.

Many at the rally waved placards showing Pahlavi, some that called him a king. The son of Iran’s deposed shah has been in exile for nearly 50 years but is trying to position himself as a player in Iran’s future.

The crowd chanted “Pahlavi for Iran,” and “democracy for Iran” as drums and cymbals sounded.

“We have huge hopes and (are) looking forward that the regime is going to change hopefully,” said Daniyal Mohtashamian, a demonstrator who traveled from Zurich, in Switzerland, to speak for protesters inside Iran who faced repression.

“There is an internet blackout, and their voices are not going outside of Iran,” he said.

About 500 protesters also rallied outside the presidential palace in Nicosia, Cyprus, with many holding up banners with slogans against Iran’s government and in favor of Pahlavi.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says at least 7,005 people were killed in last month’s protests, including 214 government forces. It has been accurate in counting deaths during previous rounds of unrest in Iran and relies on a network of activists inside Iran to verify deaths.

Iran’s government offered its only death toll on Jan. 21, saying 3,117 people were killed. Iran’s theocracy in the past has undercounted or not reported fatalities from past unrest.

The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll, given authorities have disrupted internet access and international calls in Iran.

Iranian leaders are facing renewed pressure from Trump, who has threatened U.S. military action. Trump wants Iran to further scale back its nuclear program. He suggested Friday that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen.”

Iran was also the focus of protests in Munich on Friday, the opening day of an annual security conference in the city gathering European leaders and global security figures. Supporters of the Iranian opposition group People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran, also known as the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, demonstrated.

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Associated Press writer Cedar Attanasio contributed reporting from Seattle. Associated Press journalists John Leicester in Paris and Geir Moulson in Berlin also contributed.

After a frenetic end to the second-half, though, Ireland could not come away with a bonus point, further denting their hopes of challenging for the title this year. Despite coming away with victory against a really spirited Italy, whose wait for a first win in Dublin will continue for at least another year, there was plenty of problems with the Ireland performance. Their scrum was abject and their defending at times subpar.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Washington on February 11 appears not to have achieved what many observers saw as its central purpose: to persuade Donald Trump to harden his demands on Iran to the point that negotiations between the countries fail. According to reports, Trump told Netanyahu he wanted talks with Iran to continue.

What will be concerning Netanyahu is that while he can probably rely on Trump to take a hard line on limiting Iran’s nuclear programme, it is less clear where his unpredictable ally stands on limiting Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and ending its support for regional armed groups.

Trump had previously indicated that any deal with Iran had to include missiles. But more recently, he has suggested the US may be open to dropping this demand. On February 10, when asked by a reporter if an agreement with Iran would be acceptable if it only covers nuclear issues, Trump said: “Yeah, that would be acceptable, but the one thing and right up front, no nuclear weapons.”

This, as well as positive statements by US and Iranian officials about their brief indirect talks in Oman days earlier, will have spooked Israeli officials. Both Iran and Israel understand that it is missiles, not nuclear enrichment or even Iranian regional proxies, that underpin Iran’s increasingly shaky deterrence.

For the moment, Trump seems to think that a deal limited to the nuclear issue may be preferable to going to war to tackle everything else. Yet opponents of US military action, which include all of Washington’s Middle Eastern allies except Israel, should still be worried.

It is far from clear whether Iran will offer the kind of nuclear deal Trump would find acceptable, and Trump himself does not seem to know what else to do other than double down on military threats. That alone may scupper the talks.

Netanyahu is also a seasoned political operator who showed how adept he is at manoeuvring Trump into supporting military action in 2025, when the US joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities. And the current US military build-up in the Persian Gulf has now reached a point where that option is on the table.

Trump’s Iran policy

The uncertainty over whether Trump will strike Iran underscores how shallow his Iran policy is. He does not have a conventional, institutionalised policy apparatus of the kind the Obama administration relied upon to negotiate a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear programme in 2015.

Instead, Trump is pursuing indirect talks with Iran that are being overseen by two officials with no prior diplomatic experience. These two officials, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have simultaneously been tasked by Trump with ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump also seems undecided about whether any deal should focus narrowly on the nuclear issue or whether he should pursue something resembling a grand bargain. Nor has he articulated what he is prepared to offer Iran as part of a deal or how he would justify incentives such as sanctions relief for a regime that has just murdered thousands of its citizens in a brutal protest crackdown.

His approach to Iran is so ad hoc that it allows different groups with access to him, Netanyahu on one side and increasingly assertive regional states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey on the other, to influence key decisions. It was this latter group of Middle Eastern states that intervened recently to press Trump to proceed with talks when they threatened to collapse over Iran’s refusal to discuss issues beyond the nuclear file.

These states are cautioning Trump that US strikes might precipitate the collapse of the Iranian regime. However desirable that might seem, experience in Iraq, Libya and Syria suggests that state fragmentation, mass displacement, violence and regional destabilisation would be more likely than any orderly democratic transition.

And if strikes fall short of toppling the regime, even a weakened Iran could inflict serious economic and strategic damage on Gulf oil shipping and infrastructure.

Trump’s ad-hoc approach to diplomacy is in stark contrast to the Obama administration’s negotiations in 2015. Then, the International Atomic Energy Agency provided compliance verification and technical expertise, and the EU chaired the joint commission that oversaw the deal’s implementation.

The UN security council formalised the agreement under international law and established a mechanism for reimposing sanctions in the event of noncompliance. There was also a clear, if largely unfulfilled, strategic rationale related to Obama’s desire to reduce the US’s regional footprint and pivot towards Asia.

Trump’s approach is radically different. He withdrew the US from the nuclear deal in 2018 without a clear plan for what would replace it beyond something he could describe as better and attach his name to. He has no interest in brokering a multilateral agreement and does not appear to have a coherent set of demands or strategic aims that could anchor one.

A thin deal without substance, institutional anchoring and clear mechanisms for handling the inevitable disputes over sanctions relief and compliance is unlikely to endure, even if Trump can push the Iranians into signing it.