James McHugh, 62, was killed in Monday’s road traffic collision in Cavan, while his wife Noreen, aged in her 60s, has now also died of her injuries

The wife of Donegal All-Ireland winner James McHugh, who tragically lost his life in a road traffic collision on Monday, has also passed away.

Noreen, who was in her 60s, was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with serious injuries following the crash in Cavan on Monday, but sadly succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday.

The collision occurred on the N3 at Drummallaght, between Virginia and Cavan, shortly before 2pm on Monday (August 10).

James, 62, who claimed All-Ireland glory with Donegal in 1992, was driving a car that collided with a van. He was pronounced dead at the scene, with his remains taken to Cavan General Hospital.

McHugh made his senior debut for Donegal in 1990 against Cavan, the same year the county claimed the Ulster title following a victory over Armagh. Two years on, he was a key member of the historic Donegal All-Ireland winning side of 1992, alongside his brother Martin, reports the Irish Mirror.

The talented forward also earned an All-Star award that same year, while enjoying considerable club success with Cill Chartha, winning the championship in 1985, 1989 and 1993.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Gardaí confirmed: “Gardaí in Bailieborough investigating the fatal road traffic collision that occurred on the N3 at Drummallaght, between Virginia and Cavan, Co. Cavan, shortly before 2pm on Monday 10th August 2026 have confirmed a second person has passed away.

“The collision involved a car and a van.

“The male driver of the car, aged in his 60s, was fatally injured in the collision. His female passenger, also aged in her 60s, was seriously injured and was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital for treatment but passed away this evening Tuesday 11th August, 2026.

“Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed this collision or who was travelling on the N3 between Virginia and Cavan, particularly between 1pm and 2pm to come forward.

“Gardaí are appealing to any motorists who may have dashcam or other camera footage of the area during this time to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Bailieboro Garda Station on 042 969 4570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”

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Great British Sewing Bee’s Patrick Grant announced a show first during Tuesday’s episode which left contestants gobsmacked

The Great British Sewing Bee sewing room was turned on its head as the remaining contestants were told they would have to put their fate in someone else’s hands.

The pressure was already mounting for the eight sewers still competing in this year’s series. But Tuesday (August 11) night’s episode brought an unexpected twist when judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young revealed that, for one challenge, the contestants would no longer be working alone.

Instead, they were randomly paired up and given the tricky task of turning windsurfing sails into matching two-piece outfits.

The unusual challenge formed part of Sports Week, with the contestants having to demonstrate creativity, technical skill and, crucially, the ability to work with another sewer under intense time pressure.

As the Transformation Challenge got underway, presenter Sophie Fletcher introduced the task before turning to Patrick for the details.

Patrick told the contestants: “We’ve given you wind surfer sails. We want you to transform these into a two-piece outfit but for the first time in the sewing room, you will be working and being judged in pairs.”

The announcement prompted a series of shocked reactions from the contestants, who had expected to be judged on their individual work.

And there was another surprise waiting for them. Patrick explained that the pairs would be selected at random, meaning nobody had the opportunity to choose the person they would be relying on to help them through the challenge.

The contestants were split into four teams, with Adele paired with Tim, Emma working with Heather, Beth teamed up with Minnie and Rebecca partnered with Anna.

The challenge was about much more than simply producing two good garments.

Esme told the sewers they needed to create a “cohesive outfit”, stressing the importance of working together to ensure their individual designs looked like part of the same overall look.

That proved particularly challenging because of the material they had been handed. Windsurfing sails are designed to withstand demanding conditions rather than being turned into fashionable clothing, leaving the contestants with the difficult job of cutting, shaping and manipulating the specialist fabric.

With the clock ticking, the pairs had to find a way to combine their ideas while avoiding a clash between their designs. Ultimately, it was Rebecca and Anna who managed to impress the judges most.

The pair produced a striking crisscross trouser suit which stood out from the original sail and demonstrated the transformation the challenge demanded.

Esme was equally enthusiastic about the finished look, simply declaring: “I think it’s brilliant.”

The Great British Sewing Bee is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

One in three women in NI have experienced sexual harassment at work, and 30 have been murdered here since 2020.

A workplace programme is helping to end violence against women and girls by challenging misogyny, training staff, and improving safety policies.

One in three women in Northern Ireland have experienced sexual harassment at work, and 30 women have been murdered in the region since 2020.

The Belfast Trust is the largest health and social care organisation and one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland. The Trust recognises the vital role it plays in contributing to a changed society where women and girls can live free from gender-based violence, abuse and harm, including the attitudes, systems and structural inequalities that cause them.

Through the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Take a Pledge programme run by Nexus NI, the Trust reaffirmed its commitment to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive working environment for staff affected by or at risk of abuse, and to provide a supportive and responsive service to anyone affected by abuse when accessing health and social care.

Jennifer Welsh, Belfast Trust Chief Executive said: “It is so important for all of our staff within the Trust to work together to contribute to changing the culture and society in Northern Ireland.

“Our staff come to work every day to look after others, but we also have a responsibility to look after each other; to be aware of and call out behaviour that is abusive or harmful, particularly towards women and girls.

“The Take a Pledge programme from Nexus NI shows that Belfast Trust is unswerving in its vision and actions to building a safer, more respectful future for all.”

The pledge encourages organisations across Northern Ireland to take meaningful action to prevent violence, support those affected, and promote a culture where abuse is not tolerated.

It is supported by The Executive Office’s Change Fund as part of the regional strategy to end violence against women and girls.

Prof Stuart Elborn, Chair of Belfast Trust, said: “Visible leadership and a collective effort are vital to driving culture change and tackling violence against women and girls.

“I am proud to say that our Trust Board recently welcomed Nexus to a Board meeting to discuss the prevalence of violence, its impact on victims and survivors, and the requirements of the EVAWG pledge. We are committed to taking all necessary actions to fulfil this pledge.

“As a Board, we are fully committed to supporting and driving this important organisational commitment.”

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Wednesday that he survived a leadership vote among his own party’s lawmakers less than three months before an election.

The vote took place during a hastily convened meeting of Luxon’s center-right National Party lawmakers at Parliament in Wellington, which was held behind closed doors and ran for more than three hours. Luxon then emerged flanked by his lawmakers to give a brief statement and departed without taking any questions from reporters.

“There was a confidence vote in my leadership this morning at our caucus meeting,” he said. “I had the full support of our caucus and our caucus is united and it is determined to win this election.”

Luxon didn’t say how many lawmakers had voted for him to continue in the job, although such ballots are usually a secret.

It was Luxon’s 2nd confidence vote since April

The vote was the second Luxon had called about his own leadership since April and leaves lingering questions coming so close to the election scheduled for Nov. 7.

The April vote followed drops in polling for National, while this week’s followed recent public remarks Luxon had made on various issues that some in his party saw as gaffes.

On Tuesday, the leader took the rare step of disclosing on social media that he faced renewed rumblings about his leadership, and announcing he would call a meeting of his lawmakers Wednesday to resolve it.

“It is my firm belief that division and disunity are a major distraction only 90 days out from the election,” he wrote on X. “I also believe this distraction is unfair to the New Zealand people, and dedicated National Party candidates, supporters and volunteers, when there is so much at stake.”

National has led a right-wing coalition government since New Zealand’s 2023 election. Luxon, a former airline executive who entered Parliament in 2000, had led the party since 2021.

Luxon’s remarks in recent weeks prompted fresh speculation

Among the recent remarks that appeared to prompt renewed leadership murmurings were comments Luxon made to a business audience earlier this month, when he said some business leaders in the country had a “parent-child mentality” and too often looked to the government for direction. Luxon, who was once an executive at Unilever when he lived in the United States, has always sold himself as a business expert and has sometimes pointed out where he sees New Zealand as falling short of global trends.

When elected, he pledged to use his experience to reverse New Zealand’s economic woes of recent years. This month’s remarks were lambasted, including by some in his own party, as being out of touch while the economy remained sluggish.

School costs are leaving almost three-quarters of parents in Northern Ireland under financial pressure, with almost two in five saying they have gone into debt to cover the expense of sending their children back to school.

New research from the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) found that 71 per cent of parents regard back-to-school costs as a financial burden, up three percentage points on last year.

The survey of 560 parents found that 37 per cent have gone into debt to cover school costs, with the average amount borrowed increasing by £47 to £301.

Families with children at secondary school face the greatest financial pressure, with 42 per cent of parents of secondary-only children saying they get into debt to cover costs. That rises to 56 per cent among parents with children at both primary and secondary level.

The research, carried out by iReach Insights in June, found that parents expect to spend an average of £1,363 on a primary school child across the school year.

That includes £570 in upfront back-to-school costs and a further £793 in running costs.

The figure rises to £2,029 for secondary school pupils, made up of £1,106 in upfront costs and £923 in running costs.

Almost three in five parents (59 per cent) said their overall school costs are higher than they were last year.

Among those who reported an increase, school uniforms were the most commonly cited reason at 56 per cent, followed by branded or crested items at 38 per cent and school lunches and food at 33 per cent.

Trump’s bombing of Iran’s nuclear research facilities in 2025, and this year’s expansive bombing campaign and naval blockade, prompted a new round of Iranian threats against Trump – and a direct warning by the US president in response.

In July, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran had made threats “to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate” him and said 1,000 “missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat”.

The president’s message to Iran was blunt. Many of the recent threats against him have been unequivocal, too.

At the funeral service for Khamenei, held the day before Trump departed Turkey, participants carried a banner that read “#KillTrump”. The following week, in a square in central Tehran, a building featured a large mural of the American president, lying in a black coffin, with the words “We will kill Trump” and “Blood for blood” written below it.

Iran has denied involvement in any previous plots against Trump, but the message – delivered after Khamenei’s death and reports of Iranian civilian casualties in US and Israeli strikes – has been clear.

The war, Iranians are saying, is far from over. And Trump, himself, is a target for revenge.

On the final leg of the journey back to the US from Turkey, as Trump and his travelling media pool were reunited on the same aircraft, the president came back to the press cabin to talk to reporters.

They asked about the unusual journey, which included an order by the Secret Service that the window shades on the decoy plane be closed during takeoff from Ankara.

“I have read all the time I’m number one on their list,” he told them.

“But if I go, you go, right?”

Only Connect was back on BBC Two on Monday evening as teams Double Features and Colonial Geese went head to head

An Only Connect participant has opened up following an episode that viewers of the BBC gameshow labelled the “worst ever”.

The quiz programme originally launched in 2008 on BBC Four and now airs on BBC Two, presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell. On Monday (August 10) evening, the popular show returned as Double Features and Colonial Geese battled it out.

Throughout the series, competing teams participate in a tournament centred on identifying links between apparently unconnected clues. The programme’s title is believed to derive from a line in E.

M. Forster’s 1910 novel Howards End: “Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted.”

The game comprises four rounds in total, with the highest-scoring team declared victorious. Should teams finish level, a single sudden-death puzzle is presented to both team captains, reports the Manchester Evening News.

If a captain buzzes in first with the correct response, their team claims victory, while an incorrect answer hands the win to their opponents.

Nevertheless, viewers swiftly deemed the episode the “worst episode ever” based on the poor performance from both competing teams. One viewer even joked they had witnessed the “lowest score ever” in the programme’s history, the Daily Express reported.

After completing a series of challenges throughout the gameshow, Colonial Geese managed just 16 points in total, while Double Features trailed narrowly behind with a mere 14 points. Throughout the episode, viewers shared countless observations.

One fan remarked: “Think these contestants on #onlyconnect tonight meant to apply for Tipping Point.”

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Another viewer suggested: “I honestly think that this episode is one of the pranks pulled by Ant and Dec to scupper certain hosts and fully expect them to appear shortly lol #onlyconnect.”

Now, contestant Katie Rae Taylor has responded to viewers’ reactions on her TikTok (@wonkytescostrolley) in the most brilliant fashion.

Sharing a collection of photographs from her appearance on the BBC programme alongside some of the social media commentary, she wrote: “Victoria is just as lovely and beautiful in real life either way”.

Alongside an image showing Katie on the panel with Daisy Jeavons and Mia Lewis, she joked: “Took a bit too far and ended up on the ‘worst episode ever’ of a show but at least we had a hoot! ! ! !”.

She went on to share additional images from the recording, adding: “Smile so full of light and joy… little did she know…” and “just happy to be here”.

Katie concluded her response by including a tweet from @fletcherchriss which stated: “This is the worst episode of #onlyconnect ever”.

You can catch up on Only Connect on BBC iPlayer

The 36-year-old man was rushed to hospital to what are described as life-threatening injuries.

A cyclist is fighting for his life following a “hit and run” on the A72. The 36-year-old was riding along the A72 from Skirling towards the A702 at Biggar when he was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene before police arrived.

The man was rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment to what are described as life-threatening injuries. Officers are hunting a Mercedes Sprinter-type van in the area around the time of the incident.

An investigation has been launched as cops try to establish the full circumstances. Anyone who saw what happened or who was travelling on the road and may have any useful information is being urged to come forward.

Amy Dowden was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and she’s currently appearing on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted alongside Strictly co-star Carlos Gu

Amy Dowden left her Celebrity Hunted co-star worried after she had her monthly preventive cancer treatment.

The professional dancer was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer in 2023 after discovering a lump just before her honeymoon, reports the Mirror.

She has since undergone chemotherapy and two mastectomies, in which she revealed her second operation at the time wasn’t for a new cancer, but was a decision made with her medical team.

While taking part in Celebrity Hunted, for Channel 4’s charity initiative, Stand Up To Cancer, Amy, along with friend and Strictly pro Carlos Gu, headed to hospital for her monthly preventive cancer treatment.

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Amy and Carlos then arrived at the appointment and Amy had to have an injection in her stomach. She said: “It’s getting more and more sore every time I have them now.” Amy then told Carlos:

“Look at the size of this needle, look how thick that is,” Amy told Carlos. Prior to receiving the injection, Amy explained: “I fall asleep sometimes after, because the treatment can make me feel so drowsy.”

Observing the procedure, Carlos then exclaimed: “Oh my gosh!”. The hunters were soon alerted to Amy and Carlos’s presence at the hospital and swiftly made their way there. Thankfully, the duo managed to slip away from the facility.

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After, Carlos said: “Today is going to be quite hard for Amy because she’ll be physically tired after the injection,” before adding: “I feel like I have to step up to be aware and be alert.”

However, while in the vehicle, Amy disclosed she was feeling “really tired” and the two quickly made for a nearby hotel where Amy could get some rest.

Carlos added: “I don’t want to drag you on the road while you’re not feeling well so I want you to have a rest.” The pair then headed to a local hotel so Amy could rest up.

“That bed is calling my name,” Amy quipped as she walked inside the room, before getting into the bed. Carlos then said: “So what we’re going to do, you’re going to take your meds and have your rest. And I’m going to be on guard.”

Celebrity Hunted airs on Channel 4 at 9pm

From timeless classics like Penelope to bold modern choices like Atlas, Greek mythology has inspired some of the most popular baby names

Following the success of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, ancient Greece has once more captured the public’s imagination. But could the resurgent interest in Gods, heroes and mythical stories also be influencing the names parents are selecting for their babies?

Greek mythology has shaped baby names across generations, from enduring classics such as Penelope to striking contemporary choices like Atlas.

Now, new Office for National Statistics (ONS) baby name data analysed by JoJo Maman Bébé has revealed which names drawn from Greek mythology are proving most popular amongst today’s parents.

Anne Varsanyi, head of buying at JoJo Maman Bébé, said: “Choosing a baby’s name is one of the first opportunities parents have to express something about their family, whether that’s honouring tradition, celebrating heritage or simply choosing a name they love.

“What’s particularly fascinating about this year’s data is seeing how quickly tastes can change. Some names that once filled classrooms have become increasingly rare, while others that were barely heard a generation ago are now among the country’s favourites,” reports the Liverpool Echo.

Top five most popular Greek mythological names for girls

• Penelope – The famously faithful wife of Odysseus
• Athena – Goddess of wisdom, courage, and warfare
• Rhea – Titaness and mother of the original Olympian gods
• Persephone – Queen of the Underworld and goddess of spring growth
• Gaia – Goddess of the Earth

Top five most popular Greek mythological names for boys

• Atlas – The Titan condemned to carry the weight of the heavens
• Ares – The God of war and courage
• Apollo – God of music, light, truth and healing
• Artemis – Traditionally, the Goddess of the hunt
• Perseus – The demigod who defeated Medusa

JoJo Maman Bébé examined the latest ONS data, with the analysis covering the most popular names in 2025, names showing the largest rises in popularity since 1996, and names experiencing the steepest declines in popularity since 1996.

The data was drawn from the ONS Baby Names in England and Wales release, published on July 9, 2026.

Penelope, the heroine central to The Odyssey, already holds the crown as the top mythological name, with 1,174 babies given the name in 2025.

Athena (519 babies) and Atlas (355 babies) have made the leap from ancient myth to contemporary playground staples, both proving exceptionally popular among parents seeking a name imbued with strength and presence.

While names such as Rhea and Ares are gaining traction, parents in search of something genuinely distinctive might consider Apollo (39 babies) or Perseus (eight babies) for a truly memorable choice.