A mum has been found guilty of murdering her daughter who suffered multiple fractures after coming into contact with a hard surface

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A mum from West Bromwich has been found guilty of murdering her two-month-old daughter.

Emergency services rushed to the home of Zara Arsalan after receiving a call to say a baby girl was unresponsive after she fell from her mother’s lap on July 23, 2020. However, paramedics found Harleen had suffered a serious head injury and her breathing was not stable.

The child was taken to hospital but died from her injuries the next day. A post-mortem determined that Harleen had suffered multiple skull fractures, bleeding on the brain, fractured ribs and a fractured collar bone.

The injuries were believed to have come from contact with a hard surface and were not consistent with a fall, reported Birmingham Live.

It was believed Harleen was also likely shaken. Arsalan was arrested and later charged with Harleen’s murder.

She had pleaded not guilty to killing her baby. However, a jury found the 31-year-old guilty of murdering her daughter at Coventry Crown Court on Friday (Friday, February 20).

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Poole, from West Midlands Police’s Homicide Unit, said: “This is an incredibly tragic case. Harleen was only two months old when she died at the hands of the person who should have been doing everything to keep her safe.

“Arsalan has never taken responsibility for her actions. Instead, she has repeatedly lied about what happened to Harleen despite being shown evidence that rejects her claims.

“I want to thank all of the officers involved as I know they were deeply affected by this investigation. They have worked incredibly hard to get justice for Harleen and her family.”

Arsalan will be sentenced on Thursday, March 12.

Karen Byrne and Brian Redmond appeared on The Late Late Show ahead of Dancing With The Stars’ 100th episode as the judge recalled the iconic Dessie Swim moment with Des Cahill

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Karen Byrne had Late Late Show audiences in fits of laughter as she looked back on an unforgettable moment from her debut series on Dancing With The Stars.

Prior to the programme’s 100th episode airing on Sunday evening, Karen and fellow judge Brian Redmond, both present since the beginning, appeared alongside host Patrick Kielty on the popular RTÉ chat show.

Whilst the pair reflected on memorable moments from previous years on the dance floor, Patrick highlighted one particular recollection – leading Karen to confess, “What was I thinking?”.

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The Late Late host was referencing the ‘Dessie Swim’, a signature move Karen created whilst paired with sports journalist Des Cahill during the show’s first series.

The duo replicated a swimming motion during an Austin Powers themed performance, which remains one of the programme’s most celebrated moments, reports RSVP Live.

Patrick remarked: “Karen, there are many moments from over the years that are highlights when we think of you.

“I know exactly what you’re going to say. I bet I do. The Dessie Swim,” Karen responded.

“Does everyone remember that in the audience? What was I thinking?”.

“When I was doing the choreography I don’t know what was going through my mind. But listen, people loved it. Give the people what they want. Oh no, don’t play it!”.

Patrick subsequently showed the footage, prompting the audience to erupt in laughter.

Karen chuckled: “Live telly. Why not?”.

“It’s a move that hasn’t caught on in dance floors around Ireland,” Patrick observed. “I don’t ever remember studying that in a ballroom dancing technique when I was a young lad,” Brian remarked.

“The first time I saw it was live on the show. It’s not often you’re stuck for words as judges, but I was like, ‘Des, Karen, what are you thinking? My God, this is just iconic’.

“You could see it in the moment, from the reaction in the audience.

“It was Austin Powers for Movie Week. And come here, we’re still talking about it nine years on so I must have been doing something right,” Karen responded.

Meanwhile, Nicky Byrne has confirmed he’ll be making a return to Dancing With The Stars this week as a special guest judge to mark the programme’s 100th episode.

The Westlife singer presented the show from 2017 through to 2022.

Speaking about rejoining the programme for this milestone occasion, Nicky said: “I couldn’t be more excited to be heading back to the Dancing with the Stars ballroom. The show has been a massive part of my life for nearly 15 years – I’ve been a contestant on Strictly in the UK, I hosted five incredible seasons in Ireland and now I get to be a judge for one night only. It really is a full-circle moment for me.

“I’m really looking forward to the performances on the night because at the end of the day it’s all about the celebrities, professionals and the journey they’re on. I’ve been in those dance shoes before… I know the nerves, the pressure and the adrenaline, so I’ll definitely be encouraging and supportive… and if Brian gets out of line, I’ll be the first one sticking up for them!”.

“I can’t wait to see all my friends from the cast and crew again. It’s going to be such a special night – you only turn 100 once so as a great man once said, ‘It’s going to be ‘Box Office!’”.

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Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 10 people in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and another two people in a Palestinian refugee camp, the Lebanese Health Ministry has said.

Hezbollah has confirmed senior leader Hussein Yaghi was killed in the Bekaa attacks.

He is the son of former Hezbollah MP Mohamed Yaghi, and his funeral is set to take place on Saturday, according to Hezbollah media.

Twenty-four people – including three children – were also injured in the attack.

Earlier on Friday, another Israeli strike hit Ain al-Hilweh – a densely populated Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, killing the two people.

The strikes are among the deadliest reported in eastern Lebanon in recent weeks and risk rupturing a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, strained by frequent accusations of violations.

In a post on X on Friday evening, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: “STRUCK: Hezbollah command centers used to advance terror attacks against IDF troops and Israel, in the Baalbek area in Lebanon.

“Within the command centers, weapons and funds utilized by Hezbollah were being stored, constituting a violation of the understandings between Israel.”

Referring to the separate strike, the IDF posted hours earlier: “In response to repeated ceasefire violations, the IDF struck a Hamas command center, from which terrorists operated, in the Ain al-Hilweh area in southern Lebanon.”

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Israeli airstrikes in several areas of southern Lebanon early on Thursday morning targeted Hezbollah weapon depots, missile launchers, and other military sites, the IDF said, as reported by The Times of Israel.

The strikes were the latest in the Israeli military’s campaign against Hezbollah.

There have been frequent airstrikes as the military says the terror group continues to try to rebuild its capabilities, contravening the US-brokered ceasefire in November 2024.

The truce came after more than a year of war along the border.

This included two months of open conflict in which a ground operation in Lebanon’s south was carried out by the IDF as it sought to enable the safe return of some 60,000 displaced residents of northern Israel.

Hezbollah started attacking Israel on 8 October 2023 – a day after Hamas’s invasion of southern Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.

The ground invasion of southern Lebanon, launched in September 2024, significantly damaged the terror group’s leadership and stripped back its military capabilities.

Israel and Hezbollah were required to withdraw from southern Lebanon, to be replaced by the Lebanese armed forces.

Israel has left all but five strategic posts along the border, The Times of Israel reports.

The IDF said more than 400 Hezbollah operatives and members of allied terror groups have been killed in strikes since the ceasefire.

The Israeli military says it has struck hundreds of Hezbollah sites and has carried out over 1,200 raids and other small operations in southern Lebanon.

Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho received criticism for controversial comments he gave after the match, when he said: “I told [Vinicius], when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was black. This club, the last thing that it is, is racist.”

But Tudor revealed he had not heard of the term ‘Spursy’ as he spoke in his first press conference since joining, and insists an “emergency situation”, with the club just five points above the relegation zone and with a raft of injuries, means talk of a style of play is premature and far from the priority for the club right now.

Birmingham City Council has been granted a High Court injunction banning protests outside its waste depots as the city’s all-out bin strike nears its first anniversary

It has been almost a year since refuse workers in a major UK city launched an all-out bin strike.

Birmingham City Council has been granted a High Court injunction banning protests outside its waste depots as the long-running all-out strike approaches its first anniversary. The council sought the order last year after reporting that protesters were blocking depot entrances and preventing vehicles from carrying out collections.

Birmingham’s refuse workers first began striking on January 6, 2025, in a dispute over pay and the removal of a number of roles. An all-out strike followed several weeks later on March 11.

Today, the city council was granted an injunction against “persons unknown”, which it said is intended to “tackle recent blockading and obstruction being experienced at its waste depots”. The judgement comes after a hearing at the High Court on 13 February.

The injunction bans protesters supporting strike action organised by Unite the Union from “entering, occupying or remaining on, or blocking or obstructing the entering or exiting of any other individual or vehicle to and from four depots”. These are Atlas Depot in Kings Road, Tyseley, Lifford lane Depot in Ebury Road, Kings Norton, Perry Barr Depot in Holford Drive or Smithfield Depot in Sherlock Street.

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The ban also prevents people from “blocking or obstructing any of the council’s street management vehicles within the City of Birmingham”. Anyone who breaches the injunction could face a fine or imprisonment, Birmingham Live reports.

The council said the injunction does not seek to limit protests that do not block or obstruct the provision of its waste services. It added that it does not restrict lawful picketing.

The city council said: “The injunction will be in in effect until trial or further order but in any event for not more than an initial period of three months.”

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While Unite the Union members had previously been stopped, other protesters took their place blocking lorries, disrupting collections during the bitter long-running dispute.

The council claimed it acted as disruption had escalated since Christmas, with demonstrators blocking depots and causing 67,000 households – around 19 per cent – to miss bin collections in January.

However, protesters described the legal move for an injunction as “cowardly”. Some council bin staff council have been taking action on what Unite called “fire and rehire pay cuts of up to £8,000 for drivers and former WRCOs (waste recycling and collection officers)” since January last year.

Job & Talent agency staff also joined the action over alleged “bullying, harassment and the threat of blacklisting” following a vote in November last year. The bin strike has resulted in rubbish piling up on streets and no recycling or green waste collections for more than a year.

The council has now succeeded in its High Court bid to ban “persons unknown” – effectively anyone – from blocking bin lorries outside its depots for three months, in a judgment by Mr Justice Pepperall.

In a post on X, the city council said: “On 20 February 2026, following a hearing on 13 February, the High Court handed down a judgment granting Birmingham City Council an injunction against persons unknown to tackle the recent blockading and obstruction being experienced at its waste depots.

“The Court are yet to provide the Sealed Order setting out the full terms of the injunction but it will be uploaded to the webpage when it is available.

“Once the Sealed Order is issued anyone breaching the injunction could be imprisoned for up to 2 years, fined, and/or have their assets seized for contempt of court.

“Therefore, it is essential that anyone who has been involved or interested in the protests take note of the terms of the injunction.”

Rapper Lil Jon has confirmed that he has laid his son, Nathan Smith, to rest after his death aged 27.

Nathan, who was also known as DJ Young Slade, was reported missing in Georgia on February 3 after he was seen ‘running out of his home’.

At the time, officers reportedly claimed he ‘had left his residence under unusual circumstances’.

On February 6, police announced they had recovered a body from a pond they believed to be Nathan, following a search.

Lil Jon, whose real name is Jonathan Smith has now shared a final goodbye to his son, saying that life will ‘never be the same’ without him.

Sharing a string of photos of his son on Instagram, Lil Jon wrote: ‘On the first day of Ramadan yesterday, we laid my only son to rest.

‘In this holy month, I’m asking for extra du’a for him and for our family. Please pray that Allah grants him Jannah and grants us sabr, mercy, and strength. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.

‘I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you. Allah, give me strength.’

He went on to express his thanks to those who had ‘reached out with condolences, love, and prayers.’

‘After being unable to locate Mr Smith during that time, teams expanded the search to include a pond in Mayfield Park near Smith’s Milton residence,” a police statement read.

‘On February 6, 2026, at approximately 11:53 a.m., divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department located and recovered a body from the pond.

‘The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.’

He concluded: ‘I will make sure the world knows your talent and never forgets your name. Nathan Murray Smith.’

Police noted that while their investigation is ongoing, there is ‘no indication of foul play’ and added they could not release further details until the official cause of death has been determined by a coroner.

‘We extend our deepest condolences to the Smith family during this difficult time,’ the statement finished.

‘The department respectfully asks the community and members of the media to honour the family’s request for privacy as they grieve and navigate this tragedy.’

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One taxpayer said they had overpaid by ‘thousands’

HMRC has issued guidance on how to reclaim tax if you have paid too much on your pension payments. The authority outlined the rules after a pensioner contacted them, having overpaid a large amount of tax. The person reached out to the department on social media to ask for help.

Writing on February 17, they explained their pension provider had “overpaid tax on my private pensions by several thousand pounds in the last year”. They said they were eager to recover some of the money promptly “rather than have to wait to do my next tax return”. They questioned the tax authority: “What’s the best way to get it back?” HMRC replied to suggest that, considering the time of year, it would be advisable to wait for the moment.

HMRC informed the taxpayer: “As you’ve raised this with less than seven weeks before the end of the tax year, you will be best waiting until 6th April 2026 to complete your self assessment return for 25/26 and claim the refund through Self Assessment.” The tax year ends on April 5 each year, with the new financial year beginning on April 6.

Should you need to submit a tax return for the current 2025/2026 tax year, this must be lodged by October 31, 2026, if you want to file a paper return. The more common choice is to submit your tax return digitally, in which case you’ll need to get this completed by January 31, 2027.

Several big tax changes are being introduced from April 2026. The Making Tax Digital scheme is coming into force meaning some people must register and begin submitting regular returns to HMRC.

Tax changes from April 2026

From 6 April, self-employed workers and landlords earning above £50,000 will be required to join the programme. The scheme requires you to submit digital quarterly returns to HMRC regarding your tax position.

Tax on dividend income is also rising by two percentage points. This will push the ordinary rate up from 8.75 per cent to 10.75 per cent, while the upper rate will climb from 33.75 per cent to 35.75 per cent.

The additional rate will remain at the current 39.35 per cent. Pensioners looking over their finances may also want to factor in the state pension increase. Payments will rise 4.8 per cent under the triple lock mechanism.

This policy guarantees payments increase each April in line with whichever is highest: 2.5 percent, the inflation rate or the growth in average earnings. The full new state pension will increase from £230.25 weekly to £241.30 weekly, or £12,547.60 annually.

You can claim the state pension when you reach 66, while you can begin withdrawing from your pensions at 55. The state pension age is rising gradually from April 2026, moving up in phases to reach 67 by April 2028. The age you can access your private pensions is also increasing fairly soon, moving to 57 from April 2028.

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The USA’s ice hockey team dominated Slovakia and are now set to have Donald Trump in attendance for their gold medal match against Canada on Sunday in Italy

Donald Trump is set to attend the Winter Olympics in Italy after the USA ice hockey team dominated Slovakia to earn a place in the final. The US will meet Canada to fight for a gold medal after sweeping their opponents aside 6-2.

Trump’s presence is set to see local police ramp up security measures for the president attending one of the most anticipated events of the Games, according to Corriere Della Dea. Trump’s journey to Italy was said to be contingent on the US making the final, which takes place on Sunday.

It is said to be a whistlestop tour, however. It has been suggested that Trump will go straight from Air Force One to the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. he will appear at the closing ceremony later that day before immediately departing Italy.

The IOC has not confirmed the rumours, with spokesman Mark Adams referring the matter to the White House. He said: “You wouldn’t expect me to comment on the movements of heads of state, and I’m not going to disappoint you.

“If you have a question on that one, I think you probably have to pose it to the White House. But certainly at this stage, we won’t comment on the movements of any head of state.”

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Trump’s anticipated presence at the closing ceremony comes after Vice President JD Vance was booed at the opening ceremony. Vance, who led the US delegation, was caught on camera and received a hostile reception as the US team made their entrance in an uncomfortable moment in Italy.

Protests took place in Milan when it was confirmed that staff from ICE, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement department, were involved in American security planning before the Games.

Amid some outspoken comments from US athletes about current events in their nation, Vance hit back. He said: “Yes, you’re going to have some Olympic athletes who pop off about politics.

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“I feel like that happens every Olympics. My advice to them would be to try to bring the country together, and when you’re representing the country, you’re representing Democrats and Republicans.

“You’re there to play a sport, and you’re there to represent your country and hopefully win a medal. You’re not there to pop off about politics.”

Trump, meanwhile, is no stranger to being booed at sporting events. He picked up a negative reception when attending the men’s final at the US Open in New York last year. The match was delayed by half an hour to accommodate heightened security checks.

The US president also received jeers at a Washington Commanders NFL game and heard boos in an appearance at last year’s Club World Cup.

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