An abandoned baby monkey who broke millions of hearts online, after being spotted hugging an orangutan stuffed toy given to him as a substitute for his mother, has finally found comfort among his own kind.

Punch, a young Japanese macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, went viral after videos showed him dragging around and playing with a soft toy that zookeepers gave him.

During the first few months of his life, he struggled to bond with the other monkeys in his zoo’s enclosure and had only the company of his human keepers and the stuffed toy to rely on. But recent videos show he’s turning things around. He was given a hug by one monkey and was seen grooming others, a key part of macaque socialisation.

Matt Lovatt, director for the UK’s Trentham Monkey Forest, spoke to BBC Breakfast about the behaviour of Punch.

“It’s been great to see him starting to groom, because that’s the key way these primates can start to build up friendships with the monkeys within their group”, said Lovatt, who oversees the well-being of the Barbary macaques at a wildlife sanctuary near Stoke-on-Trent.

Video edited by Marina Costa

Fans of K-Pop have come to the defence of the organisers behind a major tribute concert in Belfast, following complaints from ticket-holders.

The KPop Forever! Tribute gig took place on Thursday night (20 February) at the city’s SSE Arena. Further shows are scheduled for next Monday (23 February) and later in May.

Some people who attended the concert reported feeling underwhelmed and disappointed, with one parent telling BBC News Northern Ireland that it was “just horrendous”.

Another atendee, Ruairi George O’Connor, said the performance, which he attended with his fiancée and their five-year-old daughter was “not appropriate for kids, at all”. Their daughter was left “bored out of her head” by the event, and asked “countless times to go home”, he said.

O’Connor added: “It was just devastating, it just wasn’t what I was expecting for the amount of money I was spending.”

Aiken Promotions and the SSE Arena defended the event, claiming that “the majority of customers enjoyed the show”, but admitted: “We understand that this was not what some expected.”

Their statement said they were “content” that the show delivered “an arena-standard tribute to the entire K-Pop genre” – with Aiken Promotions later adding that they took “all customers feedback seriously”.

As of Saturday (21 February), SSE Arena’s statement on Facebook has received nearly 2,000 comments from concert-goers and others debating the show’s quality.

Many fans of the genre pointed out that most of the complaints seemed to be over the lack of songs from KPop Demon Hunters, the 2025 smash hit film by Netflix, which has contributed to the rising popularity of K-Pop music.

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They noted that such complaints are unreasonable given that the show was never advertised as a KPop Demon Hunters-themed concert.

“So in other words parents didn’t actually bother to research what they were buying tickets for?” wrote one person.

Another attendee, Michaela Hutchinson, told BBC News NI: “I knew what I signed up for. Whenever we bought the tickets, it was never advertised as a KPop Demon Hunters concert… it was KPop genre music.”

She added that she had a great time with her six-year-old daughter at the concert, during which eight songs from the hit film were performed including “Golden”, “Takedown” and “Soda Pop”.

As for complaints that the show was unsuitable for children, Hutchinson said “it’s no different to a Katy Perry concert or a Beyonce concert”.

“Not at one point throughout the whole show did I think, ‘This is inappropriate,’” she said.

Commenting on a viral video of Thursday’s event showing a seated crowd apparently bored, one person defended the act, writing: “I feel so bad for the performers that worked so hard on this just to get complaints.”

“The poster never said it was a KPop Demon Hunters tribute btw. Read the poster,” said one person.

“KPop is a genre NOT a movie,” reiterated another. “That’s like going to a rock concert and being confused why Dwayne Johnson didn’t show up,” said someone else.

Posted by username @tara_conaboy, the video was captioned: “May as well of burned the £250 spent on our 5 tickets. The most confusing, underwhelming, boring load of dribble I’ve ever witnessed in my 42 years.”

SSE Arena’s website describes the concert as featuring “all-live performances of smash-hits including Blackpink, BTS, Twice, Soda Pop, Golden and many more, this is the ultimate non-stop party for all ages”.

The website advertises “four epic live vocalists, accompanied by four world class dancers amidst a background of eye-popping lighting and effects”.

The man was allegedly attacked near the Temple Bar area of Dublin.

Cops have identified a man with a Scotland tattoo who is fighting for his life after an alleged attack in Dublin. Two men, in their 20s and 30s, have been arrested following the incident at Cope Street, just off the old Central Bank building in the Temple Bar area, in the city on Wednesday, February, 18, at around 12:30am.

The male victim has not been named but is in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital. He was allegedly repeatedly kicked and stamped in the head before an E-bike was dropped on his neck.

Officers released an image of his tattoo earlier in the week, which has the words ‘Ceol is Beatha’, meaning ‘music is life’ in Gaelic on his right forearm. They confirmed today, February 21, that he had since been identified.

The alleged attackers are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda Stations in Dublin.

A Garda spokesperson said: “We have identified the man allegedly assaulted at Cope Street, Dublin 2, on Wednesday February 18, 2026, at around 12:30am.

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“We would like to thank the public for their assistance. He remains in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital.

“On Friday evening, Gardaí arrested two men in connection with this investigation. The two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda Stations in Dublin.

“Anyone with information about this alleged assault is asked to contact us at Pearse Street Garda Station on 01 666 9000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

“Investigations are ongoing.”

Two bodies have been discovered in the Eryri mountain range following a search for two missing young men.

Mountain rescue teams and coastguards conducted an extensive search in snowy and icy conditions in the area near Yr Wyddfa in North Wales.

Concerns had been raised for the welfare of two men, aged 19 and 20, on Wednesday.

Both the bodies recovered have been formally identified and their families have been informed.

Jurgen Dissmann, the chair of the Llanberis mountain rescue team, said: ‘On behalf of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, I would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the two men who have tragically lost their lives.

‘The team were tasked by North Wales Police and launched an extensive multi-agency operation in full winter conditions.

‘Volunteers searched across challenging mountain terrain in snow and ice, working long hours through the night in difficult weather in an effort to locate the pair as quickly as possible.

‘Despite the determined and sustained commitment of everyone involved, we are deeply saddened that, despite all efforts, the outcome was not what we had hoped for.

‘I would like to sincerely thank our colleagues from Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team, RAF Mountain Rescue Team, SARDA and HM Coastguard for their invaluable assistance throughout the operation.’

In a separate incident, police in Scotland are searching for a hiker who failed to return from an excursion on Ben Nevis.

Brian Mcgillicuddy, 64, was last seen at 4am on Glasdrum Road in Fort William.

He was wearing a white climbing helmet, a dark blue jacket and white jeans.

Sargeant Paige Macdonald said: ‘Brian is an experienced hill walker, but he did not return from his planned hike and has not been heard from since.

‘I am appealing to anyone who may have seen someone matching Brian’s description to please come forward with information, no matter how small it may seem.’

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Four have been arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences and possessing a firearm in ‘suspicious circumstances’

Four people have been arrested after a planned search in South Belfast.

Suspected drugs, ammunition and firearms were found during the search of a property in the Danesfort Park area on February 20. Neighbourhood Team Inspector Róisín Brown said: “Neighbourhood officers, assisted by a Tactical Support Unit search team carried out the search of a residential property.

READ MORE: Two men charged with intimidation and making ‘hoax bomb threats’ to NI businessesREAD MORE: NIFRS statement as 50 firefighters tackle blaze in Co Armagh

“This has resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of items, including suspected Class A, B and C controlled drugs, drug related paraphernalia, cash, suspected ammunition, firearms and component parts. “Three men, aged 25, 37 and 55 and a woman aged 56, have been arrested on suspicion of a number of drug-related offences, possessing a firearm in suspicious circumstances and possessing criminal property. “They all remain in custody at this time.” Inspector Brown continued: “We will continue to work tirelessly to search for and seize drugs, investigate and arrest those involved in drug supply and criminality, and remove drugs from our streets.

“Support from the public is crucial and, with your help, we can focus our efforts on identifying those who make their living and cause so much misery and harm by bringing drugs to our streets and neighbourhoods.

“Together we can help protect those you care about.” If you have information or concerns about drugs in your community, call us on 101. You can also make a report online via our website at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/ Always call 999 in an emergency.

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The 2016 winner of the ITV singing competition said that he and the other contestants were ‘pawns’

An X Factor winner has claimed that ‘no one protected him’ as he asked Simon Cowell to have a conversation with him about the ITV series.

Britain’s Got Talent star Simon is best known in the UK for his time as head judge on The X Factor. The singing competition ran from 2004 until 2008 on ITV, with the likes of Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Tweedy appearing on the judging panel alongside him over the years.

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The X Factor is remembered for producing a number of the UK’s biggest pop stars of the 21st century, including One Direction, Little Mix, JLS, Leona Lewis, Olly Murs and James Arthur to name a few.

Recent years have seen several former contestants speak out against the series, including 2010 participant Katie Waissel saying she was ‘completely ridiculed’ in internal emails when she was at her ‘lowest point’.

As part of Magic Radio’s new series Popstars at 25: The Story of a Talent Show Revolution, Matt Terry, who won the X Factor in 2016, has had his say on the care contestants received from the series.

“All of a sudden, I looked around and I was like ‘no one here is protecting me – and I think some of these things that are in the tabloids are coming from within’. And I get it now, I understand, it’s all to do with the show.

“The more me – and any other contestant – is in the press, the more scandalous, the more viewers – and we are pawns. I would love to have a conversation with Simon and know how he feels about it today.

“Everyone’s journey has been different, and I’ll speak for myself, but I won’t ever let it consume me. For me The X Factor is … something I did a very small percentage of my entire life.

“It’s not who I am, it’s not my identity and I will never let anyone identify me by that again. I’m an X Factor winner – but I’m also many other things,” he said.

Speaking about reactions to the series at home and around the world, Matt noted: “I feel like – especially in this country I will say – I’ve travelled the world, but it seems that in my own country winning The X Factor isn’t that great.

“Whereas other countries I visit, it’s respected you’ve done such a great thing. Here it doesn’t feel like that.”

Looking back on the songs that are picked, Matt said that he had his audition changed at the last minute and had to quickly compose himself to perform in front of the judges.

He recalled: “It’s all very secretive [the audition process] so I would go and do the producer rounds first and then again and again and again, and I just turned up one time and I didn’t know I was going to be in front of the judges.

“I got there and I was like ‘I’m not really ready, I’ve just got a t-shirt and a pair of jeans on’ and I wasn’t prepared. I’d chosen to sing When I was Your Man by Bruno Mars for my first audition but instead I heard the intro to Stand by Me – they’d changed my song.”

Sharing a similar experience, 2009 contestant Lucie Jones stated: “[Producers told me] This is the song we want you to sing [Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You] please bring three or four back-ups and backing tracks.

“And then just before I sang it Simon said ‘Are you sure you want to sing that song?’ You can see my face going ‘you told me too’.”

During the first week of the live shows, Lucie said she was asked to send in a list of songs for Idols Week. After putting Thriller by Michael Jackson at the top of her list, Lucie was then told she’d be performing Footprints in the Sand by Leona Lewis.

“I just went OK, cool. Not in a million years [would I have said anything]. It’s all good and well thinking ‘maybe I could have said something’ but can you imagine in 2009 a 17-year-old little girl from Wales standing up to Simon Cowell? Absolutely not,” she said.

JLS member Marvin Humes called Simon ‘the greatest TV judge there’s ever been’, saying that he is ‘very good at creating jeopardy with an artist’.

“JLS had no competition as a band that came through the auditions, Simon, I think for the first time, deliberately put together a band of four solo artists just to compete with us.

“Because he knew that we were good but he didn’t want us to know that he knew that we were good,” he said.

Listen to Nicki Chapman on Mellow Magic every Monday – Thursday night from 8 – 10pm. Episode 1 of Popstars at 25: The Story of a Talent Show is available on the Rayo app and Episode 2 will be on Magic Radio at 7pm on Sunday, February 22.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The annual dinner with governors at the White House is typically a chance for leaders from both parties to come together, socialize and spend a low-key evening with the president. But like many traditions during President Donald Trump’s second term, Saturday’s dinner has proven unusually controversial.

Ahead of this week’s gathering of the National Governors Association, Trump ridiculed the bipartisan group’s leadership, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. He refused to invite Moore, along with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, to a working event at the White House on Friday — only to relent at the last minute.

Even then, the event was cut short when Trump learned of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down his sweeping tariff policy, leaving even some Republicans frustrated by the week’s turbulence.

“It was unfortunate that the Supreme Court came out with a bad ruling at that time,” said Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican and top Trump ally.

Dozens of Democrats had threatened to boycott the dinner if members of their party were blocked from the working meeting. But even after Moore’s attendance, some said they still wouldn’t show up Saturday.

“President Trump has made this whole thing a farce,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement explaining her decision to skip the dinner.

For all the turmoil surrounding the dinner, some Democrats said Friday’s meeting was useful. Moore said it offered a “chance for us to be able to share our thoughts and our perspectives and our ideas.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said governors asked Trump what lessons were learned from the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement in Minnesota, in which two U.S. citizens were killed within weeks of each other.

“The President said, ‘We’ll only go where we’re wanted,” Hochul said approvingly.

Those who have attended previous dinners said they offered a rare and helpful opportunity for governors to connect with the president and members of his Cabinet away from the pressure of daily governing. Some also said the dinner was a chance to connect with fellow governors from other parties whom they might not see very often.

Asa Hutchinson, the former Republican governor of Arkansas who briefly challenged Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, recalled being assigned to a table one year with then-Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and getting to know her family.

“It’s a glowing evening in the White House,” Hutchinson, who once chaired the NGA, said in an interview.

Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former Duke of York is still eighth in line to the throne

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Searches are expected to continue at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s previous home as the Government vowed to consider removing him from the line of succession once police investigations have concluded.

Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former Duke of York is still eighth in line to the throne and an Act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew and prevent him from ever becoming king.

Sir Keir Starmer’s Government will consider introducing such legislation once police have finished their investigation into the King’s disgraced brother, the Press Association understands.

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Any changes to the line of succession would also require the agreement of other countries which share the UK monarch, including Australia, Canada and Jamaica.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray told Sky News: “The Government is considering any further steps that might be required, and we’re not ruling anything out.

“But at this stage, it would be inappropriate for us to go any further because there is a live police investigation under way.”

This weekend, the royal family will be attempting to conduct their duties as usual with the Prince and Princess of Wales expected to appear in public.

Meanwhile, back in London Lord Peter Mandelson – who has also had his two properties searched by police – was seen leaving his north London home on Saturday.

A taxi arrived as the former business secretary was seen leaving his front door carrying a tote bag. He smiled at the taxi driver before entering the car, moving past a small group of waiting photographers.

On Thursday morning, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegations were made against him following the release of files related to paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

The former duke spent 11 hours in police custody on his 66th birthday before being released under investigation following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.

Detectives continued to search Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire, on Friday.

He has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.

After his younger brother’s arrest, the King said in a statement that “the law must take its course” and the police have “our full and wholehearted support and co-operation”.

Charles attended the first show of London Fashion Week on Thursday, hours after Andrew’s arrest, where he did not respond when asked for his reaction to the news.

During a visit to a concert in Westminster that afternoon, the Queen also did not reply to a question about her brother-in-law’s arrest.

Thames Valley Police, who are leading the investigation, are yet to receive any “early investigative advice” from the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the allegation, it is understood.

Detectives have asked Andrew’s former close protection officers to “consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard” during their service could be relevant to the investigation into Epstein and his associates.

The Metropolitan Police said it was working with counterparts in the US to establish whether London airports had been used to “facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation”.

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On Friday, the force said no new reports of alleged sexual offences have been made since the release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein by the US Department of Justice.

Scotland Yard previously said it was looking into allegations Andrew’s protection officers turned a “blind eye” to his visits to Epstein’s island, Little St James.

Police are yet to identify any wrongdoing by close protection officers.

Andrew’s primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, alleged she had sex with him during an orgy with “underage” girls on the Caribbean island.

The former prince has previously vehemently denied all allegations made against him.

The 14 Commonwealth countries where King Charles is head of state are Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

Before the stripping of his titles, Andrew had stepped down from public duties in 2019 after his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein.

This meant he had already ceased to be an active counsellor of state, who can deputise for the monarch if he is overseas on an official trip or ill.

But as counsellors of state are drawn for the line of succession, removing him from it would officially resolve any question over Andrew taking such a role.

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The proposals will see 49 new trees planted, as well as two subways beneath a roundabout removed

A major redevelopment of a city centre landscape is set to get under way. The first phase of the Peterborough Station Quarter project is due to start before the end of March.

Peterborough City Council asked residents for their views on plans to fell 35 trees on the Queensgate roundabout, to start the first phase of the scheme, known as City Link. The work is expected to create a modern, welcoming gateway between the railway station and Cowgate, according to the council.

The two subways that run underneath the Queensgate roundabout will be removed and the landscape will be ‘enhanced’. As part of the consultation, officers reviewed whether any of the 35 trees could be retained.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Unfortunately, this will not be possible due to engineering requirements that are necessary to construct the new footpaths and make improvements to the landscaping to transform the area. The landscaping proposals will see 49 new trees planted and there are also plans for seven additional small trees/shrubs as well as a rain garden and Gabion walls.

“It was suggested in the consultation that more replacement trees should be planted. Although this will not be possible within the roundabout, the council is looking at other areas close by where additional trees could be planted.”

Cllr Mohammed Farooq, cabinet member for growth and regeneration, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation for their valuable feedback and we are now looking forward to seeing this vital work begin soon. I can also assure residents that we will continue to increase the tree canopy in the city as we move forwards.

“The Station Quarter project is going to be a real game-changer for our city and this first phase of work will be highly beneficial. Whilst the station is only a 10-minute walk away from the city centre, it’s very disconnected and not easy to navigate, with poorly lit pavements and walkways. City Link will transform this area into a much brighter, safer and accessible route.”

The Station Quarter is a regeneration project being delivered by Peterborough City Council in partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Network Rail, Platform 4, and LNER. It follows a successful bid to the Government for funding towards the project.