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Chelsea ‘set fire’ to another winning position and it could prove costly

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Chelsea ‘set fire’ to another winning position and it could prove costly

All three games have kicked off in the Premier League game this afternoon. 

The lineups one last time: 

Chelsea vs Burnley

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Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, James, Chalobah, Fofana, Santos, Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro

Burnley: Dubravka, Laurent, Worrall, Esteve, Walker, Ugochukwu, Mejbri, Humphreys, Edwards, Anthony, Flemming

Aston Villa vs Leeds

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Douglas Luiz, Onana, Bailey, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins.

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Leeds: Darlow, Justin, Ampadu, Struijk, Rodon, Gudmundsson, Bogle, Gruev, Stach, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin

Brentford vs Brighton

Brentford: Kelleher, Hickey, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry, Henderson, Janelt, Ouattara, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Thiago.

Brighton: Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Milner, Hinshelwood, Gross, Gomez, Welbeck, Mitoma.

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Russian missile and drone barrage hits Kyiv suburbs, killing 1

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Russian missile and drone barrage hits Kyiv suburbs, killing 1

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia attacked Ukraine with a barrage of missiles and drones, killing one person in the Kyiv region, Ukraine’s Emergency Service said on Sunday.

Another eight people, including a child, were rescued from under the rubble of destroyed buildings, the service said.

The attack caused damage and fires to erupt in five districts in the suburbs of Kyiv. In the village of Putrivka in the Fastiv district, emergency first responders worked on saving people buried under debris.

Russia also struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, resulting in significant fires, which were later extinguished, the emergency service said.

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During the four years since Russia launched an all-out war on its neighbor, and despite a new push over the past year in U.S.-led peace efforts, Ukrainian civilians have endured constant aerial attacks. Russia has also ramped up attacks targeting the country’s energy grid, leaving Ukrainian civilians without electricity and heating amid harsh winter conditions.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Sunday that Russia’s overnight barrage had included 297 drones and 50 missiles of various types, of which 274 drones and 33 missiles were shot down or neutralized. Of those remaining, 14 missiles and 23 drones struck 14 locations, it said. Three missiles were unaccounted for.

Separately, an explosion in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv killed one person and injured 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post on Sunday. One person has been arrested over the incident, which is unrelated to Russia’s aerial attack on Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian air defenses destroyed 86 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Sunday.

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A security guard was injured and a fuel tank set alight when two Ukrainian drones hit an oil depot in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk, Moscow-installed leader Leonid Pasechnik said.

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Netflix’s ‘nerve-wracking’ new thriller is ‘packed with twists’

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Manchester Evening News

Streaming giant Netflix has just added a riveting Spanish thriller that keeps viewers guessing throughout

Netflix has added a new Spanish thriller that deserves a spot at the very top of your streaming watchlist this week.

Released on the platform last Friday (20th February), it has already garnered strong reactions from viewers who have been captivated by its distinctive premise.

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Directed by David Victori, Firebreak is an intense psychological thriller centring on a family confronted with insurmountable odds and an impossible moral dilemma.

When a young girl goes missing in the forest surrounding their home, her mother Mara (played by Belén Cuesta) races against time to find her before she is consumed by a raging fire.

As her search grows increasingly desperate, there are sinister suggestions that the inferno may not have simply been a natural disaster, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE: Does Jay die in The Night Agent?READ MORE: Gordon Ramsay admits ‘real reason’ for tears at daughter Holly’s wedding to Adam Peaty

Review site Tom’s Guide was impressed with the gripping thriller, calling it one of the “most intense movies of 2026” so far.

They added that Firebreak is “packed with twists” and delivers “high stakes, emotional urgency, and a constant sense that the situation could tip in an even darker direction at any moment”.

A favourable review on Rotten Tomatoes described it as a “nerve-wracking and intense film”, though cautioned that some of the family drama might prove frustrating for certain viewers.

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Praise continued on Letterboxd where one user awarded Firebreak four stars, writing: “Honestly I was glued to the screen the entire time the tension was so real and that ending caught me completely off guard.

“The performances were top notch, they captured panic and frustration so effectively. A tightly paced thriller that kept me hooked.”

Another viewer confessed: “This movie had me guessing every second only for me to be completely wrong!”

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Finally, an IMDb user described the film as both “mind and emotion bending”, adding: “I love the movie. In my opinion, it has a unique story line and plot twist.

“Some very annoying characters, but understandable because these types of people exist in real life, and real life people are sometimes worse than fiction. It will make you keep engaged emotionally and even sometimes make you feel enraged.”

Spanish productions have emerged as some of Netflix’s biggest successes, from standout series such as Money Heist and Elite to thriller films The Platform and Society of the Snow.

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Firebreak looks set to become the streaming giant’s next international blockbuster, so be sure to get ahead of the curve before the buzz really takes off.

Firebreak is available to stream on Netflix.

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ITV ‘nervously’ releases controversial Sarah Ferguson drama days after Andrew arrest

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ITV 'nervously' releases controversial Sarah Ferguson drama days after Andrew arrest
Natalie Dormer plays Sarah Ferguson in The Lady (Picture: ITV)

ITV are reportedly feeling ‘nervy’ ahead of the Sunday night premiere of their Sarah Ferguson drama, The Lady.

This partly fictionalised four-part series follows the rise and fall of former royal dresser Jane Andrews (Mia McKenna-Bruce), who was convicted of murdering her boyfriend, Thomas Cressman, in 2001.

The show features Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer as Andrews’ employer, Sarah Ferguson – who was, at the time, serving in her capacity as Duchess of York.

One member of the Royal family who will not appear in the show is the former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

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The former Duke of York – who was stripped of his titles by brother King Charles in 2022 – was arrested earlier this week under allegations of misconduct in public office.

With The Lady set to air mere days after his release, ITV are said to have their lawyers ‘on standby’ should any new information come to the fore.

Undated ITV Handout Photo from The Lady. Pictured: Natalie Dormer as Sarah, Duchess of York See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA?Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: ?ITV. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. WARNING: This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Dormer appears as Sarah, former Duchess of York (Picture: ITV)
EMBARGOED TO 0001 TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17 Undated ITV Handout Photo from The Lady. Pictured: Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews and Natalie Dormer as Sarah, Duchess of York. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA?Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: ?ITV. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. WARNING: This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Dormer stars opposite Mia McKenna-Bruce, who plays royal dresser Jane Andrews (Picture: ITV)

A source close to the show told GB News: ‘ITV is very nervy about The Lady going out on Sunday.’

They continued: ‘It’s not a flattering portrayal of Fergie at all but they’ve got duty lawyers on standby in case of more spectacular royal revelations.’

Meanwhile, the brother of Thomas Cressman has also shared his thoughts on this dramatisation of real-life events.

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‘It feels that Tommy can never rest in peace,’ Rick Cressman said in 2022, sharing how he had ‘one week’s notice,’ after being informed about plans for the drama.

He told Daily Mail: ‘It’s a very cruel thing that ITV have commissioned a drama about it. It gives licence to say or do anything they like – true or not. It’s an abuse of my family. My mother’s now 97.’

Brother Thomas (played by Downton Abbey star Ed Speelers in the TV show) was murdered by Andrews in the year 2000 – violently killed with a cricket bat and a knife as he lay in bed, sleeping.

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While Natalie Dormer’s Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson features heavily in the programme, there is no depiction of her husband.

‘Andrew does not feature,’ show writer Debbie O’Malley told Radio Times earlier this year.

This is because, according to O’Malley, the story is specifically ‘about the female, domestic world of Sarah and Jane’s part in it.

‘We only ever see the Sarah that Jane got to see.’

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EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01 THURSDAY THE 4TH DECEMBER 2025. LEFTBANK PICTURES FOR ITV Pictured: MIA McKENNA-BRUCE as Jane Andrews,ED SPELEERS as Tommy and NATALIE DORMER as Sarah Ferguson. This image is under copyright of LEFTBANK PICTURES and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes in your print or online publication. This image cannot be syndicated to any other third party. For further information please contact: Patrick.smith@itv.com 07909906963
The Lady dramatises Jane Andrews’ murder of boyfriend Thomas Cressman (Picture: ITV)

O’Malley went on to add that the show, while being ‘transparent’ about what happened, strives for ‘integrity’ in its portrayal of a real-life tragedy.

‘There was no way we could necessarily please everyone, but we weren’t setting out to upset anyone,’ the writer said.

She continued: ‘When you’re trying to understand a complex protagonist, it’s easy to lose sight of the victim.

‘And that was something that was important from the beginning – to remember that a man lost his life and his family and his friends are still grieving that loss. You just have to approach it with integrity.’

TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 15: Sarah, Duchess Of York With Prince Andrew, Duke Of York Arriving In Toronto At The Beginning Of Their Tour Of Canada. She Chose The Colours Of The Canadian Flag For Her Outfit (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Andrew and Fergie were married from 1986 to 1996 (Picture: Getty Images)

The release of The Lady comes in the aftermath of Andrew’s arrest on Thursday, February 19.

Andrew was arrested by officers in relation to allegations surrounding the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, and held for 11 hours.

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As detectives continue to search Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire, he is believed to be staying in a cottage on the King’s Sandringham estate.

Sarah Ferguson and former prince Andrew at Royal Ascot
The pair remained close in the years which followed their divorce (picture: Getty Images)

A source close to the family told the Daily Mail that Andrew ‘hardly seemed bothered’ about the Epstein scandal, and had ‘done nothing but complain’ prior to his arrest.

‘It’s extraordinary. He hardly seemed bothered about the Epstein scandal. He was much more worried about where he was supposed to keep his horses,’ they said.

‘He is in another world.’

COURTS Andrews file 2...A library file dated 3/10/94 of Sarah, Duchess of York (right) departing from Heathrow for Kenya with her dresser, Jane Andrews, then named Jane Dunn-Butler. The former royal aide, Andrews, 34, was Wednesday May 16 2001, found guilty at the Old Bailey in London of the murder of her lover Tommy Cressman. See PA story COURTS Andrews. PA Photos...A...LONDON...UK
Ferguson has described herself as ‘deeply depressed’ by recent events (Picture: PA)

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of his former wife and daughters – Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – are currently unknown.

Friends of the former Duchess of York described her as feeling ‘very, very down’, telling Daily Mail: ‘She feels deeply depressed and that the world is out to get her.’

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They added: ‘What she doesn’t appear to feel is remorse for what has happened. She just wants this to all go away and allow her to get on with her life.

‘Her head is in the sand.’

Metro has contacted ITV for comment on this story.

The Lady airs tonight on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm.

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Close friends and sisters among nine skiers killed in California avalanche | US News

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Sisters Caroline Sekar, left, and Liz Clabaugh. Pic: AP

Six close friends and mothers are among the nine off-piste skiers who were killed in an avalanche in California.

The avalanche hit on Castle Peak, about 10 miles (16km) north of Lake Tahoe, on Tuesday, but the recovery of the victims’ bodies took until Saturday as the search and rescue operation was hindered by intense snowfall.

Six of the victims were part of a close-knit group of friends who were experienced off-piste skiers, their families said in a statement, adding that they were carrying avalanche safety equipment.

The women in their 40s were named as Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Kate Vitt and sisters Liz Clabaugh and Caroline Sekar.

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Kate Morse. Pic: AP

Caroline Sekar with her husband, Kiren Sekar. Pic: AP
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Caroline Sekar with her husband, Kiren Sekar. Pic: AP

“We are devastated beyond words. Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honouring the lives of these extraordinary women,” the families said.

“They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.”

Kate Vitt. Pic: AP
Image:
Kate Vitt. Pic: AP

‘Best people I’ve ever known’

Tributes described the women as kind people and dedicated mothers.

Danielle Keatley, from the San Francisco city of Larkspur, “was warm, kind and exuded a special quality that drew people to her”, Larkspur’s mayor Stephanie Andre said.

Fellow Larkspur resident Rob Bramble added that she was “just a great mum”.

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Danielle Keatley. Pic: AP
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Danielle Keatley. Pic: AP

Carrie Atkin, who lived in Lake Tahoe with her husband and two children, was a former corporate executive who had attended Harvard on a track and field scholarship.

“Everybody liked Carrie. She was a good person,” her high school hurdling coach, Jerome Bearden, said after hearing about her death from a former student.

Sisters Liz Clabaugh and Caroline Sekar were “two of the best people I’ve ever known”, their brother McAlister Clabaugh told the New York Times.

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“They were incredible sisters, mothers, wives and friends. And the idea that they are both gone is, I don’t even know how to put it into words,” he said.

Sisters Caroline Sekar, left, and Liz Clabaugh. Pic: AP
Image:
Sisters Caroline Sekar, left, and Liz Clabaugh. Pic: AP

‘Enormous tragedy’

The three other victims killed in the avalanche were guides Andrew Alissandratos, 34, Nicole Choo, 42, and Michael Henry, 30.

They worked for Blackbird Mountain Guides, whose founder, Zeb Blais, wrote in a statement on Wednesday: “This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced.

“We are doing what we can to support the families who lost so much, and the members of our team who lost treasured friends and colleagues.”

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Andrew Alissandratos. Pic: Blackbird Guides
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Andrew Alissandratos. Pic: Blackbird Guides

Six people survived the avalanche, including two members of the friend group, three skiers and one guide.

They were rescued on Tuesday after calling for help around 11.30am, describing a terrifying avalanche the length of a football field that had struck the group of 15.

Members of a rescue team in California on Tuesday. Pic: Nevada County Sheriff's Office via AP
Image:
Members of a rescue team in California on Tuesday. Pic: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office via AP

‘Many unanswered questions’

The families of the six friends said they “have many unanswered questions”.

It is not clear what triggered the avalanche, which is the deadliest in modern California history.

Officials said the group was on a “normally travelled route”. Authorities are investigating whether “there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence”, according to Sky News’ US partner network NBC.

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“The information we have at this time is that this was the last day of their three-day tour, and they did decide to leave early to try to get off the mountain early” to avoid the impending snowstorm, according to Shannan Moon, the sheriff of Nevada County, California.

Eight of the skiers had been found dead by Thursday, with the last missing person discovered “relatively close” to the other victims on Saturday, Lieutenant Dennis Hack from the Nevada County sheriff’s office said.

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Read more from Sky News:
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NASA’s next moon mission has a problem

He said it was impossible to see the final victim because there were white-out conditions when the others were located.

Five of the bodies were transported off the mountain on Friday, with the remaining four recovered on Saturday.

“While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home,” Ms Moon said.

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How to watch Livingston v Rangers on TV today – channel and kick-off time

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Wales Online
How to watch Livingston v Rangers on TV today – channel and kick-off time | Wales Online

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‘She started to forget, little by little’: Virtual reality offers escape to Gaza’s children | World News

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'She started to forget, little by little': Virtual reality offers escape to Gaza's children | World News

In a small office space in Gaza City, a child stands still, wearing a virtual reality headset.

A therapist asks seven-year-old Razan what she can see. She names objects as they appear in front of her: a train, toys, animals, the sea.

Image:
Seven-year-old Razan wears a VR headset at a displacement camp in Gaza City

The prompts are gentle: reach for the cube, use the hand you can, tell me what you are feeling. It is therapy, but it looks like play.

Razan was injured last year when she went outside to get water for her family. A shell landed nearby, the shrapnel careering into her leg.

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A series of surgeries followed, including one reconstruction attempt that failed. The injury is still impossible to miss – Razan’s leg is misshapen where a chunk of her flesh and muscle has gone.

Razan has had a series of operations on her leg
Image:
Razan has had a series of operations on her leg

Doctors told the family there was little more they could do for her inside Gaza, where medical facilities have been so badly affected by two years of war.

Only by leaving the Strip and seeking treatment abroad was there hope of a proper recovery, they said. For a young child, the news felt like a second attack.

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Her mother, Rana Abu Harbid, says the trauma was so severe that Razan stopped eating for days, surviving only on water before collapsing and being taken back to hospital. Nightmares still wake her.

Now, after months of support from this team, Razan’s mental health is improving. But it is slow progress, with no guarantees.

“She slowly began to improve, and she started to forget, little by little,” says Rana. “But the nightmares still come back, and she wakes terrified, shaking, feeling like the ground is moving.”

'The nightmares still come back' for Razan, her mother, Rana Abu Harbid, says
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‘The nightmares still come back’ for Razan, her mother, Rana Abu Harbid, says

During the sessions, a group of children sit in a circle and are given headsets to wear along with hand-operated controllers.

Virtual reality allows them to feel like they are entering new places, without moving out of the chair.

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Suddenly, from Gaza’s grey world of rubble, dust and destruction, a child can find themselves watching animals roam, fish swim, or cartoon characters cavort happily.

In the same office, two brothers, Ahmad and Amjad, 17 and 13, talk about what the VR sessions give them.

Ahmad (left) and Amjad, 17 and 13, were both injured in the war in Gaza
Image:
Ahmad (left) and Amjad, 17 and 13, were both injured in the war in Gaza

Ahmad says that when the pressure of the war closes in on him, the headset helps him feel able to breathe again. Amjad says it takes him from war and destruction into a world of nature.

Theirs, too, is a story of lives that were ripped apart in a moment when an Israeli airstrike hit their home. Ahmad says he was thrown into the air “like a piece of paper”.

Shrapnel hit him, some going into his face. He’s now blind in one of his eyes.

Ahmad's twin brother had been killed earlier the same year he was injured
Image:
Ahmad’s twin brother had been killed earlier the same year he was injured

He says he thought he was going to die because his twin brother had been killed earlier that year, and death felt close.

Amjad’s injuries were even more severe. He was taken straight into surgery.

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Later, he was wrapped in a blanket and taken toward the hospital mortuary, assumed to be dead, until he was able to move his hand to show he was alive.

Amjad says the headsets take him away from war and destruction
Image:
Amjad says the headsets take him away from war and destruction

Their mother, Nissma, describes waking up to dust and rubble. The place where the boys had been sleeping was buried under stones.

She found Ahmad covered in blood and realised his eye was gone. She then went looking for Amjad, believing he was trapped beneath the debris.

Months later, both boys are still being treated. Shrapnel remains in their bodies.

Amjad says there is nothing more doctors in Gaza can do for some of his injuries and that he needs to travel outside the Strip for surgery.

For many families here, that possibility feels distant.

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Only a very small number of people are allowed to leave Gaza to seek medical treatment each day, and thousands upon thousands want that opportunity.

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The families allowed to leave Gaza

The VR sessions are part of a project run by TechMed Gaza.

A staff member, Lama Abu Dalal, explains that the idea began after a child injured in the war showed severe psychological symptoms, refusing to eat or drink, avoiding people, crying constantly.

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VR was tried as a way to reduce those symptoms, with positive results.

Since then, the project has worked with around 180 cases, using structured sessions inside the headset, breathing exercises, walking exercises, and natural environments.

Lama Abu Dalal says some children who could not walk because of fear take their first steps wearing the headset
Image:
Lama Abu Dalal says some children who could not walk because of fear take their first steps wearing the headset

Lama says they have seen children who could not walk because of fear take their first steps while wearing the headset, showing that the barrier was psychological, not physical.

The work is limited by what they have. There are only a few headsets. When one breaks, there are no replacement parts.

With crossings closed, no new equipment comes in. Fewer headsets means fewer children can be seen.

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Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

All of this is happening against a backdrop of ongoing instability. A ceasefire announced late last year is still officially in place, but it is fragile.

Read more from Sky News:
Trump’s message as billions of dollars pledged to Gaza
Airstrikes in Gaza kill 11 people, locals say

Strikes have continued. People are still being killed. Life in the camps remains precarious.

In the office, Razan takes off the headset. The forest and the sea disappear. Outside, the camp is still there.

For a few minutes, the children here are somewhere else.

Then they step back into Gaza as it is.

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Weight loss jabs could be banned by next Olympics | World News

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Pic: iStock

As the Winter Olympics end, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is investigating whether to add weight loss jabs to the banned list for the next Summer Olympics in 2028.

The agency is monitoring Semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in popular GLP-1 medication, including Ozempic, to see if it is being abused by athletes to cheat.

“We want to see whether we detect patterns of abuse of this drug or this class of substances in sport,” Dr Olivier Rabin, WADA’s senior director of science and medicine, told Sky News.

“So we keep an eye on them because there’s been a change in paradigm in the way weight can be controlled because of those drugs. So there is an interest from all sides, from the performance enhancing aspects and health protection of the athletes with this class of substances [and] will they end up being on the [banned] list.”

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Pic: iStock

WADA would need to find that athletes are using the drugs to boost performances and that their health is being risked or the spirit of fair sport is being violated.

Dr Rabin said in a recent interview that a decision could be taken by the end of this year or in 2027, adding: “Possibly before the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.”

Experts say endurance athletes could benefit most.

The drugs make you feel fuller, so you want to eat less, and that can cause energy deficiency. It means muscles might not absorb enough nutrients and other necessary drugs.

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But there are welfare issues too, with athletes facing pressure to take the drugs.

Kate Seary, co-founder of the Kyniska Advocacy for safe sport, said: “In many ways a more invisible issue is GLP-1s being used to control the weight of athletes.

“There are toxic environments where the idea that thin equals fast, thin equals powerful, or even thin equals beautiful in sport are still really present.

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“And that is because they’re under a number of wider pressures within the sport system. I think I would always go along the lines of banning it until we know the long-term consequences.”

Read more:
Women dominate weight loss jab take-up
Weight loss drugs ‘may need to be continued for life’

The jabs are also a concern for Dr Ian Beasley, the former medical chief for England football teams and a Team GB Olympics physician.

“When you’re trying to look for minimal gains and try to get up to the next step, you might try it,” he said.

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“If you wanted to cheat, could you take it during a close season and then reap the benefits during the season? And how would you be able to measure that? I think these are the questions that WADA are grappling with that make life very difficult.”

Exemptions could be granted for athletes really needing anti-obesity jabs, for example, in cases of diabetics to control weight issues.

But the fear is that the authorities are playing catch-up with athletes potentially already using the medication.

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Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Prediction, kick-off time, team news, TV, live stream, h2h results, odds today

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Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Prediction, kick-off time, team news, TV, live stream, h2h results, odds today

Arne Slot’s side can take advantage of slip-ups yesterday for Aston Villa and Chelsea as the race for Champions League qualification hots up.

But the Reds face a tough test against a Forest side buoyed by the appointment of Vitor Pereira, who had an impressive win away at Fenerbahce in their Europa League on Thursday.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game…

Date, kick-off time and venue

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Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool is scheduled for a 2pm GMT kick-off on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

The match will take place at the City Ground.

Where to watch Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage starts at 1pm GMT on Sky Sports Main Event.

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Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool team news

Willy Boly, Matz Sels, Chris Wood and John Victor, however, will all miss out through injury.

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Murillo returned from a knock to score in the win over Fenerbahce but Nicolo Savona is a doubt with a knee issue.

Liverpool emerged from the 3-0 win over Brighton last week unscathed, though Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike are expected to return to the starting XI after being named on the bench for the FA Cup tie.

Slot does have a decision to make at right-back as the game comes too soon for Jeremie Frimpong who has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury. This could result in a start for Joe Gomez, unless Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones get the nod there.

Hugo Ekitike is expected to lead the line for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest

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Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool prediction

Liverpool can take confidence from their 1-0 win over Sunderland last time out in the league and a similar test awaits on Sunday, facing a side likely to attempt to frustrate them for long periods.

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Igor Tudor set the tone but he’ll need more than charisma to save Tottenham | Football

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Igor Tudor set the tone but he’ll need more than charisma to save Tottenham | Football
Igor Tudor will take charge of Tottenham for the first time in Sunday’s derby (Credits: Shutterstock)

I’ve been thinking a lot about charisma this week, after Igor Tudor’s first interview as Tottenham boss. He said all the right things but that’s not why the reception from Spurs supporters has been so positive.

Tudor is an emergency manager. Appointed to restore morale, patch together a thin squad and keep Tottenham in the Premier League. A humiliating sentence for a Spurs fan to write but here we are.

On the evidence, the Croatian does a good line in rescue jobs. Sure, getting Juventus and Lazio the European finishes they expected feels a little more decorative than saving Spurs from the drop but still.

He’s used to being a short-term appointment but, that said, 11 jobs in 12 years is not much of a recommendation, even in football.

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Since few Spurs fans know a huge amount about Tudor’s management style, this gives little to hold onto heading into the final third of the season. But we at Tottenham are desperate for scraps. So the warmth engendered by his first interview was perhaps to be expected.

Given the reception, when I went to watch it I expected to be blown away by his charisma, Pep Guardiola style. That didn’t happen. The way Tudor presented was focused, low-key and tough, with an underlying clarity. Like all charismatic people, he drew the eye, absorbed you into his moment. He came across as certain, but not bullish.

What I realised is this more restrained style is proof of his charisma, rather than a lack of it. In different situations audiences value different styles. A major component of the quality is vocal range.

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Charismatic individuals are able to inflect their voices with different tones to fit their environment and this makes them more persuasive. That’s exactly what Tudor was doing: matching his tone to the task.

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Simply put, in times of crisis, fearful people want hard men who are busy getting things done. Look at politics around the world if you don’t believe me. Now compare this to Thomas Frank’s demeanour. He was open, affable, honest.

At risk of making imperfect national generalisations, the Danes are the second-happiest nation on Earth. Denmark has a high level of trust in its society, they invented hygge – wellbeing achieved by indulging in rest and cosiness, even in times of struggle.

SS Lazio v Juventus FC - Serie A
Igor Tudor is used to staging rescue acts and helped Juventus qualify for Europe (Picture: Getty)

At Brentford, Frank took time out and had periods away from his phone. These are all good things, and they particularly work in a long-term appointment who is trying to set a new workplace culture. But as this season came crashing down, he was infected by fear, and it affected his ability to match tone to situation.

Short-term impact football management requires charisma. The pinnacle of this is Jose Mourinho. His success was built on using huge charm to sell the deep analysis he produced, to persuade footballers to join his cult of personality.

He’s also a scary example of how great personal charisma can stop you questioning yourself, something which played out this Tuesday in the latest vicious episode of racism towards Vini Jr.

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Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Premier League
Thomas Frank failed to win over Tottenham fans before he was sacked (Picture: Getty)

You’re right to think charisma can also sit in tandem with great good looks – welcome to the chat Thierry Henry – but fairly often hotties haven’t had to develop any.

Footballers without charisma are always surprised when they can’t manage. People want to talk to them no matter what. Great fame or talent brings a spotlight that can feel like being in the presence of the quality, but it’s something else entirely.

Tudor has got charisma nailed. The quality is vital in negotiating big characters and bringing the fans with you. Don’t mistake this for a positive column about the future of Tottenham Hotspur, however.

People over-value charisma because anyone can see it, and it’s extremely useful in job interviews. Will it be enough to harness a team with barely 11 fit players? Funnily enough one man’s personal traits aren’t enough for that – just watch Ange Postecoglou on the Overlap.

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Runner killed by oncoming train as phone found at scene was displaying warning

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Sam Dudley was killed by a train at a level crossing while he was out running on August 24 last year – his phone was found to have been displaying a warning that his music was too loud

A man was struck by an oncoming train at a level crossing and died after his phone issued a warning, an inquest heard.

Sam Dudley was out running in Formby on the morning of August 24 last year when the tragedy unfolded at Hoggs Hill level crossing.

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The 29-year-old was wearing headphones when he entered the crossing shortly before 11.07am. Before reaching the tracks, the site is fitted with signage and a traffic light system that shows red or green depending on whether a train is approaching.

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When a train nears the crossing, the light flashes red and klaxon sounds to warn pedestrians of the danger, Liverpool Echo reports.

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CCTV footage shown at the inquest captured Sam running onto the track before appearing shocked as he realised a train was approaching. The footage showed him attempting to jump backwards moments before impact but it was too late.

An investigation found Sam had entered the track through the pedestrian gate while the red light was flashing and the klaxon was sounding. After the gate, further signage warns users of oncoming trains. When Sam’s phone was recovered, it was found to have been displaying a notification warning that his music volume was too loud.

A prevention of future deaths report, published on February 10 following the conclusion of the inquest on February 3, sets out the findings of senior coroner Anita Bhardwaj. The report states the crossing “was safe, compliant, and operating as designed” and confirms there “were no causal or contributory failings identified in the inspection, maintenance, or management of the crossing”.

Ms Bhardwaj concluded that the likely explanation was that Sam did not hear the warning signals because he was running while listening to loud music through his headphones.

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She said: “It is more likely than not that Sam did not hear the klaxon because he was running whilst listening to loud music through his headphones… In all the circumstances it is more likely than not Sam was distracted, not fully attentive and proceeded onto the track.”

Despite finding no fault with the crossing itself, the senior coroner for Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley identified wider safety concerns around warning signage.

She noted that while signage exists once pedestrians pass through the gate, there is limited warning displayed directly on the gate which sits only a short distance from the critical “decision point” where users choose whether to continue.

In her report, Ms Bhardwaj said: “Nationally there is signage once individuals pass through the gate, but there is limited signage on the gate itself as people enter the walkway, only a short distance from the ‘decision point’.”

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With more people wearing headphones they are less aware of their surroundings. Ms Bhardwaj suggested that clearer pictorial signage at the gate, such as an image of earphones crossed out, could improve awareness at the point people make a decision to cross.

She added that visual warnings often attract attention quickly, while sound cues create stronger emotional responses, and argued a combination of both could improve safety communication.

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