Huntley was assaulted in the workshop of HMP Frankland near Durham on Thursday morning and taken to hospital

An inmate shouted “I’ve done it, I’ve done it” after Soham killer Ian Huntley was attacked at a maximum security prison, according to reports. Durham Constabulary said a prisoner, understood to be Huntley, was attacked in the workshop of HMP Frankland near Durham on Thursday morning and taken to hospital.

The Sun, which first reported the attack, said the killer was knocked unconscious with a metal pole and quoted a source saying his condition was “touch and go”. According to the paper, a man shouted “I’ve done it, I’ve done it” after the 52 year old was struck six times.

Huntley was treated for head injuries and remains in a serious condition in hospital, the force said on Thursday afternoon. A prisoner in his mid-40s has been identified as a suspect in the attack, according to police.

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A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “The 52-year-old prisoner who was injured during this morning’s assault in the workshop at HMP Frankland remains in a serious condition in hospital following treatment for head injuries.

“Police forensic teams have examined the scene of the attack throughout the day to gather evidence.

“A suspect, a male prisoner in his mid-40s, has been identified by officers investigating the incident.

“He has not been arrested at this stage but remains in detention within the prison.”

Former caretaker Huntley killed 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on August 4 2002, then dumped their bodies in a ditch.

The Press Association understands Huntley was left in a pool of blood after the incident.

Thursday’s assault marks the latest attempt on Huntley’s life, and he is believed to have been kept under close watch to prevent similar attacks.

He is serving a life sentence with a recommendation that he serves at least 40 years for the murders.

In 2010, robber Damien Fowkes slashed Huntley with a makeshift weapon, inflicting a “severe, gaping cut to the left side of his neck” with a 7in (18cm) wound which required 21 stitches.

Fowkes asked a prison officer: “Is he dead? I hope so.”

He referred to Huntley as a “notorious child killer, both inside prison and in society in general”.

Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi is accused of carrying out “terrorist” attacks on prison officers at the maximum security jail with hot cooking oil and improvised weapons.

He denies three counts of attempted murder after four officers were injured on April 12.

Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins died following an alleged attack last October at HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences.

On Monday, Killamarsh killer Damien Bendall received another life sentence after he pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a fellow Frankland inmate who he assaulted with a claw hammer in a prison workshop.

A prison officer who saw the assault believed Bendall, who murdered his partner and three children with a hammer and is serving a whole life tariff, had killed his victim, but he survived.

The mother and daughter both pleaded guilty to assault and affray

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A mother celebrating her hen do has been jailed after breaking a woman’s nose during a drunken confrontation in which she called her own daughter a s***.

Donna Ellis, 38, had been out drinking with her daughter, 19‑year‑old Elisa Smith, on August 10, 2024 when the pair became involved in an altercation which turned violent. The victim, who had been drinking with colleagues at The Black Garter pub, was outside smoking when she overheard Ellis insulting her daughter.

As Smith became visibly upset, the woman urged Ellis to walk away, resulting in Ellis squaring up to her and challenging her to a fight. A brief exchange followed before the situation escalated, reports the Chronicle.

Ellis then punched her to the face as her daughter took hold of her and dragged her to the ground, where both of them repeatedly punched and kicked the victim until she lost consciousness. Both women were then throwing punches and offering violence to others in the area.

A betting shop window was broken during the ugly brawl, which was captured on CCTV. Police attended and arrested the mother and daughter and Ellis tried to headbutt a police officer.

The woman was left with fractures to her nose and septum, requiring an operation to realign the damage. In police interviews, Smith confirmed her mother frequently became abusive when drunk and had called her a derogatory name shortly before the attack.

She told officers the victim had simply intervened to say Ellis should not speak to her daughter that way, and the confrontation spiralled from there.

The victim told the court in a victim statement that she was left with headaches from being punched and stamped to the head and is now scared of big crowds of people and loud noises.

“I’m petrified this might happen again,” she admitted, adding that she has suffered panic attacks and that the incident has impacted her work as a social worker for people with mental health issues.

Thirty-eight-year-old Ellis has 103 previous convictions, while her daughter has none. The pair, both of Killingworth Avenue, Backworth, North Tyneside, admitted assault and affray. Ellis also admitted charges of assaulting an emergency worker that day and another day.

The violent mum has been jailed for 29 months and Smith was sentenced to 13 months suspended for 18 months with 200 hours unpaid work. Recorder Richard Stubbs described the attack as an “episode of mindless violence”.

“This was a prolonged and persistent assault, including punches and kicks while she was on the floor and, potentially, continuing after she lost consciousness,” Mr Stubbs added.

Mark Harrison, for Ellis, said she is sorry for her behaviour, can’t recall saying anything unkind to her daughter and said the footage of the violence which followed is a “source of shame to her”. He added that she suffered violence during the fracas and was left with a wound to her face which was bleeding.

Matthew Purves, for Smith, said she had a difficult upbringing but has qualifications and employment and said of the day of the offences: “It should have been nothing but a joyous event.”

All eyes are on Hannah Spencer, the 34-year-old plumber who took the Gorton and Denton by-election in a sweeping victory for the Greens.

The Mancunian and the Greens celebrated the party’s first-ever by-election win as the results were counted, giving her a lead of 4,402 votes.

While Labour, for whom the loss behind both Greens and Reform was the ultimate nightmare, will begin the painful process of licking their wounds, the spotlight is on Hannah.

Here is a deep dive into her background and life.

Where is Hannah Spencer from?

Hannah Spencer was born in Bolton, a town northwest of Manchester City, which forms part of Greater Manchester.

She left school at 16 and took a stint at a sixth form before dropping out and finding her vocation.

Her current home is in Trafford, where she reportedly owns two homes in the Altrincham and Sale West area, one of which she bought with her former partner.

Earlier, Spencer has reportedly lived in Levenshulme, which is part of Gorton and Denton constituency.

Is she really a plumber?

Yes, she has worked in the trades for years and owns her business, Hannah’s Household Plumbing.

She reportedly became a plumber around 2008 and she went on to earn a National Vocational Qualification in the profession from Bolton College.

She has also completed an NVQ in gas engineering, and started a plastering course in the new year.

Spencer has shared about her work online and talked about the stereotypes she has come across as a woman in the industry.

During her victory speech this morning, she joked about having to ‘cancel the work’ that has been booked.

She said: ‘Now, to my customers, I’m sorry, but I think I might have to cancel the work that you haven’t booked in, because I’m heading to parliament.’

When did she get into politics?

Spencer, who is a dog lover and proud owner of four rescue greyhounds, got into politics because of the animals and her passion to have dog racing banned.

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And her political career and experience of elections has quickly mounted since.

After joining the Greens in 2022, she was elected as a local councillor for the Hale ward in Trafford the following year.

And in 2024, she was already eyeing up the Greater Manchester mayoral job held by Andy Burnham. She entered the race as Green Party’s candidate and finished fifth with almost 46,000 votes.

Last month, she was officially selected as the Green Party candidate for Gorton and Denton to challenge Labour and Reform, who many predicted would compete for the election win.

What does she stand for?

Spencer pitched her campaign on politicians being genuinely relatable, andbeing against hate and division, which she has accused right-wing parties like Reform of sowing.

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campaigned for the rights of workers and women, including trans women, and the people of Gaza.

Her ‘number one priority’ in the by-election was to ‘cut the cost of living’ and ‘fight between hope and hate.’

She said during the race: ‘We need more people from all backgrounds in the places where decisions are made.’

Spencer has also been vocal about opposing the far right and calling out Islamophobia.

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In her election victory speech, she said: ‘I won’t accept this victory tonight without calling out politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society.

‘My Muslim friends and neighbours are just like me, human.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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MORE: After this by-election disaster, Keir Starmer might not know which way to turn

MORE: What is family voting? Concerns raised during Gorton and Denton by-election

MORE: Labour brands Gorton and Denton by-election result as ‘clearly disappointing’

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The following article contains spoilers from the episode of Emmerdale dated February 27. It hasn’t aired on ITV1 yet, but can be viewed on ITVX.

Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) has disappeared again in Emmerdale after almost killing another resident.

The beloved character seriously struggled yesterday, as the exhaustion he’s been feeling ever since he returned from the farm began to completely consume him.

Bear had struggled to sleep the night before as he was experiencing pain in his arm, and was also processing attending Ray Walters’ (Joe Absolom) burial.

He took himself off to the doctors to try and get some more painkillers from Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker). However, due to the fact she knew Ray had given Bear opioids over a long period of time on the farm, Manpreet said that he couldn’t have any.

Instead, she told Bear to book another meeting with his counsellor, and that he could take over the counter medication instead.

This didn’t feel good enough for Bear, so he took off and got drunk instead. With the dark cloud looming over him, Bear punched a mirror in anger, injuring his hand in the process.

Bear wrapped his hand up and went to the hospital, believing he could get the painkillers he’s been craving from there.

When he arrived, Bear’s frustration grew as a staff member behind the desk explained he needed to wait to be seen.

Multiple doctors and nurses, including Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant), were busy dealing with Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy), who had been rushed into hospital after Arthur Thomas (Alfie Clarke) pushed her over.

When Jacob was finished with Laurel, he found Bear in the corridor, continuously talking about how he needed some medication, and that he was desperate for sleep.

Due to Jacob’s current position as a doctor, he isn’t allowed to prescribe medication on his own. His colleagues were still preoccupied, so Jacob attempted to help Bear by taking him to a quiet room.

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Unfortunately, by this point, Bear’s delusion had taken over and he was, once again, unable to communicate properly with anyone. He grabbed Jacob in the same wrestling hold he had Ray in before he killed him, unaware of how much he was hurting Jacob.

Jacob only saved himself in this situation because he kicked a trolley over and the loud noise startled Bear. As he snapped back into reality, Bear was horrified at what he had done.

Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) and Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) arrived, and gently explained to Bear that the police were on their way.

The thought of going back to prison completely terrified Bear and later, Paddy and Mandy realised he had disappeared.

As Paddy panicked, we saw Bear wandering through the middle of the city.

It’s the middle of the night, it’s cold, and Bear is all alone.

Who will find him?

MORE: Bear’s ordeal consumes him in Emmerdale as he lashes out in devastating act

MORE: Jacob’s excruciating ordeal in Emmerdale as bullying boss closes in

MORE: Bear left in worst possible state in Emmerdale – and the police are ready to finish him

Passport holders have been told to take action or they could risk being turned away at airports. Something could prevent you from being able to travel if you fail to follow the advice

We all like the idea of jetting off to a hot country but, before you make any plans, you may want to take action as passport holders have been issued essential guidance. If you’re planning to travel any time soon, or have a holiday booked this summer, urgent attention is required as it could impact your trip.

The advice was recently drawn attention to by Kylie, known as englandandeverywhere on TikTok, as she often shares handy travel tips with her thousands of followers. In a recent video, she focused on passports, and issued an important warning as a certain rule could end up catching people out.

It’s not the only advice on air travel to be shared recently either. A few weeks ago, travellers were also encouraged to make another important passport check.

Kylie said: “This is your annual reminder that, if you still have a red passport and you renewed it before October 2018, you may have been issued a passport that’s valid for longer for 10 years and, if you plan on going to the EU, you may have to check that it’s actually valid for travel.

“The EU has two requirements for entry. The issue date has to be less than 10 years, but then it also needs three months from the expiry date.

“If we look at the dates in my old passport, it was issued in September 2015, and it has an expiry date of June 2026. So, if we take the three months from June 2026, that means it comes out to about March 2026, which is still a month away but, with the issue date being September 2015, I couldn’t actually enter the EU on this passport from September last year.

“Now this is only an EU requirement. A lot of the other countries around the world don’t care about the issue date, and only go from the expiry date but, even then, every country has different requirements.

“For example, Turkey want 150 days from the expiry, but places like Thailand want six months. It’s always good to get into the habit of checking Gov.uk before you go anywhere.

“It gives you all of the information as to what the passport requirements are there. Especially with the EU, with their entry systems coming up, it will give you all the information on there as to when those come into effect.”

Kylie said, no matter where you’re travelling, it’s always important to check the issue date. According to her, people could be having to check their old passports for over two more years.

She pointed out that nobody wants to go to the airport only to be “turned away”, so it’s a task worth completing. It’s vital people act now to avoid disappointment further down the line.

What you need to know

As Kylie said, there are important passport rules you need to follow when travelling in the EU. Guidance for non-EU nationals has been detailed on the Your Europe website.

Advice states: “If you are a national from a country outside the EU wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a valid passport and possibly a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the EU, and it must have been issued within the last 10 years.

“This means your travel document must have been issued within the previous 10 years the day you enter the EU on condition that it is valid until the end of your stay, plus an additional three months. Children and minors must have their own passport and visa, if required.”

Advice about other EU travel rules can be found on the website. If you’re travelling by plane, you should always check the country’s passport rules before you go, as they may differ depending on where you’re going.

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Pakistan has announced it is now in an “open war” with the Taliban-led Afghanistan government as it carried out major air strikes on Afghan cities overnight, escalating months of simmering border tensions between the Islamic neighbours.

The air and ground strikes in the early hours of Friday targeted Taliban military posts, headquarters and ammunition depots in multiple sectors along the border, just hours after the Taliban launched an air attack on Pakistan’s border forces.

Both sides have reported heavy losses in the fighting with Pakistan saying it has killed 133 Afghan Taliban fighters and wounded more than 200, with 27 posts destroyed and nine captured, following months of tit-for-tat clashes.

Taliban’s chief spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 19 posts seized, while eight Taliban fighters were killed, 11 wounded and 13 civilians injured in Nangarhar province.

Pakistani defence minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, confirmed the aerial raid and said, “Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan).”

The Taliban government and Pakistan have been engaged in a diplomatic and military confrontation for months now despite a ceasefire in October last year. The tensions worsened over the weekend after Pakistan launched air strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan last weekend, in which 13 civilians were killed, according to the UN data.

Earlier, border clashes between the two countries killed dozens of soldiers in October until negotiations facilitated by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia ceased the hostilities and a fragile ceasefire was put in place.

Pakistan’s military launched air raids inside Afghanistan in the early hours on 22 February, targeting what officials described as “camps and hideouts” linked to armed groups blamed for a recent wave of attacks, including a deadly suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad.

Pakistan’s ministry of information and broadcasting said the armed forces carried out “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven sites associated with the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and its affiliates.

The ministry added that the Isis affiliate in Khorasan province, which claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the capital earlier this month, was also targeted.

Afghanistan’s ministry of defence condemned the strikes, saying they hit a religious school and residential homes in the eastern border provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika, causing dozens of deaths and injuries, including among women and children.

Calling the raids a violation of international law and “the principles of good neighbourliness”, the Afghan defence ministry said it would respond. “We hold the Pakistani military responsible for targeting civilians and religious sites. We will respond to these attacks in due course with a measured and appropriate response,” it said.

The strikes risk undermining a tenuous ceasefire between the South Asian neighbours, brokered after deadly border clashes in October last year left dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected fighters dead.

Pakistan said it has repeatedly called on Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to curb armed groups operating from Afghan soil, but that Kabul has failed to “undertake any substantive action”.

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While asserting that Pakistan “has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region”, the statement stressed that the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remains its foremost priority.

In October, the two countries declared a ceasefire after several days of intense border fighting that left dozens dead on both sides and sharply escalated regional tensions.

What sparked the latest clashes?

Pakistan’s cross-border strikes followed a string of high-profile attacks at home. Just hours earlier, a suicide bomber targeted a security convoy in Bannu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel.

Earlier, last week, a suicide attacker, supported by gunmen, drove an explosives-filled vehicle into the wall of a security post in nearby Bajaur. The assault killed 11 soldiers and a child. Officials later identified the bomber as an Afghan national.

On 6 February, a suicide attacker set off explosives during midday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai Kalan neighbourhood, leaving at least 31 worshippers dead and 170 injured.

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The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) claimed responsibility for the Islamabad bombing.

In Islamabad, security analyst Abdullah Khan suggested that the Pakistani strikes indicate that Qatari, Turkish, and even Saudi-led mediations have failed to resolve tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “These strikes are likely to further escalate the situation,” he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Is Pakistan employing a new deterrence framework?

Last year in October, analysts noted that Pakistan was finding it increasingly hard to overlook the rising fatalities caused by attacks that it claims are launched from Afghan soil.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), an Islamabad-based think-tank, more than 2,400 members of Pakistan’s security forces had been killed in the first nine months of 2025 alone, putting the country on track for its deadliest year in a decade.

Attacks had surged since the removal of former prime minister Imran Khan a few years ago. Khan’s administration had worked with the Taliban to negotiate a TTP ceasefire. While that truce collapsed during his tenure, the frequency of assaults remained comparatively lower.

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Relations worsened further as Islamabad increasingly carried out airstrikes within Afghan territory, targeting locations it said were used by TTP fighters. Analysts point to the uptick in TTP attacks on Pakistani forces as the primary trigger for the recent border clashes.

They believed that Islamabad was attempting to establish a new deterrence framework, signalling that any assault perceived to originate from Afghanistan, whether carried out by the TTP or other armed groups, will trigger consequences for Kabul.

“Any attack which emanates from Afghanistan will be responded [to] with [the] same ferocity on their territory, with Pakistan implying that [the] Afghan Taliban are facilitating such attacks in Pakistan, and thus are legitimate targets,” Abdul Basit, a scholar at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera, at the time.

Pakistan’s border regions have long been hotspots of conflict, dating back to 1979 when the country became a frontline state in the US-backed war against the then Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

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According to the defence analyst Abdullah Khan, who is also the managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the area’s instability worsened after the 9/11 attacks.

He told the Associated Press in October last year: “After the September 11 attacks, Pakistan’s tribal belt descended into chaos as the Afghan Taliban, al-Qaida and other groups operated from both sides of the border for attacks on Nato forces and Pakistani security forces.”

Tensions between the two neighbours are further compounded by Pakistan’s deportation of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees. Since the decades of conflict began, at least three million Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan, creating additional friction between the two neighbours.

How have international leaders responded?

In October, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes drew concern from regional powers, urging both sides to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue to prevent escalation.

Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia all called for diplomacy to maintain regional stability and security.

India did not comment, though Pakistan is wary of New Delhi’s engagement with the Taliban, some observers note.

Saudi Arabia’s ministry of foreign affairs said in October: “The kingdom calls for restraint, avoiding escalation, and embracing dialogue and wisdom to contribute to reducing tensions and maintaining security and stability in the region.

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“The kingdom affirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability and its continued commitment to ensuring security, which will achieve stability and prosperity for the brotherly Pakistani and Afghan peoples,” it added.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said at the time: “Our position is that both sides must exercise restraint,” and added that “stability” between the two countries “contributes to regional stability”.

Qatar’s ministry of foreign affairs also urged “both sides to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, exercise restraint, and work to contain the disputes in a way that helps reduce tension, avoids escalation, and contributes to regional peace and stability”.

China also called for safeguarding its citizens and investments, Russia urged both sides to exercise restraint, and US president Donald Trump suggested he could step in to help resolve the conflict.

How is India involved?

In October, the clashes coincided with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s first visit to India since the group returned to power.

Kabul-based analyst Ibraheem Bahiss of the International Crisis Group suggested that Muttaqi’s high-profile reception in India was “probably a factor in the ultimate decision by the Pakistan Army to escalate in the major way that we saw”.

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Following the visit, The Hindu reported that Pakistan summoned the Afghan ambassador to express its “strong reservations” regarding the India-Afghanistan joint statement, in which both countries “unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism emanating from regional countries”.

From the mid-1990s until recent years, India had regarded the Taliban as a proxy for Pakistan’s intelligence services, holding the group and its allies responsible for deadly assaults on Indian diplomatic missions in Afghanistan.

However, following the Taliban’s return to power and amid growing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, India has pursued a series of diplomatic engagements with the new Afghan leadership, culminating in Mr Muttaqi’s visit.

“Pakistani media has been furious over Muttaqi’s visit to India,” Afghan content creator Pathan Bhai said in a video, according to India Today.

What were the official responses to the clashes?

Afghanistan’s defence ministry denounced the attacks as a blatant violation of its sovereignty and a breach of international law, stating that “an appropriate and measured response will be taken at a suitable time”.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry said it had summoned Pakistan’s ambassador over what it described as violations of Afghan airspace and the targeting of civilians, labelling the strikes “a provocative act”.

What happens next?

Although TTP’s presence remains a key irritant for Pakistan, analysts believe the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes are unlikely to escalate into a larger conflict. Afghanistan lacks conventional military strength compared with Pakistan, and both sides appear focused on de-escalation at the moment.

However, the border is expected to stay tense for the foreseeable future, as Pakistan has signalled it will continue taking action against militants it claims are crossing from Afghanistan to target its security forces.

NHS Lanarkshire has been chosen to host one of the pilot centres offering appointment-free healthcare access

NHS Lanarkshire is to host one of Scotland’s new walk-in GP clinics, with a facility due to open in the Clydesdale locality in 2027.

The Scottish Government has announced 16 locations across the country where patients will be able to attend without appointments on a daily basis, with Clydesdale included in the second phase of the project planned for early next year.

Mairi McAllan, the Clydesdale MSP and Scottish Government minister, called the decision “a total game-changer for local people” and noted that she had already suggested Lanark sites Braidfute Retail Park, Atholl House and the town’s former tourist information centre as potential venues.

Clydesdale is one of three phase-two sites – focused on “premises on the high street or former retail sites” – which Holyrood officials say “will be delivered subject to appropriate clinical governance, premise readiness and workforce arrangements planned for later in 2026-2027”.

NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Louise Long told the Hamilton Advertiser: “We welcome the announcement by the Scottish Government that Lanarkshire has been selected to host one of the new walk-in GP clinics as part of the rollout.

“We continue to liaise with the Scottish Government on the location and operating arrangements of the new walk-in GP clinic and will share further information as soon as these plans are confirmed.”

READ MORE: South Lanarkshire council tax increases by 6.5 per centREAD MORE: NHS Lanarkshire to invest £4 million in early years health

The location of the walk-in sites across Scotland, intended to offer “GP-led care without an appointment” was announced this week with first minister John Swinney saying: “With centres open 12-8pm, seven days a week, and based in easily accessible locations in our communities across the country, this is part of a package addressing the 8am rush that has frustrated so many of us, easing capacity pressures on family doctors.

“By establishing a series of walk-in clinics we can ensure people are seen by a clinician at a time that works for them. Our programme will help us deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments.”

Ms McAllan says the Clydesdale clinic “will allow people to see a GP or nurse quickly without the need for an appointment, focusing on urgent, on-the-day primary care needs”.

She said: “I know what a difference this will make to people in Clydesdale. The clinic will ensure that people can see a GP quicker, without an appointment, and help ease pressures on GP practices and A&E departments.

“I am pleased that the new clinic will offer a seven-day service, open 12-8pm, with no appointment required – just drop in.”

Imogen Walker, the Hamilton & Clyde Valley MP, had told the Sunday Mail following the constituency MSP’s earlier calls to locate a clinic in Clydesdale that the request was “electioneering of the most cynical kind” ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament poll.

READ MORE: Four Lanarkshire police station front counters to close

The MP highlighted figures indicating that NHS Lanarkshire had the lowest GP headcount per 10,000 patients in Scotland last year, and said: “Any additional healthcare provision in Lanark is welcome, and I support any measure that improves access to care for my constituents.

“However, after almost 19 years with the SNP in power, it is indefensible that patients in Lanark are still facing such serious problems accessing basic GP care. It is hypocritical for a senior Scottish Government minister to promote new projects while basic GP services in her own constituency have been allowed to deteriorate.

“If the Scottish Government has millions for new health care facilities, then let them spend it when it is needed, not just at election time.”

READ MORE: Hamilton care home and nursery share magical fairy storytime

Ms McAllan responded: “While Labour tried to oppose the delivery of this vital new service in Clydesdale, the SNP is getting on with the job of delivering for Scotland.”

Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland chair Dr Chris Provan said following the announcement of the clinic locations: “Walk‑in GP services were piloted in England in the early 2000s [and] most have since closed. Evaluations found little to no reduction in pressure on in‑hours GP practices and highlighted that walk‑in centres were more expensive to run.

“It is unclear how the pilot sites will deliver the Scottish Government’s commitment of one million appointments per year.

“If, as expected, the pilots do not significantly ease pressure on core GP services, any useful learning should certainly be adopted, but the centres should then be closed. Redirecting the £36m investment to core general practice would be more beneficial for patients.”

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Police and ambulance crews were called to Healeyfield Lane on Tuesday (February 24) after a motorbike and Volvo collided at around 2.20pm. 

The male rider of the bike was rushed to hospital in an air ambulance with serious head injuries while the passenger was taken to hospital with leg injuries. 

Their current conditions remain unknown at this time.

The road was closed for several hours while investigators worked at the scene – with a picture showing the Great North Air Ambulance Service helicopter on a field nearby.

The North East Ambulance Service (GNAAS) confirmed earlier this week that one person had been flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and another taken by road to the University Hospital of North Durham. 

The male driver of the Volva was unhurt. 

Durham Police is now appealing for more information and for anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch. 

A GNAAS spokesperson said: “Our critical care team was activated at 2.49pm to reports of a road traffic collision in Healeyfield.

“We had a paramedic and doctor on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 3.06pm. Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service to assess and treat a patient.”

A North East Ambulance service spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a road traffic collision on Healeyfield Lane in Consett at 2.14pm this afternoon (24 February).

“We dispatched two ambulance crews and requested support from our colleagues at Great North Air Ambulance Service.

“One patient was flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary and a second patient was taken by road to University Hospital North Durham.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage is asked to contact the force on 101 quoting incident reference 206 of February 24.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s defense minister early Friday said that his country had run out of “patience” and now considers itself in an “open war” with neighboring Afghanistan after both sides launched strikes following what Islamabad described as an Afghan cross-border attack.

In a post on X, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces and expected the Taliban to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he alleged, the Taliban had turned Afghanistan “into a colony of India,” gathered militants from around the world and begun “exporting terrorism.”

“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he said. There has been no reaction from Afghan government officials to Asif’s comments.

Pakistan has frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies.

His remarks came hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, as well as in Kandahar in the south and Paktia province in the southeast, according to Pakistani officials and Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Pakistan says the strikes were in retaliation for Afghan cross-border attacks.

The escalation comes months after Qatar and Turkey mediated a ceasefire between the two sides.

Both governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims and said they inflicted heavy losses on the other. The claims could not be independently verified.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said overnight that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed, including some whose bodies were taken into Afghanistan, and that “several others were captured alive.” It said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. The ministry said it destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases and that the fighting ended around midnight, about four hours after it began Thursday.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded.

Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured. In a post on X, he said at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded. He also said 27 Afghan posts were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He did not specify where the casualties occurred but said additional losses were estimated in strikes on military targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar.

In Islamabad, two senior security officials said Afghan forces at some border posts had raised white flags, a gesture typically interpreted as a request to halt firing. The officials said Pakistani forces were continuing what they described as a strong retaliatory response to “unprovoked aggression” by the Afghan Taliban and had destroyed several key Taliban posts along the border.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Asif also accused the Taliban government of denying Afghans basic human rights, including rights for women that he said are guaranteed under Islam, without providing details or evidence.

He said Pakistan had tried to maintain stability both directly and through friendly countries. “Today, when attempts were made to target Pakistan with aggression, by the grace of God, our armed forces are giving a decisive response,” he said.

Authorities in Pakistan said dozens of Afghan refugees who were waiting to return home from the northwestern Torkham border have been taken back to safer places following the eruption of clashes.

Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in Oct. 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcible deportation and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time.

Since then, millions have streamed across the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there.

Last year alone, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year.

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Afghan reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, Eduardo Castillo in Beijing and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, also contributed to this story.

In a wide-ranging interview, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Sky News he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin for talks and will do anything to bring about peace.

He said the US has the power to end the war – but must exert greater pressure on Moscow.

“The United States even more stronger than they think about themselves. And I think so really. And they really have pressure on Putin. They can stop this war.”

But he urged the administration in Washington to tighten sanctions against the families of Russia’s leadership and to provide Ukraine with more advanced weapons, arguing that only increased pressure would force Moscow to take negotiations seriously.

On the question of how close Ukraine is to reaching peace he says there is a window between now and the American midterm elections in November.

“Now I think that we have a chance. Between us, what I really think about next year… it depends on these months, if we will have a chance to finish the war before autumn. Before elections, important, influential, elections in the United States. If it will be possible to achieve a peace, we will have, now we have this window.”

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I spoke to him for an hour at the presidential buildings in Kyiv about what Ukraine needs now – and what must happen for the war to end.

More than four years after Russia launched its botched full-scale invasion, the toll on the country – and on him and his family – is unmistakable.

As we walked through near darkness to the room where the sit-down interview was held, he spoke about the strain of rolling power cuts and entire regions enduring temperatures as low as -40 degrees without reliable heating.

When I asked whether Ukraine could win the war, his answer was equivocal.

“It depends what people mean when they say, to win. And, really it’s very difficult to speak about territories. First of all how to get back all of the land for today, it’s very difficult. And it will be too much losses (of) people lives… But what is good that Russia also can’t do it on the battlefield. So that’s why they’re not winning and we are not losing.”

But on the question of surrendering the fortress cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, he was unequivocal – that would be a red line.

“It’s our territory and it sounds unbelievably strange why we have to withdraw from our land? Why they occupied it, our land and nobody can push them out.”

“If we will withdraw from this territory, like you said, for example, Sloviansk at the very moment, at this very moment, 200,000 people who are there now will be occupied by the Russians, who said to Russia that these people are ready to be Russian people? And if they don’t, they will kill them or push to the front or push to the prison.”

Zelenskyy also spoke openly about his relationship with Donald Trump, describing it as “not simple” but stressed that Ukraine’s relationship went beyond “personalities”.