Man Utd take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday and Michael Carrick explained his team selection.

Michael Carrick has opened up on his decision to name Benjamin Sesko in his starting XI for the first time since his Manchester United interim appointment. Sesko scored from the bench against Everton on Monday to net his sixth goal in seven games.

The 22-year-old is the most in-form striker in the Premier League, but had not been given a start by Carrick until today.

“It’s really not a drama,” Carrick said about the ongoing Sesko selection debate during his press conference on Friday. However, the 44-year-old has named Sesko in his starting line-up for the first time in his tenure against Crystal Palace, naming Amad on the bench to accommodate the Slovenia international.

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Explaining the decision to start Sesko, Carrick told Sky Sports: “There are different reasons. I think as a team we’ve been playing well, attacking-wise we’ve been playing well.

“Ben’s been a good sport and he’s had a good feeling, building that belief and confidence, so I’m looking forward to seeing him today. Amad’s a great option for us to finish the game. We’re fortunate enough to have a forward line where we can be quite flexible, so it’s great to have those options.”

He added: “Every game from now on is going to be significant so it doesn’t really change one weekend to the next. There’s going to be maybe ups and downs. It’s something we’ve got to manage.

“Today is a tough game, they are a good team, really well organised, difficult to play against, so we’ve got to be ready for that.”

Adding on Palace, Carrick said: “They’re a good team. History is what it is, it’s not something we look too much into. I never really have done. But we know they are a good team, as I said, they’re going to be difficult to play against. So we will have to be at our best to get what we want from the game.”

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The Bolton half-marathon and 10k made its debut today, March 1, bringing a large-scale run event to brighten up everyone’s winter.

Competitors were on the start line at Queen’s Park for 9am, with all manner of skills and ages being eagerly cheered on by the crowds, who lined the paths of the park and the streets of the town centre and past the town hall.

The run, which was organised by Epic Events, was thought in the lead-up to be harder than other half-marathons, such as their recent Southport one, with Bolton being much hillier.

But while the best time at Southport was 1:14:57, the hills proved no issue for our half-marathon winner Jonathan Sangster, aged 41.

Jonathan Sangster, 41, the half-marathon winner, with his wife, Sarah, and their son, Oliver (Image: Newsquest)

He completed his half in 1:17:38, not bad going for a much hillier course – and was even seen overtaking the lead bike at one point!

Jonathan, who is Bolton “born and bred”, said: “It was challenging, but it was great. It is a great event. 

“It is great to see this in Bolton. Obviously we had the potential return of the marathon a few years ago but it didn’t happen, but this has been a big event and to have it on home soil is perfect. 

“It is good training for the Ironman as well.” 

To see how events unfolded, here is our live blog: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/25896923.updates-bolton-half-marathon-coming-town-today/

Tom Race, 10k winner (Image: Newsquest)

Meanwhile Tom Race, aged 24, not only has the best name a runner could have, but breezed the 10k in the fastest time of 36 minutes and 18 seconds.

The Rawtenstall man said: “It is not my fastest time, but this is a difficult course, there are a lot of ups and downs and corners, so it is hard to keep a rhythm. 

“I think it is a great thing, everyone should have this on their doorstep. 

“It is great for your mental wellbeing, and it is not even 10am and I’ve already done something good with my day, and have the rest of it to go. 

“It is such a buzz when you finish.” 

The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr David Chadwick, ready to hand out medals (Image: Newsquest)

The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr David Chadwick, was on hand to give out the medals to competitors. 

He said: “I think it is fantastic, I have seen so many people this morning, male and female, it is absolutely great. 

“I hope it will be an annual event.” 

He also had his own personal connection, with his son, Matthew Chadwick, taking part in the 10k. 

The former Rangers and Liverpool manager shared videos from Abu Dhabi during his attempts to return to the UK.

Meanwhile, Pattison is among the celebrities and other Brits who are taking shelter in Dubai.

Flights to and from the Middle East are in chaos with delays and cancellations after the US and Israel launched an attack on targets across Iran and the UAE closed its airspace.

Graeme Souness and Vicky Pattison stuck in Middle East

Souness posted two videos on Instagram from Zayed International Airport.

He said: “I’m hearing some pretty loud bangs go off and that is anti-missiles taking out missiles that have been fired at some American bases.”

An update then followed, with the 72-year-old saying: “Flight’s been cancelled, still hearing explosions so we’ve given up, we’re just going to check into a hotel for a couple of nights and see where we are.

“Hopefully things will settle down and we’ll get back on the flight.

“You get grumpy when you get delays and stuff at airports but I think we should think of people that maybe this time are dying.”

One person has been killed at Zayed International Airport, with others also injured there.

Many others have been injured at Dubai International Airport, which has been hit by strikes, while thousands of flights remain grounded.

Reality star Pattison, known for winning I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here winner and being on the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing, had been enjoying a break in Dubai with husband Ercan Ramadan, best known for The Only Way Is Essex.

However, her departing flight to Australia has been cancelled, with the TV personality providing an update to fans on social media.

She wrote on her Instagram story: “Ercan and I were due to fly to Sydney this evening.

“But like many others out flight was cancelled and we are now effectively stuck in Dubai.

“We are receiving a lot of messages from people asking if we’re ok which we are.

“We are currently in our hotel and have been assured we’re safe.

“We are aware that the situation that is unfolding is scary and I’m also aware that there’s a lot of videos circulating on social media which are understandably concerning.

“I’m not sure what else to say, other than we’re doing our best to stay calm, not feed any unconfirmed narratives and we’re thinking of everyone who is feeling unsettled and unsafe right now.”

Pattison and Souness are not the only celebrities affected by the ongoing situation.

Former Love Island star Laura Anderson had also recently arrived in Dubai with her daughter Bonnie when the Iranian retaliation started, and air defence fire was seen over the UAE’s commercial hub.

She wrote on Instagram: “Horrendous situation. Bonnie and I are fine.”

Her fellow Love Island star Arabella Chi is also in Dubai with her daughter Gigi and wrote on Instagram: “Dubai friends. Scary times. Stay safe.”

What is happening in Iran?

The US and Israel launched a major attack on targets across Iran on Saturday (February 1).

President Donald Trump said the attack was to “ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon”.

Following the attack, Iran retaliated with missiles reported to have targeted Israel and countries across the Middle East.

Iranian state TV said in the early hours of this morning (March 1) that the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had died.

It comes after US President Donald Trump claimed Khamenei had died in the attacks on Saturday morning and urged the Iranian people to seize “the single greatest chance … to take back their country”.

The Associated Press reported that state TV gave no cause for the 86-year-old’s death.

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Iran has vowed to carry out its “most intense operation” ever in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei, with strikes reported in several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The UK declined to say whether it believes US-Israeli strikes on Iran are legal as missile attacks continued across the Middle East on Sunday.

While the UK has played no part in the US-Israeli strikes, Defence Secretary John Healey has warned that Iranian retaliation could put UK personnel and allies at risk.

South Africa produced an unconvincing performance with the bat but beat Zimbabwe by five wickets to set up a semi-final against New Zealand.

An 18-ball 42 from Dewald Brevis at number four proved crucial as wickets tumbled in South Africa’s chase of 154 before George Linde (30 off 21) and Tristan Stubbs (21 off 24) saw them over the line with 13 balls to spare.

South Africa, who have won all seven of their matches in this tournament, are searching for a maiden T20 World Cup title having previously reached the final in 2024.

The result also confirms England, who finished top of Group 2 in the Super 8s, will face either India or West Indies in the last four as neither side will be able to match South Africa’s haul of six points.

They meet in the final Super 8 game at 13:30 GMT, with the winner progressing to the semi-finals.

“South Africa are going to be hard to stop. They have ticked every box in this tournament,” said former Australia wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

“They have a massive belief around the group and are starting to bask in the glory of their younger players who have developed.

“Today was about getting sometime under the belts of the back-ups in case some players need a rest.”

Police are probing the unexplained death.

A man’s body was found dead in a street in a South Lanarkshire village.

Police were called to the Hope Road area of Kirkmuirhill in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A 39-year-old man was found dead at around 3am. Police are treating the death as unexplained and his next of kin are aware.

Enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing.

Detectives were seen conducting door-to-door enquiries on Sunday. A large section of the residential street remains cordoned off.

Officers and marked police cars have been situated at either end of the cordon. A uniformed officer could also been seen stationed outside of a property on the road.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3.30am on Sunday, 1 March, 2026, police received a report of the death of a 39-year-old man in the Hope Road area of Kirkmuirhill. Next of kin are aware and the death is being treated as unexplained. Enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing and there remains a police presence in the area.”

The incident comes months after 30-year-old Scott Boyd was pronounced dead in a street in the village. Another man aged 35 was also found injured beside Scott and treated in hospital before being released.

Sean McIntyre, 35, was arrested and charged with murder after Scott was found on August 17.

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The village is easy to reach from Cambridge

Many people wanting to escape busy city life choose to move to Cambridgeshire thanks to it huge areas of countryside and great links into London. Those living in the county can benefit from both the calm rural areas as well as being able to easily travel back into the capital for a day trip.

If you are planning to move to the county soon or just want to explore the many villages on offer, you might want to take a trip to Horningsea. The little village can be found just outside of the city of Cambridge and can be reached by walking along the River Cam.

The village has two pubs, the Plough and Fleece and the Crown and Punchbowl. As well as offering an impressive food menu filled with British classic dishes, the Crown and Punchbowl has nine rooms to stay in if you want to extend your trip.

The Plough and Fleece features “a fine dining room at the front and a traditional rustic bar” as well as a beer garden that overlooks the River Cam for those warmer days. The pub is community owned and is currently looking for new tenants to carry on running the venue.

Aside from the pubs found along the high street, the only other facility in the village is the garden centre. The Scotsdales Garden Centre in Horningsea is home to the largest Weber BBQ showroom in Cambridge and has a “wonderful” pet section that dogs can explore if they are on a lead.

You can find a range of gardening essentials as well as garden furniture, bird feeders, and even a gift shop. At the Sunflower Café, you can get fresh cakes, toasties, sandwiches, and breakfasts using lots of local ingredients.

The village has had a place of worship for over a thousand years but parts of the current church date back to the 11th century. The church had to be extensively restored in the early 19th century.

If you are interested in moving to Horningsea, properties in the village range from detached and terraced houses to semi-detached properties. This three bed detached house with a thatched roof sold in 2024 for £600,000 and this four bed terraced property sold for £490,000.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family were killed in a joint US-Israeli air strike in the capital Tehran.

Iran has issued a haunting three-word warning to lash out after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an air strike. The country’s faltering regime released the chilling statement while mourning the death of the former ruler on Saturday.

Seismic shockwaves rippled across the Middle East after Iran’s Supreme Leader and top figures of his tyrannical regime was killed in the joint US-Israeli Operation Epic Fury. The aim of the military operation was the effective “decapitation” of Iran’s leadership apparatus and effective regime change.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Iran’s armed forces, said a “regret-inducing punishment” was coming after the death of Khamenei who has ruled with an iron grip since 1989, reports the Mirror.

The revenge threat continued, adding the action would start in “just moments” and would target “occupied territories and American terrorist bases.” Iran launched numerous drones and missiles at neighbouring countries that either have American bases or have friendly ties with Washington DC.

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Hundreds of thousands of Brits who live in Dubai were warned to stay inside and take cover after Iran launched attacks. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said any threats against Americans would trigger further attacks.

In a statement shared on X/Twitter, he said: “The Iranian regime had their chance, yet refused to make a deal — and now they are suffering the consequences.

“We will not tolerate powerful missiles targeting the American people. Those missiles will be destroyed, along with Iran’s missile production. The Iranian navy will be destroyed. And, as President Trump has said his entire life, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

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Hegseth continued: “The United States did not start this conflict, but we will finish it. If you kill or threaten Americans anywhere in the world — as Iran has — then we will hunt you down, and we will kill you.”

There are fears Operation Epic Fury could destabilise the region further as the US has offered no clear strategy or vision for Iran’s future should regime change happen.

As Iranians took to the streets to celebrate the Ayatollah’s death in cities across the world, deaths were reported at a US Consulate in Pakistan. Gunfire was reportedly heard near the US Consulate General in Karachi after hundreds stormed the building in the southern port city, with six people, including three embassy staff, believed to be killed.

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As Ukrainian officials meet with US negotiators in Geneva with the possibility of full three-way talks involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington in early March, there’s a glimmer of hope that an end to the conflict may be in sight. But the fact that after four years this remains a glimmer speaks volumes about the difficulties in ending the war.

Even Donald Trump, who promised to end the war in one day, has now stopped issuing ultimatums and deadlines to the warring parties.

In what has become a war of attrition, discussions about vulnerabilities and losses are only meaningful when compared with those of the opposing side. Reflecting on how each side’s theories of victory changed over the four years helps to grasp the war’s overall trajectory.

Russia’s initial plan for a swift knockout of Ukraine was foiled within the first few days of the invasion. Instead, it settled into a conflict of grinding the enemy down through slow advances on the battlefield and debilitating attacks on the energy infrastructure in the rear, with the expectation in Moscow that at some point Ukraine would throw in the towel.

But the question is whether Russia has enough manpower and economic resources for this strategy.

Russia is finally experiencing economic difficulties due to a combination of western sanctions and falling oil prices, which fell from over US$100 (£74) per barrel in 2022 to approximately $60 in 2025. In 2026, the Kremlin had to raise taxes and reduce its reliance on oil, whose share of Russia’s budget fell from 40% in 2019 to 25% in 2025. Perhaps the Kremlin is beginning to realise that this cannot continue forever.

But Russia’s weakness is relative to that of Ukraine. This applies to war losses: Putin believes that Ukraine’s manpower losses are higher than Russia’s (which flies in the face of what some western researchers estimate) and that Ukraine, with a much smaller population than Russia, has much less staying power.

Ukraine’s theory of victory, meanwhile, has evolved from a belief in an outright military victory in 2022–23, to just trying to exhaust Russia’s military in 2025 by using the “wall of drones”. But as the Russian army had captured some key strongholds, such as Siversk, Pokrovsk and Hulyaipole, Kyiv’s new defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov (the fourth since the start of the war), declared that Ukraine’s path to victory now was to kill 50,000 Russian soldiers per month. That’s more than most estimates of Russia’s recruitment, which is believed to be around 30,000 per month.

Western politicians and analysts have embraced this theory, arguing that Russia’s unsustainable losses justify Ukraine continuing with the war with their support.

But after four years, Kyiv’s position is hampered by the loss of the full support of what was once its key ally: Washington. The Ukraine frontline is being slowly but steadily forced back and in 2025 for the first time in the war there was no major Ukrainian offensive.

Kyiv’s best hope is to freeze the conflict along the current line of contact, get security guarantees from the west, join the EU, and maintain pressure on Russia through western sanctions. Unfortunately for Ukraine, there are issues with every item on this list.

The situation at home is challenging and funding from the west is declining, thanks to the US. Meanwhile, its energy infrastructure has been severely damaged, there are ongoing issues with unpopular mobilisations, and the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has suffered a significant blow from a major corruption scandal involving his closest aides.

However, crucially, Ukraine is still fighting and its best hope now is an economic collapse in Russia. Attacks on Russia’s oil industry were intended to hasten that collapse, but Moscow’s destruction of Ukraine’s energy grid has demonstrated its greater capacity for escalation. This year will not be easy for Ukraine.

Europe’s position

Since the start of the invasion, Europe’s ideal plan for helping Ukraine win has not changed. It is believed that a combination of economic sanctions and military aid to Ukraine will eventually cause Russia’s economic collapse and military defeat.

Other than this there is no European plan to end the war, except to try to prevent Trump from striking a deal which would favour Russia and gut Ukraine. For the best part of a year, the so-called coalition of the willing (Kyiv’s European allies led by France, the UK and Germany) has been talking about post-war plans with itself.

But the irony is that – despite being Ukraine’s biggest donor – coalition countries have been excluded from negotiating with Russia, whose consent to any western military deployment as a security guarantee for Kyiv will be essential.

Whatever happens, the EU will have to pay Ukraine’s bills, either to continue the war or to cover its post-war reconstruction. The EU’s promise to accept Ukraine as a member would also require increased funding over an indefinite period.

Whose side is the US on?

Under the Biden presidency, the US and Europe had the same theory of victory. However, since returning to power in January 2025, Trump has forced Europe to finance the supply of US military equipment to Ukraine. Meanwhile, it has opened negotiations with Russia to end the war.

The US push for peace remains a mystery. After all, if the Ukrainians are willing to fight and the Europeans are willing to pay for it, it is unclear why the US is so eager to end a war that is exhausting one of its geopolitical rivals in Russia.

Perhaps Trump genuinely wants to stop the killing. Or perhaps he believes that if the war is not stopped now, the eventual peace deal will be much worse for Ukraine and the west. Or maybe it’s simply a matter of stopping “Biden’s war”. A war that Trump has no interest in and that he clearly feels is hampering his plans to do business with Putin.

As with Gaza, a deal can be reached only when the parties involved in the conflict are exhausted and ready to stop fighting. In these circumstances, Trump’s mediation could succeed. For now, however, each side is still clinging to its vision of victory.

On its fourth anniversary, there is hope that this may be the last year of the war. While all sides are growing increasingly exhausted, it will be the “last mile” that matters most — who can muster the willpower and resources in the final stretch to end the war on their terms.

The Warner after party was attended by the likes of AJ Odudu, Nick Grimshaw and Vogue Williams

Calling one of the lavish events held after the BRIT Awards in Manchester an afterparty would perhaps undersell it a fair bit as it started hours before the ceremony itself.

Music label Warner, who have artists like PinkPantheress, Ed Sheeran and Liam Gallagher on their roster, began their celebrations on Saturday (February 28) in true style, naturally, by hopping on board an 1940s upholstered train known as a favourite of the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II.

The British Pullman Train, travelling from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, was boarded by the likes of Beth Ditto, Geri Halliwell’s daughter Bluebell Horner, Nick Grimshaw, Jaime Winston and Liam Gallagher’s eldest son Lennon Gallagher in time to make it to Co-op Live for the big ceremony.

Held in Manchester for the first time in its history, the awards featured performances from the likes of Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Mark Ronson with Dua Lipa with big winners on the night including Sam Fender, Noel Gallagher and Rosalia. When it came to to the Warner afterparty, held with Hennessy, a lavish and extravagant event was held at Cut and Craft on Mosley Street in the city centre, which is based within a Grade II* listed former banking hall.

Tailored to a 24 Hour Poodles Party theme, aimed at bring British eccentricity together with Manchester’s clubbing legacy, featuring a five-metre-tall poodle installation at the entrance, the inside of the venue was turned into an extravagant poodle parlour with oversized poodle inflatables, marble finishes, glam bots, and a special poodle-motif carpet which had been put in specifically for the event. Topping off the dog theme, there were archival images of cultural icons with their dogs, including Davie Bowie and Winston Churchill.

The likes of Dua Lipa, Gene Gallagher, Vogue Williams, The Good Wife actress Cush Jumbo, Saltburn actor Archie Madekwe, comedian Munya Chawawa, and TV presenter AJ Odudu, who wowed in a bejewelled bodice were in attendance at the event. Throughout the night, Groove Armada, G2, Dua Lipa’s brother Gjin Lipa with Tommy Gold, and Romeo Beckham’s DJ girlfriend Kim Turnbull took turns on the decks for special sets at the lavish invite-only bash featuring immersive lighting and laser displays.

The bar also featured a hedonistic basement club from Manchester collective Suns of Acid, made up of Happy Mondays star Bez’s sons Arlo and Jack. Bez was also in attendance at the event, alongside other stars including Megan McKenna, Kojey Radical, Celeste, Jamie Laing, Beth Ditto, Ms. Banks, Talia Storm, Montana Brown, Sheila Atim and Amber-Rose Gill.

Barry Can’t Swim, Corinna Brown, Nick Grimshaw, Rachel Chinouriri, Daniel W. Fletcher, Tinea Taylor, James Blunt, Corbin Shaw and Elizabeth Hurley’s model son Damian Hurley were also spotted attending the luxurious party. Lennon Gallagher was also spotted at the event alongside girlfriend Isobel Richmond as they soaked up the atmosphere.

Alongside a drinks menu of Champagne and bespoke Hennessy cocktails, guests were treated to a selection of exclusively-created canapés, including a Lancashire hotpot croquette with lamb jus aioli, Bury black pudding mac n cheese with mustard aioli and shaved horseradish, a buttered brioche crab roll and parmesan and truffle polenta with fillet tartare topped with caviar. Following the event, the venue will reopen to the public on Monday (March 2).

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Darioush Shahidi, operations director at The Cut & Craft, said: “Hosting one of The Brits official after parties at The Cut & Craft is a dream come true for us all. We’re honoured to be hosting such an important event within our first year of opening. The city feels electric. It’s such an incredible accolade for Manchester to be the host city, and we feel so lucky to be part of the celebrations.”

In addition, other afterparties were held across the city to mark the first time the prestigious music ceremony was held in Manchester in its 46 year history. Hosted by Jack Whitehall, this year’s trophy, designed by Matthew Williamson, also featured a nod to Manchester with a design inspired by the city’s worker bee mascot.