The event took place at the COVID-19 Memorial Garden at West Lothian Council Civic Centre, where those in attendance paused to remember the lives lost during the pandemic.

Local residents, civic leaders and community representatives at a service in Livingston on Friday to mark the UK’s annual COVID-19 Day of Reflection.

The event took place at the COVID-19 Memorial Garden at West Lothian Council Civic Centre, where those in attendance paused to remember the lives lost during the pandemic and reflect on the impact it had on families and communities across West Lothian and the wider UK.

The national COVID-19 Day of Reflection was held on Sunday, March 8. The day provided an opportunity for communities across the country to come together to remember those who died during the pandemic, reflect on the sacrifices made, and pay tribute to the health and social care staff, frontline workers, volunteers and researchers who supported the country through an unprecedented period.

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Speaking after the service, Livingston MP Gregor Poynton said: “The COVID-19 pandemic changed lives across our West Lothian, Scotland, the UK and across the world.

“Many families in West Lothian lost loved ones, and many others made enormous sacrifices during an incredibly difficult time.

“It was therefore very important to join local residents and community leaders at the memorial garden in Livingston to remember those who were lost and to reflect on the impact the pandemic had on so many people.

“Days like this also give us an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary work of our NHS staff, care workers, key workers and volunteers who stepped forward to support others when our communities needed them most. Their dedication and compassion will never be forgotten.

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“As we mark the Day of Reflection again this year, it is right that we pause to remember those who lost their lives and ensure their memory continues to be honoured in our communities.”

The Livingston service was held ahead of the national Day of Reflection on Sunday, March 8, when people across the UK will be invited to take a moment to remember those lost to COVID-19 and reflect on the pandemic’s lasting impact.

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“Words begin to fail everyone at such a senseless loss of life”

The young woman who died in Co Fermanagh on Saturday has been named locally as Ellie Flanagan. Ms Flanagan, who was aged in her 20s, was found at an address in the Corban Avenue area of Enniskillen on Saturday evening, March 7.

A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and other related offences. The man is understood to be known to the victim. Police have made an appeal for information about the incident, after a car crash led them to the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson, from the Major Investigation Team, said the investigation started following the collision near Tempo in Co Fermanagh.

READ MORE: ‘Deep shock’ as murder probe launched after discovery of woman’s body in Co FermanaghREAD MORE: Murder investigation launched following woman’s death in Enniskillen

“Police received a report that a man driving a grey Nissan Juke was involved in a collision on the Carn Road, near Tempo, at around 9.15pm on Saturday. Upon arrival, officers located the car but the driver had left the scene,” he said.

“Enquiries determined that the car was registered to an address in the Corban Avenue area of Enniskillen. When officers arrived at the house they discovered the body of a woman, aged in her 20s.

“A short time later, a man aged 45, was arrested near the scene on the Carn Road on suspicion of murder and other related offences. He remains in police custody at this time as enquiries continue.”

Mr Robinson continued: “Our detectives are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, and I am appealing to anyone with information that could assist with our investigation to come forward.

“We’re especially keen to hear from anyone who was travelling on the Cornagrade Road into Corban Avenue between 6.30pm and 10.45pm on Saturday evening and noticed anything out of the ordinary, or suspicious, to make contact with us.”

Fermanagh and Omagh District Commander Superintendent Pete Cunningham said they want to reassure the community that detectives are working at pace on the investigation.

“First and foremost my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened,” he said.

“I want to reassure the local community that detectives are working at pace, and we would also urge members of the public not to speculate.

“As a victim-focused organisation, violence against women and girls is a priority for policing, and I understand that incidents like this will cause significant concern. We are doing everything we can to ensure women and girls feel safe in our communities.

“I would encourage anyone who may have information about what happened on Saturday evening, regardless of how small it may seem, to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1564 07/03/26.

“There will be an increased police presence in the area today, and over the coming days, our officers are here to help with any concerns you may have. Please reach out and speak with them if needed.”

Deborah Erskine, DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said the death of Ms Flanagan is “heartbreaking.” She added: “Words begin to fail everyone at such a senseless loss of life.

“At times like this our community stands together in grief. The community undoubtedly feels an immense sense of shock and upset, however I cannot begin to imagine the pain that Ellie’s family and friends are now feeling. We remember them in our prayers and wrap our arms around them at this extremely difficult time.

“This would have been an incredibly shocking and devastating scene to have responded to. I want to place on record thanks to the PSNI and emergency services who attended the scene. Their quick action over the weekend is to be commended. My thoughts in particular are with those officers who were first responders.

“The news of this incident broke on International Women’s Day. It serves as a reminder that we must double down on our efforts to eradicate violence against women and girls. We must all work together to stop it.

“I plead with the public to work with the PSNI in their investigations over the course of the time ahead. Please do not speculate or spread misinformation. We will all remember Ellie, her family and friends in the days that lie ahead.”

Sinn Fein Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Pat Cullen said: “The whole community is in deep shock at the news of a woman’s suspected murder in Enniskillen. My deepest sympathy and prayers are with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

“On a day when we are marking International Women’s Day, it is even more heartbreaking to be confronted with such an unthinkable act of violence.”

Alliance Enniskillen Councillor Eddie Roofe expressed his shock and condolences after the sad news.

“My thoughts are with this poor woman and her loved ones,” said Councillor Roofe.

“This incident has been the talk of the local area today. Everyone is in shock, particularly given the circumstances surrounding it. But I know the local community will come together to support each other in this distressing time.

“There is a sad irony to this, given today is International Women’s Day. Violence against women and girls is a sickening scourge on our society that must be eradicated.

“I urge anyone with information on this incident to contact police with it immediately.”

UUP councillor Roy Crawford added: “My heartfelt condolences go to her family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.

“This news has shocked and saddened the entire community. Enniskillen is a close knit town, and many people will be keeping the family in their thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.

“I would also like to thank the officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland for the work they are carrying out in relation to this tragedy. Their professionalism and dedication during such difficult circumstances are greatly appreciated.

“My thoughts remain with the family as they come to terms with this heartbreaking loss.”

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Harder than bringing in or leaving out any player is to replace an entire plan.

“Lee has been widely regarded as one of the country’s top attack coaches,” said Borthwick in September as he welcomed attack coach Lee Blackett on board full-time.

“His teams play fast, exciting rugby that consistently look to score tries.”

Blackett impressed in a temporary stint on the summer tour of Argentina. England scored seven tries across their two Test victories over the Pumas.

In his final season with Bath he coaxed 96 regular-season tries out of the eventual Premiership champions – the most any team had scored in the three seasons since the league contracted with the loss of Wasps, Worcester and London Irish.

Blackett was also inheriting an England side that had enjoyed a stellar 2025 Six Nations campaign, racking up 25 tries – the most they have managed in almost a quarter of a century – under the guidance of Richard Wigglesworth.

Somewhere along the line, though, England have misplaced their cutting edge.

They have 14 tries and a clutch of wasted opportunities and platforms to show from this season’s competition.

Once again against Italy – as in their defeats by Scotland and Ireland – they averaged less than two points per 22m entry. That figure is substantially below par for any team with serious title aspirations.

The players have insisted they are happy with the tactics they are being asked to play, but Blackett and Wigglesworth are an excellent brains trust for Borthwick to consult if he decides to reshape the gameplan.

While tactics based around the aerial contest, territory and minimising risk have been a feature of Borthwick’s teams since he took charge of Leicester in his first head coach role in 2020, he has shown flexibility on defence.

The ultra-aggressive blitz that former defence coach Felix Jones implemented in 2024 has been tempered, with cohesion now valued over line speed.

A shift in attack, which brings England’s undoubted talent to bear and leaves them less dependent on the bounce of a tapped-back ball, could be timely.

LONDON (AP) — A major fire in the heart of Glasgow crippled Scottish train services Monday as firefighters worked to douse the blaze that destroyed a four-story building near Scotland’s busiest railway station.

Glasgow Central Station was closed and all travel to, from and through the station was expected to be disrupted, according to rail operators. There was no estimate when the station would reopen.

The fire broke out Sunday afternoon in a vape shop on Union Street, next to the station. Flames engulfed the building, filling the frames of windows and shooting from the dome-capped roof.

The building, which dates to 1851, collapsed as it burned through the night, leaving only the facade standing.

Paul Sweeney, a member of the Scottish Parliament, likened it to the remains left after the Nazi bombing of Britain in 1940-41.

“It’s been completely wiped out, destroyed,” Sweeney told the BBC. “The building is a gutted shell. It looks like something out of the Blitz.”

There were no injuries reported, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said.

People standing behind a police roadblock said they were shocked to see the ruins.

“It’s just so sad,” Emma Reid said. “It’s such an iconic building.”

A cafe, fish and chip shop and hair salon were among the businesses wrecked by the fire.

“We are absolutely devastated to confirm that the shop has sadly been destroyed in the fire,” Sexy Coffee said on Instagram, though it vowed to rebuild.

According to National Gas, Britain had 6,999 gigawatt hours (GWh) of fossil gas stored this month

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Energy crisis fears are rising following claims the UK has ‘two days’ worth of gas stored. This follows reports that tankers carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) are being diverted from their course from Europe towards Asia since the war.

According to National Gas, which owns and operates the gas national transmission system, Britain had 6,999 gigawatt hours (GWh) of fossil gas stored on March 7. This compares with 9,105 GWh the previous year, the Daily Star reports.

Maximum capacity is reportedly 12 days of gas and current storage levels equal to under two days of reserves, prompting concerns that Great Britain could dry up if the Iran crisis escalates further. However, National Gas said even when storage stocks are low, Great Britain continues to receive large volumes of gas from other sources, reports the Guardian.

A National Gas spokesperson said: “Britain’s gas storage levels are broadly in line with what we would expect at this point in the year and are comparable to this time last year. It’s important to remember that storage makes up only a small part of Britain’s diverse gas supply mix.

“Most of our gas comes from the UK continental shelf and Norway, complemented by LNG, interconnectors with continental Europe, and storage. Great Britain benefits from a wide range of supply sources that the market draws on every day.

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“Together, these provide the flexibility needed to balance supply and demand reliably throughout the year.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “It is categorically untrue that the UK only has access to two days of gas supply. We have a diverse energy mix and are confident in our security of supply. “Gas will continue to play a key role in our diverse and resilient energy system as we transition to more secure, clean homegrown energy. We are working with industry to ensure the gas system is fit for the future, including maintaining security of supply in the rarest scenarios.”

According to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, at least two tankers have redirected in the middle of the Atlantic from Europe to Asia since Friday. It comes after three similar diversions were reported last week.

Gas prices have steeply increased since the US and Israel began intense airstrikes on Iran 10 days ago. UK month-ahead gas prices rose last week to 137p a therm, up from 78.5p a therm before the Iran war began.

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Micklegate has closed between its junctions with Priory Street and Bar Lane with the closure due to run every day from today (March 9) until Monday, March 23 from 8am – 5pm.

It comes after City of York Council announced that the street would be closed for sewer works to be carried out close to the new Aparthotel Micklegate building.

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Micklegate is closed to motorists from March 9 (Image: Newsquest)

A council spokesperson said: “It is envisaged that access will be maintained for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the works period.

“An alternative route for diverted vehicles will be signed during the works period via Nunnery Lane, Bishopgate Street, Skeldergate Bridge, Tower Street, Clifford Street, Nessgate, Low Ousegate, Bridge Street.”

The stretch of road may be re-opened at an earlier date if sewer works are completed before the scheduled finishing time.

Traffic signs and barriers will be in place to re-direct motorists, and residents will maintain access to their homes.

Emergency services will still be able to proceed down Micklegate.

For more information please contact highway.regulation@york.gov.uk.

Aparthotel Micklegate is replacing vacant commercial units in the street, which previously housed a van hire centre and a restaurant.

The disused Minster Vans property at 111, Micklegate latterly became home to a vibrant pop-up space for artists and crafters in a partnership between Social Vision and the then developers North Star to help grassroots organisations showcase their work.

Planning permission was granted back in 2020 to redevelop the site, with the application stating it would create around 45 new jobs.

It said the aparthotel would also include a new bar and restaurant space.

Architects brown + company, in Blossom Street, is behind the building designs.

brown + company (www.brownandcompany.uk) are York’s leading architects with major projects also including St Peter’s School, Coney Street Riverside, The Mount Royale and 23, Piccadilly in York, together with Hotham Hall Estate in East Yorkshire and St Paul’s Street in Leeds.

At St Peter’s the work that brown + company is undertaking began by creating a masterplan for the new school campus, before breaking that down into specific phases. To facilitate the two-school model, the key aims are to create a dedicated Junior school for pre-school to Year 6 and to create a new Sixth Form Centre. This work entails a full architectural service from design to job-running to post-construction care.

He has taken up the newly created role of Bede Librarian, which aims to promote the cathedral’s archives and collections and foster greater engagement with the legacy of the Venerable Bede—scholar, theologian, and the “father of English history.”

Co-host of ‘The Rest is History’, a podcast under Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger umbrella, he was a winner of Apple Podcasts’ Global Show of the Year in 2025 – the first time a non-American show carried home the gong.

Mr Holland said: “Bede is the father of English history – so what greater honour could there possibly for an English historian than to be appointed the Bede Librarian in the cathedral where he lies buried.”

He will be formally inaugurated as Bede Librarian during the Festal Evensong for Bede on Monday, May 25, at 5.30pm.

Did the Ancient Greeks have a ‘death ray’? pic.twitter.com/AlV5P2eISe

— The Rest Is History (@TheRestHistory) February 3, 2026

The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham, said: “I am thrilled that Tom Holland has accepted the role of Bede Librarian at Durham Cathedral and will be contributing to our life and mission in the years to come.

“Tom is not only an outstanding historian and communicator but also deeply committed to the North East, our saints, and our stories.

“It will be wonderful to have him speaking about such a vital topic as the renewal of our culture and what we can – and must – learn from the past.

“I am also delighted that he will be helping Durham Cathedral share our wonderful archives and collections with an even wider audience.”

Mr Holland will deliver his inaugural lecture in the role on Tuesday, May 26, at 7.30pm at Durham Cathedral.

Titled ‘Cuthbert, Bede and the Renewal of Culture,’ the talk will be a conversation with the Dean of Durham.

He will discuss the influence of Saxon saints Cuthbert and Bede on cultural renewal through leadership and scholarship, reflecting on their continuing relevance in today’s world, marked by “global insecurity, cultural tribalism, and political volatility.”

Mr Holland will be Anna Rowlands, St Hilda Professor of Catholic Social Thought and Practice at Durham University.

Princess Kate was seen approaching her husband Prince William after a tense exchange with Prince Andrew at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral, with her four-word comment caught by a lip reader

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Princess Kate’s four-word remark to Prince William following a tense interaction with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been disclosed by a lip-reader. The former Duke of York approached William whilst both attended the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on September 16.

The exchange occurred as senior royals departed the service whilst awaiting their vehicles. In a new Channel 5 documentary, lip-reader Nicola Hickling suggests Andrew seized the opportunity to seek his nephew’s forgiveness.

In Lip-Reading the Royals, Nicola claims Andrew stated: “I’ve learnt from what I’ve done but before I forget, and if I can, I’d like to ask you if you can forgive?”.

Body language expert Adrienne Carter suggests the question left William “extremely uncomfortable”. She continued: “I think his body language is screaming, ‘Get away from me, I don’t want to be photographed, particularly engaging with you’.”

Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary Dickie Arbitar observed: “William’s face said everything, ‘I don’t want to converse with you, push off’. And I think Andrew probably got the message.”

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Following Andrew’s departure from the future king, the Princess of Wales is observed approaching her husband on Westminster Cathedral’s steps. According to Hickling, Kate then remarks: “He seems very sorry.”

William reportedly responded “Do you think I deserved that” before questioning “Is that what you mean?” The lip-reader claims Kate repeats her earlier observation to her husband. Royal commentator Christo Foufas was quick to emphasise that Andrew did not actually extend an apology to the Prince of Wales.

He stated: “He might have seemed sorry Princess Catherine but those words did not leave his mouth, he didn’t actually say sorry did he.”

Andrew was relieved of his royal titles a month following the Duchess of Kent’s funeral, amidst mounting scrutiny over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. His elder brother also instructed him to vacate his 30-room Royal Lodge residence.

Subsequently, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, amid allegations he disclosed sensitive information to the paedophile during his tenure as UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. He was released under investigation and has yet to face charges.

The former Duke of York has consistently refuted any impropriety stemming from the friendship. This morning, the US Department of Justice unveiled a fresh batch of documents, part of the so-called Epstein files.

Included were low-resolution photos depicting a man who appears to be Andrew, seated with a woman on his lap. The Express suggests these were likely captured at Epstein’s residence.

In another photo, the man is seen with a woman positioned over his shoulders. There is no confirmation that this is the ex-prince, according to the Express. The identities of the women have been redacted in the files.

Meanwhile, Princess Eugenie has stepped down this week from her role as patron of the Anti-Slavery International charity. She received praise for her contributions “across the board with leaders in the fight against modern slavery” but her profile has since been taken down from the organisation’s website.

The charity issued a statement confirming the patronage had “come to an end”. Speaking to the Observer, it said: “After seven years, our patronage from HRH Princess Eugenie of York has come to an end. We thank the Princess very much for her support for Anti-Slavery International. We hope that she continues to work to end slavery.”

Anti-Slavery International holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest human rights organisation. Established in 1839 in London, it originally operated as the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, campaigning for slavery’s abolition following the conclusion of the Transatlantic slave trade.

Its current mission centres on eliminating modern slavery. In 2017, Eugenie co-founded a separate organisation called the Anti-Slavery Collective alongside Julia de Boinville. According to the organisation’s website, she continues to serve as a trustee of the Anti-Slavery Collective.