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Alan Osmond, the eldest member of the Osmonds, dies at 76

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Alan Osmond, the eldest member of the Osmonds, dies at 76

NEW YORK (AP) — Alan Osmond, the eldest member of the chart-topping family act The Osmonds, died Monday after decades with multiple sclerosis. He was 76.

According to a family spokesperson, Alan’s wife, Suzanne Osmond, and their eight sons were with him at his home in Lehi, Utah, at the time of his death. Prior to his passing, Alan used a wheelchair and spent a week in intensive care before returning home Thursday on hospice.

A talented songwriter and performer, Alan Osmond helped write some of the Osmond Brothers’ biggest hits, including “One Bad Apple,” “Crazy Horses” and “Are You Up There?”

Born in Ogden, Utah, on June 22, 1949 and raised in a Mormon household, Alan Osmond’s storied musical career began in the 1950s, when he and his brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay formed a barbershop quartet. He was the oldest of the performing group and the third oldest of his siblings.

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The brothers worked the state fair circuit in Utah until a visit to Disneyland led to a television debut on “Disney After Dark” in 1962.

The group became regulars on “The Andy Williams Show,” where they made their name and forged their wholesome and peppy image, peaking as a quintet in the early 1970s, as younger brother Donny Osmond became the breakout star. In 1971, the Osmonds tallied nine gold records, surpassing single-year bests by Elvis and the Beatles.

In the mid-to-late 1970s, Alan became a principal producer on ABC’s hit television show “The Donny and Marie Show,” starring his brother and sister.

The original Osmond Brothers — Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay — returned to the stage in 1982 as a country group and had a handful of hits, including “I Think About Your Lovin.’” At the time, Alan told The Associated Press he switched from recording rock to country music because it better fit their wholesome image.

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“Country music really is the backbone of America,” he said. “It doesn’t just come and go. And we’re kind of flag-wavers. You find that in the country area, too.”

In 1987, Alan Osmond was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). It caused him to retire from performing with his family.

His brother Wayne Osmond died at the age of 73 in 2025 after having a stroke.

“He is my hero,” Doug Osmond, one of Alan’s sons, told The Associated Press over the phone Tuesday. “I’ve never met anyone more positive in my life. I never once heard him complain, not once. He would say, ‘I may have MS, but MS does not have me.’ That was his motto and he always was worried about everyone else. … Family always took priority and his faith was in everything he did.”

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In terms of his musical accomplishments, Doug recalled witnessing other famous musicians gush over his father. “I saw that with Steven Tyler, I saw that with Brad Paisley. I saw that with Justin Timberlake and Donnie Wahlberg,” he said. “They all knew of his genius and ability.”

In a statement on social media Tuesday, Donny Osmond called Alan Osmond his “protector” and “guide,” saying he was “the one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine.”

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Merrill Osmond also paid tribute in a social media post, explaining that he saw his ailing brother two days prior.

“We talked as brothers do, heart to heart. He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle … and then he smiled,” he wrote on Facebook. “I need you to know this … he has not left me. I have felt him. I have felt his quiet encouragement telling me to keep going … to keep building faith … to keep sharing light.”

Alan is survived by his wife, Suzanne; his eight sons, Michael, Nathan, Doug, David, Scott, Jon, Alex, and Tyler; 30 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers Virl, Tom, Merrill, Jay, Donny and Jimmy; and sister Marie.

Service plans are forthcoming.

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Tim Sherwood makes Liam Rosenior sack prediction after Chelsea defeat to Brighton | Football

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Tim Sherwood makes Liam Rosenior sack prediction after Chelsea defeat to Brighton | Football
Chelsea fans called for Liam Rosenior to be sacked during the Brighton defeat (Reuters)

Tim Sherwood believes Chelsea will sack Liam Rosenior following the 3-0 defeat against Brighton on Tuesday night.

Brighton ran out deserved winners at the Amex Stadium with goals from  Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck.

The defeat means Chelsea have now lost five league games without scoring a goal for the first time since 1912.

During the second half, Chelsea supporters chanted against the club’s BlueCo ownership and called for Rosenior’s sacking.

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Chelsea have insisted that they have no plans to dismiss Rosenior, however, Sherwood feels the 41-year-old will lose his job at Stamford Bridge.

‘It was a team playing against a bunch of individuals who had no spirit, no character,’ Sherwood told Sky Sports.

‘I’ve just watched them at the end going up to the Chelsea fans, half of them had already left the stadium probably 20 minutes ago, it was done and dusted after the second goal went in.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 21: Liam Rosenior, Manager of Chelsea, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea at Amex Stadium on April 21, 2026 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Liam Rosenior apologised to Chelsea fans after the Brighton defeat (Getty)

‘They played five at the back in the first half, it was embarrassing the amount of room Brighton had, second half was a little bit better at the start.

‘He [Rosenior] was lucky at half time it was only one [goal], Garnacho came on and gave more in forward areas but as soon as they got the second goal with Hinshelwood, we’re talking an academy player who played in every single position on the pitch, he played full-back, he’s outstanding in that position, plays in midfield, he played as a No.10 tonight, he was outstanding.

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‘I don’t like saying it but there are demonstrations there and flags out against BlueCo, he will not survive this, Liam Rosenior will not survive this, unfortunately for him.

‘It’s a real tough job for any manager to go in there and change the environment because these Chelsea fans have been brought up winning trophies, the biggest trophies, with the biggest players. It’s a development club.’

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 21: Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea reacts following defeat in the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea at Amex Stadium on April 21, 2026 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Enzo Fernandez stood alone in front of Chelsea’s fans at the Amex Stadium (Getty)

Sherwood also criticised Enzo Fernandez for his reaction towards Chelsea’s supporters after the final whistle as the midfielder stood shrugging with his arms out in front of fans at the Amex Stadium.

‘He wanted to make a show, this is not someone who I wanted to see with an armband on,’ Sherwood said.

‘He wants to leave the club. He stuck his chest out, he stood there, he made a stand, mate, make a stand when the game is on, do something about it, lead your players, you’re an individual who plays for himself.

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‘He’s probably there talking to the coaching staff trying to blame everyone else around him, that ain’t what leaders do, they galvanise their teammates, they make sure they’re organised, he has to know when he’s on that pitch what Liam Rosenior wants, and he has to try and implement it on the pitch for his manager.

‘They are not playing for their manager. Whether it’s him, Pochettino, Potter, Enzo Maresca, they throw them all under the bus. The players need to look at themselves but the club needs to change, you are not going to shift the mindset of these Chelsea fans.

‘Cucurella was poor tonight, Gusto was poor, the centre-backs are not good enough, whether it’s Fofana, Hato or Chalobah, they’re not good enough, the goalkeeper is not good enough. They need experienced players, no only in age but who have played a lot of games and know the Premier League, I want to see leaders on that team like the Chelsea of old.

‘This is not Chelsea Football Club, it’s nothing like I recognise from a Chelsea Football Club… terrible.’

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Trump’s approval on economy falls, new poll shows

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Trump's approval on economy falls, new poll shows

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s approval rating on the economy has slumped over the past month as the Iran war drives prices higher, according to a new AP-NORC poll, with even Republicans showing less faith in his leadership.

The findings from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show a president who is struggling with unfulfilled promises to tame inflation and testing Americans’ patience with a conflict in the Middle East that has dragged on longer than expected.

Trump’s approval rating on the economy dropped to 30% in April from 38% in a March AP-NORC poll. A similarly low share of U.S. adults, 32%, approve of the president’s leadership on Iran, which is unchanged since last month.

The poll was conducted April 16-20, during which time the Strait of Hormuz was reopened by Iran, then closed again, an example of the whiplash that has characterized the conflict.

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The president’s policies and pronouncements have often been at odds with each other. Gasoline prices — which he promised to slash — jumped after the U.S. attacked Iran in February. His tariffs have kept much of the economy in limbo and hiring has slowed despite his boasts of a “golden age.”

Only 33% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s overall job performance, down slightly from 38% last month.

Trump’s falling approval ratings could create problems for his party as it tries to defend House and Senate majorities in the midterm elections. The poll finds that Trump is especially weak on cost of living, and enthusiasm about Trump’s performance has waned over the past year among his own supporters.

Kathryn Bright, 60, a retired captain in the U.S. Air Force, regrets that she supported Trump in the last election.

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“I feel disgusted with myself, I feel betrayed, like he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” she said.

Bright lives in a small town far out on Colorado’s prairie and has several disabling medical conditions. She was initially drawn to Trump because of his vows to support veterans, avoid foreign wars and lower costs.

“It’s like high school class president: ‘I’m gonna promise we are going to get pizza every single day,’” Bright said. “Then as soon as they get elected they are like, ‘Oh, I lied.’”

The vast majority of Americans disapprove of Trump on cost of living

In a sign of just how unpopular Trump’s approach on prices has become, the poll found that only about one-quarter of U.S. adults approve of his handling of the cost of living.

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The consumer price index climbed 3.3% in March from a year ago, and inflation is slightly higher than the 3% that Trump inherited upon returning to the White House last year. Yet Trump has shown little interest in inflation and played down the rising energy costs caused by the war prompting Iran to effectively shutter the Strait of Hormuz to oil and natural gas tankers.

Trump on Tuesday dismissed the war as a “little journey” and portrayed the roughly 35% jump in oil prices as a positive compared to what he thought would happen.

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He told CNBC in an interview that he was “surprised” that oil prices were only around $90 a barrel, compared to the $200 that he claimed to have expected.

Public disenchantment with that attitude is visible among his own supporters. Only about half of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living.

Younger Republicans are particularly unhappy. About 6 in 10 Republicans under 45 disapprove of how Trump is handling costs, compared to about 4 in 10 older Republicans.

Most Republicans who identify as supporters of the Make America Great Again movement are still largely behind the president. About 9 in 10 MAGA Republicans approve of Trump’s job performance, compared to 44% of non-MAGA Republicans, although only about 7 in 10 MAGA Republicans approve of him on cost of living.

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Miguel Cortes, a 67-year-old retired aircraft mechanic in South Carolina, believes the increase in prices from tariffs and the Iran war is simply a temporary price to pay. As for gasoline costs rising, “it is what it is, I’m not going to complain,” he said. “People are just going to have to deal with it.”

“From deep in my soul, I believe God put him there for a reason,” said Cortes, who has a tin sign of “Make America Great” in his garage near a National Rifle Association plaque.

Americans are gloomier about the U.S. economy

About three-quarters of U.S. adults described the U.S. economy as “very” or “somewhat” poor in April, up from about two-thirds in February.

The drop in confidence comes as the economy remains unsettled, with gasoline prices higher than they were, as the financial markets for stocks, bonds and oil continues on a rollercoaster ride that veers wildly based on Trump’s claims of a coming peace with Iran one day and a threat to destroy the entire civilization the next.

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Americans such as Heidi Bunting, 35, a student with two children, see an economy in which basic needs such as health care and transportation are unaffordable.

“It’s awful, and not just for me,” said Bunting, who lives in Bowling Green, Ohio. “I’m sure the only people doing well in this economy are those who started with a lot of money.”

Falling approval on the economy among independents and Republicans

Despite efforts to tout last year’s tax cuts and brush off economic concerns, Trump’s economic approval remains low among independents and has even eroded among Republicans.

About 2 in 10 independents approve of Trump’s performance on the economy in the new poll, down slightly from about 3 in 10 in March. Far more Republicans, 62%, have a positive view of the way Trump is handling the economy, but that’s also down from 74% last month.

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In general, Republicans are less enthusiastic about Trump’s overall performance than they were shortly after he took office. In March 2025, 51% of Republicans “strongly” approved of the way he was handling the presidency, a figure that has dropped to 38% now.

Immigration, another signature issue of Trump’s, is a relative bright spot for the president. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of his performance on that issue, which is unchanged from last month and higher than his overall approval.

Trump’s approval ratings are in line with his predecessor Joe Biden’s lowest approval rating in AP-NORC polling — 36% — which came during July 2022 after inflation spiked to a four-decade high. Biden’s approval ratings recovered slightly as inflation eased, raising a question as to whether Trump can quickly regroup to show tangible progress.

Trump came into office last year with relatively low approval — 42% in March 2025 — which has until now remained fairly stable.

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Bedayn reported from Austin.

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The AP-NORC poll of 2,596 adults was conducted April 16-20 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

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Trump makes major Iran U-turn as he claims regime ‘fractured’ in Truth Social post

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Daily Record

The two-week ceasefire with Iran was due to end

US President Donald Trump has once again extended the ceasefire with Iran, announcing the decision only hours before the deadline was due to expire, after reportedly being urged to “hold our attack”.

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In a statement, Trump said the decision was driven by his belief that the “Government of Iran is seriously fractured”.

“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” he posted on Truth Social.

“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”

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Drone footage captures Radcliffe mill blaze as flames rip through building

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Manchester Evening News

Emergency services were called to Milltown Street around 7.15pm on Tuesday

Drone footage shows thick smoke and flames from Radcliffe fire

Drone footage captures the moment flames ripped through a derelict mill in Radcliffe.

Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the fire on Milltown Street at around 7.15pm on Tuesday, April 21.

A cordon was put in place, with dozens of firefighters from across Greater Manchester called to tackle the blaze.

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A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “At around 7.15pm today (Tuesday 21 April), eight fire engines and three specialist appliances from across Greater Manchester were called to a building fire on Milltown Street, Radcliffe.

“Crews arrived quickly and are using jets and turntable ladders to extinguish the fire.

“Residents are asked to avoid the area and close their windows and doors if they live nearby.”

Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment.

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Murderer executed after 36 years on death row for setting neighbour on fire

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Manchester Evening News

Chadwick Scott Willacy, 58, was executed in Florida after spending 36 years on death row for the murder of his neighbour Marlys Sather

A convicted murderer on death row, who set his neighbour alight more than three decades ago, used his final statement to deliver a thinly-veiled apology.

Chadwick Scott Willacy was administered a three-drug lethal injection today for the murder of Marlys Sather, who was set on fire after returning home to discover the intruder inside her property.

Willacy, who had broken into the home in a chilling burglary, struck her over the head with a blunt instrument, fracturing her skull, before binding her hands and ankles with wire and tape, reports the Mirror.

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Having been found guilty of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery and arson, Willacy spent 36 years on death row in Starke, Florida, before finally being executed on April 21. While the 58 year old offered apologies to his own family and friends and urged his “brothers on the row” to stay strong, Willacy continued to protest his innocence, insisting he would never have killed his friend.

Speaking moments before the lethal injection was administered, Willacy said: “To the victim’s family, I hope this brings you peace. If it does, that’s good. But this is not right.”

This marked Florida’s fifth execution this year, following the death of Michael Lee King, who had raped and murdered a young mother in the state. Both men endured lengthy spells on death row prior to their executions; nearly 36 years in Willacy’s case, following his attack on Ms Sather in Palm Bay, Florida.

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When Ms Sather confronted the intruder in her home, he attempted to strangle her with a telephone cord, and when that failed, he doused her in petrol and set her alight, according to records. An autopsy confirmed that Ms Sather had died from smoke inhalation, indicating she was still alive when she was set on fire.

Willacy also stole Ms Sather’s car and other belongings from her home, and used the woman’s ATM card to withdraw cash, officials said. When Ms Sather failed to return to work after her lunch break, her employer contacted her family. Her son-in-law went to check on her and discovered her body. Her killer was subsequently sentenced to death following a 9-3 jury recommendation, after being convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery and arson.

Florida’s fifth execution of 2026 came after a record 19 executions in the state the previous year. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

A further execution is scheduled in Florida later this month: James Ernest Hitchcock, 70, is due to receive a lethal injection on April 30. He was convicted of beating and choking his 13 year old niece to death.

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M&S adds 15 new budget products to stores in major shake-up

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M&S adds 15 new budget products to stores in major shake-up

The high street giant is expanding its “ReMarksable Value” range with 15 new purse-friendly products as it battles to win over families doing the weekly shop.

Shoppers will now find more than 140 items in the range, all focused on affordable staples.

And it’s not just new additions.

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M&S has also cut prices on 19 everyday items, including fresh veg favourites, as reported by creatorzine.com .

Chestnut mushrooms have dropped from £1.40 to £1.30 for 300g, while leeks have been reduced from £2.20 to £1.90 for 600g.

The retailer has also added seven more products to its “Dropped & Locked” scheme – designed to keep prices lower for longer.

The move comes as M&S tries to shake off its reputation for being pricier than rivals.

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All items in the ReMarksable Value range are benchmarked against competitors to ensure they stay competitive.

Bosses say the strategy is already working – with more families seeing M&S as better value than before.

Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, said: “Families want to eat well without paying more, and vegetables are at the heart of the weekly shop.

“By lowering prices on everyday veg staples, we’re making it easier for more families to shop M&S as part of their weekly shop.”

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The changes are part of a wider push to grow its food business and take on budget supermarkets.

Price cuts include:

  • Sweetheart cabbage – £0.95 → £0.75 (each)
  • Brussels sprouts 500g – £1.15 → £0.90
  • Red chillies 75g – £1.00 → £0.65
  • Red & green mixed chillies 70g – £1.00 → £0.60
  • Chestnut mushrooms 300g – £1.40 → £1.30
  • Carrot bag 500g – £0.55 → £0.55
  • Tenderstem broccoli 200g – £2.00 → £1.75
  • Leeks 600g – £2.20 → £1.90
  • Garlic net (x3) – £0.90 → £0.70
  • Loose ginger – £6.75/kg → £6.20/kg
  • White cabbage – £1.00 → £1.00 (each)
  • Loose sweet potatoes – £1.40/kg → £1.30/kg
  • Red cabbage – £1.00 → £1.00 (each)
  • Loose courgettes – £3.20/kg → £2.85/kg
  • Courgettes 325g – £1.45 → £1.45

‘Dropped & locked’ additions:

  • Tenderstem tips 125g – £1.40 → £1.25
  • Organic garlic – £0.80 → £0.70
  • Portobello mushrooms – £2.00 → £1.60
  • Bird’s eye chilli – £1.15 → £0.75
  • Organic leeks – £2.50 → £2.20
  • Finger chilli – £1.30 → £0.80
  • Santini tomatoes 340g – £2.75 → £1.70

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Texas can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments

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Texas can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments

DALLAS (AP) — Texas can require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, a U.S. appeals court ruled Tuesday in a victory for conservatives who have long sought to incorporate more religion into schools.

It sets up a potential clash at the U.S. Supreme Court over the issue in the future.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals said in the decision that the law did not violate the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom and prevents the government from establishing a religion.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, called the ruling “a major victory for Texas and our moral values.”

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“The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our nation, and it’s important that students learn from them every single day,” Paxton said.

Organizations representing the families who challenged the law, including the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement that they were “extremely disappointed” by the decision.

“The court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority. The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights,” the statement said.

The law is among the pushes by Republicans, including President Donald Trump, to incorporate religion into public schools. Critics say it violates the separation of church and state while backers argue that the Ten Commandments are historical and part of the foundation of U.S. law.

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The ruling, which reverses a district court’s judgment, comes after the full court heard arguments in January in the Texas case and a similar case in Louisiana. The appeals court in February cleared the way for Louisiana’s law, requiring displays of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 12-6 to lift a block that a lower court first placed on the law in 2024.

Texas law took effect on Sept. 1, marking the largest attempt in the nation to hang the Ten Commandments in public schools. About two dozen school districts had been barred from posting them after federal judges issued injunctions in two cases against the law but went up in many classrooms across the state as districts paid to have the posters printed themselves or accepted donations.

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Dozens of firefighters remain at scene of Radcliffe mill fire as cordon in place

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Manchester Evening News

A cordon remains in place on Milltown Street

Drone footage shows thick smoke and flames from Radcliffe fire

Firefighters from across Greater Manchester remain at the scene of a derelict mill blaze in Radcliffe on Tuesday night (April 21).

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Dozens of firefighters from across the area, along with police and paramedics, were called to the fire on Milltown Street at 7.15pm.

A cordon was put in place and people were urged to avoid the area and keep doors and windows closed.

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In an update at 11.40pm on Tuesday, Leon Henry, GMFRS Group Manager and Incident Commander at the scene, said: “Crews are working hard to extinguish the fire and have made good progress.

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“Our firefighters, who have been supported at the scene by colleagues from Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service and Bury Council, will remain in attendance overnight to fully extinguish the fire.“Residents are still advised to avoid the area with a road closure in place on Milltown Street.”

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Starmer to face PMQs amid pressure over Mandelson vetting scandal

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Starmer to face PMQs amid pressure over Mandelson vetting scandal

When Sir Olly took over at the helm of the Foreign Office in January last year, Lord Mandelson had already gone through the Cabinet Office’s “due diligence” process, the King and the US had given him approval, and he was already being granted access to “highly classified briefings” on a case-by-case basis – without his security clearance being confirmed, he said.

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Jet2 issues update on flights amid jet fuel disruptions

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Jet2 issues update on flights amid jet fuel disruptions

The conflict in the Middle East between the US, Israel, and Iran has caused major disruptions to jet fuel supplies in recent weeks.

This has led to soaring prices and warnings that flights could be affected because of Europe’s reliance on fuel imports from around the world.

The Airports Council International (ACI), which represents more than 600 airports, has warned that Europe could be hit by a “systemic” shortage of jet fuel in the coming weeks if the Strait of Hormuz (which has been effectively closed off by Iran) does not reopen.

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Director-general of ACI, Olivier Jankovec, said: “At this stage, we understand that if the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.

“The fact that we are entering the peak summer season is only adding to those concerns.”

Jet2 issues update on upcoming flights

Major airlines around the world, including Air New Zealand, have already responded to the disruption to jet fuel supplies by increasing fares and cutting flights.

Lufthansa has closed its CityLine regional subsidiary, which operates routes between London and Munich and Frankfurt.

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Norse Atlantic Airways has also cancelled all routes to Los Angeles, including flights from London Gatwick Airport.

Meanwhile, budget airline TUI has said it is “monitoring” jet fuel shortages.



Jet2 is the latest UK airline to issue an update on its upcoming flights, amid growing concerns about a jet fuel shortage across Europe.

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Passengers have taken to social media to question whether flights and holidays, booked with the airline are still going ahead.

One person, posting on X (formerly Twitter), said: ” @jet2tweets Hi there – we are looking to go away for a week to Malaga in June and want to know how concerned we should be about the reporting of lack of airport fuel and what happens to our holiday should something like this happen and impact our holiday. Can you help…?”

Another traveller posted: ” @jet2tweets are holidays going ahead as usual? We’ve booked an all inclusive 10 day to Crete in June. I’m worried about jet fuel prices.”

Jet2 responded, saying: “All flights are planned to go ahead as normal.

“If anything were to change regarding your booking, we would be sure to reach out to you directly to make you aware, and discuss the options available to you.”

Aer Lingus cancels more than 500 flights

Aer Lingus has also cut more than 500 flights from its schedule due to “mandatory maintenance”.

The cuts are set to cause travel disruptions for “tens of thousands of passengers” over the coming weeks.

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The airline is axing a select number of transatlantic flights, internal Aer Lingus documents seen by the Sunday Independent have revealed.

Services to and from Seattle, San Francisco, Minneapolis-St Paul, and Toronto will be impacted by the cancellations, according to the documents.

Departures from Dublin to many European airports, including Berlin, Zurich, Athens, Faro, and Amsterdam, will also be removed from the Aer Lingus schedule, on select dates.

A “small number” of cancellations will affect passengers travelling from Shannon and Cork airports.

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Flights to London Heathrow, ­Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, and Edinburgh will also be cancelled, with passengers rebooked onto other services, the Sunday Independent said.


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An Aer Lingus spokesperson said: “Aer Lingus has commenced operating its planned summer schedule.

“A number of recent cancellations have been required due to mandatory maintenance on aircraft, along with a limited number of schedule adjustments.

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“Schedule changes apply to approximately 2% of Aer Lingus’ overall schedule.

“Where schedule adjustments are being made, the vast majority of customers are being reaccommodated on same day services.”

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