US Vice-President JD Vance has taken issue with Pope Leo, after his public sparring with Donald Trump about the war in Iran.

A heckler in the crowd at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia shouted as Vance chided the pontiff to “be careful when he talks about matters of theology”.

Pope Leo – the first American Pope – has repeatedly condemned the war in Iran, saying it has led to “absurd and inhuman violence”.

The pope said on Monday that he has “no fear” of the Trump administration or “speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do”.

Not that any of this has any bearing on the souvlaki. Mine was almost upsettingly delicious, the pita warm and soft, curling pillow-like around skewered pork that glistened with fat and melted with flavour. A thick layer of tzatziki covered the meat before thinly sliced onions, juicy tomatoes, and a blanket of crisp, golden fries. I happen to think Greece is home to the best French fries in the world. Something to do with the oil, I guess. To see this souvlaki before the rippling sea, not a cloud in the sky, made it all the better. And there are few dishes better suited after swimming, by the way. It beats the leisure centre cafe.

Manchester City are battling Arsenal for the Premier League title heading into the final few weeks of the season.

Manchester City’s showdown with Arsenal on Sunday has rightfully been billed as a title decider. Should the Gunners prevail, they would move nine points clear with the Blues having just five further games to erode that deficit.

Mikel Arteta’s men would surely go on to win the Premier League if they win at the Etihad this weekend. Conversely, a City win reduces the gap to three, with Pep Guardiola’s men having the chance to go top if they follow that up with a win at Burnley on Wednesday.

A draw favours Arsenal but leaves plenty to play for in the final month of the season. Guardiola knows the importance of Sunday but is placing an emphasis on performance rather than magnitude. And he knows there is enough quality elsewhere in the top flight that beating Arsenal does not guarantee future wins.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

“Arsenal is a final for us, for them as well,” Guardiola said after the win at Chelsea on Sunday. “But don’t tell me Brentford at home will be easy, go to Bournemouth to win, win at home to Aston Villa.

“There are still many things that are going to happen. That’s why after the result yesterday I said relax guys, don’t think much. All you have to do is how we will perform today against Chelsea. That’s the only thing you have to think about.”

If Guardiola highlighted three potential banana skins for his side, those pitfalls will also face Arsenal in the run-in. While the fixtures for the Gunners look kinder on paper, the pressure and magnitude of what is at stake will play a part.

After the trip to City, Arsenal welcome Newcastle to the Emirates. Eddie Howe’s side are on a dreadful run of domestic form but the Gunners’ loss to Bournemouth last time out showed a vulnerability on their own patch with the tension in the stands and on the pitch clear. Newcastle have also shown countless times this season that they can get themselves into a winning position; they have squandered more points in that manner than anyone else but that tide has to turn.

Arteta’s men also have a tricky-looking trip to West Ham next month. The Hammers are in the thick of the relegation battle and are likely to need points when they host Arsenal on May 10. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have shown their quality on more than one occasion in recent weeks and they have at least a puncher’s chance against the leaders.

Guardiola is aware it is not all about Sunday at the Etihad. Arsenal will know it too.

Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick was left furious by decisions made during the 2-1 defeat to Leeds on Monday night

Michael Carrick cut an angry figure at full time as Manchester United returned to Premier League action with a defeat to Leeds. The interim head coach’s major gripes came with referee Paul Tierney and his team, including VAR’s John Brooks. The interim head coach was angered by the decision to send off Lisandro Martinez after he was adjudged to have pulled Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.

However, Carrick was also furious Noah Okafor’s first goal was allowed to stand after Calvert-Lewin collided with Leny Yoro in the build-up. “He [Martinez] gets an arm in the face to start with, so he’s off balance and they’re grappling, and then he almost just goes to touch him and grab his shirt,” Carrick said.

“And he ends up catching his hair, and touching the back of his hair. Then the bobble comes out and you get a red card for it. It’s not aggressive, there’s no jolt, no tug, no sudden movement, he kind of touches it, glances through it, and we’ve got to be careful with where the game is going if you’re getting red cards for that.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

“But then you can do two arms in the face for the first goal, and that is deemed alright. It’s a shocking decision, an absolutely shocking decision.

“When you go one-goal down, it makes it a little bit more difficult, and I have to say the goal itself, Leny Yoro gets an arm smashed in the back of his head. That’s worth looking at again if you haven’t seen that.

“I don’t know how that doesn’t get overturned as a goal, it’s a clear smash in the side of his head, so that first goal shouldn’t stand, and it puts us in a difficult situation. It’s two decisions for me, the first goal, if that is overturned, it’s a massive moment, he’s kind of gone like that [gestures a push] to Leny’s head. But the red card, I have to say, that is really concerning.”

So with this in mind, MEN Sport has asked our United writers for their verdicts on the two decisions.

Steven Railston

Carrick was adamant that Leeds’ first goal should have been chalked off for a foul on Yoro. Calvert-Lewin’s arm is slightly raised, but it doesn’t look obvious when the replay is shown at normal speed. I’d argue that Yoro had to be stronger, and someone like Harry Maguire would have cleared the header.

The second incident, the Martinez red card, has dominated headlines because the decision is very soft, but the precedent set by the PGMOL means that he was bound to be sent off once VAR had spotted it. The hair-pulling debate came to the fore in 2022 when Tottenham captain Romero pulled the hair of Chelsea defender Cucurella at a corner. Mike Dean was on VAR, and he failed to send referee Anthony Taylor to the monitor.

That was deemed a mistake by the PGMOL. Southampton defender Jack Stephens was shown a straight red card for a hair pull in December 2024. Everton defender Michael Keane was also sent off for a hair pull in January.

It was daft from Martinez to pull on Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail. It might have been accidental, but you’re leaving yourself open to a sending off if you touch an opponent’s hair.

Having said that, it’s obvious that Martinez’s action was not violent conduct. The action was not forceful, and seemingly not intentional.

Jack Flintham

I am not convinced the first one is anything more than a soft foul, if that. We all know Calvert-Lewin is a physical striker with a similar style to Benjamin Sesko.

If it is given as a foul, I don’t think it would have been overturned but, likewise, VAR is not getting involved with that decision to prevent Okafor’s opener. The two players come together and he does impede Yoro but I can see why VAR did not get involved to avoid re-refereeing the game.

Initially, I thought Martinez was rightfully sent off. The defender does grab Calvert-Lewin’s hair, intentionally or otherwise.

But, the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) rules state it is a red card, unless the force is ‘negligible’. In my opinion, the tug was not prolonged, he was not dragged to the ground aggressively and while the bobble was removed, it seems harsh to send him off for that.

Dr Ann Burgess is a pioneering criminal profiler who inspired characters in iconic shows and films like Mindhunter, The Silence of the Lambs and Law and Order SVU.

Advertisement

Dr Ann Burgess lent her expertise to investigations involving some of America’s most notorious serial killers, including Ted Bundy, Ed Kemper, and Dennis Rader.

BBC Two airs the opening episode of Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer tonight, Tuesday, April 14, a three-part documentary series examining the life of Dr Ann Burgess.

Originally trained as a psychiatric mental health nurse, Burgess became one of the FBI’s most valuable assets, transforming criminal profiling and helping to apprehend killers throughout the 1970s and 1980s – work that remains vitally important to this day.

Her contributions proved so significant that she served as the inspiration for Netflix‘s acclaimed crime thriller Mindhunter, with psychologist Dr Wendy Carr from the FBI’s Behaviour Science Unit (BSU) modelled on Burgess.

Where is Dr Ann Burgess now?

At 89-years-old, Dr Ann Burgess shows absolutely no indication of stepping back, as she continues her profiling work.

Rather than focusing on serial killers, however, Burgess has redirected her efforts towards profiling school shooters, collaborating with her granddaughter Alex, according to CBS.

Together, they gather data drawn from shooters’ manifestos, hoping to develop a profiling technique that enables teachers and others to identify students displaying worrying behavioural signs.

Burgess told CBS that the motivation “always includes a grievance”, as she continued: “And then they start researching and developing their plan.

“Law enforcement is onto this, and I think that they are making great strides on the cases that don’t turn out to be lethal.”

Beyond this work, Burgess also dedicates her time to training nurses in Boston to identify indicators that women with dementia have been subjected to sexual assault in care homes.

Burgess is notoriously private, with little known about her personal life. Her husband Allen, a computer engineer, was an ardent supporter of her FBI work.

Holding a pilot’s licence, Allen would fly her to and from Quantico, Virginia, to conduct her research, until Burgess eventually obtained her own licence.

The couple have four children together – two sons and two daughters – and Burgess now collaborates closely with her granddaughter Alex on her most recent project.

Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer is available to watch on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

“You’ll be aware of his majesty’s clear constitutional position, not least with regards to the judicial process, and even though the risk may be small that a meeting or any public comments could impact on those inquiries, or the proper course of the law, that is a risk that we simply can’t take, for the best interest for the survivors themselves.”

The US is bracing for another cycle of elections, with November’s midterms determining the scope of Donald Trump’s power in the final two years of his presidency. All seats in the House of Representatives will be contested, as will one-third of the Senate.

Trump’s Republican party currently controls both branches of Congress. However, polls are indicating a swing to the Democrats that would see them retake the House. A current RealClear generic congressional vote poll, in which people are asked whether they will vote for Democrats or Republicans for Congress, gives the Democrats a five percentage point lead over the Republicans at 47.4% to 42%.

One major variable that is likely to affect the outcome of November’s elections is the war in Iran. Some Republican political operatives believe the conflict and its repercussions, namely the increased cost of living, could prove fatal to their party’s hopes of securing a slim retention of the House.

A March poll by the Pew Research Center revealed 61% of Americans disapproved of Trump’s handling of the conflict. One voting demographic of particular concern for Republicans is people aged 18 to 29. An Economist/YouGov poll also from March showed that 63% of these people opposed the war.

Men within this age bracket were an important factor in Trump’s 2024 election victory. Philip Wang, political reporter for Time magazine, argued in an article on April 8 that this “same voting bloc … is showing far less interest in voting in the midterms”.

William A. Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, has asserted that the affordability issue is affecting Trump’s standing. He has also stated that, for a majority of Americans, the president’s “priorities do not align with theirs”. A recent survey conducted by American non-profit Consumer Action for a Strong Economy revealed that voters’ most pressing concern was the price of groceries, with the cost of healthcare coming second.

Over the past year, both parties have also engaged in redistricting efforts designed to increase their respective chances of controlling the House. In a number of mainly – though not exclusively – Republican controlled states, legislators have redrawn congressional maps in an attempt to secure more seats.

The redistricting war has come down to two final states: Democratic-led Virginia and Republican-dominated Florida. On April 21, voters in Virginia will decide the fate of proposed new congressional boundaries heavily favouring Democrats. Florida’s legislature will vote days later on a revised Republican-leaning electoral map.

However, there are growing concerns in both political camps about these votes and their impact on the result of the midterms. Florida Republicans fear Trump’s low approval ratings could cost them redrawn districts, while Democrats are encountering tepid backing from their supporters for their aggressive redistricting in Virginia.

Growing Democrat momentum

There have already been significant election results in recent weeks that have shed light on the trajectory of the upcoming midterms. In Republican-led Texas, a fascinating race is shaping up between both parties for a Senate seat. The last time a Democrat won here was in 1988.

In primary elections in March, Democratic voters chose state representative James Talarico as their candidate for November’s election. Republicans are yet to confirm theirs, with incumbent Senator John Cornyn facing Texas attorney-general Ken Paxton in a run-off election in May.

Primary voting numbers in Texas are encouraging for Democrats. For the first time in six years, more of its supporters cast early vote ballots in a March primary than Republicans. Democrats also saw a major shift in Latino voters to their side, a voting bloc that had swung to Trump in record numbers in 2024.

According to analysis by American broadcaster NPR: “In the ten most populous counties in Texas that are also at least 50% Latino, votes in the Democratic primary increased by an average of 128%.” The same analysis concluded that, in those same counties, the Republican primary saw an average drop in votes of 4.8%.

Then, in early April, liberal judge Chris Taylor won a seat on the state of Wisconsin’s supreme court. She secured 60.1% of the vote to her conservative opponent’s 39.8%. Taylor’s statewide vote is an impressive 21 percentage points higher than Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s vote share was in the state in 2024.

Also in early April, an election took place in Georgia to fill the congressional seat vacated by former Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene, who has publicly broken with Trump over his handling of the Epstein files, won in 2024 by almost 29 percentage points. Her replacement, Clay Fuller, held the seat for the Republican party by a much narrower margin of just 12 percentage points.

The forecasts for November’s midterm elections are moving in the Democrats direction, especially for taking control of the House. But there is some reason for hope among Republicans.

Figures from CBS News and CNN/SSRS show that at the same point in 2006 and 2018 – also midterm election years where a Republican president was in office – Democrats were ahead on party favourability by 18 points and 12 points respectively. At this stage in 2026, the data reveals Republicans are actually sitting with a five-point favourability lead.

Seven months out from November’s midterms, Democrats have momentum on their side as well as a Republican president whose poll ratings are plummeting. The most likely outcome is that the Democrats will emerge with control of at least one branch of Congress.

Here is how the Bluebirds players rated in the midweek clash with the Terriers

Cardiff City left it desperately late at Huddersfield Town, but Yousef Salech’s stoppage-time equaliser could yet prove one of the most important goals of their season.

The Bluebirds were far from their fluent best and, for long stretches, looked short of ideas in the final third despite dominating the ball.

But the impact of the substitutes, particularly Salech and Callum Robinson, salvaged a point that leaves promotion within touching distance.

JOIN OUR CARDIFF CITY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and much more

Nathan Trott 8 (star man)

Made a superb early reaction save from Radulovic and was helpless for Ledson’s finish, before making another two big stops late on to keep Cardiff in the match before the equaliser.

Perry Ng 6

Started brightly with a dangerous early run and shot, but found it slightly harder going defensively against Huddersfield’s energy down that flank.

Will Fish 6

Solid enough in the main and dealt with plenty of aerial pressure, although he completely misjudged one cross which allowed Radulovic a glaring opportunity to score.

Dylan Lawlor 6

The youngster had some important moments and looked pretty calm in the main, but he was booked for a cynical foul which also caused himself some mischief and he was subsequently withdrawn.

Joel Bagan 6

Saw plenty of the ball and kept trying to provide width, though too many of his deliveries lacked the final quality needed.

Ryan Wintle 6

Battled away in midfield and tried to keep Cardiff ticking, looked better when he tried to break through the lines when carrying the ball.

Alex Robertson 6

Produced some lovely passes, including the diagonal for Kellyman’s header, but drifted in and out and was booked for an elbow before making way on the hour.

Rubin Colwill 5

Had a couple of presentable openings but never really got going and looked frustrated before being replaced. Just wasn’t his night.

Ollie Tanner 6

One of Cardiff’s livelier attackers throughout but that end product, given the positions he does well to get into, can be really frustrating. His lovely cross at the death was key to Salech’s equaliser, though.

Omari Kellyman 5

Worked hard between the lines and went close with a good first-half header, though he struggled to truly impose himself and was a little wasteful.

Chris Willock 5

A quiet evening by his standards. Saw plenty of possession but too often the final action lacked conviction. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.

Subs

Yousef Salech (Willock 60) 8 – Made the decisive contribution with his killer instinct at the back post and gave Cardiff a more direct focal point. Showed Cardiff what they’ve been missing the last few months.

Gabriel Osho (Lawlor 60) 6 – Settled things defensively and helped Cardiff push higher in the closing stages. Whistled one long-range effort wide. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

David Turnbull (Robertson 60) 6 – Added a bit more zip in possession as Cardiff chased the game.

Callum Robinson (R. Colwill 66) 7 – His flicked header assist was outstanding and his pressing lifted Cardiff’s attacking intensity.

Joel Colwill (Wintle 83) N/A

—

*Sign up to our daily Bluebirds newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here. Cardiff City correspondent Glen Williams is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here, on Instagram, on TikTok and on Facebook.

Follifoot, said to be a “tranquil, picturesque” spot situated near Harrogate, was also highlighted among the finest villages in Britain by The Telegraph.

With a current average house price of £810,432, the village, which is surrounded by green, rolling countryside, might sound familiar thanks to the 1970s ITV children’s show Follyfoot, which starred James Bond’s Desmond Llewellyn.

The publisher shared about its 2026 village guide: “Living in a village is the dream for many, whether retiring, downsizing or looking for a healthy, happy place to bring up children.

“Using exclusive research provided by Savills, Telegraph Money can reveal the poshest villages in Britain, broken down by county.”

The list was curated by using a combination of the highest house prices, a lively community, a thriving village hall, great pubs, local shops and sporting facilities, which are all aspects that “make a great village”.

The Telegraph added: “We also took into account other factors, such as whether the location sits in a bucolic setting, has an interesting heritage, and whether it ticks the boxes of the classic village, with a green, duck pond and perhaps thatched cottages.”

Why is this North Yorkshire village among the UK’s poshest?

From the Michelin-recognised Rudding Park hotel and spa nearby, to its active Women’s Institute chapter, there is a lot that makes Follifoot stand out amongst the crowd when it comes to some of the country’s top villages.

The Telegraph shared: “Prettily named Follifoot – older readers may remember the 1970s TV series about North Yorkshire horse sanctuary, ‘Follyfoot’ – is a stone-built spot in North Yorkshire’s ‘Golden Triangle’.

“Five miles south of the smart spa town of Harrogate, it has a Church of England primary school, a shop/post office and a Victorian church, plus a pub, The Harewood Arms, named after the nearby estate of the 8th Earl, David Lascelles.

“The village hall is undergoing refurbishment, so the ever-enterprising local WI are holding their meetings at Rudding Park, a nearby five-star hotel and spa with a Michelin-star restaurant.”

Follifoot also offers residents and visitors the chance to get involved in safari suppers, school fetes, indoor bowls, yoga, coffee and cake club, as well as beer festivals and much more.

Additionally, Andrew Beadnall, from estate agency Beadnall Copley, told The Telegraph: “It’s not been spoilt at all.

‘Real ale and pub grub’ can be found at this pretty village pub near Harrogate (Image: Tripadvisor)

“But the Harrogate southern bypass now skirts the village, taking you to Leeds and York, and Pannal railway station is down the hill for trains to Leeds and London.”

The Harewood Arms on Main Street is operated by Samuel Smith’s Brewery and is said to be a “great village pub” with “quirky” interior, open fires in winter and beer gardens during the summer.

Its CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) profile shares: “Ancient looking quirky interior, multi-roomed Sam Smith’s pub in a two pub village within easy reach of Rudding Holiday Park.

“There are low ceilings and old timbers, plain walls, settles and benches, carpeted floors rather than flags.

“It has Yorkshire sash windows at the front. Friendly staff and a great village pub atmosphere.”

On Tripadvisor, The Harewood Arms currently has a “good” 4.1/5 rating based on more than 60 reviews – 32 of which are rated as “excellent”.

The pub’s profile on the popular review-based website says: “Friendly pub with outstanding floral displays set in the heart of North Yorkshire in the ancient village of Follifoot.

“Real ale and pub grub.

“Very large car park and beer gardens & outdoor seating.

“Open fires during the chilly Months.”

Meanwhile, over on Google Reviews, it boasts a 4.4/5-star rating from 146 reviews.

This customer posted: “Lovely old village pub.

“Great hand pulled sam smith’s bitter.

“Licensees are lovely people.

“Lovely outside area and grassed garden.”

Someone else wrote: “A pub from a largely bygone era.

“Four small bars with fireplaces was like having your own snug!

“A very warm welcome and amicable conversation with staff throughout our visit.

“We were made to feel very at home.

“A limited menu of home cooked meals was on offer at lunch but best to check with the pub before you go as food service days/hours are limited.

“Had a marvellous steak and kidney pudding! Samuel Smith bitter on the pump.

“Lovely visit and would most certainly return!”

Which North Yorkshire villages do you think are the poshest? Let us know in the comments below.

As prices surge due to the conflict in the Middle East, the country’s gas system operator has now had their say.

National Gas expects gas stocks in Great Britain to be sufficiently high to allow some supplies to be exported to mainland Europe.

The organisation, which operates Britain’s National Transmission System (NTS), published its outlook for summer 2026 against a turbulent global energy backdrop.

Why have oil and gas prices risen?

Oil and gas prices have climbed sharply since hostilities escalated between US‑Israeli and Iranian forces in late February.

UK natural gas futures reached about 120.7 pence per therm on Monday (April 13), up from roughly 78 pence per therm before the conflict began.

Forecasts were prepared ahead of the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East but National Gas said it has reviewed its analysis since and concluded that the market is expected to still have sufficient capacity and capability to meet forecasts.

Glenn Bryn-Jacobsen, director of energy systems and resilience at National Gas, said: “While the situation in the Middle East has understandably raised questions about Britain’s gas supplies, our forecasts indicate the market has the capacity to deliver sufficient supply to meet demand this summer.

“The diversity of supply sources, including domestic production, Norway, LNG and storage, provides resilience and flexibility as supply flows and demand patterns change.”

What are the current gas forecasts?

Demand for gas is forecast to be similar to summer 2025, according to the projections.

National Gas expects a roughly 6% reduction in gas demand used for electricity generation, but said this will be largely offset by an expected 2% rise in non-daily metered demand from residential and commercial consumers.

Ian Radley, chief commercial officer at National Gas, said: “Gas continues to play a critical role in supporting the electricity system, even during the summer months.

“As renewable output fluctuates, gas‑fired power stations are increasingly required to respond quickly, and the network must be able to support that safely and reliably.

“It is important that ongoing, co-ordinated action between Government, industry and regulators continues to address future risks arising from declining domestic production and an increasing reliance on imports.”