Prime Minister Andy Burham’s Cabinet appointments: (top row, left to right) Chancellor John Healey, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Education Secretary Lucy Powell, Chief Whip Anneliese Midgley and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, (second row, left to right) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Louise Haigh, Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle, Justice Secretary Alex Norris and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh (UK Parliament/PA)

PA Media

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Aldi has said it is continuing to work with North Yorkshire Council on the creation of a new £7 million supermarket in Eastfield, Scarborough.

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Despite an initial setback regarding demolition proposals at the site, the company said the “demolition works are expected to be completed in July, helping to make the site safe and secure”.

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Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), they added: “We continue to work closely with North Yorkshire Council as it considers Aldi’s planning application for a new store at the former Driving Test Centre in Eastfield.

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“The site has been cleared in advance to help facilitate the timely delivery of the development should planning permission be granted.”

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In January, North Yorkshire Council rejected Aldi’s prior notification for the demolition of two buildings as part of its scheme to build a supermarket at Cayton Low Road.

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The multinational supermarket chain, now one of the UK’s “big four”, said it was “disappointed” but was still going ahead with the proposal.

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However, in March, planning officers said that “prior approval of the method of demolition and any proposed restoration of the site is not required” and that the demolition “must be carried out within five years from the date when the application was submitted”.

Aldi Eastfield Proposed Site.

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The spokesperson for Aldi added: “We look forward to continuing to engage with the planning process and supporting the council towards determination of the application in the coming months.”

Officers discovering several more illegal snares in the area in Musselburgh, including one containing a rabbit.

A “much-loved” family cat has died after becoming caught in an illegal snare trap in a woodland.

The pet was found entangled in the deadly device on a footpath near Musselburgh leading into Whitecraig from Wallyford on the evening of Sunday, July 12.

Police attended the scene and shockingly discovered several more snares, including one which had caught and killed a rabbit.

All of the traps were seized by officers for further investigation.

Police Scotland is now appealing for information from anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the Whitecraig area in the days before the cat’s death.

Constable Whitby, Wildlife Crime Coordinator for the Lothians and Scottish Borders, said the incident highlighted the dangers posed by illegal snares.

They said: “Snares have been illegal in Scotland since 2024, and they were banned for this very reason.

“A much-loved family pet has sadly died due to someone operating these illegal devices.

“If anyone has any information in relation to this incident or saw anyone acting suspicious in the Whitecraig area in the last week, please contact officers on 101, quoting incident number 3158 of 12 July, 2026.

“In addition, if you have any information or concerns regarding wildlife crime in the area, please get in touch.”

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as enquiries into the incident continue.

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An everyday kitchen staple could transform your homemade jacket spuds, helping create a soft-to-the-touch texture without the extra effort

A perfectly cooked jacket potato should have a crispy skin and a light, fluffy centre. Achieving this is surprisingly easy, with culinary experts backing one inexpensive kitchen ingredient to get the job done.

While many home cooks simply rub their potatoes with a concoction of oil and salt before baking, a number of chefs recommend adding baking soda to the preparation process instead. They say the ingredient can help break down the surface of the spud, creating that softer, fluffier texture once baked.

According to food science writer J. Kenji López-Alt, baking soda raises the pH level of the water when potatoes are parboiled, causing the outer layer to break down more quickly. Writing for Serious Eats, he explains this creates a starchy coating that encourages a crisp exterior while helping the inside become lighter and fluffier.

How to use baking soda with jacket potatoes

Serious Eats recommends to add around half a teaspoon of baking soda to a pan of salted water before briefly parboiling whole potatoes for around 10 minutes. After draining, allow the potatoes to steam dry before rubbing them with a little oil and seasoning, then roast until the skins are crisp and the centres are tender.

The Idaho Potato Commission also recommends allowing potatoes to dry thoroughly before roasting, saying excess moisture can prevent the skins from becoming crisp. It advises baking potatoes directly on the oven rack where possible to allow hot air to circulate evenly around them.

According to BBC Good Food, choosing a floury potato variety such as Maris Piper, King Edward or Russet also makes a noticeable difference. These varieties naturally contain more starch and less moisture than waxy potatoes, producing a softer, fluffier centre when cooked.

Food experts also advise avoiding wrapping jacket potatoes in foil during cooking. BBC Good Food says that foil traps steam around the potato, softening the skin rather than allowing it to crisp up in the oven.

The Idaho Potato Commission recommends baking potatoes at a high temperature, typically around 200C to 220C, until they are tender all the way through. Cooking times will vary depending on size, but most medium potatoes take around an hour.

Although baking soda is commonly used by chefs when preparing roast potatoes, food experts say the same principle can help improve jacket potatoes by encouraging a fluffier interior. Combined with choosing the right potato variety and baking at a high temperature, it could help elevate a simple midweek meal.

A Morgan Wallen fan has claimed that he and his family were urinated on during a concert in Baltimore, and police are now investigating.

The incident occurred while the 33-year-old country superstar was performing at the city’s M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, July 18.

The fan, whose name is Troy Grevelding, alleges that he was watching the performance along with his wife, brother and 8-year-old niece when an unidentified concertgoer behind them exposed himself before urinating freely, splashing the family.

Grevelding says the man was ejected by concert security, but that Maryland State Police said they couldn’t arrest the man as they hadn’t witnessed the incident.

In a video circulating on social media, Grevelding can be heard in conversation with officers.

“There’s nothing we can do about a guy physically pulling out his dick and pissing on me right now? In front of an 8-year-old girl?” asks Grevelding.

The Maryland officer responds to say: “We cannot take him into custody. We’re going to give you his information, and you can be referred to the commissioner.”

Grevelding then addresses the camera and says: “I’m going to make it known that I had a gentleman whip his dick out at a Morgan Wallen concert, piss on me, my brother and my niece, and the Maryland State Police can do nothing about it. Not a thing.”

In a statement to TMZ, MDTA Police said that they are “aware of this incident and the video that is on social media. There is an active and open criminal investigation into this matter.”

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Wallen’s performance in Baltimore was part of his ongoing “Still The Problem” tour, which continues in Ann Arbor, Michigan this week before concluding in Philadelphia at the start of August.

Last month, Wallen cancelled one of his tour dates in Pittsburgh due to bad weather. Backlash immediately ensued as fans complained that canceling the show was unnecessary because the predicted thunderstorms were not near the concert venue, and the bad weather ended hours before the show was scheduled to begin.

The country star claimed that after speaking with “local officials,” he had “no choice” but to call off the show.

However, Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor later denied that any conversation with city officials took place and said that Wallen had “no contact” before making his decision.

An earlier date in the tour also sparked controversy after video circulated of Wallen flipping his piano on stage.

Larne boss Gary Haveron is relishing the opportunity to pit his underdogs against the 1991 European Cup winners

The stars have aligned for Larne as the Irish League champions prepare for a glamour tie at Inver Park on Tuesday evening.

Red Star Belgrade are in town for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier and Larne boss Gary Haveron is relishing the opportunity to pit his underdogs against the 1991 European Cup winners.

With Champions League winner Dejan Stankovic in the dugout and Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic – fresh from scoring twice at the World Cup – leading the line, the visitors are huge favourites to progress.

Haveron, however, is embracing the challenge of facing a club who have won the last nine Serbian top-flight titles, insisting it is the sort of occasion Larne should relish.

He said: “It is simply one of those games where you have to try and enjoy the occasion.

“To host such a big, prestigious club like Red Star is a special occasion for the club and the town of Larne itself.

“I’ve always said that if you can’t draw a competitive tie, then you want a glamorous one and we’ve certainly got that with Red Star.

“I’m an Irish League fan and when you look at some of the historical games in Europe, Glentoran have faced the likes of Benfica and Juventus, Linfield have taken on Celtic and Copenhagen, then you look at Crusaders, who have met Fulham and Wolves recently.

“So that’s what you’re hoping for if you want a glamour tie.

“As a club, you want to test yourself against the best and Red Star are certainly a powerhouse domestically and a big name around Europe.”

Haveron knows eliminating Red Star over two legs is a huge ask, but Larne’s 3-1 aggregate victory over Tre Fiori of San Marino has guaranteed them an extended spell in Europe.

Defeat against the Serbian champions would send them into the third qualifying round of the Europa League, with a Conference League play-off awaiting if they are eliminated again.

The Inver boss said: “We aren’t naive. We know our level and we are realistic about our chances over the two legs, but we want to give a good account of ourselves.

“When you get to this stage, you know the quality levels of the teams are going to be good.

“We’ll pay them respect, but we’ll try to impose ourselves on the game and see what we can do.

“We’re maybe not shoulder to shoulder with them, but while we’re on the pitch we’ll try our best to get a result.

“Our aggregate win against Tre Fiori has guaranteed another six games in Europe, which is amazing for the club and our fans.”

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“If they’re hungry, they’ll eat. I don’t force them to because I think that can instil pressure,” says Doone, from London.

She says her daughter Cora, two, used to be the “best eater” but seeing others at nursery turn their noses up at certain foods made her do the same.

“I’m trying not to make a big deal of it. Even though they don’t eat it, I always put the broccoli on the plate so that they’re seeing it.”

Emma suggests giving lots of options, so that kids think they are getting to choose. In Alfred’s lunchbox, she always adds two or three healthy options.

And she says to praise them when they take an interest. “If they say one day they want carrots, run and get the carrots and give big praise when they eat them,” Emma says.

One man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage after officers were called to Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield at around 5.30pm on Tuesday, July 14.

Several police cars were seen in the St Lukes Crescent area a short time later.

A spokesperson for Durham Police said previously: “We received a report of windows being smashed at Hardwick Hall Hotel at around 5.30pm.

“Officers attended and one male was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.”

Enquiries remain ongoing.

A man was found unresponsive with serious injuries in a Whitson Road garden and remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Two people have been arrested and charged after a man was found with serious injuries in an Edinburgh garden. The 43-year-old was discovered unresponsive in a garden on Whitson Road in Saughton at around 9.30pm on Friday, July 17.

He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he remains in a critical condition.

Police have confirmed a 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident. Both are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, July 21.

An investigation was launched at the weekend with officers urging witnesses or anyone with CCTV or door camera footage from Friday night to come forward.

Locals reported seeing police in white suits and cordons being erected on Whitson Road and the surrounding areas. Officers remained at the scene well into the afternoon as a probe got underway into how the man got hurt.

Detective Chief Inspector Jonny Wright said officers remain in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.

He said: “Incidents of this nature can understandably cause concern amongst the local community and officers remain in the area to provide reassurance. We’d like to thank members of the public for their assistance during our investigation.”

Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.

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Ed Miliband might be facing a few awkward encounters in his new role as Britain’s top diplomat – after he previously delivered an explosive rant about Donald Trump.

His promotion to Foreign Secretary under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham will see Mr Miliband charged with mending Britain’s fraying ‘Special Relationship’ with the US.

But there will be concerns that Mr Miliband’s undiplomatic comments about Mr Trump in the past will complicate his job in trying to steady transatlantic ties.

In 2018, Mr Miliband branded the US President a ‘racist’ and ‘misogynist’ and claimed he had a ‘peculiar relationship with Russia‘.

He also used an interview with GQ magazine to condemn Mr Trump’s ‘very scary authoritarian tendencies’ and vow to join protests against him visiting Britain.

Eight years on, Mr Miliband has now been appointed as the Government’s lead figure in managing Britain’s relations with Mr Trump’s administration.

Worries about Mr Miliband’s suitability as Foreign Secretary – a role once held by his brother David – also stem from his foreign policy stance while he was Labour leader.

In 2013, Mr Miliband ordered his Labour MPs to vote against then-PM David Cameron’s plan to take military action against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

In 2018, Mr Miliband branded the US President a ‘racist’ and ‘misogynist’ and claimed he had a ‘peculiar relationship with Russia’

The Cameron government had wanted to attack Syria following reports Assad had used chemical weapons on his own citizens.

But Mr Miliband, as Leader of the Opposition, helped to defeat a motion in the House of Commons in favour of joining US-led strikes.

The failure by the House of Commons to support military action was later blamed for then-US President Barack Obama pulling his plans to punish the Assad regime.

In 2024, in the wake of Assad fleeing to Russia after rebel forces ended decades of his brutal rule, Mr Miliband said he did not regret voting to block an attack on Syria.

He told the BBC: ‘I believe after what happened in Iraq, where hundreds of British troops died and thousands were injured, we could not commit British military forces without a clear plan.

‘As to the question about whether it would have led to the end of Assad, the truth is in 2017 and 2018 Donald Trump bombed Assad and it did not lead to the end of Assad.

‘I welcome the fall of a brutal dictator… but those people who say if only we had taken military action he would have somehow fallen – I just frankly don’t believe it.’

Mr Miliband has been promoted to the Foreign Office after serving as Energy Secretary in Keir Starmer’s administration.

But it is seen as a consolation prize for Mr Miliband after he was heavily tipped to be named as Chancellor by Mr Burnham.

Last year, Mr Miliband was reported to have been among Cabinet ministers pushing Sir Keir to formally recognise a Palestinian state.

He has been attacked by the Tories for having ‘kowtowed’ to China amid his push for green energy while at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

In a speech earlier this year, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Miliband of leaving Britain ‘entirely reliant on China for our future energy supply’.

‘The reality of Miliband’s “green future” is Chinese-made solar panels, Chinese-made wind turbines and Chinese-made lithium batteries,’ she added.

It recently emerged that senior officials in Mr Trump’s administration had privately warned that appointing Mr Miliband as Chancellor would be a ‘mistake’.

Top US officials were reported to have told senior Labour figures they were concerned about Mr Miliband’s opposition to new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

Mr Trump himself has frequently criticised the UK Government in public for its stance on fossil fuels.

Following his appointment to lead the Foreign Office on Monday, Mr Miliband said his new department will be ‘at the forefront of issues which pose profound and substantial threats to justice and equality in Britain and across the world’ under his stewardship.

‘I will be a Foreign Secretary who fights for Britain’s interests and our values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law on the world stage,’ he added.

Mr Miliband promised to maintain close ties with both the EU and the US, as well as upholding Britain’s commitments to Nato and the UN.

But Tory shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said: ‘In the two short years since Labour came to office, Ed Miliband is Labour’s third Foreign Secretary.

‘In this time, Britain’s standing in the world has fallen, our allies have been let down, and Britain has been weak in the face of serious threats to our security.

‘Like his two Labour predecessors, Miliband has kowtowed to China and fails to stand up for our interests in the Middle East.

‘We’re now set for more of the same foreign policy humiliations, including Burnham and Miliband backing Labour’s £35billion Chagos surrender and more of our taxes paying for climate change schemes abroad.

‘Under Labour, Miliband will continue to wave the white flag of surrender rather than fly the Union Flag with pride.’