The first opportunity to explore the gardens will be on Monday, May 25, when the gates open alongside a popular plant fair.

For many visitors, it marks the return of what has become a much-anticipated annual event in the County Durham countryside.

Thornton Hall Gardens (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Thornton Hall is not a visitor attraction in the traditional sense. It is a working farm, and the gardens are opened to the public just a handful of times each year.

In recent years, word-of-mouth praise and social media have quietly turned Thornton Hall into a ‘must-visit destination’ for garden lovers, history enthusiasts and those seeking a different kind of day out.

Visitors have described it as “unexpected”, “joyfully theatrical” and “like stepping into a secret world”, a reputation that has steadily grown.

The gardens sit beside Thornton Hall itself, a Grade I listed building constructed around 1550 by Ralph Tailbois.

Thornton Hall and Gardens, near Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

One of the oldest buildings in the Borough of Darlington, the hall is a rare architectural blend of Tudor, Elizabethan, Jacobean and Georgian styles, reflecting centuries of change.

What makes the gardens particularly remarkable is that they are a relatively recent creation.

When Michael and Sue Manners moved to Thornton Hall in 1989, the walled gardens were little more than grassy paddocks grazed by cattle.

With no formal training and no grand design, Sue began transforming the land by hand.

Thornton Hall and Gardens (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

More than 30 years later, that hands-on approach has resulted in a richly planted and characterful space.

According to its website, visitors can expect more than 100 varieties of roses, alongside collections of delphiniums, peonies and irises.

There are secret corners with quirky sculptures and tucked-away seating, as well as a meadow, wildlife ponds and a productive vegetable garden.

Despite attracting hundreds of visitors each year, the limited opening dates give Thornton Hall a fleeting quality. Miss a date, and you may have to wait another year.

After the May 25 opening, the gardens will welcome visitors on Wednesday, June 3, 10, 17 and 24, Sunday, June 28, and Wednesday, July 1, 8 and 15.

All opening days run from 10am to 4pm.

Admission is £10 per person, payable at the gate.

However, numbers are limited by the setting, and regular visitors advise arriving early, particularly for the first opening in May, which is expected to be especially popular.

Large queues formed since early morning for tickets priced at €99 including fees

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US rockers Foo Fighters have announced a surprise last-minute gig in Dublin for Monday night.

Tickets were made available at the 3Olympia Theatre Box Office on Dame Street in Dublin from Sunday afternoon. Since early morning, lengthy queues formed for the concert, with tickets costing €99, fees included.

This announcement follows online speculation that the band had been seen in Ireland over the past week, with alleged sightings of the band’s van in Dingle.

The band last took to the stage in Ireland in 2019. Established in 1994 by ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters have sold in excess of 50 million albums globally.

In a post on social media, the organisers outlined several rules regarding ticket sales, reports Dublin Live.

Promoter MCD Productions stated there is a limit of two tickets per person. Only physical debit or credit cards can be used for purchase, cash and contactless cards are not accepted.

Tickets are being sold on a first come first served basis. The gig has an age restriction of 18+.

Those requiring accessible tickets are asked to inform staff at the time of purchase. Transfers are not permitted.

The band have also announced intimate gigs at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Wednesday, February 25, and at Manchester’s O2 Ritz this Friday, February 27.

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Robert Aramayo called on society to ‘have grace’ towards the ‘complex’ and ‘really misunderstood’ Tourette syndrome after scooping both the Bafta for best actor and the EE Rising Star Award.

The 33-year-old actor, who played Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson in the biographical film I Swear, made his comments after invited guest Davidson shouted the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were presenting a Bafta.

As explained by the NHS, Tourette’s is a condition that causes people to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements, known as tics, with Davidson’s symptoms involving outbursts including swearing.

Sinners actors Jordan and Lindo, who were presenting the award for special visual effects, paused briefly before continuing with their introduction onstage after the slur was picked up by microphones in the audience.

Host Alan Cumming then thanked the audience for their understanding and help ‘to create a respectful space for everyone’ as he reminded the audience that Davidson had ‘no control’ over them, explaining: ‘You may have noticed some strong language in the background.

‘This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people, as the film explores that experience.’

Speaking after his shock double win, Aramayo – who had become tearful on stage over winning the best actor gong, his second of the night – told Metro and other outlets in the winners’ press room: ‘I’m just really happy that I Swear has shone a spotlight on something that is really, really misunderstood. 

‘I think that there’s still a lot more education needed around Tourette’s and what it actually is and how we all, as a society, can help.’

He also said that learning more about the syndrome had been the most eye-opening part of working on I Swear, as ‘it’s complicated and complex and it requires us to have grace’. 

Aramayo added: ‘It’s far more than – there’s lots of tics that people don’t see. There’s people who live with Tourette syndrome who you don’t know that they are because you think tics are a certain thing, but they’re not always like that. 

‘I think just for me, personally, what I learned straight away was that’s true and it then made me passionate about wanting to spread that with the work.’

There has much discussion online in reaction to Davidson’s use of the slur, and the BBC’s decision to keep it in the broadcast edit, with some arguing that Tourette’s is a deeply misunderstood condition while others where much less sympathetic to the language used – especially given the grave offence it could cause.

Davidson was also heard shouting ‘shut the f**k up’ during a speech from Bafta chair Sara Putt and yelled ‘f**k you’ when Arco’s directors took to the stage, as well as ‘bulls**t’ during housekeeping instructions at the start, where attendees were asked not to swear.

Campaigner Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette’s aged 25 and received an MBE in 2019, reportedly left the show in the second half as no further outbursts were heard.

As per Variety, it’s said that Davidson left of his own accord as Bafta would ‘under no circumstances’ ask an ‘invited guest’ to leave the ceremony.

Cumming also made a further statement in the show, saying: ‘Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you are offended tonight.’

Meanwhile The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power star Aramayo also confirmed that he’d had the chance to speak with fellow best actor nominee Ethan Hawke (for Blue Moon), after recalling valuable advice he’d shared with Aramayo and his classmates on a visit to Julliard during his best actor acceptance speech.

‘I think he was grateful for me mentioning it but I meant it and it really did have an effect on everyone in that room in my year, when he came in. 

‘I wanted to meet him but I thought that I might not get the chance so I thought, well I’m mentioning it now then!’

He also praised the Hollywood star as ‘amazing’ and said it would be ‘great’ if he had the chance to work with him in the future.

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Tucked between Stockton-on-Tees and Billingham, Wynyard Park has long been synonymous with exclusivity. Its sweeping drives, secluded cul-de-sacs, and immaculate lawns form the backdrop to some of the region’s most impressive homes — an address where grandeur meets discretion.

A legacy of luxury

Rising to prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Wynyard Park quickly established itself as a beacon of North East affluence during a period of rapid investment and growth. The estate sits beside Wynyard Hall, a grand Georgian mansion once home to Sir John Hall — the former Newcastle United chairman and the visionary behind the MetroCentre.

Hall’s influence shaped not just the stately hall itself, but the entire estate that grew around it. His vision brought together heritage and modern luxury, attracting a roster of headline residents over the decades.

A star-studded postcode

The estate’s prestige didn’t come from its properties alone — it was defined by the calibre of residents who called it home.

• Duncan Bannatyne, businessman and Dragons’ Den star, once owned a five-bedroom mansion there. Featuring a games room, golf course views, and a spectacular double-height atrium, the property sold in 2011 for £800,000, marking the estate’s enduring appeal to high-profile entrepreneurs.
• Kevin Keegan, former England manager and football legend, also lived on the estate, his home reflecting the openness and scale that have become hallmarks of Wynyard’s design.
• Alan Shearer, another Newcastle United great, was among those who chose Wynyard Park during the height of his career — further solidifying its ties to footballing royalty.

Wynyard Hall: the heart of the estate

Though technically separate from the residential development, Wynyard Hall remains its spiritual centrepiece. Once an aristocratic seat, the mansion today operates as a luxury hotel, spa, and events venue, its timeless architecture and heritage continuing to elevate the area’s prestige.

Discreet luxury in the North

Beyond the gates, Wynyard Park is more than just a property hotspot — it’s a symbol of aspiration. Its modern architecture, landscaped gardens, and bespoke interiors are designed for those who crave space and serenity, with convenience just a short drive away.

While celebrity turnover has slowed in recent years, the estate still commands a powerful allure among the North East’s high-net-worth residents and professionals. For those seeking a blend of luxury, privacy, and legacy, Wynyard Park remains one of the region’s most exclusive places to live.

Forget London’s glitz or Cheshire’s footballer belts — Wynyard Park quietly built its own legacy, offering the rich and famous a peaceful slice of North East elegance.

Alexander Blue was found badly beaten outside his home in Glasgow’s west end in June 2002.

A review of the evidence in the 23-year-old unsolved murder of a Glasgow businessman is taking place. Alexander Blue’s brother says it is an “absolute disgrace” that to this day no-one has been charged over the crime.

The 41-year-old, who ran a company called the Taxi Centre, was found badly beaten outside his home in Glasgow’s west end in June 2002 and died in hospital two days later from massive head injuries.

A neighbour had found him injured on the driveway of his home on Dundonald Road in the upmarket Dowanhill area. No one has been charged over the murder despite repeated police appeals – and the case remains unresolved after two decades.

Alexander’s older brother Billy Blue has been seeking justice for years. With the 25-year anniversary of Alexander’s death approaching in June next year, he said the police and Crown Office should “hang their heads in shame” if no one is charged by that point.

He told the Press Association he felt the family had been “brushed off” by police and the legal system, saying: “How bad does it have to get before you get an outside force in? You have to get justice, you can’t let people kill people and just get away with it.”

Alexander’s brother believes there is enough evidence to identify the culprit behind his brother’s death, saying it was “no ordinary murder”. Billy, from Glasgow, said: “It’s been known for a considerable length of time who’s responsible for Alec’s murder. I would like to see them brought to justice, it would be a vindication.”

He said the Crown Office was “definitely” reviewing evidence around the case. Billy, 67, said: “What was horrendous was my mother lost her son, and that’s always been my driving force. She’s never got over that. She’ll never get over what happened that day.”

Billy says the looming 25-year anniversary of Alexander’s death may spur the police on to take more action on the case. He has had recent meetings with police and Crown Office officials including the Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC. Both agencies have promised to keep him updated.

He said: “I think they know what’s coming in about 18 months, if they get to that point with total failure. The fact that nobody’s been charged with murder is a disappointment. But the fact that nobody’s been charged with anything related to that murder is an absolute disgrace.”

He was critical of Police Scotland, saying his family has been treated like “garbage” for years. The Crown Office said it works closely with the police to review unresolved homicides to ascertain if there are any new evidential developments.

A spokesman said: “The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service recognise the suffering of families who have been denied justice. The murder of Alexander Blue remains an unresolved homicide and we are absolutely committed to reviewing such cases along with Police Scotland.

“Unresolved homicides are never closed, and we work closely with police to explore any new evidential developments which would allow us to bring such cases to court. The Blue family will continue to be kept informed should any significant developments come to light.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “This is obviously still a difficult time for the Blue family who have suffered distress and heartache over the last two decades as they seek answers and justice for Alexander.

“Police Scotland never considers cases closed and this case remains under review. There is no barrier over the passage of time to the investigation of unresolved homicide cases.

“Homicide Governance and Review actively keeps all undetected and unresolved homicides under review and meets regularly with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in an attempt to review these cases and pursue resolution.

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“We will continue to update the families of the victims of such crimes with any new developments, where appropriate.

“Police Scotland along with our partners in the Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, continue to relentlessly pursue advances in technology and investigative approaches which help bring those responsible for serious and violent crimes to justice and provide answers for families of the victims of such crimes.

“Scientific and forensic developments, combined with information from the public and determined investigative work can yield new opportunities in such cases.”

The 2026 Baftas unfolded at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where the film industry gathered in force for one of its biggest nights of the year.

On Sunday night (22 February), actors including Timothée Chalamet, Paul Mescal, Michael B Jordan, Jessie Buckley and Emma Stone arrived at the star-studded ceremony honouring the best in British film.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s dark comedy One Battle After Another was the big winner of the year, winning six of its 14 nominations, including Best Film.

The film’s star Leonardo DiCaprio, however, missed out on the Best Actor prize, which went instead to I Swear’s Robert Aramayo in the biggest surprise of the night.

“I absolutely can’t believe this. I can’t believe I’m here looking at people like you, in the same category as you,” Aramayo said during his speech as he pointed to DiCaprio in the audience. “Never mind being stood up here.”

Irish actor Jessie Buckley, meanwhile, took home the award for Best Actress thanks to her searing portrayal as Anne Hathaway in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, which also won Outstanding British Film.

Find the Bafta 2026 winners below:

Best Film

HAMNET

MARTY SUPREME

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – WINNER

SENTIMENTAL VALUE

SINNERS

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Director

BUGONIA Yorgos Lanthimos

HAMNET Chloé Zhao

MARTY SUPREME Josh Safdie

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Paul Thomas Anderson – WINNER

SENTIMENTAL VALUE Joachim Trier

SINNERS Ryan Coogler

Leading Actress

JESSIE BUCKLEY Hamnet – WINNER

ROSE BYRNE If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

KATE HUDSON Song Sung Blue

CHASE INFINITI One Battle After Another

RENATE REINSVE Sentimental Value

EMMA STONE Bugonia

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Leading Actor

ROBERT ARAMAYO I Swear – WINNER

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET Marty Supreme

LEONARDO DICAPRIO One Battle After Another

ETHAN HAWKE Blue Moon

MICHAEL B. JORDAN Sinners

JESSE PLEMONS Bugonia

Supporting Actress

ODESSA A’ZION Marty Supreme

INGA IBSDOTTER LILLEAAS Sentimental Value

WUNMI MOSAKU Sinners – WINNER

CAREY MULLIGAN The Ballad of Wallis Island

TEYANA TAYLOR One Battle After Another

EMILY WATSON Hamnet

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Supporting Actor

BENICIO DEL TORO One Battle After Another

JACOB ELORDI Frankenstein

PAUL MESCAL Hamnet

PETER MULLAN I Swear

SEAN PENN One Battle After Another – WINNER

STELLAN SKARSGÅRD Sentimental Value

Casting

I SWEAR Lauren Evans – WINNER

MARTY SUPREME Jennifer Venditti

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Cassandra Kulukundis

SENTIMENTAL VALUE Yngvill Kolset Haga, Avy Kaufman

SINNERS Francine Maisler

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Outstanding British Film

28 YEARS LATER

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND

BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY

DIE MY LOVE

H IS FOR HAWK

HAMNET – WINNER

I SWEAR

MR BURTON

PILLION

STEVE

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer

THE CEREMONY Jack King (Director, Writer), Hollie Bryan (Producer), Lucy Meer (Producer)

MY FATHER’S SHADOW Akinola Davies Jr. (Director), Wale Davies (Writer) – WINNER

PILLION Harry Lighton (Director, Writer)

A WANT IN HER Myrid Carten (Director)

WASTEMAN Cal McMau (Director), Hunter Andrews (Writer), Eoin Doran (Writer)

Original Screenplay

I SWEAR Kirk Jones

MARTY SUPREME Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie

THE SECRET AGENT Kleber Mendonça Filho

SENTIMENTAL VALUE Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier

SINNERS Ryan Coogler – WINNER

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Adapted Screenplay

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND Tom Basden, Tim Key

BUGONIA Will Tracy

HAMNET Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Paul Thomas Anderson – WINNER

PILLION Harry Lighton

Film Not in the English Language

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

THE SECRET AGENT

SENTIMENTAL VALUE – WINNER

SIRĀT

THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB

Documentary

2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA

APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS

COVER-UP

MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN – WINNER

THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

Animated Film

ELIO

LITTLE AMÉLIE

ZOOTROPOLIS 2 – WINNER

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Children’s & Family Film

ARCO

BOONG – WINNER

LILO & STITCH

ZOOTROPOLIS 2

Editing

F1 Stephen Mirrione

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE Kirk Baxter

MARTY SUPREME Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Andy Jurgensen – WINNER

SINNERS Michael P. Shawver

Cinematography

FRANKENSTEIN Dan Laustsen

MARTY SUPREME Darius Khondji

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Michael Bauman – WINNER

SINNERS Autumn Durald Arkapaw

TRAIN DREAMS Adolpho Veloso

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Production Design

FRANKENSTEIN Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – WINNER

HAMNET Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton

MARTY SUPREME Jack Fisk, Adam Willis

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino

SINNERS Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne

Costume Design

FRANKENSTEIN Kate Hawley – WINNER

HAMNET Malgosia Turzanska

MARTY SUPREME Miyako Bellizzi

SINNERS Ruth E. Carter

WICKED: FOR GOOD Paul Tazewell

Make Up and Hair

FRANKENSTEIN Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Mike Hill, Megan Many – WINNER

HAMNET Nicole Stafford

MARTY SUPREME Kyra Panchenko, Kay Georgiou, Mike Fontaine

SINNERS Siân Richards, Shunika Terry, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine

WICKED: FOR GOOD Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, Mark Coulier, Sarah Nuth

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Original Score

BUGONIA Jerskin Fendrix

FRANKENSTEIN Alexandre Desplat

HAMNET Max Richter

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Jonny Greenwood

SINNERS Ludwig Göransson – WINNER

Sound

F1 Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta – WINNER

FRANKENSTEIN Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitallie, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoem

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor

SINNERS Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco

WARFARE Mitch Low, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner

Special Visual Effects

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon – WINNER

F1 Ryan Tudhope, Keith Alfred Dawson, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington

FRANKENSTEIN Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Christian Mänz, Francois Lambert, Glen McIntosh, Terry Palmer

THE LOST BUS Charlie Noble, Brandon K. McLaughlin, David Zaretti

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British Short Film

MAGID / ZAFAR Luis Hindman, Sufiyaan Salam, Aidan Robert Brooks

NOSTALGIE Kathryn Ferguson, Stacey Gregg, Marc Robinson, Kath Mattock

TERENCE Edem Kelman, Noah Reich

THIS IS ENDOMETRIOSIS Georgie Wileman, Matt Houghton, Harriette Wright – WINNER

WELCOME HOME FRECKLES Huiju Park, Nathan Hendren

British Short Animation

CARDBOARD J.P. Vine, Michaela Manas Malina

SOLSTICE Luke Angus

TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE Baz Sells, Dean Atta, Ben Jackson – WINNER

EE Rising Star Award

ROBERT ARAMAYO – WINNER

MILES CATON

CHASE INFINITI

ARCHIE MADEKWE

POSY STERLING

Mia Lily Keogh O’Keeffe is the seventh person to have been killed on the road on the island of Ireland over the course of the weekend

The mother of a teenager killed by a car which failed to remain at the scene has said her “heart will never be the same again.”

This paper has learned that the tragic teenager killed in a hit-and-run on the Slane Road in Navan, Co Meath on Saturday night was 16 year old Mia Lily Keogh O’Keeffe.

She is the seventh person to have been killed on the road on the island of Ireland over the course of the weekend.

Mia, who was from Navan, was walking her dog and was at a pedestrian crossing when a driver struck her with his vehicle and then failed to remain at the scene at around 8:20pm.

Gardai and emergency services rushed to the area and Mia was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, where she was subsequently declared dead.

It is understood Mia was a student at Loreto Secondary School in Navan, has a number of siblings and comes from a well known family in the area.

Gardai were initially searching for the driver, but it is understood that the suspect, who is a man in his 20s, later handed himself in to gardai. He was then placed under arrest and is being questioned over the incident.

It comes as Mia’s devastated mother Louise has taken to social media and posted in a comment:

“My beautiful baby was taken by someone who fled and left her alone. My heart will never be the same again.”

In a statement gardai have appealed for witnesses to the incident to come forward.

“At approximately 8:20pm, Gardaí and emergency services responded to an incident involving a car and a pedestrian. The car involved failed to remain at the scene. The pedestrian, a 16-year-old female, was treated at the scene before being transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where she was later pronounced deceased.

“A male in his 20s has since been arrested in connection with the investigation and a car has been seized for technical and forensic examination. He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region,” gardai said.

Gardai added that the Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged.

“The scene remains preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and local traffic diversions are in place.”

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward. Road users with camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area between 8:00pm and 8:45pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Navan Garda Station on 046 9036100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

The crash comes amid a weekend of carnage on Irish roads that saw six other people killed in separate incidents on the island of Ireland.

A woman, aged in her 80s, died in a single-vehicle collision in Rooaun, Eyrecourt, Co Galway at around 8.15pm on Saturday evening. The elderly woman was the driver and sole occupant of the car and was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a separate incident, two people died in a crash involving a van and a car at around 12pm on the Tramore Road R675 at Robin Hill in Tramore, Co Waterford. A man and a woman, both aged in their 40s, who were the occupants of the car, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The occupants of the van, a man aged in his 50s and a juvenile male, were taken to University Hospital Waterford for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

Meanwhile, a further three people died in a road crash in Armagh, with four more people injured in the incident. The victims, two men aged 31 and 48 and a woman, 23, died at the scene of the accident outside the Moy on Saturday night.

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Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, called “El Mencho,” was the head of the terrifying Jalisco New Generation Cartel famous for feasting on human flesh and shooting down military aircraft

An infamous drug kingpin has been killed in a military operation, leaving a major cartel without a head in the wake of a raid carried out by amred forces.

Local news sources report that leader of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, was killed in military raid. The notorious druglord, better known by his alias ‘El Mencho’, was confirmed dead by federal forces on Sunday, February 22.

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Mexican publication MILENIO cited top officials who said Cervantes had been killed in the army operation. Roadblocks were reported in six nearby states with burning cars blocking roads across a wide area in a tactic commonly used by the cartels to prevent military forces carrying out operations against them.

El Mencho became the most powerful drug lord in the country after the capture of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

The US State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $15million for information on El Mencho that would lead to his arrest.

The CJNG has seen a rapid expansion across Mexico in recent years, led by quiet kingpin El Mencho.

Nemesio Oseguera, 53, dropped out of sixth grade to help his family pick avocados, Mexican media reported. As a teenager, he snuck into the United States and tried to build a network of clients as a drug dealer, but he was arrested.

As a young man, he and his older brother, Abraham Oseguera, sold heroin to two undercover police officers in 1992 and were sent to a federal prison and later deported.

In 1997, he travelled to Tijuana, where he built a thriving drug trafficking business; later, he worked as a police officer in Tomatlán, Jalisco, learning the inner workings of law enforcement.

After working as a cartel hitman and drug trafficker and surviving internal power struggles between rival gang factions in Jalisco, Oseguera ended up as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, given the moniker “El Mencho”.

Its members routinely carry out brutal acts of violence to intimidate their rivals and have even been known to have downed an army helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Claims were made that they would make new recruits to feast on human flesh and carry out beheadings in their infamous “terror schools”.

One anonymous recruit previously told the DailyBeast.com : “I’ve been there and there was a lot of [cannibalism]. They recruit them and then they start working on them.” First, CJNG members are taught how to cut off their victims’ fingers and toes, one of the cartel’s preferred torture methods.

The update from military sources on the death of El Mencho comes hours after panic erupted at a major airport after alleged cartel members reportedly descended on the terminal, with disturbing footage showing terrified crowds scrambling to escape.

Unverified accounts indicate members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel arrived at Guadalajara International Airport in Jalisco, Mexico mere hours after El Mencho was killed by military forces. It’s thought members are now mounting reprisals following confirmation of the killing.

Barry the St Bernard is living at a Cambridgeshire shelter waiting for someone to give him a loving family

A blind St Bernard with an extraordinary survival story is searching for a forever home. Barry, who has been blind since birth, is currently being looked after at a Cambridgeshire shelter..

It is run by Saving Saints, a volunteer-led rescue network operating across the UK. His carers say he is ready for a fresh start, but he needs the right home.

Barry was first owned by an organised crime boss, living alongside three other large dogs. The owner was jailed for drugs offences, leaving the dogs in limbo and needing new homes.

“At first it was thought Barry and the other St Bernard, Delilah, were a bonded pair,” said Rachel Wesley, 53, who runs Saving Saints. “But once they reached what was meant to be their forever home, it became clear Barry was struggling.”

Barry was reactive towards men, which rescuers believe may be because of trauma from his early life. He also became stressed and unhappy when living with another dog.

“He was getting grumpy and overwhelmed,” said Rachel. “That’s when we knew we had to step in and give him the calm, structured environment he desperately needed.”

Barry was moved into Saving Saints’ Cambridgeshire shelter, where he underwent a full behavioural assessment. The charity has now found that to thrive, Barry needs a quiet, rural, female-only home where he can be the only dog.

Although Barry is blind, his hearing is exceptionally acute and he is confident when navigating familiar spaces. As a double-coated breed, he enjoys spending time outdoors, but he is also deeply people-focused and needs strong bonds with his humans.

“St Bernards are incredibly sociable,” said Rachel. “Barry wants to be near his people, to know where they are, to feel safe. He may be blind, but emotionally he is very tuned in.”

Potential adopters have been told they need to understand the realities of owning a giant breed. St Bernards can weigh up to around 120kg, vet bills can be high, and their thick double coats require grooming every two days to prevent matting.

“They’re lazy most of the time, but they do have bursts of energy,” said Rachel. “They slobber, they shed everywhere, and yes, your carpets will never be the same. But what you get in return is a dog with an enormous heart.”

Rachel, who has four St Bernards of her own, says the breed’s emotional intelligence is unmatched. “They are the most amazing dogs,” she said. “They are so in tune with people’s emotions. They know when you’re sad, when you’re stressed, and they just want to be there.”

Saving Saints relies entirely on volunteers and foster homes. The charity is listed on the Pet Remedy rescue map, a gold-standard directory of trusted UK rescues, but keeping a dog like Barry in long-term care places significant strain on its resources.

“We’re small and we don’t have a lot of money,” said Rachel. “What Barry needs most is a loving home where he can finally relax and just be a dog. Wherever that home is, from the Isle of Skye to Cornwall, we’ll get him there.”

El Mencho, who was born Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes and was the leader of Mexico’s most feared criminal organisation, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has been killed

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A notorious cartel leader has been killed in a significant military operation in western Mexico.

The head of Mexico’s feared Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), “El Mencho”, was killed during the military raid, according to local news reports.

The ruthless drug lord, whose real name is Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, was recognised as the leader of the dreaded CJNG – with federal forces confirming his death today (February 22), reports the Mirror.

Mexican outlet MILENIO cited senior officials who confirmed Cervantes had been killed during the army operation. Roadblocks were reported across six neighbouring states, with burning vehicles obstructing roads over a vast area – a tactic frequently employed by cartels to hinder military forces from conducting operations against them.

El Mencho rose to become the most powerful drug lord in Mexico following the capture of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

The US State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $15million for information leading to El Mencho’s arrest.

The CJNG has undergone rapid expansion throughout Mexico in recent years, under the low-profile leadership of El Mencho.

Nemesio Oseguera, 53, left school in sixth grade to assist his family in harvesting avocados, according to Mexican media. As a young man, he entered the United States unlawfully and attempted to establish a network of clients as a drug dealer, before being arrested.

As a young man, he and his older brother, Abraham Oseguera, sold heroin to two undercover police officers in 1992 and were sent to a federal prison and later deported.

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In 1997, he travelled to Tijuana, where he established a successful drug trafficking operation; subsequently, he served as a police officer in Tomatlán, Jalisco, gaining insight into the workings of law enforcement.

Following his time as a cartel assassin and narcotics trafficker, and after surviving internal conflicts between competing gang factions in Jalisco, Oseguera ultimately became leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, earning the nickname “El Mencho”.

Members of the organisation regularly commit savage acts of brutality to terrorise their adversaries and have even been known to bring down an army helicopter using a rocket-propelled grenade.

Allegations emerged that they would force new members to consume human flesh and participate in beheadings at their notorious “terror schools”.

One anonymous recruit previously told the DailyBeast.com: “I’ve been there and there was a lot of [cannibalism]. They recruit them and then they start working on them.”

Initially, CJNG members are instructed how to sever their victims’ fingers and toes, one of the cartel’s favoured torture techniques.