Robert Dorgan, 56, also went by the name Roberta Esposito killed two relatives and injured three other people
The AP reporters and Tannur Anders
01:43, 18 Feb 2026
Police have confirmed the two victims of a mass shooting during a high school ice hockey match was the shooter’s ex-wife and one son.
Police identified the shooter at the ice rink in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in United States on the afternoon of Monday, February 16, as Robert Dorgan. The 56-year-old also went by the name Roberta Esposito.
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Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves on Tuesday said that the victims were the shooter’s ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and adult son Aidan Dorgan. The three others were injured in the attack, these being the parents of the Dorgan’s ex-wife and a family friend. Dorgan died from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound.
The Dennis M. Lynch Arena was hosting matches for several local schools during the incident.
A livestream of the match captured the moment spectators and players took cover as gunshots rang out. LiveBarn, the streaming platform for youth sporting events, has said on social media that those circulating the video do not have permission to do so.
Police Chief Goncalves said it does not appear that the shooter had any conversation or confrontation with relatives prior to the shooting.
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Dorgan was employed at a ship building facility in Maine that contracts with the US Navy, it has been reported.
Dorgan’s colleague Destiny Mackenzie told The Associated Press that the shooter used the women’s restroom. She said they would often talk about family, but Dorgan’s ex-wife never came up in conversation. The shooter’s hockey-playing son was a frequent topic.
Mackenzie said Dorgan often went by Roberta at work and had a bad temper. Dorgan sometimes had screaming matches with colleagues.
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Another colleague said Dorgan appeared to be divided on the matter of transgender acceptance. At times Dorgan appeared to be proud of transitioning but embarrassed the next. That colleague told The AP that they knew Dorgan owned guns but was unsure how many.
Dorgan briefly served in the Marine Corps during 1988 but separated from the service with the lowest military rank.
Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni has spoken about the alleged racist abuse of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, while his club has released a video of the incident
Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni has denied being racist towards Vinicius Junior, instead claiming that the Real Madrid star “misinterpreted” what he said. The Champions League play-off first leg between the two sides was halted on Tuesday night after Vinicius reported alleged racist abuse to the referee.
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Vinicius put Real 1-0 up in the 50th minute at the Estadio da Luz before being booked for excessive celebrations in front of the home fans, who threw things in his direction. Just as the match was about to kick off, Vinicius ran over to referee Francois Letexier to report that he had been racially abused.
The Brazilian winger accused Argentina’s Prestianni of being racist towards him by the centre circle and walked off the pitch followed by his team-mates. The match was suspended for 10 minutes before restarting, with Real completing a 1-0 win.
Vinicius later posted a statement on social media which read: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish them.
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“Nothing that happened here is new in my life or my family’s. I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don’t like appearing in situations like this, especially after a great victory when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”
Prestianni also posted on social media, writing: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults at the player Vinicius Junior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he heard. I have never been racist and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.” Benfica shared it along with the comment: “Together, by your side.”
Meanwhile, Benfica also took the remarkable step of uploading a video of the incident taken from the sidelines which showed the moment Prestianni pulled his shirt over his face before saying something towards Vinicius.
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The Portuguese club used it as supposed evidence that Vinicius’ team-mates could not have heard what was said, despite Eduardo Camavinga and Kylian Mbappe being in the vicinity.
Benfica wrote: “As the images demonstrate, given the distance, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard.”
Their comments echoed those of manager Jose Mourinho, who accused Vinicius of inciting the crowd with his celebration and said Benfica is not a racist club. “I saw two completely different things. I want to be independent, and I don’t comment about it. I told him [Vinicius] exactly that,” he told Amazon Prime.
“I told him [Vinicius] – when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person [Eusebio] in the history of this club was black.
“This club, the last thing that it is, is racist. If in his mind there was something in relation to that – this in Benfica. They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don’t believe in one or another. I want to be an independent.”
Vinicius was supported by his team-mates. “Vini’s been subjected to this a few times throughout his career and for it to happen tonight and ruin the night for us as a team is a disgrace,” Trent Alexander-Arnold said. “Like I said, it’s a disgrace to football. There’s no place for it in football or society. It’s disgusting.”
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We rolled up just before midday and there was no queue. I had flat iron beef with sausage, kimchi and cauliflower burnt ends, paired with a flight of condiments and rounded off by their excellent banana pudding. You will, at this point, be wanting to walk it all off. If you have a car, head east to McKinney Falls, a pretty national park where waterfalls cascade between big, flat rocks. Some of the natural pools are for swimming and there are several hiking trails, though it’s small enough to simply meander around.
The Santander building near the Albert Bridge was originally built in the late 1990’s for Abbey National
A former banking call centre in Belfast is to become a Transitional Care Unit after a decision at City Hall.
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Elected representatives at the Belfast City Council Planning Committee on Tuesday (February 17), unanimously approved an application for the proposed change of use from an office to a short term Transitional Care Unit, at Santander House, 1 Mays Meadow, Belfast, close to the Albert Bridge. The Santander building was originally built in the late 1990s for Abbey National.
The unit will comprise 73 ensuite beds, rehabilitation suites and treatment rooms, a laboratory, consulting rooms, a cafe, two external terraces and ancillary staff and storage rooms. The development will include an ambulance drop-off bay, the replacement of existing windows, and other associated site and access works.
There will be a number of access points to the site, a pedestrian access via East Bridge Street, an ambulance drop-off point to the rear and internal access from the undercroft parking area. The proposal provides 37 parking spaces within the lower ground floor level.
The applicants are Life Works Developments Ltd, Clare Road, Gilford BT63. Statutory and non-statutory consultees supported the proposal, and the council received no third party representations. Council officers recommended the application for approval.
The council officer planning report states: “The proposal is within an accessible city centre location, the surrounding commercial character ensures there is no impact on residential amenity. The proposal being for a change of use of an existing modern building ensures there is no impact on natural or built heritage assets.
“The proposal will have replacement windows fitted, these will be of a similar design and finish to the existing windows with some glazing panels replaced with opaque glazes units. This will not impact on the existing style of the building or on the surrounding character
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“The city centre location of the site, allows for all forms of transport to be used to access the building, the site benefits from direct access to footpaths, cycle lanes, and both bus and trains public transport.”
It adds: “These include new insulation and new windows operating at a higher efficiency. The reuse of an existing building is also beneficial for the environment.”
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Emergency services were called to reports of a collision on Tuesday afternoon
03:06, 18 Feb 2026Updated 03:07, 18 Feb 2026
The driver of a bus carrying 40 schoolchildren that was involved in a serious crashin Co Armagh has died after the tragic incident.
The update comes hours after emergency services were called to reports of a collision on the Tullyah Road in Belleeks, Co Armagh, shortly before 3:45pm after a private coach carrying schoolchldren from St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook flipped over and was left lying on its side on top of a hedge.
Eyewitnesses said children were seen climbing out of the bus through the windows and the roof to escape the wreckage. No students sustained serious injuries in the horror crash.
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Private coach company Quinn Coaches has now sadly confirmed that the driver of the bus died shortly after the crash took place. A spokesperson for the private bus company said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our drivers was involved in a road traffic accident whilst transporting school children today. Despite immediate emergency response, our dear colleague sadly passed away.
“Our first thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. He was a respected and experienced member of our team, and he will be greatly missed.”
They added: “We are relieved to confirm that no children were injured during the incident. The safety and wellbeing of our drivers and passengers is always our highest priority.”
Police remain at the scene with crash scene investigators combing the site to make sense of what happened in the lead up to the crash.
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Dáithí Murray, principal of St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, confirmed that the children were safe and had now returned home.
In a letter to families, he said: “We appreciate that this will have caused a significant shock to pupils who experienced the incident.”
Mr Murray added that members of the Education Authority’s Critical Incident Response Team will be at the school on Wednesday “to support pupils affected by the incident”.
He encouraged pupils “if they feel well enough” to attend school on Wednesday and that “staff will signpost them to the support services available”.
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Mr Murray added: “The thoughts and prayers of the St Paul’s community are extended to everyone affected by this serious incident today.”
The Education Authority has said it is providing “critical incident management support to the school” following the incident.
“Our critical incident team will be in the school tomorrow (Wednesday) to provide emotional support for pupils as required. Our thoughts go out to all of those impacted by the incident,” a spokesperson said.
A spokesperson added: “The call was received at 15:38 and NIAS dispatched multiple resources to the incident. Currently five ambulances, two advanced paramedics, one officer and an ambulance doctor are at the scene treating patients.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Road users are advised of a collision in the Tullyah Road area of Belleeks between Newtownhamilton and Camlough. Please avoid the area and seek alternative routes. An update will be issued in due course.”
The City of London Corporation, the trust which owns the park cafes, said the process was “a fair, open, and independently supported process which considered 30 bids, with the Heath Consultative Committee – representing local groups and stakeholders – involved at every stage.”
New analysis from Savills shows that 23,200 acres of farmland (based on farms over 50 acres) were publicly marketed across the North in 2025, compared with 30,300 acres in 2024 – a 24% decrease.
This contrasts with a 13% fall in supply across England as a whole, reflecting a sharper‑than‑average contraction in the region.
Even so, Savills says the North remained a major contributor to national availability, accounting for 19% of all farmland marketed in England during the year.
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The Savills Farmland Value Survey indicates that prime arable land values in the North of England rose by 3.2% in 2025 to an average of £11,600 per acre.
The survey reported the uplift in average values was a reflection of best in class sales of prime land, highlighting the region’s continued appeal to both farming and non‑farming buyers.
County‑level data shows varied but sustained activity across northern counties.
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In 2025, North Yorkshire remained the largest contributor with 5,512 acres brought to market, followed by Cumbria with 3,927 acres, Cheshire with 2,804 acres, and Lancashire with 2,447 acres.
Further supply came from Northumberland (3,693 acres), East Riding of Yorkshire (2,783 acres), with many other northern counties only recording total acres in the hundreds put to the market.
These figures reflect both the structural diversity of the region’s farming landscape and the differing motivations behind sales, including retirement, succession, operational restructuring and shifting policy dynamics – trends echoed across the UK farmland market.
Will Douglas, Director and head of farm agency for Savills across the North of England, said: “Despite a tightening in supply, the North of England farmland market remained remarkably resilient in 2025.
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“We saw strong competition for well‑located commercial farms and high‑quality arable land, which is reflected in the uplift in values.
“Demand continues to come from a wide range of buyers – from progressive farming families to investors and strategic land buyers seeking long‑term opportunities.
“Looking ahead, confidence across the region remains remarkably positive, and we expect the market to stay active as greater clarity continues to emerge around policy and land‑use priorities.”
Across Great Britain, Savills recorded a 12% fall in publicly marketed farmland year on year, with average farmland values dipping by around 1%, and farmers continuing to represent the largest buyer group at 45%, with most buying to expand.
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Despite short‑term fluctuations, Savills anticipates that farmland values will remain broadly firm before returning to steady growth, driven by long‑term demand for land for food production, environmental markets, renewable energy and development potential.
Andrew Teanby, Director Savills Rural Research said of the national picture: “We expect farmland values to remain broadly firm through the next two years before entering a phase of steady growth as policy clarity improves and profitability prospects stabilise.
“This is based on the finite nature of farmland and growing competition for this resource for food production as well as environmental markets, development, and renewable energy.”
Russian athletes set to compete under own flag at Paralympics after a decade-long absence
Russian athletes will compete under their own flag at the Paralympics for the first time in more than a decade, and the country’s national anthem will be played for any gold medalists.
Tuesday’s announcement stands as another indicator that Russia and its national identity will be fully restored in Olympic circles well ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
In a statement, the International Paralympic committee said Russia’s National Paralympic Committee had been awarded six slots for the upcoming Milan Cortina Paralympic Games.
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It will mark the first time a Russian flag has been flown at the Paralympics since the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia. The country’s athletes were initially banned because of a state-sponsored doping program, and the sanctions against Russia have continued since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 06:22
In photos: Russian and Ukrainian delegations leave hotel after tense peace talks
Russia’s top negotiator Vladimir Medinsky leaves the Intercontinental hotel as a new round of talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators aimed at finding a solution to four years of fighting in Ukraine, takes place in Geneva (AFP via Getty Images)
Delegations participating in trilateral Ukraine peace talks depart the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva (Getty Images)
Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov (R) leaves the Intercontinental hotel as a new round of talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators aimed at finding a solution to four years of fighting in Ukraine, takes place in Geneva (AFP via Getty Images)
Officials leave after trilateral Ukraine peace talks held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva (Getty Images)
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 05:55
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Trump exerting ‘unfair’ pressure on Ukraine, says Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky said US president Donald Trump was exerting pressure on Ukraine to reach a ceasefire resolution, and not Russia.
Speaking to Axios, Zelensky said it was “not fair” that the US president kept publicly calling on Ukraine and not Russia to make concessions in the ongoing negotiations for a peace plan.
“I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision,” Zelensky said in an interview conducted as Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators held talks in Geneva.
Zelensky added that any plan requiring Ukraine to give up territory that Russia had not captured in the eastern Donbas region would be rejected by Ukrainians if put to a referendum.
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On Monday, Trump issued a call for Ukraine to end the war, claiming it was up to the war-hit nation to reach a conclusion.
“Ukraine better come to the table fast. That’s all I’m telling you,” Trump said on Air Force One.
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 05:45
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Russia not using full strike capacity to avoid upsetting Trump, says think tank
Russian forces have been carrying out major strikes in recent months before and after the US-brokered peace talks but are still not utilising its full capacity, a US-based think tank has said.
They are likely refraining from fully maximising Russia’s strike capabilities in order to avoid upsetting US president Donald Trump, the Institute for the Study of War said.
“Russian forces have consistently launched large strike packages of roughly 400 to 700 drones and missiles in the days right before and after major negotiations in recent months, such as the August 2025 US-Russia Alaska summit, the November 2025 US-Ukraine talks in Geneva, the November 2025 US-Russian talks in Moscow, US-Ukrainian-European and US-Russian talks in December 2025, and two rounds of US-Ukrainian-Russian talks in Abu Dhabi in late January and early February 2026,” it noted.
ISW added that Russia may be “deliberately curtailing the size of these strike packages to maintain the facade that the Kremlin is interested in meaningful negotiations and to avoid Trump’s ire”.
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Soldiers patrol an area around an office for recruitment for contract service in the Russian armed forces in St Petersburg, Russia (AP)
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 05:25
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem? The $100 million energy scheme scandal explained
German Galushchenko, who led the department from 2021 until 2025, was detained by border guards on Monday as he tried to leave the country on a train, officials said.
Investigators said the charges were related to an alleged scheme involving offshore companies benefiting his relatives. Galushchenko – also known as Herman Halushchenko – has denied wrongdoing.
US-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have resumed this week, as the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s invasion fast approaches.
There has been little progress in the talks to date, with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky recently sharing his frustration that his country is “too often” asked to make concessions.
Kyiv, however, may well be emboldened by its recent territorial gains. Advancing some 201 sq km between Wednesday and Sunday, Ukraine’s forces have effectively cancelled out Russia’s gains for the entire month of December, according to an analysis of data from the US-based monitor, the Institute for the Study of War.
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Arpan Rai18 February 2026 04:43
Germany turns to Ukraine’s combat-tested troops to learn drone warfare
German Armed Forces have said they will seek battle-hardened Ukrainian soldiers to train their troops in drone operations and defensive tactics.
A spokesperson for the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, confirmed that an agreement has been signed last week between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and German defence minister Boris Pistorius to send Ukraine troops to German military schools, reported Der Spiegel.
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German officials are trusting Ukraine’s hard-earned experience in drone warfare, counter-drone tactics, and rapid deployment of modern command technologies into frontline units.
The Ukrainian troops are expected to travel to Germany soon and will focus on infantry training.
“No one in Nato currently has more war experience than Ukraine, and we must take advantage of that,” an unnamed German officer told Der Spiegel.
Details on the timing and duration of the training were not immediately clear.
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German officials also believe their troops could learn from Ukraine’s experience with modern command-and-control systems.
“In a very short time, [Ukraine’s] armed forces developed relatively simple systems for planning combat operations and managing their own units, most of which can be operated via apps on standard mobile phones,” Der Spiegel wrote.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and German defence minister Boris Pistorius greet German and Ukrainian soldiers during their visit to a military training area in the German state of Western Pomerania (AP)
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 04:11
Watch: Russian strikes in Ukraine continue as talks begin in Geneva, says Zelensky
Russian strikes in Ukraine continue as talks begin in Geneva, says Zelensky
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 04:01
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Peace talks on Ukraine war settlement were tense but will continue
The US-mediated talks in Geneva with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were “tense” but are set to continue on Wednesday, Russian news agencies quoted a source as saying yesterday.
“(The talks) were very tense,” the source told the agencies. “They lasted six hours. They agreed to continue tomorrow.”
The source said the talks took place in a combination of different bilateral and trilateral formats.
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Arpan Rai18 February 2026 03:48
Zelensky says 2,000 Ukrainian children rescued from Russia
Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine has managed to bring back 2,000 children from Russian-controlled territory as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
“Today we have an important result – 2,000 Ukrainian children who were successfully returned home from Russian control as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative,” Zelensky said.
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The Ukrainian president thanked government officials, civil society groups and international partners for their role in securing each child’s return, but added that the effort is far from over.
“We still have a long and difficult road ahead of us. Thousands of Ukrainian children still remain hostages of Russia, becoming victims of its crimes every day,” he said.
A man has died in a multi-vehicle collision with another man suffering life-threatening injuries as a lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving
A man in his 20s has died following a multi-vehicle crash on a busy UK road with a lorry driver arrested for dangerous driving.
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The crash, involving a lorry, grey Land Rover Defender, black Kia Ceed, blue Volkswagen Sharan and a Volkswagen Transporter, took place on the A46 in Leicestershire on Tuesday evening, February 17.
The driver of the Land Rover – a man in his 20s – was pronounced dead at the scene after the collision occurred before 6pm on the south-west bound carriageway – towards the M1 – just before the Beaumont Leys/Anstey junction.
A man in his 30s, who was a passenger in the Sharan, was taken to hospital and is continuing to receive treatment for life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the lorry – a 53-year-old man – has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody.
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The north-east bound carriageway has reopened, but the south-west bound carriageway is expected to remain closed for most of Wednesday to allow for repairs.
Detective Sergeant Jack Cornick, from Leicestershire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU), said: “Our investigation to establish what happened is continuing and I’d like to speak to anyone who can help.
“I’m keen to speak to anyone who was travelling on either carriageway at the time and in particular, anyone with a dashcam. I’d also ask for anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw any of the vehicles involved beforehand to get in touch.
“Any information or footage you’re able to provide could assist with our ongoing enquiries.”
Kai Rooney could make the bench again when Man Utd’s U18s take on Oxford in the FA Youth Cup tonight.
06:00, 18 Feb 2026
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Chants of “Rooooney, Roooney, Roooney,” returned to Old Trafford in December. Kai Rooney made his competitive debut at Old Trafford, and his father proudly watched from the stands.
It was a full-circle moment as Wayne Rooney’s son played at the venue where he rose to become one of the world’s best players. The 40-year-old scored 253 goals for Manchester United, won five Premier League titles and the Champions League to cement himself in the club’s history books.
Kai Rooney will enjoy a brilliant career if he can achieve a fraction of what his father did. There could be added pressure in the future because of the name on his shirt, but right now, he is just a 16-year-old who is learning each week in the academy at Carrington.
Wayne Rooney tried to avoid attention when he arrived at Old Trafford to watch his son in the FA Youth Cup against Derby, but a hood did not succeed in disguising his identity from a few excited supporters outside the ground, who stopped him for photographs as he arrived.
Kai will naturally attract similar attention, but his father and mother have made a deliberate effort to protect him from any noise. They only wanted him to play football if he wished to.
His parents have done a good job of keeping him grounded. Kai Rooney has taken time to pose for photos with young fans, and he recently used shin pads gifted to him by a supporter during an academy game.
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The youngster first had a ball at his feet at four years old, and he was picked up by United’s academy as a boy. Kai supports Everton, like his father, but he has admitted a “love” for United.
For a few years, Kai Rooney has been living like a professional with a view to achieving his dream of reaching United’s first-team. That has meant extra training sessions outside of Carrington and getting his diet right: pasta, chicken, salmon, rice, and oatmeal with honey and protein powder in the morning of a game.
Kai Rooney has attended Manchester Grammar School. He previously described himself as “mainly a striker who scores goals”, but coaches have recently switched him to the right wing.
In 2023, Kai Rooney was asked if his dad gives him advice and said: “It’s a lot about scoring goals because he was pretty good at scoring goals. So it’s mainly tips about that. He is preparing me to get into professional football with the right mentality. He’s helping me a lot.
“He watched the last game and he’s been looking at the fixtures. He says he’s pleased with them all. My dreams are to win the Premier League, Champions League and the World Cup.”
Speaking about his hopes for the future, he said: “Hopefully I will be playing in the Premier League for United, that’s where I see myself, but I’ve got to make it happen with the hard work.
“My dad helped me through some of the hard times and taught me a lot about the game. Even just being in the car listening to him as a manager talking to all the players, that has helped.”
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Kai Rooney is left-footed and drifts in from the right wing after his position switch, and he’s been able to craft his finishing technique under the guidance of one of the best strikers the game has ever seen.
His father has spoken in a handful of interviews about the importance of Kai enjoying playing the sport, but the youngster is slowly approaching the age when football becomes professional.
The earliest age an academy player can sign a professional deal is 17. Kai Rooney recently called out a report that suggested he’d already been offered a pro deal worth £50,000 per year after a scholarship.
Kai Rooney made headlines when he played at Old Trafford in the Youth Cup. The youngster has only made three appearances in the league for the Under-18s this season, but he was given a cameo from off the bench.
He could make the bench again when the U18s play Oxford at the Kassam Stadium in the Youth Cup tonight, but that is not guaranteed, given the strength in Darren Fletcher’s squad.
Fletcher can call upon players who have plenty of Under-21 football experience in the competition, so Kai Rooney did well to make his debut in the Youth Cup just a month after turning 16.
If Kai Rooney isn’t involved much in the Youth Cup for the remainder of this season, the silver lining is that he will still be eligible for the competition for another two campaigns.
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The youngster started in the Under-16 Manchester derby last weekend. Michael Carrick was there to watch his son, Jayce, play in the same game, and it’s heartwarming to see the two players on the same team.
If the U18s beat Oxford in the fifth round of the Youth Cup, they will play either Sunderland or Brighton at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals. If Kai Rooney is involved in that squad, provided the U18s progress, it’s a safe bet there will be further chants of “Rooooney, Roooney, Roooney,” from the stands.
Who knows? He could wear his father’s famous No.10 shirt for United in the Premier League one day.
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