The only thing harder than losing weight is keeping it off. Many people who lose weight find themselves stuck in the cycle of “yo-yo dieting” – losing weight and gaining it all (and sometimes more) back again.

Research on yo-yo dieting has long indicated it can be harmful for your health. But a recent paper has now suggested yo-yo dieting might not be as unhealthy as we’ve been led to believe.

This recent paper, published in BMC Medicine, presents the findings of two separate weight loss trials that were conducted five years apart.

The first trial (trial 1) looked at 278 participants who were overweight or obese. Participants were randomised to follow either a low-fat or low-carb Mediterranean diet – either with or without exercise. All participants lost a comparable amount of weight at the end of the 18-month trial. But those who incorporated exercise achieved the biggest decrease in visceral fat (a dangerous type of fat that is stored around the organs).

The second trial (trial 2) was conducted five years later. Similar to trial 1, the 294 participants followed a Mediterrean-style diet for 18 months. But this time, one group ate a diet very high in polyphenol-rich foods (naturally-occurring plant compounds which have been linked to health benefits such as lower risk of chronic disease). The second group ate a normal Mediterranean diet, while the third group followed normal healthy diet guidelines.

While both Mediterrnanean diet groups lost weight and saw improvements in their overall health, the polyphenol group lost more visceral fat.

A unique aspect of trial 2 was that it included around 80 participants from trial 1. Some of these participants weighed more than they did at the start of the first trial. Such weight recidivism is common following weight loss. This is due to various biological and physiological functions that reduce metabolism and increase hunger, causing people to regain weight and store fat.

The authors compared the people who rejoined the research project against their health and weight status at the start of trial 1. They assessed body weight and other aspects of health – including body fat and blood sugar levels. Despite the re-joiners weighing around the same (if not more) than they did at the start of trial 1, they had lower levels of abdominal fat and visceral fat five years later.

Their metabolic health was also better than it was at the start of the first trial, based their blood lipid (fat) levels, cardiovascular health and blood sugar control.

On the surface, this appears to be good news – suggesting participants retained some of the health benefits of the weight they lost the first time around, despite regaining the weight.

Yet, the results suggest that the very adaptations which helped the re-joiners stay healthy despite regaining weight could potentially have repercussions later. To understand why this is the case requires a grasp of how the body responds to a calorie deficit.

Weight loss and body fat

Our fat stores (known as adipose tissue) serve as our main energy (calorie) buffer when there’s no food to provide that fuel. These stores are sacrificed to cover the energy shortfall, causing fat cells to shrink. Visceral fat is the first to go, followed by the more beneficial fat cell stores.

But when people stop dieting, the body puts priority on regaining lost fat. Indeed, our body replenishes fat stores far more quickly than it does muscle or protein stores. More importantly, in response to this shrinkage, the body compensates by making more fat cells. It does this to help the body better cope the next time there’s a fuel crisis.

So dieting literally makes you fatter in the long run. But thankfully, this will most likely be healthier subcutaneous fat (in the hips, thighs, buttocks and torso) instead of around the organs as harmful visceral fat.

So even though you’ll be carrying excess weight, you’ll experience fewer of the metabolic issues caused by unwanted visceral fat – such as insulin resistance and high cholesterol, which elevate your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

But with the higher capacity to store fat comes the risk of overshooting your original weight. This may also have implications for yo-yo dieting.

The weight loss cycle

In the paper, the re-joiners who took part in trial 2 did manage to lose weight again. But, on average, they lost slightly less than the trial’s first-timers. That said, when all of the participants from trial 2 were followed up five years later, the re-joiners from trial 1 had regained less, too. They had also retained more of the health benefits of losing weight.

Taking stock of the whole weight-loss journey, it appears that those who regained weight and then joined trial 2 are at a comparable place at the end of ten years to those who just did trial 1.

But there are a few caveats to the trial’s findings.

First, the paper only examined body fat. It didn’t provide any information on lean tissue (such as muscle). This is important, as when we lose weight we lose both fat and muscle. Given muscle’s importance for a healthy metabolism, a lack of muscle could result in even greater weight gain.

À lire aussi :
Weight loss: why you don’t just lose fat when you’re on a diet

It’s also not clear whether regaining weight changes the nature of muscle tissue. There are two key types of muscle fibre. Type 1 is smaller and more efficient at burning fat. Type 2 is larger, faster and more powerful – important for explosive exercise.

If an overall loss of muscle results in muscle fibres changing from type 1 to type 2, this could increase risk of health problems – including sarcopenic obesity and earlier onset of age-related health issues associated with muscle loss.

Overall, the paper shows us that weight loss is still beneficial for your health – even if it requires a few attempts to get to your goal weight. But to avoid potentially gaining more weight the second time around, it’s key to establish good diet and lifestyle changes that are sustainable long-term.

Arlene Phillips, a former judge on the hit BBC One dance show, was among the showbiz stars supporting Johannes Radebe

A former Strictly Come Dancing legend has described a moment with one of the show’s current professional dancers as ‘unexpected’ amid an outpouring of love and praise.

Arlene Phillips, a former judge on the hit BBC One dance show, was among the showbiz stars supporting Johannes Radebe and the cast of Kinky Boots at a special Gala performance of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning musical, in support of international charity, WaterAid.

The professional dancer, who is a fan-favourite among viewers of Strictly, is making his West End debut as he reprises the fabulous role of drag queen Lola and he and his co-star Matt Cardle, as well as their fellow Kinky Boots cast, were supported by a number of famous faces on the night, including a host of Strictly professionals and former contestants, including a number Johannes’ former partners.

Johannes has since taken to Instagram with a string of videos and pictures from the special night in the theatre, and simply told his followers: “Heart is full! [heart emoji] @kinkyboots_uk #westend.”

Advertisement

Among the clips was one of Johannes with the cast on the red carpet, in which he could be seen lifting a smiling Arlene up in front of the cameras. She commented on the post, explaining: “The most unexpected moment ever. One moment i was saying congratulations and good bye to the brilliant JoJo and the next second he threw me up in the air me up in the air.”

And the moment caught the eye of Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, who was quick to respond to the post: “@arlenephillips getting the love and respect she DESERRRRRRVES @johannesradebe you’re wonderful!”

Meanwhile, Johannes was also being flooded with love and support, as Strictly co-star Vito Coppola gushed: “Just saying: you are AMAZING!!! Keep smashing [it]. Love you Jojo.” His former celebrity dance partner Annabel Croft added: “You were born to play this role and I’ve never witnessed energy quite like that on stage. Quite sensational and the show is spectacular !! Loved every minute and so proud.”

One man has died near Athens as Storm Erminio brings severe weather, floods and Saharan dust turning skies red across Greece with flights disrupted on Crete

Advertisement

A man has lost his life as ferocious gale-force winds and flooding from Storm Erminio battered Greece – while a Saharan dust storm transformed skies to a crimson hue.

The victim was discovered beneath a vehicle in the Nea Makri countryside near Athens this morning, fire services confirmed, after reportedly venturing outside his apartment and being swept away by the extreme conditions.

Storm Erminio has left streets submerged and forced the closure of several schools. Air travel has been disrupted on Crete following an African dust storm that filled the atmosphere, casting an eerie red-orange glow across the sky.

The national weather service EMY has issued a red alert and is predicting further “severe weather” today across most of Greece “with prolonged and intense rain and thunderstorms, and possibly localised hailstorms.”

Red alerts have been declared for eastern Peloponnese, Central Greece, Evia, Thessaly, the Sporades Islands, Attica, and the Dodecanese, reports the Mirror.

An orange warning has also been issued for the Cyclades and the eastern Aegean islands. Temperatures are set to plummet to 9C inland, 11C along coastal areas and 5C in the highest mountainous regions.

Ensure our latest stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

A red warning remains in effect for Crete, particularly in western and southern areas, from midday until late Thursday evening. Three flights bound for Iraklio were forced to divert, state news agency ANA reported.

Aircraft were grounded at Heraklion’s principal airport in Crete on Wednesday, with at least two flights compelled to reroute after visibility plummeted to approximately 1,000 metres, a level deemed unsafe for landing. A British Airways flight from London was diverted to Corfu, while a SKY Express service from Brussels was redirected to Athens. The thick dust cloud lingering over Crete continues to disrupt air travel across the island.

On the ground, dramatic incidents were reported, including a powerful tornado flipping a lorry in the coastal region of Pachia Ammos as it was set to load agricultural exports.

In Ierapetra, enormous waves crashed into the first houses along the old town due to strong southerly winds creating hazardous coastal conditions. Officials anticipate the dust wave will start to dissipate later today.

The dusty conditions have been exacerbated by Storm Erminio, a potent weather system bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and robust winds across Greece.

The historic Boat Race is set to embrace a new era of relatability as it moves to Channel 4, with organisers hoping reality television stars and deeper insights into athletes’ lives will draw in fresh audiences.

The five-year broadcast deal, announced in October, initially raised concerns among some who viewed the departure from long-standing hosts the BBC as a worrying sign for the 197-year-old British tradition.

However, those in charge see the shift as a prime opportunity to captivate new viewers with a revamped broadcast, while still catering to its traditional fanbase.

Olympic bronze medallist and Oxford women’s president Heidi Long told the Press Association: “It’s a big change, but so much in the world of media is changing. I don’t think it necessarily is a good thing or a bad thing, but I think it’s a change.

“One of the fun opportunities that we’ve had working with Channel 4 is unlocking (our personalities), and so much about sport is the athletes and the people taking part in it.”

Channel 4 has enlisted former Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing to join Saturday’s broadcast team, alongside seasoned presenter Clare Balding and Boat Race hosting newcomer Ade Adepitan.

Adepitan commented: “When it comes to the Boat Race, it can feel quite intriguing, quite enigmatic, something that’s far off from people. I think what Channel 4 want to do is open it up. If (Channel 4) can do what we’ve done with the Paralympics to the Boat Race, the sky’s the limit, literally.”

Media production managing director Phil Sibson revealed that the broadcast will incorporate “relatable comparisons” to other sports, clever “visual props”, and exclusive footage of the crews enjoying outings away from their academic institutions.

Boat Race chair Siobhan Cassidy added: “Maybe (people) don’t know everything there is about the Boat Race, and actually they’re young people that are really relatable. They’re working really hard.

“Everyone here will have earned their place at Oxford and Cambridge based on academic ability only; they just happen to be incredibly hard-working and dedicated rowers at the same time.”

Yet, this push for relatability has its inherent limitations. This year marks the second of luxury brand Chanel’s title sponsorship, and many of the student-athletes’ stories are far from ordinary.

Oxford men’s stroke Harry Geffen has represented Great Britain at under-23 level, including last year’s world championships. Meanwhile, Carys Earl, in the Cambridge women’s four seat, balances two daily training sessions with demanding medical studies.

Earl, who hopes to achieve a personal hat-trick in the light blue boat, has delivered babies before joining her crew and, on at least one occasion, left a surgical theatre at 3am to make training two hours later.

She affirmed: “It’s hard work, it’s full on, and sleep is not something you get to do very often, but it’s incredible the opportunities that I’m given, and I want to make the very most of it.”

A terror suspect accused of killing 15 people in a shooting spree on Bondi Beach has lost a bid to protect the identities of family members.

Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire on ‌a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia, in December in an attack which police say was inspired by Islamic State.

His dad, Sajid, who police say was also involved in the shooting, was shot dead by police at the scene.

Akram is facing 59 charges over the attack, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

The 24-year-old had sought a 40-year anonymity order to prevent the publication of the names or photographs of his mother, brother and sister as well as their addresses and places of work and school over concerns for their safety.

Akram’s bid was opposed by a number of Australian media groups, who argued the proposed order would prevent proper reporting of the case.

Judge Hugh Donnelly ruled in favour of the media, and said that the principle ⁠of open justice was fundamental to ⁠the trial.

He said that suppression orders “should only be made in exceptional circumstances”.

Judge Donnelly added: “This case has caused unprecedented public interest, anger, outrage and ‌grief.”

Akram’s driving licence, showing his home address, had been widely circulated online after the shooting, while his mother gave an interview to a local newspaper after the shooting, the court heard.

Social media platforms and overseas publications, would have been exempt from any order preventing publication of their identities, so it would have been ineffective in any case, Judge Donnelly added.

Read more from Sky News:
Dwindling diesel and jet fuel supplies in EU
Moment US journalist is kidnapped in Iraq

“This case is exceptional by virtue of the sheer ⁠magnitude and intensity of commentary on social media,” he said.

Akram, speaking via a video link, spoke only to confirm that he could hear the proceedings.

Richard Wilson, Akram’s barrister, told the court that he did not plan to appeal the decision.

The Bondi attack is regarded as Australia’s worst terror attack and biggest mass shooting since 1996.

It prompted the Australian parliament to strengthen gun control and hate speech laws, and a government-backed inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion in the country was launched in the wake of the atrocity.

That inquiry is expected to report its findings by December this year.

The man was fleeing police after a suspected drug deal took place

A man who threatened a police officer with a knife during a chase has been jailed. Ricky Green, 42, attempted to flee from police on October 7, 2025, when officers suspected a drug deal was taking place in Searle Street, Cambridge.

During a police chase, Green pulled a knife from his pocked and approached one of the officers in a threatening manner. The 42-year-old was then arrested and a search revealed he was carrying 24 wraps of heroine and 63 wraps of cocaine.

These had a combined street value of around £900. He also had £80 in cash.

Green, of Victoria Road, Cambridge, was found guilty of possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a pointed article and threatening with a pointed article in a public place.

At Huntingdon Law Courts on Friday (March 27), he was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. Detective Constable Henry Marshall, who investigated, said: “Green’s behaviour that night posed a serious risk to both our officers and the public.

“Threatening an officer with a knife is completely unacceptable and the sentenced handed down reflects the gravity of his actions. We are committed to removing dangerous individuals who deal harmful drugs and carry weapons from our streets.”

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

BASRA, Iraq (AP) — Iraqi oil fields once alive with the buzz of workers are nearly deserted. Ports that pulsed with the churn of cargo have fallen still, the din of commerce replaced by the soft rhythm of waves.

A month after the war in Iran started, workers at ports and oil fields in the province of Basra, where almost all of Iraq’s crude is produced and exported, have grown accustomed to rockets streaking across the sky, aimed at U.S. air bases and other strategic facilities.

The war, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes, is dealing a heavy blow to Iraq’s economy. Iraq relies on oil revenues for roughly 90% of its budget, and most of its oil is exported through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf where Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic during the conflict. The war also has led to a sharp reduction in the volume of imported goods reaching southern Iraq’s ports, while attacks have halted traffic at the border it shares with Iran.

Unlike other countries in the Middle East touched by the war, Iraq hosts both entrenched Iran-aligned forces and significant U.S. interests, leaving it exposed to attacks from both sides. Since the war started, oil production in southern Iraq, where Basra is located, has fallen by more than 70% and the volume of imported goods reaching the country’s ports has been cut in half. Drone and missile attacks have targeted American companies and military bases. Iran’s allied Iraqi militias also have struck oil fields and energy infrastructure. Many foreign workers have left.

The Iraqi government should have enough funds to get through mid-May without new oil sales, according to experts, but then it will have to borrow money.

“After that, the government would resort to issuing bonds,” said Ahmed Tabaqchali, an expert in Iraq’s economy. “But not without consequences.”

Oil production suspended

Across southern Iraq, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has prompted oil fields to scale back production and focus on domestic needs, while oil prices around the globe have risen. Basra’s Zubair oil field, once producing around 400,000 barrels per day, has seen output drop to roughly 250,000, officials said.

Iran has offered assurances that Iraqi crude can safely transit the strait, said Bassem Abdul Karim, the head of the state-run Basra Oil Company, which oversees production in the province. However, because Iraq lacks its own tanker fleet and depends on chartered vessels, shipments ultimately hinge on whether tanker owners are willing to accept the heightened risks of making the journey. Most are not.

At a degassing station in Zubair, where crude is processed, production has also slowed dramatically. “It’s quiet now because of the reductions,” said chief engineer Ammar Hashim. “Of course we are worried.”

The downturn in Zubair reflects a broader decline in Basra. Output has dropped from 3.1 million barrels per day to roughly 900,000 across the province, according to Abdul Karim.

“Exports are currently completely halted. At the moment, we are considering alternative loading areas, but none are fully operational,” he told The Associated Press.

That morning, a drone crashed in the Majnoon oil field north of Basra without detonating. A security official said it’s an increasingly common occurrence, adding that the drone was likely headed toward U.S. bases in Kuwait. Production at the field has been suspended due to the frequency of these events. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to news media.

Hundreds of employees from American, British, Italian, French and other international oil companies have left Iraq due to the war. The departures accelerated after a March 6 drone strike hit the Burjisiya complex in Basra, a key logistics hub for Iraq’s oil industry used by numerous companies. The attack targeted U.S. oil services company KBR, striking its chemical storage facility.

Another drone struck the British-Petroleum operated Rumaila oil field, prompting some foreign workers there to leave, said Abdul Karim. The field is still operating, he said. On Wednesday, multiple drones attacked a fuel warehouse linked to BP in northern Iraq.

Efforts to reroute Iraq’s oil face major constraints: The country doesn’t have the capacity to boost exports via its northern pipeline, and trucking through Jordan and Syria is costly and inefficient, said Abdul Karim.

Shipping lanes closed

Umm Qasr, Iraq’s primary deep-water port, was once so noisy with imported cargo that it could give you a headache, workers there said.

Now, with the Strait of Hormuz closed, large mother ships bringing shipments to Iraq can no longer get to the port. Instead, they dock in the United Arab Emirates, where the cargo is carried by trucks and then smaller ships to get to Umm Qasr, a costly workaround.

The port’s jetties are running well below their former capacity, with volumes halved by the war, according to port director Mohammed Tahir Fadhil.

When the AP visited, just one cargo ship from the U.A.E. had docked.

The threat to shipping lanes escalated after Iran destroyed two tankers on March 11 in Iraqi waters, the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Malta-flagged Zefyros.

“Today, our only gateway for goods is the United Arab Emirates,” said Farhan Fartousi, director of the Iraqi Ports Company.

Trade disrupted

On Sunday morning, Haidar Abdul-Samad, deputy director of Basra’s Shalamcha border crossing with Iran, was on the phone with an Iranian official, complaining about electricity cuts that had halted trade, urging a quick resolution. The power cuts followed an airstrike that hit the Iranian side of the crossing.

Such disruptions, local officials say, have become routine.

Before the war, the crossing saw constant movement, reflecting strong familial and commercial ties between Iranians and Iraqis in the area. It is also a key transit point for traders and pilgrims heading to Shiite holy sites in central Iraq.

That morning, trucks were backed up for miles.

“Priority is given to food supplies to prevent price increases,” Abdul-Samad said. “Passenger movement is not at the same level as before; activity has declined due to the war in Iran.”

Once electricity was restored, 30-year-old Iranian trader Atefa Al-Fatlawi arrived with her husband and young son. She buys goods at lower prices in Basra to sell back home.

“We are scared because of the bombings,” she said. “Shalamcha was targeted. Today, there were no transport vehicles at the garage because of the attack.”

People in many parts of the world are worried about rocketing energy bills as the conflict in the Gulf continues. But for the majority of renters in Sweden’s apartment blocks, this is not so much of an immediate concern.

Part of the reason for this is that many buildings have communal laundries where washing machines and dryers (as well as water and heating) are provided and the cost is included in the rent.

In Sweden, nearly one third of all water and energy is consumed domestically, with two thirds of this through activities relating to cleanliness. Electricity for washing and drying clothes also accounts for a substantial share of residential electricity use.

Communal laundries are one of Sweden’s environmental success stories. They began as part of the post-war million homes project, when modern apartment blocks were equipped with shared tvättstugor (laundry rooms) instead of individual residents having to buy their own machines. These rooms usually have a handful of semi-industrial washing machines, dryers and drying rooms serving an entire building. Access is through a communal booking system, and use is free to residents of the building.

I live in the Swedish city of Lund. Since I met my husband 11 years ago he’s been the go-to person for laundry, and takes the loads down to the communal room. For our family, using this facility is convenient because someone else takes care of maintenance and servicing of the machines and we don’t pay extra for washing clothes. It’s all included in the housing association fee, which is negotiated for the building annually.

Tvättstugor rose to prominence during the Swedish government’s widespread building programme of the 1960s and 1970s, as part of a commitment to improving living conditions and creating a fairer society.

Clean running water, reasonably priced central heating and access to a laundry were part of a broader social project: raising living standards collectively, through shared infrastructure. This often meant that shared facilities such as laundry rooms and heating were included in the rent at no extra cost. This means that many people living in apartment blocks dotted around many Swedish cities don’t have to worry about too much about hikes in energy costs for washing, or heating, if, as expected, household energy prices rise this summer, due to the conflict in the Gulf.

Around 51% of Sweden’s housing is in these apartment blocks (2.3 million homes). And a survey of tenants in Sweden in 2020 found that around 53% have access to the tvättstuga.

How communal laundries save resources

If each household in Sweden had its own appliances, the material stock of machines – and future waste – would escalate quickly. A tvättstuga, by contrast, can serve dozens of residences with just a few semi-industrial machines that are built to last, maintained professionally and replaced strategically. It is a denser, leaner way of organising cleanliness.

Shared laundry spaces change how often we wash. Interviews and time-use data suggest that people with easy access to their own machine tend to wash more frequently, with smaller loads. If the washing machine is in the next room and energy and water are relatively cheap, it is tempting to wash “just in case”, or to avoid the minor inconvenience of airing clothes or dabbing away a single stain. When you have to book a slot, carry clothes down to the basement and work within a fixed time window, the calculation shifts. People batch their washing, fill machines properly and think twice before throwing something in after a single wear.

Communal laundries also make technological improvement easier. Upgrading a handful of machines in a shared space is far more straightforward than relying on hundreds of individual households to replace old appliances. Shared infrastructure can be a powerful lever: change the system once, and many people benefit.

But tvättstugor are also social spaces. Where I live the laundry room doubles as a small community centre. There’s a children’s book swap, a noticeboard with local events, and a steady trickle of neighbourly encounters. My husband has his gang of dads that he sees there every Sunday. They chat while folding, sharing tips about laundry liquid and life. Negotiations over booking times, cleaning lint filters and wiping benches are not always idyllic – there are passive-aggressive notes and the odd conflict – but they are also a form of everyday democracy. We learn, in a very concrete way, how to share resources, negotiate conflict, respect common rules and live together.

Despite the environmental and social benefits, communal laundries are disappearing from new housing schemes. Many municipal housing companies are not including tvättstugor in new builds. This is a shame because it’s not possible to solve the energy crisis individually.

We need shared infrastructures – from tvättstugor to public transport to district heating (a centralised heating system that distributes heat to a range of buildings). Sweden shows how these facilities can work in practice: these shared laundry rooms spread costs, reduce waste and nudge people towards sufficiency. Just as importantly, they give us a reason to meet, compromise and practice our negotiation skills. This can help us build the solidarity needed to tackle the climate crisis.

Liverpool fan and former Northern Ireland under-19 soccer star Oisin Conaty couldn’t resist a dig after the Carton House misunderstanding

Oisín Conaty has poured cold water on claims of a training ground stand-off between Armagh and Manchester United – insisting the whole thing “never happened”.

Rumours gathered pace online earlier this week, suggesting both teams were due to use Carton House at the same time, with Armagh allegedly forced to step aside as the pitches were lined out for soccer instead of GAA.

But Conaty, who was a talented soccer player himself and represented Northern Ireland at under-19 level, says the reality was far less dramatic.

“The pitches weren’t lined out, so we just went back up the road and we trained in Armagh,” he explained.

“It was a Saturday and Sunday, no big deal. We got three good sessions in and we’re happy with the weekend.

“I saw it coming out yesterday, a few tweets, but it didn’t affect us.”

Rather than any clash with the Premier League giants, Armagh simply adjusted their plans – with no disruption to their preparations.

“Everything was the same – the meetings, the trainings, everything,” Conaty added.

“We got two good sessions in and another walk-through session. It was perfect.”

The Orchard County ultimately lost nothing from the change of venue – aside from a night away.

“We got the same number of training sessions in Armagh that we would have done in Carton House,” he said.

“The only difference was we slept in our own beds.”

And while the supposed run-in with Manchester United never materialised, Conaty couldn’t resist a cheeky dig – especially given his footballing loyalties.

“If United were there, I’m a Liverpool man, so there could have been a bit of a stand-off,” he joked.

“United need the result, don’t they?

“They need the training in the last few years they’ve been going through.”

* Oisin Conaty is an AIB ambassador ahead of the 2026 GAA Championship

Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the latest sports news, headlines and top stories

Here are all the amazing things we think you should know as NASA makes history

NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first human spaceflight to travel beyond low‑Earth orbit in more than 50 years, successfully launched on April 1, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, embarking on a historic journey around the Moon.

The 10‑day flight marks humanity’s return to deep‑space exploration since the end of NASA’s Apollo program and will test critical spacecraft systems ahead of planned lunar landings in years to come.

Here are 12 amazing things we think you should know about the Artemis II mission:

1. First time in 50 years

The Artemis II mission marks the first time in more than 50 years that astronauts have been sent on a mission around the Moon. The last such journey took place during Apollo 17 in 1972.

2. A powerful launch from Florida

The mission lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center aboard NASA’s Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket the agency has ever built. It generated 8.8 million pounds of thrust, rising slowly at first before accelerating into the sky, leaving a bright plume visible for miles and a deep rumble felt by spectators.

3. Delays and last-minute technical concerns

Artemis II faced several delays in the months leading up to launch, including hydrogen and helium leaks discovered during testing. In the final hour before liftoff, engineers also had to resolve a battery issue in the launch abort system, briefly pausing the countdown before confirming the rocket was safe to fly.

4. The four-person crew on board

The astronauts on the mission are commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.

The four astronauts include the first woman, the first Black astronaut and the first Canadian astronauts assigned to a lunar mission. A moment in history!

Advertisement

5. A 10-day mission timeline

The mission is expected to last around 10 days, during which the crew will travel further from Earth than any humans before. However, unlike the Apollo missions, Artemis II is not designed to land on the Moon but to test systems for future missions.

6. Initial testing in Earth orbit

After launch, the Orion spacecraft entered Earth orbit, where the crew is spending the first day carrying out system checks. These include testing navigation, communications, and life-support systems to ensure the spacecraft is ready for the journey into deep space.

7. The journey towards the Moon

Once initial checks are complete, Orion will fire its main engine and begin its journey of approximately 244,000 miles to the Moon. This phase, lasting several days, is critical for assessing the spacecraft’s performance outside Earth’s immediate environment.

8. They will not actually be landing on the moon

On day six, the spacecraft will perform a flyby of the Moon, travelling thousands of miles beyond it. The astronauts will capture images and gather data, helping NASA understand how systems operate in deep space conditions.

9. Returning using gravity

After the flyby, Orion will use the gravitational pull of both the Moon and Earth to guide its return. This planned trajectory allows the spacecraft to conserve fuel while safely heading back home.

10. Re-entry through extreme heat

As the capsule re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, it will experience temperatures of around 1,650°C. The service module will separate before re-entry, leaving the crew module to withstand the intense heat as it descends.

Advertisement

11. They will land the module in the Pacific Ocean

The mission will end with a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve the astronauts. This method follows procedures used during earlier lunar missions.

12. Preparing for future Moon landings

Although Artemis II will not land on the Moon, it is a key step towards future missions that will. NASA plans to use data from this flight to prepare for crewed landings later in the decade, with the long-term goal of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice