The damage caused to a 900-year-old Norman Arch will cost more than £1,000 to remove and repair

The team at Peterborough Cathedral has been left “saddened and frustrated” after the historic cathedral was vandalised. Cambridgeshire Police received a report on Saturday, June 13, of criminal damage at the cathedral.

It is believed that vandals graffitied the arch that leads from Cathedral Square into the grounds of the cathedral between about 4.30pm and 5.15pm.

A spokesperson for Peterborough Cathedral said: “We are saddened and frustrated this morning to discover graffiti has been sprayed onto our historic Norman Arch. This isn’t just stonework – it is part of a remarkable building that has stood for more than 900 years, surviving wars, fires and the passage of time.

“Today, it has been damaged by a thoughtless act of vandalism.” Removing the graffiti and repairing the affected stone will cost more than £1,000, according to the spokesperson.

The statement added: “Money that would otherwise have been spent caring for the Cathedral and ensuring it remains open and welcoming for everyone. Historic stone cannot simply be cleaned like a modern wall; specialist conservation work is required to prevent further damage.

“It’s difficult to understand why anyone would choose to damage a place that belongs to the whole community. Peterborough Cathedral has stood at the heart of our city for centuries, and preserving it for future generations is a responsibility we all share.”

The crime has been reported and officers are awaiting CCTV footage to review. Anyone with information or footage is urged to report it through the force’s website quoting reference 35/44265/26. Alternatively, call 101.

The airline has shared essential advice for passengers with upcoming flights and holidays

The summer holiday countdown is on, with families across the country making last-minute preparations. For those with flights booked, June is often a busy time. From stocking up on sunscreen to booking transfers, there’s lots to do before it’s time to start relaxing.

Ahead of their holidays, passengers are also urged to complete two essential tasks to look after their safety while travelling. Sharing advice for customers online, easyJet offered advice on its website. On a webpage dedicated to ‘safety on your holiday’, the airline has set out two checks for all passengers to complete.

First, the airline urges all passengers to get comprehensive travel insurance. easyJet said: “We cannot stress enough how important it is take out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking, to cover you in the event that something stops you going on holiday and of course while you’re away too.

“Before taking out the insurance, make sure you check that the policy covers the activities and sports that you may take part in. The cost of international healthcare can be significant, and insurance does more than pay for it, it can also provide the support to get the best care and get you home afterwards.”

easyJet added that people should take a copy of the policy with them and save the emergency assistance contact number in their mobile phone. Explaining why travel insurance is essential, the airline said: “Remember that a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) only entitles you to basic state medical care in participating countries; it doesn’t cover you for repatriation. You can apply for a GHIC on the NHS website.”

Secondly, easyJet told passengers to share their travel details with someone they trust. “Leave a copy of your travel details with your next of kin or an emergency contact,” the airline said.

The UK Global Health Insurance Card enables holidaymakers to access healthcare without paying more than a local resident would while travelling in the European Economic Area.

According to the NHS: “The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. This may be free or it may require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay.

“The UK GHIC has replaced the existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you have an existing EHIC you can continue to use it until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a UK GHIC to replace it.”

The NHS adds: “You can apply for a UK GHIC if you’re a resident in the UK. You can also add your family members to your application when you apply.” It is free to apply.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s top diplomat said Tuesday that the deal ending the war with the United States would also require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. But with Israel insisting it will keep forces in Lebanon, questions are growing about the still-unpublished agreement and whether disagreement over its terms could prolong the conflict.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel’s continued occupation of southern Lebanon would violate the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran.

“The end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the complete end of the war,” Araghchi said in statements made to foreign diplomats in Tehran that were aired on Iranian state TV. “Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end.”

Araghchi said further Israeli attacks on Lebanon “will be considered by us a violation of the memorandum of understanding.”

The United States has not said whether Lebanon was part of the final agreement. But Araghchi’s description clashes with statements made by Israeli officials about the deal to end the war that started with joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28.

Israel is not party to the agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday described it as President Donald Trump’s decision, noting Israel had its own priorities and would remain in a buffer zone in Lebanon “as long as necessary.”

The ambiguity mirrored developments during past negotiations, including the temporary ceasefire brokered in April. That agreement did not pave the way to broader peace or the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Iran announced differing frameworks.

Unresolved issues cast doubt on agreement’s long-term prospects

The discrepancy underscored how much of the agreement remains apparently unresolved ahead of a planned ceremonial signing Friday in Geneva.

The agreement is meant to provide a meaningful truce in a monthslong war that has killed thousands across the Middle East, including the top leaders of Iran’s theocracy, and raised the prices of fuel, food and other basic goods far beyond the region.

The unpublished agreement provides for the “immediate” opening of the Strait of Hormuz and lifting of the blockade, according to a senior U.S. official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss outlines of the agreement on Monday.

Brokered mainly by Pakistan, it starts with the simultaneous lifting of Iran’s closure of the strait and the U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports, according to Pakistani officials. The United States and Iran will then begin 60 days of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and the potential lifting of sanctions, Pakistani officials who helped broker the interim deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity about the unpublished text.

It also includes the possibility of releasing Iran’s frozen funds, sanctions relief and a $300 billion fund to help rebuild Iran if Tehran meets certain benchmarks, senior U.S. officials told reporters Monday.

Araghchi’s comments Tuesday appear to match the understanding of two regional officials with direct knowledge of the interim deal. The officials, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations, said it would require Israel to leave nearly all the territory it occupies in Lebanon, minus a few hilltop points along the border seized earlier.

The officials say Iran insisted the accord include Lebanon in the last days of the negotiations. Regarding the timeline, the officials said the release of frozen Iranian assets are tied to Tehran implementing the deal. Gulf Arab states also have pledged to inject billions of dollars in Iran’s economy, they added.

Beyond Lebanon, there’s one more point of possible contention on Iran’s nuclear program. The interim deal begins a 60-day clock for talks over Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Iran has agreed to discuss ways to possibly “dilute or remove” its stockpile, the officials said. However, it remains unclear whether Tehran would agree to that, particularly with hard-liners opposing to giving it up.

U.S. officials have not yet explained how they see the agreement addressing Iran’s nuclear program, including who will be in charge of verifying that Iran is in compliance and who will destroy or remove highly enriched uranium believed to be buried under nuclear sites that were badly damaged by U.S. strikes last summer.

Despite anger, US allies push to make deal work at G7 summit

Meanwhile, world leaders gathered in France for the first full day of the Group of Seven summit of major industrialized nations, where Iran was high on the agenda. Scheduled discussions include a work session focused on “ending crises and ensuring stability in the Middle East.” Leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are to join the talks.

Trump has clashed with European leaders over not consulting them before going to war in Iran. Even so, leaders are expected to strike a measured tone as they seek ways to ease the economic fallout from rising oil prices caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ahead of their meeting, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement congratulating the United States, the Iranian government and the mediators on what they called a “diplomatic breakthrough.” Canada also signed the statement. The leaders said it was vital for detailed negotiations to take place and for the deal to be quickly implemented so the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened to tanker traffic.

___ Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, and Ahmed from Islamabad. Samy Magdy in Cairo and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed reporting.

The actor, 38, recently underwent his third hair transplant, which required him to shave his head and was arranged to coincide with the birth of his fourth child — the first with his wife, Hanni Treweek.

Reports suggested that Mr Shepherd will be off screens for several weeks as he takes paternity leave to support Ms Treweek in the weeks surrounding the birth.

A source told The Sun: “Jack’s really turned his life around and is blissfully happy with Hanni and they can’t wait to be parents together.”

Mr Shepherd has played fan favourite David Platt on the ITV soap for 26 years.

He has two children with his former partner, Lauren Shippey, and a third with Sammy Milewski.

He and Ms Treweek met behind the scenes of Coronation Street, where she worked as a researcher, and were married in Manchester in July 2025, a year after Mr Shepherd proposed during a safari holiday.

Dinner is served – with a side of suspicion!

Join us for a dinner party with a difference on the cobbles next week when home truths are served and the tea is most definitely spilled.

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By the end of the evening, Coronation Street viewers will learn who killed Theo Silverton, as… pic.twitter.com/2TmwEc413c

— Coronation Street (@itvcorrie) June 15, 2026

Earlier this year, Mr Shepherd joked on his On The Sofa podcast, which he co-hosts with Coronation Street co-stars Colson Smith and Ben Price, that he might name his child after his soap character.

He said: “It was suggested, I actually thought it would be funny… David.

“David P Shepherd.

“Don’t you think that would be f**king brilliant?

“The balls, the ballsy-ness.”

After ITV was approached for comment, they confirmed that he would not be ‘taking a break’ from the show but would instead be on a short holiday.

It’s been a busy year for the actor as he tied the knot with his partner Hanni Treweek last summer.

Six months later, the couple announced they are expecting their first child this month.

Sharing a video with her husband, Hanni wrote: “We’ve been keeping a secret…June 2026.”

The couple were flooded with support, including from Vicky Myers, who plays Lisa Swain.

She said: “What wonderful news! Congratulations.”

Sam Aston, who portrays Chesney Brown, also said: “Awww what wonderful news congratulations guys x.”

Who is your favourite character on Coronation Street? Let us know in the comments

Work will be happening at the site until next year

A new railway bridge is being built at Cathays railway station in Cardiff. It will mean step-free lift access for wheelchair users, improved walkways, and direct access to the Cardiff University’s Centre for Student Life.

The first stage of work is starting in mid-June but the project will take place in phases with the main construction starting in autumn 2026. Transport for Wales said it will be completed in 2027 with more detailed information shared as work progresses

The ‘access for all’ (AFA) footbridge will provide better accessibility and help modernise the station to a safer transport hub. Transport for Wales will issue regular updates and communications at each key stage – particularly on any impacts on residents, businesses or road users.

Dan Tipper from Transport for Wales said: “This investment is an important step in our ongoing work to improve accessibility and modernise stations across Wales. The new footbridge will make Cathays station safer, easier to navigate, and more welcoming for everyone who uses it.

“We’re working closely with Cardiff University and other local businesses to ensure the project supports the needs of the student and surrounding communities, and are looking forward to seeing it develop.” For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here

Senior project manager Alex Phillips said: “As we move into this first phase, our teams will begin setting up the site, implementing pedestrian diversions, and carrying out initial excavation and cable works.

“These are important enabling works for the wider project, and our focus is on delivering them efficiently while ensuring the station continues to operate as normal.”

Tributes to the ITV reality show star poured in following his untimely death

The coroner investigating the death of Jake Hall has been unable to determine an exact cause, an inquest has heard.

The 35-year-old former The Only Way Is Essex star was found dead with head injuries at a holiday villa in Mallorca following a collision with a glass door on May 6, East London Coroner’s Court was told on Tuesday.

Hall – whose funeral took place last week – was best known for his almost decade-long stint on Towie, having joined in 2015 and quit in 2024, and he also ran a menswear brand called By Jake Hall.

The inquest heard Hall’s body was repatriated to the UK but a post-mortem examination at East Ham Mortuary was unable to determine the cause of death.

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Area coroner Nadia Persaud asked Spanish authorities to provide the court with copies of the toxicology report, police reports and witness statements.

She also made Hall’s family members “interested persons”, meaning they will be able to interrogate evidence or witnesses to a future inquest.

Hall had a daughter, River, eight, with 39-year-old Albanian model and Real Housewives of Cheshire star, Beqiri.

Beqiri previously posted a lengthy tribute on social media and said her heart was “shattered” by his death, and that she loved him from “the very first moment I saw you”.

Tributes have poured in for Hall over the past month, including from his ex-girlfriend and former Towie co-star Chloe Lewis, who wrote on Instagram that he was “such a massive and special part of my life”.

They dated in their teenage years and starred in the ITV reality show together, where they were known for their tumultuous on-off relationship, which finally ended in 2016.

Celebrity DJ Fat Tony was also among those paying tribute to Hall on the day of his funeral, and said there was an “incredible turn out of love” there.

A provisional inquest date was set for December 7 2026.

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A driver accused of killing two girls when she crashed into a Wimbledon primary school has appeared in court for the first time.

Claire Freemantle, 49, faces two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and seven counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after the incident at The Study Prep school in July 2023.

Schoolgirls Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight years old, died as the school was celebrating the last day of the summer term.

At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Freemantle, of Edge Hill, Wimbledon, was allowed to sit behind her lawyer, rather than in the dock, for the hearing.

Wearing a dark-coloured trouser suit, Freemantle spoke to confirm her identity and was not asked to enter any pleas.

She is accused of killing Nuria and Selena, as well as causing serious injury in the crash to Nuria’s mother, Smera Chohan, another mother, Tamsyn Van De Vyver, a third mother, and four children.

The injured children in the charges include one infant and three girls aged seven and eight.

Criminal charges were announced in May, after the girls’ families criticised the Metropolitan Police for its investigation into the crash.

In June 2024, Scotland Yard said the driver of the vehicle had suffered an epileptic seizure and would face no criminal charges.

But that decision was reversed, and the Met apologised for the way it initially dealt with the incident and the ‘impact on those affected’, adding it would be ‘fundamentally resetting how the Met investigates fatal and serious collisions’.

After the charges were announced, Freemantle’s lawyers previously said she would plead not guilty to the charges.

Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, defending, asked for Freemantle to be allowed to sit in the well of the court, rather than in the dock, due to health concerns.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring sent the case to the Old Bailey for a hearing on July 14 and released Freemantle on unconditional bail.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Dear Coleen,

I’ve been seeing someone for about a month. I’ve told him about my past relationships and what I went through. I said I wanted to take things slowly but, after some words of wisdom from his best friend, I chose to just go for it and we had sex.

We’ve both fallen for each other and I already have deep feelings for him, but the other day we got into a conversation about TikTok and I saw he had a woman’s name underneath his. I asked him who she was and his reply was, “Why?”

He then admitted they’d been together, but she was controlling so he ended it. Things felt a bit awkward afterwards but then returned to normal.

Then, the other night my best friend told me she’d looked him up on Facebook and saw the TikTok woman had posted on his page, declaring her love for him.

My heart feels broken, my head feels messy. I know he’s cheated in his past relationships. He also told me he doesn’t use Facebook, yet I found out he does. We’ve barely spoken since all this came to light. We’ve arranged to talk soon, but I feel sick. How do I approach the situation and what do I say to him?

Coleen says,

I think it’s worrying that he’s lied to you right at the start of the relationship, and maybe he’s been telling you what you want to hear to keep you on board. Who knows what he’s saying to this other woman to keep her on board! Look, we all have a past and, if he hadn’t lied to you, then I’d be suggesting you give him a chance to prove he’s worthy of your trust.

However, it does seem that things might not be over with this other woman – certainly not in her eyes. So, be upfront. Have a conversation with him, tell him what you’ve found out and heard, explain that he’s broken your trust and that it’s set you back massively.

Give him an opportunity to explain, but if he gets defensive and doesn’t offer an honest answer, then I’d run a mile. He’s showing you who he is and it’s giving red flags all over the place. If he really likes you, then he should be pulling out all the stops to find a way to show you he’s changed and that this relationship is important to him.

If you decide to move forward with him, then be cautious and don’t get back into bed with him unless you’re satisfied that things are fully over with this woman.

Coleen’s words of wisdom

How can you think positively when you don’t feel, um, positive? When you get a negative thought, don’t stew on it – replace it with a positive one. Remind yourself regularly of what’s good in your life and be with people who bring positive energy.

OPINION

“The Mayor and I are committed to transforming London’s waterways – cleaning them up, improving biodiversity, and opening up more blue spaces for Londoners to relax, walk and swim in safely. This is why we are launching the Clean and Healthy Waterways plan to ensure they are safe and welcoming spaces for all, as we continue to build a better, greener London for everyone.”

Across parts of Africa, a lack of financial support and mentorship can close doors for girls with leadership potential. Akili Dada was created to push those doors open.

Since 2005 the organisation has awarded 268 scholarships and provided mentoring to more than 2,500 girls and young women. Alongside financial support, participants receive leadership training, networks and guidance that help them move from school into university and professional life. Its programmes follow three pillars inspired by Swahili: washa (ignite), angaza (amplify) and urithi (legacy), designed to nurture leadership.

Founder Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg believes the aim is long-term change. “Leadership is not accidental,” she said.“It must be nurtured with intention and purpose.”

Image: Amos Getanda

Main image: The Kids’ Network