Entertaining but inconsequential cinematic addition to television show.

The first Star Wars film to hit cinemas in seven years, this also sees the titular pair make the jump into hyperspace from the small to big screen.

The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice Grogu face up to several new foes as they embark on perilous adventures across the galaxy.

The danger with this movie was always going to be that it would just feel like an extended episode of the TV show and, inevitably, that is what happens.

You will have fun along the way, however nothing comes across as particularly consequential, and the characters don’t develop at all from what we’ve previously seen.

Fortunately, the bond between Pascal and his little green friend remains superbly sweet; this is a duo that would do anything for each other.

The other star of the show is Ludwig Göransson’s magnificent musical score which, unlike the flick overall, builds on his earlier work on The Mandalorian show.

Writer and co-writer Jon Favreau must have called in a few favours or friendships too as legends Sigourney Weaver ( Colonel Ward ) and, more bizarrely, Martin Scorsese (voicing Hugo Durant ) make appearances – either that or they have always wanted to feature in a Star Wars film.

The major tie-in we get to George Lucas’ original trilogy is relatives of the notorious Jabba the Hutt , although I found The Bear star Jeremy Allen White’s voice work as Rotta the Hutt ill-fitting and distracting.

We visit several different locations, mostly dimly lit and adorned with sand and metal, and a gladiator-style fight pit is an action sequence that feels done to death.

Other showdowns, like a face-off with the massive Dragonsnake and familiar aerial battalion back-up, impress more but nothing here would make any of the franchise’s top set-pieces list.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is Star Wars -lite, then, but if you are a fan of the TV show it makes for a diverting, enjoyable and instantly-forgettable addition.

● What is your favourite Star Wars flick?

Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.

Kelly Dewar said: “I just finished watching The Boroughs on Netflix and it was a lot of fun that kept you guessing.”

● The Mandalorian and Grogu is showing in cinemas now.

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Senedd candidate Wayne Erasmus was sentenced after pleading guilty to Animal Welfare Act offences

Swansea Council has welcomed the outcome of a long-running investigation into complaints about the welfare of goats and pigs kept by a man who was sentenced this week.

David Wayne Erasmus has been issued with a lifetime ban from keeping animals after pleading guilty to offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

Rhys Harries, the council’s animal welfare team leader, said: “The decision of the court to ban Mr Erasmus from ever being allowed to keep animals is the right one. During repeated visits by my officers they witnessed animals being kept in appalling conditions.”

Erasmus serves on town and community councils in Carmarthenshire and Swansea and was a candidate for the Sir Gaerfyrddin constituency at last month’s Senedd election representing pro-Welsh independence party Gwlad. Two years ago he was an independent candidate for Gower in the general election. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here

Swansea Council, which brought the prosecution, said over an extended period its officers investigated animal welfare concerns raised by the public and carried out repeated visits to Erasmus’ field at Bolgoed Road, Pontarddulais.

During the visits animal welfare officers removed pigs and goats that were observed being kept in unsuitable conditions. Following the visits, said the council, Erasmus bought more animals which were subjected to similar conditions.

A sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court on June 4 heard the defendant housed the animals in old windowless shipping containers awash with liquid faeces, urine, and rotting food, and outdoor pens which were just mud. Several pigs rescued from his land died days after being removed from his care.

Lee Reynolds, on behalf of the council, said the prosecution was brought on the basis that Erasmus’s ability to provide the required standard of care was “significantly lacking” and he was “ill-equipped” to look after them rather than him intending to cause suffering to the animals.

Mr Reynolds said the charges covered 27 goats, kids, and pigs. Erasmus, 66, of Arlan Gwili, Hendy, near Pontarddulais, had previously pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences. The pleas were entered on the basis he had not intended to cause suffering to the animals.

The court heard the defendant asked for two offences under Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (Wales) Regulations to be taken into consideration. The prosecutor said those offences related to animal bones, skeletons, and entrails being put in a watercourse which ran across the field “apparently to build some sort of dam structure”. He said further animal by-products were found in Erasmus’ vehicle while animal skins, bones, and fat were found in feeding trays on the land.

Matt Murphy, on behalf of Erasmus, said he had taken a leasehold on the land from the Penllergare Estate with a seven-year plan to establish a market garden with nearby farm food shop to benefit the local community. He said it was accepted the defendant had not provided competent care to the animals.

Mr Murphy said his client had mental health and neurodiversity issues and had also been dealing with the emotional and financial impacts of a breakdown of a 28-year marriage as well as a tragic family bereavement.

Judge Huw Rees made Erasmus the subject of an 18-month community order with a mental health treatment requirement and he must complete a rehabilitation course. He was banned from keeping or having the care of animals indefinitely save for the dog he currently has and his mother’s cat and chickens.

Mr Harries, referring to the visits by animal welfare officers, said: “Each time we did what we needed to do to remove these animals and ensure they were made safe. This case should send out a very clear message to others that we will do whatever is necessary to protect the welfare of animals and to keep the safe and healthy.”

Erasmus serves on town councils in Carmarthenshire and community councils in Swansea.

One of them, Grovesend and Waungron Community Council, said people had been in touch after hearing about the case and that it recognised the “strength of feeling within the community”. It said: “While we understand and share residents’ concerns the community council has no authority to act directly on this matter.”

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Some venues in the city could be set to stay open as late as 5am to show matches during the tournament which starts on Thursday, June 11.

The Government has also relaxed licensing rules so pubs and bars can stay open later during quarter, semi or final matches with home nations teams without applying for permission.

Cllr Pete Kilbane, City of York Council’s Labour culture spokesperson, said there was nothing like getting behind England together and hoped everyone would enjoy the matches and atmosphere that comes with them.

It comes ahead of the start of the World Cup which is being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the US.

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The time difference means many of the fixtures will be broadcast late in the evening or during the night.

The Government announced a World Cup extension for pub and bar hours in England and Wales earlier in the year.

It allows them to stay open beyond their usual hours to show some home nations games without applying for Temporary Event Notices (TENs).

Venues can stay open until 1am for any quarter-final, semi-final or final if it starts before or at 9pm UK time and a home nation is playing.

They can stay open until 2am if any of those fixtures starts at 10pm.

Venues screening matches after 10pm would still need a TEN.

They will still have to apply to stay open later to show other games during the tournament.

Several York venues have applied to stay open later during the World Cup (Image: Newsquest)

The York pubs and bars which have applied to stay open later during the World Cup

The following list includes venues whose applications have either been approved or are waiting a decision. Some have applied to stay open later on multiple dates:

• Nags Head, Micklegate.
• Roman Bath, St Sampsons Square.
• Beagle, Foxwood Lane.
• The Terrace, New Street.
• Carlton Tavern, Acomb Road.
• The Old Bank, Lendal.
• Keystones, Monkgate.
• Slug and Lettuce, Low Ousegate.
• Lendal Cellars, Lendal.
• The Golden Lion, Church Street.
• Old White Swan, Goodramgate.
• Cross Keys, Goodramgate.
• Tank and Paddle, Merchant Exchange.
• Yates, Church Street.
• Punchbowl, Lowther Street.
• Clifton Hotel, Water Lane.
• Priory, Micklegate.
• The Harry Hotspur, Micklegate.

Licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen said venues should plan ahead and ensure they apply for TENs in time.

Venues would need to apply for at least one TEN whether England finish first, second or third in their group to show matches kicking off after 10pm.

North Yorkshire Police and the council have asked venues showing World Cup matches to ensure measures including door staff, plastic glasses and limiting the amount of people allowed in.

Pubs and bars have also asked to be aware of matches which take place on the same day as York Races fixtures and plan accordingly.

Council economy and culture executive member Cllr Kilbane said people should plan how they are getting home, look out for each other and be respectful while out watching the games.

Cllr Kilbane said: “York loves its football, so the question is whether England can show the same fighting spirit as York City and go all the way at this World Cup.

“Whether you’re watching at home with friends and family or in one of the many venues showing the games across the city, there’s nothing quite like getting behind the national team together.

“And if you can’t make it to New York this summer, then the original York is a pretty good place to watch from.

“Let’s make it a great few weeks in York and hopefully keep the excitement going all the way to the final.

“Who knows, maybe this really is the year football comes home.

“C’mon England!”

Former Geordie Shore star and radio presenter Vicky Pattison has revealed her rage towards husband Ercan Ramadan who spoiled their plans by going on an all-night drinking session

TV favourite Vicky Pattison has hit out at her husband after what she described as an all-night drinking session that left their weekend plans in ruins and sparked a ‘three-day hangover’ from hell.

The former Geordie Shore star, 38, says she has been left fuming after her husband, clothing brand owner, Ercan Ramadan, went out for what was supposed to be a low-key evening, only to return home at dawn after a heavy night out with friends. Vicky claimed she woke at 8.30am to find her husband ‘skulking’ around the bedroom looking dishevelled and exhausted.

‘I said, “Are you alright babe?”. He just said, “I haven’t really slept very well,’” she said.

‘Then I checked my phone and at 5am he’d messaged saying, “Babe I am coming home now I swear,” and his friends were messaging me saying, “Don’t be mad at Ercan, we made him stay out.’ He got in at about 6am.”

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The reality star insisted she isn’t trying to control her husband’s social life, but said the timing had been disastrous. ‘’We had a lovely day planned on Sunday, and it was completely ruined,’ she said.

Even now, three days later, he’s still in bed complaining of a headache.’ Vicky admitted the situation has left her boiling with rage.

She added that what frustrated her most was a lack of apology or accountability. ‘’I just want a bit of contrition,’ she told presenter Angela Scanlon on their Get a Grip podcast.

‘I felt like a single mom who works two jobs and loves her kids and never stops for the last three days.’ She also joked that his refusal to get up and face the day had pushed her patience to breaking point.

‘I’ve been mad for three days about it, full of a white-hot rage, that’s consumed my soul. If it had been the time to be doing it that would be fine, but we had a lovely day planned and he ruined it. He’s like “If I don’t have to, I won’t get up.” And I am like, “Get up before I murder you in your sleep.”

Despite the row, insiders say the pair are still very much together and usually enjoy a playful, affectionate dynamic away from the occasional clash over late nights and social plans.

The couple first met several years ago through mutual friends and quickly struck up a romance. After getting engaged in 2022, they tied the knot in 2024.

The enjoyed a romantic ceremony surrounded by family and friends . The couple have been married for around two years.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — With virtually no strings attached, Congress is on the verge of providing a sizable infusion of cash to the Department of Homeland Security, powering President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda for the remainder of his term in the White House.

The nearly $70 billion package, which cleared the Republican-held Senate in a middle of the night vote and now heads to the House, was declared a “rotten bill” by the Democratic leader and an “ATM for ICE” by pro-immigrant advocates.

But for those aligned with Trump’s campaign promise for the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history, it all but guarantees an uninterrupted flow of money to carry out the administration’s immigration enforcement operations — and comes on top of some $170 billion Congress already approved for the department last summer, as part of Trump’s big tax breaks bill.

“We’re going to continue to arrest people, we’re going to continue to detain people and we’re going to keep deporting people,” Trump border czar Tom Homan told CBS News on Friday.

He hinted at summer sweeps of enforcement actions coming next to New York City.

More money, fewer guardrails

The work of Congress comes at a pivotal time for the Republican president and his party as they face restless voters before the midterm elections. About one in three U.S. adults know someone who has been impacted by Trump’s immigration operations, according to an AP-NORC poll conducted in April. And as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, most say it’s no longer a great place for immigrants.

The funding package from Congress is just a slim dozen-page bill that carries none of the usual guardrails or directives typically demanded in legislation. It turns loose $30 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, nearly $20 billion for the Border Patrol, and others, prepaying the department’s operations into 2029.

“Their options are limitless in terms of what they can do with this money,” said Vanessa Cardenas, the executive director at America’s Voice, a longtime advocacy organization for immigrants.

“That is such a hard thing to accept as a taxpaying citizen that our dollars are going to this massive, mass deportation machine, while Americans are struggling to meet health care costs, and have access to food and they’re paying so much in gas.”

The administration has sought to shift the debate over its immigration operations, installing new leadership at Homeland Security in the aftermath of violent scenes of immigration enforcement earlier this year and the shooting deaths of Americans Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Rather than the dramatic street sweeps, the administration is working behind the scenes on actions that are stripping immigrant groups of their ability to remain in the U.S., by doing away with Temporary Protected Status or making it more difficult to secure green cards.

The so-called Dreamers, young immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children, have reported delays in renewing their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status, exposing them to potential deportation.

But protests on American streets continue, including over detention conditions at the Delaney Hall facility in New Jersey.

At the same time, Homeland Security continues to hire more ICE agents — it’s hosting an employment fair next month in Florida — build more detention facilities and partner with countries around the world to take people who are being deported from the U.S.

In a statement, the department said Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin are “laser focused on ensuring the hardworking men and women” of ICE and Customs and Border Patrol are fully funded. It said the package from Congress “will ensure our critical national security operations continue despite any Democrat attempts to hold our great patriotic employees hostage in the future.”

Power of the purse becomes a blank check

Typically a funding package from Congress would run hundreds pages or more, with a range of specific instructions about how the money can be spent and on what timelines.

Congress, after all, holds the power of the purse, and often uses that constitutional role to put checks on the administration.

But after Democrats refused to fund Homeland Security earlier this year following the violence in Minnesota, Republicans retaliated by using the congressional budget resolution process to muscle the package through on their own, outside of the traditional appropriations channels.

It’s the same process both parties have used in the past, most recently on Trump’s 2025 tax cuts bill.

“All this important oversight doesn’t happen,” said Bobby Kogan, a former staff member of the Senate Budget Committee and now at the Center for American Progress, a think tank.

Overnight, Democrats in the Senate worked to exert that authority, offering amendments to ensure Congress had some say in the process. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, for example, sought to protect “Dreamers” from deportation as their DACA renewals are being delayed. But those efforts all failed.

Deportations not enough, for some

Meanwhile the administration is under enormous pressure to deliver on its promise to boost deportations to some 1 million a year, after the Republican president’s first year numbers fell short.

Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, is a leader of the Mass Deportation Coalition that is pushing the Trump administration to stick to its promises.

“Everyone’s talking about ICE is going to get another massive cash injection, and that’s not how I see it at all,” he said. “They’re getting like life-support money.”

“We’re not asking them to keep going,” Howell said. “We’re asking them to start.”

Howell said there’s little chance the Trump administration will be able to reach the president’s deportation goals unless it drops its priority to go after what it calls the “worst of the worst.”

His group put out a framework earlier this year that proposes more comprehensive sweeps to arrest immigrants, particularly in the workplace. He also wants to see the Trump administration make it more difficult for immigrants who are in the U.S. to use the banking system, get social services and obtain drivers licenses. Republicans in Congress have offered bills tackling some of those issues.

The administration has been amping up its own rhetoric and recently posted a new website that characterizes immigrants as “aliens” — with outer-space themes — and suggests ways the White House is working to prevent people from staying in the U.S.

Sean Stephen, 38 was found dead in a toilet cubicle on July 7 last year, with his body in an ‘advanced state of decomposition’.

A report into the death of a man who was disovered in a toilet cubicle at Edinburgh City Chambers will be heard by councillors in private, it has been revealed.

Sean Stephen was found dead in the customer service hub on site on July 7 last year, with his body in an ‘advanced state of decomposition’. The 38-year-old had last been in touch with his wife on July 1, with his wife telling police that they had spoken on the phone when he was near the chambers.

In August, council leader and Labour councillor Jane Meagher announced that an independent investigation of the death would be carried out. On Thursday, the city’s governance, risk and best value committee will consider the independent investigation report.

But the general public will not be able to attend the discussion around the report, or read its contents on the meeting agenda online. Police Scotland said in early July last year that they had launched an investigation after Mr Stephen’s passing, but that his death was not believed to be suspicious.

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At the time, a source told the Local Democracy Reporting Service his body had been discovered by cleaning staff, who had believed the toilet door was locked for days due to the facility being out of order. It is understood that security staff were to check the toilets were empty at the end of every day, as part of their rounds, but failed to do so.

Sean’s grieving wife previously demanded answers over her husband’s death. Heartbroken Julie Stephen said she was “baffled” as to why nobody realised Sean was still in the toilet cubicle at Edinburgh’s City Chambers after complaining of “feeling unwell”. Julie, 47, was chatting with Sean on the phone as he went into the local authority’s Royal Mile buildings in the capital.

After later being unable to reach her husband she reported him missing but he wasn’t discovered until almost a week later. Julie has since begged police and council chiefs to explain why his decomposing body was not found for six days in the toilet.

Julie said: “There’s CCTV footage of him on the phone to me walking up the Royal Mile and into the council building. He was healthy but said he was feeling dizzy and sick. He said he was going to get a taxi.

“I came off the phone when he was going to do the toilet. That was the last time I spoke to him. How’s no one been in that toilet for six days, it baffles me.

“There are security guards, cleaners and someone who sits at reception. Could he have been saved? These are questions which will be in my head for rest of my life.”

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Megan McKenna has revealed she had a secret second wedding days before she tied the knot with footballer beau Oli Burke at a five-star hotel in Yorkshire last year

Megan McKenna has revealed she had a secret second wedding a few days before she tied the knot with Scottish footballer husband Oliver Burke last year. The 33-year-old TOWIE star turned country singer took to social media to share the surprise news.

In an Instagram post, Megan told her three million followers how she and Oli, 29, officially said ‘I do’ in front of just a handful of close friends and family in a church wedding – where she wore another wedding dress fans won’t have seen before. She also walked down the aisle with a ‘Princess Diana-inspired’ bouquet made by her mum, Tanya.

The first snap shows Megan and Oli sharing a kiss after legally becoming husband and wife. In another, a beaming Megan is seen posing for snaps with Oil and their baby son, Landon, who was coming up to eight months old at the time.

More photos show there were just 10 guests at the intimate ceremony that took place on June 2 last year – five days before Megan and Oli tied the knot in their ‘real’ wedding, a lavish ceremony at Grantley Hall hotel in North Yorkshire on June 7.

In the caption for the post, Megan shared more details from the special ceremony as she wrote: “Before our beautiful wedding a year ago on the 2nd June me & Oli had our vows read under the Church of England.

“My mummy made my bouquet ‘a vintage princess Diana inspired arrangement’ and we said ‘I do’ with our closest Witnesses. Thank you Father Grant for this intimate moment before I walked the big aisle.”

She added: “These days felt magical…. It’s nearly our official 1 year wedding day anniversary on the 7th June. How has a year gone so fast… also Landon was so tiny I was breastfeeding him in the car before we said I do on the church vows. Haha. The best times.”

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Fans and pals were quick to comment below, with one writing: “This is so gorgeous Meg.” Another posted: “I love that Princess Di bouquet. You look stunning, Victoria Beckham and Princess Diana inspired all my wedding dresses.”

A third commented: “Love these photos! How is it nearly a year already? It was the most stunning day and your dresses were out of this world.” “Stunning .. lovely photos. And look how small Landon was,” said a fourth. While a fifth added: “That dress is everything wow.”

Megan and Oli have been an item now for over three years after meeting on celebrity dating app, Raya. It’s unclear when they began dating, but it’s thought they went public with their romance in March 2023.

At the time, Megan shared photos of the pair enjoying a romantic trip to Paris together, teasing that the sportsman was the “perfect person”. She wrote on social media how it was “the perfect trip with the perfect person.”

Five months later smitten Oli popped the question while the couple were on holiday in Montenegro. In the elaborate proposal, Megan was led down to the beach in a motorboat with her eyes obscured by a blindfold.

When she whipped it off, Oli was down on one knee in front of her, with scattered rose petals covering the deck, as he asked her to be his wife.

Sharing a video of their special moment, Megan wrote: “YES YES YES a thousand times YES. You have opened up a world I never thought was possible. I love you Oliver Burke… here’s to forever my future husband.”

Oliver sweetly commented under the post: “I promise to love you for the rest of my life. I can’t wait to grow old with you, my wife to be. I love you. Forever. And always.”

The pair later underwent IVF to conceive their son, who they named Landon. Their little one was born in October 2024, so will turn two later this year.

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