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Cannibal killer has parole hearing after boasting he ‘ate victim with pasta’

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Daily Record

David Harker, 51, has been eligible for parole since 2013

A killer who boasted that he had eaten parts of his victim with a plate of pasta has had his application for parole refused for a ninth time. David Harker, now 51, killed mother-of-four Julie Paterson, 32, in Darlington in 1998, and only some of her remains have ever been found.

Harker is currently serving a life sentence after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. It previously emerged that he had told friends and psychiatrists that he had fried part of his victim’s thigh and eaten it with pasta and cheese.

He has been eligible for parole since 2013, and a ninth hearing was held this month to determine whether he should be freed or moved to an open prison.

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The Parole Board said it was still not considered safe to allow him to be released or to be transferred, based on the continuing need to protect the public.

Harker was 24 when he was sentenced in 1999.

Psychiatrists agreed he had a severe psychopathic disorder when he killed Ms Paterson, meaning he was not guilty of murder.

The Parole Board said the law required Harker’s case to be assessed regularly.

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A report into his recent behaviour found that his behaviour in custody had “significantly improved”, with no disciplinary findings since 2015.

Previous decisions have been made using documents but the latest, ninth, heard oral evidence.

Harker did not attend or make representations.

The panel considered a dossier containing 356 pages of reports, including submissions on behalf of the Secretary of State arguing against release.

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It heard from the person responsible for managing Harker in jail, two probation officers who would be responsible for managing him in the community, a psychologist and someone who worked with him on a programme in prison.

While the person who worked with him on the programme was not allowed to recommend a course of action, the others said Harker did not pass the test for release.

In its conclusion, a Parole Board summary of the decision said: “The panel carefully analysed all the evidence and formed its own independent assessment of risk.

“It decided not to direct the release of David Harker, nor to recommend to the Secretary of State that David Harker should be transferred to open conditions.”

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MOVIE REVIEW: We take a frustrating ride with Japanese horror ‘Exit 8’

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Daily Record

Dull and confusing frights disappoint given promise shown by director Genki Kawamura’s flick.

I knew nothing about Japanese horror Exit 8 until I saw the intriguing, unsettling trailer.

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Based on the 2023 video game The Exit 8 developed by Kotake Create, Kazunari s plays the Lost Man who becomes increasingly desperate when he realises he is trapped in a subway station.

I cannot stress enough how disappointed I was with Exit 8 as I was expecting something very special.

It starts with a long point-of-view shot on a packed subway where manners take a back seat and we find out the Lost Man has asthma and is a dad-to-be.

Then, creepily, everyone disappears – well, almost everyone.

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Like the trailer, this opening is engaging and eerie, and sets up a world of potential problems for the Lost Man to deal with.

Alas, things start to get really repetitive – literally – and I found most of the remaining run time frustratingly dull.

It’s a shame as director and co-writer Genki Kawamura’s visuals rule. Environments strikingly change colour; frozen faces, dripping blood and distorted voices horrify; and a subway underwater is terror personified.

Composers Shouhei Amimori and Yasutaka Nakata’s musical score is also pulsating and, at times, disruptively loud.

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Around every corner there are potential surprises but what we are presented with often misses the mark or, crucially, adds to the confusion.

Focus surprisingly shifts to other characters about half-way through, with one openly discussing what could be happening to them all.

This feels like a cruel tease as things are never properly explained and if we’re to take it that the Lost Man is simply suffering a mental breakdown given all of the stress he is under, who are these other people? And why do we follow them for spells?

Exit 8 ends up not making a lick of sense and while I can appreciate the directorial flair shown by Kawamura, I left the film feeling frustrated, cheated and bummed out.

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What could’ve been an Asian horror to rival classics like The Grudge , Ring and The Eye felt like waiting all night for a train to appear only for it to be cancelled at the last minute.

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

Exit 8 is showing in cinemas now.

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

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And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

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Hollywood stars Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds to front sailing docuseries

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Hollywood stars Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds to front sailing docuseries

Eric Schrier, president, direct-to-consumer international originals, strategic programming, and emerging media, said: “Following Ryan, Hugh and the SailGP’s BONDS Flying Roos Australian team’s journey gives us a remarkable inside view of this thrilling sport and what it takes to compete at the highest level.

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Why students still face a postcode lottery in university wellbeing support

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Why students still face a postcode lottery in university wellbeing support

Over the last decade, UK universities have put increasing effort into supporting student mental health. This often means following frameworks: documents that outline good practice, typically developed by sector bodies and charities. Universities can adopt these frameworks to guide their approach to student wellbeing.

The difficulty is that the sector has relied heavily on voluntary frameworks. This means that universities can choose whether to engage, how fully to implement them and which elements to prioritise. Students experience significantly different levels of support depending on where they study. Access to services, staff capability, pathways to more support and crisis response vary between institutions.

This has already been recognised in parliamentary debate as a postcode lottery, reflecting growing concern about inconsistency in student safeguarding across the sector.

Current initiatives

Existing frameworks have done good work in reshaping thinking away from seeing mental health as the responsibility of counselling services alone. They instead emphasise that the promotion of mental health sits across all aspects of university life. This includes teaching, accommodation and campus culture.

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The University Mental Health Charter is one of the strongest whole-university models. It provides a clear structure for action across learning, support and the wider student environment. Institutions can also choose to pursue the Charter Award. This introduces external assessment and scrutiny, requiring universities to evidence progress rather than simply state commitments.

Not all universities are signed up. A framework that institutions can opt out of cannot operate as a sector-wide safeguard.

Another framework, Stepchange, has had substantial influence in shaping how the sector understands mental health. Produced by sector body Universities UK, it provides guidance on issues such as prevention and institutional responsibility.

However, while it is straightforward for universities to endorse Stepchange principles, their implementation of the guidance may be inconsistent. Even if mental health is prioritised at a senior level, the responsibility for implementing this may remain fragmented across the institution. A university’s ambitions to create a mentally healthy environment may sit alongside unchanged academic pressures and assessment demands on students.

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Alongside these flagship frameworks, suicide prevention guidance and NHS-university partnerships have enhanced how universities approach student wellbeing.

Staff training and more wellbeing-focused approaches to teaching have also helped universities take a more preventative approach to student support.

None of these developments, however, establishes a minimum standard across the sector. Adoption remains partial and implementation is uneven.

The result is predictable inconsistency. This is reflected in wider evidence on variation in student mental health support.

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Frameworks as a starting point

Frameworks have provided an essential starting point. They have helped reposition mental health as a matter of institutional design, rather than something for people to manage alone. This has encouraged a move towards prevention rather than crisis response.

Universities know what good practice looks like.
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

But it’s likely that frameworks tend to have the greatest impact in institutions that already have strong leadership and sufficient resources. Wider evidence already points to significant variation in mental health provision and support arrangements across higher education. Frameworks can be more difficult to implement consistently where financial constraints, workforce pressures or competing priorities are at play. This means that improvements occur in pockets, rather than across the sector.

A decade on, the context has shifted. Mental health pressures are increasing. Concern about student safety and serious harm remains high. Together, these pressures require greater consistency than voluntary opt-ins can deliver.

After years of frameworks and research, higher education already knows what good safeguarding and wellbeing practice looks like. The next phase is to translate that into minimum expectations, so students and staff at all universities can expect a certain level of support. Clearer expectations and mechanisms that reduce variation between institutions are required.

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These mechanisms could include new regulatory requirements or conditions that must be met to receive funding. Another option is requiring universities to meet clearer safeguarding standards in order to operate as registered higher education providers. In England, the Office for Students already has powers to set and enforce the conditions universities must meet to operate. Evidence of good practice on mental health could be added to this.

In Wales, the tertiary education regulator Medr has already gone further. From 1 August 2026, it will introduce a regulatory condition on staff and learner welfare. This requires providers to have effective arrangements to support and promote welfare. They must provide evidence of compliance through Medr’s ongoing monitoring arrangements.

Alongside this, a Common Mental Health Framework is being developed in response to Welsh Government strategic priorities. Funded sector task groups support consistency across the higher education sector.

The regulatory condition supplies the enforceable element. The framework and funded projects support implementation. Together, this moves beyond optional guidance towards a more consistent and enforceable baseline.

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The significance of the Welsh approach lies in how these different mechanisms work together. Good safeguarding practice and high wellbeing standards should not depend on which university a student happens to attend.

This is not simply a question of guidance, but of standards. When risks to safety are clear, systems tend to move beyond optional guidance and put in place clearer expectations, oversight and accountability. Higher education is moving in that direction, but remains some distance away.

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Two taken to hospital following crash near Cambridgeshire

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Cambridgeshire Live

A woman in her 50s has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless/inconsiderate driving

Two people have been taken to hospital with injuries following a crash near Cambridgeshire on Thursday, May 28. Police were called at 3.58pm to a crash involving two cars on the A1198 in Royston just prior to the A505.

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A grey Mercedes was being driven towards Bassingbourn and a red Mini Cooper was travelling in the opposite direction. The driver of the Mini Cooper, a man in his 20s, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. The passenger of the Mercedes was also injured and taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

A woman in her 50s was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless/inconsiderate driving. She has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Sergeant Jamie Cooper from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit said: “I am appealing to anyone who saw the collision or who has any information which could assist our investigation to please get in touch.

“If you have a dash cam fitted, please review your footage as you may have captured something that could assist us with our enquiries.”

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You can contact Sergeant Cooper via email or if you have dash cam footage in relation to the collision, you can upload this via DAMS. You can also report information online, speak to an operator in the Force Communications Room via their online web chat or call 101, quoting Op Stanway.

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The Exit 8 is the most boring and terrifying video game I’ve ever played – Reader’s Feature

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The Exit 8 is the most boring and terrifying video game I’ve ever played - Reader’s Feature
The Exit 8 – the game that inspired the movie (Playism)

As Backrooms enters cinemas it’s not the only horror film based on liminal spaces, as a reader gets to grips with the game that the movie Exit 8 is based on.

I did things the wrong way round. Recently I went to see a Japanese horror film called Exit 8. Afterwards I found out that the movie I’d just watched was inspired by a video game, and so I decided to try it.

The Exit 8 begins with zero fanfare and no title screen. Played out in first person view, the game puts you in a white-tiled passageway with six billboards on the left side wall and three doors to the right. A yellow dividing line runs along the floor. On the other side of this line, a man in a light blue shirt carries a briefcase while he calmly walks towards you. An overhead sign provides direction by means of an arrow. Go straight ahead for Exit 8. Footsteps and the faint buzz of electric lights are the only backing track to your journey.

Play this game and you’ll get to know every detail of the location that I’ve described above. The Exit 8 presents a well-rendered impression of the Tokyo subway system. Primarily a walking simulator with basic controls, here you can look around, walk and run, and that’s about it. After completing three laps of the same passageway the real game begins and you’ll happen upon a new sign on the wall.

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The Guide dispenses the following advice: don’t overlook any anomalies. If you find anomalies, turn back immediately. If you don’t find anomalies, do not turn back.

Further on there’s another sign that says Exit 0. After that you return to the same bland thoroughfare that you’ve negotiated three times already. But from now on you need to spot differences. Is the walking man behaving exactly as he did before? Those adverts, for the dental clinic, for the dog salon and for the photo exhibition. Has their size or content changed? Spot any differences anywhere along the passageway and you must turn back.

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If you’ve been attentive, if you’ve rigorously followed the Guide’s advice, the next time you see the Exit sign the number on it will have increased. Overlook a change/anomaly and the Exit sign resets to 0. Initially starting over feels disappointing. However, as you ascend to the higher numbers, seeing Exit 0 after what you thought was a lengthy period of careful observation proves heartbreaking.

The Exit 8 messes with you in other ways. Because the gameplay here is fundamentally dull, specifically walking down the same passageway over and over again, you relax. You drop your guard. You wonder what the point is. There’s no interaction here. No stimulus, apart from the soft buzz of electric lights and the tapping resonance of footsteps. But just when you’re half bored to death and not entirely paying attention, an anomaly occurs.

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Some of the deviations in The Exit 8 are fairly innocuous. A missing door handle. A weird smudge up on the ceiling. Other differences are sinister and creepy, and they make you want to turn around at once and hit that run button. A nearby door might creak open on its own. Those buzzing overhead lights could flicker and abruptly fail. Distant and indistinct figures appear and bring very real concerns. Are those onlookers ghosts? Can they hurt me?

Every so often The Exit 8 does its best to shock and disturb you. Every so often. That’s the key phrase to remember here.

Effective horror, in any game or film, needs moments of pause. You could argue that The Exit 8 has too many moments of pause, but the game’s repetition and banality does help to intensify its scares.

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One of the anomalies in The Exit 8 scared me cold. A legitimate chill is the sort of pay-off every horror fan hopes for. That being said, this is also one of the dullest games that I’ve ever played. The Exit 8 probably works because of this duality. The game acts like the harmless, dopey labrador that you’ve reached down and patted countless times. And then, without warning, that same labrador shows you the whites of its eyes, bares its teeth and growls.

Exit 8 the film, directed by Genki Kawamura, adds an interesting narrative that the game doesn’t have. I found Exit 8 engaging and well directed, but more disturbing than scary.

If you’re interested in Japan and the horror genre then I’d recommend watching the film Exit 8. The game is definitely an acquired taste. I can imagine that this nightmarish outing on the Tokyo subway has ticked a lot of people off, while intriguing plenty of others.

At least the walking simulator is cheap and possibly worth a try if you fancy a gaming experience that’s utterly different. Finally, to offer up hope to anyone who’s just rounded a corner only to find their Exit sign back on 0, the game isn’t an infinite loop or an exercise in sadism. The Exit 8 does have an ending, and if you watch out for those pesky anomalies you might reach it.

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By reader Michael Veal (@msv858)

The Exit 8 screenshot of adverts on the underground
Spot the difference (Playism)

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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FIRST NIGHT REVIEW: Take That bring the Circus back to life in spectacular sun-soaked style

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Manchester Evening News

Clown outfits, trapeze artists and yes, that giant walking elephant meant for a classic 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ night out from Take That, as our Dianne Bourne discovered on the first night in Southampton. Roll on Manchester…

“Today this could be the Greatest Day of our lives,” so sings Gary Barlow to open The Circus Live, Take That’s record-breaking tour rebooted and most definitely besuited after 17 years for its 2026 stadium return. And as some 40,000 fans sing those words along with Gary, Howard Donald and Mark Owen at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton under the clearest of blue skies it certainly felt like the Greatest Day.

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The giant cloud balloon is back bobbing up at the start of the show, as are the 40-strong cast of bouncing acrobats, fire-eaters, stilt-walkers and clowns who release a spectacular balloon riot out across the audience to herald the arrival of the Manchester pop idols.

It’s impossible to adequately describe the magic of this show, it’s one that really needs to be seen to believed. Goosebumps from the opening piano chord to the final streamers and confetti bursts shooting out across the crowd.

As Gary said ahead of this show about the performers on stage “this is the best of the best” and he’s right. This is more than just a Take That show – it’s a full on Circus spectacular, a feast for the eyes as much as the ears as Mark, Howard and Gary wrap their biggest hits around the theatrical set pieces worthy of their own Big Top (which aptly shrouds the stage at the start of the night).

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When they announced plans last year to take the Circus Live tour back out on the road, fans could barely believe their luck. For those who saw it first time around it made perfect sense – it’s perhaps the band’s most perfect live extravaganza – blending their pop anthems with Las Vegas style showmanship. For those kicking themselves that they missed out back then? Well it’s been the perfect chance to see what they’ve been missing all this time.

If anything the razzle dazzle is even more ramped up for this big return, and anyone who has bagged tickets for the 16 upcoming UK and Ireland shows over the next two months can rest assured they will well and truly be getting their money’s worth with this humdinger of a show. And after all, everybody loves a circus show, as Gary memorably sings in his twinkly-lighted, goosebumps performance of The Circus as a tightrope walker tiptoes across the skyline.

The greasepaint and clown outfits are also back, albeit pimped up with a plethora of sequins, for the up tempo romp through the pop band’s 90s hits – complete with the camp dance moves to the delight of the crowd. The unicycles too return as Howard and Mark show off their athleticism, while Gary is happy to play it for laughs instead on his own little bike.

The trio also sound in better voice than ever.

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And what of this show’s most famous moment? When the band emerge on top of a 30ft elephant to be chauffeur driven, pachiderm-style, to the main stage while singing fan anthem The Garden? If anything it’s more mesmerising (and tear-inducing) than the first time around.

There’s no comedown from that – instead we hurtle headlong into the big top as if fired from a cannonball into a glitzy, showgirl-dancing, acrobat-bouncing, tightrope-walking extravaganza for Shine.

These pop stars have a true talent of connecting with their audience, breathlessly taking us from tearjerkers to crowd pleasers in the blink of an eye.

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It’s everything you could possibly want from a Take That show – well, bar bringing out departed members Jason Orange and Robbie Williams of course.

Fans had been pondering how the show would work in Jason’s absence, as he had been such a major part of the last Circus Live tour. In particular, his one solo number, Wooden Boat. Would it remain on the setlist? Well, no.

How Did It Come To This is the other omission, the other major song that Jason sings lead vocals on from The Circus album.

In their place is Take That’s newest song, You’re a Superstar, an ode to the fans who have stuck with them through thick and thin, through five then four then three.

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There’s also the surprise addition of Babe, allowing Mark to head centre stage for a lovely rendition of the tender 90s classic, while Gary gets to tinkle out a couple of extra treats on the piano too.

As if Take That on stage for two hours were not enough of a treat, we get to hear pop princess Belinda Carlisle in fine voice (and barefoot dancing) to open proceedings with her pop anthems. It was then up to The Script to show off their own stadium-filler form, supporting Take That here fresh from announcing their own big arena tour later this year.

Fans may remember they also supported on the Circus last time around and they did it again here in some style – blasting out with Superheroes and getting the entire stadium in an arm swing along.

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Frontman Danny O’Donoghue even urged one fan to ring up their ex – for him to then serenade poor “Alfie” with break-up anthem Nothing.

He also revealed that he went to meet Take That fans who were camping out the night before and even jumped in one tent to the delight of one fan.

I’ve no doubt fans will be camping out at every single one of these shows ahead.

I was there for the Circus tour in its first incarnation and was wowed back then. But I don’t remember it being this good, feeling this good.

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The greatest show on earth they say, or so says the giant (and I do mean giant) ringmaster that emerges for the fire festooned finale of Relight My Fire and who would argue with that?

Fireworks end it all because, of course they do. Take That have thrown everything at this show and we have four homecoming nights in Manchester at the Etihad Stadium to look forward to in June and July. It’s really not one to be missed.

Setlist St Mary’s Stadium Southampton May 29, 2026:

Greatest Day

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Hello

Could it Be Magic

Pray

A Million Love Songs

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Back For Good

The Garden

Shine

Up All Night

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Babe

You’re a Superstar

Love Ain’t Here Anymore

Nobody Else

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The Circus

What is Love

Do What U Like/Promises/It Only Takes a Minute/Take That and Party

Said it All

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Never Forget

Patience

Relight My Fire

ENCORE:

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Hold up A Light

Rule The World

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Drink driving arrest after car seen “trying to drift” around South Belfast roundabout

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Belfast Live

Police received multiple reports about the incident at Four Winds roundabout

Police arrested a suspected drunk driver after receiving multiple reports of a car “trying to drift” around a roundabout in South Belfast.

Police received multiple reports from members of the public about a vehicle driving dangerously around the Four Winds roundabout. Officers attended the scene and later located the vehicle in a car park in the Ballygowan area.

A man entered the car but was stopped by police from driving away and arrested for a number of offences including; driving with excess alcohol, dangerous driving, taking and driving away, driving with no insurance and no licence.

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A PSNI spokesperson said: “Yesterday Police received reports from numerous concerned members of the public, regarding a vehicle being dangerously driven in the Belfast area and trying to drift around the Four Winds Roundabout.

“Road Policing Interceptors from Sprucefield and Road Policing Unit Officers from Mahon Road were tasked to attend.

“Interceptors located the vehicle parked in a car park in the Ballygowan area a short time later, significant damage was noted on the vehicle.

“A male was observed getting into the vehicle and attempting to drive it, before being stopped using pre-emptive tactics in order to prevent the likelihood of a pursuit and unnecessary risk to the public.

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“The male driver was subsequently arrested for Driving with Excess Alcohol, Dangerous Driving, Taking and Driving Away, Driving with No Insurance and No Licence and other offences.

“The vehicle was seized.

“Interceptors appreciated the assistance from our colleagues in Roads Policing Unit Officers, PSNI Dog Section, Dundonald NPT, Ards LPT and the Probationer Support Unit in assisting with the stop and arrest of this individual.

“Thanks go out to those members of the public who reported this individual.”

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For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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HMRC update over threshold for when pensioners have to pay 20% tax

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Wales Online

The tax rules and allowances differ depending on your situation

HMRC has spoken out to clarify how a particular tax applies to pensioners. The update comes ahead of a hike in the rates people have to pay which is just around the corner.

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A member of the public contacted the tax authority over social media asking for help about how the regulations work. They asked: “Can you confirm that a pensioner does not have to pay tax on the first £1,000 of interest earned on savings.”

Under the personal savings allowance, those on the basic rate of income tax can earn up to £1,000 in savings interest each tax year without incurring any tax liability. This allowance is halved for higher rate taxpayers, dropping to £500, while those on the additional rate receive no allowance whatsoever and must pay tax on all interest earnings they accrue.

This differs entirely from money held in cash ISAs, where all interest earned is completely exempt from tax. Similarly, stocks and shares held within an ISA wrapper are not subject to any tax on investment growth.

How the tax rules work

Responding to the query, HMRC made plain how the rules work. The group said: “Pensioners have the same rules as everyone else. So if they are a basic rate taxpayer only, then yes they have a £1,000 tax-free allowance.”

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The rate applied to any taxable interest mirrors your income tax band, meaning basic rate taxpayers are charged 20 per cent, higher rate taxpayers face a 40 per cent levy, and those on the additional rate are liable for 45 per cent. However, it’s important to note that significant changes are on the horizon here.

From April 2027, the rate levied on interest earnings will rise by two percentage points. This means basic rate taxpayers will see their rate climb to 22 per cent.

Higher rate taxpayers will face an increase to 42 per cent, while those on the additional rate will be required to pay 47 per cent. Other changes taking effect from April 2027 could also push up the tax burden on your savings.

Tax allowance reduced

The ISA allowance is being reduced. At present, savers can put £20,000 into ISAs and divide this between cash ISAs and stocks and shares ISAs as they wish.

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Under the new regulations, however, only £12,000 of the allowance can be allocated at your discretion. The remaining £8,000 must be directed towards stocks and shares ISAs.

Nevertheless, many older savers will be exempt from these new regulations. Those aged 65 and above will keep the existing £20,000 allowance.

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SXSW London: The hottest events at this year’s ‘Festival Of Ideas’

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SXSW London: The hottest events at this year’s 'Festival Of Ideas'

So what are this year’s hot tickets? “We’re really excited to have people like Michelle Obama with her brother, Craig Robinson, and Sir Tim Berners-Lee appearing, as they are legends in their respective worlds,” explains Arnander. “Then there’s Brian Eno, who is amazing; a musician, a visionary around AI and someone deeply engaged with climate change. Sharon Horgan, who’s brilliant as an actor and a screenwriter, but as a business owner, she’ll also be able to talk about the broadcast industry, which is currently going through hard times.”

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Thinking about selling clothes on Vinted? The steps you can take to make this a greener option

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Thinking about selling clothes on Vinted? The steps you can take to make this a greener option

You’ve had a spring clean and decluttered your wardrobe, and now you’re wondering what to do with the pile of unwanted clothes in the corner.

With the growth of online secondhand sales channels such as eBay and Vinted, the alternatives to putting old clothes in the bin have grown. But are these a green option?

Globally, most discarded clothing is landfilled or incinerated. But most unwanted clothing in Europe is suitable for reuse – many people get rid of clothing because it’s gone out of fashion or it doesn’t fit, not because it’s worn out.

Is reselling a sustainable choice?

So what about selling on your unwanted clothes on Vinted or eBay? Extending the useful life of clothing reduces its environmental impact, such as water and chemical usage, carbon emissions and textile waste, as well as the resource consumption and waste involved in producing new goods.

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But don’t forget online selling requires shipping individual items to individual households, which entails carbon emissions from the delivery process. Companies use a mix of on-foot deliveries, e-bikes and a range of vehicles.

Some parcel operators are innovating to reduce emissions. For instance, Royal Mail has 7,000 electric vans and a fleet of e-bikes, while DPD has also invested heavily in electric vehicles. In 2025, Royal Mail claimed to have the lowest average CO₂ emissions per parcel in the UK market (165g).

It is also worth using cardboard or paper wrapping for your Vinted parcel, as plastic packaging isn’t easily recyclable. Even if it can be reused a few times, it ends up being incinerated, landfilled or littering. Incineration generates carbon emissions while landfill and littering lead to microplastic pollution.

Secondhand sales represent a small share of the overall global clothing market (10% in 2025), but this is predicted to grow twice as fast as the broader clothes market up to 2030.

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Increasing secondhand shopping could reduce the need to produce new garments, counteracting the environmental impacts of production and end-of-life textile waste. But reselling or donating unwanted clothing doesn’t address the root cause of fashion’s environmental impact, which is overproduction and overconsumption.

Indeed, some evidence from the US suggests that using secondhand sales platforms may inadvertently drive, rather than mitigate, increased consumption and shorter garment retention, especially in younger consumers.

How does it compare to charity donations?

Donating to a charity shop could be an environmental bonus, as you probably won’t need to use packaging to get your item there. Lower levels of transport are also likely to be needed (possibly you will walk to your local shop).

However, some charities struggle to sell high volumes of fast fashion and low-resale-value textiles. The remainder are passed on to textile recyclers, who may send items for sale into global second-hand markets or recycling.

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Secondhand clothes sales are a growing trend.

So what about just putting your unwanted gear in a recycling bank? The UK textile sorting sector manages approximately 469,000 tonnes of textile waste annually, with the majority (421,000 tonnes) exported for reuse or recycling, while 34,000 tonnes is kept in the UK for recycling. On top of that, around 727,000 tonnes of used textiles are incinerated or put in landfill.

This scale of reuse is still more efficient than individual online sales, as items are packed into bales weighing between 55kg and 200kg, which may contain up to 600 garments. These are shipped in containers to international markets.




À lire aussi :
Expecting charity shops to recycle your unwanted clothes is creating a rubbish pile – here’s how to help to avoid that

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But the mounting avalanche of unwanted clothing exceeds the capacity of the many originating countries to sort and process. This means collected items are frequently exported for sorting, processing, and resale – sometimes taking long and circuitous routes, only to be resold in the country they were originally collected from.

There’s a lot to think about, but there are steps you can take even before you make the initial purchase to make your clothes shopping more sustainable.

It’s worth considering that most modern clothing is made from material blends such as polyester/cotton or cotton/elastane, which are difficult to recycle. Recent research confirms the increase in blended fabrics is likely to increase the costs and complexity of recycling. Therefore, it’s unlikely that your unwanted clothes made from those fabrics will be recycled into new clothing.

Additionally, the proportion of these textiles (predominantly fast fashion) going into UK household residual waste is increasing. They produce high levels of greenhouse gases during incineration.

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Here are some easy steps you can take to be a more sustainable clothes shopper.

Five ways to go greener

1) Items for resale should be in good, clean condition – a good test is whether you would be happy to buy it yourself.

2) If donating to charity, try to share items between different charities if possible.

3) Keep it local – organise a clothes swap or pass items on to neighbours, friends, family or local community groups.

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4) Keep clothes in a good state of repair to support longer product lifetimes. If you cannot do the repair yourself, ask a friend or family member, or use a repair cafe.

5) Reuse packaging to reduce plastic. Include clear photos, measurements and descriptions with your advert to ensure the buyer can make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase, and avoid returns.

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