Carlos Alcaraz was involved in a dispute with the Australian Open organisers as he was irked by their decision to partially close the roof on Rod Laver Arena for the tournament final.
The Spaniard lost the first set 6-2 to an inspired Novak Djokovic, before finding his feet in the second and levelling at one set apiece, taking it 6-2.
The Serb left the court to regroup after being pegged back and Alcaraz looked to complain to umpire John Blom and tournament referee Wayne McKewen over the issue of the roof.
With the threat of rain looming the decision was made to close the roof further before the start of the third set, still leaving it partly open, but Alcaraz appeared frustrated by the decision.
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Several pundits agreed with the six-time grand slam champion that as a predominantly outdoor tournament, outdoor conditions should be maintained while it was still dry.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I agree with Carlos – if it’s not raining, open it. Carlos is very upset about it.”
Tim Henman, speaking on TNT Sports, queried the decision in the first place: “If it’s going to rain, why have they closed it so significantly?”
A more open roof would make for windier conditions inside the Melbourne show court, which would favour the Spaniard over his opponent.
A federal judge reprimanded Donald Trump’s administration for claiming that an immigrant seeking his release from custody was convicted for marijuana possession in 2009 — when he was 4 years old.
To support arguments for the man’s ongoing detention and removal from the country, government lawyers attached a document from Immigration and Customs Enforcement that they “indicated” was related to his criminal history.
They submitted the document in court filings “despite the differences in birthdate, birthplace, parents’ names, and immigration status,” West Virginia District Judge Irene Berger noted in her order to release him on Tuesday.
“This sloppiness further validates the Court’s concerns about the procedures utilized by the Respondents depriving people present in the United States of their liberty,” she wrote.
ICE officials submitted a document purporting to show an immigrant seeking his release was convicted for marijuana possession — when he was 4 years old (Getty Images)
Judges within the last week have held at least two government attorneys in civil contempt for failing to follow orders in immigration cases, according to documents reviewed by The Independent.
Last week, Minnesota District Judge Laura M. Provinzino held a federal prosecutor in civil contempt for “flagrant disobedience of court orders” in the case of a noncitizen swept up in Trump’s surge of immigration officers in the state.
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Provinzino ordered Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Isihara to pay $500 a day until the government returned a man’s identification documents after his release. The contempt was purged after his documents were returned.
This week, Trump appointee Judge Eric C. Tostrud of Minnesota found the administration in civil contempt for transferring an ICE detainee to Texas in violation of his order and then releasing him without his belongings.
The judge ordered the administration to refund him $568 for the cost of a plane ticket home.
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Lawyers defending Kristi Noem’s DHS are battling an overwhelming number of immigration lawsuits and failing to keep up with court orders (REUTERS)
The administration’s attempts to arrest and deport tens of thousands of people from the country — without giving them much of a chance to fight their cases before they’re indefinitely jailed in immigration detention centers — have triggered an avalanche of lawsuits that are overwhelming courts and prosecutors.
Dozens of new habeas corpus petitions — the lawsuits immigrants have filed to challenge the constitutionality of their arrest and detention — are hitting court dockets every week. Government attorneys are overwhelmed or quitting in droves under pressure to fight them at an unsustainable pace.
Judges have argued that it’s a crisis of the administration’s own making.
Officials “have chosen to avail themselves of these exact circumstances of which they now complain,” wrote California District Judge Sunshine Sykes, whose order this month commanded the government to let detainees challenge their detentions.
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In New Jersey, government lawyers recently admitted to violating roughly 50 orders stemming from more than 500 cases.
Julie Le, a lawyer for ICE who was drafted to help with the caseload in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, was removed from that detail days after her outburst in court.
The same month, Minnesota’s chief federal judge ripped into the administration after he found ICE violated nearly 100 court orders stemming from the recent surge of officers into the state, or “more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”
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“ICE has every right to challenge the orders of this court,” wrote Judge Patrick J. Schiltz. “But, like any litigant, ICE must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated.”
Officials at the Justice Department and DHS have labeled judges “activists” and “rogue” members of the judiciary in public statements criticizing the decisions but have rarely appealed them.
If you’re a nervous solo traveller, it could help ease your mind (Picture: Getty)
Cabin crew travel for a living, so we tend to trust their advice on making the most of our trips.
And this flight attendant’s top tip could be an invaluable one, especially if you’re travelling alone.
Esther Sturrus, who works for Dutch airline KLM and shares TikToks about her journeys, recommends always throwing a water bottle under the bed when you get into a hotel room.
Although unlikely, tourists can be targeted by thieves or intruders, with some travellers choosing to be vigilant in certain countries or in rooms on lower floors.
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According to Esther, her hack lets you ‘check that no one is under the bed without looking’, easing your mind if you’re wary.
She advises rolling the bottle under the bed, adding in her video that it ‘has to come out on the other side’. If it doesn’t, you may want to exercise caution.
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Bear in mind that an obstruction doesn’t necessarily mean there’s someone hiding underneath your bed.
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It could just as easily be where spare sheets are stored, or you didn’t throw the bottle hard enough to get it right across to the other side.
That said, it doesn’t hurt to check, and you’ll sleep better knowing you’ve done your due diligence.
Esther’s followers praised the tip, including one person who called it ‘super useful’. Another said that a new fear had been ‘unlocked’ by the revelation, while a third called it a ‘crazy’ though.
The rest of the flight attendant’s hotel hacks were more lighthearted, though, from using a hairdryer to clear a steamed-up mirror to turning over a paper cup and poking a hole in the bottom to hygienically hold your toothbrush.
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Metro previously asked cabin crew for their insider tips on having the best possible flight. This is what we found out.
How to get upgraded on a flight
‘As far as travel tips are concerned, my number one tip for those looking to get upgraded (and treated like royalty) on a flight is to be lovely to the cabin crew,’ Hannah Murphey, former flight attendant and director of Globe Fit Ltdtold Metro.
‘A smile and eye contact upon boarding goes a long way. Chat to the crew and ask them about their job. I used to love it when passengers showed an interest in me and were kind opposed to demanding.
‘I wanted to then go out of my way to ensure that they have the very best flight, so I would move their seats if there was a better one available – and I would give them extra drinks etc. purely because they had showed me kindness.
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‘When passengers are rude and expectant it has the opposite effect.’
Essentially, a little kindness really does go a long way.
Choose the best seats
If you’re in a position to choose where you’re sitting on the plane – make sure you think about that decision.
‘Go for a seat just forward of the wing for a comfier flight and don’t sit near the toilets or galleys – because it can be smelly and noisy,’ suggests Daisy White, a former flight attendant.
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Sit at the front of the plane for your choice of food
If you can choose your seats, opt for the front of the plane. Not only do you tend to feel turbulence less at the front compared to the tail of the plane, but there’s also a perk during mealtimes.
Kamila Jakubjakova, a flight attendant, told Metro: ‘The food service usually starts from the front of the airplane, so you’ll get to dine first if you sit in the very first rows of an aircraft. Sitting in the front rows also means you’re more likely to get your preferred choice of meal if two options are available.’
However, the cut is less than previously promised.
At the November budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “I can tell you today that for every family we are keeping our promise to get energy bills down and cut the cost of living with £150 cut from the average household bill from April next year.”
Britain’s energy debts have been pushed to record levels, partially due to inflated gas market prices as gas by tanker is imported from the US and Middle East, and also because of the greater costs of the UK’s energy transition.
On the energy bill cut, Tim Jarvis, the director general of markets at Ofgem, said: “Today’s announcement will be welcome news for many households.
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“Wholesale energy prices have fallen in recent months, and we’re investing in our network to safeguard the future energy system. The main driver of today’s reduction is the change to policy costs announced by the chancellor in the budget.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the reduction in energy bills:
What is Ofgem’s price cap?
The energy price cap sets a maximum price that suppliers can charge customers in England, Scotland and Wales for each unit of gas and electricity they use.
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It also sets a maximum daily standing charge – the cost of having your home connected to the grid.
The headline price cap figure provided by Ofgem indicates what a household using gas and electricity and paying by direct debit can expect to pay if their energy consumption is typical.
However, the cap does not limit a home’s total bills because people still pay for the amount of energy they use, so if it’s above the average they will pay more, and if it is below they will pay less.
When will energy bills be reduced?
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The reduction in energy bills will begin in April.
Ofgem’s quarterly cap will reduce by 7 percent a year for the three months from April, from £1,758 to £1,641 for the average combined gas and electricity bill in Great Britain.
All households will benefit from the savings no matter which tariff they are on, however, savings will differ depending on how much energy is used.
However, critics say the energy bill cut doesn’t go far enough. Clare Moriarty, the chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “A fall in energy prices is welcome but for many people bills remain stubbornly high. For millions of households this has stopped being a temporary hardship and become an ongoing threat to their financial stability.
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“The government has taken steps in the right direction to bring down bills. However, planned changes to how warm home discount costs are recovered mean those who need it most – households on low incomes with the highest energy needs – could keep as little as half the support in practice.”
All participants will get their hands on this medal
Belfast City Marathon medal 2026
With just under 10 weeks to go until the Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon and Team Relay, the Belfast City Marathon has revealed this year’s medal to build excitement ahead of the big day on May 3.
The event gets underway at Stormont Estate and travels through each corner of the city across the 26.2-mile route. Team Relay participants taking on Legs A, B, C or D can collect their medal at the end of their legs at Montgomery Road, Boucher Road, Falls Road and Duncairn Gardens. Marathon runners and Leg E relay participants will receive their medals at the finish line at Ormeau Park.
If you would like to make your medal even more memorable, you can add an iTAB. This small metal insert fits neatly onto the back of your medal and can be personalised with your name or team relay name, along with your finish time. Participants can pre-order an iTAB by visiting eventmaster.ie, logging into their account and heading to the ‘Manage My Booking’ section to add it to their order.
If you missed out on securing an entry this year, there are still opportunities to take part through our Charity Places. Visit www.belfastcitymarathon.com/charity-places to find out more.
The Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon is sponsored by Phoenix Energy, Translink, Kukri Sports, Belfast Live, Daily Mirror, Q Radio, Better, Runna, Marathon Photos Live, iTAB, Deep RiverRock, Charles Hurst, Mac in a Sac, Steigen, Applied Nutrition, Linwoods Health Foods and Belfast City Council. The Official Charity Platform is Give2You.
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The opponent, date and venue for Taylor’s final fight have not been confirmed.
August would be a more likely date for a Croke Park bout as the iconic Dublin stadium is hosting the latter stages of the All-Ireland Hurling and Football Championships throughout July.
In September, Taylor was named ‘Champion in Recess’ by the World Boxing Council (WBC) after informing the sanctioning body of her plans to take some time away from the sport.
Last week, Briton Sandy Ryan claimed the vacant belt with victory over Mexico’s Karla Ramos Zamora in Nottingham.
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Taylor has a 25-1 professional record with her only defeat coming against Britain’s Chantelle Cameron in Dublin in 2023.
After avenging that loss to become a two-weight undisputed champion later that year, Taylor recorded wins over Serrano in November 2024 and July 2025 having already overcome the Puerto Rican in April 2022.
“I’m not sure who the opponent is or what the date will be,” added Taylor, who won an Olympic lightweight gold medal in 2012 before turning pro in 2016.
“I just know I’ll fight this year during the summer time and all the other details will be laid out in the coming weeks and months.
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“Either way I’m in the gym for whenever and whoever it will be. I’m staying sharp and ready.”
Mary Berry has shared a variety of dishes over the years, including this ‘wonderfully comforting’ chicken pasta bake which has more than 170 four-star ratings on BBC Food.
Sophie Harris Senior Lifestyle Reporter and Isobel Pankhurst Audience Writer
13:41, 25 Feb 2026
Mary Berry has revealed numerous recipes throughout the years, including speedy weeknight meals, which are ideal for the entire household. This includes her chicken pasta bake, which boasts over 170 four-star reviews on BBC Food.
It can be made in advance, and even stored in the freezer for as long as three months. The recipe description stated: “A wonderfully comforting chicken pasta bake, this will go down well with the family.”
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It feeds six to eight individuals, and whilst Mary opts for penne pasta, she notes that any pasta variety will be suitable.
Ingredients:
Butter, for greasing
250g penne
One onion, roughly chopped
Three skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
One tablespoon of paprika
Two tablespoons of olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the sauce:
50g butter
50g plain flour
750ml hot milk
One teaspoon of Dijon mustard
100g Parmesan cheese, coarsely grated
Two large tomatoes, deseeded and cut into small cubes
Method:
Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan, then butter a shallow 1.75 litre ovenproof dish.
Cook the penne with the onion in boiling, salted water, then drain and refresh in cold water. Leave to drain again in the colander.
Put the chicken strips in a resealable freezer bag with the paprika and a little salt and pepper, seal the bag and shake to coat. Warm one tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan and swiftly sear the chicken over a high heat for two minutes until just cooked through.
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Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate and leave to one side.
To prepare the sauce, melt the butter in a large saucepan, then incorporate the flour and whisk until smooth to create a roux. Cook for one minute, then gradually pour in the hot milk, whisking over a high heat until the sauce is smooth and thickened, allowing it to boil for four minutes.
Fold in the mustard and half the cheese, seasoning with salt and pepper.
Add the pasta and onion to the pan with the sauce, stirring well to combine. Spoon half of this mixture into the dish, lay the chicken strips on top, then spoon the remaining pasta and sauce over the chicken.
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Scatter the tomatoes across the top, then finish with the remaining cheese. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until piping hot and golden brown on top.
Before using any IPL or epilator, carry out a patch test on a small clean, dry and hair-free section of skin. “Although home hair removal devices are less aggressive than in-clinic tools, it is important to perform a patch test and wait 24 hours to check for any redness, burns or irritation before proceeding with a full session,” says dermatology expert Selma van Asselt.
It is equally important to examine the device’s hair and skin compatibility chart before use. “Extremely light hair, as well as red and grey hair are not suitable for this kind of treatment because they cannot accumulate enough heat to destroy the hair’s growth centre,” says Selma. “Darker skin types will also accumulate too much heat, which could cause skin burns or hyperpigmentation.”
Selma also says people with eczema, open cuts, sunburn or those using active skincare ingredients should avoid IPL devices and epilators. She advises those who are pregnant, nursing, undergoing any medical procedures or aesthetic treatments to refrain from the treatment.
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Aftercare is also key. Selma urges those to “avoid saunas, sun beds or swimming pools” 24 hours after a treatment. “While it may seem like a mild treatment, exposing the body to more heat after a session may cause irritation.”
Those with fair hair whether it’s grey, blonde or red, may find certain hair removal devices are not as effective as others. Fair hair makes it harder for tools like lasers and IPL devices to detect a contrast between the hair and skin. The solution? Epilators.
Marina Mevzos, marketer at beauty-tech brand Sensica, explains: “Fair, very light blonde and grey hair contain little melanin, which makes IPL and laser treatments generally less effective. Epilation can be a useful choice for temporary smoothness in these cases. However, devices like IPL may provide some benefit if there is enough contrast between hair and skin.”
Try our Best Buy epilator: Panasonic ES-EY90-A511 Wet and Dry
Bayer Leverkusen are through to the last 16 of the Champions League (Picture: Getty)
Bayer Leverkusen star Robert Andrich is adamant he would rather avoid Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, even if it would put his side on collision course with Arsenal.
Kasper Hjulmand’s booked their place in the first knockout round following a goalless draw against Olympiacos last night which saw them protect their two-goal advantage from the first leg.
Leverkusen know they will face a daunting task however Friday’s draw pans out but Andrich insists it’s far too early to be contemplating an all-German tie.
He said: ‘We knew from the start that we would face a top club anyway. I stand by my opinion:
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‘I would prefer not to face a German team, so that perhaps enough German teams can still stay in the competition.’
Those sentiments were echoed by Jonah Hoffman, who added: ‘I think it’s a bit too early for a German-German tie.
‘It doesn’t have this Champions League character somehow. So if I could have my wish, then Arsenal.
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Arne Slot’s Liverpool await their Champions League fate (Picture: Getty Images)
Man City
Bodo/Glimt, Real Madrid or Benfica
Tottenham
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Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Juventus
Newcastle
Chelsea or Barcelona
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‘It would be a bit cooler to travel to London and for them to come here.’
Arsenal last faced Leverkusen in Europe’s most prestigious club competition back in 2002 during the second group stage.
The Gunners thrashed the eventual finalists that year 4-1 at Highbury and earned a creditable draw away from home, but it was their German opponents that ultimately qualified for the latter stages along with Deportivo Lacoruna.
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Arsenal were among the favourites for the competition that year and are among the favourites again after they swept all before them in the league stage.
Who can the other teams play?
Barcelona
Newcastle, Monaco or PSG
Bayern Munich
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Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen
Sporting
Bodo/Glimt, Real Madrid or Benfica
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With eight wins from eight games, including a convincing 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich, Arsenal would be firmly expected to progress were they to meet Leverkusen next but sporting director Simon Rolfes is up for the challenge.
He said: ‘Arsenal would be nice. I said the same thing when we could’ve faced Dortmund in the previous round.
‘Especially that we would be able to meet two of our former players in Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie.
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‘Nobody wants these ties between teams from the same country.’
The series takes an alternative look at World War II (Picture: Amazon/Everett/Shutterstock)
When it comes to dystopian sci-fi thrillers, there’s not many streaming platforms that deliver the goods like Netflix.
Home to some of the best sci-fi series of all time, from Black Mirror to Dark and Love, Death + Robot, Netflix knows exactly how to terrify its viewers with a bleak reimagining of the world as we know it.
And, much to the delight of its subscribers, Amazon Prime Video’s The Man in the High Castle is now being added to the platform’s catalogue of programmes.
Created by Frank Spotnitz, the four-season thriller is adapted from the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name.
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Starring Rufus Sewell, the show imagines an alternative history where the Axis powers won World War II.
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Delving into the dangers of fascism, it provides us with a terrifying look into how people can accept oppressive regimes.
Rufus Sewell stars in the dystopian thriller (Picture: Liane Hentscher/Amazon Studios)
Raving about the series on Rotten Tomatoes, countless viewers have praised the show, which boasts an 84% rating.
Writing on the website, Daniel P said: ‘We are talking about a show that has a decency of 4, yes four, complete seasons of 10 full hour episodes, that’s a luxury nowhere to be seen.
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‘The actors are top notch, you cannot ask for more than that… this is heaven and such a refresh.’
On the hunt for some more unsettling sci-fi thrillers?
Katie also wrote: ‘SO GOOD. Love the historical fiction, the forbidden love, the magical realism. Tickled all my pickles,’ as Sergei called it a ‘terrific miniseries’, adding: ”It’s a haunting alternative history vision implemented in a extremely authentic fashion.’
Meanwhile, David argued: ‘Just imagine, I dare you, how the world would be now if history was different. Fantastic series to capture this thought.’
Will you be watching The Man in the High Castle on Netflix?
Sci-fi is not really my thing
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Featuring parasitic aliens, robots and exciting space battles the show could be your perfect binge watch after you’ve finished The Man in the High Castle.
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Rolling Stone even branded it ‘the unlikeliest success stories in sci-fi TV history’, as SG-1 ran ten seasons from 1997 to 2007.
The Man in the High Castle is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
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