The Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal, launched by the UK Government, will see money invested in tech companies and start-ups to make it easier for them to enter the defence supply chain

First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said she did not attend the launch of a £50 million boost for Northern Ireland’s defence sector because she does not support the “militarisation agenda”.

Ms O’Neill, the Sinn Fein vice president, said the money could have been spent in areas that are “really crying out for support”.

The Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal, launched by the UK Government, will see money invested in tech companies and start-ups to make it easier for them to enter the defence supply chain.

The Government said the initiative will support hundreds of jobs.

Ms O’Neill and her party colleague Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald did not attend the launch event in Belfast on Wednesday.

She told the Press Association: “I chose not to be there because I don’t agree with this as a policy choice.

“Obviously, this is a decision that’s been taken in London… a very clear political decision to prioritise a militarisation agenda, weapons of war over people is how I feel about it.”

The First Minister said she wanted to create jobs and opportunities for people in the local economy.

She added: “But this is a very distinct policy difference that I have with decisions being taken in London.

“I would much prefer, if I had £50 million, to be spending it in other areas that are really, really crying out for support right now, whether that be people through the cost-of-living crisis or our health service or education or child care.

“There are many competing challenges.

“I just don’t prioritise the militarisation agenda over all those other areas that I think need much-needed investment.”

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Northern has said that the Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport line is blocked due to an object on the overhead electric wires.

Services running to and from these stations maybe cancelled or delayed.

Trains between Manchester Airport

‼️ #ManchesterAirport – An object being caught in the overhead wires between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly means some lines are blocked. Trains running between these stations may be delayed by up to 45 minutes or cancelled.

Major disruption is expected until…

— National Rail (@nationalrailenq) April 22, 2026

and Manchester Piccadilly are experiencing delays of up to 30 minutes, if running.

The knock-on impact has spread across the wider network, affecting multiple routes used by Bolton travellers, with disruption expected to continue until at least 5.30pm on Wednesday, April 22.

Services run by Northern , Transport for Wales and TransPennine Express have all been impacted.

Northern routes serving Bolton have seen delays and cancellations on services between Barrow-in-Furness and Manchester Airport, Blackpool North and Manchester Airport, and Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly.

Transport for Wales services linking North Wales, Chester and Manchester Airport have also been affected, alongside TransPennine Express routes connecting Manchester Airport with Edinburgh, Glasgow Central and Redcar Central.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “Network Rail staff are en route to site with further updates to follow.”

Passengers are being urged to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys.

To help ease disruption, some ticket restrictions have been lifted and alternative travel options are being accepted.

Northern passengers can use their tickets at no extra cost on Metrolink tram services between Manchester stations and the airport. Tickets are also being accepted on some Transport for Wales and TransPennine Express services.

Travellers heading towards Scotland are advised to use Metrolink services to connect between Manchester stations before continuing their journey, while those travelling into Manchester city centre can use trams or the Bee Network 43 bus service.

Passengers are advised to keep their tickets and journey details, as they may be eligible for compensation due to delays or cancellations.

The incident was first reported at 4.37pm, with the latest update issued at 5pm. Updates are being provided via National Rail Enquiries.

Sean Egan became involved in an altercation with career criminal Daniel Kendall who spat in his face and became aggressive at the Morrisons in Aldridge, West Midlands

The long-serving Morrisons employee fired for challenging a violent shoplifter has hit out at the supermarket.

Sean Egan has claimed the company threw him under the bus “for doing the right thing” after he was dismissed following 29 years of service. The 46-year-old man became involved in an altercation with career criminal Daniel Kendall who spat in his face and became aggressive in the supermarket in Aldridge, West Midlands.

Kendall, who has more than 100 offences to his name, managed to flee with two bottles of Jack Daniel’s despite Mr Egan’s best efforts in December. Mr Egan, a married father from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, recognised Kendall as a prolific shoplifter who had targeted the supermarket previously.

Speaking today, Mr Egan said: “I dedicated my whole life to Morrisons, but they did not even take my 29 years of service into account and just threw me under the bus for standing up for what is right.”

READ MORE: Morrisons employee Sean Egan sacked after 29 years for tackling ‘abusive’ shoplifterREAD MORE: Jeremy Vine furiously defends Waitrose worker who tackled shoplifter

Social media users have applauded Mr Egan’s bravery and backed calls for Morrisons to reinstate the man, who started his career with the firm when he was just 17. Since the sacking, Mr Egan has been diagnosed with depression.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he continued: “All I tried to do was the right thing by protecting myself, my customers and my company. And for that I’ve been treated worse than a criminal.

“My whole life imploded from the moment Kendal stepped into my store. I have been treated more harshly and unfairly than him because he’s not lost as much as I have. I’ve been deemed to be the bigger criminal than him.”

Kendall, a drug addict from Walsall, West Midlands, was sentenced to 42 weeks in prison over the Morrisons theft. His previous convictions include the theft of chocolate and coffee worth £90 from a Co-op supermarket store in Birmingham — and theft £390 in cash from an ATM in Walsall.

Mr Egan, who started work with the company behind the delicatessen counter while still at school, followed Morrisons’ protocol with a calm approach — a “deter-and-not-detain” policy — when dealing with Kendall initially. Kendall, though, became aggressive and spat at the man.

“I’m a proud man and have worked very hard for everything I’ve got. I’ve always paid my way and put a lot of effort into building a beautiful home,” Mr Egan added.

“For the first time in my life, I’m out of work and without money not because I did anything wrong but because I did something right. When they told me I was being sacked, my first thought was how am I going to survive? I’ve got bills to pay, a mortgage, two children and a partner. I feel humiliated and rejected.”

The Mirror has contacted Morrisons, which has said it prioritises its employees’ “health and safety” at all times, for further comment on the dispute. However, a spokesperson for the supermarket said: “We are continuing to take wide-ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in our stores.

“The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance to Morrisons. We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place to protect our colleagues and customers from the risk of harm, which must be strictly followed.

“These include detailed procedures for handling shoplifting incidents, which are in place to protect both the colleague involved and surrounding colleagues and customers, and which seek to de-escalate and calmly control the situation. We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk. As a responsible employer, our focus is entirely on taking the correct action to ensure health and safety is maintained at all times.”

Joshua Haines, 30, was found dead at his home in Leeds three days after calling a GP three times to raise concerns he could be suffering from a form of diabetes

A man who repeatedly told a doctor he feared he had life-threatening diabetes died just days later from the condition after failing to get urgent medical treatment, an inquest heard.

Joshua Haines, 30, was found dead at his home in Leeds, West Yorks., three days after calling a GP three times on March 16, 2025. He had raised concerns about worsening symptoms and suggested he could be suffering from a form of diabetes, although he had no history of the illness.

But despite reporting severe dehydration, vomiting and slurred speech, the GP advised him to contact the non-emergency NHS number 111 rather than being seen in person. An inquest at Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard Mr Haines died from diabetic ketoacidosis – a life-threatening complication linked to undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.

READ MORE: Dad accused of shoplifting from IKEA after ‘stupid machine’ wrongly identifies himREAD MORE: Dad who died after Stockbridge Village chippy attack named as tributes pour in for ‘lovely fella’

Assistant coroner Naomi McLoughlin said there had been “missed opportunities” to get him “urgent medical help”, though she could not confirm these led to his death.

Speaking after the hearing, his sister Jessica Parker said: “We’re deeply disappointed and devastated. All we want from this is for no family to go through what we’ve had to go through.”

The inquest heard evidence from the Claire Lindsey of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service. She said that had Mr Haines’ symptoms been reported by the GP or himself, he would likely have been classed as a category two emergency. This would have meant an ambulance should have aimed to reach him within 40 minutes.

Senior paramedic Daniel Lawton said crews attending would likely have identified the condition, begun rehydration and taken him to hospital as an emergency. In further evidence, an investigating doctor said “red flags were missed” by the Extended Access service Mr Haines contacted.

Dr Saleh Majid, who spoke to Mr Haines on three occasions, said he initially believed the symptoms pointed to a stomach bug due to persistent vomiting. He said diabetes had been considered and agreed it could develop “out of the blue”, but added he could not assess “how far down the line he was” and did not “envisage it being at a life-threatening stage”.

Asked if he made mistakes, Dr Majid said: “I could have done things differently on reflection. I have had time to learn and reflect on this tragic case. Things will be done differently.”

Mr Haines, a surveyor, had been fast-tracked into management and was seen as a “rising star” with “exceptional ability”, his sister said. She previously told the inquest his death was preventable, adding: “His death has torn a hole through my heart. We cannot understand how he could die so suddenly.”

Peter Skelton, representing the family, urged the coroner to record a narrative verdict linking the missed opportunities to Mr Haines’ death and to consider a prevention of future deaths report.

He said: “The family are very serious that there have been some very serious failures of care with the most extreme of consequences: the needless death of a young patient. They are concerned that Dr Majid didn’t understand the full consequences and they question his competency.”

In her conclusion, Ms McLoughlin said she could identify missed opportunities – including the lack of a face-to-face appointment and no 999 call being made – but could not say whether they directly caused his death. She recorded that Mr Haines died between March 16 and 19 from diabetic ketoacidosis.

Storage Wars star Darrell Sheets has died aged 67

A beloved star of the American TV show Storage Wars has passed away at the age of 67. Darrell Sheets has been fondly remembered as ‘part of the OG crew’ by grieving fans paying tribute online.

According to TMZ, Lake Havasu Police in Arizona confirmed that Darrell had apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His body was discovered at his home on Wednesday (April 21) at 2am local time.

After being pronounced dead at the scene, his body was taken to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. Prior to retiring to Arizona, Darrell had been a firm fan favourite on Storage Wars, featuring in 167 episodes of the hit show.

In Lake Havasu, he ran an antique shop called Havasu Show Me Your Junk. He had previously suffered a heart attack in March 2019, following which he underwent surgery.

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A spokesperson for network A&E told TMZ: “We are saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell ‘The Gambler’ Sheets. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Tributes flooded in on X, with one fan writing: “Oh no… RIP.. he was really great on the show and part of the OG crew.”

Another added: “Oh man! No way he was one of my favorites on that show,” while a third simply wrote: “RIP legend.”

During the show’s run, Darrell made one of its most profitable finds when he purchased a California storage unit for $3,600, which contained an extensive collection of original artwork by Mexican surrealist painter Frank Gutierrez. The pieces were later valued at approximately $300,000.

The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.

To receive a nomination at the Bafta Game Awards is to be placed amongst the very best video games developed each year. This year’s ceremony saw 42 games nominated, demonstrating a wide range of gaming excellence. Among the nominees were designers, voice actors and composers, each contributing to the validation of video games as a cultural form.

Now in their 22nd year, the awards took place on April 17 in London where outstanding achievement in animation went to Dispatch, with Lego Party awarded best family game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 best narrative, and the coveted best overall game gong going to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

For the winners, awards can result in boosted sales. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 saw more than 92,000 copies sold overnight following the awards. The win adds to the game’s overwhelming success story both economically and culturally since its release in April 2025. Such accolades not only translate to individual success, they also gain legitimacy for the game industry as a whole. So how can an awards show aid an entire medium?

Part of the answer lies in how awards shape cultural perception, not just commercial success. Regardless of their aesthetics and storytelling prowess, video games are still considered by many as being an example of “low culture”. The Bafta awards have been one way to challenge this perception, offering a prestigious arena for celebration and recognition.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a British arts charity that has been in operation since 1947 with a mission to “advance the art and technique of film”. The first film awards were held in 1949, with TV awards introduced in 1955. Games first gained recognition within the respected Bafta tradition in 2004.

A video game can take years of work to develop and requires the collaboration of many creatives across a variety of disciplines. Writers, artists, animators, programmers, sound designers, voice actors and musicians are all part of the process.

Bafta runs initiatives such as scholarships, mentorships and programmes for young game designers. Celebrating video games with the annual awards show makes a statement that the medium is as worthy as film or television in terms of cultural contribution.

How does recognition impact the industry?

Legitimacy is often accompanied by economic support at a regional, national and international level. The more video games are considered culturally valuable, the more governments and art charities are interested in investing in them.

However, video game development is currently risky, with thousands of layoffs this year so far. Young graduates looking for an entry role may not find much available even with large developers like Epic Games which laid off 1,000 workers in March, attributed to a downturn in Fortnite engagement that began in 2025.

Initiatives to support studios entering the industry have increased in frequency and monetary value since 2015 with the creation of the UK Games Fund (UKGF). The support programme started with a £4 million prototype fund to help small developers produce working mock-ups of ideas to show investors. Funding is vital for the development of the industry as it allows creatives to take risks with the medium without risking their livelihoods.

Economic support initiatives create positive feedback loops where developers have the freedom to advance the art and technique of games and then see their work acknowledged through awards. This subsequently raises the profile of video games to funders.

This year the Baftas follow an increase to the funding available for British game studios from the UK government. As part of the opening of the London Games Festival – a week of talks and demonstrations from the UK games industry held every April – the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport announced a £30 million “power up” for the UK games industry.

Grants from the fund will be split into three categories. Up to £20,000 is available to invest in newly formed companies, with £100,000 for the prototyping of new games and £250,000 to aid with completing games and helping established studios expand.

The Bafta Game Awards have been a key part of the festival’s programme since its inception in 2016. The money, announced just as the best of global video games are being celebrated, will be used to support next generation of exciting young video game developers.

INSTITUTE, W.Va. (AP) — A chemical leak at a West Virginia silver recovery business on Wednesday killed two people and sent about 30 others to hospitals, including one in serious condition, authorities said.

The leak occurred at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute as workers were preparing to shut down at least part of the facility, Kanawha County Commission Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman said.

A chemical gas reaction occurred at the plant involving nitric acid and another substance, Sigman said at a news briefing. He added that there was “a violent reaction of the chemicals and it instantaneously overreacted.”

“Starting or ending a chemical reaction are the most dangerous times,” Sigman said.

The chemical reaction that was believed to have occurred during a cleaning process produced toxic hydrogen sulfide, Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango said.

Among the injured were seven ambulance workers responding to the leak, officials said.

“We know that the first responders, they always run to the fire. They put themselves in harm’s way,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said at an evening news conference. “We’re very grateful to these brave men and women and what they do. And they’re in our prayers, and we’re monitoring the recovery of those transported to our local hospitals.”

Other people were taken to the hospitals in private cars or even in one case a garbage truck, Sigman said.

Morrisey said one person was in serious condition.

Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Center, one of several hospitals in the area, was treating multiple patients, some brought by ambulance, while members of the community were arriving Wednesday afternoon asking to be checked, hospital spokesman Dale Witte said.

Witte said patients were experiencing respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, sore throat and itchy eyes. They were being evaluated in the emergency room.

WVU Medicine Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston said in a statement it has cared for a dozen patients, including eight who arrived by personal vehicle and were not at the scene but were in the area at the time. It said those injuries were not considered life-threatening.

A shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area and lifted more than five hours later. Officials said all the deaths occurred on the plant site.

“You had to get really close to the facility to smell it,” Sigman said.

The leak required a large-scale decontamination operation in which people had to remove their clothes and be sprayed down, authorities said.

Morrisey said it’s believed the local air quality and water supply were unaffected.

Fire crews were called to Buckhaven after fires broke out in an area of grassland near to the Firth of Forth coast, covering an area of around 150m².

‘Multiple’ wildfires have broken out near a Fife town this evening with smoke and flames rising over the coastline. Fire crews were called to Rising Sun Road in Buckhaven shortly after 9pm on Wednesday, April 22.

Four crews were sent to tackle the fires which had been extinguished shortly after 10.20pm. Crews remain on scene to ensure the area is made safe.

Photos shared on social media show the fires in an area of grassland near to the Firth of Forth coast. Orange flames could be seen raising from the grass and gorse which the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said covered an area of around 150m².

Other photos showed an orange glow above houses in Buckhaven as the flames continued into the night while smoke billowed into the sky. Another image shows smoke hanging in the air in the middle of the town as firefighters and police are in discussion next to a fire engine.

It is not currently known if the fires were deliberate. A fire service spokesperson told the Record: “We were alerted at 9.02pm on Wednesday, April 22, to reports of a wildfire near to Raising Sun Road, Buckhaven.

“Firefighters found multiple areas of grass and gorse alight covering approximately 150m2. Operations Control mobilised four appliances. Crews remain in attendance.”

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The Bluebirds boss spoke after the 1-0 win over Port Vale in their penultimate home fixture of the campaign

Brian Barry-Murphy said Cardiff City will deal with the transfer and contract situations surrounding Nathan Trott, Perry Ng, Ryan Wintle and Joel Bagan at the end of the season and branded any speculation “a waste of time”.

As things stand, Saturday will be the last time all four play in front of Cardiff fans, with the quartet having played a huge part in this promotion campaign.

Ng, Wintle and Bagan, of course, have been with City for a number of years and have racked up hundreds of appearances in a blue shirt between them.

But ahead of Saturday’s final home match of the season against Northampton Town, Barry-Murphy played it with the straightest of bats when asked about the trio’s contract situations. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.

“They’ve all had incredible seasons and they’ll all be under consideration for Saturday,” he said.

“We’ll pick the team on Friday based on who is in the best condition and who gives us the best chance of winning. There’s nothing definitive to update at the moment. It’s been a very busy period.”

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On his own personal involvement in said contract talks, he added: “Not a huge amount of input from me in contracts.

“The recruitment team have been excellent since I came in. They do a lot of work behind the scenes and are prepared for all eventualities.”

Trott has been one of the standouts this season and produced a fine save in Cardiff’s 1-0 win over Port Vale on Wednesday night, denying Valiants captain Ben Garrity after a dangerous header.

Cardiff are understood to have a clause in Trott’s contract which triggers a purchase option upon promotion back to the Championship, which the Bluebirds achieved following their win over Reading last weekend.

But amid reports in Denmark suggesting initial talks between Cardiff and Trott have not resulted in a deal, Barry-Murphy said “speculation is a waste of time”.

“I think he’s done great over the course of the season and we’re very grateful to have him,” he said of Trott.

“Like I said on the other players, there are so many different moving parts to those things. Speculation is a waste of time. If something happens, then it happens.

“The focus is on these remaining games. Once the season finishes, those situations between players and clubs will be dealt with.”

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On the pitch, Cardiff just about managed to get over the line thanks to a well-taken header from Rubin Colwill late on in a 1-0 win over Port Vale.

After Saturday’s promotion celebrations, the Irishman admitted he was unsure what to expect from his players.

“It’s difficult to predict what level of performance you can reach after the euphoria of Saturday,” he said. “But I’m very pleased with the players. We managed to create chances in the second half and played well enough to win.

“The players should savour every moment with their families, friends and each other, because it’s not always common to get promotion so early. But when it comes to games, there has to be a real focus on playing well and trying to win. That’s what our supporters expect and deserve.”

And he hopes Saturday’s clash with the Cobblers will represent another opportunity for a big day of celebration with the supporters, as well as the players and their families, as just reward for their promotion-winning campaign. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

“It’s very important we enjoy these moments,” he said. “The reality is that when a season ends, it’s unlikely the same group will all be together again. So you have to treasure it, enjoy it and take stock of what the players have achieved.

“Hopefully we get a big crowd at Cardiff City Stadium and deliver a great performance.

“It’s important the players’ families and friends can come onto the pitch afterwards and share in it. They’ve played a huge role. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible.”