The awards are also known as the ‘Rural Oscars’

Two businesses in Cambridgeshire have been nominated for a prestigious award. The Countryside Alliance Awards, also known as the ‘Rural Oscars’ have returned for its 19th year and has revealed the “very best” businesses across the East of England that have been shortlisted.

There are five different categories and the businesses are judges on a range of criteria including their passion and commitment, sense of community, championing local produce, and the energy and diversity of their business. The vote is now open to the public to help support their favourite business and help them win their category and reach the next stage.

The Longhorn Farm Shop, which can be found just outside of Cottenham, has been nominated for the best for local food and drink. The family-run business is known for providing “a wide variety of high-quality products” including meat items such as traditional Longhorn beef that is sourced from the Brookfield Herd at the Cuckoo Hill Farm.

Alongside its butchers, there is also a shop that sells sweet treats, sauces, fresh fruit, and juices as well as ready meals that are prepared on-site. After shopping around, you can visit the Coffee Hut for a hot drink and homemade cake while enjoying the views of the countryside.

The Elton Village Store is up for the best village store or post office award. Found on Middle Street in the quaint village of Elton, the store has already won the award before in 2023.

The store offers a range of essential items for those living in the village including fresh bread and butchers quality meat. The shop also stocks plenty of vegan and gluten free products as well as fruit and vegetables from the local area.

Sarah Lee, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the Countryside Alliance, said: “Once more, we have been blown away by the number of nominations this year. So many amazing businesses have been sent in by the public. Every business has an important story to tell – it’s so important that they are recognised. The secret to the Rural Oscars’ popularity is that they honour the people involved in these businesses, and not just their produce or services. At this critical time for so many rural businesses, it is vital we all show our support in whatever way we can. We encourage as many people as possible to get voting. When you have voted, please share the link with friends and families.”

To vote for your favourite businesses that have been shortlisted, you can visit the Countryside Alliance website.

It has been a week of war in the Middle East, sparked by the US and Israel launching strikes on Iran.

But the US-Iran rivalry didn’t start then – it has been a fractious relationship for decades, spanning several US presidents.

In our latest episode of Sky News Explains, Olive Enokido-Lineham looks at the key moments in US-Iran history, examines the complicated geopolitics of the region, and tries to find out how it could all end.

Watch the full episode at the top of this article.

Before re-launching Sky News Explains, Olive specialised in verification and open-source investigations (OSINT). Her stories include investigations into the war in Gaza, to verifying videos from Ukraine and Syria.

Olive also produced the Sky News documentary Escaping Putin, which follows a Russian soldier who fled from the army.

Jen Carney is the author of acclaimed series such as ‘The Accidental Diary of B.U.G’ and ‘The Day My…’, which includes titles like ‘The Day My Dog Got Famous’ and ‘The Day My School Got Famous’.  

Jen, who is originally from Bolton, returned to her hometown last week (February 28) to talk to children about her books, reading, and of course, play a few fun games.

The talk was held at Bolton Central Library in the town centre.

Jen delivering the talk (Image: Newsquest)

She told the children how she used to come to the library “lots” when she was younger, discovering different authors and worlds, as well as staring in awe at the wonderful fish in the aquarium.

Jen then ran a couple of games for children to participate in, including making words out of their initials and others.

She said: “I think if you can catch somebody at this age group, around seven to eight, and get them really interested in books and reading, you can start a habit you have for life, which is a really important thing to do.

“When you read for pleasure as a child, there are really positive long-term effects.

A Bolton children’s author spoke about the importance of reading (Image: Newsquest)

“I grew up in Heaton and went to St Thomas of Canterbury Primary School. Heaton Library was around the corner.

“[Bolton Central Library] was a special trip to the big library. I used to absolutely love going; they are really special memories.”

To learn more about Jen and her books, see her website: https://jen-carney.com/

The former teacher added that, because her family didn’t have much money growing up, it was a great source of free entertainment, with “new stories every week”.

Reflecting on the talk, Jen said: “I think it went really, really well. There were lots of people here, families, and people came from different areas, not just from Bolton.

“It is really nice to see people here.”

Scott Brassell faced a trial listed for up to three days at Durham Crown Court this week.

The 44-year-old defendant, of James Court, previously denied charges of unlawful wounding of a man and the alternative of wounding with intent.

He also denied making knife threats to the man and a woman, in Porter Close, Newton Aycliffe, on the same day, Wednesday June 5, 2024.

Formal ‘not guilty’ verdicts recorded at Durham Crown Court in case of Darlington man accused of wounding and knife threat charges (Image: The Northern Echo)

But when the case was called into court, Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said the Crown’s only witness failed to attend court as far back as March, last year.

He said the last time the witness was seen was in April last year when he made a retraction statement relating to the original allegation, after which contact was lost, as the Crown only has an old address.

Mr Dodds said the Crown do not now know where the witness is and so the case has been reviewed.

Read next … more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

He added that he has now been instructed to offer “no evidence” on all three counts.

Judge Nathan Adams, therefore, recorded formal “not guilty” verdicts on each of the three charges.

He told the defendant: “The Crown is not in a position to bring evidence and, so, not guilty verdicts will be recorded in this matter.”

The Scottish rockers will top the bill on the opening day of BishFest, staged by Bishop Auckland FC, in July.

They have been brought in as an equally big-name replacement for Bad Manners, who have had to pull out of all planned performances this year due to illness suffered by larger-than-life front man Buster Bloodvessel.

He collapsed on stage during a performance in Perugia, Italy, and was rushed into hospital last week amid concerns for his long-term health.

While wishing Buster a speedy recovery, BishFest director, Steve Coulthard, the chairman of Bishop Auckland FC, said they moved quickly to fill the headline spot at the new festival.

Bic Country have been announced as the new healine act on the first day of the new BishFest music festival in Bishop Auckland in July (Image: BishFest)

The festival website announced the replacements, stating: “Big Country bring their unmistakable anthemic rock sound to BishFest, delivering the soaring guitars and powerful choruses that made them one of the UK’s most distinctive bands.

BishFest promo for the new summer music festival at the home of Bishop Auckland FC (Image: BishFest)

“With a catalogue packed full of classic hits and festival-ready favourites, their live show combines energy, atmosphere and sing-along moments in equal measure.

Read next … more culture and entertainment stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

“Expect a headline set built for big crowds and even bigger memories.”

They will be among 14 bands performing over the weekend of July 11/12 at the new festival, staged at the club’s Heritage Park stadium, just off the A688 in the town.

Further details of the rest of the line-up and ticket prices, including an “early bird” offer, can be found via: – www.bishfest.co.uk, the festival website.

The new malware is called ZeroDayRAT and it combines “real-time surveillance with direct financial theft within a single browser panel”.

“ZeroDayRAT is a toolkit that goes beyond classic data theft, aiming to compromise the target’s digital and physical life,” Cyberthint explains.

“Attackers purchase this service via Telegram and attempt to install an APK (Android) or Payload (iOS) onto the victim’s device.”

ZeroDayRAT – Mobile Espionage and Financial Theft Platform

As the Cyberthint research team, we analyzed a new mobile threat called ZeroDayRAT, which is being marketed in the Telegram underworld and claims to target both Android and iOS devices with a 1-click attack.

🔍 Key… pic.twitter.com/YlpA7VYTnU

— Cyberthint (@cyberthint) February 17, 2026

How the ZeroDayRAT malware works

The most common way Android and iOS devices are infected with the ZeroDayRAT malware is via Smishing (SMS Phishing) attacks, according to Cyberthint.

The cyber threat experts continue: “Victims are sent fake links that appear to be from legitimate applications or updates.”

Once the victim clicks on this fake link, the malware is installed, and it allows hackers access to:

• Device model, battery status, carrier information
• Most frequently used apps and activity timeline
• Call and SMS history
• Cameras and microphone
• Live location

The software is also designed for financial gain, giving hackers the ability to infiltrate banking and payment systems. It allows:

• Crypto Wallet stealing – it scans wallet applications like MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Binance, and Coinbase. Using Clipboard Injection techniques, the attacker replaces the user’s wallet address with their own, redirecting transfers to themselves.
• Access to banking and payment systems – it steals login credentials by performing Overlay attacks on Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and local payment systems.
• OTP bypassing – it captures one-time passwords from banks in real-time via SMS access.

How to avoid contracting malware on your Android or iOS device

To avoid contracting ZeroDayRAT or other malware on your device, the experts at Cyberthint have shared some helpful tips:

• Never click on links in SMS messages, WhatsApp messages, or emails from unknown numbers.
• Use authenticator apps or hardware keys instead of SMS-based two-factor authentication for increased account security.
• Check your device regularly for anomalies such as sudden increases in battery drain, excessive data usage, or screens turning on spontaneously (all could be signs of spyware).

Have you been targeted by ZeroDayRAT or other malware? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

But in the wake of the president’s apology, Iran’s ambassador to the UK agreed to our request to speak to him, and even more unusually, invited us to speak to him in Iran’s embassy in London, a building that tells the story of the fraught and troubled history between Iran and the West.

The property is entered via a porch that leads into the flagstone-floored hallway, off which is the sitting room with an open cast-iron fireplace with timber surround and granite hearth, plus an understairs cupboard.

Open cast-iron fireplace with timber surround and granite hearth (Image: GSC Grays)

Glazed double doors open from the sitting room into the breakfast kitchen, which is home to a comprehensive range of fitted units with granite worktops, integrated appliances, including a wine chiller, a Belfast sink, a central butcher-block-topped island which incorporates a motorised pop-up socket with wireless and USB charging, and tiled floors with underfloor heating.

Patio doors open from the dining area adjoining the kitchen into the rear garden.

Kitchen: Granite-topped units, butcher-block island, wine chiller, and patio doors to garden. (Image: GSC Grays)

Off the kitchen is a utility room and cloakroom, as well as the living room (also accessed from the hall) with exposed floorboards and a brick fireplace with inset solid fuel stove.

Upstairs are a stylish family bathroom with a freestanding bath, a large walk-in shower and built-in units with a granite worktop, plus four bedrooms, which include the master with an en-suite shower room.

Dining room (Image: GSC Grays)

The second bedroom features a door leading to a staircase up to the loft, which offers an ideal space for additional storage or could be used as a hobby room or home office.

Rose Cottage sits in gardens laid mainly to lawn, with a patio to the rear, a gravelled area providing off-street parking, and a garage and workshop with a 7kW EV charger.

Freestanding bath, walk-in shower, and built-in granite-topped units. (Image: GSC Grays)

PROPERTY FACTS

Rose Cottage, Stainton Village

Guide price: £435,000

GSC Grays

01833 637000

www.gscgrays.co.uk

Double room with en-suite shower. (Image: GSC Grays)

(Image: GSC Grays)

A planning application has been submitted for 1 Pembroke Terrace to convert the first floor and roof space into a five-person house in multiple occupation (HMO).

The plan includes internal and external works only affecting the upper unit of the building, as well as installation of five rooflights.

An example of the proposed bedrooms. (Image: Maine Blueprints/South Tyneside Council)

The ground floor unit, with separate access from Armstrong Terrace, will remain unchanged.

The proposal is intended to deliver high-quality shared accommodation aimed at working professionals and key workers.

The internal reconfiguration plans of the first floor and roof space have been carefully designed to deliver a high-quality shared living environment aimed at working professionals, rather than traditional low-grade HMO accommodation,with each of the five bedrooms equipped with a private en-suite bathroom.

An example of the proposed en-suite bathrooms. (Image: Maine Blueprints/South Tyneside Council)

Residents will share a kitchen and dining space.

The roof space will be reconfigured to maximise existing space without increasing the building’s overall scale.

The proposed changes also include the installation of five low-profile rooflights, which aim to improve natural light and ventilation to the roof space.

The proposal, aiming to enhance housing options within the area, assures no harm to the existing residential character or appearance of Pembroke Terrace.

Cllr Jack Symon, who represents Wheatlands ward in Redcar for the Tories, said he had paid a membership fee to join the “movement”.

The party was launched last month by Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, a former chairman of Southampton FC, and is understood to be in the process of being ratified by the Electoral Commission.

Cllr Symon said that because of this he could only sit as an independent for the moment on the council, although he expected this would change in a matter of weeks.

The 24-year-old, who is an estate agent and was elected in 2023, claimed the reaction had been “quite positive” with residents who he had spoken to having been supportive of the move.

Cllr Symon said he had received some messages from Mr Lowe, the Great Yarmouth MP, who had a well-publicised falling out with Reform UK before leaving Nigel Farage’s party.

Asked why he did not join Reform UK – as many Conservatives have done – he said he “did not think they had what it takes to be unpopular”.

He said: “There is a bit of a daytime TV vibe to them, they are not quite serious enough and seem very showbiz.

“Restore policy is member-led and they are very clear there will be ups and down.

“It’s very much a team effort.

“With Reform it is very personality-driven, very sort of glitz and glamour.”

Cllr Symon said he was unsure at the moment whether he would seek re-election in planned local elections in 2027, “but if he was it would be with Restore Britain”.

He said: “There is lots to think about, I have a young family, and it’s whether I have the time commitments.”

In an open letter explaining events he said he resigned the Conservative whip after “careful thought and reflection”, but bore no ill will towards the party, members or fellow councillors.

He wrote: “I have reflected deeply on the future of our country and the kind of leadership and politics required to restore confidence, opportunity and national pride.

“I have come to believe that Restore Britain represents the clearest and most determined vision for a truly national restoration, rooted in sovereignty, fairness, accountability and support for our people.”

Cllr Symon said “many decent, hardworking people across our communities feel increasingly unheard” and, regardless of political label, he would continue to work tirelessly on local issues.

Conservative group leader, Councillor Carolyn Curr said: “We thank Jack for what he has done with us and wish him well.”