CAIRO (AP) — The United States is close to reaching a deal with Iran that would end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and see Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, regional officials told The Associated Press on Sunday. They said details and timelines would be worked out later.
Iran has not publicly committed to giving up its uranium — a key demand of U.S. President Donald Trump — and the sides previously seemed close to a deal in recent weeks. Trump on Saturday said a deal had been “largely negotiated,” after calls with Israel and other regional allies.
“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” Trump said on social media Sunday. He said the U.S. relationship with Iran is becoming “much more professional and productive.”
The strait’s reopening would begin to ease a worldwide energy crisis sparked by the surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment of Iran on Feb. 28, which led Tehran to effectively close the crucial waterway. Prices have spiked for oil, gas and several downstream products, jolting the world economy. Experts say it would take several weeks or even months for shipping and prices to recover to prewar levels.
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The U.S. has blockaded Iranian ports for over a month, and Trump on Sunday said the blockade “will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”
The emerging deal would include Iran giving up uranium
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to India, said that “significant progress, although not final progress, has been made” in negotiations, and the world would no longer need to fear Iran getting a nuclear weapon, without elaborating.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian told state TV they were ready “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon.” Iran’s embassy in India responded to Rubio on social media, saying Tehran has an “inalienable” right to nuclear technology.
Iran has always insisted its program is peaceful while enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels.
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Under the potential deal, Tehran would agree to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to the two regional officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations.
One official, with direct knowledge of the negotiations, said how Iran would give up the uranium would be subject to further talks during a 60-day period. Some would likely be diluted, while the rest would be transferred to a third country, the official said. Russia has offered to take it.
Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Trump has sought greater concessions from Iran than those required under a 2015 Obama-era agreement that the U.S. later withdrew from under Trump.
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On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told the state-run news agency that there are “narrowing differences” between the Iranian and U.S. positions, but that Iran is cautious after being attacked twice in the past year during nuclear negotiations.
Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, left Tehran late Saturday after more talks with Iranian officials.
The strait would reopen and Iran would be able to sell oil
Under the emerging agreement, the Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen in parallel with the U.S. ending its blockade, the officials said.
The U.S. would allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers, said the second official, who has been briefed on the negotiations. Sanctions relief and the release of Iran’s frozen funds would be negotiated during the 60-day time frame, the official said.
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Both officials said the draft deal includes an end to the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
Twelve weeks have passed since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, killing its supreme leader and other top officials. A ceasefire with Iran has held since April 7, though the sides have exchanged fire on occasion.
Several countries, including the European Union and the United Kingdom, welcomed progress on a possible deal with Iran.
Israel remains concerned over Hezbollah
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a social media post Sunday, said “President Trump and I agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger,” and that Trump had reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself “on every front, including Lebanon.”
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Science Minister Gila Gamliel, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party and part of his national security cabinet, told Israel’s Army Radio that Israel is taking a “wait-and-see” approach.
Israeli officials are concerned that Hezbollah remains a serious threat to Israel and that Lebanon is ill-equipped to disarm it.
A fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in Lebanon on April 17, but fighting has continued, mainly in the south. Hezbollah has launched daily drone and rocket attacks on Israeli forces and northern Israel, and Israel has struck targets across Lebanon while its troops remain in large swaths of the south.
More than 3,000 people have been killed in the latest round of fighting, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Additionally, 22 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians have been killed in northern Israel, according to Netanyahu’s office.
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Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.
Senior Labour figures believe a “clear statement” could come as early as Monday, according to The Observer.
08:37, 21 Jun 2026Updated 08:43, 21 Jun 2026
Sir Keir Starmer is under sustained pressure amid reports he could stand down next week as a leadership threat from Andy Burnham looms.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly vowed not to walk away from his post, even as public talk of a leadership contest or handing power to Mr Burnham has gained pace among Labour figures since he won the Makerfield by-election on Friday.
The number of Labour MPs calling for Starmer to go has since topped 100 – just under a quarter of the party’s MPs – and includes some who signed a letter warning against a leadership contest just last month.
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Labour grandees have also spoken out, with former home secretary Alan Johnson saying Sir Keir should step aside and Lord Falconer saying he has “no authority” because it is assumed he will be replaced.
The Prime Minister is understood to be at Chequers with his wife, Lady Victoria, this weekend, and is reportedly reflecting on how to proceed.
A senior ally told The Sun they believe there is “just a 25% chance he fights on now”, while The Observer cited a Labour peer who said they think Sir Keir sees that “stopping ‘chaos’ (as he rightly put it) is now not possible by staying.”
Senior Labour figures believe a “clear statement” could come as early as Monday, according to The Observer.
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No 10 said Sir Keir’s position remained unchanged from Friday, when he said he will not “walk away” from Downing Street and that he plans to stand in any potential contest.
He warned Labour staffers during a call on Friday lunchtime to avoid “plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other and tearing apart our party and our movement”.
He is understood to have spoken to a number of Cabinet ministers on Friday, some of whom are reported to have told him he should set out a timetable for his departure.
Some in Westminster believe a contest could begin as early as next week, but allies of Mr Burnham favour a longer wait to allow them to prepare for government.
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It is understood that Mr Burnham’s camp wants Sir Keir to set out his plans in the coming days but would accept a timetable that kept him in No 10 until September.
The incoming Makerfield MP is expected to be in Westminster on Monday to be sworn into the Commons.
He is reportedly planning to speak to Sir Keir afterwards and present him with a list of backers – which he is said to be seeking to get up to 200 – in a bid to press him to step down and set out a transition.
In a blow to Sir Keir, Labour peer Charlie Falconer said Sir Keir has “absolutely no authority” because “everybody assumes” Mr Burnham is going to challenge him and win.
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He said he would advise Sir Keir not to stand in a leadership contest and instead agree a handover, preferably before the parliamentary recess on July 16.
And former deputy leader Baroness Harriet Harman, who Sir Keir appointed as a special envoy for women and girls, said there is a “sense of collective movement” from within Labour and that she expected Sir Keir to leave office and for Mr Burnham to take his place.
She has urged the party to move faster than aiming for a timetable ending in September, telling Sky News’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast ministers could not be left “in a state of paralysis all through the summer”.
Rising out of the Adriatic sea with turquoise waters lapping the shore, pine forests climbing its hills and cormorants swooping along the shoreline, Albania’s Sazan Island is striking in its beauty.
It’s not hard to see why Ivanka Trump was enraptured by Sazan when she took a swim over to the island while sailing on Rothschild’s yacht several years ago, as she told the David Senra podcast last month. Ivanka spoke breathlessly of swimming from the boat to and hiking barefoot to the “top” of the island.
So taken was she by Sazan that she and her husband Jarad Kushner made plans for a real estate project of a “massive scale” to develop the island, and returned with “some of the greatest living architects of our time”.
Sazan Island is in the Adriatic sea (Annabel Grossman/The Independent)
These plans have not gone down well in Albania, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets of the capital Tirana in protest against development in a protected area of the country.
Initially centred on environmental concerns, the protests have since swelled into huge anti-government demonstrations dubbed the “flamingo revolution’– so named after the pink wading bird that is found on this part of the Mediterranean coastline.
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With protests now rolling into a nineteenth day consecutive day, activists are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and a complete overhaul of the government of Albania, along with investigations into organised crime, corruption and lack of transparency.
The rocky shoreline of Sazan Island (Annabel Grossman/The Independent)
At the heart of it all: a rugged outcrop springing out the Adriatic ocean. Sazan, Albania’s largest island, has become a symbol of resistance to oligarchy, neoliberalism and privatisation.
The 570 hectare island (around 4.8km by 2.7km) sits roughly 18km from the Albanian mainland on the southern coast, with steep cliffs, two hills and thick pine forest. A couple of rocky paths wind their way up into the hills past disused, crumbling buildings and Cold War-era bunkers. (It would be very hard, if not impossible, to hike barefoot through).
The island is often described as “untouched” but it actually has a long human history, with records that date back as far as the sixth century BC when it was mentioned by ancient Greek geographers.
Sazan has been the target of invasions since the Middle Ages, and was occupied by Italy from 1914 and then Germany for a brief time during the Second World War.
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After being liberated by the Albanian army in 1944 the island was used as a military naval base and closed to the public. Some 3,600 bunkers were built across the island under the orders of communist leader Enver Hoxha who presided over a brutal regime until the early 1990s.
Steep cliffs lead up to dense vegetation (Annabel Grossman/The Independent)
Now the buildings have been taken over by nature, but their ghostly structures can still be seen by climbing up poorly paved roads from the harbour: a school, hospital, homes and even a former cinema.
A small but steady stream of tourists and locals visit the island daily during the summer months, travelling over from the mainland on small speedboats and the occasional sail boat to swim and sunbathe on the rocky beach.
Biologist Bledi Hoxha is a member of the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA), an organisations that has been protesting development in the region for several years.
He describes Sazan Island as a “natural laboratory for studying the distribution and evolution of species”. He explains: “It hosts a large number of plant and animal species, including endemic species of particular importance to the country’s biodiversity.”
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Abandoned buildings line a cracked concrete path that leads into the hills (Annabel Grossman/The Independent)
One of these species is the Mediterranean Monk Seal, which uses the island’s sheltered coves for breeding. A critically endangered marine mammal, the Monk Seal can now only be found in a handful of areas across Europe.
Ivanka and Jared’s plans span beyond Sazan to the Zvernec Peninsula on the mainland; a thin strip of land around 10km from the coastal city of Vlore with the Adriatic sea on one side and the Narta lagoon on the other. The peninsula sits within the Vjosa-Narta ecosystem, which is part of the last intact Mediterranean river delta system made up of wetlands, salt marshes, and coastal forest.
The part of coastline on Zvernec Peninsula where Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are planning to build a luxury resort (Annabel Grossman/The Independent)
“It’s one of the last places where you can find massive colonies of flamingos,” says Aleksander Trajçe, executive director of PPNEA. “Hence the name flamingo revolution.” He adds: “There have been days where we’ve counted up to 10,000 individuals congregated in small patches in the lagoon.
There are currently a few campsites and beachfront restaurants on the coastline running from Vlore to the peninsula, and on Zvernec island, which is reached by a boardwalk, there are often a handful of tourists exploring the Byzantine monastery built in the 13th century.
The Narta lagoon is also an important site for birds migrating between northern Europe and Africa. Ariel Brunner, regional director of BirdLife for Europe and Central Asia, says: “It hosts regionally important populations of a host of species ranging from collard pratincoles, to avocets to gull billed terns and many more.
The Byzantine monastry on Zvernec Island (Annabel Grossman/The Independent)
“The dunes and coastal scrub vegetation harbours habitats that have been wiped out by coastal development almost everywhere along the Mediterranean coasts.”
A few kilometres from the island at the spot where Kushner has spoken of building a luxury resort, a vast swathe of sand opens up, backed by dense vegetation that runs down to the lagoon where egrets and herons can be spotted wading in the shallows. Beyond here are sand dunes used by loggerhead sea turtles for nesting.
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“If you want to find a place where the Mediterranean is as natural as possible, this is it,” says Mr Trajçe. “It’s the last place.”
A man has been charged in connection with an incident at a Salford primary school. Officers were called out to St Mark’s RC Primary School on Queensway, in Clifton, Swinton, at around 10am on Friday morning (June 19).
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A man was later arrested on nearby Rake Lane. In an update issued this morning (Sunday), Greater Manchester Police confirmed a man had since been charged in connection with the incident.
Lee Graham Wallbank, of Tyldesley Road, Wigan, has been charged with affray and criminal damage. The 36-year-old has also been charged with breach of court order, which GMP says is connected to an unrelated matter.
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Wallbank is due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Monday, June 22. Following the incident, a spokesperson for Salford Diocese, on behalf of the school, said: “We are aware of the incident that took place at St Mark’s Primary School in Swinton on Friday morning.
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“The school are working closely with relevant emergency services, and will offer support to pupils, staff, families, and the wider school community. The safety, wellbeing, and pastoral care of all those affected remain our highest priority.”
Celebrations will be “a fitting tribute to one of the city’s most extraordinary cultural figures”
A programme of events to celebrate what would have been legendary Pink Floyd musician Syd Barrett’s 80th birthday has been announced. The pioneering songwriter, artist and founding member of Pink Floyd was born and bred in Cambridge and met his future bandmate Roger Waters at the Cambridgeshire High School for Boys.
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He died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 60 in 2006 after being out of the public eye for many years. Now his family and organisers Neil Jones, Mark Wilkinson and Rob Ayling have announced a series of official events to celebrate 80 years since he was born, and to raise money for mental health charities.
The celebrations will be centred on a spectacular live concert on October 10 – World Mental Health Day – headlined by Kula Shaker and featuring bands influenced and inspired by Syd such as Soft Machine, Men on the Border, Diana Silveira & The Psychedelic Circus, Radhika, and Pünk Floyd. Additional surprise guests are yet to be announced. Tickets are on sale here.
The concert will be at Cambridge Corn Exchange, where Syd played played his last ever live performance, February 24, 1972.
Audiences will also experience a mesmerising liquid light show from acclaimed visual artist The Mad Alchemist,(from Los Angeles, creating an immersive psychedelic spectacle inspired by Syd’s pioneering vision.
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The concert follows a previous sell-out Syd Barrett celebratory show at the Corn Exchange in 2016, underlining the enduring affection for Barrett’s music and legacy in the city he called home.
The anniversary will also be marked with the release of a special album, released only on physical double coloured vinyl and double CD which contains bonus material not available on the vinyl, celebrating Barrett’s extraordinary creative legacy and enduring influence as a founder of Pink Floyd and his body of solo work.
The album and CD are released on October 9 and feature a carefully curated selection of brand-new studio recordings, previously unreleased material and standout live performances spanning several years. The album offers fresh interpretations of some of Syd and Pink Floyd’s most iconic songs including See Emily Play, Arnold Layne, and Octopus.
It is performed by artists including All About Eve, Kula Shaker, Mystery Jets, Voyage 35, and Rosalie Cunningham, alongside recordings from fellow Pink Floyd members David Gilmour featuring David Bowie and Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets.
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There will also be a major exhibition exploring Syd’s life, art and cultural impact from October 3-9 at Openspace, an arts venue on Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge. The exhibition will showcase original paintings and sketches by Syd, alongside prints of larger works.
Visitors will also be able to view work by a number of guest artists, including Syd’s nephew Ian Barrett, Mark Wilkinson, Mick Rock, Spadge Hopkins, Mikey Georgeson, James Wilkinson, and Justin Wiggan & Dominick Allen. A programme of talks from leading Barrett biographers will further explore the life and legacy of one of Britain’s most fascinating creative minds.
Co-organiser Mr Jones said: “Eighty years after his birth, Syd Barrett’s influence remains as powerful as ever. His music, creativity and unique vision continue to inspire artists and audiences across generations. It’s especially fitting that this celebration takes place in Cambridge, the city at the heart of his story.
“Bringing together live music, art and a new album on World Mental Health Day is a fitting tribute to one of the city’s most extraordinary cultural figures”.
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Syd’s sister, Rosemary Breen, added: “The family wholeheartedly support these exciting events in aid of mental health charities. Syd would have been so happy and honoured to know his music was still being enjoyed in Cambridge.”
Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles has shared the breakfast his mother loves
Sophie Buchan Money and Lifestyle Writer
08:03, 21 Jun 2026
Contrary to the idea that Royal mornings start with lavish feasts, Tom Parker Bowles has revealed that Queen Camilla, his mother, opts for a much simpler breakfast when the weather turns cold.
He shared that, while the dish itself is modest, the Queen adds a spoonful of a homemade ingredient she keeps in her kitchen to elevate it. The simple breakfast choice is one that the British Heart Foundation says is great for heart health and boasts high fibre content.
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In his book, ‘Cooking & The Crown‘ published in 2024, Tom said: “In winter, my mother, Queen Camilla, eats porridge every day – plain, aside from a little of her own honey. The hives sit at the back of a field at Raymill, the house in which my sister and I spent the latter part of our youth.”
He then continued: “[The honey] is delicate and mild, as fine stirred into a good Darjeeling tea as it is mixed with porridge or yoghurt.”
As noted, the British Heart Foundation has ranked porridge as more heart-healthy than granola, cornflakes, muesli, and bran flakes. This is mainly because it contains beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that can help lower cholesterol when you consume at least 3g per day as part of a balanced diet.
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Queen Camilla is said to make her porridge with full-fat milk and a pinch of salt, but the British Heart Foundation recommend using water or low-fat milk instead, and adding fruit like bananas for natural sweetness.
The BHF experts previously advised: “As well as beta-glucan, you’ll be getting the fibre from the whole grains, plus there is no added sugar or salt. Instead of adding sugar or salt to your porridge for flavour – instead, try adding a banana or other fruits for extra sweetness.
“For every 80g that you add it will be one of your five-a-day at the same time.” Beyond this, it’s worth noting that other scientific research has also found a connection between honey consumption and heart health.
In 2020, one study claimed that honey could be a “potential candidate to be explored further as a natural and dietary alternative to the management of cardiovascular disease”.
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Scientists found evidence that honey may help protect the heart and reduce damage during heart problems. However, more research is needed to confirm this.
Tom’s book ‘Cooking and The Crown’ is a culinary homage to over a century of Royal dining, from the days of Queen Victoria to our present King Charles III. It spans extravagant meals like ‘Pommes Elizabeth’ and ‘Pudding au Pain et aux Cerises’, while also featuring an array of classic yet straightforward dishes you can try at home. More information can be found here.
Egg sandwiches are a firm favourite for many people, but they can sometimes lack flavour. However, a HelloFresh recipe expert says there’s an unlikely ingredient you can add to boost the taste – and it’s not mayo
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Many people love egg sandwiches, but what you might not realise is that there’s a technique you can use to make them even more delicious. While most people reach for mayonnaise to enhance the flavour of their meals, it turns out you may want to opt for an entirely different ingredient to improve the taste.
Egg sandwiches make a brilliant lunch or breakfast, being both tasty and satisfying; however, injecting flavour into them can sometimes prove challenging. There’s no need to fret though, as a straightforward recipe adjustment can help, and it’s an incredibly simple hack to put into practice once you know what to do.
Now, advice has been provided by Mimi Morley, Senior Recipe Development Manager at HelloFresh, and she has some genuinely useful tips. The brand boasts thousands of followers on Instagram, making her someone well worth listening to.
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According to her, one simple ingredient is all that’s needed to transform the taste of your sarnies. It’s even more straightforward than you could ever have imagined.
When asked what to add, Mimi said: “Marmite! Spread on your bread with your butter before adding your egg mixture. The saltiness with the egg is elite.”
As it happens, that’s all there is to it. Adding a touch of Marmite to your sandwiches could genuinely transform the flavour.
There are explanations for why this might be the case as well. The kitchen staple could prove transformative when it comes to elevating the dish.
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Why do it?
Incorporating Marmite into egg sandwiches enhances their taste if you appreciate rich, savoury and salty flavours. Marmite contains concentrated yeast extract, which delivers a profound, umami flavour.
It balances the subtle taste of eggs. Beyond this, its saltiness offsets the richness of egg yolks.
What’s more, the textural contrast also benefits the dish considerably. Sticky Marmite works brilliantly with soft, creamy eggs.
There are two approaches you could adopt with the product. Firstly, you could thinly coat some on the bread before assembling the sandwich.
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As an alternative, you could also prepare a Marmite butter. To achieve this, simply combine Marmite with softened butter.
Then apply it liberally on the bread before introducing the eggs. It genuinely is that straightforward.
You simply need to bear in mind to be cautious with the quantity you incorporate. A modest amount can frequently go a considerable distance.
Members of Bolton Council‘s Planning Committee voted to approve the scheme on June 18, citing the borough’s pressing need for affordable housing.
However, residents living closest to the site say their fears have been overlooked.
Jenny Young, of Doris Avenue, said: “The land is not suitable for dwellings.
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“It’s disgraceful.
“It just seems like they don’t care a damn for residents and just want to stick up houses and get money for it.
“It sickens me. It honestly makes my blood boil.”
Fly-tipping on the land (Image: Jenny Young)
Residents claim the site has a long history of fly-tipping.
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Opponents of the scheme had previously submitted a petition to the council objecting to the plans.
(Image: Jenny Young)
The same resident added: “If this development goes ahead, householders need assurance in writing that adequate compensation will be available should any damage occur to our properties.
Many objectors also questioned why green space was being targeted when other brownfield sites across the borough remain undeveloped.
“Whilst I appreciate there is a need for housing, it should not be at the expense of a rich wildlife habitat and profit should not come first,” said Ms Young.
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“What about brownfield sites where buildings have been demolished and are lying idle? Developing those sites would revitalise urban areas and prevent the loss of natural habitats.”
Residents worry about the uneven land (Image: Jenny Young)
At the planning meeting, Cllr Martin Donaghy, representing Tonge with The Haulgh ward, spoke against the application on behalf of residents, although he is not a member of the planning committee.
Despite the objections, councillors voted to approve the plans, with the need for affordable housing carrying significant weight in the decision.
The development will now move forward, although many residents of Doris Avenue say they remain deeply concerned about its potential impact on their homes and the surrounding environment.
Abu’s, which has become one of Darlington’s best-rated Indian restaurants from its Duke Street base, has opened a new restaurant in Harrogate.
The Harrogate venue, on Cheltenham Crescent, holds a 5/5 rating on TripAdvisor.
Although the restaurant is still a new addition to the town, early diners have already praised its food, service and atmosphere, with every Tripadvisor review so far rated excellent.
The opening follows the success of Abu’s in Darlington, which previously built up a 5/5 rating from hundreds of reviews and was described by diners as “flawless” and “perfect”.
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Abu’s in Darlington (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
Now, the Harrogate sister site appears to be following a similar path.
One reviewer, from Harrogate, described it as the “best curry in Harrogate” after making a second visit to the restaurant.
They wrote: “Amazing food both times, tasty and fresh.”
Another diner, who visited with friends in June, described their first meal at Abu’s as “excellent” and said they would “definitely be returning soon”.
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The reviewer praised the onion bhajis as “fresh, light, crisp and tasty”, while also highlighting the paneer tikka, mushroom paneer and paneer nawabi.
They added that the paneer nawabi, advertised as containing 21 spices, had “lovely, complex flavours”, while the garlic naan was “light and puffy”.
Other customers have also praised the restaurant’s welcome and service.
One visitor described Abu’s as an “amazing restaurant with an excellent menu”, writing: “Warm and friendly welcome, lovely atmosphere. Both service and food were incredible, delicious and presentation too.”
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They added that the restaurant offered “so much choice” and “good portions”, advising diners to book during busy times.
Another Harrogate reviewer called it “one of the best Indian restaurants in H’gate” after trying Abu’s as a new addition to the town.
They said they were “warmly greeted” and praised the “top-notch” food, describing it as “flavoursome and authentic”.
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The reviewer added that the mixed sizzler starter, lamb biryani, mixed balti, garlic naan and pilau rice were “more than enough for two”.
They wrote: “Meat in all the dishes was succulent and all was 10/10. Could not fault a thing and very reasonably priced for quality.”
The naan breads have also been singled out by several visitors.
One family reviewer said they visited after seeing Abu’s had opened in Harrogate and described the meal as “absolutely superb”.
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They praised the chicken tikka, lamb nawabi and chicken korma, adding that the chicken was “melt in your mouth” and the lamb was “very, very tender”.
However, they said the naan breads were the highlight, describing them as “soft and fluffy with lots of flavour”.
Another early customer described Abu’s as an “amazing new restaurant” and said staff were “very friendly and welcoming”.
They added: “The food was amazing. Compliments to Abu’s Dad, who was the chef during our visit.”
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With both restaurants now holding perfect Tripadvisor ratings, Abu’s appears to have carried its Darlington reputation into Harrogate.
Marcus Rashford scored England’s fourth on Wednesday night as they beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup opener. While Rashford could not have asked for a better start to the World Cup, his Manchester United future appears to be in tatters. It has been a whirlwind decade for the 28-year-old.
After bursting onto the scene in February 2016, Rashford has had a rollercoaster career full of highs and lows. With his time at Old Trafford potentially coming to a permanent end this summer, MEN Sport has taken a look at the rise and subsequent fall of Rashford at United.
February 2016
On February 25, Rashford makes his debut for the Reds against FC Midtjylland. He scored twice as United ran out 5-1 winners on the night, 6-3 on aggregate. The teenager takes to social media afterwards to write: “A dream debut, great to score twice and contribute to the team.”
Three days later, he scores another brace, this time in the Premier League against Arsenal in a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford. The game is also remembered for head coach Louis van Gaal flopping on the touchline in front of the fourth official. “This is my first game in the Premier League, so obviously it’s been amazing,” Rashford told Sky Sports.
“To score two has been a bonus, so hopefully we can carry it on and go again the next game. It was a shock playing midweek as well. But that maybe benefited me because I wasn’t thinking about the game too much. It’s just crazy.”
On March 20, 2016, Rashford becomes the youngest ever goalscorer in the Manchester derby as his goal secures a 1-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. That morning, reports suggest Van Gaal will be replaced by Jose Mourinho in the summer.
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May 2016
Despite leading United to the FA Cup, Van Gaal is sacked and replaced by Mourinho, on May 27. Three days later, Rashford signs a new contract until 2020 after ending his debut campaign with eight goals in 18 appearances.
He is named the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year.
September 2016
Rashford finishes runner-up to Portugal’s Renato Sanches in the Golden Boy.
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May 2017
Started the Europa League final that United won 2-0 vs Ajax. This wrapped up an impressive season for the Reds winning the Europa League, League Cup and Community Shield.
He also played the most matches of any United player that season (53).
October 2017
Rashford finishes third in the Golden Boy behind winner Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
March 2018
On March 10, Rashford makes his first start of the year and scores twice as United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford. Three days later, the Reds crash out of the Champions League against Sevilla and Mourinho is criticised in the media for continuously playing Rashford on the wing, rather than as a centre-forward.
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August 2018
Following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s departure, Rashford is awarded the No.10 shirt on August 5.
September 2018
Having not started all season up to that point, Rashford is told by Jamie Carragher that he might need to leave United. “Romelu Lukaku is in front of Rashford and I don’t see Rashford displacing him as long as he is there,” Carragher tells Sky Sports.
“But remember when Lukaku was at Chelsea and he had to come away and go to Everton. Then he ended up as top scorer and got his move to Man United.
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“Possibly Everton is the sort of club you are looking at, just below the top six, for someone like Rashford, similar to what Lukaku did. Does he have to leave United? I think so.
“Is he good enough to displace Lukaku? Is Rashford good enough to be Manchester United’s centre-forward for them trying to win the Premier League or the Champions League? He may not be.”
Three days after Carragher’s comments, Mourinho fired back in a press conference on September 14. “People speaking about his minutes, they are a bit confused,” he said.
“Marcus Rashford is not [then Liverpool striker] Dominic Solanke. He’s not [then Chelsea midfielder] Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He’s not [then Everton forward] Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
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“He’s Marcus Rashford, Manchester United player, with an incredible number of appearances and an incredible number of minutes played at the highest level in the best possible competitions.”
December 2018
On December 18, Mourinho is sacked by United and replaced, initially on an interim basis, by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Four days later, Rashford scores inside three minutes as Solskjaer wins his first match in charge 5-1 against Cardiff City.
Rashford continues his good form leading to praise from Solskjaer on December 30, 2018. “Marcus has been different class since I came,” he told Sky Sports.
“He’s scored two now in three. His work rate is unbelievable.
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“He closes down, chases, runs in behind, and the skill for the first goal for Paul [Pogba]… the first thing, he holds the ball up, he hasn’t got the right to get past them. He’s got all the chances in the world, the potential of being a top, top, top striker.”
March 2019
Rashford scores his first competitive penalty for United as the Reds seal a stunning 3–1 win in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain. This sends the club through to the quarter-final on the away goals rule.
July 2019
Rashford signs a new contract on July 1, keeping him to the club until June 2023. There is an option to add a further year to the deal.
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April 2020
On April 21, Rashford sheds light on the tough time he had under Mourinho. “It was tough but I think when you look back on it in five or six years, they’re the moments that give you that mental toughness,” he told the Utd Podcast.
“As an all-round player I’ve improved a lot and a lot of it is down to those two years under Jose. We had ups and downs. When I look back at it, it was a tough period but definitely a period that made me a better player.”
October 2020
Rashford scores his first United hat-trick in a 5-0 Champions League win vs RB Leipzig. Only the second hat-trick ever scored by a United substitute with the first being scored by his manager Solskjaer in 1999.
February 2021
He makes his 250th appearance vs West Ham. Rashford becomes the fourth youngest player to reach that milestone for United.
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October 2021
Following Euro 2020, Rashford undergoes shoulder surgery and only returns to football on October 11. When he does come back, it takes some time for his form to return.
November 2021
Solskjaer is sacked on November 21 after a humbling defeat at Watford. Ralf Rangnick is appointed interim manager until the end of the season. He notably warns United they need ‘open heart surgery’ to return to their past glory.
July 2022
Erik ten Hag is appointed Solskjaer’s successor.
December 2022
After a good start to the season, Rashford’s contract is extended by a further year on December 20. However, on New Year’s Eve he is dropped for the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers after oversleeping and missing the team briefing.
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Rashford shrugs that off to come on and score the winner in a 1-0 victory at Molineux.
May 2023
Rashford scores his 30th goal of the season against Chelsea on May 25. A couple of days later, Ten Hag said: “There’s a lot of room for improvement in his game.
“I’m convinced he could score even more. I think when you take, for instance, the last 10 games, he didn’t score so many goals. I think only two or three.
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“We supported him where we could, with the way of play but also in his mental mindset, so we are happy with that. But, yeah, we have to push for more and I am sure he’s capable to score 40 goals in a season, to make also for him the next step.”
At the end of the season, he was voted by the club’s supporters and playing squad as the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year.
July 2023
He signs another new contract that expires in 2028 and makes him one of the highest earners at the club.
January 2024
Rashford calls in sick for the FA Cup clash against Newport County on January 28. Earlier that week he had been spotted on a night out in Belfast.
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“Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions,” a United statement read. “This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed.”
October 2024
Ten Hag is sacked by United and is soon replaced by Ruben Amorim.
November 2024
On November 24, Rashford starts and scores during Amorim’s first game but United draw 1-1 with Ipswich Town.
December 2024
During the Europa League clash with Viktoria Plzen, Rashford is replaced on 56 minutes. Three days later, on December 15, Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are not picked in the matchday squad to face Manchester City.
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United win and before and after the game, Amorim insists no disciplinary issues are taking place. Rashford then speaks to journalist Henry Winter, two days after the Manchester derby.
He expresses his disappointment at not playing and suggests he is ready for a ‘new challenge’. He is subsequently dropped and does not play for United for the remainder of December.
January 2025
After not playing in January, Rashford is brought up in a press conference at Fulham. “It’s always the same reason – the training, the way I see a footballer should do in life. It’s every day, every detail,” Amorim responded when asked about the forward.
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“If things don’t change, I will not change. It’s the same situation for every player, if you do the maximum and right things we can use every player.
“You can see on the bench we miss a bit of pace on the bench, but I would put [United’s 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge] Vital before a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day.” United insist afterwards that Amorim was making a broader point and not singling out Rashford in particular.
February 2025
Rashford joins Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season. An option to buy is included in the deal, priced at £40m.
July 2025
Villa do not sign Rashford permanently at the end of the season and the forward becomes part of a so-called ‘Bomb Squad’ at Carrington. On July 23, United agree a loan deal with Barcelona which includes a £26m option to buy.
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June 2026
On Monday, June 15, Barca allow the £26m clause to buy Rashford, to expire. Instead, they purchase Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.
As things stand, United’s preferred option is to sell Rashford permanently.
Harry Kane and Dan Burn were among the England players who attended a concert of US country music star Ella Langley, but had to leave early to make their curfew.
Defender Burn said that captain Kane, who scored twice in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in their opening World Cup match, is a “big country music fan”.
The England players were given a day off by manager Thomas Tuchel on Friday and Kane, Burn and goalkeeper Jason Steele used the opportunity to watch Langley in Independence, Missouri.
Langley is best known for her hit Choosin’ Texas, which hit the top of the US charts and has reached number 12 in the UK.
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“We got asked to go and watch Ella Langley. I was the only person suited and booted with cowboy hat, jeans, the lot,” said Newcastle United’s Burn.
“Harry and Steeley managed to meet Ella before the gig, but I turned up a little bit later.
“But we missed the last three songs because we had to be back for curfew, which I was a bit gutted about because those are her best ones.”
He added: “Harry is a big country music fan. There’s a record player in the hotel and when it’s the captain’s pick a lot of it is country music.
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“Ella was playing in West Palm Beach when we were there, but we weren’t able to go because we wouldn’t have got back for curfew so I’m glad we got another opportunity.”
Kane later posted pictures from the concert on Instagram, one showing him stood next to Langley who is holding an England shirt.
“Great to meet you @ellalangleymusic, thank you for having us!” he wrote.
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