Chelsea have stepped up interest in ‘one of the best midfielders in the world’ as Enzo Fernandez edges closer to joining Manchester City.

Speculation surrounding Fernandez’s future intensified on Thursday night after the Argentina international was left out of the squad for Chelsea’s Carabao Cup win over Luton Town.

It is no secret that Enzo Maresca wants to reunite with the midfielder, even more so after Ballon d’Or winner Rodri was sold to FC Barcelona.

The Blues set a firm deadline for the Citizens to make a bid for Fernandez, whom they value at £120million, but that has long passed and the player featured off the bench as Xabi Alonso’s side beat Fulham in their Premier League opener last Monday.

Nevertheless, it is widely reported that Chelsea would still be prepared to sell the 25-year-old before deadline day next week – but only if they can bring in a suitable replacement first.

To that end, Foot Mercato claim Alonso is stepping up efforts to sign Lamine Camara, after Chelsea joined Liverpool and Crystal Palace in the race to sign the Senegal international.

Palace have already had a bid rejected for the highly-rated 22-year-old, with Monaco refusing to sell for anything less than €50m (£42.8m).

It is said Alonso has made enquiries about Camara and that the player is open to moving to Stamford Bridge, with all parties pushing to get a deal done over the weekend.

Should they fail, Football.London report there are two other options Chelsea may pursue: England stars Alex Scott and Morgan Gibbs-White.

The west Londoners interest in Scott is well-known but having already seen three bids worth up to £68m rejected by Bournemouth, a transfer this summer seems almost impossible.

Chelsea are one of many clubs keen on Gibbs-White but it is said the Nottingham Forest talisman would only consider leaving the City Ground for a Champions League club.

But if former Chelsea defender and Monaco manager Filipe Luis is to be believed, Camara is the player Alonso should sign.

The former Brazil international recently heaped praise on his young star, calling him: ‘One of the best midfielders in the world.

‘Of everything I’ve seen, there’s one player who has caught my eye: Lamine Camara. I’ve never seen anything like it from him in my 20-year career.

‘He’s a player of a very different kind from anything I’ve seen so far. His ability to manage things on the pitch and his concentration. He has a level that is way, way above average.’

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The Met Office has issued the warning for the borough and other parts of Greater Manchester.

The warning is in place from 12pm until 9pm on Friday, August 28.

There is a chance of rain in Bolton until 2pm, when conditions become dry and remain that way throughout the day.

The warning covers parts of northern England, Wales, central England and eastern England.

And those travelling are urged to check the forecast.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop during the afternoon and evening.

Some areas will miss the heaviest rain, but other places could see repeated downpours.

Rainfall of 10 to 20mm could fall in a short period in some locations. Up to 30 to 40mm is possible where storms pass over the same area more than once.

Lightning and hail are also possible, with the Met Office saying storms could lead to disruption and flooding in some places.

The warning, graded yellow, has a medium likelihood and a low impact. It was issued at 9am on Friday, August 28.

The Met Office said driving conditions could be affected by spray, standing water and hail.

This could lead to longer journey times for people travelling by car or bus.

Delays to train services are also possible.

Flooding could affect some homes and businesses, with damage to buildings or other structures possible.

Lightning strikes could damage a small number of buildings and structures.

There is also a chance of short-term power cuts and the loss of other services.

People who are outside during a storm are advised to find a safe enclosed shelter, such as a car, if they hear thunder.

They should not shelter under or near trees, or close to other structures which could be struck by lightning.

Anyone on high ground should move to lower ground.

Residents in areas at risk of flash flooding are advised to consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.

The Met Office also advises people to check road conditions before driving.

Those using buses or trains should check timetables and consider changing their travel plans if needed.

People are advised to prepare for possible power cuts by gathering torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.

The weather warning could change quickly, and residents are being advised to keep checking the forecast.

Another day, another round of benefits bashing from the British Right as Reform UK announces plans to make already difficult-to-claim sickness and disability benefits available only to “severe cases”.

It’s hard to say which is more perverse: their desire to divide the working from the non-working – when of course any working person can lose their job, get sick or become disabled – or the fact that Reform and their friends in the Tory party persist with the idea that there are enough jobs out there for people to do even if they were well enough to do them.

The latest data shows there are 1.77 million healthy, able-bodied unemployed people competing for just 705,000 job vacancies.

They claim the lowest unemployment benefit in Europe and can be subject to benefits sanctions, which have killed scores of people already, including people starving to death.

What does Robert Jenrick expect all the sick and disabled people they plan to “get back to work” to do?

That they think they can get away with this is due to a campaign of relentless lying and demonisation by the Right-wing media over many decades; the failure of the supposedly impartial TV media to present the facts; and the sad reality that many British people lap up all the misinformation and don’t think these policies will ever affect them or their family and friends as evidenced by Michael Albin’s letter about food banks.

With ever-rising food price inflation and threats to the food supply itself, the grave consequences of this nasty politics will be on all those who supported it.

Henry Gordon

For me, that’s fajitas.

At least once a week, sometimes twice, I’ll fry off chicken, peppers, and onions before wrapping them in a tortilla.

It’s one of my favourite meals, so when Carrs Pasties unveiled its latest limited-edition creation for the Bolton Food and Drink Festival, I knew I had to give it a try.

As a regular Carrs customer who’s slowly but surely building up points on the bakery’s loyalty scheme, I didn’t need much convincing.

The bakery’s latest special is a Chicken Fajita Pasty, described as a “spicy sensation” and filled with tender pieces of chicken, red pepper and onion in fajita seasoning, wrapped in golden shortcrust pastry and topped with cheddar cheese.

It’s the latest in a line of festival specials from Carrs, which has created limited-edition pasties for the Bolton Food and Drink Festival for several years.

With the festival returning this weekend, it felt only right to make this my first food purchase of the event.

And it’s a very good effort.

One of the biggest dangers with themed pasties is that they can end up tasting like a regular pasty with a fancy name slapped on the wrapper.

This definitely doesn’t.

From the first bite, it’s unmistakably fajita-inspired.

The chicken fajita pasty from Carrs Pasties launched today for the Bolton Food and Drink Festival (Image: Newsquest)

The chicken is nice and tender, just as advertised, while the seasoning delivers exactly what you’d hope for from a good fajita mix.

There’s plenty of flavour throughout and a nice kick without becoming overwhelming.

The red pepper and onion help recreate that familiar fajita taste and, as someone who probably eats more fajitas than any reasonable person should, I’d say Carrs has got it spot on.

What really won me over, though, was the pastry.

The addition of cheddar cheese baked onto the top might sound like a small detail, but it’s probably my favourite part of the whole thing.

It adds an extra layer of flavour and makes the pasty feel genuinely different from the standard options on offer.

In truth, I’d happily eat another one.

However, there is one thing giving me pause.

The chicken fajita pasty from Carrs Pasties launched today for the Bolton Food and Drink Festival (Image: Newsquest)

The price.

The Chicken Fajita Pasty costs £3.45 and, while that might not sound outrageous, the reaction I got when I returned to the office suggested otherwise.

Every person I told let out some variation of: “How much?”

The collective gasp was almost as memorable as the pasty itself.

Now, I appreciate there are reasons behind it.

It’s a limited-edition special.

Time and effort have gone into developing the recipe.

Carrs also has a major presence at the festival in Victoria Square.

But when your usual order is a meat and potato or a steak pasty, both around 50p cheaper, it becomes much harder to justify making the switch regularly.

That’s the challenge this pasty faces.

The flavour is there.

The quality is there.

The originality is there.

The value, I’m not quite so convinced about.

That shouldn’t take away from what Carrs has achieved here, though.

Creating a pasty that genuinely tastes like a fajita is harder than it sounds, and they’ve managed to pull it off without sacrificing what makes a pasty enjoyable in the first place.

It’s packed with flavour, the chicken is excellent, and the cheesy crust is inspired.

Most importantly, it feels like a local bakery trying something creative and different.

And I’d much rather spend my money supporting a Bolton institution than handing it over to one of the big national chains.

In fact, having recently tried Greggs’ much-hyped katsu chicken curry bake, I’d say Carrs’ festival special leaves it firmly in the shade.

Is the Chicken Fajita Pasty worth trying?

Absolutely.

Will I buy another one before the festival ends?

Probably.

Will it replace my beloved meat and potato or steak as my regular order?

At £3.45, probably not.

But for a limited-edition festival treat, it’s a spicy little success.

Sunderland face a glamour trip to AC Milan in their first European season in 52 years, while Bournemouth will host the Italian giants at the Vitality Stadium on their Europe League debut. Crystal Palace face Lyon while Celtic play fellow European champions Benfica in the Europa League league phase.

Bournemouth, who finished sixth in the Premier League last season, will welcome Ruben Amorim’s Milan to the south coast and also travel to Real Sociedad. The Cherries also face Viktoria Plzen, Sparta Prague, Sturm Graz, Celta, Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Lillestrom.

Sunderland’s fans are rewarded with a trip to the San Siro as the Black Cats return to European competition for the first time since 1973-74. After finishing seventh in the Premier League last season, Sunderland also play AZ Alkmaar, GNK Dinamo, Anderlecht, Jagiellonia, Lech Poznan, Levski Sofia and Torreense.

Crystal Palace, Conference League winners last season, host Real Sociedad and travel to Lyon, while also playing Sparta Prague, Red Bull Salzburg, Lech Poznan, Jagiellonia, Hoffenheim and Besiktas, in Istanbul.

Celtic host Marseille, after their painful defeat in Champions League play-offs, and will travel to Lisbon, the scene of their 1967 European Cup victory, to face Benfica. Martin O’Neill’s side also take on Ferencvaros, Union SG, Celta, Omonia, Besiktas and Torreense.

Follow along for all the updates from the Europa League draw with our live blog below:

A traditional Ugandan ruler named as the world’s youngest monarch has died aged 34, his prime minster announced.

Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV became king of Tooro in western Uganda at just three years old in 1995 after the death of his father.

The Toroo kingdom did not disclose the cause of King Oyo’s death, but a Ugandan government minister was quoted in local media saying that he had been critically ill and was seeking treatment in the US.

Though Uganda is governed by an elected president, it has several traditional kingdoms which continue to have significant cultural influence despite not having political power.

Oyo, who Guinness World Records listed as the world’s youngest reigning monarch, external, ruled over more than two million people. He was the 13th monarch of a kingdom that was founded in the early 19th Century.

Announcing his death on Thursday, Tooro’s Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki called his passing an “immeasurable loss” to the royal family and the people of Tooro.

“I call upon all the people of Tooro to remain united, calm and prayerful during this profoundly difficult time,” Akiiki said on Friday. “May His Majesty the King rest in eternal peace.”

The Tooro Kingdom follows a hereditary system in selecting its monarch.

Oyo was not officially married, but Akiiki said “the continuity of the Crown is assured”.

“His Majesty leaves behind a Prince as his heir, whose identity will be formally revealed at the appropriate time, in accordance with the traditions and customs of Tooro Kingdom,” he explained.

When he became king in 1995 a regency, including the queen mother, was established until Oyo turned 18 when there was an official coronation.

The young king was well respected by his people and according to a report in the Daily Monitor newspaper he promoted causes such as youth empowerment, education and climate conservation, as well as HIV/Aids awareness.

The country’s largest and most influential traditional institution, the Buganda Kingdom, said it mourned with the people of Tooro following the death of their monarch, labelling him a valuable figure to Uganda.

By MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL)

Published: 12:13 BST, 28 August 2026 | Updated: 12:24 BST, 28 August 2026

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Published: 12:00 BST, 28 August 2026 | Updated: 12:00 BST, 28 August 2026

The director of the CIA flew to Moscow to warn Russia they need to cut a deal with Ukraine before their military and economic situation worsens. 

On Tuesday it was reported that John Ratcliffe made a secret flight amid frenzied speculation about why a US military plane landed in Russia. 

Current and former officials have now said Mr Ratcliffe went to deliver the warning to Aleksandr Bortnikov, head of Russia’s FSB intelligence service, but made no threats about potential consequences should Russian president Vladimir Putin ignore the CIA’s assessment.

The CIA has long questioned whether Putin‘s advisers give him the whole truth about the invasion’s trajectory and toll on the country. 

The American agency has also held lines of communication open with both the FSB and Russia’s foreign intelligence service, the SVR, for many years. 

Separately, Donald Trump‘s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, have established communication channels with some of Putin’s senior advisers.

Officials told the New York Times that Putin, himself a former intelligence official, would take the warning seriously if it came from the CIA director. 

Before Mr Ratcliffe spoke with his Ukrainian counterparts before he met Bortnikov in Moscow, assuring them he would not be making concessions on behalf of the Ukrainians. 

The flight Ratcliffe made was highly secretive

John Ratcliffe made a secretive flight to Moscow earlier this week and delivered the warning to the FSB

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The last year has seen Russia’s advance on Ukrainian territory grind to all but a halt. It was initially believed by many that Russia’s victory over Ukraine was inevitable. 

But Kremlin forces have suffered huge losses, with little to show for it. 

Last month, Mr Ratcliffe warned that the average life expectancy of a Russian soldier was as little as 20 minutes.  

Speaking at the Defence and Innovation Summit in Pennsylvania, the CIA’s director said: ‘That’s because AI-powered drones have gotten to be such specialised, low-cost killing machines.’

AI drones account for more than 80 per cent of destroyed Russian targets, according to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

To date, about two million soldiers have been killed, wounded or are missing since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, 1.4 million of them Russian, according to a recent estimate by the Centre for Strategic & International Studies.

Neither side releases military casualty data.

Russia’s troops have struggled to advance this year along the 745-mile front line as Ukraine’s drones counter Russia’s numerical advantage in troops. 

A drone attack early on Friday killed one man in Kherson, hours after authorities urged residents to leave as intensifying Russian attacks on the southern Ukrainian city risk cutting power supplies ahead of the long winter.

Russian forces are positioned on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River, which borders the city briefly occupied by Moscow in 2022, making it particularly vulnerable to shelling.

A C-17 Globemaster, believed to be carrying CIA Director John Ratcliffe, lands near Riga, Latvia, August 25, 2026

Further from the front line, Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has been particularly targeted this summer

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The drone attack early on Friday in Kherson’s Korabelnyi district killed a 61-year-old man who was taken to hospital with a ‘penetrating chest wound’, Yaroslav Shanko, the head of the Kherson city administration, said.

Three others wounded were taken to hospital in the Dniprovsky district.

The attack came after regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin on Thursday urged residents of Kherson, ‘especially families with children and elderly people,’ to ‘please leave’.

Mr Prokudin said there was an ‘extremely difficult security situation’ in the city, which had about 280,000 inhabitants before the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022. It was occupied by Russian forces from March to November of that year.

‘The enemy is intensifying its attacks every day on the region’s critical infrastructure,’ he said, adding that on Wednesday ‘Russian forces again attacked Kherson’s district heating plant with glide bombs’.

The facility ‘sustained very serious damage,’ he said, adding that Kherson may find itself ‘without electricity or heating not for hours or days but for a long period’.

Ukrainian stocks of interceptor missiles have also started to dwindle.

‘There is no way to destroy these types of drones or aerial bombs in any region of our country,’ he said.

Cars burn as firefighters try to put out a fire following a Russian drone attack in Kyiv region, Ukraine, Friday, August 28, 2026

Last winter, Russia repeatedly targeted Ukrainian power plants, plunging millions of people into cold and darkness

Aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 27, 2026

Firefighters work at the site of a warehouse hit by a late evening Russian air strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine, in this handout picture released August 28, 2026

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Last winter, Russia repeatedly targeted Ukrainian power plants, plunging millions of people into cold and darkness.

Mr Zelensky warned earlier this month that Ukraine had ‘virtually no intact thermal power plants’.

Russia and Ukraine have for several months been ramping up their long-range strikes, increasingly targeting civilian infrastructure such as logistics warehouses and oil and port facilities.

These attacks are causing a rising number of civilian casualties.

Further from the front line, Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has been particularly targeted this summer.

On Thursday, the capital spent nearly 15 hours under air raid alert due to repeated drone attacks, according to local authorities.

This ‘shows another way Russia is using its weapons to disrupt civilian life’, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in response, warning that Moscow ‘continues to choose terror and war’.

In the face of Russian bombardments, Mr Zelensky has consistently appealed to allies for new air defence systems.

While Ukraine has in recent days received fresh promises of military aid from European countries, including France, it primarily relies on advanced US Patriot systems to protect its airspace.

Deliveries of these missiles have sharply decreased, however, as US stockpiles depleted because of the Middle East war.

Smoke rises at the site of a Russian drone strike on a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, 28 August 2026

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike on a shopping mall in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 27 August 2026

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People watch the smoke rising over a logistics centre in Kolpino, outside Saint Petersburg after being hit by Ukrainian drones early on August 23, 2026

Four-and-a-half years after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, negotiations, briefly undertaken with US mediation to end the conflict, are at a standstill.

Russian chief of general staff Valery Gerasimov has nonetheless visited troops fighting on the Ukrainian front to congratulate them on their ‘successes’ in the eastern Donetsk region.

During the visit he said the Russian army was now only a few kilometres from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, cities whose capture is a key objective for the Kremlin.

MINISO launched its latest store at 40 Coney Street, York, drawing crowds from 10am ahead of a 12pm opening.

The global lifestyle and pop culture retailer, founded in China in 2013, is known for its affordable, design-led products and fun, family-friendly shopping experience.

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It sells homeware, beauty items, stationery, toys, and licensed merchandise featuring characters from Hello Kitty, Disney, Pokémon, and Star Wars.

The store is located in the former Luxe Company premises.

Employees Cailan Hobson, Emmie Rudland and Quinn Holmes joined colleagues in last-minute preparations ahead of the 12pm opening today. 12 staff will be employed in all at the store in Coney Street (Image: Kevin Glenton)

A MINISO spokesperson said the lucky first 200 customers through the doors spending £5 or more would be offered a free goody-bag worth £25.

The grand opening will also feature a display of balloon modelling and visit from PenPen, the company mascot.

Vivian Leadley, who lives near Acomb, queued outside the store with her daughters and grandchildren.

She said: “I’m sure I’ll be spending over a fiver with these three (her grandchildren) to qualify for the goody-bag.”

Vivian Leadley, with her daughter Bethany Richardson and grandchildren Lilly, Meila and Charlie were amongst the first in the queues forming outside MINISO in Coney Street (Image: Kevin Glenton)

The shop is filled with colourful collectables and lifestyle products.

It features cuddly versions of PenPen, one of the brand’s best-selling items, along with its popular blind boxes, “a mystery collectible that keeps the excitement alive until the very moment you open it”.

Nicholas Wallis, franchise area manager, said the new store will employ 12 members of staff and took around four months to prepare.

MINISO opened its new store in Coney Street, York at 12pm today (Friday, August 28) (Image: Kevin Glenton)

He said the team were excited to be bringing their particular brand of pop culture to the city.

The store will open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, and 10 to 5.30pm on Sundays.

Miniso has been present in the UK for six years and is focusing on refreshing some of its outlets in 2026.

The retailer aims to create a “fun, family-friendly destination that blends value with entertainment.”

Since launching in 2013, Miniso has grown to more than 6,000 stores globally.