The Dutchman, who on Thursday ejected a journalist from his news conference because he was unhappy about a question that was asked at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was behind Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, Williams’ Alex Albon and the Haas of Oliver Bearman.

Earlier in the day, Russell led Antonelli by 0.026secs in the first hour’s session.

And Mercedes’ apparent superiority was underlined on the race-simulation runs late in the second session, with Antonelli leading the way from Russell and no one else within within 0.5secs on average.

Both Ferrari drivers seemed to be struggling for grip. Leclerc suffered some wobbles through the Esses and ran off track at Spoon Curve later on, while Hamilton complained he was “slow because I’ve got no confidence in the car”.

Norris’ early problem was a hydraulics failure, which McLaren fixed after half an hour.

He was far from the only driver to have problems. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad took no part because of a gearbox problem that required a new part, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto spent nearly three-quarters of the session in the garage with an unspecified technical problem.

And Cadillac’s Sergio Perez also missed about half the session while the team repaired floor damage caused by a collision with Albon in the first session.

Fernando Alonso had his first taste of Suzuka this year in the second session, after American reserve driver Jak Crawford drove in the first.

The veteran Spaniard, who arrived late in Japan following the birth of his first child, was 19th fastest, two places and 0.355secs ahead of team-mate Lance Stroll.

Honda F1 boss Koji Watanabe said both performance and reliability should be improved for the company’s home race this weekend.

Watanabe said: “We are focused on how we can improve the situation of vibration, mainly damage to battery area, but also this time for Suzuka we have improved energy management situation for more driving performance.”

Customers will be able to buy Mulino’s “staple” biscotti

An Italian baking duo known for their pop-up restaurant will be opening their first physical bakery soon. Mulino Cambridge Kitchen, run by Sasha Gatti and Chiara Bertoletti, has been providing authentic Italian baked goods for businesses across Cambridgeshire since 2023.

Sasha and Chiara had been working at different bakeries and restaurants before deciding to open their business. Mulino Cambridge Kitchen started at local farmers markets where the pair would sell fresh pasta and produce before it branched out into catering and a pop-up restaurant at Barbarella in Cambridge.

Mr Gatti said: “Recently, we had a very good opportunity come through to move and scale up our production in a bigger site closer to Cambridge and we decided to go with it. Now we will have a bigger place and we have some space for our own shop.”

Mr Gatti said being able to open their own shop feels “amazing” and the pair have been “fantasising” about it for a long time. The shop will start off slowly by being open only one day as week, with Mr Gatti wanting to expand the business if there is demand for it.

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The bakery will feature a range of “staple” products with both sweet and savoury options as well other essential products and cosmetics, subject to planning permission. Customers will be able to buy biscotti, sweet rolls, cookies, cakes, and pizza bread, which will all be homemade.

When asked what products are his favourite, Mr Gatti had a few choices. He said: “My personal favourite product is bread. I love bread but I would recommend the biscotti because I like having them with wine. Some of our biscotti are very good with white or red wine. They’re a bit sweet and the bitterness of the wine complements the sweetness of the biscotti.”

The pair have already received lots of support about the opening of the bakery. Mr Gatti said: “We experienced a very positive response from our public and friends as well. Everyone was very supportive even though the pop-up is ending and we can no longer do that anymore. They were a little bit sad because, at the end of a project, it’s always a little bit sad. But everyone was very supportive and very happy about the new project.”

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Mulino Cambridge Kitchen’s bakery will be open on Saturdays from 9.30am to 2.30pm from mid-April. The bakery can be found at the Running Horse in Burrough Green.

Ewan McKenna, 19, has unveiled soaring first hit ‘Like Us’ and, like his own story, there’s a little bit of magic to it.

An Airdrie teenager who got his big musical break supporting fellow home town singer Nathan Evans at The Hydro has released his debut single.

Ewan McKenna, 19, has unveiled soaring first hit Like Us and, like his own story, there’s a little bit of magic to it.

Bored at home in Airdrie during lockdown, Ewan picked up the guitar his uncle lent him and “mucked about on it ‘til it started sounding alright”.

His family’s considerable vinyl collection gave him plenty of inspiration and, if he got stuck, he’d find performances on YouTube and work out what they were doing by “copying their fingers”.

At 15, Ewan joined a band as lead guitarist and, when the singer left, he stepped up, saying. “I’d never really sung before, but nobody else wanted to do it, so I gave it a bash.

“The more I did it, the more confident I got.”

A stint at music college was “too much like being at school,” so, needing to earn some money, Ewan went around the local pubs seeing if they would give him a gig.

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He added: “If they had a gap when the usual singer was off, they’d give me a try and usually I’d end up getting a regular slot.”

Soon afterwards, he was playing seven gigs a week, three or four hours a night, and posting covers to a growing following on TikTok.

When Ewan heard about a search for a new artist to support Airdrie musician Nathan Evans at Glasgow’s 14,000 capacity Hydro Arena, he was reluctant to enter because “people like me don’t win these things, do they?”

But, of course, he did win and said: “If nobody had filmed it, I don’t think I would believe I was there.”

He’d put the hours in, though, so the crowd got a great show, like he was meant to be on the big stage.

In fact, it helped put Ewan on the shortlist for ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at this year’s Scottish Live Music Awards.

READ MORE: Airdrie to host GeekFest 2026 in aid of Diamonds in the Community charity

Ewan’s first release Like Us shows why there’s such a buzz around his voice and song writing but new fans shouldn’t expect him to over-share about its meaning.

Ewan said: “I try to make my songs as real as possible but what they’re actually about doesn’t really matter.

“Hopefully people can get their own meaning out of them.

“I just want to be able to do this as a job.

“Everyone comes out of school and wants to get a trade or whatever. I’ve found mine and I’ve put a lot into it.

“I don’t want to stop now.”

READ MORE: Duo team up to transform their lives side-by-side and scoop Slimming World award

Ewan is also set to once again support Nathan Evans, and Wishaw’s Saint PHNX Band on their European tour, with dates in Paris and Amsterdam this weekend, April 28 and 29, and three gigs in Germany in August.

You can follow Ewan on TikTok and Instagram, while his single Like Us is available to download or own now.

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Emergency services were called to Forton Services on the M6 in Lancashire after the body of Lancaster University student Michele Chung was sadly found – with an inquest now underway

A university student was tragically found dead at a service station on a busy motorway, a court heard.

Emergency services were called to Forton Services on the M6 in Lancashire on February 19 after the body of Lancaster University student Michele Chung was found. The 21-year-old, who was born in Wales, was a second year earth and environmental science student at the time of her death.

An inquest into Michele’s death was opened and adjourned at Preston Coroners’ Court on Thursday March 26. Area Coroner Emma Mather confirmed that Michele’s body had been identified by Detective Inspector Mark Green using her ID card.

A final inquest is due to be held at Preston Coroners’ Court on June 25 before Area Coroner Kate Bisset, reports Lancashire Live.

In a tribute posted online after Michele’s death, Lancaster University said: “The University deeply regrets to report the death of Earth and Environmental Science student Michele Chung. The University was notified of Michele’s death on Thursday 19 February, and has since sought to reach out to those closest to her to offer direct support.

“Michele was a Lonsdale College member who was in the second year of her degree, having joined Lancaster in 2024, and was also a member of the Pokémon and Doctor Who societies. The cause of Michele’s death has not yet been confirmed. This will be a very difficult time for all who knew her, and the thoughts of the University community are with all her friends and family.”

On Michele’s LinkedIn profile she described herself as “creative and curious”. She wrote: “Throughout my life, I have been interested in the combination of both science and the arts. There is an art in anything and everything we do. I want to help make our planet better for its species, wildlife and people whether that is in air, land or sea or even space.

“This is our planet – Earth we live on and it’s our duty of care to protect where we live. My experiences have taught me the impacts different people have on different environments and vice versa and raising awareness about these impacts and actions we can take are fundamental.

“Our Earth keeps changing for better or for worse. We need to know how our planet will change in the future as well as learning from our past, knowledge which could resolve the biggest environmental issues. There is magic in the environment and the connections between everyone and everything are so full of life which I want to help protect.

“I am currently searching for work experience in the Earth and Environmental Science field. Within this broad sector, I am interested in research in aquatic, marine and glacial life and environments and hydrology. I’m a creative, curious and determined individual who can adapt in new environments and would like to develop my skill set within the Earth and Environmental Science sector.”

Philip Parrish, aged 39, pilfered the items from addresses in the Bromley Cross area on February 6.

Parrish, who is of Pole Street, Tonge Moor, broke into the garage of one property before pinching the bottle of milk from outside another while making off from the scene.

Gaby McGrath, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court on March 24 that he entered the garage of the first property at around 4am on the day in question.

She said: “The occupiers of the address were at home at the time of the burglary.

“They said that the garage door had been locked that evening when they went to bed. CCTV places the defendant in the area, walking towards the address.

“He was caught on Ring doorbell footage at the offence location. He was seen leaving the garage at 4.10am with a bicycle and a bag in hand.”

The stolen bicycle was worth £1400, with a Dewalt drill worth £140 and a ratchet worth £20 also being stolen.

The court heard that the ratchet was recovered, but that the other items were not.

He was then seen on further doorbell footage at 4.29am, “stealing a bottle of milk” from another address nearby.

Parrish was identified by police from the footage and arrested the following day.

At interview he said that he “did not remember the last week”, following “multiple overdoses” of various drugs.

When shown the footage he said: “If it was me, I am sorry.”

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

Parrish pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling and theft at a previous date.

He had 30 previous convictions for 74 offences, many of which were theft-related.

A victim who was in the house when Parrish burgled it said how he felt “spooked and angry” that someone had entered his property, while the person whose milk was stolen said that, while it was of a small monetary value, that “it is the principle” and that “nobody should be able to get away with any theft”.

Defending, Rachael Woods said that he recognises that these were “serious matters”, but described his offending as “pretty unsophisticated”.

She said: “The defendant had relapsed due to a personal crisis, his cousin, who he regarded as a brother, had passed away 10 days previously.”

Ms Woods said it “hit him very hard” and he began using alcohol, diazepam and other drugs, suffering “three overdoses”, before committing the crimes.

But she said that Parrish has been doing “very well” in prison, being substance-free and having a “trusted position” in the kitchen.

Sentencing, Judge Abigail Hudson reflected on how the burglaries were “extremely distressing” to the victims.

She reflected on his “wealth of previous convictions”, saying that the mandatory minimum sentence was triggered, but acknowledged that he was suffering “significant distress” following his bereavement.

Judge Hudson also recognised his relapse into drugs, but said: “The reality is, that relapse made you a danger to those around you and a risk to the general public.”

She said that only custody was appropriate, giving him 29 months imprisonment.

Donald Trump has said the US military will halt attacking Iran’s energy infrastructure for another ten days.

The US president made his announcement in a post on Truth Social, saying that he will pause the destruction of Iran’s energy plants until next month following a request from Tehran.

Trump wrote: ‘As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time.

‘Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media and others, they are going very well.’

The move comes ahead of the one-month mark since the US and Israel started the war in Iran by launching airstrikes in Tehran on February 28.

Iran has not yet publicly responded to Trump’s latest announcement.

But Tehran has offered a response to the US president’s earlier 15-point peace plan.

Tasnim, a news agency with links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that Iran’s conditions include ending ‘aggression and assassination,’ ensuring that the war will not happen again and compensation.

As for the issue of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz causing turmoil to global oil trade, Iran insisted that its sovereignty over the passage is its legal right.

Trump’s latest announcement saw oil prices dip slightly, with Brent crude benchmark reducing by 1.2% to $106.76 per barrel of oil.

Meanwhile, Trump has continued to lash out at US allies despite the tense situation and unhappiness among NATO countries over America’s action in Iran.

The POTUS insulted the UK’s flagship aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, comparing them to ‘toys.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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National Rail said a fault with the signalling system at Darlington has caused the blockage and trains running through the station are affected.

The station serves the East Coast Mainline and regional services which pass through York.

The affected train operators are CrossCountry, York-based LNER, Lumo, York-based Northern and TransPennine Express.

National Rail provides a real-time journey planner for passengers to check before they travel.

The Press will update this breaking story here as we receive more information.

Members of the public are advised of potential disruption in parts of the city

The PSNI has issued a traffic disruption warning for parts of Belfast this weekend due to a number of planned events taking place.

Members of the public are advised of potential traffic disruption in East Belfast and Belfast city centre on Saturday, March 28.

In the city centre, a parade is expected to begin at 12pm, assembling at Writers Square before proceeding along Donegall Street – Royal Avenue – Castle Place – High Street – Victoria Street and Chichester Street, ending at City Hall for a rally.It is expected that the event will have concluded by 2pm.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “There will be a significant police presence in the area to assist with traffic management, however motorists should plan for delays.”

Additionally, a football match is due to take place at the Oval stadium in east Belfast, with kick-off at 3pm.A build-up of traffic is to be expected in the area, both before and after the game.

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Lime bikes – it feels like they are everywhere in London.

But whatever your thoughts about the controversial bikes are, their design is impressive.

Rain or shine, they can take whatever the British weather has in store, and can handle rough riding by cyclists who are not concerned about going over a kerb at full speed.

But even the sturdiest of bikes needs a bit of love every now and again.

Now Metro has been given a peek behind the curtain of one of Lime’s largest depots, where hordes of bikes are unloaded from vans for repairs.

When entering the warehouse, which is like a chocolate factory for cycling fans, you can hear the signature bell ding as an army of mechanics check if the bikes are roadworthy.

After the TLC, replenishment and wash, the aim is to get bikes back on the road the same day, ideally within 24 hours, Imaan, Lime’s senior operations manager, told Metro.

Most of the parts on a Lime bike can be replenished and replaced, including the baskets, which are often full of muck after being turned into mobile bins.

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All Lime’s hardware and software has been designed in-house, meaning it can reclaim, reuse and recycle specific spare parts, Imaan added.

A dedicated team with a specialist background worked to replenish parts like electronics, saddles, and fenders.

‘The fact that we can swap and change different parts and are able to refurbish them really extends the lifespan,’ Imaan said. ‘Each one lasts about five years.’

When asked what happens to bikes that are broken beyond repair, she said parts will recycled but there is a high success rate of being able to use parts again.

Lime said it also has ‘rangers’ who go around boroughs checking on bike presentations on the streets. Lime, like other e-bike rental firms, has been forced to take action after complaints about bad parking blocking pavements.

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Some baskets and fenders had also graffiti scribbled on them, which were removed in the wash outside along with final cosmetics checks and filling up the tyres.

Mechanics working for the Lime contractor running the maintenance are paid the London living wage.

Brooke, who has been a Lime mechanic for a little over a year, checked through a Lime bike with confident moves, including swapping out a broken basket and a phone holder before taking the bike for a test ride.

The chances are that you have never seen Lime bikes being picked up or unloaded from the parking bays.

This is because due to the busy London traffic, the teams typically work at night, Imaan said.

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However, this modus operandi isn’t without issues, and residents in busy areas like Islington have complained about noisy late Lime bike collections. Overnight operations have since been stopped in some areas in the borough, Metro understands.

Lime said it is committed to minimising nighttime disruption, but ‘some overnight operations are essential’ to have bikes charged and ready for commuters.

The e-bike operator announced last week that it will bring the next-generation Lime to the UK. The new bikes, which Metro tested out, have smaller wheels and a lower frame for easier access.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he would sign an order instructing the Homeland Security secretary to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents, while senators worked into early Friday to approve a funding package in hopes of ending a budget impasse that has jammed airports, disrupted travel and imposed financial hardship on workers.

The deal, which the Senate approved unanimously early in the morning without a roll call, would fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, except the immigration enforcement operations that have been central to the standoff. It did not include any of the restraints Democrats demanded as they sought to rein in Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

It next goes to the House, which is expected to consider it Friday.

“We can get at least a lot of the government opened up again and then we’ll go from there,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “Obviously, we’ll still have some work ahead of us.”

But Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the deal could have been reached weeks ago, and vowed that his party would continue fighting to ensure Trump’s immigration enforcement operation “does not get more funding without serious reform.”

With pressure mounting to resolve the 42-day stalemate over Homeland Security funding, the endgame emerged in the final hours before TSA workers miss another paycheck Friday. Trump announced his decision in a social media post saying he wanted to quickly stop the “Chaos at the Airports.”

The White House had floated the extraordinary move of invoking a national emergency to pay the TSA agents, a politically and legally fraught approach. Instead, Trump’s order will pay TSA agents using money from his 2025 tax bill, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss it publicly.

At the same time, senators worked through the night on the package that would fund much of the rest of the department, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Coast Guard, but without funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection.

Airport lines grow as TSA workers endure hardships

The funding shutdown has resulted in travel delays and even warnings of airport closures as TSA workers missing paychecks stop coming to work.

Multiple airports are experiencing greater than 40% callout rates of TSA workers and nearly 500 of its nearly 50,000 transportation security officers have quit during the shutdown. Nationwide on Wednesday, more than 11% of the TSA employees on the schedule missed work, according to DHS. That is more than 3,120 callouts.

Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the union is grateful the TSA workers will be paid, but said Congress must stay in session to pass a deal “that funds DHS, pays all DHS workers, and keeps these vital agencies running.”

At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Melissa Gates said she would not make her flight to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after waiting more than 2½ hours and still not reaching the security checkpoint. She said no other flights were available until Friday.

“I should have just driven, right?” Gates said. “Five hours would have been hilarious next to this.”

A ‘last and final’ offer on the table

Earlier Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced he had given a “last and final” offer to the Democrats.

Thune did not disclose details of the new framework, but he said it picked up from a previous offer over the weekend, before talks with the White House and Democrats had broken off.

“Enough is enough,” he said.

But as senators retreated to privately discuss the new plan, action stalled out.

Democrats argued the GOP proposals have not gone far enough at putting guardrails on officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies who are engaged in the immigration sweeps, particularly after the deaths of two Americans protesting the actions in Minneapolis.

They want federal agents to wear identification, remove their face masks and refrain from conducting raids around schools, churches or other sensitive places. Democrats have also pushed for an end of administrative warrants, insisting that judges sign off before agents search people’s homes or private spaces — something new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said he is open to considering, but senators want to see in writing.

Trump had largely left the issue to Congress, but warned he was ready to take action, threatening to send the National Guard to airports in addition to his deployment of ICE agents who are now checking travelers’ IDs.

“They need to end this shutdown immediately or we’ll have to take drastic measures,” Trump said during a Thursday morning Cabinet meeting.

The GOP’s big tax cuts bill that Trump signed into law last year funneled billions to DHS, including $75 billion for ICE operations, ensuring the immigration officers are still being paid during the shutdown.

Any deal almost certainly needs to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt. Conservative Republicans have panned their own party’s proposals, demanding full funding for immigration operations.

___

Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti, Kevin Freking, Rebecca Santana, Collin Binkley and Ben Finley in Washington, Lekan Oyekanmi in Houston, Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, and Gabriela Aoun Angueira in San Diego contributed to this report.