A Chinese activist was detained in South Korea after crossing more than 300km of open sea in a rubber boat, spending nearly 30 hours sailing in a fourth attempt to flee the country and reunite with his family in Canada.

Dong Guangping, 68, a former police officer who was previously jailed for his activism, was spotted 38 nautical miles off the South Korean coast on Monday evening by a fishing boat, which then alerted the coast guard.

He had left from China‘s eastern Shandong province on a 3.3-metre boat with a 10 horsepower motor.

In a statement on Wednesday, the South Korean coast guard confirmed that a Chinese man in his 60s had been arrested and was being questioned on suspicion of immigration law violations, according to Reuters.

Mr Dong was fired from the police force in 1999 after co-signing a letter marking the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy protests. He was then imprisoned for three years in 2001 for “inciting subversion of state power” and arrested again in 2014 for participating in another Tiananmen commemoration.

This is at least his fourth attempt to leave China. In 2015, he fled to Thailand with his wife and daughter, where the family was granted refugee status by the UN. While his wife and daughter were able to travel to Canada, Mr Dong was deported back to China. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison and released in 2019.

That same year, he tried to swim to Kinmen, an island controlled by Taiwan a few kilometres off China’s eastern coast, but was reportedly picked up by Chinese fishermen and handed to police.

In 2020, he crossed into Vietnam and lived there for two years before being detained and deported. He was released in October 2023 after serving 11 months for illegal border crossing.

“For more than a decade, he has never ceased striving for liberty and reunion with his family,” Human Rights in China, a rights group in New York, said in a statement. “That a man nearing seventy years old was driven to cross open seas in a small inflatable boat is itself a devastating indictment of the human rights situation in China.”

The group urged Seoul to uphold humanitarian principles and not return Mr Dong to China, where it said he faced “a grave risk of persecution and torture”.

A proposal by Belfast’s Deputy Lord Mayor will go to the City Hall Planning Committee

Two Belfast independent councillors are calling for City Hall to adopt a plan making it a requirement for developers to include community food growing procedures in certain planning applications for housing in the city.

Former SDLP elected representatives, the current Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Paul Doherty, and Councillor Paul McCusker have forwarded a motion which will be heard by the Planning Committee next month.

The motion, titled “Embedding Community Food Growing in the Planning Process for New Housing Developments” states the council “recognises Belfast’s status as a Right to Food City and affirms that the planning system has an important role to play in building healthier, more sustainable and more food-resilient communities.”

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The motion says that housing developments should not only provide homes, “but should also contribute to the long-term health, wellbeing, sustainability and resilience of the communities in which they are built.”

A Right to Food city is one that has formally committed to treating access to adequate and nutritious food as a legally protected human right, and believes that citizens should not be dependent on emergency charity.

Such cities in theory should be pushing for governments to be held legally accountable for ensuring citizens do not go hungry. Belfast officially became a Right to Food city in October 2023, following a successful motion at Belfast City Council by Councillor Doherty.

The Doherty motion adds: “The council notes that Belfast’s existing policy framework already recognises the importance of open space, residential amenity, placemaking, biodiversity, climate resilience, health and wellbeing, and council strategies also acknowledge the value of allotments, community gardens and local food growing.”

The proposal tasks council officers with making a report examining how Belfast Council, through its planning processes, could introduce a planning requirement to ensure appropriate space for community food growing in new social and private housing developments.

This would include allotments, community gardens, orchards, raised beds, edible landscaping and other forms of productive green space. The motion states: “This would represent a practical and innovative next step in giving meaning to Belfast’s status as a Right to Food City, placing food resilience, health and community wellbeing at the heart of how our city is planned and developed.”

The Deputy Lord Mayor left the SDLP following a major disagreement over a council vote on a Bobby Sands statue in April this year. Councillor Doherty said it was on a “matter of principle” after SDLP councillors left the chamber before a vote took place on a DUP motion to reopen an investigation into the erection of the statue in West Belfast.

Paul McCusker announced he left the SDLP in March 2023, citing frustration with political progress, particularly regarding his core issues of homelessness, addiction, and poverty. Not long after leaving the party, he successfully retained his council seat as an independent candidate in May 2023.

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Coldwater, which was filmed in Scotland, saw a middle-aged man move to a Scottish village while in the midst of an identity crisis.

Hollywood star Andrew Lincoln, who also played Rick Grimes in 11 seasons of the US horror drama The Walking Dead, played the main character, John.

Lincoln first found fame in BBC drama This Life and has since had starring roles in Teachers and classic film Love Actually.

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ITV drama Coldwater axed by broadcaster after one series

In the six-part crime thriller, John moved his family to the Scottish village of Coldwater to escape London.

After moving to the village, he befriends his new killer neighbour Tommy, who is harbouring horrifying secrets, unbeknownst to John.

His secrets lead to a series of unsettling events.

Ahead of the launch of the show, playwright David Ireland, said: “Coldwater started with a question I was asking myself, where do I want to live?

“The countryside or the city?

“Such an innocent beginning, but from it came this dark, funny, twisted thriller.

“I was delighted when Sister loved the script and thrilled when ITV decided to commission it.

“And I’m amazed we’ve managed to attract such a peerless cast, led by the formidable Andrew Lincoln.

“I hope viewers will find it intoxicating.”

Coldwater starred Andrew Lincoln, Ewen Bremner (pictured), Indira Varma and Eve Myles (Image: ITV)

The series also starred Ewen Bremner as Tommy, Indira Varma as John’s wife Fiona, and Eve Myles as Tommy’s wife Rebecca.

While ITV viewers were able to sit through the first series, there won’t be another as ITV confirms “there are currently no plans for a further series”.

An ITV spokesperson told Newsquest: “We’re hugely proud of Coldwater and everyone involved in making it.

“Whilst there are currently no plans for a further series, we loved bringing this story to screen.”

At the end of the series, viewers saw Tommy disappear, meaning John and his family were frightened as they didn’t know if or when he’d return, reports The Sun.

Almost 3.8 million viewers started watching the series, but viewing figures dropped to 1 million, the newspaper states.

The series was produced by Sister, which has produced Eric, This Is Going To Hurt and Chernobyl.

ITV’s head of drama, Polly Hill, who commissioned the show for the broadcaster, said she was “very excited” to see it on the small screen.

Ahead of the launch, she said: “David’s scripts are wonderful and original and have attracted an incredible cast led by Andrew Lincoln.

“It promises to be a really unmissable drama and I am delighted to be working with Jane Featherstone again and her brilliant team at Sister.”

Where was Coldwater filmed?

Coldwater was filmed in various locations in Scotland, according to Glamour UK.

The show was filmed in locations around Glasgow, Dunlop, and beyond.

A funeral scene was filmed at Dunlop Kirk, with the wake shot at Edmonstone Hall.

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Pollok Country Park in Glasgow features in scenes set in the woods.

Exterior shots of the houses were filmed in a South Lanarkshire town while interiors were shot on specially constructed sets.

John’s therapy sessions were filmed at a house overlooking Loch Lomond, designed to reflect his and Fiona’s dream of an idyllic Scottish lifestyle.

Filming also took place at The Lade Inn, which you can find on the edge of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, including night-time scenes in the pub’s car park.

What’s the best ITV drama you’ve watched? Tell us in the comments below.

Arsenal have a clear priority heading into the summer transfer market after their Premier League triumph was nearly undone by one glaring issue for Mikel Arteta

Sunday’s champagne might still be bubbling – and a Champions League final still awaits – but Arsenal are already turning their attention toward the summer transfer window. After finally being crowned champions of England for the first time since 2004, the Gunners will be determined to ensure their spell at the top is not a short-lived one.

As a result, a number of high-profile arrivals are expected. With a defence widely viewed as their strongest area and a midfield already packed with quality, Arsenal are set to focus on strengthening their attacking options this summer.

Although marquee signing Viktor Gyokeres enjoyed a respectable first season in North London, he has yet to provide the ruthless, relentless edge associated with Europe’s elite sides. Beyond him, the rest of the squad has largely failed to provide enough goals – with Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze the only other Arsenal players to reach double figures this season.

Arsenal ended the season with 71 league goals – the lowest total for a Premier League champion since Leicester’s 68 in 2015/16. Consequently, improving their attacking threat has become a clear priority. Here, Mirror Football explores what Arsenal’s ideal first signing of the summer could be.

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Reports suggest Arsenal are weighing up a £100million move for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez. It’s understood that Alvarez has informed Atletico of his desire to leave and while Barcelona is his preferred destination, Hansi Flick’s side are currently unable to meet their La Liga rivals’ £100m valuation due to financial constraints.

This situation has therefore opened the door for Arsenal, who are keen to bolster their attack with a versatile, high-energy forward. Alvarez, who spent two seasons at Manchester City, is capable of playing as a No. 9, as well as on either flank or in the No. 10 role.

Arsenal have been tracking the Argentina international, 26, for several years, with sporting director Andrea Berta previously overseeing his move to Atletico in 2024. Mikel Arteta is known to favour adaptable, high-intensity forwards and Alvarez fits that profile – combining clinical finishing with relentless pressing ability.

He has scored 20 goals in 49 appearances this season, following a 29-goal debut campaign at the Metropolitano Stadium. A signing of his quality would not only ease the scoring burden on Gyokeres but also add a more complete attacking dimension to Arsenal’s frontline.

However, the Gunners will need to act carefully. A £100m transfer for Alvarez would take up a significant portion of their summer budget and with Arteta also keen to strengthen at left wing, Arsenal may be forced to prioritise certain attacking areas over others.

Players such as Bradley Barcola and Nico Williams have also been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium but – like Alvarez – any deal for either player would likely carry a similar £100m valuation.

With Financial Fair Play still a consideration and multiple areas of the squad under review, Arsenal’s recruitment team will need to strike a careful balance between immediate impact and long-term squad depth.

At the same time, competition for elite attacking talent across Europe remains intense, meaning hesitation could prove costly if rival top clubs enter the race later in the window. And with Alvarez already proven in the Premier League, a move for him would be well worth the price.

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.

Go vegan, ditch the car, avoid air travel. Or forget all that – because it’s corporations and governments that are really to blame. This argument can feel quite paralysing but what if this is the wrong debate to be having?

Our research shows that the most effective approach to climate action is for people to make change within societal systems, not just as consumers. After all, what are systems made of if not people? Harnessing this agency to shape institutions, norms and networks will unlock broader social and structural changes.

We’ve developed a way to help you find your highest-impact actions, based on who you already are and what you can realistically do. It starts with three questions. Which roles do you already occupy? Within those roles, which actions carry the most climate weight? And what’s holding you, or others, back from taking them?

In our new research paper, we focus on five roles identified in previous research that link personal action with the potential for system change: citizen, professional, investor, consumer and role model. Previous work has prioritised a handful of high-impact actions within each role, such as using your vote as a citizen to elect leaders who will make strong climate policies, or by divesting from fossil fuels as an investor.

Climate action goes way beyond consumption. By identifying the most effective actions within your current roles, and overcoming barriers for you and others to take them, you can unlock the potential of your biggest leverage.

Consider a community member: someone who simply lives somewhere and knows their neighbours. They might not think of themselves as a climate changemaker at all. Yet they can organise others to campaign for low-carbon infrastructure, or speak up for those who face risks in being vocal. Or take a hospital procurement officer: by shifting institutional catering towards plant-based options or selecting renewable energy providers, they shape the choices available to dozens or hundreds of colleagues, influencing supply chains and shifting perceptions of what’s normal and doable along the way. And someone who discovers their pension is funding fossil fuels can push their employer to offer ethical options to all staff, not just those who are in a position to ask.

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The framework works at every level of influence, from a community member to a CEO. Those in high-leverage roles have multiplier effects. This happens when an action they take, such as implementing climate into school curricula, can extend well beyond their own choices, in this case by enabling children to have conversations about climate with their friends and at home. However, not everyone has the same responsibility or leverage to act.

In previous work, we showed how inequality constrains many people’s capacity to participate in climate action, whether that’s sustainable investing, protesting, or simply having the resources to make different choices. The same people with the most freedom to act often have the biggest footprints.

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In the UK, one-third of people take more than 80% of all flights, while half the population doesn’t fly at all. Positions of privilege and leverage are not evenly distributed, so different people will have varying levels of influence. But if you are a frequent flyer, taking responsibility might mean recognising your unequal impact on the planet, reducing your flights and advocating for flying to pay its climate costs.

Climate paralysis often comes from feeling powerless in the face of vast systems. But perhaps the most important insight from our work is this: systems are made of people, and people have roles, choices and influence that extend well beyond their shopping habits.

Jack Patrick Tuttle, 30, of Oak Green, Brandon, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on May 25.

Tuttle pleaded guilty to driving a Nissan Juke with more than 800 Benzoylecgonine in his blood on November 13, 2025, exceeding the legal limit.

Tuttle also admitted driving without a valid licence and using the vehicle without third-party insurance on the same date and location.

The court took his guilty pleas into account.

For the drug drive offence, Tuttle received a 17-month driving ban and a £200 fine.

He must also pay £85 in prosecution costs and an £80 surcharge, with deductions to be made from his benefits.

No separate penalties were imposed for the licence and insurance offences.

The proposal for the Greencroft Estate in Lanchester faces several objections from residents, who are concerned about its impact on the local landscape. 

Planning documents submitted to Durham County Council state how the new complex would be built around a central ‘hub’ facility next to the site of the former Greencroft Hall.  

A shop, spa facility, swimming pool, fitness studios, and picnic huts are all proposed.

(Image: True North)

The proposed 140 lodges would be located within separate ‘lodge zones’ around the site and are part of the wider plans for Greencroft Forest Park – a new development for Lanchester Valley and wider County Durham, extending to over 290 hectares. 

True North, the applicant, said more than 160 jobs would be created during the construction phase, leading to 44 permanent roles. If approved, the site would generate up to £2.1 million for the local tourist economy.

A planning statement read: “As a locally led initiative, the wider True North team is committed to delivering a lasting and positive legacy, creating a place that the community can value and take pride in, while enhancing wellbeing and opening up this historic estate to celebrate its heritage. 

“The proposals have been carefully shaped to respect the character and history of the former estate. They will retain and integrate remaining heritage features, enhance existing woodland, and open up access for local communities, while also delivering meaningful ecological improvements.”

But the application has been opposed by 27 objections, raising concerns over flooding, tourism development needs, and transport sustainability. 

Luke Akehurst, MP for North Durham, said: “The proposals would cause significant damage to the character, identity and heritage of the area.”

And recommending the proposal be refused, the local authority’s planning department said: “Whilst the principle of development has the potential to be acceptable, the development as presented would result in moderate to substantial landscape harm.”

Durham County Council’s planning committee will consider the application on Tuesday (June 2).

The entertainment and hospitality destinations in Newcastle, St James’, Seaburn, and Middlesbrough will show screenings of the big games of the World Cup.

With international street food, themed cocktails, and interactive events, Stack is aiming to offer the ultimate World Cup experience.

Mary O’Shea, operations manager at STACK, said: “The World Cup is one of this summer’s most eagerly anticipated events and we wanted to make sure that Stack is at the heart of it.

“Everyone knows our venues as the perfect place to watch sporting events, not only because of the giant HD screens but because of the incredible atmosphere.

“That will certainly be the case when the World Cup takes place and we have lots of other exciting plans up our sleeves which will make it the perfect spot to enjoy all of the sporting action.”

Festivities begin with the opening ceremony and first match on Thursdy, June 11, when Mexico faces South Africa.

Fans will be able to catch the action on big screens while sampling the venues’ diverse international food offerings.

A limited-edition cocktail menu inspired by competing nations will be available, with a twist – once a team is eliminated from the tournament, its namesake cocktail will also be removed from the menu.

The menu will narrow down to just the finalists as the games progress.

Stack is also running an interactive football quiz at all sites, challenging guests to identify the flags of all 48 competing nations.

Every participant will receive a free drinks voucher valid through July and August, and the overall winner will earn a £200 Stack gift card.

Additional plans include live DJs and entertainment during all England matches.

Group bookings for tables and benches are available for parties of eight or more at selected venues.

Stack is also offering corporate packages and private hire options for businesses wanting a more exclusive viewing experience.

Matches will be shown throughout the tournament, including England’s group games on June 17, 23, and 27, all the way through to the final on July 19.

Fans are encouraged to check the Stack website for venue-specific details and to secure a spot for what is expected to be a lively summer of football.

More information is available at stackleisure.com.

Christopher Higgins faced a range of allegations at a misconduct hearing earlier this month

A Northern Irish mental health nurse has been struck off after being found to have sent a naked picture of himself in a bubble bath to a colleague and performed a sex act at work with another.

Christopher Higgins, who was a band 6 mental health nurse at Craigavon Area Hospital, was struck off following a Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practice hearing – during which he faced a number of allegations arising from incidents that took place between mid-2016 and March 2023.

The hearing, which took place between Tuesday, May 5, and Thursday, May 21, was held in Mr Higgins’ absence, as he had not engaged with the NMC regarding it. He faced 11 charges at the hearing, with it finding that six of these were proven.

Mr Higgins was found to have sent an explicit photograph of himself to a colleague, which showed him in a bubble bath holding a glass of wine, with the bubbles being moved in order to show his penis. He later told investigators that he had “no memory” of this, and his actions were influenced by alcohol.

In another incident that was found to be proven, Mr Higgins and a colleague engaged in oral sex in his office and later went on to message the colleague saying that he was “falling in love” and/ or “in a hopeless marriage”. The colleague told the hearing that these messages were unwanted and inappropriate.

They also said the incident involving the sex act in his office left them feeling “disgusted and completely ashamed” and that they did not believe it to be consensual. They said they did not report the incident as the colleague “did not want her mother to know about it”. However, the hearing did not find an allegation of a non-consensual sex act to be proven.

When asked about this incident by investigators, Mr Higgins said there was “no truth in the rumour”, but later said the incident did actually happen.

Other charges, which were found to be proven against the mental health nurse, were incidents where he had made sexual innuendos towards members of staff at the Southern Trust.

Mr Higgins was struck off following the hearing, and pending an appeal, with the panel finding “that Mr Higgins’ actions were significant departures from the standards expected of a registered nurse and are fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the register.

The panel was of the view that the findings in this particular case demonstrate that Mr Higgins’ actions were serious and to allow him to continue practising would not protect the public and would undermine public confidence in the profession and in the NMC as a regulatory body.”

A Trust spokesperson said: “The Trust participated fully in this Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practise Hearing regarding serious breaches of professional standards by a former employee. We will carefully review the NMC written findings. There is no evidence that patient safety was directly affected.

“We are committed to ensuring that any allegations relating to our staff are fully investigated and appropriate disciplinary action is always taken in line with robust governance processes.

There are clear standards of behaviour required of registered nurses and serious breaches of professional standards must be identified and stopped as a priority.

“We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct and to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for both patients and staff.’”

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