A Cambodian man deported by the US to the African kingdom of Eswatini under the Donald Trump administration’s third-country programme was released on Wednesday to be repatriated, his lawyer said.
The man spent five months in detention at a maximum-security prison with other deportees.
Pheap Rom was deported to the southern African nation in October and held at the Matsapha Correctional Centre.
After his release, he took a commercial flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, to start his journey to Cambodia, his US-based lawyer Tin Thanh Nguyen told the Associated Press.
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The US has sent 19 migrants from other countries to Eswatini in three batches since July. Mr Rom is the second to be repatriated after a Jamaican man was flown home in September.
When Mr Rom and a group of nine other shackled deportees arrived in Eswatini on 6 October, they were greeted by 20 or 30 military personnel wearing masks and carrying machine guns surrounding the private jet.
None of the detainees knew where they were going, though some felt hopeful they would be freed after finishing their prison sentences. Mr Rom had finished his 15-year prison sentence in the US for attempted murder.
As they departed the airport and veered into a rural road, panic set in. “They pulled into the dirt road and you see nothing but dirt road. I was like, oh, yeah, they’re definitely going to kill us and just dump us on this dirt road,” Mr Rom, 43, said during a phone interview while he was still detained in Eswatini last week.
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Instead, they were escorted into Matsapha Correctional Centre, a maximum-security prison, where the men would be detained, without any charges, and kept apart from inmates convicted of murder, terrorism, robbery and other crimes committed in that country.
The first two months were the hardest, Mr Rom said. Inmates were woken up at 7.30am, allowed 15 minutes outdoors, and were inside their cells at 5.30pm.
Phone use was permitted once a week and limited to 10 or 15 minutes. “And that once a week they will sit right there and listen to your conversation and then they will write down what you’re talking about in a book that they have, in the logbook that they had,” he said, referring to the guards.
If families were asleep, working or didn’t have WhatsApp, they were unable to call again for another week. Under those conditions, it was difficult to reach attorneys.
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A report released by the Senate Foreign Committee Relations estimated it cost about $413,000 to deport a person from the US to Eswatini.
Despite the expense, Mr Rom described impoverished conditions at the prison.
Inmates received one roll of toilet paper and a bar of soap per week.
Meals were often meatless. For breakfast, inmates received either porridge or a piece of bread with tea, Mr Rom said. For lunch and dinner, they received a scoop of rice and vegetable broth or a side of beans. Some days they received chicken, but often if they wanted protein, they had to buy boiled eggs, chicken or beef platters from the commissary.
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Conditions improved in the last three months of Mr Rom’s detention. Outdoor time was increased and inmates had access to the internet and cellphones to make international calls to family, friends and lawyers.
Mr Rom’s family moved to the US as refugees when he was a child and later became lawful permanent residents. Mr Rom lost his legal status during removal proceedings and was ordered deported. Though he has not lived in Cambodia, he said he was still excited to go there and be free.
“I hope that my repatriation sets a path for their repatriation, because these guys are still human beings, fathers, sons, uncles and they deserve due process,” Mr Rom said.
Mr Trump has taken a hard-line stance on immigration and the US has deported around 300 migrants to countries they have no ties with under the third-country programme, according to a report compiled by Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Lawyers have criticized the programme as unlawful.
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The US has struck deals with at least seven African nations to take some of those migrants. The US paid Eswatini $5.1 million to take up to 160 deportees, according to details of the deal released by the US State Department. While Eswatini’s government has previously said the migrants are there in “transit” on their way home, the deal allows them to be held in Eswatini for up to a year.
Mr Rom served a 15-year prison sentence in the US for attempted murder and was released in late 2024, Mr Nguyen said, adding in a statement that Mr Rom being held at the prison in Eswatini for five months was unlawful because he faced no criminal charges in the African country.
“Rom’s release proves what we have argued from the beginning. These third-country deportations are unnecessary and unlawful,” he said.
The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security have defended third-country deportations as a means to quickly remove people who are in the US illegally. Many of the deportees sent to Eswatini were convicted of serious crimes and had completed their sentences in the US.
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But lawyers say sending migrants to countries they have no ties with is a tactic by the administration to bypass US immigration laws and denies the deportees their rights, including a fundamental principle that anyone being detained should be able to challenge it in court. Third-country deportations have been the subject of several legal cases, both in the US and in some countries where migrants are sent.
Last year, the US Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to go ahead with third-country deportations. In February, a US federal judge ruled that the policy was unlawful because it didn’t give migrants notice of where they were being sent or an opportunity to challenge their deportations. An appeals court lifted that order this month.
The deportations have been the subject of two legal challenges in Eswatini, which is ruled by a king and is one of the last absolute monarchies in the world. An Eswatini lawyer acting on behalf of deportees being held at the Matsapha prison — where Mr Rom was also held — says he has been denied access to them and has sued the government.
In a separate case, local advocacy groups have challenged the legality of Eswatini holding foreign nationals for months in a prison.
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The Trump administration’s choice of African countries to strike deportation deals with and pay money to is also under scrutiny. It includes nations with notoriously repressive governments and sketchy human rights records such as Eswatini, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea.
Eswatini’s King Mswati III has long been accused of clamping down on pro-democracy movements, sometimes violently.
The US has sent more than two dozen deportees to Equatorial Guinea, a small, authoritarian state in West Africa ruled by the same president since 1979 and where the government is accused of being one of the most corrupt in the world.
Democrats in the US have questioned the Trump administration over a $7.5 million payment it made to the government of Equatorial Guinea.
The DWP has confirmed early payment dates for benefits including Universal Credit and State Pension ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend in April 2026
Chris Ballinger Executive Editor and Ashlea Hickin Content editor
03:50, 26 Mar 2026
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced the early date when certain claimants will receive payments ahead of the four-day Easter bank holiday weekend. With Easter Sunday falling on April 5 this year, any payments due on Good Friday, April 3 or Easter Monday, April 6 will instead be brought forward to Thursday, April 2.
The DWP has additionally confirmed Jobcentre Plus offices and telephone services will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday, resuming normal operations on Tuesday,April 7. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed the same with payments scheduled for Good Friday or Easter Monday being issued on the Thursday.
It’s important to remember that if your next payment isn’t due on either of the Easter bank holiday dates, it will be paid as normal.
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Below is a full list of all DWP and HMRC payments that could be affected by the Easter bank holiday weekend. If your benefit or payment doesn’t appear on the list, it won’t be impacted by the Easter bank holiday weekend, reports MyLondon.
DWP payment date changes over Easter bank holiday
Payments scheduled for Good Friday, April 3 or Easter Monday, April 6 for the benefits listed below will all be made early on Thursday, April 2.
Payments brought forward:
Attendance Allowance
Carer’s Allowance
Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
Income Support
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Pension Credit
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
State Pension
Universal Credit
HMRC payment date changes over Easter bank holiday
Payments scheduled for Good Friday, April 3 or Easter Monday, April 6 for the benefits listed below will also be made early on Thursday, April 2.
The footballer has been convicted of speeding after a camera caught him in an Audi RS3
09:21, 26 Mar 2026Updated 09:22, 26 Mar 2026
Former Manchester United footballer Alejandro Garnacho was caught speeding away from the training ground just days before he left the club.
The 21-year-old winger, who moved to Chelsea for £40 million, was caught driving an Audi RS3 at 50mph in a 40mph zone as he left United’s training ground in Carrington. A speed camera was triggered amid the incident on August 26, just four days before he left the club.
Garnacho has since admitted, through his lawyers, to speeding. At Liverpool Magistrates’ Court he issued an apology and confessed he was ’embarrassed’ by it, the Mirror reports.
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He was handed a £660 fine, with an order to pay £120 in costs and a £264 victim surcharge. Magistrate Jane Haynes also handed down three points on his licence.
His lawyers at JMW Solicitors said: “Mr Garnacho accepts that he committed the offence of exceeding the speed limit and has pleaded guilty to the offence. Mr Garnacho explains this was an oversight on his part and apologises for the offence.
“Our client is embarrassed that he is currently in this position and apologises to the Court for the excess speed offence.”
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Garnacho was also charged with failing to respond to a Greater Manchester Police letter about the offence when he was asked to identify the driver of his car in October last year, but that was withdrawn after his guilty plea. The Chelsea star was convicted and sentenced in a hearing conducted last week behind closed doors under the Single Justice Procedure.
The date of the speeding offence came four days before he quit United. His exit had been expected after he fell out of favour with then head coach Ruben Amorim.
Since moving to Chelsea the Argentine has made 36 appearances scoring seven goals. 21 of his appearances have come as a starter with the rest off the bench.
HBO’s new Harry Potter series has been given a release window with a first trailer revealing the star-studded cast
Lucas Hill-Paul Content Editor
09:16, 26 Mar 2026
HBO’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has finally been given a new trailer leaving countless fans excited to see the fresh interpretation of JK Rowling’s bestselling books.
Starring Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, the series portrays the Boy Who Lived’s thrilling first year at Hogwarts.
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The new trailer has also offered fans their initial glimpses at the star-studded supporting cast, including Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid and John Lithgow as Professor Albus Dumbledore.
It dropped yesterday (Wednesday, 25th March) in time to coincide with the exciting launch of HBO Max in the UK, where fans can stream some of the most critically acclaimed US dramas. But when will the first season of Harry Potter be added to the platform? Let’s examine what we know, reports the Mirror.
A specific premiere date is not currently known but the trailer confirms a release window of Christmas 2026. This could suggest a premiere for the first episode on Christmas Day, though it also means the series could arrive any time in mid-to-late December.
The first season of Harry Potter, officially titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will consist of eight episodes.
Earlier reports seemed to suggest a 2027 release date for the first series, so fans were delighted to discover the highly anticipated fantasy series will be arriving sooner than expected. A logline for the programme reads: “There is nothing special about Harry Potter – at least that’s what his Aunt Petunia always says.
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“On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic. But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past.”
Alongside the trailer, HBO has also unveiled some enchanting new stills of the cast, which also features Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, and Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres Christmas 2026 on HBO Max.
Maura Higgins has reportedly had her say on ex Pete Wick kissing his pal Olivia Attwood and the Irish star had a brutal response
09:06, 26 Mar 2026Updated 09:06, 26 Mar 2026
Maura Higgins has been catching up with the news her ex Pete Wicks has shared a kiss with her ‘nemesis’ Olivia Attwood. A romance between Love Islander Maura, 35, and TOWIE’s Pete, 37, come to an end last year after a series of stormy rows, before they ever went public.
And now, sources close to the Irish beauty have said her ex growing closer to his pal is no surprise to her. Insiders says she had her suspicions during their time together and that Pete’s actions are “vindication” that her gut was right about him at the time.
But in a brutal response, she is said to have said Olivia can “have my sloppy seconds”. The insider added: “Maura is living her best life right now – she’s cracked America, Pete Wicks is the last thing on her mind.
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Speaking to The Sun, the source went on: “But she couldn’t resist a dig about how he took Olivia to the same place he took her. In her words, ‘That says it all’.”
Maura publicly called time on her spell with Pete as she left a Valentine’s dinner with friends at London’s Sheesh restaurant last year. When she was asked where Pete was, she bluntly replied: “Dunno. Probably out cheating.”
While Maura and Olivia are said to have bad blood in the past, with Olivia’s camp accusing Maura of trying to ‘copy’ her career. Both ladies have been trying to make waves in America after signing with the same agency Align PR.
Now it seems Olivia is going after Maura’s ex after her split from footballer Bradley Dack following less than three years of marriage. The sports star’s apparent actions are said to have led to the pair’s demise.
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The footballer has been called out by her friends, who said his alleged cheating sparked the toxic split that is playing out in public.
And on Tuesday, amid her love life drama, Olivia, 34, posted a defiant selfie to Instagram and wrote: “And reading ‘hey girly’ texts on my break, gals come to the front today please and then I’m moving on with my life ty x.”
According to Urban Dictionary, if a text reads “hey girly” it is a “text you receive or send about a man cheating”.
It comes as pals told The Sun: “She [Olivia] was trying to respect their ten-year relationship by staying quiet, but her friends are bemused as to how Bradley is the one who caused all this, and Liv was still trying to protect him.”
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But following images of Olivia and Pete’s kiss, sources close to Bradley say he is “livid”. Speaking to The Sun, a source claimed the footballer is “embarrassed” but “not surprised”.
“Bradley is livid, he’s not surprised at all but is completely embarrassed and upset,” they said. “He can’t believe Olivia has moved on so publicly and they’ve not even signed the divorce papers.
“Bradley was hopeful for a reunion with Olivia but after this, he’s just livid and will take her to the cleaners. She has been in the depths of a really horrible break-up and Pete has helped her through it. He’s suspected things for the past year but she’s always denied it.”
This comes with a trial scheme running nine self-contained pods for some of the borough’s most vulnerable homeless people to sleep in ending.
The trial period ran between November last year to March 31 with Bolton Council saying that they managed to achieve their main objective in keeping rough sleepers safe over the winter.
Council cabinet member for adults and community housing Cllr Sean Fielding said: “I’m delighted that the Sleeper Pods have proved a safe haven for some of our most vulnerable people this winter, giving them renewed hope and a ‘stepping stone’ to rebuild their lives.
“There are far too many people that are homeless, and it can affect people from all backgrounds, especially those at risk of a sudden loss of income, rising inflation, relationship breakdowns, and domestic abuse.
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The pods include self contained living spaces (Image: Billa Ahmed)
“However, Bolton is always on hand to provide targeted help in accessing shelter and accommodation when needed, helping people get back on track as quickly as possible.
“We are also working with landlords and owners of empty properties to offer them practical support, security and reassurance to provide more affordable housing for Bolton people in need.”
The nine self-contained sleeper pods were installed on a former car park at Higher Bridge Street and Topp Way, with 24-hour security and wraparound support in the site.
The scheme supported the council’s statutory obligation under the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol to protect vulnerable people during the coldest months.
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The pods were designed as safe alternatives to rough sleeping, and to show that living independently in a secure, private, self-contained place is a real goal.
The council says that people staying in the pods have given testimonies saying: “It’s the first time I’ve been properly warm in years”.
Others have described them as “luxury in a box”, “a Godsend”, “life-changing”.
The council says it will be carrying out a final assessment of the scheme this summer and that this will inform its plans and decisions in the future.
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They say that they are working to make sure that no one returns to living on the streets.
The council says people who have stayed in the pods have either moved into more permanent accommodation or are in the process of transferring to more specialist settings.
To do this the council has linked up with other specialist support organisations including the homeless nursing team, social workers, mental health, substance use and other agencies.
Together they say they have been continuing to provide support to the residents with the help they need after leaving the pods.
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The council says any decision on whether to reintroduce a Sleeper Pod scheme next Winter will be made after full review and discussions with these partners.
The council says Bolton’s ultimate aim is to tackle the causes of homelessness and stop it arising in the first place, and the pods are one of several initiatives in place to support this.
Nicole Carroll and Fiona Harris, from Hays Travel in Motherwell, abseiled off it earlier this month to raise money for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland. They were joined by Nicole’s friend, Jennifer Wilson, and Fiona’s partner, Jim Woods.
A pair of Motherwell travel agents have raised £1,590 for a Spina Bifida charity after abseiling off the Falkirk Wheel.
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The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in central Scotland, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.
Nicole Carroll and Fiona Harris, from Hays Travel in Motherwell, abseiled off it earlier this month to raise money for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland.
They were joined by Nicole’s friend, Jennifer Wilson, and Fiona’s partner, Jim Woods.
This is the second year that Hays Travel Motherwell have supported the charity, last year organising a fundraising ladies afternoon tea and raising £1,800. This year, they got a bit more adventurous with an abseil!
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Motherwell Hays Travel assistant manager, Nicole Carroll, said: “We chose this charity as it’s very close to our family. My husband has Spina Bifida, and his mum has been actively involved with the charity for over 30 years.
“It was important to us to support an organisation that does so much for families and creates a real sense of community and support.”
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland offer information, one-to-one support and groups for children and adults with Spina Bifida.
Andrew Flynn, of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, said: “The biggest thank you to our amazing abseilers who raised vital funds for SBH Scotland – you were all brilliant – together we really are unstoppable!
“If you want to take part in 2027, email fundraising@sbhscotland.org.uk.”
Hays Travel is the UK’s largest independent travel agent, with branches across the UK – all committed to supporting their customers and the local communities they serve.
Each Hays Travel branch is provided with a £500 budget to use for fundraising and charity work in their local area; £200 of this is to be used to fundraise for charities which support young people’s mental health, and the other £300 can be used for charities chosen by the branch.
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In the last year, Hays Travel’s Local Community Partnership initiative across its retail network has donated almost £170,000 to local charities.
The Iran war has deflected global attention from Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor Ukraine as Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II enters its fifth year and an emboldened Kremlin undertakes a spring offensive.
The past week showed that neither side is easing up. Russia on Tuesday fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukraine in one of the war’s biggest bombardments. The following day Ukraine launched almost 400 drones in the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea.
Ukraine’s fate is still Europe’s top foreign policy issue, fueled by fears that Moscow has wider ambitions. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has wound down talks with Russian and Ukrainian delegations as the Iran war grips its attention. The administration has warned it could turn its back on the conflict if peace efforts come to nothing.
Russian takes in billions after US eases oil sanctions
Only weeks ago, the Russian economy was starting to feel the pinch of sanctions. But Russia is now raking in billions of dollars from a temporary U.S. waiver on oil sanctions against Moscow. The measure taken earlier this month aims to free up Russian oil cargo stranded at sea and ease supply shortages caused by the Middle East conflict.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the U.S. move was “ not the right decision ” because it will further enable Russia’s military campaign.
American Patriot air-defense missiles have been moved from Europe toward the Middle East as Washington redirects resources to its war on Iran. Zelenskyy warned that Kyiv will “definitely” face shortages of Patriot systems because of the war against Iran.
The U.S. produces 60 to 65 missiles per month, or about 700 to 800 missiles per year, Zelenskyy said. “And on the first day in the Middle East war, 803 missiles were used,” he said.
Aiming to secure some geopolitical leverage, Ukraine offered its battle-tested technology to help Gulf states fend off Iranian drones. In return, Ukraine wants more of the high-end air-defense missiles that Gulf countries possess and which Kyiv needs to stop Russia’s missiles. Zelenskyy also made Ukrainian drone interceptors available to the U.S.
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Ukraine desperately needs money, too. A promised 90-billion-euro ($104-billion) loan from the European Union to fund Ukraine’s armed forces and its war-shattered economy for the next two years is being held up by Hungary.
Fighting on the front line escalates as weather improves
After a winter of relative calm on the front line, Russia is gearing up for the summer fighting season as fields dry out.
Russian forces are in an early phase of a spring offensive, assaulting Ukraine’s eastern so-called Fortress Belt of cities, said Elina Beketova of the Center for European Policy Analysis, a Washington-based think tank.
“Over the past weeks, the Russians have intensified pressure on the battlefield and in the air,” she told The Associated Press. In Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, Ukraine’s industrial heartland long coveted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the situation is “critical,” she said, though Ukrainian troops say they are holding firm.
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“Russia is trying, on the tactical level, some new approaches” with mechanized infantry and armor in its offensive, according to Robert Murrett, a retired vice admiral in the U.S. Navy who is deputy director of Syracuse University’s Institute for Security Policy and Law.
Fierce fighting is taking place along the roughly 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) front line snaking along eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said this week.
Moscow’s forces have made only incremental gains across rural areas. Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine. That includes the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014.
Russian war bloggers expect a new Moscow effort to create more footholds in the southern Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. That would pave the way for a possible push toward those regions’ capital cities, which are key industrial hubs.
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The Russian tactic is to surround and then choke cities while bombing them to rubble.
Russia bombards civilian areas, Ukraine targets Moscow’s war machine
More than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the war, according to the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
For its part, Ukraine has developed long-range drones and missiles to hit targets in rear areas that keep Moscow’s war machine going. The targets have included oil refineries, chemical plants, ammunition depots and military logistics hubs up to 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) from Ukraine.
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US-led talks are on ice and making little progress
Washington’s peace efforts are largely on hold while the White House is “totally distracted by Iran,” Murrett said.
Months of U.S.-mediated talks between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv have produced no breakthrough on the knottiest problems, such as who keeps Ukrainian territory and how to prevent future Russian invasions.
Russia has rejected Ukraine’s offer of a ceasefire. European leaders have accused Putin of stalling in peace efforts while his army tries to capture more Ukrainian land.
The Kremlin has “never come off (its) maximalist demands” for a settlement, and it would take “overwhelming” Western military and financial support for Ukraine for Putin to back down, Murrett said.
St Mary’s Cockerton CE Primary School, on Newton Lane in Cockerton, has been shut to pupils today (Thursday, March 26) following the incident overnight.
The burst pipe has caused a “significant flood” in the school, with the site saying it has had to turn off the water until the issue is resolved.
Darlington Borough Council confirmed the early closure in an email.
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It is not yet known when the school will reopen, with parents told to expect updates soon.
The school said: “Following a significant flood due to a burst pipe in school overnight, school will not be open today as we have had to turn the water off until we can resolve the issue.
“We will provide updates as soon as we can. Please pass this message on.
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“Apologies for the inconvenience this will cause.”
Emmerdale star Lisa Riley, who is best known for her role as Mandy Dingle in the ITV soap, shared snaps of herself with her arm in a sling after suffering a ‘very bad fall’
08:24, 26 Mar 2026Updated 08:28, 26 Mar 2026
Emmerdale’sLisa Riley has revealed her hospital dash after suffering a ‘very bad fall’ over the weekend.
The Mandy Dingle actress, 49, shared snaps of herself in hospital to share the news with her followers on Instagram last night. One image saw Lisa, who recently broke down in tears over the death of her pal, wearing a hospital gown and smiling next to a surgeon while the other showed Lisa’s arm in a sling while she wore a black top and trousers along with a red hoodie.
Lisa then explained that she had suffered a bad fall on a breakfast stool which caused her to injure the UCL in her thumb (Ulnar Collateral Ligament), which required her to undergo surgery. An injury to the UCL in the thumb usually means the ligament is torn and requires four to six weeks in a splint for a partial tear, however complete tears require surgery.
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As she posted the photos on her Instagram story, she gushed over the NHS and the specialist surgeon who treated her. Lisa wrote: “OUR NHS @nhsengland IS INCREDIBLE…” Lisa added a trio of yellow heart emojis before continuing: “I have to massively thank my specialist surgeon Mr Daniel Thornton at LGI LEEDS hospital and all the beautiful team, every since one of you who treated me this afternoon – I had a very bad fall over the weekend (no I’m sober) no drunk jokes – it was my extremely slippy breakfast stool and a woollen cardi – my left thumb took all of it – so today hence the massive damage I have had my operation, surgery, treating my UCL in my Thumb repaired.”
She continued: “”£NHS at it’s absolute best – bye for now I have some fantastic pain relief to take #surgery #leeds #hospital #thumb”. Lisa also shared the post on her main Instagram grid, in which she was flooded with well wishes from her followers.
Scarlett Moffatt wrote: “Sending love chick xxxx”. While Steph McGovern added: “Oh no!! Sending love xx”. Meanwhile fans also chimed in as one wrote: “Oh no!!! Hope you feel better soon!! (least you get out of washing up! )Xx”. Another added: “Get well soon lovely xxx”. And a third said: “Oh no hope you heal quickly and your pain is manageable”.
Lisa rose to fame on Emmerdale in 1995, when she first took on the role of Mandy Dingle. She’s remained a stalwart on the ITV soap since.
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She took part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here in 2025, which saw her voted out in a double elimination. During her time in the camp, she lost 1.5st, which she admitted caused chaos for the soap.
With the dramatic weight loss, the star was aided by the costume department who began lining her outfits before she appeared on set. Lisa told The Sun: “I am wearing layers and layers on set.
“I like Mandy to be curvy. I am embracing it. Because it has been freezing cold when we are outside in the village filming, I have had two hot water bottles on my bum. So, Mandy’s bum might look bigger when people tune in on Tuesday, too.” She added: “I am proud of how much weight I lost on I’m A Celebrity. I feel amazing.” Her update comes after Lisa previously told The Mirror that she began losing weight long before she joined the I’m A Celeb cast after ditching alcohol.
Jeremy Savory, also known as the Millionaire Migrant, has left Dubai after 18 years citing school holiday changes as a major reason alongside geopolitical concerns in the Middle East
Matt Jackson Trendswatch Content Editor
08:19, 26 Mar 2026
A British man has shared his reasons for leaving Dubai – and it’s not due to the conflict in the Middle East. Jeremy Savory, known on the internet as the Millionaire Migrant, swapped life in Southwest London for Dubai at the age of 28. Over the past twenty years, he claims to have visited over 100 countries and established a property empire while residing in the Gulf city.
However, in a YouTube video, he disclosed that he has now departed from the region, reports the Mirror. This comes as warfare persists in the Middle East, with US President Donald Trump accusing Iran of being “afraid” of peace negotiations. The United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, stated it continues to intercept Israeli drones flying over its airspace.
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Jeremy has advised those living in Dubai to ensure they stay “ahead of any geopolitical turmoil” in the area. In a video, he stated: “You’ll have seen in the news, a lot of scary stuff, particularly on Saturday morning, we had already decided to make a move on Friday.”
Jeremy, who assists affluent businesspeople in relocating, says a significant factor in his decision to move was the rescheduling of the school holidays by a week. He elaborated: “I love a holiday as much as the next man and I couldn’t wait to have an extra week’s holiday, there’s no way I’m staying in a house with two hyperactive little boys.”
He revealed his family are considering relocating to a country in Eastern Europe or Central Asia. He added: “If we were to set roots down, the tax situation, there’s a lot of countries that people don’t talk about much, [like] Paraguay, Andorra, Cyprus, yeah, people often talk about Cyprus.
“Albania is quite attractive, Poland, Japan has an incentive for you for residing there tax free and the wife’s favourite place is Japan. What a place to live with your kids, it would be fantastic.”
Jeremy told viewers he had a family holiday arranged and was concerned he “wouldn’t be able to catch a plane” because of the conflict. He said: “They said, ‘No, you either come or push it to another time of year’, which was not really a convenient time for us.”
The businessman explained his mum is also having to relocate from the UAE. He said it’s “not the best place” because she is deaf so couldn’t hear the explosions. He does, however, maintain an optimistic view for Dubai, believing many people will come back once the conflict subsides. He compared the current situation to the 2008 financial crisis, when there was a “mini exodus” of residents departing.
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However, he maintains “everything will get back to normal at some point” with many people ultimately returning. Earlier this week, Trump claimed there had been “very good and productive conversations” about ending the war in the Middle East. Tehran refuted the allegations, with one military official stating the Americans had been “negotiating with themselves”. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi even dismissed the concept of peace talks, rejecting Trump’s 15-point plan.
He stated: “Trump’s words are lies and should not be paid attention to.” The politician informed state media that “different ideas” had been presented to the nation’s leadership. In other news, two individuals were reportedly killed in Abu Dhabi after being struck by debris falling from a missile post-interception. Three additional people were injured during the incident, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all non-essential travel to the United Arab Emirates. It said: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption. Stay away from areas around security or military facilities and US or Israeli facilities and institutions. Iran continues to strike civilian infrastructure across the region such as ports, hotels, roads, bridges, energy facilities, financial institutions, oil production sites, water systems, and airports.”
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If you do have to travel to the UAE, it recomends travelling during daylight hours. It added: “Always let friends or family know where you are and when you are travelling, and keep your mobile phone with you and charged. If you are away from your home or hotel, and an attack occurs or you receive an alert from the official UAE warning system, seek shelter in the closest building immediately.”
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