Samsung is discontinuing its proprietary messaging application, Samsung Messages, directing users to Google Messages instead.

The tech giant announced the end of service for its namesake app, effective July, via an end-of-service notice published on its U.S. support website.

Owners of Samsung smartphones and other devices are being advised to transition to Google Messages “to maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android.”

All Samsung Galaxy phones operate on Google’s Android operating system. To make the switch, Samsung’s website provides instructions: users should download the Google Messages app from the Play Store if it’s not already installed and then set it as their default messaging application. Some users may also receive an in-app notification to guide them through this process.

Samsung says switching to Google Messages will give users access to updates like the latest artificial intelligence features from Google’s Gemini — which includes an experimental feature called “Remix” to generate images during conversations and AI-powered reply suggestions — and the ability to share higher quality photos between Android and Apple iOS devices through RCS-enabled messages.

Users of older Android operating systems (dating back to Android 11 or older) will not be impacted by the end of Samsung Messages, the company noted. To check what Android OS you have on a Samsung device, open the settings app, click on “software information” and scroll to “Android version.”

Meanwhile, owners of Samsung’s latest Galaxy 26 lineup and other newer phones cannot download the Samsung Messages app from the Galaxy Store today.

All devices will no longer be able to download Samsung Messages after it’s officially discontinued in July, the company noted. Samsung said users can check their app for the exact date for when service will go offline.

Beyond the U.S., Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for further information about whether its guidance for Samsung Messages was the same globally.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, on Monday won a Supreme Court order that is expected to lead to the dismissal of his criminal conviction for refusing to testify to Congress.

Prodded by the Trump administration, the justices threw out an appellate ruling upholding Bannon’s conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by a mob of Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol.

The move frees a trial judge to act on the Republican administration’s pending request to dismiss Bannon’s conviction and indictment “in the interests of justice.”

The dismissal would be largely symbolic. Bannon served a four-month prison term after a jury convicted him of contempt of Congress in 2022. A federal appeals court in Washington had upheld the conviction.

The justices also issued a similar order in the case of former Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, who was pardoned by Trump last year.

Sittenfeld had served 16 months in federal prison after a jury convicted him of bribery and attempted extortion in 2022. The high court order allows a lower court to consider dismissing his indictment.

The Justice Department brought the case against Bannon during Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency, but it changed course after Trump took office again last year.

Bannon had initially argued that his testimony was protected by Trump’s claim of executive privilege. But the House panel and the Justice Department contended such a claim was dubious because Trump had fired Bannon from the White House in 2017 and Bannon was thus a private citizen when he was consulting with the then-president in the run-up to the Capitol riot.

Bannon separately has pleaded guilty in a New York state court to defrauding donors to a private effort to build a wall on the U.S. southern border, as part of a plea deal that allowed him to avoid jail time. That conviction is unaffected by the Supreme Court action.

Now 23, the North Yorkshire man is urging families to open their doors to children who need the same warmth, stability and belonging he found with his foster carers.

Ashley spent 13 years in foster care from the age of eight, and says the support he received changed his life — inspiring him to help others find the same sense of family he was given.

Ashley says he is “one of the lucky ones”, thanks to the stability and love he received with his final foster parents Diane and Stuart Kelly from Harrogate.

Although Ashley lived with them for only four years, he describes the home as “like a family” and he remains in close contact with them even today.

In fact, in his spare time he helps care for their current children when they go away, acting as a connected carer.

Ashley with his final foster parents Diane and Stuart Kelly from Harrogate (Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL)

Ashley said: “They offered a warm and loving home where I felt belonged.

“Diane and Stuart have done a lot for me emotionally and financially too.

“They loaned me money to buy my first car which was a huge help.

“However, the most impactful thing they did was love me as their own.

“Feeling accepted and at home is what helps build trust.”

The Harrogate couple fostered Ashley for four years.

Though he lived with three families during his time in care, he credits Diane and Stuart for giving him a true sense of belonging.

He remains close to them and now helps look after their current children when they are away.

Ashley said: “Carers need to be willing to adjust to the child and the situation.

“Truly caring and treating a young person as part of the family makes all the difference.”

Now living in York, he works in business support within social care and is studying children, young people and society at university.

He hopes to become a social worker.

Janet Sanderson, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for children and families, said: “We are incredibly proud of Ashley and everything he has achieved.

“His resilience, determination and commitment to improving the lives of others is truly inspiring.”

As of September last year, along with families of local foster carers, North Yorkshire Council provided loving homes for 438 children and there is an urgent need for more local foster families to come forward.

The scheme, Fostering North Yorkshire, is open to single people, couples, renters, and homeowners from all backgrounds.

The spin-off of the main I’m A Celebrity show serves as an all-stars version of the programme featuring previous contestants.

It first aired back in 2023, with it reportedly being made as a backup in case the main I’m A Celebrity show couldn’t film in Australia due to potential Covid restrictions.

ITV had filmed two series of I’m A Celeb in Wales to counteract this initially, but there hadn’t been a great desire to do it again.

An insider told The Mirror at the time: “This is a brilliant reserve plan in case Covid restrictions come round again in the Autumn and the cast and crew can’t get Down Under, as has happened for the past two years.

“There is no appetite to go back to Wales.

“It was great while it lasted but it’s just too dark and damp.

“Everyone’s had enough, including the viewers.”

Filming for the first South Africa series took place in July 2022, with it being broadcast in April and May of 2023.

Like the first series, the 2026 version is also pre-recorded, having been filmed in September 2025.

However, unlike last time, the finale will be live.

Rather than making the 12-hour flight back to Africa, the entire celebrity cast will instead gather in a UK studio.

From here, the public will be able to vote to crown this year’s I’m a Celebrity Legend.

What time is I’m A Celeb South Africa on TV tonight?

The first episode of I’m A Celebrity South Africa’s second series will air from 9pm on ITV1 and ITVx on Monday, April 6.

The bumper opening episode will last until 10.30pm, which will be slightly longer than most regular episodes.

A synopsis for the opening episode states: “Ant and Dec host as memorable campmates from past series of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! compete against one another in the South African jungle.

“They survived the Australian jungle or the Welsh castle, but this is an even harder proposition that will push them to their limits and test them like never before.”

I’m A Celebrity South Africa lineup 2026

The line-up for I’m A Celebrity South Africa’s second series is:

• Former football manager Harry Redknapp
• Reality star Gemma Collins
• Soap actress Beverley Callard
• Olympian Sir Mo Farah
• Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt
• Champion boxer David Haye
• Actor Adam Thomas
• Former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts
• Comedian Seann Walsh
• Pop star Sinitta
• Red Dwarf star Craig Charles
• Ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard

Scarlett Moffatt and Harry Redknapp performed the best on the original show out of the contestants, winning their respective series in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

Other strong performers from the original show include Ashley Roberts, who was runner-up in 2012.

Meanwhile, Adam Thomas earned third place in 2016, which was the same placing David Haye got in 2012.

Mo Farah and Seann Walsh came in fifth place in 2020 and 2022, respectively.

Recommended reading:

When will I’m A Celeb South Africa be on TV?

I’m A Celebrity South Africa will air on weekdays between Monday, April 6 and Friday, April 24.

In most circumstances, episodes will start at 9pm with finish times varying.

Alongside that, episodes will not be airing on weekends.

Will you be watching I’m A Celeb South Africa? Let us know in the comments.

Police asked local residents and business owners to close their windows and doors as there is a substantial amount of smoke in the air

A fire has broken out in 700 tonnes of scrap metal at an industrial estate in Derry.

Emergency services attended the scene at the Campsie Industrial Estate, Clooney Road, Derry.

A spokesperson for Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said they received a call about the fire at a recycling site at 2.58pm on Monday.

“Six fire appliances are now in attendance from Crescent Link, Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney and Maghera fire stations, with water tenders from Dungiven and Pomeroy fire stations, and a command support unit from Strabane fire station,” they said.

“The fire is in approximately 700 to 800 tonnes of scrap metal.

“Fifty one firefighters are currently working to bring the fire under control and prevent escalation.”

Police asked local residents and business owners to close their windows and doors as there is a substantial amount of smoke in the air.

To ensure you don’t miss out on all the latest from Belfast Live, be sure to make us your preferred source on Google.

Rachael Maskell also said the rapper should be dropped from the line-up of Wireless Festival in London after antisemitic remarks voiced by West in recent years.

West has previously apologised for the remarks, saying his bipolar disorder led him to fall into “a four-month-long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life”.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was “deeply concerning” that West had been booked to perform at Wireless “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”. The prime minister said antisemitism “in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears”.

West, who has been condemned for antisemitism, is set to top the bill for all three nights of Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park in July.

Wireless Festival has been approached for comment.

Pepsi and Diageo withdrew their sponsorship of the festival after West was announced as the headline act.

The musician, who has not performed in the UK since he headlined Glastonbury in 2015, has drawn widespread criticism in recent years after he began voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler.

Last year, he released a song called Heil Hitler, a few months after advertising a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.

West, also known as Ye, has been barred from X over antisemitism on multiple occasions.

Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central (Image: UK Parliament/PA Wire)

Ms Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We cannot allow these performers to have a platform, and that’s why it’s absolutely right that the prime minister has said that that festival, the Wireless festival, should cancel that performer.

“But also he should not be allowed to come to our country to perform in the light of the antisemitic comments that he has made and recorded.”

Recommended reading:

The prime minister joined criticism of the music festival over the weekend, telling the Sun on Sunday: “It is deeply concerning Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.

“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.”

The Home Office referred to the prime minister’s statement, saying the government shared the same position on the matter.

Meanwhile, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) also called for the government to ban West from entering the UK to perform at Wireless.

“The government can ban anyone from entering the UK who is not a citizen and whose presence would ‘not be conducive to the public good’,” CAA said in a post on social media. “Surely this is a clear case.”

In January, West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to apologise, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.”

“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it said. “I love Jewish people.”

In his letter, West said his bipolar disorder led him to fall into “a four-month-long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life”.

Plumes of smoke have been seen in the Monks Cross area next to the stadium on Monday afternoon (April 6).

Six fire engines and police were seen responding to the incident which happened as thousands of fans packed the LNER Community Stadium for York City’s match with Altrincham.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been approached for comment.

Firefighters at the Stoneacre garage in Jockey Lane on Monday afternoon (Image: Gabriel Ramsey)

An eyewitness said the fire reportedly happened at the Stoneacre garage in Jockey Lane and had been extinguished by 6pm.

Fire engines and a police van were parked outside the garage on Monday afternoon.

Smoke seen above the LNER Community Stadium in York on Monday afternoon (Image: Jackson Sykes)

Jackson Sykes, who was watching the match, said he looked up to see black smoke in the sky around the 90th minute of the game, which York City won 2-1 after a dramatic goal in extra time.

The 18-year-old York City fan, from near Thirsk, said he passed fire engines heading towards the smoke while driving home.

He described seeing the smoke after York City’s victory as “quite exciting” but said: “I wasn’t able to see what was burning.”

Jackson said he could not smell burning despite seeing the black smoke.

If you want to break free of Amsterdam’s infamous party scene, there’s a more chilled-out alternative to the hedonistic Dutch capital.

Let the record show that I’m an Amsterdam girlie through and through. Many a happy weekend has been spent wandering its picture-perfect canals, indulging in sugary stroopwafel and tracking down a decent happy hour.

For anyone who has been on a stag do in Amsterdam, you know the drill. Try to find a cheap bar, load up on beer, wander the canals looking for clubs, party hard into the night, wake up with a deathly hangover and repeat.

It’s gloriously hedonistic, and I’m glad I spent some of my best backpacking years hanging out with Dutch pals in one of the world’s most exciting cities.

However, now I’m old and tired, I can’t face the stupidly late nights, emerging bleary-eyed in the morning, trying to hunt down coffee for less than 5 euros.

If, like me, you want to break free of the Dam’s blowout cycle, there’s a more chilled-out alternative to the party-hard Dutch capital.

Amsterdam is renowned for its historic canals, vibrant nightlife, and cultural attractions, and has long been a top tourist destination, welcoming up to 20 million tourists a year.

Its immense popularity has led to overcrowding, prompting the local government to take steps to manage mass tourism and address issues related to unruly visitors.

As a result, many travellers are seeking city break alternatives that offer similar Dutch charm without the crowds and high prices.

Utrecht, the fourth-largest city in the Netherlands, is fast emerging as a cheaper and less crowded alternative to party-hard Amsterdam and is easily reached by plane and train from Cardiff.

Advertisement

KLM operates daily flights from Cardiff Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, with an average flight time of 1 hour and 15 minutes.

From Schiphol, trains to Utrecht take about 30 minutes and depart every 15 minutes, and the railway station is situated directly below the airport. Gotta love those excellent European rail links.

Just a short hop from Amsterdam, Utrecht shares many similarities with the capital. It’s often called ‘Mini Amsterdam’ due to its pretty canals and well-preserved traditional Dutch architecture. It has all the beauty of Amsterdam but just a fraction of the crowds and, to some extent, the cost.

Here’s my guide on skipping Amsterdam this summer and heading to uber-cool Utrecht instead. Make sure to also follow me on TikTok for more travel recommendations.

Skip the crowds

As a predominantly university city, Utrecht has far fewer clog shops and less heavy tourist traffic than Amsterdam, making it a more pleasant place to visit, especially during the busy high season.

By contrast, the historic streets of Amsterdam are rammed with snap-happy tourists buying stroopwafels, posing at landmarks, clogging up canal walkways, and wandering into bike lanes.

In uber-cool Utrecht, however, you’ll find locals biking and walking around the compact centre and canals, and you can hear the expressive Dutch language all around you, with its guttural ‘g’s, diminutive ‘ties’, and pleasant sing-song accent.

You should visit Utrecht rather than Amsterdam to explore a Dutch city with a vibe and design similar to Amsterdam’s, but with much less foot traffic and selfie-taking visitors.

Amsterdam is a popular tourist spot, so everything is more expensive, from accommodation to food and attraction tickets, as demand is so high.

In under-the-radar Utrecht, there’s plenty to see and do, but the cost of hotels and eating out is inevitably slightly lower, meaning your travel money can go a bit further.

You can reduce costs further by staying in a backpacker hostel, booking self-catering accommodation, or seeking free city activities and events, such as a free walking tour of Utrecht.

There’s no better way to get to know the city than walking along the 12th-century Old Canal Area (Oudegracht), Europe’s only inner canal system with wharves and wharf cellars.

Ask your guide to take you along the waterside to see the cellars and learn more about the canals’ history and historic inhabitants.

You can also discover nature as a low-cost wellness activity by walking in Wilhelminapark, Lepelenburg Park, or the botanical gardens and appreciating the natural beauty in and around the city.

Explore Utrecht’s most unique feature

While Amsterdam has the iconic canals and dreamy waterways, Utrecht has its own architectural quirks.

The canals in Utrecht are split-level, meaning they are at street and water level and along the water, street-level cellars also date back to the 13th century.

The 12th-century Oudegracht (old canal) was built to divert the Oude Rijn (old river). Connecting the river Vecht in the north to the Vaartsche Rijn in the south, the Oudegracht was destined to become an elongated harbour.

Large city castles were built along the canal, and in the 13th Century, shipyards were built along the street at water level. The deep cellars, serving as storage spaces, ran through to below the houses.

What used to be warehouses, workhouses, and factories have now been refurbished into trendy restaurants, cafes, shops, and bars that sit right by the water, a feature you won’t find in Amsterdam.

Utrecht is also the only city in the Netherlands with restaurants with terraces at water level. Enjoy an alfresco meal or drink on these waterfront terraces as you watch boats gracefully glide by.

Get cultured

Amsterdam has many world-famous art museums and galleries, including the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. However, Utrecht also offers plenty of art and culture for visitors.

Utrecht proudly flies the flag for De Stijl, (Dutch for “The Style”) an eye-catching art movement born in 1917 in Leiden, known for bold lines, strict geometry, and a lot of horizontal and vertical action.

At the heart sits the offbeat Rietveld Schröder House, Utrecht’s star architectural attraction and a must-see for art, design, and photography lovers.

Built in 1924, Rietveld Schröder was commissioned by Ms Truus Schröder-Schräder and designed by the architect Gerrit Thomas Rietveld.

With its transformable kitchen/dining/living area, this unusual property brings De Stijl’s core principles to life in living colour (and shape).

Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site where curious visitors can poke around on guided or audio tours, prepare to geek out on form and function equally.

Don’t miss a trip to the Centraal Museum while you’re in town either. It’s Utrecht’s main museum and a fabulous mishmash of old and new, having opened its doors in 1838.

It’s now home to an eclectic modern art collection, including the world’s biggest stash of Rietveld pieces, ideal for funky furniture and design-flair fans. Keep an eye out for special exhibitions; there’s always something fresh and fascinating to discover here.

Check out the food scene and nightlife

The city’s youthful population means plenty of trendy bars and restaurants where you can sample international cuisine and traditional Dutch dishes like Poffertjes and Bitterballen.

Eating out in Utrecht is slightly cheaper than in Amsterdam too.

Head to the canals for wharf-side dining and drinking, and enjoy the cafe buzz of terraces packed with students and professionals. Talud9 Wijnbar is an excellent spot for a strong espresso by day and a cheeky wine at night.

For zingy international flavours, BLAUW is the place to go for quality Indonesian dining and is very popular with locals. Order their famous ‘meat and fish rice table’ and feast upon a vast selection of dishes, including Beef rendang, chicken rica rica, goat satay, mackerel pepsin, codfish meeting, shrimp satay, and lamb gulai.

For a steak dinner in the city, head to STAN in the centre for meaty dishes cooked on the charcoal-fired Josper grill at this swish dining venue. They also have Buddha bowls, breakfasts and massive sharing plates on the menu.

A night out in Utrecht is a chance to escape the noisy crowds of tourists and have a more relaxed evening surrounded by chilled-out locals, rather than slurring stags on a 48-hour bender.

The city has an active cultural life, with theatres, cinemas, music festivals, live music, clubs, and bars to suit all tastes. Its large student population means a big night out on the town has a youthful and vibrant feel.

If live music is your jam, there are several venues where you can see indie bands and artists. Ekko is a famous alternative pop stage in the city where you can have a meal, grab a beer and enjoy a live gig.

Utrecht bars worth a visit include Kafé België, a beer lover’s paradise with a large selection of brewed and bottled beers, and Winkel van Sinkel, for a glass of wine in a lovely outdoor seating area.

Stylish Street Food Club is an eclectic venue for getting expertly stirred and shaken signature cocktails and Asian & Peruvian street food.

Explore green spaces

While Amsterdam has the busy Vondelpark, Utrecht also offers beautiful green spaces to escape the urban surroundings, which are often less crowded than Amsterdam’s parks.

Rent a budget bike from the tourist centre and bike to the botanical gardens, Máximapark, and the large urban park Amelisweerd.

Get off your bike and connect with nature by hiring a boat and exploring the scenic waterways. Hire a Canoe from De Rijnstroom and paddle through the Amelisweerd nature reserve.

Glide through peaceful waters and appreciate the wildlife and swimming Dutch locals, who wave languidly from the water.

Paddle through fields, forests, and bridges on this gentle expedition and soak up some rays while on it. Along the way, you can stop and picnic at one of the picnic fields you will pass or feast upon delicious Dutch-style pancakes at the waterside Rhijnauwen tea house.

Plan your trip to Utrecht

Getting there from Cardiff

The easiest way to reach Utrecht from Cardiff is by flying to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which has daily departures from Cardiff Airport.

The flight takes about 1.5 hours. From Schiphol, you can catch a direct train to Utrecht Central Station. Trains run frequently throughout the day, taking approximately 30 minutes. You can purchase tickets at the airport or in advance via NS Dutch Railways.

To find the best flight deals, compare prices on platforms like Skyscanner or Google Flights and book as early as possible to secure the best rates.

Accommodation

Utrecht offers a range of accommodation options, from charming canal-side boutique hotels to budget-friendly hostels and modern apartments.

You can easily search and book hotels through trusted platforms such as Booking.com, which lets you filter by price, location, rating, and facilities. Look for hotels near the city centre or within walking distance of Utrecht Central Station for easy access to attractions and transport links.

Getting around

Utrecht has an efficient and easy-to-navigate public transport system, including buses and trams operated by U-OV.

The best way to get around is with an OV-chipkaart, a reusable travel card you can top up and use on most public transport in the Netherlands. You can also purchase disposable travel cards or make contactless payments for single journeys.

Cycling is a popular and practical way to explore the city. With extensive bike lanes and rental options (such as OV-fiets and local bike hire shops), you’ll find it easy to join locals on two wheels.

The GB News presenter worked two jobs after landing his first TV role at 21, fearing his television career wouldn’t last

Advertisement

Eamonn Holmes may have enjoyed a career in broadcasting for decades but the Irish TV host could have ended up woith a very different career.

When he was younger, he had an evening job that he continued even as his broadcasting career began to take shape, until his boss eventually urged him to concentrate solely on his television ambitions.

His first foray into television came in 1979 as a reporter and presenter for Ulster Television (UTV) in Northern Ireland, a springboard from which his career would go on to flourish considerably.

Yet Eamonn remained so anxious that his television career might suddenly dry up that he was reluctant to abandon his pub work, showing absolutely no urgency to hand in his notice before he ultimately did relinquish his evening shifts to dedicate himself fully to broadcasting.

READ MORE: Inside Scarlett Moffatt’s relationship with ex-policeman fiancéeREAD MORE: I’m a Celebrity’s Beverley Callard clears up ITV show confusion after cancer diagnosis

Speaking to the Express at the Young Chef, Young Waiter, Young Mixologist awards where he was a judge, Eamonn reflected: “Nobody in the UK had been given tea time programmes at 21, so when I did, it went in my favour.

“But I was working in a pub, and the head barman said to me, ‘what is this? You serve them up the news until seven o’clock and then you’re in here at 7.30pm’.”

He recalled his response to his manager at the time: “But does this TV business ever last?”

The barman firmly assured him it would, encouraged him to share a drink, and told him to chase his dreams, with Eamonn concluding: “That was my last night in the bar.”

Eamonn credits his bar work with helping him break into television, explaining that it drew out his character and taught him the art of conversing with people.

He explained: “It taught me to be more relaxed with a TV audience and how to talk to people in television, so that was amazing. It was a bit strange, I didn’t know anybody who was in television or presenting, but that’s what happened.”

His breakthrough in Ireland marked just the beginning of his television journey, joining the BBC in 1986 before moving to GMTV in 1993, where he remained until 2005 while simultaneously taking on numerous other television projects, including stints on Sky News, the BBC programme Jet Set, and occasional appearances on GMB.

Eamonn’s latest position has seen him comfortably settled at GB News presenting the breakfast programme.

GB News’s Breakfast Show is on weekdays at 6am