“And I actually thought we had moved beyond all that, and listening then to talk of it still being possible, if I understand you correctly, that a person could be put on a personal contract that they bring you to exceed the cap – it sounds to me like we’re still down an Animal Farm and that some animals are still more equal than others, and the public is still in the dark.”

Bernardo Silva will play his last game for Manchester City against Aston Villa at the Etihad on Sunday

Bernardo Silva is ready to move closer to his family when he leaves Manchester City after a trophy-laden Etihad career.

The Blues captain is calling time on his City career and will bow out with a domestic cup double, with any chance of turning that into a Treble extinguished by the midweek draw at Bournemouth.

Silva has been an integral part of City’s success and will likely continue to play in a leading European league, with Barcelona and Juventus keen. Although the 31-year-old has ruled out a return to boyhood club Benfica, his family back in Lisbon have been factored into his thinking.

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“It’s a mix of things in terms of trophies, in terms of what I personally achieved here,” Bernardo said of leaving City. “It’s never enough, but I feel that we won a lot, our generation. I feel that also it’s time for these young guys to have their moment.

“And for me personally, it’s an opportunity to go a bit closer to my family. It’s been quite a long time. 12 years that I’ve been apart and quite far away, and I want to be a bit closer to them.

“And, I want a new challenge. Even though I love the football club and I loved the nine years here, I feel it’s the right moment for me to have a new challenge in my life. It’s going to be good.”

The City skipper is set to be followed out of the door by Guardiola, who will depart after a decade in charge. The City boss has spoken about how Bernardo is ‘his weakness’ and has gone out of his way to praise the Portugal international during their time together in Manchester.

The respect between the pair is huge, with Bernardo speaking about how he was influenced by Guardiola’s Barcelona team when coming through the ranks at Benfica because of the way they played and how some of the most talented players in the side were small in stature, giving hope to a then-teenage prospect trying to make it in the professional game.

“Way before I joined Man City, Pep for me was always an inspiration because when he was training Barcelona, that team with the small guys, with Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Lionel] Messi, Pedro,” he said.

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“I was at the time in Benfica in my academy years where I didn’t play because they thought that I wasn’t big enough, that I wasn’t strong enough. And me looking at that team and thinking, these guys, they’re also not big, they’re also not strong. If they can do it, maybe one day I can do it.

“So, Pep’s team was always an inspiration for me. And then to join the club and to be able to be with him nine years and to be a part of this success, it’s fantastic. Fifteen years ago, when I was in that situation, that bad situation where I didn’t play at Benfica because the people there didn’t believe in me because of my size and looking at his teams, and now being the player that has the most games on the team, it truly is special.”

Channique Sterling-Brown has shared her emotional story of owning her first home, a year after buying the property in Manchester.

Former Coronation Street star Channique Sterling-Brown has shared her emotional story of owning her first home, a year after buying the property in Manchester.

Fans will recall that the actress made her TV debut in the role of Dee-Dee Bailey, the much-talked-about daughter of Ed and Aggie Bailey, in 2022. She joined her family in Weatherfield three years after they arrived on the Street with their sons, and Dee-Dee’s brothers Michael and James.

Dee-Dee, whose actual name was Diana, quickly became a fan-favourite amongst viewers of the ITV soap, with Channique going on to win Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards in 2023.

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But it was in September last year that Channique took to social media, telling fans of her plans to depart Weatherfield, then in mid-October she confirmed that her time filming for Corrie had come to an end.

When Channique’s last scenes as Dee-Dee aired in December, she said on social media: “So long Weatherfield. Thank you for coming on this journey with Dee-Dee & I! And thank you to the cast and crew of @coronationstreet for the last few years of laughter and love! Grateful to God for every moment.”

Months on from leaving the ITV soap, Channique has been sharing a personal update on social media as she marked a year since buying her first home in Manchester.

Alongside pictures and videos taken during the process of purchasing her first home, from decorating to hosting her friends and family. In the caption of the post, Channique wrote: “A year ago today I became a homeowner and therefore an honorary Mancunian for life! Since women have only been able to buy property independently for 51 years it feels right to mark the occasion!

“The last 365 days have been full of laughter, love, prayers, brews, girl dinners, wine, celebrations, singing (sorry to my neighbours) and an overflow of the goodness of God within these walls.”

She added: “Not lost on me what a privilege and blessing it is, especially growing up working class, beyond grateful to the Lord and also pretty proud of myself! Thanks to all the people who have helped me make this little house a home, by filling it with joy! Here’s to many more memories and much less chaos when doing DIY.”

Channique also shared the video of her standing in her home for the first time after picking up the keys and said: “A year ago, landed back in Heathrow from Malawi 22 hours prior. Back to Manchester on set that morning, rushed to the estate agents between scenes to get the keys, still in costume (sorry Corrie wardrobe department). Let myself into my own HOME, praised God and rushed back to set to finish filming, what a day.”

China’s President Xi Jinping welcomed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin with a lavish ceremony in Beijing complete with national flags, a marching band and cheering children.

It comes after a visit from Donald Trump last week, which began with a near-identical welcome ceremony for the US president – despite Beijing’s very different relationships with Washington and Moscow.

The BBC’s China correspondent Laura Bicker breaks down the diplomatic meaning behind the two warm welcomes.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian Revolutionary Guard members now regularly show the public in Tehran how to handle Kalashnikov-style assault rifles. Parades through the capital feature military vehicles mounted with belt-fed Soviet-era machine guns. And at one mass wedding, a ballistic missile, like the one that rained down cluster munitions on Israel, adorned the stage.

Weapons are now regularly brandished in Tehran, an increasing show of defiance as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens he could restart the war with Iran should negotiations break down and the Islamic Republic refuses to release its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

The weapons displays reflect the genuine threat Iran faces: Trump has suggested American forces could seize Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium by force and previously said that he sent arms to Kurdish fighters to pass onto anti-government protesters.

But they also offer reassurance and motivation to hard-liners and provide rare entertainment at a time of great uncertainty, when Iranians are facing mass layoffs, business closures and spiraling prices for food, medicine and other goods. Suggesting more hard-liners will be armed could also help suppress any new demonstrations against Iran’s theocracy, which violently put down nationwide protests in January in a crackdown that activists say killed over 7,000 people and saw tens of thousands detained.

“This is necessary for all our people to get trained because we are in a war situation these days,” said Ali Mofidi, a 47-year-old Tehran resident at a weapons training Tuesday night. “If necessary, everyone should be available and know how to use a gun.”

Iran has repeatedly sought to project strength during the war

For months, state television and government-sponsored text messages have bombarded the public with calls to join the “Janfada,” or the “ones who sacrifice their lives.” At one point, hard-liners encouraged families with boys as young as 12 to send them to the Revolutionary Guard to work checkpoints — which Amnesty International denounced as a war crime.

Government officials say more than 30 million people in Iran — home to a population of some 90 million — have volunteered via an online form or at public gatherings to lay down their lives for Iran’s theocracy. There is no way to confirm that figure and there’s been no sign of a mass mobilization yet, like the one that Ukraine underwent in the days before Russia’s full-scale 2022 invasion, in which officials handed out rifles and people banded together to make gasoline bombs.

But there have been several public announcements and presenters have appeared armed during live programs on state TV, as part of efforts to feed the fervor.

“Looking back at the moment I registered my name, I realize I wasn’t truly contemplating the dangers of fighting on the front lines. In that moment, like everyone else, my thoughts were solely on Iran,” wrote journalist Soheila Zarfam in a column for the state-owned Tehran Times newspaper. “My life might end, but Iran would endure, and that was all that truly mattered.”

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi has criticized the public weapons demonstrations, particularly footage of young boys handling assault rifles, saying: “Scenes like these are reminiscent of child hostage-taking and arming by groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria, and militias in Sudan and Congo.”

Weapons training, once unusual, becomes a norm

A recent government-organized demonstration by nomads in Iran saw them carrying everything from bolt-action Lee–Enfield rifles of the British Empire to a blunderbuss, a predecessor of the shotgun more familiar to the age of pirates on the high seas.

But during weeks of an unsteady ceasefire, most of the weapon demonstrations appear focused on Tehran, not the rural areas where there is a tradition of keeping rifles and shotguns at home.

At a demonstration Tuesday night in Tehran, male and female participants divided into separate classes. Hadi Khoosheh, a member of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force and trainer, demonstrated how to handle a folding-stock Kalashnikov-style assault rifle.

“At the end of the training those who completed the course will receive a card titled ‘Janfada,’ proving they have received basic and preliminary training for this type of gun and they are able to use it if, God forbid, something happens to our country,” Khoosheh said.

However, the weapons training was rudimentary at best for the young boys and older men gathered. One struggled to insert the rifle’s magazine and inadvertently pointed the barrel of the unloaded weapon at others — a major safety breach that people are taught to avoid in basic firearms training.

“Definitely we will stand against (the Americans) and won’t give up even an inch of our soil,” said Mofidi, the man at the training. “No matter if they come from the sea or land, we will stand by our flag.”

___

Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.

A new comedy about Rolling Loud is facing backlash for the decision to cast Travis Scott years after his own music festival left 10 people dead.

The first teaser for Rolling Loud The Movie, starring Owen Wilson and controversial comedian Matt Rife, shows Wilson’s character sneaking his teenage son into Rolling Loud — one of the largest hip-hop music festivals in the world — where the headliner is Scott, who plays a version of himself.

However, the trailer’s release Tuesday sparked controversy as many people pointed out the similarities between the movie’s premise and the previous tragedy that occurred during Scott’s Astroworld music festival in Houston, Texas.

In November 2021, 10 concertgoers ranging in age from nine to 27 years old were killed by crowd crush and compressive asphyxiation during Scott’s concert at the festival. Eight people were pronounced dead on the day of the festival, while two more died later at the hospital. The incident left 25 others hospitalized and more than 300 attendees injured.

Despite outrage directed toward Scott and co-organizer Live Nation after the tragedy, a Houston grand jury determined that no single individual was criminally responsible for the deaths. All 10 wrongful death lawsuits were settled out of court, and Scott issued a statement saying that he was devastated over the tragedy.

Now, with Live Nation Studios behind the new movie, people are accusing the film of being insensitive and “tone deaf” by casting Scott.

“You cannot ignore the history here,” one viewer wrote on X. “Turning a real tragedy into comedy material with the same artist involved is disrespectful to the families who lost loved ones.”

Another wrote, “This is gross and in such poor taste and for Travis Scott to be involved?!!,” while a third added, “This might be the most tone deaf casting we have ever seen, like almost offensively tone deaf, tbh.”

Others speculated that the film could serve as an attempt to distract people from the tragedy.

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“This is one of those movies where after this any web related searches to Travis Scott concert are going to redirect to this and not the one he had that got a bunch of people killed,” one wrote.

Another person added: “Are they taking the piss? Travis Scott caused multiple deaths at a music festival and now they release a film centered around him performing at a festival. It’s either attempting to wipe the original tragedy or it’s a celebrating it.”

Live Nation did not return The Independent’s request for comment on the movie.

The film, written and directed by Jeremy Garelick, is described in the synopsis as being inspired by Garelick’s own experience at Rolling Loud with his teenager. The movie will come to theaters in October.

On Wednesday afternoon, Sir Brian’s gnome, “Billy Bad-Axe”, which comes complete with its own guitar, was leading the auction with a bid of £2,600, with RHS president Keith Weed’s contribution coming in second at £1,111 after he pleaded for bids at a lunch for dignitaries at Chelsea on Monday.

Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: “Although today’s news on fuel duty won’t have the immediate effect of bringing forecourt prices down, at least it shows that ministers have registered the financial pain caused by rampant pump prices for individuals and for business.

Potions Cauldron is staging the new event featuring a three day programme of magical events, enchanting experiences and city wide discounts across key visitor attractions and partners.

The event is also taking place in the Group’s other locations including Blackpool, Chester, Dalton Park and Leeds, with national travel partner to be announced early June.

Taking place during June 26-28, the event will feature potion classes, guided walking tours through York’s historic streets, and magical character appearances, with number of partner venues across the city offering exclusive weekend incentives.

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The York event is supported by York Mumbler and is set to help boost the cities offering in a trading period that was unusually quiet in 2025.

Managing Director, Stuart Jarman said; “Magic is becoming increasingly popular and is something that the city of York naturally lends itself, however it is not something new, given that magic practices date back to Mediaeval times.

“At the core this event celebrates those traditions and partnering with other businesses within the city showcases the great offerings of attractions, experiences and retail for both locals and visitors to enjoy.”

At the centre of Magic Weekend is a series of bookable experiences hosted by The Potions Cauldron Group.

Celebrating at The Potions Cauldron on Shambles, wizards Kai Wortley and George Speak. (Image: Pic supplied)

On Friday evening, The Potions Academy will run their five star rated Adult Potion Class, where guests brew themed potion cocktails in a guided, theatrical setting. The experience is strictly over-18s and requires advance booking.

On Saturday, families can enjoy ‘The Potion Smugglers Quest’, following the story of legendary alchemist Phileas Fry through York’s historic streets and for the first time ever, the experience will be led by the companies Head of Interpretation and Guest Experience, Bernie Fleck.

Departures run at 10:30am, 1:00pm and 2:15pm, with an additional 3:00pm session available exclusively to York Mumbler members, pre-booking is strongly recommended with all participants receiving a complimentary  wizard style butterbeer at the end of their tour.

The Hole In Wand York will also host appearances from York favourite, the award winning Mad Alice across the weekend who is set to entertain hundreds of guests.

Visitors can collect a free  Magic Weekend Wristband from participating venues including The Potions Cauldron York, The Potions Academy York, and The Hole In Wand York. The wristband gives wizards and witches exclusive offers and promotions across the city throughout the weekend and are available from Monday June 22.

Confirmed partners include top attractions; The York Dungeon, York’s Chocolate Story, The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring and DIG. Popular city retailers; Socktopus, York Gin and Avorium.

Experiences are also included including ‘Mad Alice Walking Tour and The Hilt Axe Throwing. Wristband holders will also be eligible for selected in-venue offers, including drinks promotions and retail discounts.

Emma Ayris Rogers – Head of Marketing for The Potions Cauldron Group said: “York has always felt like a city where storytelling naturally belongs.

“Magic Weekend brings those ideas together across a few days, encouraging people to explore the city in a different way. It’s been great to work alongside local attractions that each contribute their own version of storytelling and experience in York.”

For more information visit – Magic Weekend in York