Samsung customers can get £150 off the Galaxy Watch8 Classic when combining two deals in the brand’s summer sale

Samsung has made one of its flagship smartwatches much cheaper as it launches two concurrent deals in a summer sale. The tech giant is giving away a total of £150 to shoppers when they pick up the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic.

When ordering this latest gadget on June 23, customers can claim up to £100 cashback to spend in their Samsung Wallet. There’s also a way to knock £50 off the sale price with the code WJ26, reducing the Bluetooth model from £449 to £399, or effectively £299 after cashback.

The same code can be used with the standard Galaxy Watch8, which drops from £319 to £294. A cashback claim must be submitted to Samsung within 30 days of purchase, after which eligible customers will be able to add a prepaid card to their Samsung Wallet.

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The deal undercuts rival retailers like Amazon, where the Galaxy Watch8 Classic with Bluetooth and GPS costs £499. Elsewhere, Sky Mobile offers the Bluetooth model for £10 when spreading the cost with a monthly plan.

A caveat is that customers must sign up for 36 months to get this price. The Galaxy Watch8 Classic launched in July 2025 with an ultra-slim 8.6mm profile, said to be the ‘thinnest’ model yet.

Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic

£449

£299 after cashback

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Samsung customers can claim £100 cashback with the Galaxy Watch8 Classic when ordering by June 23, plus get £50 off with the code WJ26.

It boasts a Sapphire Crystal 1.34” Super AMOLED display alongside a rotating bezel designed to look like an ‘elegant’ analogue watch. It’s also touted as ‘the world’s first’ smartwatch equipped with Google’s Gemini AI assistant, which can provide support for daily routines, everyday tasks and workout regimes hands-free with voice control.

It also serves as a personal health coach thanks to the Samsung Health app, providing easy monitoring of steps, sleep to nutrition, blood pressure and more. The Watch8 Classic is ideal for runners of all abilities as it offers personal running training tailored to each individual, tracking records and routes while setting daily goals.

Other activities, including cycling, swimming, yoga, and rowing, can also be tracked. All this is available via Samsung’s redesigned One UI 8 Watch software with multi-info tiles, streamlined notifications and quick access to one’s favourite apps via the Now bar.

The Galaxy Watch8 Classic has been awarded an impressive 4.8-star rating from Samsung customers after more than 370 reviews, with buyers hailing it as ‘the perfect blend of functional and style’.

“It’s one of the best smartwatches I’ve owned,” one says. “The rotating bezel feels premium and makes navigation so smooth. The display is bright, sharp and easy to read even outdoors. Battery life is solid, lasting comfortably through the day. I like how seamlessly it connects with my phone, and the health features are quite useful.”

Another said: “It’s a very impressive device. I’ve used it during activities including running, cycling and swimming, and it performed faultlessly, giving useful and accurate information. The Samsung Health app is much better than I remember, and you can also sync with Strava. As a bonus, it’s comfortable to wear and looks good.”

However, despite their five-star review, the same Galaxy Watch8 buyer had one issue, adding: “Only gripe is battery life could be better.” Meanwhile, another glowing review says: “This is the perfect blend of functional and style, with the real look of an actual watch but the functionality of a smartwatch.

“I’m very satisfied with the wide range of features available. The strap is of a nice, high-quality [that] seems strongly made and comfortable to wear.”

Among the highlights this week are plans for an extended canopy roof, bus shelters at Dalton Park, various tree works at residential and institutional sites, and updates to previous permissions involving housing developments and educational premises.

Below is a summary of planning applications submitted to Durham County Council:

• 5 Loweswater Grove, West Auckland, Bishop Auckland DL14 9NA. Proposal to extend the existing canopy roof over the bay window at the front of the property. Ref. No: DM/26/01483/FPA
• St Johns College, 1 – 7 South Bailey, Durham DH1 3RJ. Various tree works are proposed within the college grounds. Ref. No: DM/26/01475/TCA
• Dalton Park, Murton, Seaham SR7 9HU. Application seeks to discharge Condition 3 relating to bus shelters pursuant to a previous planning consent. Ref. No: DM/26/01467/DRC
• Cemetery, St Pauls Church, Church Lane, Hunwick DL15 0JX. Section 211 notice for removal of the northern limb of a cherry tree and a 20% reduction and reshape of the canopy. Ref. No: DM/26/01471/TCA
• Fairview House, Barningham, Richmond DL11 7DW. Section 211 notice to reduce ash tree T1 to ground level. Ref. No: DM/26/01459/TCA
• Land To The South Of Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor DH7 7PN. Discharge of conditions on biodiversity, habitat management, bird/bat boxes, and hedgehog gaps linked to an earlier consent. Ref. No: DM/26/01466/DRC
• Dalton Park, Murton, Seaham SR7 9HU. Non-material amendment to revise internal access road alignment and provide details of a replacement bus shelter near the current kerb line. Ref. No: DM/26/01463/NMA
• Lydford, 24 Crossgate Peth, Durham DH1 4PZ. Tree works include a 40% crown reduction of a cherry tree (T1). Ref. No: DM/26/01455/TCA
• Land To The South Of Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor DH7 7PN. Non-material amendment to earlier permission: updates location of various dwellings and removes bay window on Plot 27’s eastern gable. Ref. No: DM/26/01436/NMA
• The Old Yeast House, The Bank, Barnard Castle DL12 8PQ. T1 copper beech to be reduced in overall size by 2-3 metres. Ref. No: DM/26/01444/TCA
• St Helen Auckland Community Primary School, Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, Bishop Auckland DL14 9EN. Discharge of Condition 3 regarding materials under two previous consents. Ref. No: DM/26/01437/DRC
• 23 Heath Road, Middlestone Moor, Spennymoor DL16 7DT. Retention of a detached gazebo within the rear garden of the property. Ref. No: DM/26/01441/FPA
• Beagle House, Satley, Bishop Auckland DL13 4HU. Proposal to fell two alder trees under a Section 211 notice. Ref. No: DM/26/01429/TCA
• 133 Harvey Avenue, Framwellgate Moor, Durham DH1 5ZB. Plans for a single-storey side extension, loft conversion with dormer windows, plus new brick boundary walls and driveway gates. Ref. No: DM/26/01432/FPA
• 91 Park Road North, Chester-le-Street DH3 3SB. Application for a single-storey side extension to the existing dwelling. Ref. No: DM/26/01413/FPA
• Site Of Former Easington Maintenance Depot To The Rear Of 31 To 37 Peter Lee Cottages, Wheatley Hill DH6 3RH. Non-material amendment to swap and hand selected plots, and change house types on some plots. Ref. No: DM/26/01405/NMA
• 8 Balmoral Grove, Bishop Auckland DL14 6LR. Replacement rear extension proposed as a single-storey addition to the home. Ref. No: DM/26/01383/FPA
• 2 Briarside, Blackhill, Consett DH8 0AS. Proposal for a first-floor extension above the current garage. Ref. No: DM/26/01342/FPA
• 1 Escomb Villas, Escomb Lane, Bishop Auckland DL14 7SP. Plans for a 6m x 6m garage with a 4 hip roof located at the front of the property on the existing driveway. Ref. No: DM/26/01315/FPA
• 25 Humberhill Drive, Lanchester, Durham DH7 0HH. External cladding changes, alterations to windows and doors, and raised rear platform proposed. Ref. No: DM/26/01174/FPA

For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal – Public Notices from The Northern Echo (publicnoticeportal.uk).

• Ground Floor West Wing, Spectrum 5, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham SR7 7TT. Construction of new extract chimneys, external plant area, gantry framework, and relocation of refuse storage at the research and development building. Ref. No: DM/26/01108/FPA
• The United Reform Church, Low Chare, Chester-le-Street DH3 3QF. Removal of render and repointing to expose and repair original stonework using lime mortar on several elevations. Ref. No: DM/26/01026/LB
• The United Reform Church, Low Chare, Chester-le-Street DH3 3QF. Removal of render and repointing works for stonework using lime mortar, as listed in the accompanying application. Ref. No: DM/26/01025/FPA

VAR intervened during USA vs Paraguay in a historic moment after a recent FIFA rule change

The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a landmark refereeing moment during the United States‘ opening group stage clash against Paraguay on Friday night. The Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, stepped in to transfer a yellow card from an American defender to the Paraguayan forward who had dived to win it – the first occasion the sport’s mistaken identity protocol has been used to penalise simulation in this manner.

The incident took place in the 53rd minute at SoFi Stadium, with the United States already cruising at 3-0 and the match all-but-over. Paraguay captain Miguel Almiron tumbled after minimal contact from United States defender Tim Ream, and referee Danny Makkelie swiftly brandished a yellow card for the Charlotte FC defender.

However, VAR intervened and Makkelie was summoned to the pitchside monitor, where he studied the replays. The footage showed Almiron had not been fouled, had taken three full strides after losing possession before throwing himself to the ground theatrically.

There had been no meaningful contact whatsoever. The referee returned from the screen, rescinded the booking against Ream, and showing the yellow card to Almiron for diving.

The intervention served to highlight one of the most significant rule changes FIFA had introduced ahead of this tournament. For the first time at a major competition, VAR has been granted enhanced authority over specific corner-kick decisions, erroneous second yellow cards and, crucially, instances of mistaken identity.

Match officials can now rectify a broader range of clear and obvious errors than was previously permitted, including scenarios where the wrong player is handed a disciplinary sanction.

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The incident provided a fleeting talking point in a match that had otherwise been utterly dominated by the United States.

The hosts made a dream start to their World Cup journey, racing into a 3-0 lead by the interval in front of a thunderous SoFi Stadium crowd in what seemed like the most impressive 45 minutes in recent USMNT history.

The breakthrough arrived in the seventh minute, Christian Pulisic surging forward and picking out Weston McKennie, whose delivery was bundled into his own net by the luckless Damian Bobadilla.

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Folarin Balogun then stole the spotlight, first seeing a goal correctly chalked off for offside before netting twice, a composed finish from a Pulisic assist and then a magnificent weak-foot strike into the top corner in stoppage time.

Pulisic was the catalyst throughout, his assist drawing him level with Clint Dempsey for fourth place in USMNT history with 21 career assists. Paraguay pulled one back in the 73rd minute through a slick team move, Julio Enciso threading a sublime pass to his teammate, who coolly slotted past Matt Freese to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Gio Reyna then capped off the victory in stoppage time with a stunning outside-of-the-foot finish, helping the side launch their World Cup campaign with a winning start.

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The RAF’s acrobatic Red Arrows planes are set to put on a major display today to mark King Charles III’s Trooping the Colour.

The display will accompany a parade that will go through central London to mark the King’s ‘second birthday’ with other members of the royal family expected to be taking part in the celebrations.

Those heading out to watch the proceedings and hoping to catch a glimpse of the incredible feat are lucky, as the planes will fly directly over central London this weekend.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Trooping the Colour celebration times and route of the flypast.

What time is the Red Arrows flypast and where are they flying?

The flypast will conclude the Trooping the Colour parade happening across London at 1pm, when the King and the Royal Family make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the display as it flies over the iconic landmark.

Before it reaches London, however, the Red Arrows will fly over over parts of the UK, starting by taking off from RAF Waddington at around 11am before flying over the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts.

Around midday, the Red Arrow jets will turn over Colchester, Reading, and Chelmsford as they head through London for the main display at 1pm.

Following the display, the jets will then turn towards Windsor and Slough before continuing to Northampton and then Colsterworth.

How can I watch the Trooping the Colour flypast?

Trooping the Colour will be broadcast live on BBC in the UK today. It will include the parade, which starts at 10.30am and ends at 12.25pm at Buckingham Palace, as well as the flypast.

The flypast, and the parade, can also be watched from The Mall and surrounding areas, according to The King’s Birthday Parade.

For those who are close to the Red Arrows’ route, you should be able to see them whizz past by stepping outside of your home.

What aircraft will be taking part?

The list of aircraft taking part in the flypast has not yet been released, but it will likely be similar to the planes that participated in last year’s event.

The 2025 flypast consisted of 29 aircraft, including four Chinooks, a BBMF Lancaster, two Texans, an A400M Atlas, six Typhoons, two Juno helicopters, a C-17 Globemaster, and two F-35B Lightnings, as well as the Red Arrows.

The dazzling display comes as the Red Arrows kick off their summer schedule of displays. At the end of May, the jets kicked-off display season by making an appearance at the English Riviera Airshow in Torbay.

The daredevil group have confirmed additional displays for the remainder of the summer, including appearances at the RAF Cosford Airshow tomorrow and then several flights across the United States in July before returning to the UK in August and adventuring to mainland Europe.

More recently, the Red Arrows announced a major tweak for the display team as the number of aircraft were reduced from nine Hawk T1 jets to seven as the ageing fleet undergo maintenance.

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

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Manchester City have their next manager lined up and their top transfer target in their sights. But neither are yet in the building.

Enzo Maresca has yet to be confirmed as the next Blues boss while City have seen two bids for England international Elliot Anderson knocked back by Nottingham Forest.

There remains a belief that a deal for the 23-year-old can be struck but with England kicking off their World Cup campaign on Wednesday, it is unlikely to be confirmed until after the tournament even if Forest and City can agree a fee in the meantime.

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Talks are likely to continue between the clubs but the World Cup schedule, with England potentially playing eight games in five weeks, plus the travel and a desire of Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel to try to keep club transfer matters out of the camp immediately before and after matches means wrapping up a switch in the coming weeks will prove nigh on impossible.

It means even if City are able to strike a deal with Forest for the midfielder, they will face a wait before the move can be confirmed with the Blues initially hoping a transfer could have been concluded before the World Cup.

With the Anderson situation now set to rumble on, City will be keen to announce the appointment of Maresca. The hope is that confirmation comes sooner rather than later with there not expected to be any late hiccups, but the process has taken far longer than expected and hoped as talks between the Blues and his former club Chelsea over a deal continue.

Talks are advanced and City hope to conclude the process as quickly as possible ahead of what could be a busy summer with a number of potential transfers – both in and out – along with a World Cup and summer tour of Asia.

The Blues have already had to exercise a degree of patience this summer and will be hoping good things come to those who wait.

Donald Trump has shared a video of the execution of ‘bloodthirsty’ terrorist leader Nino Guerrero, whose full name is Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the longtime leader of Tren de Aragua

The “infamous leader” of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua street gang has been killed in a “swift and lethal kinetic” US military strike according to Donald Trump.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump wrote: “At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to ‌successfully execute Nino Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet.”

He added: “Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong.”

Trump shared a dramatic video appearing to show a shot from above of a small building with a green roof exploding. While Trump did not say when the strike took place, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that it occurred earlier in the week on a Tren de Aragua compound in Venezuela.

Venezuelan authorities have not yet commented on the operation.

It comes as the US Central Command said it had brought down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones which it said were attempting to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which has been a contentious point in the peace talks.

Iranian Foreign ‌Minister Abbas Araqchi said changes were still possible to a peace deal between his country and the US that would see an end to the conflict, after both side signalled and agreement was near.

He added that the tentative agreement showed his country had emerged stronger from the conflict. “Iran is the winner of the war with the US,” he said on state television.

Follow our live blog for the latest updates by clicking here.

However, the majority of your walk will be spent just enjoying the peaceful countryside of Farndale and the surrounding ridges.

Farndale is a long valley running south to north in the heart of the Moors.

Blakey Ridge map (Image: Jonathan Smith)

Park in the beautiful village of Church Houses or a mile further south at the car park at Low Mill.

It is a good time to visit both villages as the daffodils are superb and the wildflowers of the early summer are upon us.

From Church House take the road heading steeply northwest out of the valley.

The road is quiet but it is a 750 feet climb.

Having reached the top you may need to follow the road left to the famous Lion Inn for a refreshing cup of tea!

South at the head of Farndale (Image: Jonathan Smith)

This is a historic pub built in the 16th century and at 1,325 feet one of the highest points in the North York Moors.

However, the better option is to take the wide track on your left.

After passing through a gate in the first few metres, the bridleway follows the edge of Farndale as it winds its way for 6 miles to Bloworth Crossing.

This path used to be the Farndale arm of the iron railway that moved the iron ore out of the hills.

Originally in the mid-1800s the ore was taken by horse-drawn wagons down the valley to the railway hub at Pickering.

However, the roads were unsuitable and the transfer was awkward and took forever.

The roads were replaced by the railway, the route you are now on.

The walking is easy and the route finding is not hard.

The views are excellent with an interesting contrast between the bleak moors, green dales, and coast in the distance.

Having wound your way pleasantly around the Head of Farndale, the path comes to a noticeable meeting of paths, this is Bloworth Crossing.

This is where the railway crossed the drover’s road of Thurkill’s hill road.

From 1861 to 1929 the crossing was actually manned, with a nearby cottage housing a gate keeper’s family.

Now you will only see walkers, sheep, and often loud skylarks.

At the crossing take the track just east of south keeping to the undulating high ridge for a further 3 miles on the western slopes of Farndale.

The views are even better on this stretch of the walk.

At the next junction of tracks turn left back into Farndale, near Ouse Gill Head.

This track descends gradually for just over half a mile before a steep final descent leads to the road at the valley bottom.

A quick right and left will bring you to a road leading back to Church Houses.

FACT BOX:

Distance: Roughly 12.5 miles.

Height to Climb: 390m (1,410 feet).

Start: SE 670975.

Either park in the car park at Low Mill or at quieter times near the pub in Church Houses.

Difficulty: Hard but not in terms of the terrain, only in terms of the length of the walk.

Refreshments: The Feversham Arms is in Church House, the Lion a couple of miles away on the ridge.

Both are excellent.

Be Prepared:

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk.

You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL26) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass.

You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors.

Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.

Jonathan runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales:

He has written 4 books on walking in the Dales; ‘The Yorkshire 3 Peaks’, ‘Walks without Stiles’, ‘The Dales 30’ mountains and the long distance path ‘The Bracken Way.’

Buy them direct from Where2walk.

Jonathan runs Navigation Training Courses.

The next Beginners Course is on Saturday June 27th from Long Preston, near Settle.

You can buy Dales 30 Guide Book, T Shirts and branded caps from the new Dales 30 website.

Start the challenge today.

Where2walk.co.uk features 100s of walks with descriptions across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs.

Visit the website for details of all these walks, guiding days and navigation.

If there were any doubts that the USA were ready to live up to the pressure of being one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup, they were dispelled in 45 brilliant minutes against Paraguay on Saturday.

Following a glitzy build-up which featured a performance from Katy Perry, watched on by Hollywood A-listers like Tom Cruise in the stands and with thousands of fans decked out in the stars and stripes, they would have been forgiven for wilting under the pressure.

Instead they stepped up as three goals in a whirlwind first half, before a sublime fourth by Gio Reyna in stoppage time, secured a 4-1 win to ensure a perfect start in Group D.

But even before this display there were some who had recognised the potential of a USA side who have developed significantly under ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino over the past 20 months.

Former USA goalkeeper Tony Meola is one pundit who has suggested they are now on their way to being able to rub shoulders with football’s elite.

“Now we are so much more established,” said Meola, who was part of the US squad at the 1990, 1994 and 2002 World Cups.

“We have players playing all round the world, we have an incredible league and have facilities the world is using right now. Those were a pipe dream a few years ago, now we are a football nation.”

This was the first time since 1930 that the USA has won a World Cup game by three goals and it is a result that may well make other teams at this tournament sit up and notice.

“USA were unbelievable,” England great Ellen White said on BBC Match of the Day.

“You talk about pressure but they grasped at it, they enjoyed it. They probably shocked the world with that performance.”

The group are believed to have arrived and set up an encampment on the New House Farm playing field opposite St Osmunds Primary School near Blenheim Road in Breightmet last week.

They have since moved on before court summons could be served requiring them to do so, but to residents’ dismay appear to have left mess and disruption in their wake.

Cllr Sean Fielding, of Breightmet, said: “When the Travellers arrived last Friday the council immediately started the legal process required to move them on.

Concerns have been raised about the condition the area was left in (Image: Public)

“In the end they left before the court summons could be served but sadly, they’ve left a mess in the area.

“I have spoken with environment and greenspace today to arrange for the area to be cleaned up.”

The group remained camped around the playing fields for around a week, with cars and caravan parked around the area.

They were still in place as of Tuesday June 9 this week, but Bolton Council said that a court summons requiring them to move would be served on or before this Friday.

The group has since moved on (Image: Public)

When The Bolton News approached people at the site last week, a woman said: “We’re just here for a few days.

“We won’t be here for long, and we’re not here to cause any trouble.”

There have been a number of Traveller camps in and around Bolton recently, including one on a leisure centre in Atherton and a car park in Westhoughton as well as New Bury in Farnworth.

The Travellers arrived last week on the playing fields in Breightmet (Image: Public)

Travellers also set up on land in Harwood, where a clean-up operation took place after they left what was described by locals as a disgusting mess.

The Travellers on playing fields in Breightmet moved as the council was ready take legal proceedings to remove them from the land, where neighbours had complained of anti-social issues.