At least six people have been killed and three others taken to the hospital with severe injuries after a man ‘set himself on fire’ in a town west of the Swiss capital.

Police spokesperson Frederic Papaux said a ‘voluntary act’ could be the cause of the inferno on Tuesday evening in the town of Kerzers, about 15 miles west of Bern.

The regional transport bus is operated by PostBus, which is affiliated with the national postal service.

Images from the scene on Swiss media showed flames tearing through the bus.

An eyewitness told local media in Albanian: ‘A man set himself on fire inside. He poured gasoline and set himself on fire!’

‘After rushing to the scene, rescue teams noted that the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames,’ the regional government said in a statement.

Ambulance and helicopter teams ferried three injured people with severe injuries to the hospital, while two others were treated on site, police said.

Mr Papaux said an investigation was underway, and refused to say if the incident was terror-related.

The bus was travelling from Düdingen to Kerzers, and burst into flames before the final stop, according to local media.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin wrote on X: ‘It distresses and saddens me that yet more people in Switzerland have lost their lives in a serious fire.

‘The background is being clarified. To the relatives of the deceased from Kerzers, I extend my condolences. And I think of the injured and the emergency services.’

On New Year’s Eve, 41 people died in an inferno at the Constellation in the ski resort of Crans-Montana.

The bar owners are facing trial for ‘manslaughter by negligence, causing injury by negligence, and causing arson by negligence’ in relation to the 41 deaths, and the severe burning of 115 others.

Around 200 people, including minors, were inside the nightclub at the time, according to Swiss news outlet Blick.

Witnesses have claimed the fire occurred after a waitress put candles on top of champagne bottles, one of which was then held up to the ‘wooden’ ceiling.

Crans-Montana is a popular destination in the Alps, particularly among British skiers, known for its views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.

Le Constellation, sometimes called the Constellation Bar, has been open since 2015. It can accommodate up to 300 people and a further 40 in its lounge.

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

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Ring Video Doorbells have become an institution. While some raise privacy concerns about having a video camera on every door down the street, there’s no doubting that connecting your front door has real advantages. For me, the Ring is the video doorbell that makes the most sense.

You can talk to callers while away from home, you get alerts on your phone, you can record suspicious visitors and keep tabs on parcels that get delivered. It’s peace of mind for many and a technological convenience for others. But there is also a dizzying lineup to choose from, with some of the best features only available on expensive models (and pricey monthly subscriptions).

The Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus has the advantage of simple installation (no wiring required), while providing high-quality video with a wide-angle lens. Normally priced at £129.99, it’s not Amazon’s most expensive camera, but it’s a blend of useful features for a great price. Best of all, Amazon regularly discounts it to £69.99, which is the price it is right now, so I’d recommend snapping one up.

Here’s the price history of the Ring Wired Video Doorbell Plus over the last six months.

When Majborough beat Marine Nationale 19 lengths to win the Dublin Chase at the start of February, Timeform rated it the best performance of the season so far.

The 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner who fluffed his lines when beaten into third after a couple of near catastrophic mistakes in the Arkle 12 months ago, returns to the Cheltenham Festival today a probable odds-on shot for the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase.

However, the race itself has been something of a graveyard for odds-on shots; seven of the last 10 being beaten, four of them (Un de Sceaux at 4-6, Douvan at 2-9, Chacun Pour Soi at 8-13 and El Fabiolo at 2-9) trained by Majborough’s trainer Willie Mullins.

Apart from Favori de Champdou, who looks nailed on for the Glenfarclass Cross-Country, the rest of the racing looks very open on day two of the Festival. Act of Innocence can take the Turners’ and get the day off to a good start for an in-form Nicky Henderson and the trainer could also win the BetMGM Cup with Iberico Lord.

Cheltenham Festival day 2 tips and results

1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1 )

• Marlborough’s tip: Ballyfad
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Act of Innocence
  Only defeat came when giving masses of weight to a four-year-old, solid representative from a yard in good form coming into meeting.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: King Rasco Grey
  Paul Townend/Willie Mullins – say no more.

2.00: Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1)

• Marlborough’s tip: The Big Westerner
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Oscars Brother
  Could be one of the stories of the day, one of just two horses trained by Connor King. Comfortable winner of last two starts in Grade 2s.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Kitzbuhel
  His run at Kempton was unbelievable.

2.40: BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

• Marlborough’s tip: Storm Heart
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Iberico Lord (Nap)
  Comfortable winner of only start over this trip, needs to run career best but can do.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Jingko Blue
  Beaten last time by Kabral du Mathan, who goes for tomorrow’s Stayers’ Hurdle.

3.20: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

• Marlborough’s tip: Favori de Champdou
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Favori de Champdou
  Seems revitalised by going cross-country despite a fall first time. Runaway winner over course last time with a nice weight thanks to presence of Stumptown.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Favori Des Champdou
  Looked so good over course and distance in January.

4.00: Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

• Marlborough’s tip: Majborough
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: It Etait Temps
  One time ante-post favourite for this has become the forgotten horse of the race after fall last time. Better ground can help.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Irish Panther
  Brilliant run at Leopardstown last time, finishing close to Romeo Coolio.

4.40: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (Grade 3)

• Marlborough’s tip: Be Aware
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Jour d’Evasion
  Novice chaser who has developed a winning habit.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Rubbed
  Represents top trainer/jockey and has a touch of class.

5.20: Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

• Marlborough’s tip: Love Sign d’Anjou
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Bass Hunter
  Looks the pick of the British. If he gets his way in front he might prove hard to pass.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Love Sign D’Aunon
  Patrick rides for Willie and Goliath Du Berlais is going to be a great sire.

Big-race trends

Turners Novices’ Hurdle
Another race where market prominence is a big factor. Six of the last 12 winners have been sent off as favourite, with 10 also having been trained in Ireland. In what are important considerations for novice races, every winner had at least two runs over hurdles, with 11 winners boasting at least two wins over hurdles coming into Cheltenham.

Brown Advisory Novice Chase
Previous course form is the name of the game here. Ten of the past 12 winners have won at Cheltenham before winning again in this Grade 1. It is also worth noting that 10 of the last 12 winners had won over the distance before, a stat that will be tested now that the two-and-a-half mile Grade 1 novice chase is no more. This is also a race in which horses arriving fresh should be treated with caution. Every single winner in the last 12 years had at least one run in the 77 days before the festival.

Queen Mother Champion Chase
A race where it pays to be wary as a punter. Only four of the last 12 winners have been sent off favourite, although 11 of the last 12 where in the top three in the betting. Despite the relatively poor record of favourites in the race, it is worth noting that 11 of the last 12 winners has at least won a Grade 1 chase.

Cheltenham Festival day 2 ground and weather

Underfoot on the Old Course, around which every race on Wednesday takes place, the going is rated as good to soft. No rain is forecast for Wednesday during the race programme although some showers could roll through in the morning.

Betting on Cheltenham?

There’s a lot of competition between bookmakers for customers during the festival and they will often run their best promotions of the year, especially earlier in the week. Take a look at these Cheltenham betting offers to find free bets to use throughout the week.

How to watch Cheltenham Festival day 2

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the first five races of the day on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 12.45pm GMT every day until 5pm GMT. The races can also be streamed via ITVX. There is a preview show each morning from 9am GMT to 10am GMT which is shown on ITV4 and ITVX.

The final race of each day will not be shown on ITV but will be live on Racing TV. Subscriptions for the channel, which shows every race from the Festival, are available through Sky and Virgin Media and online through its website and app.

We tested all phones for at least a week and often for as long as a month, focusing on improvements over the preceding generation, if applicable. The quality of the cameras and the software behind them is always an important factor, so we take pictures and video in a wide variety of day and night conditions, testing each shooting mode. This is closely followed by battery life, charging time and the speed of the processor: can it smoothly handle the demands of high-definition video and the latest AI-driven software?

Screen size and resolution are important when assessing phones as video and gaming platforms, but we also take into account how they feel in the hand and how resistant they are to knocks and scratches. We tend not to compare operating systems given that both iOS and Android are frequently updated, but we do pay attention to how well they work with headphones and other wireless peripherals.

Most phones are available with a choice of storage capacities ranging from 128GB to 512GB, and sometimes even 1TB. The difference in performance between storage tiers is, at most, negligible, so we test the ones that we believe represent the best value.

Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended

Our tech experts continuously conduct in-depth, independent, real-world tests, scoring devices against pre-set testing metrics and industry benchmarks, so we can deliver definitive and comprehensive buying advice.

Telegraph Recommended reviews are never shared with product manufacturers before publication, we don’t accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more.

There is no single “best phone” that will suit everyone. If you just want a phone to handle the basics, then a Pro or Ultra-tier handset is overkill.

This brings us to form factor. Modern smartphones vary wildly in size, from the pocket-friendly Samsung Galaxy S25 to the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold that unfurls into a mini-tablet. The latter is great for getting things done on the go, but it won’t travel lightly in the pocket.

For some people, a smartphone is more like a hyper-connected camera. Thankfully, every flagship phone these days carries a capable camera, but you need to ask yourself what kind of photography or videography you favour.
High-quality zoom lenses, for example, are often reserved for Pro and Ultra models.

Now that you’ve established the kind of phone you might be after, we can offer up some specific recommendations.

Apple made smartphones mainstream with the launch of the original iPhone in 2007. Every smartphone that has been released since has owed the company a significant debt.

Apple continues to make the most popular phones on the market, and that popularity is well deserved. iPhones are expensive, but they’re well-built, easy to use, and have outstanding cameras, while Apple’s customer support is second to none.

The county’s police force issued an appeal for information or sightings of Zafar Iqbal from Nelson in Lancashire.

Recommended reading:

“This motorcycle stopped and the rider covered the number plate of the vehicle before riding past.

“Enquiries later identified the motorcycle and the rider to be Iqbal who has attempted to pervert the course of justice continually, stating he had sold the vehicle years ago despite enquiries proving otherwise.

“Extensive enquiries have been ongoing to locate Iqbal and we’re now appealing for your help to help find him.

“We believe that Iqbal could be in Nelson or Blackburn.

“He also has links across Lancashire and North Yorkshire.

“Iqbal is described as Asian, grey hair with a grey/black beard or facial stubble.

“If you see or have information as to his current whereabouts, please call North Yorkshire Police on 101.  

“Alternatively, you can pass on information anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via their website.

“If you have an immediate sighting of Iqbal, please call 999.

“Please quote reference number 12250129150 when providing any information.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it hit “fuel depots” near Tehran in a post on X on 7 March, which included a photograph showing damage to the Tehran oil refinery. BBC Verify provided the coordinates of this facility, along with three other locations we identified, to the IDF and the Pentagon for comment. The Pentagon did not reply, while the IDF said there were “no IDF strikes at those sites”. We have asked for clarification.

EXCLUSIVE: NHS Lanarkshire’s performance on GP numbers and accident and emergency waiting times have been blasted by Labour MP Imogen Walker.

SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray has been accused of “shameful” NHS failures in his own backyard.

NHS Lanarkshire is either bottom of the league or under-performing on GP numbers and accident and emergency waits.

Labour MP Imogen Walker said: “Neil Gray is the Cabinet Secretary responsible and this is happening in the very communities he represents. He must know what is happening, so why won’t he act?”

The SNP Government is under mounting pressure over patients languishing on waiting lists and the 8am rush for a GP appointment.

First Minister John Swinney has ploughed extra cash into cutting waiting lists while announcing new GP walk in centres.

But an analysis of official figures shows that NHS Lanarkshire, which serves Gray’s Airdrie and Shotts constituency, is one of the biggest stragglers.

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As of March last year, the health board had the lowest number of full-time GPs in Scotland for every 10,000 patients.

The Lanarkshire figure stood at 4.4, lower than the thirteen other NHS boards and below the average of 5.9.

A survey on patient satisfaction for GP services, covering 2023/24, also revealed NHS Lanarkshire with the worst record.

When patients were asked how easy it is to contact their general practice in the way they wanted, only 59% of respondents in NHS Lanarkshire reacted positively.

This was the lowest of fourteen NHS boards, with every other organisation recording over 70% or more.

Fewer than one third – 32% – said their GP surgery allows them to make a doctor’s appointment three or more working days in advance, the worst positive figure for a board.

NHS Lanarkshire was also bottom when asked about GP opening hours, the quality of information provided by receptionists and the arrangements for speaking to a doctor or nurse.

In response, the board pointed to separate figures showing the GP consultation rate slightly above the national average over the last 12 months.

On accident and emergency services, NHS Scotland aims to have 95% of patients seen, admitted, discharged, or transferred within four hours.

Papers show NHS Lanarkshire reported a 51% performance in December – significantly below the national average.

Imogen Walker, MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley, said of the record in Gray’s own patch: “After 19 years with the SNP in power, their record on health care speaks for itself. Hospitals are at breaking point, we do not have enough GPs, and my constituents are paying the price for years of failure.

“Many are living with painful conditions, unable to see a doctor, or feeling they have no choice but to pay privately. Some of the cases I deal with are heartbreaking, and the SNP Government will not admit the depth of the problem, let alone find a solution.

“The Scottish Government receives 20% more funding per person than the rest of the UK and has had billions more for healthcare. While waiting lists in England under the UK Labour government continue to fall, the SNP is failing Scots on every measure.

“While dedicated NHS staff work tirelessly, the Scottish Government continues to defend a shameful record. I will not stop working to get my constituents the health care they deserve.”

Dr Lucy Munro, NHS Lanarkshire Divisional Medical Director, said: “NHS Lanarkshire recognises the significant pressures facing health and care services, including workforce challenges in general practice, high demand in emergency departments and long waits for some services.

“Despite the workforce position, our clinical teams in general practice continue to strive to meet patient access needs, with a GP consultation rate slightly above the national average over the last 12 months.

“We are taking action to increase capacity through multidisciplinary primary care teams, improve patient flow in hospitals, and redesign pathways to reduce waiting times, including for neurodevelopmental assessments. Our staff continue to work tirelessly in extremely challenging circumstances and we remain committed to improving access, experience and outcomes for patients across Lanarkshire.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Long waits have come down for over the last eight months, including in NHS Lanarkshire. We are working closely with NHS Lanarkshire as they take forward the action needed to improve A&E performance, including strengthening patient assessment on arrival to A&E and ensuring the right support is in place after discharge.

“Our half a billion pounds deal with GPs will improve access and ensure more investment goes into primary care – our new network of walk-in clinics, including one in Clydesdale, will boost capacity and reduce pressure.”

It’s been a quiet few months for Coronation Street’s legal power couple, Alya Nazir (Sair Khan) and Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson).

I mean, they were present at the epic disaster that was the Driscoll family Christmas dinner that involved exposed abortions and a vicious beating that left a man unconscious.

Alya also had to say goodbye to her bestie, Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) when she decided to trade in drizzly Weatherfield for a new opportunity in Dubai, while Adam has found himself embroiled in a feud with the insidious Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown), who’s certainly proven that she’s not one to cross, over Jodie’s refusal to pick up after David the dog.

But since the solidifying their fledgling relationship, things have been relatively un-dramatic for Alya and Adam, which is incredibly rare for anybody that lives in the vicinity of Coronation Street.

…until Rich Pemberton (Jamie Cho) re-emerged.

‘Rich is back on the cobbles and wants something from Alya. The last time he was here it led to her leaving her life behind and moving abroad for work so whatever he’s got planned might not be good news for Alya and boyfriend Adam,’ a Corrie source previously disclosed and, it seems, his reappearance certainly isn’t good news for the duo.

Alya found herself summoned to see Rich while Adam dealt with Adam continued to beef with Jodie and, in no uncertain terms, told him to stay away from her. Although Alya makes it clear she has no interest in speaking to him, he remains undeterred, and calls her the next day.

Relenting, Alya meets Rich later in the week and is hit with a brutal ultimatum.

Next week sees Adam revel in the joy of poaching a client from Rich’s firm, Fabian Croft. Though she paints on a smile, the weight of Rich’s words is clearly laying heavily on her.

Later in the week, Rich visits Barlow Legal Services and while the meeting goes well, Adam is horrified to find that their internal email service has been breached: they’ve been hacked.

When Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan) arrives, utterly furious at the leak of an email regarding Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) and Rich informs them that their business reputation is effectively destroyed, Alya and Adam reel at what has befallen their business.

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Is there any way for the legal lovers to salvage their practice? Or has the death sentence already been passed?

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