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How I Learned To Embrace My Face After Cancer Surgery

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How I Learned To Embrace My Face After Cancer Surgery

I awoke from an 11-hour surgery at University of California San Francisco Medical Center to find that my otolaryngologist had removed not only half of my nose but also half of my upper lip, muscle and bone from my right cheek, the shelf of my right eye, six teeth, and part of my hard palate.

As I tried to shift my body in the bed, I noticed a tug pulling at me from my chest. I looked down to see that a long tube of tissue was suspended from my cheek and attached to my chest. I gasped!

“Help!” I cried out to whoever was still in the ominously dark recovery room. A nurse appeared and calmly explained what had transpired during surgery. I learned that I had a full-thickness skin graft that would be needed to fill in the tissue that had been removed from my cheek, nose and upper lip.

Seeing my face in a mirror at that moment would have been too much to handle. I took a deep breath as my mind raced with questions and waited until my doctor arrived to provide a full post-surgery report.

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Just a few months before the surgery, life had been smooth sailing. I was a junior at the University of California at Berkeley. I was considered by many to be handsome, and a few years earlier, while in high school, I was even voted the homecoming prince. You could say I was living on “easy street”.

The author before surgery (1984).

At some point, my right nostril had started to flare out, and my friends pointed it out to me. I guess I wasn’t that vain then. Eventually, I had to have a maxillary biopsy to figure out what the strange new growth on my face was.

Five weeks later, after my tumour was sent to multiple labs to determine its type, I was diagnosed with a malignant maxillary tumour – a rare fibrosarcoma. My prognosis was good. I had clear margins. I was only 21. I was invincible, right?

But six months later, tingling sensations indicated something nefarious was going on. My doctor warned me that I might lose part of my nose but they were going to try to save my life. I underwent surgery with a lot of unknowns.

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After the disfiguring procedure, my doctor promised to make me “street able” before I left the hospital. Fourteen days after the surgery, the “live tube of tissue” attached to my face was snipped off. It took that long for the full-thickness skin graft to develop its own blood supply so that it could become part of the puzzle pieces that were now fitting my face back together.

My right eye was drooping. My upper lip was pulling toward my right cheek. My nose was normal on the right side and smashed in with no nostril on the other. The rest of the “tube” tissue was reattached to my chest, and skin grafts from my legs were used to cover the area where the tissue was used on my face.

I now had a web of staples parallel across my chest, and what I called a “waffle” of single thickness skin graft tissue from my leg covering my shoulder and part of my chest. But that graft was only one layer instead of the normal three, so the support wasn’t the same, and a backpack over my right shoulder would forever prove uncomfortable. However, that was the least of my concerns.

As I was stitched back together, the concept of “street able” was still mysterious to me. What I didn’t realise then was that this was my surgeon’s way of nicely preparing me for a life of disfigurement. When I left the hospital after my three-week stay, I felt I looked like a monster, and it seemed others saw the same thing.

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The author after surgery (1985).
The author after surgery (1985).

As I reentered the world, I noticed many stares, double-takes, and even an occasional group of young kids giggling at me – from a safe distance, of course.

Once, I sat on a two-way bench in a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) car on my way from the East Bay to San Francisco, across from two preteen girls. It was an especially painful experience, but I pretended on the outside that their giggles didn’t bother me, and instead moved a few seats away to try to soften the emotional pain that was eating my insides out. I guess I was trying to prove to myself how tough I was. Yeah, right!

Suddenly, easy street was littered with detours. Radiation therapy eventually wreaked havoc by shrinking much of the reconstructed tissue holding my face together. New reconstruction to my deformity didn’t solve my problem, as continued radiation magnified my issue as time passed. My self-esteem sank increasingly lower, and I became someone who constantly sought reassurance from others. Not many people want to hang around with someone with that level of insecurity.

Five years and 20 reconstructive surgeries later, I had retreated from much of my life, just working – and working out – in an effort to rebuild my confidence.

I found that weightlifting was something I could control, and at least I could feel better about my body. Hopefully people will look at my body instead of looking at my face, I tried to convince myself. But that’s not really how the world works. Our face is our identity.

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Still, I had control over my body, so I stuck to it, and feeling good about my body helped me gain a little more confidence each day as I looked at myself in the gym mirror.

During my last procedure, I met a woman named Dina who was receiving treatment for cervical cancer in the same hospital where I was having yet another surgery to make my nose symmetrical (which failed, of course). We began dating, but after I asked for the umpteenth time how she really felt about the way I looked, she lost her patience and laid into me.

The bulk of my problem, she informed me, was not my physical appearance, but my emotional insecurity. Boom! I was suddenly more aware than ever that I had two problems now: my physical appearance and my insecurity.

I took time to reflect on Dina’s words. Over time, I found that her honesty helped me realise that my internal scars were far more disfiguring than the ones on the outside ever were.

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I spent time reflecting, focusing first and foremost on what I was thankful for. I came to realise I was grateful for Dina’s honest words. I began to understand how lucky I was that she had highlighted my greatest weakness.

With a fresh perspective, I saw that my surgeries and their outcomes weren’t something I could control. What I could control was focusing on rebuilding what was inside.

The author in 2025.

I began examining my life and used prayer and support from loved ones to boost my spirit and self-esteem. I found the courage to share my vulnerabilities in group therapy and finally realised that it’s all about how you feel on the inside that matters. It’s really not our physical appearance that makes us feel good about ourselves.

I finally felt liberated because I knew how to tackle my challenges. I could focus on my most pressing challenge – my insecurity – one day at a time.

I developed a survival kit that not only helped me rebuild that confidence, but also allowed me to cope, keep hope, and ultimately thrive. I have been cancer-free since 1985, and I decided reconstructive surgery was no longer my priority in 1991. My survival kit consists of seven things that I still use to this day:

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  1. My religious faith gives me strength and courage to weather every day, but most importantly it gives me hope.

  2. I surround myself with positive people that I trust.

  3. I focus on my most pressing challenge and set goals I know I can achieve. That helps me build confidence.

  4. I focus on mindful positivity. When you start with gratitude, everything in life is better. Remember, we choose our attitude, so try to choose a positive one.

  5. I looked for balance and outlets to get my mind off the day-to-day stressors of surgery, treatment, and the fear of a recurrence and continue to do the same.

  6. Group therapy was instrumental in my healing. I found the courage to share my vulnerabilities, and that was freeing.

  7. Practicing positive imaging every day allows me to visualise a better future and calm me and put me at ease when I’m feeling anxious.

As I focused on rebuilding myself from the inside out, my self-esteem improved. I found an opportunity to work in marketing in the tech industry and my approach to success began to pay off. I worked hard. I over-prepared for every meeting. I was buttoned up when I presented plans and strategies to senior management. By the age of 30, I had become a vice president of marketing. I served as a VP of sales and marketing for two other companies, and I consulted for large tech companies like Cisco Systems and Intel.

I began speaking about my cancer and life journey. My confidence flourished. People stopped noticing my facial difference. I began to learn that how we carry ourselves is what people notice. When you have confidence, people are attracted to that and focus a lot less on your physical appearance.

I met a wonderful woman named Sue in my late 20s. We had two dates together before the topic of what happened to me even came up in a conversation, which told me a lot about her. She wasn’t really concerned about what happened to me, but she cared about who I was as a person. We have been married for 31 years.

The author hiking with his wife, Sue, in 2013.
The author hiking with his wife, Sue, in 2013.

Visible differences are a lot more common than many people realise. One recent study found 18% of people in the UK self-identify as having a visible difference, and six out of 10 people with a visible difference say they’ve experienced “hostile behaviour” from strangers.

Because of this, people with visible differences are forced to learn skills to overcome what they believe to be their shortcomings. They learn to adapt. They find strength, build character, gain resilience, and dig deep to find grit.

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I would argue that often these skill sets make them better leaders and managers in the workplace because they can bring empathy to their teams, are comfortable with change, and bring greater life perspective. I am an example of this.

I wouldn’t wish my experience on anyone, but I must say that when I look in the mirror now, my battle scars remind me of healing. I am reminded each day of the gifts my journey has provided for me – gratitude for all I do have, empathy for others struggling, and a bigger and bolder outlook on life.

I hope my story can be a reminder that we just might be happier if we focus on what we’re capable of, who we are, what we’re fortunate to have, and what we can offer the world – instead of how we look. That’s the best way to fix our insecurities.

A survivor of a life-threatening cancer that left him with a permanent facial difference, Terry Healey is the author of The Resilience Mindset (ECW Press, 9/9/2025), and is a keynote speaker. A graduate of UC Berkeley with a 35-year career as a marketing executive, Terry challenges audiences to face adversity and change, and apply his ReBAR resilience framework and principles to gain confidence, build resilience, and find greater purpose and joy in their personal and professional lives. Terry lives in Santa Cruz, California, with his wife, Sue. For more information visit terryhealey.com.

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Cambridge to Oxford rail link slammed as ‘delusional’

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Cambridgeshire Live

CambridgeshireLive readers share strong views on plans to link Cambridge, Oxford, Bedford and Milton Keynes by rail, with concerns over costs, delays and local impact

CambridgeshireLive readers have been sharing strong views on the latest plans to link Oxford, Bedford and Cambridge by rail. The comments below were posted under our earlier report. They show worries about cost, delivery, and local impact. Some ask for different priorities closer to home.

The latest details on a “once-in-a-generation” project to link Cambridge, Oxford, Milton Keynes, and Bedford have been revealed. East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has announced details of its last route-wide consultation on the latest designs for the scheme.

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East West Rail plans to construct a railway line between Oxford and Cambridge. Proposals include upgrading an existing section of railway between Oxford and Bicester, bringing back a section of railway between Bicester and Bletchley, and building brand new railway infrastructure between Bedford and Cambridge.

EWR Co has confirmed that an eight-week consultation will run from April 14 to June 9. Communities along the route will be able to have their say on the proposals before a Development Consent Order is submitted in 2027.

One reader questioned who would benefit. Weneedqueenmeghan comments: “It’s a private railway for the university. Nobody else will use it. They should pay for it themselves.”

Camssurvivor says: “I travelled on the last train from Bletchley to Cambridge nearly 60 years ago. If the line wasn’t considered financially viable and essential then, it certainly isn’t now. Governments have thrown money around like water.”

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Feelgood66 asks: “How many people have looked at what is being proposed, the actual plans, road closures, permanent. Where’s the benefit to the villages? There is none. Just years of pollution to look forward to. Destruction of the countryside.”

Calumen Nomen quotes: “‘Communities along the route will have an opportunity to have their say on the plans.’ Hilarious. Communities along the route have been vociferous in their condemnation of this eye-wateringly expensive white elephant for years now. In particular, the decision to build the country’s largest new town and then route a new (and their only) railway fifteen miles due south is black-belt mindlessness. We closed the old varsity line because no one used it. We have just cancelled half of HS2 because of its cost and general pointlessness. And yet this hapless and untalented administration carries on, like a super-tanker with a tree-sloth at the helm.”

Windypants simply says: “Delusional project.”

While over on our Facebook page, John M comments: “They’ve held this three or four times. The line from Oxford to Bletchley finished a year ago, but no trains yet as we can’t agree who shuts the doors on trains. There are no plans to have stations in local communities between Cambridge and Bedford, only two, one at Cambourne and one in a new unbuilt town.”

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Alan W says: “All the time, as the months go by, the price increases by millions. I wonder, if they think they have endless meetings, whether this is a distraction from the fact that there may not be simply any money to pay for the section to Cambridge.”

Silvia KT writes: “This has been in the pipeline for a few years, and still nothing has been done about the Cambridge to Bedford bit, and then the whole thing from Cambridge to Oxford. They have held lots of meetings, but still no proposed route from Cambridge to Bedford or from Cambridge to Oxford.”

Carole CB feels: “Better links to Fulbourn would be a better idea.”

While Jeremy B adds: “Wish they could reconnect Huntington to Cambridge via train.”

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Scott Peacock comments: “Another consultant meeting. You will get the same whining nimby’s objecting to the railway. Just look at the mess they made of the countryside when constructing the extension of the A428 near St Neots. You can’t make an omelette without the eggs.”

Where do you believe urgently needs a rail connection with Cambridge? Comment below or HERE to join in the conversation.

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GAA on TV this weekend as the 2026 Championship season gets under way with blockbuster Ulster derby

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Belfast Live

Armagh host rivals Tyrone in the Ulster SFC preliminary round as the 2026 Championship season begins

Championship season is finally upon us as the 2026 edition gets under way this weekend with a handful of cracking first round contests.

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The pick of the games from the opening weekend is, undoubtedly, the huge Ulster derby clash between old foes Armagh and Tyrone.

The Blackwater rivals are both recent winners of the Sam Maguire Cup with the last of Tyrone’s four All-Ireland titles coming in 2021 while the Orchard men won their second back in 2024.

Kieran McGeeney’s men go into this preliminary round contest as strong favourites, however, after an underwhelming League campaign from the Red Hands with Malachy O’Rourke’s side struggling for form in Division Two.

The Ulster preliminary round is on Sunday afternoon at 4.15pm at the Box-It Athletic Grounds with RTÉ and BBC showing live coverage of the game.

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The first live football game of the weekend comes from Connacht as Mayo travel to Ruislip to take on London on Saturday (2.30pm) with that game being streamed via GAA Plus.

On Sunday night, GAA Plus will also show live coverage of New York’s clash with Roscommon live from Gaelic Park in the Bronx at 8pm.

The finals of the Lidl Ladies Football Leagues also take place this weekend with all four finals being shown by TG4.

The Division Two final between Cavan and Donegal in Clones is at 3pm while the Division One decider between Cork and Galway at the TUS Gaelic Grounds is at 5pm – both games at live on TG4.

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The Division Three and Four finals are on TG4’s YouTube channel.

The Camogie League finals are on Sunday with RTÉ2 covering the Division 1B final between Clare and Dublin at 12.15pm before the Division 1A final between Waterford and Galway at 2.15pm.

The Division 2A and 3A finals are also live on the Camogie Association’s YouTube channel.

Here’s a full list of which games are being shown live this weekend. . .

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Saturday, April 11

Connacht SFC quarter-final

London v Mayo (Ruislip, 2.30pm, live on GAA Plus)

Lidl Ladies Football League

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Division Three final

Antrim v Louth (Crossmaglen, 1pm, live on Spórt TG4 YouTube)

Division Two final

Cavan v Donegal (Clones, 3pm, Live on TG4)

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Division One final

Cork v Galway (TUS Gaelic Grounds, 5pm, Live on TG4)

Centra Camogie League

Division 3A final

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Armagh v Roscommon (Abbotstown, 2pm, Live on the Camogie Association’s YouTube channel)

Division 2A Final

Kerry v Meath (Banagher, 3.30pm, Live on the Camogie Association’s YouTube channel)

Sunday, April 12

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Centra Camogie League

Division 1B final

Clare v Dublin (UPMC Nowlan Park, 12.15pm, live on RTÉ2)

Division 1A final

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Waterford v Galway (UPMC Nowlan Park, 2.15pm, live on RTÉ2)

Lidl Ladies Football League

Division Four final

Carlow v Leitrim (Birr, 2pm, Live on Spórt TG4 YouTube)

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Ulster SFC preliminary round

Armagh v Tyrone (Box-It Athletic Grounds, 4.15pm, live on RTÉ2 and BBC Sport NI)

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Roku adds 6 free channels amid massive 2026 content push

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Roku adds 6 free channels amid massive 2026 content push

Roku has quietly added six free channels to its streaming platform.

The Roku Channel, which automatically comes with the purchase of any Roku TV or device, brings over 500 free live channels to customers without requiring any subscription fees.

After the most recent update launched Tuesday, viewers now have access to six new ad-supported options across a variety of genres, from Westerns to sitcoms to competition shows.Rawhide, The Beverly Hillbillies, Ink Master, Tosh.0, MTV en Español and Westerns are all available to watch now on the Roku Channel with commercial breaks.

Rawhide is an American Western TV series that aired from 1959 to 1965, starring Eric Fleming and Clint Eastwood. The show’s eight seasons will air on a loop available to channel 313 on The Roku Channel.

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Viewers can get even more Western content on channel 6036, which is dedicated entirely to the classic films and series in the genre.

Roku has added six channels to its free service
Roku has added six channels to its free service (Roku)

In another genre, the iconic sixties sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies is now playing across channel 314. The show, which ran in both black-and-white and color throughout its nine seasons, followed the fictional Clampett family who move to Beverly Hills after striking oil and becoming millionaires.

Over on channel 978, Spanish-speaking audiences can tune in to MTV en Español, which shows music videos, interviews and reality shows in Spanish.

Channel 624 features the long-running tattoo reality show Ink Master, in which tattoo artists compete against each other in design challenges.

Finally, anyone in the mood for a laugh can tune in to channel 815 to watch reruns of Comedy Central’s satirical show Tosh.0.

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In a format mimicking traditional television broadcasting, each of the platform’s channels stream continuously — allowing viewers to watch scheduled content without having to pick specific series or episodes.

The additions are just the latest in the platform’s massive content push this year. Roku’s ad-based strategy is to increase their free viewing options to bring in more engagement.

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Last month, Roku debuted 16 new free channels. The platform also announced it was partnering with Amazon Prime to create Howdy, a new subscription service, for Prime Video subscribers.

The Laguna Beach reunion special will also air exclusively on the platform April 10, reuniting stars Lauren Conrad, Kristin Cavallari and Stephen Conrad, 20 years after the teen drama premiered.

The platform is also set to stream The Masters 2026 and the upcoming Paw Patrol special after joining in on the live coverage of Nasa’s Artemis II mission earlier this week.

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Man charged with 12 offences as car rammed into house in Derry

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Belfast Live

As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

A 36-year-old man has been charged with 12 offences after a car was deliberately rammed into a house in Derry on Tuesday.

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Police received a report of an ongoing incident in the Altcar Park area of Derry at around 2.40am on Tuesday, April 7. On arrival at the scene, officers found “a man armed with an axe” who was “deliberately driving a vehicle into a residential property.”

The four occupants of the property were shaken by the ordeal, but are otherwise uninjured. Police discharged an attenuating energy projectile (AEP), which struck the perpetrator in the leg, to mitigate the risk to the public and the man himself.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “A 36-year-old man arrested following an incident in Altcar Park in Derry/Londonderry on Tuesday, 7th April has been charged to appear before Londonderry Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, Thursday 9th April.

“He is charged with 12 offences – aggravated burglary, two counts of possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, four counts of threatening or abusive behaviour, threats to kill, and criminal damage. He has also been charged with dangerous driving, driving when unfit through drink or drugs, and interference with vehicles.“As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.”

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How to watch PSG v Liverpool on HBO Max today

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Wales Online

There has been a major change for TNT Sports viewers, with new ways to stream live coverage – including Liverpool’s clash with PSG tonight

TNT Sports viewers have been warned of a significant change that came into effect recently, with a sweeping overhaul seeing the broadcaster’s rugby, football and other sports coverage relocated elsewhere.

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HBO Max launched last month in the UK and Ireland, giving audiences the ability to stream content from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, DC Studios and Max Originals all in a single place. However, beyond offering additional film and TV content, the service’s arrival also represents a considerable shake-up for TNT Sports viewers.

Liverpool’s Champions League clash with PSG is being broadcast by TNT Sports 1 tonight (8pm KO) – but viewers will need to make a small adjustment if they wish to stream the match.

While discovery+ has acted as the streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland, it was confirmed last month that the subscription channels are migrating to HBO Max.

Consequently, from this point forward, TNT Sports subscribers will need to head to HBO Max to access the channels and online content, rather than discovery+.

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Liverpool have reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals where they face Paris Saint-Germain on April 8. Fans can watch the game on Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.

The change does not mean that discovery+ is shutting down, however, with the platform now concentrating solely on real-life entertainment and documentaries.

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TNT Sports users have been informed that they will be able to use their existing Discovery+ login details for HBO Max, or online at HBOMax.com. Viewers can download the HBO Max app and sign in using their existing discovery+ email and password.

If you were accessing TNT Sports on discovery+ through the Amazon Appstore, your discovery+ TNT Sports subscription will have now ended. With HBO Max having launched, you can sign up to the TNT Sports plan on HBO Max to continue enjoying the same sports content.

Subscription costs will remain unchanged during the transition, with viewers able to retain TNT Sports on a rolling monthly basis for £30.99 a month. However, HBO Max has also introduced new options for sports fans looking to reduce their outgoings, with viewers prepared to commit to a minimum 12-month contract offered the opportunity to do so at a lower rate of £25.99 per month.

Additional savings have also been made available to viewers wishing to subscribe to HBO Max’s entertainment programming with TNT Sports coverage bundled in as part of a 12-month deal.

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In a statement issued last week, TNT Sports said: “HBO Max, the premier global streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery, has launched in the UK and Ireland.

“HBO Max will become the streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK, giving subscribers in 2026 access to top quality live sports content including this season, the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Adobe Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, Gallagher PREM Rugby, Premiership Women’s Rugby, UFC, MotoGP, Grand Slam tennis, Grand Tour cycling and much more.

“On the 26th March, TNT Sports will move from discovery+ to its new streaming home on HBO Max in the UK,” the statement added. “For existing customers, to keep streaming TNT Sports, simply download the HBO Max app, or go to HBOMax.com, and sign in using existing discovery+ login details.

“With an unchanged price of £30.99 per month for TNT Sports on launch, the service will offer subscribers a standalone TNT Sports plan or ability to purchase alongside select HBO Max plans, providing fans with the ultimate sports streaming experience that includes innovative in-app features across key sports and events – putting fans in control of how they watch.”

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Police at scene of Belfast city centre burglary

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Belfast Live

Damage has also been caused to water and electrical works in the area

Police are currently at the scene of a burglary at a derelict building in Belfast City Centre.

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The break-in is understood to have occurred at a derelict building in the Waring Street area, with police also seen in Sugarhouse Entry.

The PSNI have also said that they are investigating reports of criminal damage having been caused to electrical and water works in the area.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police are conducting enquiries in relation to a suspected burglary at a derelict building in the Waring Street area of Belfast this afternoon, Wednesday 8th April.

“Criminal damage has also occurred to water and electric works in the area, and the relevant agencies have been informed.

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“Anyone who could assist with information that could help enquiries is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 847 08/04/26.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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Dozens arrested and weapons seized in police crackdown

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Dozens arrested and weapons seized in police crackdown

Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Venture team carried out intensified activity across parts of Wigan borough, including Atherton and Tyldesley, which border Bolton.

The operation resulted in 33 arrests, the seizure of multiple weapons and drugs worth thousands of pounds being taken out of circulation.

During the activity, officers recovered knives, machetes, a sword and BB guns, as well as more than £6,000 worth of drugs and £2,000 in cash.

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A total of 35 vehicles were also seized.

In Atherton and Tyldesley, officers made several arrests linked to robbery, drug supply and weapons offences.

One key incident saw a man arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply after police uncovered around 86 wraps of suspected heroin and cocaine.

In Tyldesley, officers also carried out a foot chase, which ended with a man being detained and a knife recovered.

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Police said the activity focused on known hotspot areas, aiming to tackle serious violence and protect young people from harm.

Sergeant Mohammed Waqas, of GMP’s Operation Venture team, said the results showed the force’s commitment to tackling crime.

He said: “Across Rochdale and Wigan during our intensification deployments, we have seized and destroyed over £6,000 worth of drugs, recovered £2,000 in cash, and removed multiple weapons from the streets.

“These results show our commitment to tackling organised crime and anti-social behaviour to keep communities safe.”

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Operation Venture, launched in December 2022, has made hundreds of arrests across Greater Manchester and removed more than 300 weapons from the streets.

Police say the initiative will continue to target serious violence and knife crime, with ongoing patrols and enforcement activity planned in areas bordering Bolton and beyond.

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Police issue update after four teenagers injured in Tenby stabbing

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Wales Online

Police said four teenagers aged between 13 and 17 were stabbed outside Tenby railway station on Tuesday evening

Police have issued an update after four teenagers were stabbed when “disorder” broke out in a Welsh seaside town. The incident took place outside Tenby railway station late on Tuesday evening, with Dyfed-Powys Police later confirming two males had been arrested.

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Video circulating of the violence shows a large group gather on what appears to be one of the platforms, before punches are thrown as a melee breaks out. At one point in the video, a male voice says: “He just stabbed me, he stabbed me.”

On Wednesday afternoon, British Transport Police (BTP) provided an update on the investigation into the incident.

Superintendent Jon Cooze said officers were called to a fight involving a group of youths at Tenby station shortly before 10pm.

Four of the group – aged between 13 and 17 and from the Pembroke area – sustained stab wounds during the incident. They were taken to hospital to be assessed and have since been discharged, he said.

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The latest update also confirmed that the two males arrested on suspicion of GBH in connection with the incident – a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man – remain in police custody at this time.

The force also said that there will be an increased presence of officers in the area to provide reassurance to passengers. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

A “thorough” investigation into the full circumstances of what happened is ongoing.

Superintendent Jon Cooze from BTP said in a statement: “We were called to reports of a fight at Tenby station at around 9.50pm last night, involving a group of youths.

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“Four of the group – aged between 13 and 17 from the Pembroke area – sustained stab wounds during the violence, and were taken to hospital for assessment.

“Thankfully their injuries are not considered to be life-threatening or life-changing and they have already been discharged from hospital.

“Due to the quick actions of our colleagues at Dyfed Powys Police arriving on scene, a 16-year old boy and a 19-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and remain in police custody.

“We understand the concern an incident of this nature will have caused in the community, and while we believe it to be an isolated incident, passengers will notice an increased presence of officers in the area who are there to provide reassurance.

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“We’ve launched a thorough investigation into the full circumstances of the incident and are keeping an open mind as to the background of what has happened. We’re aware of footage circulating online and would ask people not to share this or speculate while detectives concentrate on the investigation.

“Lastly – I’d urge anyone who witnessed what happened or the events leading up to it to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 916 of 07/04/26.”

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555111.

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Car bursts into flames on M8 as destroyed vehicle causes delays for drivers

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Daily Record

The incident happened at junction four westbound, near Whitburn.

Part of Scotland’s busiest motorway has been closed after a car burst into flames. Emergency crews rushed to the scene on the M8 just before 2pm on Wednesday, April 8.

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The road was closed at junction four westbound, near Whitburn. It is unclear if anyone was injured as a result of the blaze.

Drivers faced delays of up to 90 minutes as the fire service worked to extinguish the flames. Traffic Scotland announced at 3.45pm all lanes on the road had been fully reopened but warned motorists to expect further delays of around 30 minutes.

Pictures from the scene show two fire appliances and two police cars at either side of the vehicle. Smoke can be seen billowing out of the mangled wreck as fire officers stand nearby, with traffic building up behind them.

Another image taken later in the afternoon shows cones on the road blocking off one lane as a recovery vehicle removes the car from the road. A Traffic Scotland spokesperson said: “The M8 is currently closed westbound between junctions 4- 4A due to a vehicle fire.

“Emergency services are at the scene. Delays are expected. Alternative routes are recommended.”

Police Scotland has also been approached for comment.

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Support worker who had ‘sexualised kiss’ with vulnerable boy is struck off

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Wales Online

Chloe Short kissed a 15-year-old boy she was supposed to be helping. She has now been struck off the professional care worker register

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A support worker convicted of having a “sexualised kiss” with a vulnerable 15-year-old boy she was supposed to be helping, has been struck of the professional care worker register.

Chloe Short also engaged in text conversations with the child during which the pair expressed their love for each other, Swansea Crown Court heard when she was sentenced in December 2025. Now she has been stripped of her registration with Social Care Wales [SCW].

Short, who was 28 at the time of her conviction, was not represented and not present for a virtual professional standards hearing about her case on April 8. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.

The SCW fitness to practise panel found all allegations against the former care worker proved and removed her name from the register. Short may not apply to be re-registered for five years and even then would have to convince a committee to do so.

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Committee chair Steve Jones said the case was too serious to warrant any sanction other than striking off. She had been unable to work anyway as an interim prohibition order had already been in place.

Short did not engaged in the SCW’s inquiry or process and had not expressed any insight, remorse or remedial work, Mr Jones said. There was nothing to indicate she may not pose a risk to vulnerable people if she was allowed to remain on the register.

The panel found it proved that whilst registered with SCW as a domiciliary care worker Short was convicted at Swansea Crown Court on December 3, 2025 of of intentionally touching a 15 year-old boy sexually and that her fitness to practise with SCW is therefore impaired.

“The offence is so serious there will always be the risk with Miss Short working with vulnerable people,” said Mr Jones.

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He added that her actions had brought the entire profession into disrepute. Miss Short’s case was referred to the SCW in August 2024 by her former employer, Touchstone, which had dismissed her, the panel heard.

During her sentencing hearing last year a judge told Short her behaviour had been “very inappropriate” and that she had rejected the trust which had been placed in her by virtue of her job.

Ian Wright, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that Short was working for an organisation which provided support for families and children in need of assistance, and as such was “in a position of considerable trust”.

He said the defendant was assigned to support a vulnerable 15-year-old boy and carried out a series of home visits which led to “communication with him” in a “wholly inappropriate manner”. The court heard that in the messages, the defendant and the child said they loved each other, and Short told the teenager she “missed him every second” and was “obsessed with him”.

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The matter came to light when Short’s girlfriend became suspicious about her behaviour and looked through her phone. After finding messages on the device the woman alerted Short’s employers who then contacted the police. An investigation was launched during which a short video recorded on a phone was recovered showing the defendant and the boy kissing.

The court heard that the teenager had not provided an account of what happened between him and the defendant and has “never co-operated” with the prosecution.

Short, of Sycamore Court, Bargoed, who was aged 28 at the time of her conviction, had previously pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child when she appeared in the dock for sentencing. She has no previous convictions and had no previous matters before her with SCW.

Rose Glanville, for Short, told Swansea Crown Court that the defendant had not followed a career in the support sector to exploit the access it afforded but rather “in a flawed attempt to repair the damage from her childhood”.

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With a 20 per cent discount for her guilty pleas Short was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and a mental health treatment requirement. She was told she also had to do 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

She will be a registered sex offender for the next 10 years and the court also made her subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time.

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