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‘I picked classic baby name for daughter but my family says it’s dated and ugly’

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Daily Mirror

Parents-to-be have decided to settle on a traditional name for their daughter, which you think would be a safe choice. However, their relatives aren’t impressed with it

It’s super risky to get advice about potential baby names before your child is born.

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After all, people often feel free to share their opinions and these aren’t always positive. Hearing criticism or disapproval can make you second-guess your choice or feel hurt, even if you love the name.

And that’s the exactly the problem one couple is facing at the moment. Sadly, they are being called out by relatives who aren’t keen on their chosen name.

While this would be difficult for any mum-to-be to experience, it was particularly cruel because there is nothing ‘wrong’ with the classic moniker that was chosen by the expecting parents.

The name that’s been heavily debated is Miranda. It’s a classic choice for girls and is even mentioned in popular Shakespeare play, The Tempest.

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But despite being around for generations, some of the family members have cruelly described the moniker as “ugly” and “dated”.

Speaking about the dispute in an anonymous post, the aunt wrote: “My brother and sister-in-law are considering this name for their daughter, due in two months. The extended families are extremely divided on the name.

“I like it. I don’t think it’s particularly classic or trendy or tragically dated and ugly (which are basically the three camps the rest of the family are falling into), but I think it’s cute, resilient, and holds the possibility of different potential nicknames as little Miranda finds herself.”

The aunt defended the couple and said the decision should be up to them – and not the choice of critical family members. And judging by the comments section, people agreed with her.

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One responder wrote: “It’s a fine name, very established. I feel bad for the parents having to contend with the extended family.”

Another added: “I like it – maybe a little unexpected, but a solid name.” And a third added: A third also wrote: “Miranda is a refreshing change from all the currently popular names! I know a Miranda – she also goes by Mandy. It’s a great name!

“Why on Earth does it matter what extended families think?! Does everyone in the extended family get a vote? Such a weird thing for relatives to sit around and discuss with a perfectly normal name.”

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The Seaham coastal spot earning rave reviews on TripAdvisor

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The Seaham coastal spot earning rave reviews on TripAdvisor

Nose’s Point, perched on the dramatic Durham Heritage Coast near Seaham, has been hailed as a “simply stunning” attraction offering rugged cliff-top walks, wildlife watching, and a fascinating glimpse into the area’s industrial past.

Once the site of Dawdon Colliery, where mining waste was dumped directly into the sea, the headland has since been transformed into a rich coastal habitat. Today, wildflower meadows, grasslands and unique geological formations attract visitors year-round — from dog walkers and family groups to photographers chasing the perfect sunrise.

Described by locals and tourists alike as a “coastal gem,” the viewpoint offers panoramic views of the North Sea and accessible paths for all visitors at the upper levels, though access to the beach can be more challenging.

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While there are no cafés or toilets directly on-site, Seaham’s town centre is just a short walk or drive away — home to its famous sea glass beach and plenty of inviting cafés for a post-walk treat.

Facilities include:

  • Cliff-top trails and circular walking routes with benches for rest stops
  • Dog-friendly open spaces
  • Car parking, including accessible spaces
  • Information boards detailing the site’s mining heritage

Nose’s Point currently holds a 4.5/5 rating on TripAdvisor from more than 270 reviews, with many praising its sweeping sea views and peaceful atmosphere.

⭐️ “A beautiful place to go… a great spot for views.”
⭐️ “Great views across the Seaham post-industrial landscape.”
⭐️ “My favourite place in the UK to visit. Stunning scenery, breathtaking day or night.”

From its rugged beauty to its remarkable history, Nose’s Point proves why the Durham coast continues to surprise visitors — a testament to how nature can reclaim and redefine a once-industrial landscape.

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Bid to build bridge over A19 for Coast to Coast walkers

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Bid to build bridge over A19 for Coast to Coast walkers

North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA) has applied to National Highways for funding for a footbridge over the road near Ingleby Arncliffe.

The Coast to Coast Walk, which is used by more than 6,000 people a year, stretches from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire.

It will be officially declared a National Trail next month in a move supporters hope will bring in funding to improve the route, increase its popularity and secure its future.

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A diversion from the traditional route set out by celebrated fell walker and author Alfred Wainwright in 1973 has been put in place to discourage walkers from crossing the A19 at Ingleby Arncliffe.

But there is consensus that the ideal solution would be to build a footbridge where the route meets the arterial road near Exelby Services.

A report to next week’s NYMNPA finance, risk and audit committee notes that an application has been submitted for funding of between £6m and £10m for a green bridge.

Joel Brookfield, NYMNPA director of recreation and wellbeing, said the application was made to the National Highways’ capital programme, which offered capital funding for improvement works adjacent to the strategic highway network.

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Mr Brookfield said he understood the authority was still waiting for a response to the submission, which he described as “speculative”.

He added: “The current A19 bridge situation is that a feasibility and technical survey for a crossing at Ingleby Arncliffe was commissioned by Defra and completed, but the project was then put on hold. This was in early 2025.

“There has been no progress since then, other than the creation of a formal diversionary route of the Coast to Coast National Trail, which uses the Black Swan Bridge at Trenholme Bar.”

The funding bid has the support of Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond and Northallerton, who helped  secure the funds for the Coast to Coast Walk to be made a National Trail.

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He said: “I hope National Highways will take this forward.

“While National Trail status is secured and the official opening will take place next month, a footbridge at Ingleby Arncliffe over the A19  is ultimately the best option for the thousands of walkers who tackle the trail every year.”

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Thousands march in Lyon after killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque | World News

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People holding lit torches during the march. Pic: Reuters

Some 3,000 people joined a march in France on Saturday after the killing of a far-right activist in an incident that shocked the nation.

Quentin Deranque, 23, died in hospital from brain injuries last week after being beaten in Lyon, where clashes between far-right and far-left groups have become more frequent.

A minute’s silence was held before the start of the march, organised by far-right groups, which saw some demonstrators hold white tulips while others carried banners and placards.

Many people dressed in black, some with their faces partially covered, and chanted “justice for Quentin” and “antifa assassin”.

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The march took place under heavy police scrutiny with no major incidents recorded, but the local authority said it had reported Nazi salutes and racist ‌insults filmed during the march to the prosecutor, after videos circulated on social media.

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People hold a banner that says ‘the far-left kills’. Pic: AP

A man holds a flare next to banners reading: 'justice for Quentin' and 'goodbye comrade'. Pic: Reuters
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A man holds a flare next to banners reading: ‘justice for Quentin’ and ‘goodbye comrade’. Pic: Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron had called for calm ahead of the demonstration, saying: “This is a moment of remembrance and respect for this young compatriot who was killed, for his family and loved ones. That must come first.

“And then it is a moment of firmness and responsibility.”

Mr Deranque’s parents also called for calm and did not take part in the march.

The 23-year-old died after being attacked during a fight that erupted between far-left and far-right supporters, on the margins of a student meeting where a far-left lawmaker was a keynote speaker.

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A wreath at a makeshift memorial to Quentin Deranque. Pic: Reuters
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A wreath at a makeshift memorial to Quentin Deranque. Pic: Reuters

Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

Clashes between the two sides have become frequent in Lyon. The fighting often takes the form of organised street battles in the city, sometimes involving groups of several dozen people.

The city is seen by intelligence services as the cradle of far-right activism in France.

Its left-leaning militant groups have been formed more recently, in reaction to the many far-right groups that have been active for several decades.

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Read more:
British far-right activists ‘banned from France’
London terror attack cop sacked over ‘offensive’ texts

Seven people are ⁠under formal investigation for their alleged roles in Mr Deranque’s murder, including a former aide to a lawmaker for the ‌hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, which has condemned the killing.

LFI’s opponents have accused it of stirring up violence and tensions with its combative far-left politics. Its leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon, has condemned the violence and insisted his party is not to blame for the tragedy.

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BBC The Walsh Sisters viewers fume over ‘truly awful’ detail just minutes in

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Belfast Live

The Walsh Sisters premiered on Saturday night, with BBC viewers sharing mixed reactions

New drama The Walsh Sisters, adapted from Marian Keyes’s bestselling novel, made its debut on Saturday night (February 21).

Keyes launched her first book featuring the Walsh Sisters, entitled Watermelon, in 1995, before releasing its hugely popular follow-up, Rachel’s Holiday, two years later. Angels and Anybody Out There were published in 2002 and 2006, respectively.

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The new BBC comedy-drama focuses on five sisters navigating their own triumphs and tribulations throughout their 20s and 30s, as they encounter some of the most difficult periods of their lives.

“This is a sisterhood full of in-jokes, hand-me-down resentments and more than a few old wounds. But their DNA, history and shared love of power ballads keep the Walsh sisters together in the face of heartbreak, grief, addiction and parenthood,” the official synopsis continues, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE: Where was BBC The Walsh Sisters filmed as ‘Hollywood’ arrives for Irish dramaREAD MORE: BBC The Walsh Sisters stars Irish legends from House of Guinness and Derry Girls

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Derry Girls star Louisa Harland portrays Anna in the Dublin-based series. The programme also follows Rachel (Caroline Menton), Maggie (Stefanie Preissner), Claire (Danielle Galligan), and Helen (Máiréad Tyers).

The opening episode introduced audiences to siblings Anna and Rachel, who share accommodation in Dublin, where late evenings and chaotic mornings are commonplace. However, after a rowdy night out with their partners, Aidan (Samuel Anderson) and Luke (Jay Duffy), friction quickly emerged when Luke grew anxious over Rachel’s irresponsible conduct.

Anna subsequently disclosed to Rachel that she was engaged, prompting her sister to voice her reservations, given they’d only been together for a few months.

Later during the episode, the five siblings went out for drinks to mark Claire’s divorce. However, catastrophe struck when Rachel was rushed to hospital. The episode concluded with a startling cliffhanger as Anna and her fiancé, Aidan, were caught up in a horrific car crash.

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After watching the first episode, numerous BBC viewers voiced their grievances, as they felt that the novels were better at depicting the sisters’ narratives and endearing characteristics.

“Glad I read the books first. So much better than the TV adaptation,” one individual posted on X (formerly Twitter), with another stating: “I’m not sure why they decided to clump all the sisters’ stories together. It’s not working for me.”

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A third remarked: “Everybody speaks the same terrible dialogue, but nobody looks even vaguely similar except they are all really unlikeable as people,” whilst another person similarly observed: “Who the f*** thought it was a good idea to give [Aidan] an American accent?!? Truly awful.”

In contrast, other audience members expressed optimism that the programme would strengthen as it progressed, with one individual noting: “This episode is just warming up… think the next episodes will be even better.”

The Walsh Sisters is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

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7 cases before Northern Ireland courts this week

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Belfast Live
7 cases before Northern Ireland courts this week | Belfast Live

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‘We need that’ – Pep Guardiola has message for Man City fans after Newcastle

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Manchester Evening News

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about the atmosphere at the Etihad after their 2-1 win over Newcastle

Pep Guardiola wants a repeat performance at Manchester City for the rest of the season – from the fans. Two goals from Nico O’Reilly earned a big win over Newcastle in the Premier League title race and Guardiola wants the Etihad as alive as it was on Saturday night for the rest of their run-in.

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Recent matches in various competitions at the Etihad have seen empty seats at matches, with nine games in seven weeks proving too much for some supporters amid various issues around the matchday. But it was a full house for the fourth out of five confirmed meetings with Newcastle this season and the fans played their part in the Blues moving to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the table.

“Always I say to the players [that] we have to play for the fans – I have incredible respect for them,” said Guardiola. “Sometimes they cannot come for the price, for many reasons, because we play in midweek for example at 8pm, and the day after the kids have to be at school, the father and mother has to go to work.

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“And today, tomorrow is off, tomorrow is Sunday, so it’s perfect, and look at the opponent. We need that, I encourage them to come, we try to do our best, we don’t want to disappoint. Today the connection and vibe with our fans was the best of the season. We have five games left [at home in the Premier League], we need that vibe.”

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Meanwhile Guardiola started his press conference by congratulating James Milner after the former City player set a new standard in the league. “Today he made an incredible milestone to become the player with most appearances in the Premier League – it’s incredible, hats off!” he said.

“This is consistency, this is love for the game. I know he will become an incredible top golf player, but what he has done is unbelievable. So on behalf of Man City, because he played here, James, congratulations.”

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Erling Haaland of Manchester City gestures during the Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)

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Film fans warned to take ‘precautions’ on Yorkshire Moors

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Film fans warned to take 'precautions' on Yorkshire Moors

The warning follows a 75 per cent increase in Google searches for “Yorkshire Moors” in the past week after the release of a new adaptation of Wuthering Heights.

The film, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, has reignited interest in the dramatic Yorkshire landscape.

But outdoor experts are reminding visitors that the moors can be hazardous for those who arrive unprepared.

Natalie Wolfenden, author and outdoor enthusiast at GO Outdoors, said: “Moorlands are known for sudden weather changes, gale-force winds, uneven terrain, slippery paths, featureless surroundings and patchy mobile signal.

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Stunning Sky in Swaledale by Adrian Morris. (Image: Adrian Morris)

“If you’ve been inspired to head outdoors after watching Wuthering Heights, make sure to take extra precautions so you’re properly prepared for these environments.”

Ms Wolfenden has shared seven safety tips for those planning a ‘set-jetting’ trip:

Plan your route
Before setting off, review your route carefully to make sure it’s suitable for your ability.
Check for any steep or rocky sections, as these can become especially slippery after rain. If there’s been prolonged rainfall, steer clear of boggy terrain, which may be waterlogged.

Footwear
Sturdy shoes with good grip are essential for the moors, which can be slippery and muddy year-round.

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Visibility
Wear reflective clothing, especially in foggy conditions.

Carry a torch or headlamp.

Phone signal
Mobile coverage is patchy on the moors.

Fully charge your phone, download offline maps, and tell someone your route.

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Weather
Check the forecast and be prepared for sudden changes.

Companions
It’s safer not to walk alone.

A walking companion can help in emergencies and share kit.

Emergencies
In case of emergency, dial 999 or 112, ask for the police, then request Mountain Rescue.

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Remain where you are and follow instructions.

By following these guidelines, visitors can enjoy the breathtaking scenery safely.

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: UK will ‘make 2026 the year war ends’ says defence secretary after vow to deploy troops

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: UK will ‘make 2026 the year war ends’ says defence secretary after vow to deploy troops

Watch: Boris Johnson says UK should send non-combat troops to Ukraine now

Former prime minister Boris Johnson has said the UK should send non-combat troops to Ukraine now in a bid to “flip a switch” in Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s head.

Mr Johnson said the country should put boots on the ground in non-fighting zones, adding Ukraine’s allies have been “too slow” to send support to Kyiv.

Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg alongside the former head of the military, Adm Sir Tony Radakin, the former PM said: “We’ve always delayed needlessly,.

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“We’ve then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for, and actually it’s always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin.

“I mean, the one person who suffers from escalation is Putin.”

Boris Johnson says UK should send non-combat troops to Ukraine now

Maira Butt21 February 2026 23:00

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Ukraine officials to boycott Paralympics over Russia’s participation

Ukrainian officials are poised to boycott the upcoming Milano Cortina Paralympics next month, protesting the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags.

Ukraine‘s Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi confirmed on Wednesday that while Ukrainian athletes will still take part in the 6-15 March games, no official representatives from Ukraine will attend the opening ceremony or any other event.

It comes after the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision on Tuesday, which cleared a combined total of 10 para-athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete. Six slots have been handed to Russia and four to Belarus.

Maira Butt21 February 2026 22:00

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Ukraine strikes a key industrial site deep inside Russia

Ukrainian drones struck an industrial site deep inside Russia on Saturday, and a Russian news channel reported the target was a key state-owned missile factory.

The attack took place in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, leaving 11 injured, three of whom were hospitalized, according to a Telegram post by Sergei Bagin, the local health minister.

One of the republic’s facilities was attacked by drones” launched by Ukraine, regional head Alexander Brechalov said in another Telegram post. He added that the strike caused injuries and damage but did not name the site or give further details.

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In this photo provided by Ukraine’s 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, a local passes by a destroyed apartment building following an Russian air strike in the town of Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine on 20 February. (Ukrainian 65 Mechanized brigade)

Maira Butt21 February 2026 21:00

IMF board to weigh new $8.1bn Ukraine support package

The International Monetary Fund said its board will consider a new $8.1bn programme for Ukraine in the coming days after staff reached a preliminary agreement with Kyiv.

IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said Ukrainian authorities had completed the required prior actions, including submitting a draft labour code law to parliament and adopting the 2026 state budget.

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She added that Ukraine’s economy is likely to grow below 2 per cent in 2025 and that Russia’s invasion “continues to take a heavy toll on Ukraine’s people and its economy”.

The proposed arrangement would form part of longer-term financial support as Ukraine continues to fund its wartime budget and stabilise its economy amid the ongoing war.

If approved, the board decision would allow further disbursements under the programme.

Maira Butt21 February 2026 20:15

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Ukraine’s women at breaking point after four years of war as attacks on energy and healthcare continue – says N

Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are directly undermining women’s safety, according to the United Nations.

“Those energy blackouts, they are not just technical disruptions,” chief of Humanitarian Action Sofia Calltorp told reporters in Geneva.

“They directly undermine women’s safety, protection and economic security.”

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Families have been left without heating, electricity and reliable shelter amid brutal winter conditions, with 65 per cent of Ukraine’s energy generation capacity according to the UN.

Ms Calltorp explained that extended darkness, lack of street lighting and disrupted transport “severely restrict women’s mobility and increase exposure to harassment and accidents.”

UN Women reported that 2025 had been the deadliest year for women in Ukraine, with more than 5,000 killed and 14,000 since the start of the conflict in 2022.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Maira Butt21 February 2026 19:45

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Ukraine condemns ‘blackmail’ after Hungary and Slovakia oil threats

Ukraine’s foreign ministry has issued a statement hitting out against “blackmail” by Hungary and Slovakia over oil passing through a Russian pipeline.

Russian oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been interrupted since 27 January after Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone attack damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude across Ukrainian territory and into Central Europe.

Hungary threatened to block a €90bn loan until the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline resumed, Hungary’s foreign minister said.

It was followed by threats by Slovakia to cut electricity to Ukraine unless oil continued to flow through the passage.

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Ukraine condemned the “ultimatums” and “blackmail” over the comments in a response on Saturday.

Maira Butt21 February 2026 19:15

Zelensky awards Paris mayor with special medal for ‘comprehensive support of Ukraine’

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and awarded her with the Order of Princess Olga, III class, for her support for Ukraine on Saturday.

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“We discussed diplomatic efforts to achieve a dignified peace, energy support, and the importance of Ukraine’s recovery,” Zelensky wrote on X.

“I awarded Anne Hidalgo the Order of Princess Olga, III class, and I am grateful to Madam Mayor for her comprehensive support of Ukrainians – including our athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games – as well as for advancing projects for Ukraine’s recovery on the global stage.”

Hidalgo has visited Ukraine during wartime and hosted Zelensky during talks in France.

Maira Butt21 February 2026 18:45

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Watch: Emergency services tackle fires in Odesa after overnight strike

Emergency services tackle fires in Odesa after overnight strike

Maira Butt21 February 2026 18:15

In pictures: Protests take place across Europe in solidarity with Ukraine ahead of four-year anniversary

People attend a protest to mark the four-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the Old Town Square, in Prague, Czech Republic, 21 February, 2026.
People attend a protest to mark the four-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the Old Town Square, in Prague, Czech Republic, 21 February, 2026. (REUTERS)
People gather during a march for Ukraine ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion, in Paris on 21 February, 2026.
People gather during a march for Ukraine ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, in Paris on 21 February, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)
People hold a giant Ukrainian flag during a march for Ukraine ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion, in Paris on 21 February, 2026.
People hold a giant Ukrainian flag during a march for Ukraine ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, in Paris on 21 February, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)

Maira Butt21 February 2026 17:15

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Rishi Sunak reveals details of discussion with Zelensky as he urges UK to catch up on drone production

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference last week where the pair discussed the nature of Ukraine’s military strategy against Russia, according to an article Mr Sunak wrote in the Times.

Mr Sunak said he was left with the conviction that the UK and Europe must catch up to Ukraine in modernising its military weaponry.

“Drones have changed the nature of war,” he wrote.

“At the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky told me that 80 per cent of the casualties Ukraine is inflicting on the Russians are from unmanned vehicles.”

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He added: “A recent Nato exercise, Hedgehog 2025, where Nato forces faced off against Ukrainian drone operators, revealed just how ill-prepared western forces are for this new way of war.”

Mr Sunak concluded: “The world has changed. Defence has changed. Warfare has changed. We must adapt, and fast.”

(PA Wire)

Maira Butt21 February 2026 16:45

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In Emerald Fennel’s Wuthering Heights, domestic abuse has been recast as consensual kink

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In Emerald Fennel’s Wuthering Heights, domestic abuse has been recast as consensual kink

Much has been done, by way of interviews and Instagram reels, to market Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights as a tale of ferocious passion and untameable desire. The question of precisely whose passion we see play out onscreen is a crucial one.

Fennel says the film reflects her personal reading of Emily Brontë’s arresting tale of generational trauma, possession and violence. I had a different experience when I first read Wuthering Heights. I became immersed in a decidedly unsexy story of abuse, and had “bad dreams in the night” over Heathcliff’s brutal nature.

Nowhere is Heathcliff’s brutality more explicit than in his treatment of Isabella Linton, who becomes his wife. Isabella is the sister (or, in Fennell’s interpretation, ward) of Edgar Linton, Heathcliff’s rival for Catherine (Cathy) Earnshaw’s affections.

Heathcliff and Isabella’s marriage is marked by severe domestic and sexual abuse. In Brontë’s novel, Isabella chooses to flee Heathcliff’s tyranny and construct a life for herself independent of him. As the literary scholar Judith E. Pike notes, this was a radical transgression of historical norms, in which Victorian morality would expect her to endure such treatment for love of her husband.

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Isabella is presented as a young, unworldly girl who is extremely childlike.
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Returning to the novel recently, I was struck once more by Isabella’s decimation of her husband’s propensity towards cruelty. I believe any retelling of Wuthering Heights should be faithful to, as opposed to a taming of, its radicalism. Yet when faced with Fennell’s Isabella, I encountered not the daring figure of the source text, but a doglike submissive.

Dogged desire

The words of writer Katherine Angel came to my mind upon exiting the cinema. In her work Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again, Angel argues that, in the wake of #MeToo, a heavy burden has been placed on women to “say what we want, and indeed know what we want” when it comes to sex and desire. It was Angel’s bold question, “Why must the secrets of desire be uncovered?” that reared its head in me after seeing Isabella on all fours.

As Angel contends, “context is everything” when it comes to desire. At first glance, Isabella (portrayed by Irish actress Alison Oliver) is the epitome of the “born sexy yesterday” trope: a female character who is at once physically mature and attractive, but has the mental faculties of an innocent, naive child. Only just coming into the world in her preliminary scenes, Isabella is a lover of dolls and ribbons, elaborate dresses and hairstyles.

It is this infantilised state, to the point of absurdity (in one scene, she unknowingly creates a scrapbook with flowers and mushrooms evoking genitalia), that makes Isabella’s sudden yearning for Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) all the more jarring. Capitalising on established fantasies of Elordi as the “I can fix him”“ archetype, Fennell renders Heathcliff the key to unlocking Isabella’s secret desires.

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Isabella Linton
The violence Isabella experiences in her marriage is transformed from abuse to consensual sexual play in Emerald Fennell’s adaptation.
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And yet, it is only when Heathcliff is spurned – after Catherine has (finally) put an end to their trysts – that the duty of sexually satisfying him falls to Isabella. From the moment he breaks through her bedroom window, he discloses all of his ill-intent towards Isabella.

Heathcliff not only desires her virginity (“Do you know what comes next?”) but her hand in marriage, all in the name of spiting Cathy. He repeats the refrain, “Do you want me to stop?” as he makes Isabella aware of the brutality he will bring down upon her. As he derides and undresses her, she clutches her crucifix and shakes her head to say, “No, go on.”

Deviating from Brontë’s story, Fennell’s Isabella is rendered a sexual submissive, a consenting party to her own abuse.

Making no attempt to leave him (as she does in the novel), Isabella relishes being the dog, literally leashed by Heathcliff. Rather than giving credence to Isabella’s words as they appear in the book – “The single pleasure I can imagine is to die, or to see him dead!” – in Fennell’s adaptation, Isabella’s deviant sexual desires are read through the words of her abuser: “I’ve sometimes relented, from pure lack of invention, in my experiments on what she could endure, and still creep shamefully cringing back!”

Fennell’s “uncovering” of Isabella’s secret desires helps the audience to decide, as posited by Angel, “whether a man’s actions were justified”. In order to realise her desires for Cathy and Heathcliff onscreen, Fennell’s Heathcliff must be exonerated. And he is, most grievously, through Isabella desiring to be his sexual submissive. Only then could the film’s ending play out: Heathcliff exudes Romeo as he lays beside a dead Cathy in her “skin room” tomb.

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So Isabella’s desire is invoked, in accordance with Angel’s theory, as “proof that violence wasn’t, in fact, violence”. Fennel’s Heathcliff is not cruel and abusive, but a communicative and intentional dominant partner in a BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism and masochism) relationship which Isabella, as a submissive, enthusiastically consents to.

It is deeply troubling that the drive of Brontë’s Isabella, a survivor of domestic abuse, has been reread to dramatically absolve her abuser. The girl sobbing behind me as the credits rolled attests to the success of this exoneration. Really, she should be crying over the scripting of violent abuse as consensual play.


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Dog and owner got into problems at Bolton Abbey today

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Dog and owner got into problems at Bolton Abbey today

Among the crews that responded to the hapless pair’s cry for help were one from Selby who had to travel more than 45 miles from their base to get to the emergency.

The dog and the owner got into trouble when walking near the River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey at the top of Wharfdale at lunchtime.

They ended up on the wrong side of the bank and unable to get back to the right side.

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Five crews from Grassington, Ripon, Skipton and Ilkley as well as Selby combined to carry out a water rescue.

They used a sled and throwing lines to bring the dog and its owner back to safety.  Neither was harmed by the incident.

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