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NewsBeat

Inside Marcus Rashford’s Man United rise and fall – From Wayne Rooney’s heir to bomb squad

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Manchester Evening News

Marcus Rashford scored England’s fourth on Wednesday night as they beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup opener. While Rashford could not have asked for a better start to the World Cup, his Manchester United future appears to be in tatters. It has been a whirlwind decade for the 28-year-old.

After bursting onto the scene in February 2016, Rashford has had a rollercoaster career full of highs and lows. With his time at Old Trafford potentially coming to a permanent end this summer, MEN Sport has taken a look at the rise and subsequent fall of Rashford at United.

February 2016

On February 25, Rashford makes his debut for the Reds against FC Midtjylland. He scored twice as United ran out 5-1 winners on the night, 6-3 on aggregate. The teenager takes to social media afterwards to write: “A dream debut, great to score twice and contribute to the team.”

Three days later, he scores another brace, this time in the Premier League against Arsenal in a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford. The game is also remembered for head coach Louis van Gaal flopping on the touchline in front of the fourth official. “This is my first game in the Premier League, so obviously it’s been amazing,” Rashford told Sky Sports.

“To score two has been a bonus, so hopefully we can carry it on and go again the next game. It was a shock playing midweek as well. But that maybe benefited me because I wasn’t thinking about the game too much. It’s just crazy.”

After the Arsenal win, MEN Sport christened Rashford as the heir to Wayne Rooney.

March 2016

On March 20, 2016, Rashford becomes the youngest ever goalscorer in the Manchester derby as his goal secures a 1-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. That morning, reports suggest Van Gaal will be replaced by Jose Mourinho in the summer.

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May 2016

Despite leading United to the FA Cup, Van Gaal is sacked and replaced by Mourinho, on May 27. Three days later, Rashford signs a new contract until 2020 after ending his debut campaign with eight goals in 18 appearances.

He is named the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year.

September 2016

Rashford finishes runner-up to Portugal’s Renato Sanches in the Golden Boy.

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May 2017

Started the Europa League final that United won 2-0 vs Ajax. This wrapped up an impressive season for the Reds winning the Europa League, League Cup and Community Shield.

He also played the most matches of any United player that season (53).

October 2017

Rashford finishes third in the Golden Boy behind winner Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.

March 2018

On March 10, Rashford makes his first start of the year and scores twice as United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford. Three days later, the Reds crash out of the Champions League against Sevilla and Mourinho is criticised in the media for continuously playing Rashford on the wing, rather than as a centre-forward.

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August 2018

Following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s departure, Rashford is awarded the No.10 shirt on August 5.

September 2018

Having not started all season up to that point, Rashford is told by Jamie Carragher that he might need to leave United. “Romelu Lukaku is in front of Rashford and I don’t see Rashford displacing him as long as he is there,” Carragher tells Sky Sports.

“But remember when Lukaku was at Chelsea and he had to come away and go to Everton. Then he ended up as top scorer and got his move to Man United.

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“Possibly Everton is the sort of club you are looking at, just below the top six, for someone like Rashford, similar to what Lukaku did. Does he have to leave United? I think so.

“Is he good enough to displace Lukaku? Is Rashford good enough to be Manchester United’s centre-forward for them trying to win the Premier League or the Champions League? He may not be.”

Three days after Carragher’s comments, Mourinho fired back in a press conference on September 14. “People speaking about his minutes, they are a bit confused,” he said.

“Marcus Rashford is not [then Liverpool striker] Dominic Solanke. He’s not [then Chelsea midfielder] Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He’s not [then Everton forward] Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

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“He’s Marcus Rashford, Manchester United player, with an incredible number of appearances and an incredible number of minutes played at the highest level in the best possible competitions.”

December 2018

On December 18, Mourinho is sacked by United and replaced, initially on an interim basis, by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Four days later, Rashford scores inside three minutes as Solskjaer wins his first match in charge 5-1 against Cardiff City.

Rashford continues his good form leading to praise from Solskjaer on December 30, 2018. “Marcus has been different class since I came,” he told Sky Sports.

“He’s scored two now in three. His work rate is unbelievable.

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“He closes down, chases, runs in behind, and the skill for the first goal for Paul [Pogba]… the first thing, he holds the ball up, he hasn’t got the right to get past them. He’s got all the chances in the world, the potential of being a top, top, top striker.”

March 2019

Rashford scores his first competitive penalty for United as the Reds seal a stunning 3–1 win in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain. This sends the club through to the quarter-final on the away goals rule.

July 2019

Rashford signs a new contract on July 1, keeping him to the club until June 2023. There is an option to add a further year to the deal.

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April 2020

On April 21, Rashford sheds light on the tough time he had under Mourinho. “It was tough but I think when you look back on it in five or six years, they’re the moments that give you that mental toughness,” he told the Utd Podcast.

“As an all-round player I’ve improved a lot and a lot of it is down to those two years under Jose. We had ups and downs. When I look back at it, it was a tough period but definitely a period that made me a better player.”

October 2020

Rashford scores his first United hat-trick in a 5-0 Champions League win vs RB Leipzig. Only the second hat-trick ever scored by a United substitute with the first being scored by his manager Solskjaer in 1999.

February 2021

He makes his 250th appearance vs West Ham. Rashford becomes the fourth youngest player to reach that milestone for United.

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October 2021

Following Euro 2020, Rashford undergoes shoulder surgery and only returns to football on October 11. When he does come back, it takes some time for his form to return.

November 2021

Solskjaer is sacked on November 21 after a humbling defeat at Watford. Ralf Rangnick is appointed interim manager until the end of the season. He notably warns United they need ‘open heart surgery’ to return to their past glory.

July 2022

Erik ten Hag is appointed Solskjaer’s successor.

December 2022

After a good start to the season, Rashford’s contract is extended by a further year on December 20. However, on New Year’s Eve he is dropped for the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers after oversleeping and missing the team briefing.

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Rashford shrugs that off to come on and score the winner in a 1-0 victory at Molineux.

May 2023

Rashford scores his 30th goal of the season against Chelsea on May 25. A couple of days later, Ten Hag said: “There’s a lot of room for improvement in his game.

“I’m convinced he could score even more. I think when you take, for instance, the last 10 games, he didn’t score so many goals. I think only two or three.

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“We supported him where we could, with the way of play but also in his mental mindset, so we are happy with that. But, yeah, we have to push for more and I am sure he’s capable to score 40 goals in a season, to make also for him the next step.”

At the end of the season, he was voted by the club’s supporters and playing squad as the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year.

July 2023

He signs another new contract that expires in 2028 and makes him one of the highest earners at the club.

January 2024

Rashford calls in sick for the FA Cup clash against Newport County on January 28. Earlier that week he had been spotted on a night out in Belfast.

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“Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions,” a United statement read. “This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed.”

October 2024

Ten Hag is sacked by United and is soon replaced by Ruben Amorim.

November 2024

On November 24, Rashford starts and scores during Amorim’s first game but United draw 1-1 with Ipswich Town.

December 2024

During the Europa League clash with Viktoria Plzen, Rashford is replaced on 56 minutes. Three days later, on December 15, Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are not picked in the matchday squad to face Manchester City.

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United win and before and after the game, Amorim insists no disciplinary issues are taking place. Rashford then speaks to journalist Henry Winter, two days after the Manchester derby.

He expresses his disappointment at not playing and suggests he is ready for a ‘new challenge’. He is subsequently dropped and does not play for United for the remainder of December.

January 2025

After not playing in January, Rashford is brought up in a press conference at Fulham. “It’s always the same reason – the training, the way I see a footballer should do in life. It’s every day, every detail,” Amorim responded when asked about the forward.

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“If things don’t change, I will not change. It’s the same situation for every player, if you do the maximum and right things we can use every player.

“You can see on the bench we miss a bit of pace on the bench, but I would put [United’s 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge] Vital before a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day.” United insist afterwards that Amorim was making a broader point and not singling out Rashford in particular.

February 2025

Rashford joins Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season. An option to buy is included in the deal, priced at £40m.

July 2025

Villa do not sign Rashford permanently at the end of the season and the forward becomes part of a so-called ‘Bomb Squad’ at Carrington. On July 23, United agree a loan deal with Barcelona which includes a £26m option to buy.

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June 2026

On Monday, June 15, Barca allow the £26m clause to buy Rashford, to expire. Instead, they purchase Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.

As things stand, United’s preferred option is to sell Rashford permanently.

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York and North Yorkshire motorists sentenced by magistrates

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Five York and North Yorkshire drivers banned from the roads

Magistrates went ahead with all their cases, found them guilty in their absence and sentenced them.

Three cases were heard at Harrogate Magistrates Court.

Sarah Partridge, 38, of Water Lane, York, was convicted of failure to tell police who was driving her vehicle when it was allegedly committing a traffic offence.

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She was banned from driving for six months, fined £120 and ordered to pay £120 prosecution costs and a £48 statutory surcharge.

Jamie Lee, 52, of Middlefield Close, Osgodby, Scarborough, was convicted of not telling police who was driving his vehicle when it was allegedly committing a traffic offence.

He was banned from driving for six months, fined £660 and ordered to pay £120 prosecution costs and a £264 statutory surcharge.

Thomas Butler, 37, of Hugden Close, Pickering, was convicted of driving without insurance in Helmsley and was banned from driving for six months.

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He was fined £660 and ordered to pay £120 prosecution costs and a £264 statutory surcharge.

Christopher Roche, 36, of Millgate News, Selby, was convicted by Bradford magistrates of failure to tell police who was driving his car when it was allegedly speeding in a 30mph zone at Walton near Tadcaster.

He was fined £660, ordered to pay a £264 statutory surcharge and £130 prosecution and given six penalty points.

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World Cup 2026: From west Cumbria to the World Cup, Carlisle is England’s goalkeeper factory

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Jordan Pickford, James Trafford and Dean Henderson

Having made his England debut in 2017, Pickford helped the team reach the World Cup semi-finals the following year in Russia and has cemented his place as manager Thomas Tuchel’s number one.

Now a veteran of the team with 85 caps at the age of 32, Carlisle played their part in his development after he joined the then-League One team on loan from Sunderland.

He only played 18 games for the Cumbria-based club but clearly left his mark.

“I remember one game in particular, we were playing at Deepdale against Preston,” said Ben Benson, who went to the game as a fan but was also part of Carlisle’s goalkeeping set-up.

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“He made a mistake, one that goalkeepers up and down the country make every week.”

The stakes couldn’t have been higher in the incident Benson recalled as Pickford, aged just 19, had joined a club struggling to stay in the division.

Away to Preston he’d come for a cross and, despite seeming to have both hands on the ball, it fell from his grasp and Lee Holmes poked home to score North End’s third goal in a 6-1 success.

However, it was what Pickford did after that mistake which impressed Benson and set the tone for the rest of the season.

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He added: “Once it happened, I could remember him going back to his goal. He got his towel and put it over his head for maybe five seconds.

“He took it off, put it back on, and it was almost like he’d pressed the reset button. From the moment on, I remember him being outstanding.”

Pickford’s displays weren’t enough to save Carlisle from relegation but he returned to Sunderland where he established himself as their first-choice keeper and moved to Everton in 2017 for a transfer fee reported to be £30m.

“In Jordan you see reliability and robustness first and foremost,” said Benson. “For him to have over 300 Premier League appearance and more than 80 England caps, there’s a robustness there and I think that’s very important.”

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‘From working in a bank to making pizzas, it’s been a mad journey’ says Belfast street food vendor

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Belfast Live

It has earned a growing reputation in recent years after joining the food line-up at the popular city venue

Knead Pizza Owner Aidan Moss

Knead Pizza needs no introduction to regular visitors to Belfast’s Common Market. The local pizzeria has become a firm staple at the iconic city food spot.

Founded by Newtownabbey man Aidan Moss, Knead has earned a growing reputation in recent years after joining the food line-up at the popular Cathedral Quarter venue.

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His latest move has been him partner with food services giant SSP Group as part of the newly refurbished dining area at Belfast International Airport.

For Aidan, 38, it’s been a whirlwind journey from working in banking to making pizzas in a garage and now doing it for a living within Belfast’s thriving food scene and all in the space of a couple of years.

Aidan told Belfast Live: “It all started during COVID making pizzas in the garden, me and my friend, Mark. My wife Aisling had bought me a new pizza oven for my 30th birthday.

“It turned into a bit of a competition between the two of us. me and Mark, to see who was better at it and everybody would have said that we’re both good and that we should team up.

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“As a result, Belfast Pizza Lads was born in 2022 – just two lads from Belfast doing pizza our way. We started in his garage, taking pre-orders on Instagram and we started to get busier and busier selling.

“Aisling, who is a teacher got us to do an event at her school catering for the staff. One of the staff member’s husbands owned a pizzeria in our local pub, The Crown and Shamrock Inn in Newtownabbey. I reached out to the pub owner and he agreed to take us on and we’ve been there for the last four years.”

Back in 2024, Aidan’s banking job was being made redundant and moved to Edinburgh so it was decision time for Aisling and himself: “We’d just had our first kid so I couldn’t really travel.

“My wife talked me into giving Knead to go. I came from a banking background, not a food background so I had no real network in the city centre.

“I reached out to one of my friends who is a director of the Waterfront Hall and he introduced me to Lawrence Bannon, who owns Common Market. Just purely by chance there was a vendor leaving, and we were able to get in.

“Our pizza is inspired by our travels and experiences, with a distinctive Belfast twist. We’re not Neapolitan, we’re not New York – we sit somewhere in the middle so I call it like a Belfast pizza experience. It’s as local an experience as I can make it.”

Knead Pizza is also now being enjoyed by passengers at Belfast International Airport. Flax & Soda is one of the airport’s newest food and drink venues and offers an approachable, family-friendly atmosphere.

Celebrating the best of Northern Ireland, Flax & Soda is a 280-cover space offering a flexible, all-day dining experience tailored to a wide range of passenger needs.

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The venue has also teamed up with Knead to add their pizzas to the menu for passengers to get when they’re passing through.

“As a local business, we are incredibly excited for the opportunity to partner with SSP to bring our product to Belfast International Airport, and we are proud to share it with visitors from around the world.

“It’s been a mad journey from working in a bank in 2024 to making pizzas in an airport in 2026,” Aidan laughs.

Video: Justin Kernoghan

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

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Boston Red Sox President writes letter thanking Tartan Army for unforgettable Fenway Park takeover

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Daily Record

The Tartan Army were praised for bringing an extraordinary atmosphere to the game on June 14.

The President of the Boston Red Sox penned a letter thanking the Tartan Army after their spectacular takeover of Fenway Park.

More than 5000 Scotland fans marched through the streets of Boston, kilted and playing bagpipes, before attending the venue to watch the Red Sox take on the Texas Rangers on June 14.

The Tartan Army were praised for bringing an extraordinary atmosphere to the game, with players describing it as the most enjoyable game of their careers.

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Red Sox president Sam Kennedy has now penned a letter to Hampden bosses, admitting the moving scenes will never be forgotten.

He said: Dear President Mulraney and Chief Executive Maxwell,

“On behalf of all of us at Fenway Sports Group, we wanted to take a moment to say thank you.

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“What happened at Fenway Park on June 14th was something none of us will forget. We knew the Tartan Army was coming. We did not fully understand what that meant until we saw it.

“Hundreds of Scotland supporters gathered at the foot of a statue of Robert Burns in the Back Bay and marched all the way to Landowne Street to the sound of bagpipes. Kilts and Scottish flags filled our ballpark with a spirit that has no equivalent in American sport.

“It was genuinely one of the most moving things we have witnessed at Fenway Park in a very long time.

“Throughout its 114-year history, Fenway Park has seen World Series championships, historic rivalries, and more than a few unforgettable nights.

“And yet on Sunday evening, a ballpark that is typically filled with a baseball crowd became, for a few hours, a meeting point between two sporting cultures. Our fans embraced your supporters without reservation.

“Your supporters responded with exactly the generosity and good humor that has made the Tartan Army beloved everywhere in the world they travel.

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Scotland’s return to the World Cup after 28 years deserves every bit of the enthusiasm your supporters brought to Boston.

“We are proud that Fenway Park could be part of this chapter in your celebration.

“Please extend our deep gratitude to your staff, to manager Steve Clarke and the full Scottish FA delegation, and above all to the Tartan Army itself.

“They treated our home like their own, and we are better for it.

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“With warmth and admiration, Sam Kennedy President, Boston Red Sox.”

Boston has fallen in love with the Tartan Army after embracing fans who travelled to support Steve Clarke’s men for their two 2020 Fifa World Cup matches in the city.

From drinking pubs dry to playing bagpipes at 6am and abducting traffic cones to give statues the Duke of Wellington treatment – Bostonians loved the Scots so much that Glasgow and Boston are now set to become sister cities.

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Daily newspaper The Boston Globe also published a full page tribute to the Tartan Army after bringing “a joy that Boston will never forget.”

They said: “Dear Tartan Army, you came for the World Cup, but gave us something more.

“For a week, you turned train stations into singalongs, Fenway into a football ground and an ordinary June into something we’ll be talking about for years.

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“Boston has hosted championships, parades and celebrations of every kind. But we’ve never hosted guests quite like you all.

“Thank you for the laughter, the bagpipes and the memories. The World Cup will move on. So will the songs, but we’ll never forget the joy you brought to our city.”

The Tartan Army has since moved on to Miami for Scotland’s final group stage match against Brazil on Wednesday.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the World Cup

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‘Merlin’ turns up at Stonehenge for the summer solstice | News UK

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'Merlin' turns up at Stonehenge for the summer solstice | News UK

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Thousands have gathered to celebrate the summer solstice as the UK braces for a heatwave that could see record-breaking temperatures.

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This morning, a crowd of more than 20,000 people flocked to Stonehenge and Avebury in Wiltshire to see the sun rise at 4.25 am on the longest day of the year, according to English Heritage.

Visitors, some wearing flower head-dresses, touched the ancient monument and cheered as the glowing sun peeked over the misty horizon.

One of the visitors was the ‘real Merlin’, dressed in a full wizard outfit – and his father joined as well.

The father of Merlin said: ‘This is the son of Merlin. It’s his birthday today, but this is why we’ve come to celebrate.

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‘It’s my son’s birthday, son of Merlin, and it’s the solstice. Yes, that’s a really magical time for me as a father. And the sun. And that son, so I’ve got two sons, really. This one, this one.

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‘And it’s powerful stuff. We come here, and we pick up vibrations from the cosmos. I’ve been 40 times here. In the rain, in the fog, you know, no sunrise, but the vibrations are still here. The stones themselves have been concreted, which stops a lot of energy coming up. But it’s still there, it’s still powerful on the ley lines.’

Merlin and his son were part of thousands who came for the solstice (Picture: PA)

The solstice comes just days before the Met Office said the heat is expected to peak at about 35C on Tuesday and Wednesday, sparking weather warnings, health alerts and concerns for vulnerable people.

Forecasters have said there is ‘growing confidence’ this week could break the record for the hottest June temperature of 35.6C, which was set in 1976 in Southampton.

In France, highs of 40C are expected on Sunday, with Monday likely to be even hotter as emergency services and military forces have been put on wildfire alert.

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Public alcohol consumption restrictions have also been put in place by French authorities and some outdoor sporting events cancelled.

Today, highs of 31C are forecast in London along with 27C in Cardiff and 21C in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Revelers gather at the ancient stone circle Stonehenge at sunrise to celebrate the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, near Salisbury, England, Sunday, June 21, 2026.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The event is popular each year (Picture: PA)

Monday will be a ‘cloudier day overall’, with temperatures expected to reach up to 32C with humidity forecast to rise throughout the week, he said.

An amber extreme heat warning has been issued by the weather service for Monday and Tuesday for most of southern England, south-eastern and eastern Wales, and much of the Midlands.

The alert flags potential health impacts for people vulnerable to extreme heat and heat-related issues for the wider population, as well as a potential increase in water safety incidents.

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People in the alert area are advised to drink plenty of fluids and to keep out of the sun, and avoid exercising between 11am and 3pm, the Met Office said.

The heat comes after at least 15 people died after getting into trouble in open water during a hot spell in May.

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

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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England vs New Zealand: Matt Henry ends hosts’ miserable fortnight

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BBC Sport microphone and phone

Second Rothesay Test, The Kia Oval (day five of five)

New Zealand 391 (Phillips 100) & 362 (Nicholls 121, Ravindra 76, Mitchell 68)

England 291 (Gay 53, Fisher 50*; Henry 5-80) & 209 (Root 76, Brook 58; Henry 6-29)

New Zealand won by 253 runs, three-match series level at 1-1

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Scorecard

England’s miserable fortnight ended with a crushing defeat in the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval – setting up a high-stakes decider at Trent Bridge.

Under the shadow of the controversy surrounding absent captain Ben Stokes, an inexperienced England team were exposed by an excellent performance from New Zealand, who won by 253 runs.

England began a baking final day with scant hope of an escape, resuming on 182-5, chasing a notional 463.

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The home side lasted less than an hour thanks to the brilliance of New Zealand seamer Matt Henry, who claimed 6-29 for career-best match figures of 11-109.

Joe Root was out for 77 in the third over of the day, again lbw to Henry with the keeper standing up, and the tail was exposed.

Jofra Archer was bowled by a shooter, Matthew Fisher played on and Josh Tongue was caught at first slip for a golden duck, giving Henry his first Test 10-wicket haul.

And when Jordan Cox was bowled an attempting a sweep, England were beaten and Henry had the best match figures by a New Zealander in a Test in England.

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It meant that exactly two weeks on from a confidence-boosting win in the first Test, England are trying to move on from a period of chaos while also facing the vital third Test.

In celebrating the win at Lord’s, Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson broke the England team’s midnight curfew and were present when a member of security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.

The pair were stood down for this Test pending an investigation, the outcome of which is now due to be revealed as England need to name a squad for Trent Bridge.

While it was already thought likely the duo will return, with Stokes as captain, a clear indication was given on Sunday morning when both were withdrawn from their county fixtures.

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Key points after 20th week of Noah Donohoe inquest

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Belfast Live

Need to know

The long-running inquest into the death of the 14-year-old is being heard with a jury at Belfast Coroner’s Court

  • At least two people who “had eyes” on Noah Donohoe on the night of his disappearance were not asked to give statements by police, the inquest heard on Monday. The PSNI officer responsible for co-ordinating house-to-house searches the week of the 14-year-old’s disappearance in June 2020 said it was for senior investigating officers to decide who would give witness statements. PSNI Detective Inspector McCartan, who was a detective constable in 2020, led the house-to-house searches conducted to find the missing schoolboy. The parameters for the search included homes on a number of streets in the Northwood Drive area near the culvert where Noah’s body was later found. Mr McCartan told the inquest full resident house-to-house forms were not completed for each visit as it would be “hugely time-consuming”, officers instead using a questionnaire form that Mr McCartan himself produced and he said was “considerably quicker”.
  • Brenda Campbell KC, representing Noah’s mother Fiona Donohoe, questioned the officer about the process for flagging any “thematic” issues uncovered in the searches. Mr McCartan said he collated a spreadsheet that was updated at the end of each day by officers involved in searches that the investigating officers and CCTV and witness co-ordinators would have had access to. Ms Campbell highlighted “two neighbours”, one referring to “a back door handle being tried around 3am” and another referring to screams heard in the area on the Sunday night Noah was last seen. The inquest was then shown a questionnaire from a house in Northwood Road where the resident reported hearing “noises” and a comment reading “back of house”. Mr McCartan said the officer who filled out that form “would have pressed” the residents if there was a “specific noise” and also said he could not say “for definite” the back-of-the-house comment referred to where the resident felt the noise was coming from.
  • Pressed on the fact there is no statement from that witness from 2020, the officer said it is “not for me to collate witness statements”, his job at that time was trying to figure out “where Noah was and where he had gone to next”. The jurors later saw a house-to-house questionnaire where the residents described a “tall” boy with “dark hair” and seeing him “take his top off and put it on the wall” at the address some of Noah’s clothes were later found. Ms Campbell put it to the officer that when Noah was at that address at Northwood Drive “at least two people had eyes on him and we have statements from neither of them”, asking Mr McCartan “your response is the same, not your responsibility, not your remit?”, to which he responded “yes”.
  • A senior PSNI officer has conceded the mother of Noah Donohoe is “in a position of not having answers” about the death of her son because of “mistakes made” by police. PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Phillips became the senior investigating officer (SIO) in relation to Noah’s case on Wednesday 24 June 2020, when it was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
  • Mr Phillips said: “There are broadly things that we have missed and mistakes made which has left Fiona in a position of not having answers. In terms of what that would have told us in terms of what happened to Noah – I don’t think so.” Referring to a CCTV camera which police failed to procure footage from, Mr Phillips said: “I’m sorry, that should have been found. Fiona shouldn’t be sat here six years on wondering was there a camera there and what did it show,” he said. He added: “With the benefit of hindsight we did everything we could to find him and I’m content that the PSNI did everything we could to find him as quickly as we could.” The officer went on: “Certainly as time has gone on I regularly think if there was something I could have done to manage my relationship with Fiona in a different way because it deteriorated so quickly. I am truly sorry for any part that I played in that. Noah’s case is unusual enough as it is, nobody should be in this position. I think six years on, I don’t know what else we could have done to help us understand what happened to him and why.”
  • Police “pursued the child and not the evidence” in their investigation into the death and disappearance of Noah Donohoe, the inquest heard on Wednesday. Earlier in her examination, Ms Campbell contested that Mr Phillips “pursued a hypothesis that blamed a child, that he did this by choice”. He said: “I disagree with the phrase I blamed him.” Ms Campbell then clarified that he “pursued a hypothesis that Noah did this by choice”. He replied: “Yes, that is where I felt the evidence and information took us.”
  • Ms Campbell put it to Mr Phillips “you challenged and you changed nothing” about the search, to which he said “no”, and then “you didn’t challenge and you didn’t change the deployment of specialist resource”. Mr Phillips said: “No, I asked the question but I didn’t suggest they were going too slowly.” When being asked about further failings to recover CCTV footage, Mr Phillips defended PSNI colleagues. He said it was his job as SIO to “drive the investigation to, yes, ensure the information they had was correct and in some cases that didn’t work” and “there were some failings and I’ve apologised for that” but added that is “not to say people involved in this were incompetent, they were good detectives for many years”. He said detectives and officers involved in Noah’s investigation have worked on “many many instances, many crimes, other cases that have all worked out very well so, yes we made mistakes but they’re not incompetent individuals”. He added: “None of this was done deliberately; it was just human error.”
  • The inquest continues.

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More than 30,000 people denied entry to Europe due to EES

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More than 30,000 people denied entry to Europe due to EES

The EES was first introduced in October last year, before the rollout ramped up on April 10.

The new system requires British travellers and other non-EU visitors to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans, when entering the Schengen Area.



More than 30,000 people denied entry to Europe due to EES

The latest data from the European Commission has revealed that more than 30,000 people have been denied entry into Europe since the rollout of the new EES, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

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Of those denied entry, nearly 7,000 had previously overstayed in the Schengen Area, and around 800 were considered security threats.

More than 66 million entries and exits have been logged through the new system so far, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported.

Who can be denied entry to Europe?

Under the Schengen Borders Code (SBC), guards can deny travellers from outside the EU entry to the area if they fail to meet the entry conditions under Regulation (EU) 2016/399, ETIAS.com explains.

Refusals typically relate to:

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  • Missing or invalid travel documents
  • Insufficient financial means
  • No proof of accommodation or purpose of stay
  • Security and public order concerns
  • Health or public safety issues

European airports could temporarily shut down EES

The new EES has received significant backlash since its introduction, with it causing long waits for passengers at airports.

Brits have been warned of six-hour waits at several major European airports, with these long waits expected to continue for another two years, according to industry experts.

Major airlines, including Jet2 and Ryanair, have called for the rollout of the new system to be suspended until after the summer to allow for a “smoother airport experience” during peak travel season.

CEO of Ryanair’s Malta subsidiary, Malta Air, David O’Brien, even threatened to pull all flights to Malta due to the extended wait times caused by the EES at airports.

But officials have revealed that European airports have the power to temporarily shut down the EES if queues get too long.

Deputy Executive Director of Frontex (EU border and coast guard agency), Uku Särekanno, speaking to The Mirror, said: “We have until the end of the summer, the possibility during the tourism season to lift the biometric controls or the biometric registration temporarily.

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“If there is a peak hour, you see that there are hundreds of people queuing, their queues are getting too long, then member states still have the possibility to lift biometric registration.

“The EU has considered, for the period of summer, to make sure that there is still some relief for the worst-case scenario.”

Have you used the EU’s new Entry Exit system yet? Let us know about your experience in the poll above or in the comments below.

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HMRC issue urgent warning to all UK pensioners this month

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HMRC issue urgent warning to all UK pensioners this month

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is targeting state pensioners under 80 with annual incomes above £35,000 who received the payment in winter 2025.

Up to two million pensioners across the UK could be affected by the changes, with most facing automatic repayment through tax code adjustments.

HMRC said: “For a typical Winter Fuel Payment of £200, PAYE customers with income more than £35,000 will pay approximately £17 per month extra in tax during the 2026 to 2027 tax year to recover their payment.”

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The repayments will be collected via higher monthly tax deductions.

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The typical Winter Fuel Payment is £200 for pensioners aged under 80 who live alone and the charge will be spread across the 2026–2027 tax year through a change in their PAYE tax code.

HMRC provided an example to clarify how the system will work for a basic rate taxpayer:

“Your total income is £37,710.

“This is made up of £25,737 from a private pension and £11,973 from your State Pension.

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“In December, you got a £200 Winter Fuel Payment.

“Your Personal Allowance is £12,570.

“This is your total deductions.

“£12,570 (Personal Allowance) – £12,973 (total deductions) = –£403 of tax free allowance.

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“Your new tax code is K39.

“This means you’ll pay extra tax on £399 of income.

“You’ll pay around £17 more tax per month.”

The repayment scheme applies to pensioners across the UK, including those in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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In Scotland, the payment is known as the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

In Northern Ireland, payments were issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive.

All recoveries are managed by HMRC, regardless of location.

Only pensioners who exceeded the income threshold and did not opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment are required to repay the funds.

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For pensioners under Self Assessment who file online, the Winter Fuel Payment should be pre-populated on their 2025–2026 tax return, due by January 31, 2027.

If the payment is missing, they must add it manually.

Those submitting paper returns need to include the payment by the deadline of October 31, 2026.

HMRC has also issued a warning about potential scams targeting pensioners during the recovery process.

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The tax authority urged pensioners to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious communications.

HMRC said: “To report a suspicious text claiming to be from HMRC, forward it to 60599.

“To report a suspicious email, forward it to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk .

“To report a scam phone call, visit GOV.UK.

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“If you have had money stolen, contact your bank immediately and notify Report Fraud.

“In Scotland, contact police on 101.”

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Met Office warns heatwave is developing into ‘severe weather event’ as they update weather warning

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Wales Online

Unprecedented high temperatures of up to 38°C C are due to hit Wales next week

The Met Office has warned that a heatwave affecting Wales is developing into a “severe weather event” after issuing a second amber extreme heat warning within four days.

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The new warning, covering much of Wales from midnight on Wednesday until 11.59pm on Thursday, comes as temperatures are forecast to exceed 30°C widely, with some areas potentially reaching 38°C.

The amber warning covers the following areas: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, the Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, the Vale of Glamorgan and Wrexham.

Forecasters said exceptionally high temperatures will be accompanied by humid conditions and unusually warm nights, with some areas expected to remain above 20C overnight. BBC weather presenter Louise Lear described the conditions as “potentially dangerous”.

The Met Office warned that the prolonged heat is likely to have impacts beyond those considered vulnerable to hot weather, with population-wide health effects possible.

Its warning states there is a risk of serious illness and danger to life, while significant changes to daily routines and working practices may be required.

Disruption to transport networks is also possible, with delays and closures affecting roads, rail services and airports. Officials have also warned that heat-related failures of infrastructure could affect electricity, water, gas and mobile phone services.

The warning highlights an increased risk of water-related incidents as more people head to beaches, rivers and lakes during the hot weather.

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Popular destinations across Wales, including Barry Island, Tenby, Llandudno, Rhyl, Aberystwyth, Barmouth and the Gower coast, are expected to see an increase in visitors.

People are being urged to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day and check on older relatives, neighbours and those with underlying health conditions.

The Met Office said very hot conditions are likely to continue until at least Thursday, although there is a possibility that cooler air could begin moving in from the west later in the week.

A Met Office spokesperson said: “Very hot weather is likely to continue in general until at least Thursday across the highlighted region, although significant variations from place to place and day by day are likely. Temperatures by day are widely expected to exceed 30 Celsius, with the hottest areas potentially peaking around 38 Celsius.

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“Overnight, temperatures are unlikely to fall much lower than high teens Celsius, and some places will not fall below 20 or 21 Celsius. These high temperatures will also be accompanied by high humidity.

“Cooler conditions may begin to become established from the west following this period, but confidence is low.”

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