Ireland face a World Cup play-off against Czechia in Prague on Thursday and the former England striker has been speaking with a couple of old pals.

Ireland have been handed a World Cup thumbs up – from former England striker Michael Owen.

The ex-Anfield star has revealed that some of his old Liverpool teammates are very nervous ahead of the World Cup play-offs.

Owen lined out for the Reds alongside Czech legends Patrik Berger and Vladimir Smicer, and he was in touch with the pair recently.

Czechia have gone through a rocky spell, and their World Cup qualification campaign was so poor that they ditched manager Ivan Hasek.

He lost his job after they finished six points behind group winners Croatia, and only four points ahead of the Faroe Islands, who were just five minutes away from a draw in Czechia, before they pulled off a sensational win in Torshavn in October.

After axing Hasek, the Czech FA went on the hunt for a high-profile replacement, but were snubbed and eventually appointed 74-year-old Miroslav Koubek, who never managed outside of his country.

Owen said that his old pals weren’t exactly brimming with confidence ahead of Thursday’s play-off semi-final.

Speaking with the Irish Mirror, the ex-Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United striker, who now represents Casino.org, a resource designed to help players compare the top online casinos in Ireland, said: “If Ireland keep the form of the last few games up, then absolutely [they can win].

“The Czechs aren’t as good as Portugal and Hungary, that you’ve just beaten in recent times.

“The Czechs, the football there is on a bit of a low. I was only with Patrik Berger and Vladimir Smicer the other day and they were telling me about the recent history of the team.

“It’s not in a great position at the minute. So absolutely Ireland have a chance. Then you are one tie away from getting to the World Cup.

“Personally I think you have got more of a chance than the Czechs of qualifying, with the momentum you’ve got and the feelgood factor that you’ve got. So yeah, it’s pretty exciting.”

He added: “When I spoke to [Berger and Smicer], they weren’t too confident about their team.

“Long gone are the days of Smicer and Poborsky and Berger and Nedved, and all those. Long gone are those days.

“[Tomas] Soucek has been their player of the year for the last handful of years.

“I would struggle to name five players in the Czech team these days.”

Owen added that he would struggle to name too many of Heimir Hallgrímsson’s squad, but that momentum could swing the tie in favour of the Boys in Green.

“Let’s be frank, the same goes for Ireland. 20 years ago Ireland were feared throughout the world. You didn’t want to be playing Ireland at a World Cup,” he said.

“With all due respect, they’ve not got the household names that they did have.

“You could say both teams were in a similar position, however it just feels like recent momentum could carry Ireland a little bit.”

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and Gulf Arab states Tuesday, even as U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was in talks with the Islamic Republic to end the war.

Trump also delayed a deadline for Iran to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz for shipping or see its power stations targeted by airstrikes, briefly driving down oil prices and boosting stocks.

The delay offered a reprieve after the U.S. and Iran traded threats over the weekend of strikes that could have cut electricity to millions in Iran and around the Gulf and knocked out desalination plants that provide many desert nations with drinking water, while raising fears of possible catastrophe if nuclear plants were hit.

But any information on the talks described by Trump remain in dispute with Iran, which denied any talks had been held.

“No negotiations have been held with the US,” Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X, adding that “fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Israel will continue to strike Iran and Lebanon even as the U.S. considers a ceasefire.

“There’s more to come,” he said.

Iran hits Israel and Gulf neighbors, while Israel attacks Beirut

Iran fired three waves of missiles at Israel early Tuesday, with reports of an impact in the country’s north, the Israeli Home Front Command said.

Israel, meantime, pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs saying that it was targeting infrastructure used by the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant group.

A strike on a residential apartment southeast of the Lebanese capital killed at least two people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

In Kuwait, power lines were hit from air defense shrapnel, causing partial electricity outages in several hours. Missile alert sirens sounded in Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said it had destroyed 19 Iranian drones targeting its oil-rich Eastern Province.

Oil prices briefly fell below $100 a barrel after Trump claimed his government was in talks to end the war. But that respite was short lived, with the price of Brent crude, the international standard, back to $104 a barrel in morning trading, up more than 40% since Israel and the U.S. started the war on Feb. 28.

Iran skeptical of Trump’s motives in deadline extension

Trump initially set a deadline of late Monday, Washington time, for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, but on Monday he gave Tehran five more days to comply.

Iran has allowed a small number of ships through the strait, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, but has said it will continue to target vessels linked to the U.S., Israel or its allies.

Its leaders are wary of Washington’s motives, in part because Tehran was in negotiations with the U.S. before the surprise attack that started the war. Iran had also been in talks last year when the U.S. and Israel attacked its nuclear facilities, starting a 12-day war.

Trump’s extension of the deadline comes as a contingent of thousands of Marines is on the way to the area, raising speculation that the U.S. may try to seize Kharg Island, which is off of Iran’s coast and vital to the country’s oil network.

The U.S. bombed the island in the Persian Gulf more than a week ago, hitting its defenses but saying it had left oil infrastructure intact.

Iran has threatened if the U.S. appears to be on the verge of landing troops it could mine the Persian Gulf, which would complicate an amphibious assault and also imperil all shipping in the area.

The delay could be timed to coincide with the arrival of U.S. Marines in the region, expected Friday, wrote the New York-based think tank the Soufan Center in an analysis.

“As Trump has in the past, he could be moving military assets into place, in this case to prepare for an invasion and seizure of Kharg Island, while using negotiations as a cover until those assets are fully combat-ready.”

However, the center also noted that “Trump could be actively seeking an offramp. Whether Iran reciprocates is yet to be seen.”

Trump has said he has no plans to send ground forces into Iran but has not ruled it out. Israel has suggested its ground forces could take part in the war.

Iran’s death toll has surpassed 1,500, its Health Ministry has said. In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian strikes. At least 13 U.S. military members have been killed, along with more than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states.

___

Rising reported from Bangkok and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.

Locals are urged to avoid the area as fire crews continue to work to control the moorland blaze

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Members of the public have been urged to avoid the area after a huge wildfire has broken out in the region.

The moorland fire broke out on Monday evening, March 23 near Greater Manchester with clouds of smoke seen for miles.

Clouds of smoke were seen coming from the flames that erupted at Scout Moor, between Ramsbottom and Whitworth, underneath the turbines.

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Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue have been assisting Lancashire Fire Service at the scene, in attempts to control the blaze.

There has been no confirmation that the fire has stopped burning.

The latest warning urges members of the public to stay away from the area. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Five fire engines attended the scene at Gin Croft Lane, Bury at 5.44pm on Monday.

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Pictures and videos posted on social media show thick plumes of smoke billowing from the scene with roaring flames captured over the moorland.

As huge amounts of smoke filled the sky, residents in Bury and Rochdale both reported being able to see the blaze.

Due to the amount of smoke, it is also advised that windows and doors are closed as work continues on the inferno.

The science fiction film Project Hail Mary brilliantly uses authentic science to underscore the human drama and narrative tension of the story.

Based on the novel by Andy Weir, the story revolves around an effort to save the Earth – threatened by an alien organism that is consuming the Sun. By combining real science, compelling characters and a gripping narrative, the filmmakers have crafted a science fiction odyssey that might just inspire a whole new generation of scientists.

The story begins with the main protagonist, Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), waking from a coma in a sealed lab with no windows. Affected by amnesia, the novel describes how he nevertheless applies his knowledge of high-school physics to deduce that gravity in the lab is 50% greater than on the surface of the Earth. He concludes that he must either be in a constantly accelerating spaceship, or on the surface of another planet.

This opening scene perfectly illustrates a concept that Einstein described in 1907 as his “happiest thought”. Einstein realised that while a person is in perfect free-fall, they don’t directly experience the effects of gravity themselves. This is the state of weightlessness experienced by astronauts in orbit – in a perpetual state of free-fall about the Earth.

By the same token, Einstein realised that this inertial experience of acceleration is also perfectly equivalent to the force of gravity. As Grace discovers, there’s no way to distinguish the two. This principle of equivalence was the essential insight that Einstein needed to describe gravity as the effects of warped space-time in his general theory of relativity.

Grace soon discovers that, not only is his increased sensation of gravity due to the constant acceleration of the spacecraft Hail Mary, he’s rapidly approaching the vicinity of the star Tau Ceti, some 11.9 light-years from Earth. To date, the fastest that humans have ever travelled was on the Apollo 10 mission, which reached nearly 25,000 miles per hour – or about seven miles per second.

That may sound fast, but at that speed, it would take about 320,000 years to reach Tau Ceti. But Grace nevertheless finds himself there well within the course of a human lifetime. To understand how, we have to turn to some of the most fascinating results from Einstein’s theory of relativity.

A famous equation

A capable sports car might accelerate from 0 to 60mph in a time of 2.7 seconds. This is the same rate at which an object falls to the ground due to the effects of Earth’s gravity: 1g of acceleration. The 1.5g of the Hail Mary spacecraft corresponds to a 0-60mph time of 1.8 seconds; clearly rapid, but a comparable rate to a modern hypercar.

The difference is that even the highest performance cars can maintain that acceleration for only a few seconds. The Hail Mary accelerates at that rate for eight and a half months, reaching a maximum speed of 92% of the speed of light, or about 165,000 miles per second; about 25,000 times faster than Apollo 10. So how could the Hail Mary sustain this acceleration for so long?

The answer lies in Einstein’s most famous equation: E=mc². The Hail Mary is fuelled with huge tanks of astrophage – the fictional microorganisms in the story that feed off the Sun and can convert matter to pure energy. The astrophage provides the continuous thrust required to reach almost the speed of light. But it takes light itself 11.9 years to reach Tau Ceti, so even at 92% of the speed of light, how could Grace experience the journey in less than half that time?

The ultimate speed limit

Relativity is clear that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. At a constant speed of 92% of the speed of light, it would take the Hail Mary 12.9 years to reach Tau Ceti. However, one of the essential principles of relativity is that the speed of light is an absolute constant for all observers.

To keep the speed of light constant for all observers, Einstein realised that our intuitive expectations about time and space would have to be modified at relativistic speeds. To put it another way, some very weird stuff happens when travelling close to the speed of light.

If we assume that the Hail Mary is 40 metres long, an observer watching the ship fly by at 92% of the speed of light would observe the ship to be less than 16 metres in length. If we assume that Ryland Grace is the same height as his onscreen counterpart Ryan Gosling, he would appear to an external observer to be only 72 cm tall.

However, one of Einstein’s key insights from relativity is that anyone moving at a perfectly constant speed can consider themselves at rest, and everything else in the universe as moving towards them. If Grace is flying towards the distant star with a constant speed of 92% the speed of light, we can equally say that the Hail Mary is at rest, and that Tau Ceti is approaching the ship at close to light speed.

This can play with our perceptions. From the perspective of an external observer, at 92% the speed of light, the Hail Mary would appear to be length contracted by a factor of 2.55, but from the perspective of the Hail Mary, the ship is still its original length, and all other distances in the same direction appear to be contracted by this same amount.

Whereas the “rest-frame” distance to Tau Ceti remains 11.9 light-years, from the perspective of the Hail Mary, the distance is less than 4.7 light-years. At a constant speed of 92% the speed of light, the Hail Mary would arrive in about five years. This doesn’t mean that Tau Ceti is physically closer – only that from Grace’s point of view the distance is contracted. An observer tracking the mission back on Earth would still find that the journey took 12.9 years. While everyone would agree on the speed of the Hail Mary, the time and distance involved depend on the point of view of the observer.

By embracing the genuine principles of relativity, the filmmakers have crafted a science fiction masterpiece with a foundation in authentic physics. Far from detracting from the story, Weir’s masterful skill of weaving real science together with a riveting plot helps to underscore the emotional stakes of the narrative.

Science fiction is one of the few avenues through which concepts from relativity and astrophysics enter the mainstream public discourse. By brilliantly engaging with these concepts as part of such a compelling story, Project Hail Mary may just inspire a whole new generation to study these subjects, and perhaps even make new discoveries of their own.

At around 1.20pm today, Eluned Morgan will take the lift from the fifth floor of Ty Hywel, the office block in Cardiff Bay, pass through the Senedd canteen, and head along the glass corridor towards the newly-reopened Senedd Siambr.

Placing her red ringbinder on the lectern in front of her, as she has done since she took over as First Minister on August 6, 2024, she will then face up to an hour of questions, some from her own party, but the trickier ones likely to come from Senedd members in opposing parties.

She is not alone in dreading this session. When you speak to most leaders, they say this is the bit they hate most. The chance to be caught off guard in a gotcha moment with the cameras pointing at you adds a huge level of jeopardy.

She’s previously told WalesOnline how she goes to a tranquil cove, overlooking the sea near her home in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, to sit and prepare on a Sunday for what is seen in the political world at least, as the big door prize.

But there is every chance this could be the last time she will carry that red folder.

As is ever the way, some of the questions she will know, the schedule shows she will be asked about higher education, nuclear regulation, Hywel Dda health board and the ongoing battle to resolve penson inequalities of Allied Steel and Wire workers.

But the follow-ups to those, or the questions she faces from the opposition leaders are not. Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Conservative Darren Millar will both take their shots at getting a question to her they can use in the following press releases and social media clips.

In recent months, Rhun ap Iorwerth has tended to focus on why he thinks Labour in the UK administration has done little to help her party here, while the Tories tend to go for a national issue they know will sit well with right of centre voters.

This will be the last First Minister’s Questions of this, the Sixth Senedd. Anyone who has tuned into proceedings in the last few weeks will have heard the platitudes between colleagues as they thank each other for their work, and prepare – in some cases – to say goodbye.

But for her, personally, there is a lot at stake. Not only is her Welsh Labour Party facing an epic electoral battle to be re-elected, but she is too.

Mrs Morgan is standing in the new constituency of Ceredigion Penfro, and the projections based on current polling show she could herself find herself losing her job in the most public way possible – on a stage with cameras pointed at her when the votes have been counted on May 8.

It means that if the polls are right, and she fails to keep her seat, today isn’t just her last First Minister’s Questions, it may well be her final visit to the Siambr.

Even her rivals have questioned why she didn’t try to contest a safer seat – she does also have a home in Cardiff.

From her point of view, she’s been bullish: “I have to be able to be true to myself. So whatever happens, I’ve got to live with myself. In the future, whether I win or whether I don’t win, I have to be able to be true to myself,” she told me last August.

She has known for some time it is a battle of epic proportions.

Some of the reasons for that are totally outwiith her control. The tide started turning, the polls show, when Vaughan Gething had to quit as First Minister. Sir Keir Starmer’s unpopularity is something Labour activists will tell you comes up again and again, and world events impacting any chance of Labour’s cost of living promises giving any respite have all played their part.

Those sympathetic to her would say those are all issues she has no control over. The flip side is that she has been part of Labour, and the government in Wales for long enough to have made a difference long before she put her name forward to be leader. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here

Yet as she takes to her feet, she will know that few, if any, within Labour realistically think they can perform a miracle and retain the role they have held at the top of Welsh politics for the 27 years of devolution so far, but they are banking on a bounce.

Those in and around the First Minister believe that when Labour, with all its experience and resources, gets out in earnest in the next few weeks, thjat the party faithful will be able to convince people to mark their X in the box next to the Labour rose.

But they know Plaid Cymru and Reform UK have topped polls consistently now for months. They know their local and national records are counting against them, as is the performance of the UK Government.

While Friday is officially the last day of Senedd business, with dissolution following Easter on April 8, it’s fair to say that the action is easing off. Attention is being diverted to campaigns, manifesto launches, and door knocking sessions.

And there will be little respite, once she leaves the chamber because just after she finishes First Minister’s Questions, we expect the latest voting intention poll by YouGov and ITV Cymru Wales to be published.

In recent months they have been nothing to cheer about, the First Minister will be one of those hoping for better news this time.

The doctor urged people on statins to be cautious

A BBC doctor has delivered a verdict on a new social media ‘health hack’ that has been growing in popularity. It tells people to stop taking their statins and instead eat 24-month aged garlic to reduce their cholesterol levels.

BBC Morning Live’s Dr Tosin revealed even her own family had started carrying around cloves to eat “every single day wherever they went”. She told BBC viewers the same thing she told her family and delivered her verdict on the ‘hack’.

She said: “If you’ve been prescribed statins by your GP, that’s for a reason. It can prevent cardiovascular events, diseases to your heart and your blood vessels in the future.”

However, she also noted that this garlic trick may have a little bit of science behind it. She said: “This hasn’t come out of nowhere. There have been studies that have looked into how taking garlic can possibly lower high cholesterol levels.

“However the results from these studies have been mixed and the results definitely don’t outweigh the benefits we know statins can provide.” Garlic costs around £0.80 at most high street supermarkets for packs of three or four bulbs.

Dr Tosin noted that while statins have proven benefits, some people want to stop taking the medication because of the side effects they experience. Those on the medication were told to contact their doctor if they spot any of the common side effects.

She said: “Please speak to your doctor because there are lots of options that we can explore.” The NHS also notes that of the five types of statins available in the UK, not all of them are suitable for everyone.

Patients may need to try different types until they find the one that works for them. Common side effects of statins, according to the NHS:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Feeling sick
• Feeling unusually tired or physically weak
• Digestive system problems, such as constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion or farting
• Muscle pain
• Sleep problems
• Low blood platelet count

Statins are a common group of medicines that can help lower cholesterol levels. Having high cholesterol is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’ as it won’t trigger many symptoms on its own but can lead to devastating medical events like heart attacks.

People are usually prescribed statins if they are diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease or have a family history of this and lifestyle changes haven’t reduced their risk of developing it too.

Statins are often taken in tablet form every day, although the exact dose will depend on your own personal circumstances. Most people have to take this medication for life even once their cholesterol levels have come down in order to prevent it from rising again.

The former Admiral Court nursing home, located at the junction of Cleveland Road and West View Road in Hartlepool, will be torn down in the coming weeks after years of community complaints and a prolonged legal dispute.

Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “Residents have waited a long time for this moment, and I’d like to thank them for their patience.

“This has been an extremely complex and challenging issue, but the council has never given up on securing the right outcome.

“I am delighted to be able to confirm that work is finally about to begin and I’d like to thank the local councillors who have fought so hard for action over many years and to all of the council officers who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point.

“The demolition of Admiral Court represents an important step in improving the local environment and responding to concerns raised by the community and it is another example of our commitment to improve neighbourhoods and restore pride in communities across the borough through our Pride in Place programme.

“Removing this derelict building will make a real difference to the appearance and safety of this important gateway to the Headland.”

The site has been renowned for arson, vandalism and fly-tipping. (Image: Google Maps)

The long-abandoned building has attracted vandalism, fly-tipping, and arson, raising serious concerns among residents and councillors who have repeatedly called for its removal.

Hartlepool Borough Council confirmed that a demolition contractor has now been appointed, bringing an end to what it described as “an exceptionally complex matter.”

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The clearance is part of the council’s wider Pride in Place programme, which aims to restore pride in neighbourhoods across the borough.

Councillor Hargreaves praised the determination of both local councillors and council staff, saying their sustained efforts have made the demolition possible.

Further updates on the demolition timeline and site clearance will be issued by Hartlepool Borough Council as the project progresses.

Spring is the astrological New Year’s season, the perfect time to make a commitment, a shift, a step towards growth and new horizons.

Rebirth and reinvention feel more natural right now than January 1.

After the heaviness of winter, this is about small, intentional shifts that change your trajectory.

So, here’s the one step, ritual or action your star sign needs to take this spring.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Do the hard stuff first

This spring, pick the one task you keep mentally rehearsing — the application, the conversation, the booking — and do it within 72 hours of reading this! Action restores your confidence faster than reassurance.

Stop looking for comfort or reasons to delay and start taking the steps that will break this issue down, start to address it, and get things moving. It’s all going to go a lot better than you think.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Micro-declutter

Decluttering is a natural spring task but when you look around your home, it can feel utterly overwhelming. So, start small. One area a week, one small step. I guarantee it will change your mood and momentum. Pick one drawer. One wardrobe rail. One digital folder.

Taurus energy is deeply tied to comfort and security — and clutter quietly blocks both. As you purge and clear the space, your mental headspace will declutter too, leaving room for new thinking and ideas.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Speak your mind truthfully

You’re brilliant at keeping things light (in fact it’s a default habit), but something unsaid has been lingering. Clarity matters more than charm right now. You must express your feelings fully, vulnerably, and without varnish or gloss. Other folk need to hear this. And then they need to sit with it.

Don’t try and have all the answers. You are looking for an ally, for support, for understanding, but above all a willingness to work together to help resolve this.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Reclaim one evening a week for yourself

You give endlessly — emotionally, practically, quietly. This spring, make non-negotiable time for your own self nurturing, whether that’s done in or outside the house.

Putting your needs and interests and desires first is not selfish. It’s necessary to keep your wellbeing and mental state on point. When you refill your own cup, you stop feeling resentful and start feeling radiant. Whatever it is that you really want to do…. do it once a week on this special night!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Self-image glow up

You’ve outgrown something (maybe a role or relationship or expectation), but you’re still dressing, speaking or behaving like the old version of you. Cue refreshing something tangible and visible (so that you see and feel it) — hair, wardrobe, routine, stationery, CV, photos, decor.

Leo energy blooms when seen. And this is not a vanity move, this is about aligning your outside with your inside and making your new, true self visible. It will feel so good and you really don’t ever need much of an excuse for a glow up

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

Perfectionism is banned

You’ve been holding yourself to a perfect standard (that no one else does or explicitly asked you to). Perfect parent. Perfect partner. Perfect employee.

Choose a standard that has felt heavy or impossible recently and consciously lower it. Notice when you start to drift back towards it and distract your thoughts with a mantra, conversation or music. Keep drowning out that inner judge. Done is better than perfect. The mental space you reclaim will do more for your progress than self-criticism ever has.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Make a big decision totally solo

The season of procrastination or seeking outside validation or permission is over. This spring, choose something based purely on what you want. Go ahead and invest, say yes, commit, book it, plan it, pay for it, do it.

Take one bold leap into the unknown that excites you, and do it without really telling anyone else about it. Own your life choices, feel powerful.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Forgive someone

Scorpios are built to hold grudges and seek revenge, even the sweetest, nicest ones! But something you’re holding onto is draining more energy than it’s worth.

Now, this doesn’t mean you have to reunite, reconnect or even meet. This could simply be a mental shift and processing that releases you from this feud. Write it down, rip it up, block them, archive the message — whatever symbolises closure for you.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Book something to look forward to

You are a freedom seeker, a traveller, a character greedy for expansion and growth. If you’ve felt flat, it’s because you’ve been stuck in routine. So, book a trip, a course, a day out — even if it’s small.

Optimism is created by having something meaningful and exciting on your horizon, something to aim for and work towards. This will put instant pep into this spring season.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Make a demand

You have endured something with great maturity and patience but now it’s time to advocate for yourself. Whether that’s a pay rise, clearer boundaries, or more support at home — speak up.

By valuing yourself and setting this standard, you are teaching others how to treat you in the future so this is not only worthwhile in the moment, but also the long run. Get what you’re owed and what you deserve. Be authoritative about this. It’s time to stand up.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Find the bigger picture

The petty and mundane details of everyday life have pulled you into the weeds lately and you’ve felt overwhelmed by itty bitty humdrum ‘adulting’. Step back and ask: what am I building long term? Revisit an old idea. Update a forgotten goal.

It’s time to look beyond the here and now and reactivate your innovative spirit by designing a fresh new future. Change your outlook, expand your mindset, think lon- term, create a vision board that inspires you.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

Choose to be organised

When life feels overwhelming, you have a tendency to drift — scrolling, daydreaming, postponing, fantasising, escaping. This spring asks you to restore some gentle discipline in your everyday routine. Create one simple daily ritual: morning walk, journalling, 20 minutes of focused work.

Structure is means of stabilising you, so that the day feels manageable, easier, organised and, from there, your imagination and creativity have more space to roam and expand.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Kerry King has been reading, teaching and creating tarot for 30 years. Join her magical, exclusive Tarot Club for forecasts, predictions, lessons and readings straight to your inbox. Enjoy one month free for all Metro readers (no lock-in or commitment) over on Patreon.

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

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Zoe Turnbull, 46, has won a compensation payout against William McBurnie after the violent thug rammed his car through a funeral parlour.

Horror CCTV footage captured the terrifying moment a former police officer ploughed his car into his ex-partner’s funeral directors business while she was inside with her elderly mum. Zoe Turnbull has won a compensation payout against William McBurnie after the violent thug rammed his car through a funeral parlour.

McBurnie, 58, narrowly missed the 46-year-old and her 71-year-old mother, Beverly, after he drove his vehicle at speed through the building during a booze-fuelled rage. McBurnie was jailed for 11 years after he pleaded guilty to the attempted murders of the pair at the High Court in Livingston in 2024.

Footage of the shocking incident showed McBurnie’s vehicle approaching the shop at an alarming speed. The motor then ploughed through the window of Zoe’s shop. Zoe and her mother can be seen diving against a wall at the side of the room the vehicle narrowly misses smashing into both women.

Debris can be seen flying through the shop as the car smashes through the glass front. McBurnie can then be seen getting out of the car before making an exit. Zoe was left with hearing loss and injuries to her back and legs and, with the help of Digby Brown, she launched a legal action against McBurnie. Her solicitors have now confirmed to the Record that the case has been settled.

The amount Zoe received is unknown but Mairi Day, Partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, confirmed the legal action against the disgraced former police officer had ended. She said: “What happened to Zoe and her mother was life-changing – they suffered physical and emotional harm that will likely impact them both forever.

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“After everything Zoe has gone through she has understandably requested privacy so I will not discuss the particulars of her civil action other than to confirm the case has now settled. I hope the end of the criminal and civil proceedings means Zoe can finally close this distressing chapter and focus on a positive future.”

Speaking after sentencing in 2024, Zoe described McBurnie as a “forceful monster” as she welcomed the jail term handed down by the judge. She said: “Finally, after two years of physical, emotional and practical chaos, we have justice. McBurnie was the Jekyll and Hyde of Jedburgh – charming in public but dangerous behind the scenes.

“I believe the attempt on my life happened because he knew he was losing his grip on me and this extreme act was some warped and cowardly attempt to control things. He was just a forceful monster who encroached on our lives and used violence to get his own way.

“That man has shamed himself, the police service and his family – objectively, after what he did, jail really is the only place for him. I am grateful to everyone who supported us from the community to the NHS to the police and prosecutors who put him behind bars.

“My mother and I now hope to put this painful chapter behind us so we request our privacy is respected as we move forwards. But as a final note I’d just like to say to anyone suffering from domestic abuse – whether man or woman – please do not feel like you are alone, or trapped or have no options and please don’t wait for the worst to happen before acting. You have a voice and there are so many people around you ready to listen – and act – so you can get the help you need.”

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The plans have been welcomed by locals, with some saying it will be a ‘great asset’ to the area

Plans to turn a former karting track into glamping pods and a wellness centre have been approved. In November, Glampitect proposed to turn the former Krazy Karts in Creek Fen, March, into five glamping pods.

A wellness centre featuring a steam room, cold room, sauna, treatment spaces, and communal spaces was also proposed. The applicants said the glamping pods would offer “luxury accommodation” to people travelling from areas such as Peterborough, Wisbech, and Birmingham.

They added that the wellness centre would provide a “unique selling point” for the site and would be for people “seeking a relaxing retreat”. Fenland District Council has approved the plans.

The council planning officer said the site proposed to “redevelop a disused go-kart track” for “local community use”. A planning officer added: “It represents minimal issues in terms of visual or residential amenity and is acceptable in respect of highway safety.

“It will also enable small economic growth within a rural area and will improve local biodiversity and the overall character of the area.” Before approval, the plans were welcomed by locals, who submitted 12 supportive comments and no objections.

One person in Williams Way, Manea, said the retreat was a “great idea” and it was a “lovely area” for it to be built in. Another resident in Landau Way, March said it would be a “great asset” to the town.

They added: “A wellness centre is something we do not have locally and would also be a great addition to the town. Creek Fen is a nice quiet location and has lots of wildlife around.”

Another person in Newlands Avenue, March, said: “What a wonderful idea, a sanctuary for people to relax and unwind, in a surrounding that feels like you’re miles away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”