Ukraine launched fresh strikes on Russian energy sites overnight into Sunday, Russian authorities and media reported, while Kyiv denied Russian claims that a Ukrainian drone struck a key Kremlin-occupied nuclear plant.

Drone debris set fire to a fuel storage facility in Russia’s southwestern Rostov region, Gov. Yuriy Slyusar reported on Telegram on Sunday. He said residents of nearby homes were evacuated.

The drones also damaged civilian infrastructure in Saratov province, also in southwestern Russia, according to Gov. Roman Busargin. Astra, an independent Russian news channel, said an oil refinery was on fire in the regional capital, Saratov.

Ukraine’s General Staff on Sunday confirmed Ukrainian drones had struck the Saratov oil refinery, causing a “large-scale fire.” It said the extent of the damage was being clarified, and claimed the refinery has been supplying Moscow’s war effort.

The refinery belongs to Russia’s state oil enterprise, Rosneft, and produces diesel and gasoline among other types of fuel. Russian authorities did not immediately comment further.

Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russia’s oil and gas facilities in recent months, arguing the energy sector both funds and directly fuels Moscow’s more than 4-year-old invasion.

Meanwhile, Kyiv denied Russia’s claims that a Ukrainian drone struck the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest in Ukraine and Europe.

Russian forces captured the plant in the early weeks of the war, and it remains close to the front lines in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, one of four Russia has formally annexed despite lacking full military control or international recognition for its actions.

Russia’s state nuclear energy company, Rosatom, said on Saturday that the drone exploded after tearing a hole in the wall of a turbine hall. Rosatom’s CEO Alexei Likhachev accused Ukraine of a “deliberate” attack.

“This afternoon, a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone struck the turbine hall building of Power Unit No. 6, resulting in a detonation,” Likhachev said. He added there was no damage to main equipment.

Ukraine’s military denied Russia’s “yet another propaganda ploy,” saying it did not target or strike the plant. The military said in a statement that it adheres to international humanitarian law and is aware of the “consequences of any actions targeting nuclear facilities.”

“Along the relevant section of the front line, there was no active fighting at the time of the incident, and no weapons were used,” it said.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, voiced “serious concern” following the incident in a post on X.

Ukraine’s state nuclear supervisory agency said the damage claimed by Russia must be verified by IAEA experts present at the Zaporizhzhia plant as part of a long-term monitoring mission.

The Zaporizhzhia plant has repeatedly come under fire since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, sparking fears of a nuclear accident. Moscow and Kyiv have blamed each other for targeting the plant on purpose.

Elsewhere, Ukraine’s air force said Sunday that it had shot down 212 of 299 drones launched by Russia overnight. It said 14 drones had reached their targets, while drone debris fell in five locations.

Russian drones struck the city of Dnipro and an oil refinery in Ukraine’s Rivne region, causing fires, authorities said.

Oleksandr Koval, the head of Rivne’s regional administration, said no one had been injured at the refinery, and that emergency services were at the site.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

At 215 metres, it is modest in height. But Nicky Nook has a habit of making people feel rather foolish for underestimating it.

Stand at the trig point on a clear day, and you can see Blackpool Tower to the south, Morecambe Bay to the north, and the Lake District fells beyond.

In the right conditions, it is even possible to spot the Isle of Man and the Great Orme on the North Wales coast.

A fell that can be climbed in well under an hour, with views that take far longer to fully take in.

Nicky Nook (Image: Google)

The village at its feet

Scorton sits at the edge of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the banks of the River Wyre, north of Garstang.

Its name is thought to derive from Old Norse and Old English, meaning “farmstead by a ravine”, a reference to the landscape that still shapes it today.

For much of its history, Scorton was a quiet rural settlement. That changed in the 19th century when it became part of Lancashire’s thriving cotton industry, with its own mill powered by an underground waterwheel fed from the River Wyre.

The mill is long gone, but the village’s tight cluster of stone buildings, its river walk, playground and churches still give it the feel of somewhere that grew around a particular purpose and then quietly got on with things.

The climb that rewards every effort

The most popular route up Nicky Nook begins in the village and crosses the motorway bridge before heading up through the Wyresdale Park estate and out onto open fell.

The path is well-maintained, the ascent steepens only briefly, and the whole circuit, including a loop around Grizedale Reservoir, can be completed comfortably in around two hours.

Church of St Peter, Scorton (Image: WikiCommons)

The fell sits within the wider Wyresdale landscape. Wyresdale Park itself is an 800-acre estate, combining working farmland with woodland, lakes and a country house originally built in the 19th century.

As for the name, “nook” traditionally refers to a small, sheltered corner. Exactly who Nicky was remains uncertain, but the name has been attached to the land for generations.

The estate café and the tearoom in the village

Walkers starting from the Wyresdale Park car park on Snow Hill Lane are well catered for at the Applestore Café, which sits beside Wyresdale Lake and serves food and drinks throughout the week.

Back in the village, the Priory has been a fixture since 1969, a family-run café and bed and breakfast serving breakfasts, lunches and homemade cakes in a cosy setting, with a reputation strong enough to draw people from across the region.

The Barn, a large garden centre, café and gift shop, rounds out Scorton’s offering, making it a genuinely useful base rather than simply a starting point for a walk.

Skylarks, meadow pipits and open moorland

The fell itself is managed as part of the wider Bowland landscape and supports a mix of upland birds typical of the area.

Skylarks and meadow pipits are common on the open fell, while more fortunate visitors may spot tree pipits or yellowhammers.

In spring, bluebells carpet the woodland sections of the walk up from Wyresdale Park, while the reservoir at Grizedale offers a quieter, reflective stretch on the way back down.

Getting there

Scorton is just off the A6 between Garstang and Lancaster, accessible from junctions 32 or 33 of the M6. The village is also served by regular bus services from Preston, Lancaster and Blackpool.

There is parking in the village for those using local businesses, and additional spaces at Wyresdale Park near the Applestore Café.

Combine the fell with a walk along the River Wyre, lunch at the Priory and, if the weather holds, an hour on the summit watching the light change over Morecambe Bay. It is one of those days that costs very little and stays with you for a long time.

A 13th Manchester United star will be heading to this summer’s World Cup after their compatriot suffered a devastating injury which has ruled him out of the tournament

Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher has been called up to Scotland’s squad for the World Cup as a last-minute replacement for the injured Billy Gilmour. Fletcher, 19, only made his senior debut for Scotland on Saturday in their 4-1 friendly win against Curacao, during which Gilmour picked up a knee injury.

The Napoli star will now miss the World Cup, where Scotland will appear for the first since 1998, in a devastating blow. Steve Clarke’s squad are due to fly to the United States on Sunday and Fletcher will be on board.

The teenager, the son of United legend Darren, has fended off competition from three other midfielders who were on standby. Rangers’ Conor Barron, Andy Irving of Sparta Prague and Udinese star Lennon Miller were also in contention to replace Gilmour at short notice.

“Those three are on standby, and obviously Tyler joined us this week,” Scotland boss Clarke explained post-match. “He’s trained well this week, so he’s a little bit closer than the other three, but I’d need to have a big discussion with my staff and decide the best way to go.”

WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football’s greatest tournament – Buy the Special Edition today

On Sunday morning, the Scottish FA confirmed that Fletcher had been called up. His twin brother, Jack – who is also on United’s books – chose to represent England at youth international level.

Dad Darren represented Scotland 80 times and was named captain in 2009. The former midfielder now manages United’s under-18 side after previously serving as interim manager of the first-team in January.

Tyler featured for the Red Devils on the final day of the season at Brighton and has become the 13th United player to be selected for the 2026 World Cup. The 19-year-old won the prestigious Denzil Haroun Player of the Year Award this season, previously claimed by the likes of Nicky Butt, Michael Keane, Adnan Januzaj, Axel Tuanzebe and Alvaro Fernandez.

After Saturday’s game at Hampden Park, Scotland star Kenny McLean labelled Fletcher ‘special’ and made comparisons to his dad. “Tyler came on and I can’t speak highly enough of him,” McLean hailed.

How far will Scotland go at the World Cup? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

“I said to the lads after his first session, ‘I can see something special in him’, so I was glad he got on after the week he has had. In my first couple of squads, I played with his dad and, for me, in my first session, he [Darren] stood out a mile.

“Fortunately for Scotland, his son is pretty similar. There is a lot of potential there. It’s about using him in the right way.”

Scotland will begin their World Cup campaign against Haiti at 2am UK time on Sunday, June 14. Their group also includes Brazil and Morocco.

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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The teens have been drawn into the area by posts made on social media.

A group of ‘hundreds’ of youths have descended on an estate with police saying they have set fires, stolen from a local shop, fought in the street and hurled food at residents.

The teen yobs are said to have swarmed on Southglade Park in Bestwood over the past week, drawn by the heatwave and social media posts, reports the Mirror.

Local residents have reported some of the “mad behaviour” of the group, with one shop forced to temporarily close after hundreds of pounds worth of goods was stolen.

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed it received reports of youths fighting, setting small fires, abusing shop staff, throwing stones, intimidating people and riding bikes in front of moving vehicles, leading to the force having to issue a 48-hour dispersal order across the estate starting on Wednesday, May 27, which was later extended to yesterday morning.

The Premier convenience store on Southglade Road explained how it closed its doors for a combined 10 hours over three days amidst the chaos.

Shop assistant, Suthan Maniam, reported up to 200 teenagers, aged between 13 and 17, gather at the park opposite the shop and believed most of them were coming from outside the local area, after social media posts advertised water pistol fights.

Mr Maniam said teens went on to steal hundreds of pounds worth of ice creams and soft drinks from the shop. He also said he saw people being “pushed” into buses and a heavy sign was also thrown towards a group.

“It’s very mad behaviour. It’s when it’s especially warm days or school has been off,” he said. “They’re very rude. They start with water [in the water guns] and then put in sticky soft drinks.

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“No one is going to listen, that’s the problem. I’ve never seen this kind of behaviour but we can’t do anything about it.”

Mr Maniam hoped the dispersal order would make things better, adding: “They don’t want to enjoy the summer, they need to do some antisocial behaviour.

“When they assemble as a group it’s different behaviour. When they come as smaller groups they’re alright.”

A video posted to TikTok showed a huge group of youths gathered in the car park and the street outside the Premier, while another shows a tree and bushes engulfed in flames with the caption: “Casual day in Southglade yesterday”.

A local mum, who did not wish to be named, said a pint of milk was chucked over her daughter by a member of the group in the street.

“She had to get changed. They threw it across the road and it went all over her clothes,” she said.

Another woman said she was planning to have a barbecue with her son at the park, but had decided against it due to the antisocial behaviour.

“It puts adults like ourselves off from doing things,” she said. “We should be able to go out in the community and socialise but when they’re acting like ****heads we can’t.”

However, the 36-year-old, who did not wish to be named, said she had some sympathy for the kids.

“If there were things for kids to do it wouldn’t be so bad. They’re bored and have got nothing to do. I was a rebel at 13.”

Pensioner Janet Stanley, who lives opposite the field, said she had seen hundreds gather but described them as “nice people”. The 82-year-old, who has lived there for six decades, said she had seen kids fighting but that they were always friendly to her.

“I don’t mind them. I wave at them out the window and they always wave back. They’re just having fun and sometimes someone will say something [and they’ll fight],” she added.

When Nottinghamshire Live visited the park on Thursday, litter was strewn across the streets, outside the Premier and all over the field and multi-use games area.

Rob Mabbott, a volunteer litter picker, was out cleaning up after the teenagers and said it made him “wonder why you bother”.

“It’s just terrible. You try and do your best and just want to make the environment nice and safe for kids, ironically,” said the 58-year-old.

“I thought we’d better see if there’s anything we can help with for those people that are law-abiding and like to live in a nice place. It’s worse than I thought. It was only done a week ago.

“It does make you wonder why you bother. It certainly wasn’t like this when I was a kid in the ’70s.”

Mr Mabbott, who has been litter-picking since 2012, said he and his colleague expected to fill up to eight bags between them.

Sergeant Rose Barton of Nottinghamshire Police said: “Our neighbourhood policing team has received a stream of separate reports of antisocial behaviour in and around Southglade Park in recent days.

“While we’re aware the mixture of the warm weather, Bank Holiday weekend and half term will, quite rightly, lead to young people wanting to hang out with their friends, there is a point where a line is crossed.

“That has now taken place, with the numerous reports of antisocial behaviour severely impacting on the local community, which has prompted us to make the decision to issue this dispersal order and then extend it for longer.”

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Gateshead’s new Reform administration flexed its majority at the Civic Centre on Friday afternoon by formally electing the new council leader and deputy, Nick Allan and Fiona Pearce.

The party was able to win the vote to appoint its leadership, despite having seven councillors absent as they were attending a wedding in Turkey.

Ultimately, Reform still had 30 councillors in the chamber to the combined opposition parties’ 28.

The local election results earlier this month marked the first time Labour has not held the reins of power in the Gateshead Council chamber, going back more than 50 years.

Reform claimed 38 seats out of 66 following the May 7 poll.

However, one of its new councillors in the High Fell ward has already resigned. The party said that Danielle Cavanagh had quit the role due to added work commitments as her business is expanding.

Coun Allan also announced earlier this week that Reform would effectively refund the cost of the by-election through one of its cabinet members not claiming their special responsibility allowance of almost £20,000 this year. 

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Friday that the others missing from the meeting would have been able to attend had it taken place last week, as had been originally planned. It was also confirmed that all seven  had signed their declaration forms confirming their position as elected representatives.  

In addition, Coun Allan also announced the makeup of the council’s new cabinet following a question from Labour group leader John Adams. 

Reform’s new cabinet at Gateshead Council is as follows:

• Deputy leader (and children’s services): Coun Fiona Pearce
• Adult social care: Coun Col Daughtry
• Sport and culture: Coun Michael Robinson
• Housing: Coun Gavin Brierley
• Environment: Coun Garry Thompson
• Roads and traffic: Coun Graham Keating
• Economic development: Coun Steve Campion
• Public health and community safety: Coun Sandra Pickering

Reform councillors were also elected to the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Coun Andrea Graham of Birtley North and Lamesley ward and Coun Michelle Merrin of the Lobley Hill and Bensham ward took the roles respectively.

There will be four open-top buses in total, including a lead-off ‘Champions’ truck featuring DJs. The Arsenal players will be in the lead bus, with the men’s team staff to follow in a second and then another featuring the Arsenal Women’s squad, who will parade their FIFA Women’s Champions Cup trophy.

Ben Brooke became emotional on Instagram as he shared behind-the-scenes snippets of his choir’s big win.

In a sweet post on social media, showing glimpses of their celebrations, he wrote: “Last night was one of the most incredible nights of my life. A year ago, most of us were complete strangers brought together for what was meant to be a beer advert. None of us could ever have imagined where that one decision would lead.“What followed was friendships, laughter, memories that will last a lifetime and a journey that took a group of ordinary farmers all the way to winning Britain’s Got Talent.

But somewhere along the way, this became about so much more than singing. It became about community. It became about shining a light on farming and rural life. And it became about showing people that no matter who you are or where you come from, amazing things can happen when people come together.”“The support we’ve received has been overwhelming. Every vote, every message and every person who got behind us helped make this possible,” he added. “For generations, farming has quietly got on with feeding the nation. Last night, it felt like the nation stood alongside us.“I’ll never be able to properly put into words how grateful I am. Thank you for believing in us.”

Organisers say that visitors to the show can look forward to a blossoming line-up of special guests from July 31 July to August 2.

Charlie will be attending on August 1 and national television presenter, Chartered Horticulturalist and bestselling author David Domoney will be heading to the show on Sunday 2 August, delivering an inspiring programme of expert talks, audience Q&A sessions and a meet and greet.

David, who inspires people to become more involved and engaged with plants and nature, is a regular face on national television, presenting shows including ITV’s ‘Love Your Garden’ (Britain’s most viewed TV Gardening show), and the Sunday Morning show ‘Love Your Weekend’, and serves as the resident garden presenter on ITV’s flagship show ‘This Morning’.

Charlie Dimmock

Firm favourites of the show Jonathan Moseley, Martin Fish and Jill Fish will also be back for 2026, for all three days of the show, sharing their expert knowledge on the Potting Shed Stage.

Caroline Wolfenden, Director of Change & Delivery at Chorley Council said: “What a line-up! We can’t wait to welcome special guests from the worlds of gardening, TV and radio to this year’s Chorley Flower Show, and there’s more to be revealed so keep an eye out.

“Visitors can also look forward to spectacular show gardens, stunning floral displays, great shopping opportunities, expert talks and workshops, an array of food and drink options, and a wide variety of entertainment for all the family to enjoy – so don’t miss out on early bird tickets!”

ickets are now on sale at the discounted early bird price and also include entry to the Grade I listed Astley Hall, which provides a stunning backdrop for the show in its eleventh year.

Early bird tickets are now available for £15 for a day ticket, £25 for a three-day ticket (plus booking fee when purchasing online). Children under the age of 16 go free (when accompanied by a responsible adult with a paid for ticket) Tickets can be purchased at chorleyflowershow.com/tickets or from the Astley Hall Gift Shop, Ebb &Flo Bookshop and Chorley Theatre (see chorleyflowershow.com/tickets for opening hours of each ticket outlet). Tickets will be full price from Wednesday 1 July 2026.

Jonathan Moseley,Jill Fish and Martin Fish

Discounted tickets are also available online for groups of 16 or more when booking together. Group travel operators wishing to arrange coach trips to the show should email events@chorley.gov.uk

For more information visit chorleyflowershow.com, or follow Chorley Flower Show on Facebook or Instagram.

A CALL for “coherent policy and action” on energy from a York Liberal Democrat councillor has prompted a wide-ranging and at times combative response from Press readers, reflecting deep divisions over the UK’s approach to fossil fuels, renewables and climate change.

City of York councillor Christian Vassie, writing from Wheldrake, criticised what he described as inconsistent national policy, arguing that continued reliance on fossil fuels supports hostile regimes. He also highlighted subsidies and system inefficiencies, including payments to wind farms to switch off turbines and the use of gas to meet demand.

His letter has sparked a fierce row over energy policy and the Lib Dems.

Comments among readers have focussed on issues spanning biofuels, international politics and the long-term viability of renewable energy.

Read Councillor Vassie’s full letter here:

One reader, posting as NigeBoddy, challenged parts of the argument by pointing to government action on sanctions against Russian oil, suggesting newer measures were aimed at reducing Vladimir Putin’s revenues. They called instead for practical incentives to expand biodiesel use, including tax changes and support for converting buses and taxis.

“Anything which diminishes the income of both the current Iranian regime and Putin’s regime simultaneously is a good thing,” they wrote, advocating for a shift in taxation policy to promote domestic fuel alternatives.

Others focused less on energy policy and more on party politics. A commenter using the name PsDsTsTsK argued the Liberal Democrats were failing to capitalise on political opportunities, claiming the party risked irrelevance. They described the party as lacking clear policies and suggested it could “fold” before the next election.

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That view was disputed by other readers, who pointed to Lib Dem activity in local government and recent electoral performance, arguing the party remained active and competitive despite national polling challenges.

Energy generation itself was also a point of contention. One commenter highlighted emissions linked to the Drax power station, describing it as the UK’s largest single source of carbon dioxide and questioning the focus on other fossil fuels. The claim was used to argue that not all renewable-labelled energy sources are without environmental impact.

Debate over climate change quickly followed. Some readers dismissed recent weather patterns as inconsistent evidence, while others emphasised long-term trends. One commenter noted that climate science predicts more frequent extremes rather than steady change, citing record-breaking May temperatures as a sign of shifting conditions.

The discussion also revealed contrasting attitudes to the pace of the transition away from fossil fuels. Several contributors argued that oil and gas remain essential in the short to medium term, warning against what they described as unrealistic expectations.

More readers’ views:

“Life as we know it is strongly dependent on them, with no practical alternative at present,” wrote one reader, who criticised the idea of reducing domestic production while continuing to import energy at higher cost.

Others echoed similar sentiments, calling for continued drilling alongside investment in alternatives. Some argued the UK’s emissions are relatively small on a global scale, suggesting domestic policy changes alone would have limited impact.

However, supporters of stronger climate action countered that coordinated international efforts and long-term planning remain essential, even if progress is uneven.

The debate also touched on public perception of government figures. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was both praised and criticised, with some backing his push for renewable expansion while others dismissed his approach as unrealistic.

Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher has replaced the injured Billy Gilmour in Scotland’s World Cup squad.

The 19-year-old made his international debut as a half-time replacement in Saturday’s 4-1 friendly win over Curacao at Hampden.

Napoli midfielder Gilmour damaged his knee in a first-half incident and his withdrawal from the squad was announced later in the evening.

Fletcher, son of former Scotland captain Darren, has played more minutes for Scotland than he has for his club, having come off the bench twice for United this season.

Fletcher, whose twin brother Jack has chosen to represent England, was added to the training squad last week by head coach Steve Clarke, along with Hearts duo James Wilson and Liam McFarlane and Dundee defender Luke Graham.

“It boosts our numbers for training given the staggered arrivals of those who are still playing domestically – and it allows us to take a closer look at some boys who are on our radar,” said Clarke at the time.

Following Gilmour’s injury, Clarke had mentioned Rangers’ Connor Barron, Andy Irving of Sparta Prague and Lennon Milller of Udinese as standby options.

“I am devastated for Billy because he has been an integral part of our World Cup qualifying campaign,” said Clarke.

“The timing of this injury is so, so cruel and we all feel for him.

“He knows what we all think of him as a footballer and a person and while no words will give him any comfort, I am certain Billy will have many major tournaments ahead of him in the future.”

Napoli team-mate Scott McTominay wrote on Instagram: “Absolutely devastated for you brother. Football is a cruel game and you don’t deserve this, keep your head up. The players, staff and country love you.”