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Kennedy Center will close for 2 years for renovations in July, Trump says

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Kennedy Center will close for 2 years for renovations in July, Trump says

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts center for two years starting in July for construction, his latest proposal to upturn the storied venue since returning to the White House.

Trump’s announcement on social media follows a wave of cancellations by leading performers, musicians and groups since the president ousted the previous leadership and added his name to the building. Trump made no mention in his post of the recent cancellations.

His proposal, announced days after the premiere of “Melania, ” a documentary of the first lady was shown at the center, he said was subject to approval by the board of the Kennedy Center, which has been stocked with his hand-picked allies. Trump himself chairs the center’s board of trustees.

“This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment,” Trump wrote in his post.

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Neither Trump nor Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, a Trump ally, have provided evidence to back up their claims about the building being in disrepair, and last October, Trump had pledged the center would remain open during renovations. In Sunday’s announcement, Trump said the center will close on July 4th, when he said the construction would begin.

“Our goal has always been to not only save and permanently preserve the Center, but to make it the finest Arts Institution in the world,” Grenell said in a post, citing funds Congress approved for repairs.

“This will be a brief closure,” Grenell said. “It desperately needs this renovation and temporarily closing the Center just makes sense – it will enable us to better invest our resources, think bigger and make the historic renovations more comprehensive. It also means we will be finished faster.”

The sudden decision to shutter and reconstruct the Kennedy Center is sparking blowback as Trump disrupts the popular venue, which began as a national cultural center but Congress renamed as a “living memorial” to President John F. Kennedy in 1964, in the aftermath of the slain president’s death. Opened in 1971, it is open year-round as a public showcase for the arts, including the National Symphony Orchestra.

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Since Trump returned to the White House, the Kennedy Center is one of many Washington landmarks that he has sought to overhaul in his second term. He demolished the East Wing of the White House and launched a massive $400 million ballroom project, is actively pursuing building a triumphal arch on the other side the Arlington Bridge from the the Lincoln Memorial, and has plans for Washington Dulles International Airport.

Leading performing arts groups have pulled out of appearances at the Kennedy Center, most recently, composer Philip Glass, who announced his decision to withdraw his Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln” because he said the values of the center today are in “direct conflict” with the message of the piece.

Last month, the Washington National Opera announced that it will move performances away from the Kennedy Center in another high-profile departure following Trump’s takeover of the U.S. capital’s leading performing arts venue.

The head of artistic programming for the center abruptly left his post last week, less than two weeks after being named to the job.

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A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center could not immediately be reached and did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

Late last year, as Trump announced his plan to rename the building — erecting his name on the building’s main front ahead of that of Kennedy — he drew sharp opposition from members of Congress, and some Kennedy family members.

Kerry Kennedy, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said in a social post on X at the time that she will remove Trump’s name herself with a pickax when his term ends.

Another family member, Maria Shriver, said at the time that it is “beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy,” her uncle. “It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not.”

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Late Sunday evening, Shriver posted a new comment mimicking Trump’s own voice and style, and suggesting the closure of the venue was meant to deflect from the cancellations.

She said that “entertainers are canceling left and right” and the president has determined that “since the name change no one wants to perform there any longer.”

Trump has decided, she said, it’s best “to close this center down and rebuild a new center” that will bear his name. She asked, “right?”

One lawmaker, Rep. Joyce Beatty, the Ohio Democrat and ex-officio trustee of the center’s board, sued in December, arguing that “only Congress has the authority to rename the Kennedy Center.”

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On Sunday, Beatty said that once again Trump “has acted with total disregard for Congress,” which allocates funds to the center.

She questioned what comes next for the artists — and the building itself. “Let’s be clear: remodeling the premises will not restore the Kennedy Center to what it was. A return to artistic independence will,” she said. “America’s artists are rejecting this attempted takeover, and the administration knows it.”

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Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

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Trump says he’ll order pay for TSA agents as Senate works overnight

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Trump says he'll order pay for TSA agents as Senate works overnight

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he would sign an order instructing the Homeland Security secretary to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents, while senators worked into early Friday to approve a funding package in hopes of ending a budget impasse that has jammed airports, disrupted travel and imposed financial hardship on workers.

The deal, which the Senate approved unanimously early in the morning without a roll call, would fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, except the immigration enforcement operations that have been central to the standoff. It did not include any of the restraints Democrats demanded as they sought to rein in Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

It next goes to the House, which is expected to consider it Friday.

“We can get at least a lot of the government opened up again and then we’ll go from there,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “Obviously, we’ll still have some work ahead of us.”

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But Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the deal could have been reached weeks ago, and vowed that his party would continue fighting to ensure Trump’s immigration enforcement operation “does not get more funding without serious reform.”

With pressure mounting to resolve the 42-day stalemate over Homeland Security funding, the endgame emerged in the final hours before TSA workers miss another paycheck Friday. Trump announced his decision in a social media post saying he wanted to quickly stop the “Chaos at the Airports.”

The White House had floated the extraordinary move of invoking a national emergency to pay the TSA agents, a politically and legally fraught approach. Instead, Trump’s order will pay TSA agents using money from his 2025 tax bill, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss it publicly.

At the same time, senators worked through the night on the package that would fund much of the rest of the department, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Coast Guard, but without funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection.

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Airport lines grow as TSA workers endure hardships

The funding shutdown has resulted in travel delays and even warnings of airport closures as TSA workers missing paychecks stop coming to work.

Multiple airports are experiencing greater than 40% callout rates of TSA workers and nearly 500 of its nearly 50,000 transportation security officers have quit during the shutdown. Nationwide on Wednesday, more than 11% of the TSA employees on the schedule missed work, according to DHS. That is more than 3,120 callouts.

Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the union is grateful the TSA workers will be paid, but said Congress must stay in session to pass a deal “that funds DHS, pays all DHS workers, and keeps these vital agencies running.”

At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Melissa Gates said she would not make her flight to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after waiting more than 2½ hours and still not reaching the security checkpoint. She said no other flights were available until Friday.

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“I should have just driven, right?” Gates said. “Five hours would have been hilarious next to this.”

A ‘last and final’ offer on the table

Earlier Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced he had given a “last and final” offer to the Democrats.

Thune did not disclose details of the new framework, but he said it picked up from a previous offer over the weekend, before talks with the White House and Democrats had broken off.

“Enough is enough,” he said.

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But as senators retreated to privately discuss the new plan, action stalled out.

Democrats argued the GOP proposals have not gone far enough at putting guardrails on officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies who are engaged in the immigration sweeps, particularly after the deaths of two Americans protesting the actions in Minneapolis.

They want federal agents to wear identification, remove their face masks and refrain from conducting raids around schools, churches or other sensitive places. Democrats have also pushed for an end of administrative warrants, insisting that judges sign off before agents search people’s homes or private spaces — something new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said he is open to considering, but senators want to see in writing.

Trump had largely left the issue to Congress, but warned he was ready to take action, threatening to send the National Guard to airports in addition to his deployment of ICE agents who are now checking travelers’ IDs.

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“They need to end this shutdown immediately or we’ll have to take drastic measures,” Trump said during a Thursday morning Cabinet meeting.

The GOP’s big tax cuts bill that Trump signed into law last year funneled billions to DHS, including $75 billion for ICE operations, ensuring the immigration officers are still being paid during the shutdown.

Any deal almost certainly needs to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt. Conservative Republicans have panned their own party’s proposals, demanding full funding for immigration operations.

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Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti, Kevin Freking, Rebecca Santana, Collin Binkley and Ben Finley in Washington, Lekan Oyekanmi in Houston, Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, and Gabriela Aoun Angueira in San Diego contributed to this report.

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Tees Valley Catalyst Fund reaches full repayment

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Tees Valley Catalyst Fund reaches full repayment

FW Capital’s Tees Valley Catalyst Fund delivered £26 million in bond finance to 29 companies across the North East, enabling them to win contracts valued at nearly £330 million.

The fund supported the creation of 588 jobs and safeguarded a further 1,322.

Now fully repaid, the fund was backed by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund through the Tees Valley Combined Authority and offered short-term loans to help companies secure contracts or finance performance bonds and warranties.

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Joanne Whitfield, fund director at FW Capital, said: “The Tees Valley Catalyst Fund made a real difference businesses in Teesside, helping them win contracts that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible.

“Our commitment to assisting local businesses doesn’t stop with the realisation of the Fund. We’re currently working with businesses via the Teesside Flexible Investment Fund which we manage alongside backing from the Teesside Pension Fund.

“We want to encourage people to talk to us when looking to access bond finance and take advantage of the fund, which can help businesses successfully tender for contracts.

“This sits alongside our broader range of other funds under management, allowing us to provide flexible capital to back growth and innovation for all types of businesses across the region.”

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The fund supported companies in sectors such as manufacturing and construction, including Wilton Engineering and Hambleton Steel.

FW Capital continues to provide short-term loans for contract-related bonds through the Teesside Flexible Investment Fund.

Loans are available from £100,000 to £2 million to finance for example, advance payment guarantees, performance, warranty, highways and water authority bonds.

The first business to benefit from the new fund was Paralloy Group, a Teesside-based stainless steel alloy specialist and manufacturer.

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This backing has played a key role in Paralloy’s next stage of growth, facilitating activities that are generating new jobs locally, delivering a significant impact on the Teesside economy while meeting the increased demands from industrial markets and advances in new technologies.

The Teesside Flexible Investment Fund offers a variety of finance options for businesses.

These include loans from £100,000 to £2 million for contract-related bonds, with repayment terms of up to two years.

It also offers loans from £250,000 to £3 million for residential and non-speculative commercial developments, funding up to 100 per cent of build costs with repayment terms of up to three years.

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In addition, the fund provides loans and equity investments of between £250,000 and £3 million for management teams aiming to take ownership of businesses, with investment periods ranging from one to seven years.

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State pension age rising to 67 as minister discusses inheritance tax on pensions

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Cambridgeshire Live

DWP minister Torsten Bell has discussed the Government’s rationale behind state pension age changes and inheritance tax being extended to pensions

A senior DWP minister has addressed a major new tax affecting pensions. Torsten Bell recently appeared before the Work and Pensions Committee to discuss modifications to the state pension age. The state pension age will increase from the present 66 to 67, rising gradually between April 2026 and April 2028.

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Parliament has also approved legislation for the qualifying age to rise again, from 67 to 68, between 2044 and 2046. Mr Bell explored the consequences of requiring people to wait longer before claiming their state pension, alongside the Government’s reasoning behind these changes. He also faced questions about a substantial transformation in pension taxation, as inheritance tax will shortly include pensions. Inheritance tax is a 40 per cent charge applied to the total assets you leave behind when you die. Currently, pensions are excluded from your estate for inheritance tax calculations, but they will come under this tax regime from April 2027.

Labour unveiled this tax modification in its first Autumn Budget, in 2024. Mr Bell outlined the logic behind the alteration: “There is a long-standing understanding that the purpose of pensions, and why we provide exceptionally generous tax relief – which we rightly do, of about £70 billion a year – is because we want people to have a decent income in retirement.

“That is what it is for. That is what it was always for.” He argued that preserving pension exemptions from inheritance tax had generated perverse incentives, prompting individuals to utilise their pensions “not to provide a decent income into retirement but to avoid inheritance tax”.

Causing problems and confusion

Mr Bell said: “That is a very bad idea, because you do not want to see pension vehicles and how they operate getting confused about what the purpose is. We saw that causing real problems and confusion.

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“Obviously it needs to be done in the right way. All that the changes are doing is bringing us back to the world that we have always lived in.”

The minister went on to clarify that the tax incentives surrounding pensions are fundamentally designed so individuals can “smooth their income over their life”, reports the Liverpool Echo. He told the committee: “That is what it exists for.

“It is not there for for advisers to make money by saying to some people, ‘Don’t use your pension to provide an income in retirement. Use all your other wealth, maybe even sell your house, and do other things in a contorted fashion, because for some reason we have decided that a pension is not about providing income in retirement but is an inheritance tax avoidance vehicle.’ “

People drifting into the tax net

The Government previously stated that the extended tax will encompass most untouched pension pots and death benefits. Alex Pugh, a chartered financial planner from wealth management firm Saltus, characterised this as a significant shift and cautioned that many individuals may remain oblivious to its impact on them.

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She said: “Inheritance tax planning is already complex, but bringing pensions into the tax calculation from April 2027 really shifts the dial. Many people will drift into the tax net without realising it.

“After property, pensions are often someone’s largest asset, and with tax thresholds frozen since 2009, more estates are being pushed over the line. In truth, any individual or couple could now be affected – even those who never considered themselves ‘wealthy’. It’s a perfect storm created by rising asset values and outdated tax limits.”

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Mum paralysed and malnourished after taking weight loss tablets issues warning from hospital bed

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Daily Record

Mum-of-two Ali Martin, 45, was left unable to walk, brush her teeth, or use a knife and fork before being diagnosed with sensory ganglionopathy.

A mum left paralysed and malnourished after taking weight loss tablets has issued a stark warning from her hospital bed.

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Teacher Ali Martin, 45, first started taking GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medication to manage her Type 2 Diabetes in 2022.

She lost six stone after she was prescribed the drug by her GP, but in June last year she became weak and began to lose the use of her limbs before she suffered two falls and was admitted to hospital.

Medics treated Ali, from Dunfermline, for malnourishment and began to feed her through a tube before she was given a diagnosis of Sensory Ganglionopathy – a chronic illness causing numbness and pain.

She’s been left unable to walk, brush her teeth or use a knife and fork and is confined to a wheelchair.

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Ali told the Record: “I want to warn people that losing weight like this is not worth the risk to your health.

“Before I started GLP-1, I was a busy, active mum contributing to society and now I’m completely dependent on other adults to do everything.

“I can’t shower or walk unaided. I can only manage simple personal care at toddler level and I’ve also lost my peripheral vision due to being bed bound for so long.

“The doctors haven’t made a direct link to the fat loss tablets, but I think they have exacerbated this condition because I had nausea and vomiting and other digestive issues.

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“My symptoms make sense because the tablets suppress your appetite so I wasn’t eating and I was becoming increasingly more vitamin deficient, which I think has caused the malnutrition.

“I think the lack of nutrients must have affected my nervous system and my mobility.

Ali remains trapped in Cameron Hospital in Fife nine months after she was admitted as specialist teams work to provide intensive rehabilitation to help her rebuild her strength.

The mum-of-two said her was ordeal has been a “nightmare” for husband Graeme, 39, and kids Darcie, nine, and Luca, six as her worry for her family hugely impacts her mental health.

She added: “I’ve missed my kids‘ birthdays, parents nights, and sports games, and I have suffered several panic attacks because I feel so trapped and vulnerable in my own body.

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“I have been so down that I even asked my mum to wheel me off a bridge.”

Ali fears she will never return to normal and doctors don’t know what a full recovery will look like because the condition is so rare.

She said: “I hope to be able to regain my mobility and be back to my old self but I don’t know if that will ever be the case.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to walk or work again. Doctors can’t tell me what the future looks like.

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“I believe this is all because of the effects of the GLP-1 medication and it will now have a potentially life-long negative impact on me.

“All I’m left with now is a fear of the unknown.”

Ali has now warning others to take great care when using the medication.

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“My message to people taking this type of medication is to be very wary.

“I was prescribed it by a GP and still believe I have experienced horrendous results, so make sure you are going through proper channels and never buy medications from online pharmacies.

“I’d rather have my life back than be 30kg lighter.”

Ali’s family is now fundraising to have their house adapted for her needs when she gets home. To donate, click here.

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GLP-1 for diabetes and weight loss can be used to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. They’re also used as a treatment for obesity as part of long-term weight management.

NHS Scotland advises individuals to speak to a healthcare professional if you’re thinking about taking weight loss medication.

Using these medications without proper medical supervision can worsen existing health problems and lead to serious side effects.

GLP-1s help people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating.

Some newer medicines, also act on a second hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar control.

In the UK, there are several licensed GLP-1 medicines including semaglutide, tirzepatide and ­liraglutide, which are all sold under various brand names

“Licensed” means they have been assessed carefully by the UK medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and approved as safe and effective for certain uses.

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GLP-1s should only be used if you are overweight or diabetic, and not if you want to lose weight for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes.

NHS Scotland advises individuals to speak to a healthcare professional if they are thinking about taking weight loss medication.

A spokesperson for the drug’s manufacturer, which we are not naming for legal reasons, said: “Patient safety is of utmost importance, and we take all reports about adverse events from use of our medicines very seriously.

“The information included in the labels of products are agreed with the health authorities and does not include safety concerns about sensory ganglionopathy based on assessment of the totality of evidence from clinical trials and post-marketing report.

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“We continue to work with health authorities and regulatory bodies worldwide to monitor the safety of our products.”

A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: “We cannot comment on the care of individuals for reasons of patient confidentiality.

“In Scotland, GP practices are independent contractors and are responsible for their own prescribing decisions, in line with national guidance.

“Where there are concerns about any potential adverse reactions to medicines, this should be reported through the UK’s Yellow Card scheme, which supports ongoing monitoring of medication safety.”

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Iranian missiles could target these seven UK sites after Healey refuses to rule out attack

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Daily Record

The Defence Secretary has declined to give a clean assurance that Iran lacks the firepower to hit the UK, even as he sought to calm fears by stressing that no strike on British soil is believed to be in the planning.

Britain’s Defence Secretary has stopped short of guaranteeing that Iran doesn’t possess the capability to strike the UK, while attempting to ease concerns by emphasising that no attack on British territory is thought to be under consideration.

John Healey faced persistent questioning during a Sky News interview about whether London itself could fall within the range of Iranian missiles – a subject he addressed cautiously without categorically ruling it out.

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“We have no assessment of Iranian plans to strike London,” he said.

The discussion followed Iran launching missiles towards Diego Garcia – the distant Indian Ocean atoll that serves as a joint British and American military base. Healey had earlier informed Parliament the incoming projectiles landed considerably short of the island.

With the Government declining to rule out the threat of Iranian missiles striking the UK, questions about which specific areas could be vulnerable have become increasingly urgent, reports the Express.

Defence experts have offered a less comforting assessment than the Defence Secretary. Both the Israeli Defence Forces and the Institute for the Study of War have positioned London within what they characterise as a theoretical 2,500-mile threat zone – the maximum range of Iran’s most sophisticated modified intermediate-range ballistic missiles, which includes the Khorramshahr-4.

UK sites at elevated risk due to the Iran conflict Analysts have highlighted the following locations as facing an increased threat due to ongoing tensions between the West and Iran in 2026:

RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire – This airbase functions as Britain’s main departure point for US Air Force strategic bombers – including B-1B Lancers and B-52 Stratofortresses – presently striking Iranian missile installations, making it a prime target on any Iranian hit list.

Portsmouth and Devonport, Plymouth – These two critical naval hubs house approximately two-thirds of the Royal Navy’s fleet between them, rendering them clear choices for any assault designed to disable British maritime capability.

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GCHQ, Cheltenham – Serving as the hub of Britain’s signals intelligence and cyber defence capabilities, the distinctive circular facility would constitute a valuable target for any opponent aiming to disrupt rather than physically obliterate.

RAF Fylingdales, North Yorkshire – This radar installation on the Yorkshire moors carries out a role that renders it indispensable during any missile confrontation: monitoring incoming ballistic threats from launch. The BBC has flagged it as a key counter-force objective for exactly this reason.

Barrow-in-Furness – The Cumbrian shipyard where Britain’s nuclear submarines are built has been identified by analysts as occupying a precarious spot – important enough to draw scrutiny, yet described as ‘woefully exposed’ to the type of long-range assault Iran now has the capability to consider.

Another cluster of sites derives its risk assessment not from the present conflict alone but from the enduring strategic importance it holds – as the location of Britain’s nuclear arsenal, its main naval facility and its defence manufacturing base:

Faslane, HMNB Clyde – Scotland’s deep-water naval facility on the Clyde serves as the permanent berth for Britain’s Trident-equipped submarines – the physical manifestation of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

Telford, MOD Donnington – Landlocked and unassuming, the Shropshire depot nevertheless anchors the supply network that maintains British armed forces equipped and functioning.

For the time being, Healey’s stance remains firm: no preparations, no immediate danger, no reason for alarm. However, with Iranian missiles already flying over the Indian Ocean and London featured in analyst risk evaluations, the room for comfort is getting tighter.

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Killer Nicola moves on to a new victim after discovery in EastEnders | Soaps

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Killer Nicola moves on to a new victim after discovery in EastEnders | Soaps
Nicola unearths huge information about Penny (Picture:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

There’s serious trouble brewing in EastEnders next week, as Nicola’s attention shifts in a big way, and it looks like Penny could be firmly in her sights.

What starts as a happy milestone quickly spirals into chaos when Penny and Vinny head off for their first baby scan. It should be a moment to celebrate, but things don’t quite go to plan.

Before they even get there, Vinny is thrown by a call from a potential investor interested in backing Penny’s business. Keen to make things work, he agrees to meet them, despite warnings from Priya, who overhears and urges him to steer clear of anything dodgy.

With Vinny distracted, Penny ends up going into the scan alone, and what she hears completely shakes her. The baby is further along than expected… a detail she chooses to keep to herself when Vinny eventually turns up.

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And it’s not hard to see why.

Later, clearly overwhelmed, Penny confides in Lauren and Oscar Branning, admitting that if the dates don’t add up, then Vinny might not be the father after all, and there’s a real chance the baby could be Harry’s.

It’s a bombshell that threatens to blow everything apart.

Meanwhile, Nicola is dealing with worries of her own. As George gears up for the launch of Knight Fusion, Harry notices that Nicola is on edge.

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She admits she hasn’t felt her baby move, but doesn’t want to stress George out ahead of the big day. In the end, Harry and Gina Knight convince her to get checked over, and thankfully, everything is fine.

Nicola Mitchell walks through the market with Harry Mitchell and Gina Knight in EastEnders.
Harry and Gina have been looking out for Nicola(Picture:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

But Nicola’s focus quickly shifts, and it’s Penny who ends up under the spotlight.

After a tense run-in between Penny and Suki Panesar over Vinny’s risky business decisions, Nicola steps in and offers support, even taking Penny to Harry’s barn to calm down. On the surface, it looks like she’s being kind… but there’s more going on.

Behind the scenes, the pieces are starting to fall into place.

Harry later opens up to Nicola, revealing that he and Penny slept together once last year, and with Gina not wanting children, it’s clearly been playing on his mind. Combined with Penny’s earlier behaviour, it’s enough to make Nicola seriously suspicious.

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And she doesn’t waste any time.

Confronting Penny, Nicola lays it all out and demands answers, insisting she takes a DNA test immediately. If she refuses, Nicola threatens to expose everything to both Vinny and Harry.

Suddenly, Penny is completely trapped.

Desperate and emotional, she turns back to Lauren and Oscar for advice before finally confronting Nicola again. But the situation quickly escalates into a heated showdown, and just when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, Nicola is suddenly hit with waves of pain.

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Penny witnesses Nicola experience pain while in Harry's Barn in EastEnders
Nicola is nowhere near her due date (Picture:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

It’s a shocking moment that stops everything in its tracks.

Despite Harry urging her to go to the hospital, Nicola stubbornly refuses, insisting she just needs to rest at home. But as the launch of Knight Fusion gets underway, things take another dramatic turn when she’s struck by what feels like contractions.

With tensions at an all-time high and secrets threatening to be exposed, Nicola’s grip on the situation seems stronger than ever, but could her health scare change everything?

And as Penny struggles under the weight of Nicola’s ultimatum, it’s clear this is just the beginning of the drama.

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Horoscope today: Your daily guide for Friday, March 27, 2026

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Horoscope today: Your daily guide for Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Aries 0904 470 1141 (65p per minute)*

Taurus 0904 470 1142 (65p per minute)*

Gemini 0904 470 1143 (65p per minute)*

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Cancer 0904 470 1144 (65p per minute)*

Leo 0904 470 1145 (65p per minute)*

Virgo 0904 470 1146 (65p per minute)*

Libra 0904 470 1147 (65p per minute)*

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Scorpio 0904 470 1148 (65p per minute)*

Sagittarius 0904 470 1149 (65p per minute)*

Capricorn 0904 470 1150 (65p per minute)*

Aquarius 0904 470 1151 (65p per minute)*

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Pisces 0904 470 1152 (65p per minute)*

*Astro line horoscopes are updated every Thursday. Calls cost 65p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge and will last approximately five minutes. You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission. Service provided by Spoke. Customer service: 0333 202 3390

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Netflix ‘Love is Blind’ star jailed for attempting to kill his ex who he met on show

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Daily Mirror

Santiago Martínez, who stared on the Netflix reality show “Love Is Blind: Argentina”, was sentenced on Wednesday March 25 for attempted murder, repeated assault, and unlawful detention

A former “Love is Blind” contestant has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to kill his ex, whom he met on the show.

Santiago Martínez was sentenced on Wednesday (25 Mar) for attempted murder, repeated assault, and unlawful detention. Martínez joined the Netflix reality show “Love Is Blind: Argentina”, which premiered in November 2024, when he was 29.

Presenting himself as a young entrepreneur, he became one of 32 participants to successfully form a couple and married Emily Ceco, then 24, in a civil ceremony during the show’s final episodes.

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The couple had been planning an intimate wedding with close family and friends. However, in February 2025, Emily reported Martínez for gender-based violence after appearing with a black eye, leading to the cancellation of their engagement.

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A court issued a restraining order to prevent Martínez from approaching Emily, and he was removed from streaming programmes once the allegations became public.

The prosecution and plaintiffs had requested a 16-year sentence, but Martínez was handed 15 years after the prosecution rejected a plea deal that would have reduced his term, as reported by creatorzine.com.

Speaking to local media, Emily said: “I can’t believe it. I feel it’s over, I’m finally going to have peace. Justice has been done.” She recalled her first encounter with Martínez after their separation, during the reading of the sentence. “My whole body was shaking. I was terrified,” she said. “During his statement, he apologised and said he still loved me.

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“I didn’t respond, but my brother went too far and told him, ‘If you loved her so much, why did you almost kill her? You beat her up – coward.’”

Emily added: “I have 15 years of peace ahead. I don’t know what will happen when he gets out, but I hope the justice system continues to protect me. If he tried to kill me when I gave him everything, I can’t imagine what he might do to me or my family after 15 years of anger.”

For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

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Will there be another season of Netflix’s Detective Hole?

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Wales Online

Netflix’s Detective Hole has only just been released, but viewers are already eager to know if Jo Nesbø’s crime drama will return for a second season

Netflix has recently released its gripping new crime drama Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, yet some viewers are already eager to discover whether another series is on the cards.

The nine-episode detective series, adapted from bestselling crime writer Nesbø’s The Devil’s Star, serves up a compelling journey for Netflix audiences , reports the Mirror.

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Detective Hole centres on troubled investigator Harry Hole (Tobias Santelmann) as he battles against time to locate a serial killer before their next attack.

Simultaneously, Harry finds himself embroiled in a perilous cat-and-mouse game with corrupt fellow officer Tom Waaler (Joel Kinnaman).

Will there be another season of Netflix’s Detective Hole?

In an exclusive conversation with Wales Online publishers Reach Plc, creator Nesbø, leading actor Santelmann and Beate Lønn star Ellen Helinder discussed the programme’s future.

Nesbø revealed: “No plans yet [for a season two]. Right now, we’re just concentrating on getting this TV series out to the audience and we’ve been working on this for three years now.

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“So, just the thought of starting all over again right now is a bit premature and we’re so exhausted right now that we want a vacation.”

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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.

Nevertheless, Harry Hole star Santelmann remarked: “I’m ready. You might be exhausted.”

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Nesbø jokingly responded: “You’re ready? Then I’m ready too for season two.”

The crime writer acknowledged that he hadn’t yet considered the direction he’d prefer to take the programme or which Harry Hole novel a potential second series might explore.

Meanwhile, actress Helinder, who plays the talented forensics officer Beate, expressed her aspirations for a second series of Detective Hole: “Just to keep working with these amazing people and develop the characters even more.

“There’s so much to find in these people, who work within the law enforcement.

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“Even more the morality, the ethical dilemmas and how is Harry going to cope with everything? Who is Beate? I would like to explore her backstory.

“I think this ability that she has for facial recognition is so cool, just for her to keep tracking cases and doing her thing.”

As Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole has only recently launched, Netflix will be monitoring audience numbers before making any decisions about continuation.

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The Devil’s Star represents just one of 13 Harry Hole novels that Nesbø has penned, meaning there’s abundant material for the production team and indeed the writer, who also worked as screenwriter on the Netflix adaptation, to utilise.

Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole is streaming on Netflix now

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Does America think they’re fighting a ‘holy war’ in Iran? | US News

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Does America think they're fighting a 'holy war' in Iran? | US News

👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈 

We’re in Miami and Washington DC. The president wraps up a cabinet meeting ahead of a trip to South Florida to talk to the Saudis about Iran.

Mail-in voting is on people’s minds too. The president calls it cheating… except when he does it. We react to the revelation about Trump’s voting habits.

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But first, we’ve spent a couple of days in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Christianity, and the Church, is becoming a significant part of the direction of this administration. It’s playing into the war waged against Iran.

Are we in the middle of a modern-day holy war?

Watch Martha’s film from Tulsa, Oklahoma, here.

You can watch all episodes on our YouTube channel.

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Email us on trump100@sky.uk with your comments and questions.

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