There could be a real mix of options on show for Saturday’s Carabao Cup clash against Birmingham

The new season is nearly here, albeit with a slightly different feel to previous years.

Normally, it’s the league campaign that takes centre-stage on the opening day, but on this occasion, Swansea start the 2026/27 campaign with the visit of Birmingham City in the opening round of the Carabao Cup.

Swansea had some great moments in this competition last year, producing a stunning comeback to beat Nottingham Forest, a result that was perhaps the beginning of the end for boss Ange Postecoglou, before then putting in a spirited showing against Manchester City.

Even so, it’s probably fair to assume this tournament isn’t the main priority for Vitor Matos, whose ultimate ambition is likely to hinge more on a possible play-off push.

That said, this contest with the Blues might still be seen as a useful exercise in the wider preparations for the new season.

Traditionally, the early stages of this competition have served as an opportunity to give a few younger members of the squad, and a couple of fringe players, the opportunity to earn some game-time.

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That may well be the case again, but with a few of his first-team stars perhaps still in need of minutes, it could be slightly stronger than XIs seen in previous years.

In goal, one suspects Andy Fisher will be given the nod, but the back four is slightly trickier to predict.

After a solid showing against Leganes, Filip Lissah could well be handed another chance to shine, perhaps in his more favoured right-back role.

In the middle, there’s every chance youngsters like Arthur Parker and Carter Heywood, the latter of whom has really impressed Matos, could well be in contention.

But providing he’s fit, these are the sort of games Stephen Welsh would be hoping to make the most of, while Cameron Burgess could potentially do with a few minutes given his late return to the club this summer.

Tiago Parente is available following his loan move from Benfica, and will surely start.

Elsewhere, Matos appeared to drift away from his usual double-pivot set-up in City’s final friendly, preferring instead to invert the full-backs to create another body in midfield.

Goncalo Franco’s absence was clearly part of that decision, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a repeat here, with Jay Fulton likely to be entrusted to anchor the midfield.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see any of the three remaining new boys start, but Moussa Yeo is perhaps the most likely.

Eom Jisung could potentially do with a bit more game-time on the left given, like Burgess, he was also late returning to the squad.

In the middle, this could be another chance to give Leo Walta more minutes, while someone like Thomas Woodward might well be handed the opportunity to shine.

Up front is an interesting one.

Joseph Opoku can potentially play there, but Zan Vipotnik’s lack of minutes this summer means there’s surely a real chance he will lead the line.

Swansea’s possible XI: Fisher, Lissah, Welsh, Burgess, Parente; Fulton; Yeo, Walta, Woodward, Eom; Vipotnik

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A woman has revealed her remarkable post-break-up transformation which saw her drop from a size 22 to a size 6.

Amy Salmon spent years trapped in a cycle of comfort eating, watching her weight climb to 18st despite trying endless diets.

But when her relationship ended in 2023, the mother of two from Hertfordshire, decided it was finally time to put herself first.

Two years on, Amy has lost an astonishing 9st and now wears a size 6. She says the biggest change has been her confidence rather than her appearance. 

Thanks to a gastric sleeve surgery she underwent in 2024, a rigid diet of protein and whole foods, and a little help from cosmetic ‘tweakments’ to enhance her facial features, the 31-year-old no longer shies away from photos and social situations.

She said: ‘Life has changed massively. I finally feel confident in myself, and I no longer hide away in photos or avoid social situations.

‘I struggled with my confidence for a long time, and food became something I turned to when I was stressed, overwhelmed or unhappy.

‘Looking back, I realise I wasn’t just carrying extra weight physically, I was carrying a lot emotionally too.’

The mother-of-two was a size 22 two years ago, due to a diet of chocolate, sweets and takeaways, including McDonald’s and pizzas

According to  the aesthetics practitioner, the pressures of motherhood, a demanding schedule and an unhappy relationship caused her to turn to comfort in food.  

Chocolate, sweets, takeaways, including McDonald’s and pizzas, became routine for Amy, with large portions and little thought given to nutrition. 

Although she repeatedly attempted various diets and weight-loss programmes, including Slimming World and meal replacement shakes, the results never lasted. 

It was only when her relationship ended that she decided enough was enough.  

Amy said: ‘I reached a point where I realised I wasn’t living the life I wanted. I wanted to be healthier, more confident and, most importantly, able to keep up with my children as they grew up.

‘I knew something had to change, not just for how I looked, but for how I felt.’

After struggling to achieve lasting results through dieting alone, Amy travelled to Egypt in June 2024 to undergo gastric sleeve surgery.

Within just a year, her weight had dropped from 18st to 9st. 

She explained: ‘I always say that the operation was a tool, not a magic fix. It still required a huge amount of commitment, learning healthier habits and changing my mindset.’ 

‘During this time I focused on prioritising protein, exercising regularly, building muscle and creating sustainable habits rather than chasing quick fixes.’

Although Amy repeatedly attempted various diets and weight-loss programmes, including Slimming World and meal replacement shakes, the results never lasted

After her relationship ended, Amy decided that her life had to change, so she flew to Egypt for gastric band surgery

The mother-of-two’s weight peaked at 18st

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Amy now follows a strict diet of protein and whole foods, with chicken salad for lunch and lean meat for dinner  

Amy said: ‘I reached a point where I realised I wasn’t living the life I wanted. I wanted to be healthier, more confident and, most importantly, able to keep up with my children as they grew up’ 

Today, Amy’s meals primarily revolve around lean protein and whole foods.   

Breakfast typically consists of eggs on sourdough, or Greek yoghurt with added protein and berries, while lunch might be chicken salad or an omelette. Dinner usually includes lean meat or fish with vegetables. 

While Amy still enjoys treats from time to time, she revealed her relationship with food has completely changed, adding that she now ‘eats to fuel my body rather than to cope with my emotions’. 

The transformation has had a huge impact on nearly every aspect of her life. 

She said: ‘I have so much more energy, I can be far more active with my children and everyday tasks that once felt exhausting are now effortless.

‘I spend less on takeaways – they were costing me a fortune – and my mood is happier as I feel better in my own skin.

‘My confidence has completely transformed and that’s had a huge impact on both my personal life and my career.

‘It’s also inspired the mission behind my [aesthetics] business, because I know what it’s like to lack confidence and I love helping other women feel better about themselves too.’

Amy has since documented her journey on TikTok, where her videos have amassed more than one million views. 

And while many followers have been blown away by her dramatic weight loss, other eagle-eyed viewers have noticed the changes to her facial appearance. 

While the aesthetics practitioner has undergone dramatic weight loss, she’s also made major changes to her facial appearance with the help of regular cosmetic tweakments 

Despite the striking physical transformation, Amy insists the emotional changes have had more of an impact on her

Amy, who has candidly opened up about the treatments she ‘religiously’ receives, says she undergoes aesthetic ‘tweakments’ every four weeks to maintain her new look. 

Her skincare routine includes skin boosters with hyaluronic acid injections, polynucleotide treatments – commonly referred to as ‘salmon sperm facials’ – beneath her eyes, across her lower face and neck.

She also regularly has Botox injected throughout her face, as well as filler in her lip and chin. 

Amy said: ‘I went from looking completely unhealthy. [I was] physically overweight, my face looked puffy and tired, and overall I feel it made me look older than I actually was.

‘To now [I’m] looking a lot healthier, more put together and less tired. People have also said I look younger.’

Despite the striking physical transformation, Amy insists the emotional changes have had more of an impact on her. 

She said: ‘If there’s one thing I’d want people to know, it’s that losing weight doesn’t automatically fix every problem in your life – but it can give you the confidence to start changing everything else.

‘The physical transformation is obvious, but the mental transformation has been even bigger.

‘I’m proud of the weight I’ve lost, but I’m even prouder of the woman I’ve become through the process.

‘And if sharing my story helps even one person believe that change is possible, then it’s worth it.’

BAYREUTH, Germany (AP) — Richard Wagner likely would have appreciated the cutting-edge technology, if not the reaction.

Scenery selected by artificial intelligence sparked boos at the 150th anniversary performance of Wagner’s Ring Cycle from an audience frustrated that software could integrate images but not drama.

Called “10010110” — the number 150 in written in binary — the staging is subtitled “From Myth to Code” and was intended to portray the history of “Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung),” a series of four operas about the destruction of gods by humans, giants and dwarfs. It was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the full cycle’s premiere from Aug. 13-17, 1876, at the Festspielhaus theater built to Wagner’s specifications atop a Bavarian hill.

Curator Marcus Lobbes developed the concept with Nils Corte and dramaturge Andri Hardmeier, feeding computers about 1,000 images culled from the 15 prior Bayreuth Ring productions. They did not intend to produce a cohesive drama and suggested minimal blocking.

“We always communicated that it’s an experiment, it’s not stage-directed,” Lobbes said.

Disgruntled by 19th century standards, Wagner demanded his own theater of innovation. Bayreuth’s 239th Ring Cycle was an encyclopedia of interpretations rather than a new one.

The audience also responded with a 17-minute ovation

Singers stood between two 20-by-60 meter (33-by-66 foot) screens, often not moving, for 14 1/2 hours over four nights. About a dozen AI models were combined and Stable Diffusion was used to start each act with 1876 scenery designed by Gotthold Brückner and Max Brückner from sketches by Josef Hoffmann, then select images based on text and music.

After Saturday night’s concluding “Götterdämmerung,” conductor Christian Thielemann and the cast were greeted with a 17-minute ovation that wrapped around 30 seconds of boos and whistles when the production team joined for their bows.

Many Bayreuth productions are initially jeered, such as Patrice Chéreau’s centennial staging in 1976 that moved the action to the Industrial Revolution, then cheered years later. That production’s final appearance in 1980 ignited a 45-minute ovation.

“I know the ritual,” said Lobbes, director of the Academy for Theatre and Digitality in Dortmund.

He was approached in February 2023 to stage an AI Ring for the sesquicentennial by Katharina Wagner, a great-granddaughter of the composer and current festival director.

Wagner composed the Ring over 26 years. Coders divided it into about 250 scenes of two to six minutes and loaded images from past performances and topical moments to a pair of custom-built Tower PCs with NVIDIA RTX 5090 graphics cards.

Singers led by Michael Volle (Wotan), Camilla Nylund (Brünnhilde) and Klaus Florian Vogt (Siegfried) wore birdlike costumes of wire mesh with black backing and laser voile designed by Pia Maria Mackert, Lobbes’ wife. The outfits shimmered in brilliant colors depending on the lighting, with gold and red most prominent.

As the narrative moved forward, so did AI’s projections.

An image of Theodor Herzl, a key figure in modern Zionism, appeared in “Das Rheingold,” and one of Adolf Hitler in “Die Walküre.” A sign that read: “Sorry, no gas today“ flashed in ”Siegfried” as the timeline reached the 1973 oil crisis and Brünnhilde awakened to sing “Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht! (Hail to you, Sun! Hail to you, Light!)”

“Every year of the 150 years, we have an answer from artificial intelligence what she thinks that the audience of Bayreuth would have said is the main political topic of this year or this summer,” Hardmeier said.

Many of the images provoked director name-checking in viewers’ minds — Was this from Wieland Wagner in 1951? From Frank Castorf in 2013? From Valentin Schwarz in 2020?

At other times, AI picked forms that shifted like a giant Etch A Sketch into images evoking works by Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning.

Original plans for 2026 envisioned performances of the final 10 of Wagner’s 13 operas plus the Festspielhaus debut of the composer’s third, “Rienzi,” until now deemed not worthy of inclusion. The AI Ring was to be presented once to coincide approximately with the original premiere dates, but budget cuts two years ago caused four operas to be scrapped and replaced by two additional Rings, the first from July 27 to Aug. 1.

Singers were together for just one nine-hour rehearsal over a four-day period in which the directing team worked with cast members in small groups.

“I would wish that with a certain openness people will find some interesting correlations and will see things that maybe others don’t see,” Hardmeier said. “I hope that people go out with a very fruitful irritation — not irritation in the sense of ‘What was this about’ but more sort of, ‘Hey, interesting.’”

Beethoven’s 9th starts festival

Thielemann conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to open the festival. Wagner led the work at the downtown Margravial Opera House after the Bayreuth cornerstone ceremony in 1872 and it has been repeated on special occasions, such as the 1951 resumption after World War II.

A speech the following day by Michel Friedman titled “Silenced Voices” addressed Wagner’s antisemitism and his family’s support of Hitler and the Nazi party.

‘Rienzi’ a success in Bayreuth Festspielhaus premiere

A striking staging with Alexandra Szemerédy and Magdolna Parditka, updated to post-modern dystopian times, was greeted with extended applause when it opened on July 26 in the first of nine performances through Aug. 26.

Tenor Andreas Schager gave the title role charisma and vocal beauty, telling the story of 14th century Italian populist Cola di Rienzo.

Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann made a convincing case for an unwieldy composition whose autographed score was given by Wagner’s daughter-in-law, Winifried, to Hitler and lost in the destruction that ended World War II.

The ballet became a hilarious parody of Wagnerian cliches as a cartwheeling child wearing sneakers with rainbow lights and dressed in gold, resembling statues of the composer, presided in front of a faux Bayreuth proscenium. A procession of characters, some in winged helmets, performed silent camp references to Wagner’s renowned roles.

Stars of The Commitments joined Steve Coogan and Gerry Adams at the funeral of Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin on Tuesday.  

Musician, activist and The Commitments movie star Hansard died in an early-hours motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin last week. 

Hansard, 56, had featured in the celebrated film The Commitments, and won an Oscar for best original song for Falling Slowly in 2008, which he co-wrote with Marketa Irglova for the movie Once.

The Commitments star Angeline Ball, who played Imelda Quirke in the 1991 film, led mourners at Tuesday’s service, which took place 24 hours after a wake for Hansard was attended by thousands of well-wishers.

Steve Coogan collaborated closely on an experimental stage musical adaptation of Coogan’s film Philomena.

Hansard was also one half of the rock duo The Swell Season and released solo albums including Didn’t He Ramble, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2016.

For years he led the Christmas Eve charity busk outside The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin city, where members of the public gathered to see famous Irish musicians perform in aid of the Dublin Simon Community.

He also took part in protests against Ireland’s housing crisis, a march to mark three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and he joined anti-austerity water charge protests in 2014.

Hansard also recorded a song called Take Heart, in October 2022, expressing support for Ukraine following the country’s invasion by Russia – with Hansard backed on the track by Irglová, U2 frontman Bono and Ukrainian refugees. 

Hansard toured in the past with Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, sang the track Coyote at Joni Mitchell’s 75th birthday celebration in Los Angeles in 2018 and also sang live alongside artists including Bruce Springsteen and Ed Sheeran.

Former Irish president Michael D Higgins said Hansard was a ‘wonderful musician and performer’ who had a gift for storytelling.

He also praised the musician for having ‘also placed great emphasis throughout his life on the importance of tackling the problems of society, including regular work in drawing attention to the problem of homelessness’.

Bono said in a statement: ‘Sometimes I would wonder if Glen Hansard really existed….Seriously, he was such an angelic presence… not otherworldly…in fact, very present this presence…

‘A smiling rascal if you needed him to be… this most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun… no airs, plenty of graces…

Steve Coogan collaborated closely on an experimental stage musical adaptation of Coogan’s film Philomena

Gerry Adams was among the high-profile mourners at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Musician, activist and The Commitments movie star Hansard died in an early-hours motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin last week. He is seen taking part in the annual Christmas Eve busk on Grafton Street, Dublin, in December 2019

‘Of course, Glen was the shining star of the Christmas Eve busk… sometimes the only one reminding the rest of us that Christmas began with a refugee born in a manger, which is hardly a step from living on the street.

‘To be utterly yourself by being more interested in others – a clue for any of us trying out different personas.

‘He really was who you thought he was. He could never walk by a person living rough without checking they were OK… and more than that, he worked very hard so that less people had to live on the streets in the first place.

‘When the crowds got bigger and for safety’s sake Glen had to agree to move the busk to a stage kindly provided outside The Gaiety Theatre, he would say ‘we’ll give it our best but it’s not a busk if we’re not on the street!’ …because that’s who he was – a performer at eye level in any situation.

‘The stage was a separation he wouldn’t recognize. Of all the grand and gigantic venues he and The Frames played, you sensed the street was his most favoured place to perform. And street people, his favourite audience.

Hansard featured in the 1991 movie The Commitments as guitarist Outspan Foster

‘Voice of the streets. A choir of angels in one man. The rest of us blessed to stand there beside our very own and very earthed Angel Gabriel… All of us welcome in his choir, whatever shape or form.

‘….and I’m telling myself this morning that if he never existed, then he can never cease to exist. For me, he will always be everywhere I see a coin spinning into an open guitar case.

‘May you rest in the peace you gave to so many. Bono.’

Video footage showed Hansard’s final performance at the Wren’s Nest late on Tuesday night.

The Wren’s Nest, a pub in Dublin dating back to 1588, has posted an online tribute, saying: ‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of Glen Hansard.

‘It was always a privilege to welcome Glen to The Wren’s Nest over the years. He will be remembered for his incredible talent, generosity and the joy he brought to so many.

‘Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who knew and loved him. Rest in peace, Glen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.’

Fans have noted how Hansard’s last performance delivered lyrics such as ‘Time is the only thing that’s going to fix this now’.

A clock on the wall in the footage marks the time as being 11.15pm on Tuesday.

Responses online included the late comedian Spike Milligan’s daughter Jane Milligan saying: ‘How beautiful to have this song.

‘Once is a most profoundly great show, not only for its songs and sweet love story but for its Actor Musician element. RIP Glen.’

Another poster wrote: ‘You just never know when it all ends. So glad he was doing what he loved right up to the last moment. Thank you for everything Glen.’

Other comments included: ‘Nice that he left this song, and thankfully someone captured this on video.’

Dave Ashe said Hansard’s death was a ‘shock’ and described him as a ‘cultural node’ for the music community in Ireland.

‘His inputs of busking on the street, and then being the guitarist, the frontman, and then being the Oscar-winner, and being the storyteller, and then the trad session musician – to have that removed from the culture, I think it’s jarring for people,’ he said.

Songwriter Barra Donovan said Hansard was a ‘hero’ of his and described meeting Hansard in Dublin last month.

‘Who walks in but Glen?’ he said.

‘So naturally, I had to go up and say hello, and he was very approachable and very kind. We had a lovely conversation.

‘For about 30 minutes, we were just chatting, and he kept coming back and asking me questions about my music, had all the time in the world, and I walked away that night – I should say stumbled away – with a big grin on my face and a very happy story to tell the next day.’

He added: ‘I was so shocked at Glen’s passing, and the only thing I could think to do is, I have to come down, pay my respects to an absolute giant in the music community and around the world, really.

‘Glen helped build people up all the time, he was a giant is the only word for it.’

Singer-songwriter Zoe Hayter met Hansard when she was 10.

‘I never, ever thought someone could change your life in the best way possible,’ she said.

‘He introduced me into a world that was the most magical thing you could ever be a part of, and there was no-one else like him that could ever do that for anybody else, and he’s done it for me, and he’s done it for everybody in the whole world.

‘The whole world is crying, and there’ll never be anyone like that, and I’ll never stop loving him and I know no-one else will.’

Maureen Doyle and Richard Thorpe travelled from Co Kilkenny to pay their respects to Hansard.

Ms Doyle said he was a ‘good person’ and they expressed their condolences to his wife and young son, Christy.

‘Beautiful rug with vibrant colours that really brighten up the room and the quality is great for the price’

Adding a new rug to your home can instantly upgrade the space and getting one at half price makes the purchase all the more worthwhile. If you’re looking to give your living space a refresh without spending a small fortune, Dunelm has reduced one of its popular rugs in the sale.

Shoppers have been full of praise for the Traditional Patchwork Chenille Rug, with many saying it adds character and a cosy finishing touch to their home. The Traditional Patchwork Rug combines a timeless vintage-inspired pattern with a choice of rich jewel tones or neutral shades to suit different décor styles.

The rug is available in a multicoloured and a natural patchwork design. The multicoloured rug comes in sizes 240cm x 340cm, which was £319 and is now £159, and a larger 300cm x 400cm version for £224.50, down from £449 but we’ve found a few much cheaper alternatives.

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The natural patchwork rug is also available in the size 200cm x 290cm for £114.50, instead of the original price of £229. The Traditional Patchwork Chenille Rug is made from soft chenille fibres and is described as having a “luxurious underfoot feel”.

Among other stylish rugs on offer is the Hand Woven Wool Checkerboard Rug from Dusk. The rug is 120cm x 170cm and comes in a forest green colour. It was £85 but has been slashed to £52, giving shoppers a £33 saving.

Traditional Patchwork Chenille Rug

£319

£159.50

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The Traditional Patchwork Chenille Rug is currently 50% off

Elsewhere, the Homemaker Bukhura Traditional Red Rug is priced at £35 at Argos. It features a bold red-medallion pattern that’s designed to be hardwearing, colourfast and stain-resistant. The rug is also available in grey for shoppers who prefer a more neutral look.

Back to Dunelm, the Chenille Patchwork Rug has garnered an impressive 4.9/5 star review from 22 shoppers. One shopper wrote: “Gorgeous rug, you will not regret it. I had been waiting for this rug to come on sale for months and I got it for an absolute bargain price. It looks really classy! I got the extra large size and it has significantly improved the look and feel of my living room.”

Another wrote: “Really happy with the rug looks better in reality a nice twist between traditional and modern.”

A third pleased shopper wrote: “Beautiful rug with vibrant colours that really brighten up the room. The quality is great for the price, making it excellent value for money. Very happy with this purchase.”

One reviewer of the Dunelm rug wrote: “Whilst the rug looks lively, nice feel and great colours, it’s just too lightweight. We tried it on carpet, so it might be ok on a hard floor.”

Despite this, most reviewers praised the quality of the rug, like this shopper who said: “A great quality, good value rug that looks expensive, a bonus for us is that the dog’s hair doesn’t stick.”

Another pleased shopper wrote: “We love this rug. It gives our lounge a sense of calm and sophistication.”

By ISABELLA MACHIN, REPORTER

Published: 12:22 BST, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 13:07 BST, 4 August 2026

Scarlett Moffatt has shared that she’s been through the “hardest month” of her and her partner’s lives as they suffer two heartbreaking family deaths

Scarlett Moffatt has told fans that she has been through the “hardest month” of her life after two family members died. The former Gogglebox star lost both her grandad and her mother-in-law in July.

Speaking on social media a the time, Scarlett said: “Unfortunately, more sad news for our family this week. My grandad Moffatt has sadly passed away.”

This came just days after the death of her fiance Scott Dobinson‘s mother Janice. “My heart is broken for Scott and all of his family at the loss of his mum Janice,” she wrote at the time.

“You were the best Nanna to Jude, the kindest mother-in-law and one of the loveliest people I’ve ever known. I’m so upset that you won’t get to meet your second grandson, but I know you will be watching over us all.”

In her post about her grandfather, Moffatt added: “Me, Scott and all our family really appreciate all of the love and kindness you’ve shown us following the loss of Janice and now my grandad. Thank you so much.”

Now, the star, who is also recently appeared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here South Africa, shared another post to Instagram, telling her followers that July had been her family’s “hardest month”.

“It’s been the hardest month of our lives so grateful we have each other,” Moffatt shared. “I now understand that grief is really just love. It’s all the love you still want to give, but no longer can.

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“I’ve known @scottdobby since I was 17, and I still can’t quite believe the life we’ve built together. When grief arrives, it has a way of making you hold on to each other even tighter. Amongst the sadness, we’re finding little pockets of joy, mostly thanks to Jude & bump and looking at old photographs and memories made x. Sending so much love to everyone who knows this feeling. Be gentle with yourselves.”

Amid the grief, Moffatt and Dobinson do have something to look forward to, as she recently announced that she is pregnant with their second child. The two already have a son, three year-old Jude, who was born after a four week fertility journey, leading Moffatt to call him her “miracle baby”. When announcing she was expecting another child, she called the baby “another miracle”.

In the announcement, Jude held up a personalised newspaper that read: “Baby Dobinson; another miracle coming soon!” Moffatt added in the caption: “We honestly can’t believe we’re writing this… After everything, we feel unbelievably lucky to be able to say… our family is growing. One little miracle gave us Jude, and now he’s going to be a big brother. And if there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s that he is going to be the most amazing big brother. We are so grateful, so excited, and still a little bit in shock… Our hearts are fuller than we ever thought possible.”

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PARIS (AP) — French and British teams rescued 157 migrants who were trying to cross the English Channel after the engine of their boat caught fire, French maritime authorities said.

On Tuesday morning, while the boat was still in France’s search-and-rescue zone near British waters, its engine caught fire and it rapidly began to break apart, the maritime prefecture for the English Channel and the North Sea said in a statement. French authorities deployed two rescue ships, a Navy helicopter and medical personnel. Britain’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Border Force also responded.

The rescue operation brought 157 people to safety — 103 rescued by French vessels and 54 by British vessels. All were due to be disembarked at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, in northern France, for medical assessment and assistance.

The boat had initially departed Monday from Normandy shores and was being monitored by French rescue vessels. During the night, five people onboard required assistance and were brought ashore at Boulogne-sur-Mer, while the remaining passengers refused help from French rescuers, the statement said.

French maritime authorities said migrants attempting the crossing in makeshift, overloaded boats often refuse rescue unless faced with an immediate danger. Rescuers do not force people off the boats because of the risk of capsizing that would put people’s lives at risk, the statement said.

Last week, four people died in two separate attempts to cross the Channel on small boats.

Earlier this year, the U.K. and French governments signed a new multimillion-euro deal aimed at reducing the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats, with increased police patrols and enhanced surveillance in northern France.

The plan includes the deployment of new technologies aimed at reducing departures of “taxi boats,” the term authorities use for small motorized vessels that are typically inflatable and are used by smugglers to pick up migrants along long stretches of the northern French coast.

“It was a historic election result for the SNP, the largest ever gap, if I remember correctly, between us and those who came into second place, so I was really proud to stand in that election alongside John Swinney on a positive future for our country, on always standing up for Scotland.”