Sir Mark Jones is stepping down as chairman of Historic Environment Scotland (HES) just nine months into a four-year tenure.

The chairman of Scotland’s scandal-hit heritage body has resigned less than a year into the role. Sir Mark Jones is stepping down as chairman of Historic Environment Scotland (HES) just nine months into a four-year tenure.

The quango, responsible for hundreds of historic properties, including Edinburgh Castle, has been rocked by a series of controversies in recent years.

Last year, it was reported a senior leader at the organisation was sanctioned for allegedly “twerking” in front of actor Martin Compston. The Press Association asked the actor about the incident at the time but he refused to be drawn.

The body also faced allegations of corruption and an internal racism row. Meanwhile, a report by the auditor general in 2025 found it had “unacceptable weaknesses” in leadership.

It said HES lacked “sufficiently robust policies” in place to mitigate the risk of fraud. The controversies led to both its chairman and chief executive being replaced in 2025.

The public body is looking for a new chair again after announcing Sir Mark was stepping down.

HES said: “Sir Mark Jones remains chair of Historic Environment Scotland and will continue in the role until a successor is appointed to ensure a smooth handover. We are grateful for Sir Mark’s leadership and commitment to HES during a challenging period for the organisation.”

Responding to Audit Scotland’s report last year, Sir Mark had said he accepted the “serious governance issues and cultural problems identified”.

He spoke about the “impact of recent leadership instability” – with the report claiming it is “unacceptable” that the organisation operated without an accountable officer for almost six months, between May 2 and October 20 last year, when chief executive Katerina Brown returned to work.

Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative culture spokesman, said: “The chairman’s premature resignation is further evidence of the SNP’s chronic mismanagement of this toxic quango.

“Historic Environment Scotland has spent years mired in scandal and crisis while the former culture secretary, Angus Robertson, was asleep at the wheel, failing to engage with the board and misleading parliament about his supervision of the organisation.

“Now the man brought in by the SNP to sort out the bullying and grotesque misuse of funds has thrown in the towel after barely a year in the post.

“Sir Mark Jones has a distinguished record but he has clearly not received the support from ministers that the SNP government promised.

“HES receives more than £70million worth of taxpayers’ money every year, so nationalist ministers must sort out this mess immediately.”

Culture Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “The Scottish Government is grateful to Sir Mark for his service. During a period of significant scrutiny and change, he has provided strong leadership. We appreciate his commitment and the valuable contribution he has made.”

Another child has been airlifted to hospital from the home and remains in critical condition

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Horror has unfolded at a commune where two twin infant girls were discovered dead and their four siblings found suffering from dehydration.

Police have charged the parents of the 15-month-old twin girls after emergency services were called to Beuvrages, near Valenciennes (Nord), France, at around 1pm on Monday (June 29) where the girls were found dead in their bed. It is reported the twins were already in a state of rigor mortis when paramedics arrived.

An autopsy on Tuesday has revealed the twin sisters died of dehydration and were also underweight at the time of their death, reports The Daily Star. Their four siblings who also lived in the house, aged three, four, five and six, were also found to be suffering from dehydration.

According to RTL, one of the siblings is currently in a critical condition in hospital after being airlifted from the home.

It is reported the mother and father, who live in social housing at the Société immobilière du Grand Hainaut (SIGH), had made the call to emergency services after reportedly finding the twins dead in bed.

Valenciennes prosecutor’s office said the parents were formally charged and remain in custody. The siblings of the deceased twins have all been taken into care by Child Welfare Services.

According to LeParisien, the prosecutor’s office stated that the family “was not under the supervision of a juvenile court judge” and no report had been filed.

The parents reportedly told police that they had put the girls to bed on Sunday evening (June 28) at around 7pm. They were next found dead 18-hours later.

According to the mayor of Beuvrages, the family had recently moved in about two months ago.

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Andre Onana has agreed a loan move back to Trabzonspor after it was made clear he had no future at Man Utd this season.

Andre Onana’s season-long loan to Trabzonspor will be announced within the next 24 hours, after he signed the paperwork to complete the deal on Thursday afternoon.

Manchester United and Trabzonspor agreed a deal for Onana’s return to the Turkish Super Lig side last week and that move is now set to be finalised after Onana returned from a holiday around a friend’s wedding.

United could receive a fee of up to €1.5million (£1.28m) from the Turkish outfit for Onana, but all of that depends on certain bonuses being met, such as Trabzonspor winning the domestic league or qualifying for the Champions League.

They will also cover the majority of Onana’s wages, and United are hopeful that if some of those clauses are met, the deal will eventually result in full wage coverage for the season.

The deal is a straight loan and doesn’t include an option or obligation to buy, so Onana will return to Old Trafford next summer with one year remaining on his contract after his £47million move from Inter Milan in 2023.

The 30-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at Trabzonspor last season, which ended with victory in the domestic cup and qualification for the Europa League, but he wanted to return to United and fight for his place in the team this season.

But Onana’s camp were told by United that he wouldn’t be able to dislodge No. 1 goalkeeper Senne Lammens and there was a view he wouldn’t be the right as a No.2 and was on too much money to fill that role.

If Onana wasn’t given the option to stay in Manchester, his priority was then to return to a club that welcomed him with open arms last season and where he enjoyed some success.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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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.

The popular container-style leisure hubs, which have sites in Newcastle, Sunderland, Seaburn, and Durham, say they will screen Sunday night’s fixtures and remain open into the early hours of Monday morning to accommodate supporters eager to watch England’s knockout tie, which kicks off at 1 am.

In a message to customers, Stack promised two back-to-back matches shown live on big screens with full commentary and what it describes as its “unbeatable atmosphere.”

The evening will begin with Brazil v Norway at 9pm on Sunday, before DJs take over to build anticipation ahead of England’s crucial clash with Mexico in the early hours.

(Image: Supplied)

Organisers have confirmed all venues will stay open until 3 am, with free entry and no ticket required, as long as capacity allows.

Stack has become a fixture of the North East’s social scene in recent years, blending street food, bars, and live entertainment in repurposed shipping container complexes.

(Image: STACK)

Its Newcastle site, in the shadow of St James’ Park, is among the most prominent, while Stack Seaburn offers a seafront setting.

The venues have previously drawn large crowds for major sporting events, and operators are expecting another busy turnout as England’s World Cup campaign reaches the knockout stages.

With kick-off falling in the early hours, fans face a choice between an unusually late night or an equally early start to the working week – but Stack is betting that the occasion will be enough to keep supporters out well past midnight.

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New images show progress on the section between Sunderland Road and Durham Road, where large portions of the flyover have already been removed.

The road was closed in December 2024 due to safety concerns, with demolition work beginning in April.

(Image: Joe Sheridan/Northern Echo Camera Club)

It is being demolished using machines with powerful mechanical jaws to crush the concrete and steel.

A Gateshead Council spokesperson said: “What you can see working day-to-day on the demolition is what we’re calling a ‘muncher’.

“They use fine water jets to help reduce the amount of dust coming out of the demolition process.

“The team will be completing the demolition in a specific sequence to ensure the structure remains balanced as we bring it down.”

Where concrete is especially thick, a steel ram attachment is used to break it up before reverting to the mechanical jaws.

(Image: Joe Sheridan/Northern Echo Camera Club)

Steel props weighing 10 tonnes each have been installed beneath the structure to prevent collapse during the process.

Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, previously said in March 2025 that the flyover would be gone “within a year”.

However, the council later revised its estimate, stating that the majority would be demolished by May 2026.

The final stage of demolition will focus on the section above the Tyne and Wear Metro tunnels.

Lionel Messi has touched down in Miami – where he plays his club football – as Argentina continue on their World Cup journey, facing Cape Verde on Friday as the round of 32 draws to a close

It’s an occasion David Beckham was never going to miss. One he has had a significant role in creating. The sight of Lionel Messi turning on the bright lights of Miami.

Only this time on behalf of Argentina in a World Cup, instead of the Inter Miami club he represents and Beckham co-owns. When Inter Miami decided to take the financial plunge and sign Messi from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, it promised to be a game-changer.

And it has been. Inter’s merchandising sales have gone through the roof, and continue to do so more than ever, while attendances have risen almost 40 per cent. Because of Messi.

Before his arrival, Inter had never won a trophy. Now they have two, including the MLS titles. From one of the newest franchises in the league, to champions. Because of Messi.

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Inter have been able to sign other superstar names, including Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Because of Messi.

But the power of the footballing icon stretches well past what he does on the field at the Nu Stadium. His influence can be found around every corner of this part of Florida.

The number of youngsters to have ditched baseball and basketball for ‘soccer’, at academies across Miami, has increased tenfold. Murals of the most famous face in football can be found painted on the walls in the Wynwood district and Latino quarter.

Step aside, LeBron James. Beckham himself was lifted up in a giant crane to honour a giant one created by celebrated artist Maximiliano Bagnasco.

Will Argentina beat Cape Verde? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

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Hundreds of fans flock to Messi’s secluded Miami mansion on the Bay Colony estate every day, in the hope of seeing him. And while Beckham has one of the golden tickets for Argentina’s last-32 showdown with Cape Verde, thousands who don’t will still flock to the Miami Stadium, in the hope of catching a glimpse of their idol.

Extra police will be drafted in to deal with the commotion. Because of Messi.

At the Buenos Aires Bakery, an Argentinean eatery close to South Beach, owners have started charging an entry fee of £10, with a minimum spend of £15, to exploit the increase in demand for tables. Because of Messi.

Messi even owns his own restaurant. The ‘Amalfi Llama’ on Biscayne Boulevard in north Miami, which has a dish named after him, the ‘Milamessi’. Steak features heavily on the menu of a place which is booked up months in advance. Because of Messi – obviously.

While those of Argentinean descent now living in Miami, believe Messi’s arrival in these parts has changed the culture. Resident Donatella Diaz said: “He makes us all feel that little closer to home. He makes people feel batter about their lives.

“He might be an icon, but he is also an example of how hard work can change your time on this earth.”

Like the footballing world in general, Miami has changed. Because of Messi.

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Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’

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Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with the crash

A car ploughed into an ice cream hut after leaving the road and smashing through a fence. The owners of Oaks Farm Ice Cream said they were “devastated” by what had happened, with their small business being “torn apart” in a matter of seconds.

Oaks Farm added that it was a “miracle” no one was hurt after the incident on Wednesday afternoon, with owner Anna Edwards saying she was in the hut just moments before the crash with someone who was at the farm on work experience.

North Wales Police said one man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with the crash.

Ms Edwards, who makes the ice cream at the farm said the loss of their ice cream hut was heartbreaking, but is thankful no one was hurt.

“It could have been so catastrophic had I been open with families and customers here,” she said. Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter

She explained the car looked like it was “airborne” when it left Ellesmere Road, Bronnington, before smashing through the fence at a paddock at Oaks Farm, located in Whitchurch, on the Welsh border. Ms Edwards it went “straight into” the ice cream hut.

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“My family and I are absolutely devastated. Years of hard work, love and dedication into building this little business felt like they were torn apart in a matter of seconds,” she said.

Ms Edwards described the hut as being “totally demolished”.

While people stop to help, she alleged the man behind the wheel got out of his car and urinated over the wreckage. “I was totally devastated and disgusted,” she added.

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The extensive damage caused to the hut means that the ice cream hut will be closed over the weekend while the family behind Oaks Farm work to assess the damage and work to get the business get back on its feet as soon as possible.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “We received a call at 3.39pm on Wednesday reporting a single vehicle road traffic collision on Ellesmere Road, Bronnington.

“Officers attended and the vehicle had left the road and struck a building. One man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, and our investigation is currently ongoing.”

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