Real Madrid have a big decision to make about Kylian Mbappe ahead of the Champions League second leg against Manchester City
Kylian Mbappe could be drawn into a club-versus-country row as Real Madrid weigh up fielding him against Manchester City.
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The French star missed Real’s Champions Leaguefirst leg victory over City with a knee injury, which has kept him out since the end of February. Mbappe is back in training with a view to returning to action in the second leg at the Etihad or in next weekend’s Madrid derby against Atletico.
Real are reportedly reluctant to release him for France’s upcoming double-header of friendlies against Brazil and Colombia in the United States. However, as the French Football Federation’s biggest commercial asset, he is still expected to be called up.
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As a Nike-backed player, Mbappe is lined up to participate in various marketing initiatives ahead of the Brazil game. Nike are the kit supplier to both Brazil and France, making the match a prime commercial opportunity for all parties with the World Cup on the horizon.
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Real cannot bar Mbappe from joining up with the France squad unless he is injured. Therefore, if he appears against City and Atletico, they wouldn’t be able to play that card.
If he doesn’t play in those games, Real could conceivably submit a medical report certifying his injury, which would give him 10 days’ recovery time and rule him out of the national team games.
The international break is due to begin on March 23, with France playing Brazil in Boston on March 26 and Colombia in Washington DC on March 29.
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Real head coach Alvaro Arbeloa gave an update on Mbappe’s fitness ahead of Saturday league game against Elche. He said: “[Mbappe] is getting better every day.
“His development is progressing as it should. We made a plan. It depends on his progress, but I think he’s doing very well. He won’t be available tomorrow, but I expect he’ll travel to Manchester.”
Given Real will take a 3-0 lead into the second leg, Los Blancos may not feel the need to take any risks, especially with a crucial Madrid derby coming up.
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As City were toiling to a draw at West Ham, Real, without Mbappe, were beating Elche 4-1 to close to within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona, who host Sevilla on Sunday.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A smoky wildfire in southern California that broke out a day earlier and prompted evacuation orders was mostly under control Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.
Encompassing roughly 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) in Riverside County, about 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, the Springs Fire was no longer growing and at least 75% percent contained Saturday, said Terra Fernandez, public safety information specialist for the Riverside County Fire Department. It was 25% contained on Friday.
Fire officials also lifted evacuation orders for a large swath of neighborhoods Saturday morning. Fernandez said she expected the rest will be lifted by the end of the day.
“It’s pretty much under control,” Fernandez said.
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The fire was fueled by strong Santa Ana winds with gusts predicted to get up to 45 mph (72 kph) on Saturday. But winds had “dissipated a bit” since Friday, helping the efforts of fire crews, Fernandez said. Natural equestrian trails around the area also helped firefighters make access to the fire and build effective containment lines around its perimeter, she said.
So far, no structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Crews began early Saturday dropping water and retardant all around the fire by air. About 260 personnel are battling the blaze, including crews from around the region who are building and strengthening the containment lines and laying hose, she said.
A handful of zones in the county remained under mandatory evacuation orders. It was not immediately known how many households were affected by the orders.
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The fire is located in a populated unincorporated part of Riverside County that is a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
While Center Parcs is a great family choice, it’s certainly not the cheapest. So, could a short journey to Europe actually save you money? We compared the price of a break in the school holidays at the two holiday parks
Center Parcs may be famous for its massive swimming pools, endless family activities, and beautiful lodges, but it’s also notorious for being a bit expensive, especially once you hit the school holidays.
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Despite its prices, the five Center Parcs in the UK and one in Ireland has no trouble attracting families. But if you’re on a budget, you might be wondering if it’s possible to enjoy the Center Parcs experience without the premium prices.
One option that many families with school-aged kids will be looking at is staying in a European Center Parcs.
Although it is run by a different company, there are 28 Center Parcs holiday parks across Europe, and they can be found on the Belgian and Dutch coast, deep in Germany’s forests, and even close to Disneyland Paris, so there are lots of locations to choose from.
While accommodation prices are lower than those at Center Parcs in the UK, I was curious whether, once travel costs were included, it would still be a cheaper option.
Firstly, I looked at a short break in May half-term week, from Monday, May 25, for four nights. I priced this up as a family of four with two school-aged children and looked for the cheapest options.
In the UK, the cheapest park seemed to be Whinfell Forest, Cumbria, and the least expensive accommodation was a two-bedroom Woodland Lodge, which comes with a dishwasher, private patio, and pretty much everything you need for a family staycation.
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This came in at £1,349 and the price includes entry to the famous subtropical swimming pool, adventure playgrounds, and cycle routes.
It does sting a little that the same break a week before is £599, showing just how dramatically the price differences can be for the school holidays.
Onto France, and for a short break, most parents would likely opt for somewhere without too long a journey. Center Parcs Les Bois-Francs is about two hours from Le Havre ferry port or three-and-a-half hours from Calais. For the same four nights in a Premium Cottage, the price is €440 (about £380), for about the same grade of accommodation as the UK.
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Of course, you then also have your travel costs. A ferry from Dover to Calais can be found on those dates for four plus a car at £164, if you don’t mind driving in France. Fuel costs can vary a lot, especially with the current global situation, but a quick calculation shows the journey to and from Calais in my car would cost about £70 in fuel.
This puts the cost of a Center Parcs break in France for four at £614, including accommodation and travel, nearly half the cost of the UK. If you don’t live near the south coast, then your travel times could vary, but if you’re close to a ferry port and enjoy the adventure of exploring a new country, it could be a fun break.
Next, I looked at a longer break in the six-week holidays, which are notoriously expensive wherever you go. I wanted to see how a seven-night break would compare in Center Parcs UK versus Europe on these premium dates.
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I chose breaks starting Friday, August 7, in the middle of the summer holidays, and again looked at prices for a family of four. A Woodland Lodge in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire, is priced at £2,378 for a week.
But would the cost of a European break be any less painful on your pocket?
One of the cheaper European options for this week is Le Lac d’Ailette in the Picardy region of France. This pretty lakeside park is big on indoor and outdoor water activities, and being at the heart of the Champagne region means adults can enjoy stocking up on bottles to take home.
A Comfort Cottage is €1872 for the week (about £1,634) plus the cost of fuel to and from Calais, which is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive. A return ferry from Dover to Calais on these dates comes in at about £241 for four people in a standard car, so again, it’s cheaper than the UK option, but involves a longer journey.
While my basic calculations show that a Center Parcs holiday in Europe could be cheaper, it’s worth also bearing in mind the additional costs of travel abroad such as passports. And for families short on time and annual leave, the UK parks are likely a better option simply because it’s a shorter drive.
Food in supermarkets also tends to be more expensive in France than the UK, apart from the wine, although you can often eat out more affordably thanks to prix fixe menus.
However, if you’re a Center Parcs fan and fancy a change, or don’t mind the extra time spent on a ferry and in the car, you might want to consider trying one of the parks on the continent for your next break.
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Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
John Fury made headlines by claiming son Tyson has not been the same since his trilogy of fights against Deontay Wilder, but the same can be said of the American.
Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight world champion, has not beaten a ranked opponent since Luis Ortiz in 2019, losing four of his last six fights. Three of those were knockout defeats, and though The Bronze Bomber knocked out Tyrrell Herndon last June that contest was a glorified warm-up.
By contrast, Wilder’s opponent Derek Chisora has defied the odds, his age, and his slugging style of boxing to topple Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin in his last three fights.
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Chisora claims that tonight’s bout at London’s O2 Arena will be his last as a professional boxer, but the 42-year-old has said that previously before returning to the ring.
Wilder and Chisora have been in the top 10 of the heavyweight division for years but this is the first time they will touch gloves.
By coincidence, it is both men’s 50th professional fight. Chisora’s record reads 36-13, 23KOs, while Wilder’s reputation for destruction is reflected in a record of 44-4-1, 43KOs.
Chisora weighed in at a career-heaviest 19st, some 40lb more than Wilder who tipped the scales at 16st 17lb.
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Ordinarily, you would say the heavier man would be disadvantaged by a fight becoming a test of stamina in the late rounds, but Wilder has won just one fight by decision in his career.
It is said the American has focused on becoming a more technical fighter behind his jab, though some observers have concluded that is a sign of hesitancy. Chisora is lion-hearted and not afraid to take a blow.
This is how the card for the night looks:
Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder (heavyweight) Viddal Riley vs Mateusz Masternak (cruiserweight) Denzel Bentley vs Endry Saavedra (vacant WBO interim middleweight title) Ashton Sylve vs Raul Antonio (super-lightweight) Matty Harris vs Franklin Ignatius (heavyweight) Amir Anderson vs Jordan Dujon (middleweight) Dan Toward vs Misael Da Veiga (super-welterweight) Jermaine Dhliwayo vs Jake Morgan (super-featherweight) Abner Teixeira vs TBA (heavyweight)
Tyneside heritage bodies have hit out at the plans for a major overhaul of a disused railway yard next to Central Station.
The Forth Goods Yard, owned by Network Rail, is earmarked for 514 build-to-rent apartments and a 655-space multi-storey car park, under proposals currently under consideration by Newcastle City Council.
But there are concerns that a historic undercroft below the yard will be mostly demolished as part of the regeneration bid.
A Victorian undercroft beneath the Forth Goods Yard in Newcastle. Photo: Railway Heritage Trust. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.
The vaulted undercroft is the only surviving feature of the former Forth Banks Goods Station, which was built between 1866 and 1871 and closed in 1963, and is described as having effectively been inaccessible for decades.
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But Tim Wickens, of the Newcastle Conservation Advisory Panel (NCAP), said it was “deeply disturbing that such valuable and irreplaceable historic fabric could be lost forever”.
NCAP, as well fellow heritage group The Northumberland & Newcastle Society, have called for the undercroft to be protected – as has been the case at other stations such as Manchester Piccadilly.
In its objection to the plans, NCAP states: “Forth Goods Yard is located within an area of the city that collectively gives context to the group richness of railway heritage, and the historic undercroft is an asset that we can ill afford to lose.
“This heritage has been instrumental as the basis of regenerating the adjacent Stephenson Quarter and Founders Place, recognising their status as the birthplace of globally significant railway engineering.
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“In summary NCAP is opposed to the principle of this proposed development on grounds of impact on the historic environment, generic lack of respect for heritage, specifically harm to the undercroft and to the setting of other heritage assets.”
A Victorian undercroft beneath the Forth Goods Yard in Newcastle. Photo: Railway Heritage Trust. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.
It has been suggested that the proposed multi-storey car park could be relocated to the site of the Safestore building on Forth Street in order to protect the undercroft from demolition.
Historic England granted a Certificate of Immunity from Listing for the underground structure in May 2024 – guaranteeing that it cannot not be listed or subject to a Building Preservation Notice until 2029.
NCAP said it was not consulted on that matter, which it said was “profoundly disturbing” and prevented them from reviewing or challenging the decision.
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A heritage impact assessment submitted with the application, made by bloc and Government property company Platform 4, confirms that the proposed development will require the demolition of the majority of the undercroft – though it says sections of the arches on Pottery Lane will be preserved “where possible”.
It describes the undercroft as having “very limited architectural significance as it represents only a fragment of the former Forth Banks Goods Station which it formed part of” and that it is “no longer possible to appreciate the architectural significance of the overall building”.
Nick Legget, development director at bloc Ltd, said: “Our plans for Forth Goods Yard will transform the heart of Newcastle through vital regeneration while paying close attention to the area’s industrial heritage.
“Delivering 500 homes, enhanced station parking and new public spaces in this long-neglected area is challenging and requires careful, considered design work. The undercroft poses a particular challenge, with the structures having been heavily altered and requiring significant ongoing maintenance and investment.
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“With these issues in mind, and expert heritage assessments concluding the undercroft does not have a level of significance that would justify full preservation, partial demolition is being proposed to enable a viable redevelopment of the site.
“A portion of the undercroft will be retained, structurally protected and refurbished for future reuse.
“This will allow the retained arches to contribute to new public spaces and improved connections, while delivering safe, step-free access for people with disabilities that would otherwise not be possible.
“This balanced approach reflects a clear commitment to respecting the site’s heritage, while also delivering wider public benefits as we unlock this transformative regeneration of the Forth Yards area.”
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Historic England confirmed that NCAP is not on its list of consultees and were not contracted as part of the assessment of the Forth Goods Yard.
The series, which is pre-recorded, nearly saw Collins quit the series early after falling for a practical joke and declaring the infamous phrase, “I’m a celebrity get me out of here”.
Recalling the prank at a press roundtable, Sinitta said: “I think we’d done really hard trials all day, or some sort of game, so we were physically exhausted.
“We got back and we’re all relieved (that) nothing else can happen now, because they’ve exhausted us, it’s getting dark now it’s getting late, so that must be it, we can relax.
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“And Harry (Redknapp) comes in and says, ‘guys, you’re not going to believe this’, and he’s got the board, and he starts reading this awful trial, I think it’s called something like the House Of Hell, Prison Of Hell, or something.”
She said Redknapp told his fellow campmates that the challenge would involve rats and being tied up among other things.
Sinitta continued: “We’re already broken (and) literally before he could finish reading it out, Gemma was like, ‘I’m a celebrity get me out of here’.
“I have to admit, my hand went up that I was like, ‘you know what? me too, I’m too exhausted, gotta go’ – and he was pranking us.”
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The Only Way Is Essex star Collins famously appeared on the series in 2014, however, lasted only three days in the Australian jungle.
As a result, former boxer David Haye, who also appears in the upcoming series, did not have high hopes for Collins – however, he praised her for being part of some “real heavy challenges” in the upcoming series.
He said: “She was the one that I was told going into it, that she kind of flaked out the first time around, and I didn’t have high hopes.
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“But of all the people watching her go through what she went through, she doesn’t have an ounce of quit in her at all.
“Whatever she did the first time round, she obviously looked back, a few years have gone by, and she’s like, ‘I’m going to give it everything’.
“Fortunately for the show, she did, because she was part of some real heavy challenges that she should be proud of herself.”
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The series also stars comedian Seann Walsh, Red Dwarf’s Craig Charles, ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard, Coronation Street star Beverley Callard and actor Adam Thomas.
Hosted by Ant and Dec, the second series will give the public the power to cast their vote for the winner in a live grand final broadcast direct from London, crowning the “ultimate legend 2026”.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa starts on April 6 at 9pm on ITV1 and airs every weeknight Monday to Friday.
It would be unfair to solely blame Christian Norgaard for how alarmingly open Arsenal were. Havertz and Martin Odegaard offered him no support and there was no defensive shape at all whenever Southampton counter, even if Norgaard’s lack of athleticism compared to Rice, for example, was glaringly obvious.
ITV’s popular talent competition has returned for its 19th series this year, and has already seen some incredible auditions.
Presented by Ant and Dec, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI are back as the judges, with each getting one golden buzzer.
Here are all the judges who have pressed it so far this series, and what acts they pressed it for.
All the golden buzzer acts so far in BGT 2026
The golden buzzers were added to the show in 2014 and have been given to some well-known acts since then.
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Each of the four judges, plus hosts Ant and Dec, has one opportunity per series to press it, but this rule has occasionally been broken.
If pressed, the act is sent straight through to the live shows.
Warning: If you haven’t seen the most recent episodes of Britain’s Got Talent, spoilers are ahead.
Golden buzzer 1 – pressed by Simon Cowell (February 21)
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Simon Cowell was the first judge to press the gold this series, in the opening episode on February 21.
It was given to Australian para athlete Paul Nunnari, who blew away the judging panel with his incredible wheelchair stunts.
His act involved him climbing up the silk in his wheelchair before swinging from it by his neck.
Before hitting the golden buzzer, head judge Simon said: “One of the most incredible things, I really do believe, that I’ve ever seen, and you’re so humble and so nice and so talented.”
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Golden buzzer 2 – pressed by KSI (February 28)
KSI awarded the second golden buzzer of the series to 16-year-old magician Rafferty Coope.
The young star wowed the judges with his act that combined his “two passions in life” to the judges, music and magic.
His trick involved him making a coin pass through solid glass, making a phone levitate, and a card trick that led to him playing the song Don’t Stop Believing on the piano.
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The performance from the 16-year-old got a standing ovation from the audience and the judges.
KSI joined him on stage and said: “That blew my mind.
“Oh my god, I’m proud of you.
“Cherish this moment, this is all you.”
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Golden buzzer 3 – pressed by Alesha Dixon (March 7)
The third golden buzzer was awarded to Antigravity on March 7 for their “real-life video game” audition.
The audition followed one of the actors as they floated around on a screen, following routes and paths as if they were in a video game.
The judges said it was one of the best performances in the show’s 19-year history, and the first of its kind.
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Both Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon fought to press the golden buzzer first, but it was the latter who did so.
She said: “I think my daughter is going to love this act, she was probably the main reason I pressed it (the golden buzzer).
“Cause they did something we’ve never seen before on our show, which we always love. Very different, very unique.”
Golden buzzer 4 – pressed by Amanda Holden (March 21)
The fourth golden buzzer was given to a choir put together by Jeremy Clarkson.
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The Hawkstone Farmers Choir performed Elbow’s One Day Like This, which brought judge Amanda and some of the audience to tears.
She said: “As soon as you started, I completely welled up.
“I felt so much power.
Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Farmers Choir got the golden buzzer on March 21 (Image: Thames/ITV)
“I love the whole community, I love how you’ve all got together.
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“You work so hard every single day, you absolutely smashed it and I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do in the semi-finals.”
Golden buzzer 5 – pressed by Ant and Dec (March 28)
Ant and Dec were next to press the golden buzzer to send comedian Ted Hill through to the live shows.
He incorporated a presentation into his stand-up set, winning over the crowd and the judges.
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Hill combined his day job of presenting science shows to children with his love of comedy to create the show.
His website shares: “Hill has performed three different hours at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, and had a successful 3-date run at the prestigious Soho Theatre.”
It adds: “His fast-paced comedy is often an expose on his real experiences with autism and ADHD, and an ode to his many special interests, from US presidents to graphs and maps.”
Golden buzzer 6 – pressed by Simon Cowell (March 28)
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A second golden buzzer was pressed in the same episode as Ant and Dec’s, as Simon sent singer Matty Juniosa through to the live shows.
The Filipino singer shared that he was working as a part-time waiter, having lived in Glasgow for a few years.
He stunned the crowd with a rendition of ‘Purple Rain’ and after they chanted for him to be sent through, Cowell duly obliged.
Golden buzzer 7 – pressed by guest judge Stacey Solomon (April 4)
In the episode on April 4, Simon Cowell began the show in his chair but was later replaced by TV personality Stacey Solomon.
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Stacey was so impressed by Braunstone Community Primary School’s performance, which combined comedy with dancing and singing from pupils and their headmaster, that she decided to hit the golden buzzer.
The children meet each week at 2pm on Fridays with their headmaster, who gets them dancing and singing together as they celebrate the end of another week.
Alesha Dixon was also amazed by their performance and said the group is something “all schools should roll out because kids need this life force of music”.
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Recommended reading:
What does the winner of BGT 2026 get?
There have been 18 winners of BGT since its first series in 2007, with magician Harry Moulding winning last year.
The winner of BGT will take home a prize of £250,000 and will also be given the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the royal family.
In the ITV show’s first three years, winners won a prize of £100,000, while the biggest winners were Ashleigh and Pudsey with a prize pot of £500,000 in 2012.
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Who is your favourite winner of Britain’s Got Talent from previous years? Let us know in the comments.
A 51-year-old man was arrested after 11kg of bushmeat was seized by police in London.
Illegal bushmeat which could “pose serious health risks” has been seized following a joint raid by Metropolitan Police and the Food Standards Agency (FSA). A 51-year-old man has been arrested following the raid at a property in southeast London which recovered 11kg of meat from cane rats and antelope.
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Officers from the Metropolitan Police have been working closely with the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as they investigate the illegal trade, reports Wales Online. In a statement, the FSA, whose officers were present at the scene, said: “Bushmeat is wild animal meat that has been hunted, often from species found in tropical regions.”
David Toms-Sheridan, NFCU’s head of investigations for the south of England and Wales, said: “The NFCU has been working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service and other Subject Matter Experts to identify those suspected of being involved in this criminality. This operation forms part of the NFCU’s ongoing work to disrupt the illegal meat trade and prevent unsafe products from reaching the public.
“The FSA advises consumers not to buy or eat illegally imported meat, including bushmeat, as it may pose serious health risks. If you have concerns about products being sold, contact your local authority. We remain vigilant to the threat of illegal meat entering the food chain and will continue to take action to protect the public.”
In its statement, the FSA added: “Illegally imported meat bypasses the rigorous safety and hygiene checks required for food sold in the UK, and can carry diseases and contaminants that put consumers at risk. The FSA advises consumers not to buy or eat illegally imported meat, including bushmeat, as it may pose serious health risks.
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“If you have concerns about products being sold, contact your local authority. We remain vigilant to the threat of illegal meat entering the food chain and will continue to take action to protect the public.”
Investigations into the find are ongoing. Cane rats are indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa where it is regarded as a crop-destroying pest in areas where sugarcane, maize and other produce is cultivated.
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The speed with which Liverpool folded, even by the standards of a season in which they have had some real lows, was still shocking and left Slot questioning the effort, concentration and fighting spirit of his players.
“If you simply look at the goals, there I see runs that are not being followed, I see crosses that are not being blocked, I see duels in front of goal that are not won,” he said. “Every single time we forget to block a cross, we forget to defend in front of goal, we forget to follow a runner, every single time it’s a goal.”
Luis Enrique, the PSG coach, will pick over this and present a long list of vulnerabilities for his players to exploit and it is not helping Slot that two players who have provided the foundations for so much of Liverpool’s success over the past eight years are struggling so badly. Salah and Virgil van Dijk, to say the least, had nightmare afternoons.
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Would this game have turned out differently had Salah not missed the kind of chance in the 15th minute that he would have buried for fun last season? Having got the better of Abdukodir Khusanov from Giorgi Mamardashvili’s long ball upfield, the Egypt striker had just James Trafford to beat but delayed his shot too long and allowed the rapid City defender to make a crucial, last-ditch interception.
The contrast with Haaland was marked. The Norway striker has not had the easiest few months, scoring just five goals in 20 matches coming into this, but his 12th hat-trick for City felt like a marked return to form and will do his confidence the world of good. Stale Solbakken, the Norway coach, took the decision to rest Haaland for the first of his country’s two friendly matches and already the player looks to be benefiting.
Haaland’s emphatic finishing stood in stark comparison to Salah’s total lack of conviction in front of goal, embodied by his penalty miss with Liverpool 4-0 down shortly after ballooning a horrible shot high and wide from another inviting position.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has criticised Wireless Festival for booking Kanye West to headline at Finsbury Park, after the rapper’s antisemitic remarks and Nazi messaging
Paige Ingram and David Lynch Press Association Political Correspondent
00:05, 05 Apr 2026
Sir Keir Starmer has spoken out against a music festival for booking Kanye West as a headliner, following the American rapper’s Nazi messaging.
The Prime Minister described it as “deeply concerning” that the musician, also known as Ye, has been lined up to headline Wireless Festival at Finsbury Park, north London. The rapper has faced widespread condemnation in recent years after he began expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler, and has made a string of antisemitic comments.
Last year, he released a track called “Heil Hitler”, just months after promoting a Swastika T-shirt for sale on his website. As first reported by The Sun on Sunday, Sir Keir said: “It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.
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“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.”
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The 48 year old rapper’s scheduled appearance at Wireless Festival comes amid growing concerns over rising antisemitism across the UK.
In March, four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community-run service were set ablaze in north-west London. Two men and a 17 year old boy were remanded in custody on Saturday after appearing in court charged with torching the vehicles.
Last October, two men lost their lives in an attack on a Manchester synagogue. The Sun on Sunday also published criticism from a number of Jewish community organisations calling on Wireless Festival to reconsider their decision to allow West to headline.
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, told the newspaper the booking was “causing distress to Britain’s Jewish community due to his previous antisemitism and support for Hitler”. She went on to say: “Wireless should think again about whether they want to provide a platform for this hateful antisemitism.”
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, described it as “absolutely the wrong decision” to permit West to perform.
The musician issued an apology in January for his antisemitic remarks in a letter printed as a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal newspaper. In the letter, he expressed remorse to Jewish and black people, stating that his bipolar disorder had caused him to fall into “a four-month long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life”.
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