Kim Jong Un has chosen his teen daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as North Korea’s future leader, a South Korean spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday.

If the North Korean dictator makes the announcement, it will mark the first time a female leader will rule the hermit kingdom.

Mr Kim is making the move to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation, an assessment by the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) revealed in a closed-door briefing to the country’s lawmakers.

North Korea is set to hold its biggest political conference later this month, where Mr Kim will outline his major policy goals for the next five years and tighten his grip on the country.

The NIS will monitor whether Mr Kim’s, believed to be 13-year-old daughter, will appear with him as he addresses thousands of delegates at the upcoming Workers’ Party Congress, said South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun after attending the briefing by the NIS.

“In the past, (NIS) described Kim Ju Ae as being in the midst of ‘successor training.’ What was notable today is that they used the term ‘successor-designate stage,’ a shift that’s quite significant,” Mr Lee said.

The speculation is not new for the experts monitoring the activities inside Pyongyang, as Kim Ju Ae is increasingly viewed as Mr Kim’s likely successor, with her high-profile trip to China in 2025 further cementing her prominent status.

The girl, likely in her early teens and bearing a close resemblance to her mother, accompanied her father on what was his first visit to a major gathering of world leaders and her first known trip abroad. North Korean state media footage captured her presence during the Beijing visit.

According to Mr Lee, the NIS is tracking the teenager’s growing presence at high-profile military events, her inclusion in the family visit to Kumsusan, and signs that Mr Kim was beginning to seek her input on certain policy matters.

The South Korean intelligence agency was initially sceptical that Kim Ju Ae could be chosen as a North Korean leader, owing to the country’s deeply conservative culture and male-dominated leadership seen to be at the helm of ruling the country.

However, in September last year when the North Korean leader was accompanied by his daughter, the NIS said in its assessment that the move was likely a part of an effort to build a “narrative” possibly paving the way for her succession.

North Korean state media outlets have never published her name, referring to her as Kim Jong Un’s “respected” or “most beloved” child. The belief that she is named Kim Ju Ae is based on an account by former NBA champion Dennis Rodman, in which he recalled holding Kim Jong Un’s baby daughter during a trip to Pyongyang in 2013.

Her exact age is unconfirmed but South Korean intelligence officials believe she was born in 2013.

Kim Ju Ae first appeared in public at a long-range missile test in November 2022 and was later seeing accompanying Mr Kim to an increasing number of events, including weapons tests, military parades and factory openings.

In a major turn, she appeared alongside her father in Beijing last September for Mr Kim’s first summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Speculation about her political future intensified last month when she joined her parents on a New Year’s Day visit to Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a sacred family mausoleum displaying the embalmed bodies of her late grandfather and great-grandfather, the country’s first- and second-generation leaders. Some experts saw the visit as the clearest sign yet that she’s positioned to be the heir to her 42-year-old father.

North Korea, since its foundation in 1948, has been ruled by male members of the Kim family, beginning with the country’s founder Kim Il Sung and followed by his son, Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Un was just 26 when he was officially named heir during a 2010 party conference, two years after Kim Jong Il suffered a debilitating stroke. Following his father’s death in December 2011, he was abruptly thrust into the throne with relatively little preparation.

A food expert has shared the “best” method to cook bacon that doesn’t involve a frying pan.

There’s nothing quite like biting into a bacon butty for lunch, paired with a piping hot brew. But let’s be honest – scrubbing that greasy frying pan afterwards? Not so appealing.

Luckily, there’s a fuss-free trick to cooking bacon that sidesteps the splattery clean-up entirely. What’s more, this clever technique is hailed as the “best” method for serving up seriously flavoursome rashers.

Food journalist Ann Taylor Pittman, writing for The Kitchn, tried various cooking techniques to crown the “absolute winner”.

Her experiments ranged from cast-iron skillets and nonstick pans to water-based frying, oven baking with parchment, rack roasting, microwaving, air frying, and even sous vide.

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Declaring one approach as “perfection”, Mrs Pittman unveiled that oven-baking bacon atop parchment paper reigns supreme.

After giving the oven a 10-minute warm-up, “you simply line one or two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, arrange the bacon on top, and bake at 400F [204C] until it is crisped to your liking”.

Mrs Pittman added: “When the bacon is done, you transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate or platter to drain.” Standard rashers can be ready in as little as 18 minutes, whilst thicker cuts might need up to 24 minutes.

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Baking bacon on parchment paper

Mrs Pittman highlighted that the bacon “sits in its own rendered fat as it bakes”, meaning those bits turn out “wonderfully crispy”.

What’s more, you won’t need to faff about flipping halfway through – the rashers are “cooked evenly” lying perfectly flat.

The taste of bacon

Mrs Pittman said: “I loved the texture and appearance of this bacon, and that it cooks hands-free with no babysitting. I also loved that this method works for a few slices or up to 20, and that, if you use the overhang trick, cleanup is just so incredibly easy.”

For “effortless” tidying, she suggests letting the parchment paper hang over “on all sides” of your baking tray before you start.

That way, once the bacon fat has cooled down, you can simply bin the lot with the parchment paper, leaving your baking sheet spotless.

And if you’re feeling thrifty, you could funnel those bacon drippings from the parchment into a jar for safekeeping. Bacon fat works brilliantly as a substitute for oil when frying eggs, for instance, or for sautéing vegetables.

River levels have now peaked in the city centre and are set to start falling in the early hours of Friday (February 13).

But the River Ouse is expected to sit at 3.24m – 1.3m above the top of its normal range – on the Viking Recorder on Thursday.

A flood warning was issued for riverside properties from Lendal Bridge to Millennium Bridge, including King’s Staith, on Thursday.

The Environment Agency said it is “closely monitoring the situation , closing floodgates and operating the Foss Barrier”. 

“Take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water,” an Environment Agency spokesperson said. “Act on your flood plan if you have one.”

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The flood warning comes as York braces for a drop in temperatures with snow forecast in the area on Friday.

A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place from 7pm on Thursday until midday on Friday.

The Met Office has forecast rain in York on Thursday afternoon with temperatures dropping to 2C overnight into Friday.

Snow showers have been forecast for Thursday morning until early afternoon.

Saturday is, however, looking clear with sunshine expected, although forecasters do expect temperatures to stay cold between 2C and 4C throughout the weekend.

Councillors said they ‘did not find credible’ the potential driver’s denial of the allegations

A man’s application for a taxi licence has been blocked because councillors were concerned about the the ‘risk to the travelling public’.

A meeting on Bolton council’s licensing committee considered a man’s application to drive a private hire vehicle. Recently published minutes of the meeting stated the committee had been made aware the applicant, who was not named, had been arrested on suspicion of serious, violent offences.

The report said: “The applicant was arrested in 2022 for a section 47 assault and non fatal strangulation following his wife’s complaint to the police. His wife subsequently wanted no action taken.

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“The committee found that on the balance of probabilities a serious incident did occur. The applicant denied the allegation which the committee did not find credible.”

The report said the committee was concerned at the risk to the travelling public and so found that there was reasonable cause to refuse to grant the application.

At the same meeting, held on January 6, a different taxi driver was handed an eight-week suspension after failing to report that he had been convicted of a mobile phone breach.

The published minutes read: “The driver had a conviction from December, 2024 for breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle mobile phones, which due to the six penalty points was treated as a major traffic offence under the council statement of fitness and suitability.

“Normally in such circumstances the licence would be revoked. The driver also breached the conditions of his licence by not reporting the above conviction on time and the committee also noted the driver’s previous attendance at this committee and a previous warning letter regarding breach of conditions.”

The licensing committee decided they had ‘reasonable cause to suspend the licence to drive a private hire vehicle for a period of eight weeks’. Neither of the individuals were named by the council in the published minutes.

‘We need to do better’

Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has called on PM Sir Keir Starmer to appoint a dedicated ‘nighttime economy minister’ in Government.

Ms Rayner argued for the creation of the role ‘to champion the sector inside Government and ensure that the voices of small and medium businesses are heard loud and clear’, adding that ‘we need to do better’ in recognising the value of the industry.

The Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, speaking at an industry event in Liverpool on Thursday, said: “These places are part of our national story, and they deserve protection, recognition and support, and that is why I would support the Government in having a named minister with responsibility for the nighttime economy to champion the sector inside Government and ensure that the voices of small and medium businesses are heard loud and clear.”

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She said other countries ‘have led the way on this’ and the UK should give its nighttime economy and its hundreds of thousands of businesses a ‘true champion on the national stage’.

“I see the best of this sector close up, the venues in this room, the spaces you represent are extraordinary,” Ms Rayner said. “They command global respect. They drive the visitor economy. They make the UK a cultural and social powerhouse that is envied worldwide.”

Ms Rayner said the Government must listen to the struggling hospitality sector and recognise its ‘value not just in rhetoric, but in policy’.

Speaking at Liverpool’s Night Time Economy Summit, she added: “If we’re serious about recovery, then we must fuel the recovery of them (businesses). That means recognising the value not just in rhetoric, but in policy. And this is where we must be candid.

“There is, without doubt, a clear divide between policy that truly understands the night time economy and policy that simply applies a one-size-fits-all approach. Too often, policy is done to this sector, not with it. And I recognise clearly and openly that more needs to be done to engage the industry directly and consistently and respectfully, to listen, to co-design, to recognise expertise where it exists.

“Because confidence in politics matters. Businesses need to believe that they will be treated fairly, that the rules won’t shift without warning, that the long-standing structural issues will finally be addressed, not deferred again.”

Rory Copeland appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (February 11), where he was issued with a criminal behaviour order (CBO).

The two-year order means the 22-year-old, of no fixed abode, cannot enter B&M, Aldi, Morrisons or Tesco in Consett.

He also must not remain on any retail premises when asked to leave by a member of staff.

In December last year, Copeland was jailed for 28 weeks after admitting 22 counts of shoplifting in Consett.

Consett Neighbourhood Inspector Andy Liddell said: “Retailers have been blighted by Copeland’s behaviour for some time now, so I hope this result demonstrates that we are working to address shoplifting and prevent further offending from these individuals.

“We will never stop targeting shoplifters who bring harm to our communities with their offending.

“I hope this serves as a reminder to criminals to think twice before committing crime in our town – you will not get away with it.”

A ceremony was held at the site on Monday, February 9 to mark the commencement of the improvements.

South Ayrshire Council has this week announced that works on the upgrade and extension of Troon Leisure Club are underway.

A ceremony was held at the site on Monday, February 9 to mark the commencement of these improvements.

The makeover will combine retained refurbished and new-build elements to provide:

* A new fitness gym and multi-functional studio

* New building frontage, entrance, reception, and circulation area

* A refurbished wet changing area

* A new dry changing area

* New baby change facilities, accessible changing, and toilet provision and:

* Alterations to external parking, access and landscaping arrangements.

The project is on track for completion in the Spring of 2027.

South Ayrshire Council’s Depute Leader and Policy Lead for Commercial/Operational Services, Councillor Alec Clark, said: “I’m pleased that works to modernise and expand Troon Leisure Centre are underway.

“This is the latest in a series of upgrades we’re making across our Sport and Leisure facilities in South Ayrshire, showing our commitment to investing in and improving our services.”

South Ayrshire Council’s Policy Lead for Leisure and Community Services, Councillor Chris Cullen, said: “This leisure facility is at the heart of the Troon community, so it’s exciting to announce that works are progressing. The new and improved Club will offer even more opportunities for Troon locals and visitors to improve their health and wellbeing.”

South Ayrshire Council’s Policy Lead for Housing and Property Services, Councillor Martin Kilbride, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to mark this milestone in the delivery of the Troon Leisure Club project. The investment in a facility that is modern, efficient, sustainable and fit for purpose is part of wider improvements across our Sport and Leisure provision.”

Jo Cameron, Alliance Delivery Manager, said: “By working with trusted, Scotland-based partners, we’re ensuring the Troon Leisure Club upgrade is delivered with local insight and expertise. Together, we’re creating a sustainable, future-ready facility that supports health, wellbeing and social connection across the whole community, and we’re really pleased to see work underway.”

Frank Foy, Project Director at Thomas Johnstone Ltd., said: “This project brings together a strong team with a shared focus on quality, coordination and long-term value. As works get underway, our role as main contractor draws on our specialist experience in delivering building extensions and refurbishments within live environments.

“We’re pleased to be working closely with Alliance Leisure once again, alongside South Ayrshire Council, to deliver a well-considered solution for the local community.”

The local authority has launched a dedicated microsite for the Troon Leisure Club project to keep everyone up to date with the progression of works and give details on how to access their Sport and Leisure services during the closure. Visit https://troon-leisure-redevelopment.co.uk/ for more details.

Services running between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport are not able to run due to the failure, according to Northern.

The train company says that services running between the stations “will be cancelled or delayed”, with disruption expected until 2.30pm.

Services between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport, a line which passes through Bolton, are said to be affected, alongside multiple other lines.

Network Rail Manchester Piccadilly says: “Disruption between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.

“There is a problem with the points, which allow trains to move across lines of track. We’re on site to investigate and resolve the issue.”

Northern says you can travel on the following train operators and routes at no extra cost:

⚠️Disruption between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport⚠️

There is a problem with the points, which allow trains to move across lines of track.

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We’re on site to investigate and resolve the issue.

Please check @nationalrailenq for travel updates.

— Manchester Piccadilly (@NetworkRailMAN) February 12, 2026

Manchester Metrolink services between Manchester Stations and Manchester Airport.

Manchester Metrolink services between Manchester Stations and East Didsbury.

Transport for Greater Manchester 42 and 142 bus services between Manchester City Centre and East Didsbury.

Transport for Greater Manchester 42C bus services between Manchester City Centre and Heald Green.

Transport for Greater Manchester 43 and 103 bus services between Manchester City Centre and Manchester Airport.

Transport for Greater Manchester 50 bus services between Manchester City Centre and Burnage/Mauldeth Road.

Transport for Greater Manchester 11 service between Stockport and Gatley.