Three people were arrested on Wednesday by police investigating the incident
21:33, 07 May 2026Updated 21:42, 07 May 2026
A man is due in court on Friday charged with attempted murder following a car bomb attempt on LurganPSNI station.
The dissident republican group the New IRA claimed responsibility for the incident in late March that saw a food delivery driver hijacked in Kilwilkie and forced to drive a “crude but viable” device to the Co Armagh station. The device failed to explode.
Three people were arrested on Wednesday by police investigating the incident.
A 48-year-old man with attempted murder, attempting to cause an explosion, hijacking and possession of explosives with intent to endanger life or damage property.
He is due to appear at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 8. As is normal procedure all charges are reviewed by the PPS.
Meanwhile a woman, aged 39, has been charged with obstructing police. She has been released unconditionally in respect of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender.
A 15-year-old boy also arrested this week was released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “This cowardly and widely condemned attack, which took place on the night of Monday 30 March, put innocent lives at risk.
“I’m keen to offer assurance that we will continue in our efforts to bring those responsible to justice, and would encourage anyone with information to get in touch. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference 1828 of 30/03/26. Information can also be shared with the independent charity Crimestoppers, with 100% anonymity.”
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Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
Similarly, the headline of the Telegraph reads: “China exploited WFH to spy on UK”. The paper focuses on how a flexible working policy in the Home Office could have enabled the security breach, which saw one of the men access the Atlas database, a vast record which contains sensitive information such as passport details and addresses of foreign nationals. It is “first case of its kind”, the Telegraph says, adding that it is the first conviction for Chinese espionage in the UK.
“Officers attended and moved on an estimated 300 people. Officers made three arrests, including two men on suspicion of organising the event and a third who was arrested on suspicion of organising the event and a third who was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. A number of large speakers were also seized by police.”
The Gather North Farmers & Indie Market will debut at the Manor House Hotel and Spa in West Auckland on Sunday (May 10), running from 10am until 2pm.
Organised by Naomi Katze of Gather North Events, the market builds on the success of the popular Middleton-in-Teesdale event and marks an expansion into a second location.
Visitors can expect a carefully curated mix of local food, drink and independent traders, including farmer-butchers, dairy producers, fishmongers and cheesemakers.
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Stalls will also offer artisan bread, sweet and savoury bakes, fudge, truffles, preserves and handmade goods.
A range of dietary options, including vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free produce, will also be available.
Among the traders appearing at Gather North for the first time are The Sourdough Jar, Balefire fermented chilli sauces, Wear Beer brewery, and Floral & Flame candles and melts.
The event will also host the launch of a brand-new business, Flavour Punks, which specialises in unique dry spice rubs.
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Street food will be a major feature of the market, with vendors such as Ribs By Ginge serving American-style barbecue including ribs, pulled pork, smoked sausage and sides.
Alongside food and drink, visitors can browse a selection of independent makers showcasing handcrafted and often quirky creations.
The hotel itself will be open throughout the day, with its lounge bar and café serving light meals and drinks, while part of the market will be set in the hotel’s gardens.
The event is free to enter and dog-friendly.
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Following the launch, the West Auckland market will run monthly on the second Sunday of each month.
Naomi said she was “absolutely delighted” to bring the Gather North market to a new location, adding that visitors can expect the same high standards and “very special Gather North Events vibe”.
Lufthansa, for example, announced in April it would cancel 20,000 flights over the following six months to save fuel.
Meanwhile, more than 120 flights from the UK have already been cancelled for May, according to new figures from Aviation analytics company Cirium.
“Risk of some disruption” to flights this summer
Despite all these cancellations, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, speaking on Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips recently, said there would be limited disruptions to upcoming summer holidays.
Ms Alexander explained: “I’ve spent every week of the last two months in close contact with airlines and airports.
“On Thursday of this week, airlines told me very clearly that they have good visibility over the next six to eight weeks of jet fuel supply.
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“There is no current disruption to jet fuel supplies.
She continued: “The last thing I want is for people to turn up at a departure gate and have last-minute cancellations.
“I am confident, sat here today on the basis of the information that I have available to me, that the majority of people who are travelling this summer will have a similar experience to that which they had last year.”
The Government has also introduced a temporary rule change allowing airlines to group passengers from different flights together onto fewer planes to save fuel.
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The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also issued an update saying there is “a risk of some disruption” to travel this summer due to the situation in the Middle East, but reassured travellers they would be “well protected”.
Did you know that if you arrive over 3 hours late at your destination, and it’s the airline’s fault, you could claim up to £520 per person.
Always remember to contact your airline in the first instance.
— UK Civil Aviation Authority (@UK_CAA) May 2, 2026
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The CAA said: “As the summer travel season approaches, airlines, government and industry partners are working closely to support smooth journeys.
“While there is a risk of some disruption as a result of the situation in the Middle East, travellers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest passenger rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur.”
Virgin Atlantic temporarily suspends flights from the UK to 2 holiday hotspots
Amid all the travel chaos caused by the conflict in the Middle East, Virgin Atlantic has released its winter 2026 schedule update.
The airline has “significantly” increased its capacity to South Africa for the upcoming winter season.
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But Virgin Atlantic has also made the “difficult decision” to temporarily suspend all seasonal services to Dubai and Seattle for winter 2026.
These services will resume in March 2027.
In the meantime, those hoping to travel to Seattle can fly with Virgin Atlantic’s partner Delta Air Lines, which offers daily services from London Heathrow.
In a statement on its website, Virgin Atlantic said: “Unfortunately, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our seasonal service to Dubai for the winter 2026 season, while services to Seattle will be temporarily suspended for the Winter 2026 season only, before resuming in March 2027.
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The airline continued: “Our schedule and any affected bookings will be updated in the GDSs on Saturday 09 May 2026.
“We’re very sorry for the disappointment caused to our customers.”
Do these changes to Virgin Atlantic’s winter services affect your travel plans? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.
Race Across the World fans praised best friends Jo and Kush after Kush opened up about his anxiety and mental health struggles.
22:05, 07 May 2026Updated 22:06, 07 May 2026
Two Race Across The World contestants have earned acclaim from viewers following a heartfelt revelation.
Best friends Jo and Kush are amongst the duos navigating through eight nations in the extraordinary challenge, working with a restricted budget, without smartphones, internet connectivity or bank cards, and thousands of miles from home.
The Liverpool pair have garnered significant admiration from audiences thus far, despite worries about how rapidly they’re depleting their £26 daily allowance.
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And in Thursday’s instalment, as they travelled through Kazakhstan, audiences gained further understanding of their profound friendship.
After discussing his anxiety and his father’s passing, Kush shared: “Every day is difficult day, everyday is a struggle. You have bad days, good days, off days, but every day is hard. I’m trying to learn how to function under high stress,” reports the Mirror.
Becoming emotional, he continued to express his appreciation for Jo, saying: “In the past couple of days I’ve realised how much I value having Jo here.
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“I just really appreciate the fact that Jo is always up for looking after me. I don’t think he understands the difference it makes. He’s my best mate.”
Wiping away tears, he added: “In this entire journey, I’ve got nothing, absolutely nothing at all but Jo, that is home.”
This follows Jo supporting Kush through his anxiety earlier in the series, as he struggled with his mental health and confessed he was finding things difficult, and subsequently thanked Jo for helping him through the evening.
He said: “Thanks for staying up with me last night. It actually made a big difference. I didn’t know if I’d be able to go to sleep. I just need my head to shut up for a minute. But you know how I get.”
Jo told the camera: “I do think Kush can be glass half empty, which is understandable since he has gone through a lot. I understand where that negative state comes from.
“I do let him rant, get it off his chest and then be like, ‘Ok, let’s look at this from a different point of view’.”
Speaking about their friendship back home, he went on: “When Kush is not feeling good, we link up and go off on walks, on bike rides, to the park to play footie, honestly any activity, as long as we’re doing something, I can tell it improves his mood.
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“Kush means a lot to me, definitely, and I want to show him that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
The pair were praised by viewers for their emotional intelligence, with one writing on X: “Swear to god Jo and Kush have me in tears each week. It’s so nice to see how caring they both are of each other. Nothing toxic, just understanding and supporting each other. I’d love to see them both win this.”
Another said: “Without a shadow of a doubt, Jo and Kush are the most likeable contestants in the entire history of #RaceAcrossTheWorld.”
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“Jo and Kush are so lovely, such a great friendship and support,” a third wrote, as another said: “Kush what a man opening up showing #itsokaynottobeokay. Brave brave brave. Big and strong.”
Last week, Kush had opened up about his father’s death, who tragically died by suicide during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.
He bravely shared: “I remember the day he passed. It was lock down and it was a real big shock. He had really poor mental health and he took his own life. You never forget that shock factor.
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“I still think about him all the time. Being on this journey has brought back little moments and I wish I could sort of show who I am now because when you’re 14, I didn’t know who I was and I was still a child.”
He became overwhelmed with emotion as he said: “I made a lot of mistakes when I was younger and I feel like, if I could sort of show him what I’ve learnt…”
Race Across The World continues on Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Celtic head into the weekend sitting second and three points adrift of leaders Hearts with three matches left to play this season, with Kelechi Iheanacho’s second-half goal seeing Martin O’Neill’s side labour to a 2-1 win over 10-man Hibernian at Easter Road last weekend.
That saw them go level on points with final-day opponents Hearts, who responded quickly by edging past Rangers 2-1 at Tynecastle on Monday, with captain Lawrence Shankland firing home a memorable winner to re-establish that three-point advantage.
It also appeared to all but end Rangers’ title hopes, with Danny Rohl’s third-place team now sitting seven points adrift of Hearts and four behind Celtic, who contest the Scottish Cup final against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline later this month.
But they will no doubt remain highly motivated to try and spoil their arch-rivals’ chances this weekend, with Celtic potentially lying six points behind Hearts – who have a better goal difference – by the time of kick-off in Glasgow as Derek McInnes’ men face a tricky trip to fourth-place Motherwell on Saturday night.
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Date, kick-off time and venue
Celtic vs Rangers is scheduled for a 12pm BST kick-off on Sunday May 10, 2026.
The match will take place at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
Where to watch Celtic vs Rangers
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TV channel: The latest Old Firm derby will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Coverage begins at 11am BST on Sky Sports Football.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also watch the game live online via the Sky Go app.
Live blog: Stay up to date with minute-by-minute updates from Standard Sport’s live match blog.
Celtic vs Rangers team news
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Celtic are expecting Daizen Maeda to be fit after he suffered a foot issue having scored the opener against Hibs, while Iheanacho will be pushing to start after his crucial winner in Edinburgh that took his recent tally to four goals in five games.
However, the game will come too soon for Cameron Carter-Vickers as he works his way back from a serious Achilles injury, while loanees Tomas Cvancara and Julian Araujo remain sidelined along with Jota, Kasper Schmeichel, Callum Osmand, Colby Donovan and Adam Montgomery.
As for Rangers, Ryan Naderi and Tuur Rommens both returned off the bench against Hearts in a key double boost, but teenage midfielder Bailey Rice is still out.
Concern: Celtic forward Daizen Maeda suffered a foot injury against Hibernian
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PA
Celtic vs Rangers prediction
It feels nigh-on impossible to predict much correctly during one of the most captivating title races that has played out anywhere across European football in recent seasons.
The constant drama and non-stop twists and turns have been nothing short of extraordinary and it would not be at all surprising to see it go right down to the wire, with Celtic hosting Hearts on the final day.
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Depending on Hearts’ result at Fir Park on Saturday night, victory may well be essential for Celtic to keep their challenge alive, especially with Hearts hosting Falkirk next and Celtic having to go to Motherwell themselves.
Rangers will be so disappointed to have seen their own title tilt fall away with those back-to-back losses to Motherwell and Hearts, but they would still relish dealing a hammer blow to Celtic’s hopes and could still have a huge say in the trophy’s destination.
Investigation after man found dead in field | Wales Online
Need to know
The body was discovered by a member of the public who alerted the police
The body of a man was found in a field near Beaumaris(Image: Andrea Pucci/Getty)
The body of a man was found in a field on Anglesey.
The discovery was made by a member of the public on Wednesday evening
It happened near the town of Beaumaris.
A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: “We were alerted by a member of the public at 6.50pm yesterday (Wednesday) to the discovery of the body of a deceased man in a field near to Beaumaris.”
They added that the coroner has been informed and formal identification is yet to take place, North Wales Live reports.
Police have not released any further information.
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Here’s what the stars have in store for your day (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The Moon glides into Aquarius, forging a connection with Pluto, which intensifies friendships and connections. Set aside time for those who matter.
Aries, Taurus and Gemini, it will be difficult to hide your true feelings today. Whether it’s romance, ambitions or something more unsavoury, approach with honesty.
Energy can be infectious today, so pass on positivity. Be vocal and don’t hide your instincts.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Friday May 8, 2026.
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Aries
March 21 to April 20
Your friendships and social situation are supercharged today as the Moon glides into the friendly Aquarius and links with the potent planetary powerbroker, Pluto. This can give you a lot of incentive to connect with those who are really meaningful to you, but it can also make you much more mindful of when group politics unhelpfully complicate things.
There’s a paradox today. On one hand, as the Moon climbs into the most visible part of your chart, this may make it more difficult to disguise your emotions, and yet it’s link to the planet of secrets, Pluto, may mean that you feel more scrutinised by people. Just when you thought staying a little more low key is your preference, will you share something quite personal?
Your passion for a particular holiday destination or somewhere linked to the arts can be amplified today. Will it push you to actually make a booking? Well, it could do. You could certainly speak passionately and enthusiastically about these areas. And if you are thinking of visiting with a friend or partner, your powerful energy can prove infectious for them, too.
The influential Pluto is helping to transform your psychological understanding. As your ruler, the Moon, passes him today, the things that you’ve been working through recently can seem more vivid. Whether you’re considering long-term finances, a deep connection, decoupling from something that isn’t working, or any old control issue, they’ll be hard to ignore.
The Moon has entered the most harmonising part of your situation, but also a zodiac sign where she can be that much more outspoken, in Aquarius. As much as you may want to keep certain alliances on an even keel, her connection to the transformational Pluto may nudge you to discuss something that you may have been avoiding, but it can be positive to do so.
Metronomic routines often make you feel safe, Virgo, but for the last couple of years, a deep transforming energy has been slowly making you more aware that some kind of reset could actually be therapeutic. Be open to this, because with the disruptive Uranus in your work sector now, it may be a case of change being as good as a rest.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
If someone is on your cosmic radar, Libra, your fascination with them can get amped up quite considerably today. But with Neptune, the planet of dreams, in your sector of relating for many years to come, it’s also important to decipher, in a practical way, who would make a good match against who captivates your romantic imagination.
You have a knack for working out the politics of situations without even saying a word. But it could be around family dynamics today that there’s some complexity. This could be for the good; it could be perhaps more challenging. But if someone does tend to dominate the domestic scene, that could be what brings all this into focus.
Bright and bubbly conversations can be a major part of what makes daily life enjoyable and fun. Yet today, whether it is a discussion, a text message, or an email, your words and ideas can seem to carry that much more weight. And if you are discussing something that’s important to you, people will recognise this and appreciate your take.
That old saying about earning respect rather than demanding it comes to mind as the Moon merges with the planet of power, Pluto, in the sometimes rebellious sign of Aquarius. If you don’t feel your efforts are valued as much as they could be, you may become more outspoken. That in itself is not a bad thing, but if you push too hard, someone can resist as stubbornly.
You possess an intriguing blend of energies, Aquarius. Some people see you as very different and progressive, whilst you may see yourself as much more traditional. But today you are being given a bit of a push to have the confidence to demonstrate how you can see life in your own inimitably unique way, so why not shock and awe!
It’s said in astrology that mutable signs like yours, which have an ability to flex and evolve, can actually spend quite a lot of your time thinking about past events and people. And if someone, or some music from your distant past, comes up in your thoughts today, this could have a very evocative impact. Equally, an old talent you have could be recycled now.
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
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At least 15 votes have been disqualified after a printing error in Oldham
The results of at least 15 local election votes have been disqualified in Oldham following a council misprint on ballot cards. Voters in Waterhead are understood to have been given papers listing candidates from a seat around three miles away in Shaw in error.
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Concerns have been raised after the polls closed in the 2026 local elections on Thursday evening (May 7). Votes took place across the country, with seats up for grabs on 136 councils, including in all ten Greater Manchester boroughs where a third of all seats were being contested.
Elsewhere, six mayoral elections have taken place in England, and elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments have also been held.
The majority of authorities will count and declare later on Friday (May 8), with the final results due on Saturday evening (May 9).
Shortly after polls closed in Oldham, it emerged that some votes have been disqualified due to a misprint on ballot cards in Waterhead. At least 15 votes have been disqualified after the candidates for Shaw were mistakenly printed instead.
In the event of a closely-run vote, it could mean the authority would be forced to call a re-vote.
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A spokesperson for Oldham Council said: “We are aware of an issue affecting some ballot papers in the Waterhead ward. An investigation is underway to determine the extent.”
As of around 12am on Friday, May 8, verification is ongoing, which will determine how many ballot papers were affected by the misprint.
Overnight, results can be expected from Bolton (from 3am), Salford (from 3am), Wigan (from 2:30am), Oldham (from 5am), Stockport (from 5am), and Tameside (from 3am).
But on Thursday evening, organisers said he was being replaced by Caroline Simpson, group chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in the line-up. A spokesperson for the children’s commissioner’s office confirmed to the Press Association that Mr Burnham will not be attending the event at all.
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