Luke Tweddle, 25, has spent three years living in Australia and admits it’s better overall – but he’s planning to return to the UK and says England still excels in three key areas

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A British expat living in Australia has proclaimed it a “better country” than England – yet he insists there are still three aspects of the UK that remain superior.

Luke Tweddle, 25, from Surrey, has spent the past three years living in various locations across Oz, including Adelaide and Sydney, and currently resides in Perth with his girlfriend. Despite pointing out numerous advantages to life in Australia, particularly the weather and overall lifestyle, he is due to return to England before long.

In his latest travel vlog, the content creator addressed one of the most frequently asked questions – ‘Is Life In Australia Actually Better Than The UK?’

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Speaking to his subscribers, he said: “Everyone always says that life in Australia is way better than life in the UK. But as a 25-year-old Brit that obviously grew up in the UK and then spent three years living in Australia, the answer actually isn’t that simple.

“Because depending on which part of life you are looking at, Australia wins in some ways. And believe it or not, the UK does actually win in some ways as well,” reports Surrey Live.

Nightlife

Concerning one area where the UK comfortably outshines Down Under, Luke said: “There is one side to the social life though that I do think the UK does a lot better than Australia and that is the nightlife and the whole night-time culture.”

He pointed out that Australian culture was considerably more geared towards early mornings, popping to coffee shops, strolling along beaches and outdoor exercise. Luke added that the nightlife wasn’t especially remarkable even in the major cities.

He said: “To be honest, if you are 18, 19 years old and nightlife is a priority, I actually wouldn’t recommend Australia because you’re just going to be disappointed with the nightlife.”

Luke observed that even he, having spent three years in Australia, has transformed into more of an early riser, noting that many venues don’t stay open until the small hours.

Activities

When it comes to things to do, Luke praised both countries, saying there was a similar range of activities available. However, he highlighted that in Australia, leisure pursuits were heavily reliant on good weather conditions.

He explained: “The only negative is when it does get to winter time, Australia literally hibernates because I don’t feel like there’s anywhere near as many activities, it is all so reliant on the weather.

“Obviously in the UK where we cannot rely on the weather at all, pretty much every activity is okay to do whatever the weather is, and a big part of the activities are inside.”

He added: “Obviously, in the UK, if you don’t care about the sun, and being outside, the UK has got lots to do. Sports are great in the UK, the pub culture is great, and there are a lot more indoor activities.”

Location

He explained that the biggest challenge about residing in Australia was the enormous distance from home, and being apart from friends and family. Luke characterised this element of staying in Australia long-term as the “real negative”.

He continued: “And unless you really make a close circle here in Australia I feel like no matter how long you stay here, you will never make as many connections as you have back home, especially someone like me who’s got a lot of friends and family back home and just Australia’s location in general…

“Aussies won’t be affected because they’ve grown up with that. That’s all they know and everyone they know is here. But if you’ve moved from the UK and been in Australia for a while, it is a really deciding factor when it comes to saying or leaving.”

Final thoughts

In the same video, which you can watch in full here, Luke highlighted all the benefits of Australia compared to England. He acknowledged the wages were better, the work environment was more laid-back, the scenery was more beautiful, public transport was more dependable and that it typically felt safer.

Yet in conclusion, he observed: “Now if you ask me which county do I think is better? The answer is obvious… Australia wins in nearly every way. But it’s a weird situation where that’s the case, but I also don’t want to stay, and I think a lot of Brits will relate to this.”

Explosives of “devastating power” have been found near a pipeline supplying Russian gas to Hungary and Serbia, according to Serbia’s president.

Aleksandar Vucic said two backpacks with “large packages of explosives” had been left a few hundred metres from the Balkan Stream pipeline.

It’s an extension of the Turk Stream pipeline that carries gas from Russia under the Black Sea to Turkey.

Mr Vucic said millions could have been cut off if the explosives had detonated.

“I just had a talk with [Hungarian prime minister] Viktor Orban, and informed him that if the gas pipeline had been cut there, Hungary would not have had gas and we in northern Serbia would not have had gas,” he told reporters.

Mr Vucic warned anyone trying to destroy Serbia’s infrastructure would face a “merciless” response and “harsh and severe punishment”.

On Instagram, he said the explosives potentially had “devastating power”.

Mr Orban, who arranged an emergency defence council meeting for Sunday afternoon, said on X “the equipment needed to detonate it” had also been discovered.

The incident comes seven days before Hungarian voters decide whether to extend his 16 years in power.

His party is currently behind in the polls, although many people say they are still undecided on who to back.

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Mr Orban, who is seen as one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies in Europe, increased security around the country’s energy infrastructure in February and has framed the election as a choice between war or peace.

The Hungarian leader has often been a thorn in the side of other EU nations and last month blocked a €90bn loan to Ukraine.

The Masters is almost upon us as the golfing elite prepare to descend upon Augusta this coming week for the first major of the year

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The Masters is just around the corner as golf’s finest prepare to make their way to Augusta this week. The opening major of the season is always amongst the most eagerly awaited events in the sporting calendar, but 2026 looks set to be especially memorable.

Rory McIlroy will arrive in Georgia as defending champion, hoping to claim consecutive titles. The Northern Irishman finally achieved the career Grand Slam by securing his maiden Green Jacket last year, though his build-up to this year’s tournament has been far from straightforward.

A back problem has limited the champion’s recent appearances, meaning McIlroy hasn’t competed as frequently as he would have liked. However, a lighter schedule may prove beneficial given the recent weather disruption at the Valero Texas Open.

There had been speculation that Tiger Woods might make his comeback at what is arguably his most legendary venue. However, that will not materialise, while one golfing icon has shared his thoughts on Woods’ recent arrest in the latest headlines from the sport.

Weather Chaos Hits Texas Open

Despite some questions over McIlroy’s reduced activity ahead of the Masters, his choice to bypass this weekend’s Texas Open has proved wise. Severe weather in the Lone Star State forced organisers to halt the tournament on Saturday. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre held a two-shot lead over Ryder Cup teammate Ludvig Aberg when the third round was suspended on Saturday. Play had already been delayed for six hours on Saturday before officials eventually decided to abandon the day’s proceedings.

The concern now centres on the possibility of play extending into Monday. MacIntyre and Aberg had completed just six holes of their third round when play was halted, leaving a substantial amount of golf still to be played before a champion is crowned.

This justifies the choice made by the likes of McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and other Masters contenders to bypass the tournament. Rather than waiting around for play to restart, they can focus on their Augusta preparations in a more productive way while their competitors endure a challenging weekend, though they forfeit the opportunity to compete for their share of the £7.4million prize fund.

Nicklaus addresses Woods arrest

Jack Nicklaus has expressed his support for Woods following the golf legend’s recent arrest for driving under the influence. Woods was apprehended after crashing his vehicle in Jupiter, Florida, with footage subsequently emerging of him appearing agitated during his arrest and while in the rear of a police vehicle.

Discussing the incident ahead of the Masters, Nicklaus said his longtime friend “needs help” after this latest incident. Woods had been anticipated to make some form of appearance at the Masters but has since announced he’ll be taking time away from golf to concentrate on his wellbeing. Nicklaus shared with the Palm Beach Post: “Sometimes you get, you know, too far down the line and you just need somebody to help you. I think he probably needs some help.

“We all want to help him. We’re all on his side. Obviously, I feel bad for Tiger. I like Tiger. I don’t just like him, I like him a lot.”

Rose’s caddie’s admission

Justin Rose’s caddie has revealed the British star can be demanding at times. Rose, aged 45, has experienced a revival in recent years and garnered considerable fan support following second-place finishes at both the Masters and The Open over the past two seasons.

He’s also played a crucial role in Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup campaigns in 2023 and 2025. Yet caddie Mark Fulcher acknowledged that such success requires those around him to maintain peak performance levels.

In conversation with Beyond The Clubhouse, Fulcher commented: “He’s tough, at times, but he’s also very fair. He puts in 100% effort, and all he expects of his team members is to put in the same, so if we all do that, then nothing can be said at the end of the week.

“We’re talking about what he needs at a certain time, and energy conservation is really important. He’s 45, incredibly fit, amazingly fit for his age, but we all have to understand that, you know, Father Time is catching up.

“We have to be aware of the boundaries. I think we’re all pretty good at controlling them.”

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The two men on-board, aged in their 30s, are in a critical but stable condition.

Two men were taken to hospital after a motorbike collided with a crash barrier.

The single-vehicle collision happened on Pond Park Road East in Lisburn, on Saturday, April 4.

Police said they received a report that a motorbike had collided with a crash barrier at around 4.25pm.

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The two men on-board, aged in their 30s, had sustained serious injury. Both men remain in hospital at this time, in a critical but stable condition. A PSNI spokesperson said: “We would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or the manner of driving leading up to it, to contact us. We would be particularly keen to hear from anyone with relevant dashcam footage. The number to call is 101, quoting reference 994 of 04/04/26.”Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Walker Smith, 54, said he was ‘crying inside’ when he was dismissed

A Waitrose worker has been fired after trying to stop a shoplifter from stealing luxury Easter eggs, it has been reported.

Walker Smith, 54, was a Waitrose employee for 17 years before being sacked. He revealed he was “crying inside” when bosses showed him the exit.

Mr Smith was a shop assistant at a Waitrose branch in Clapham Junction, south London. He says he was carrying out his usual role when a shopper told him that someone had filled up a bag with eggs.

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The usual protocol is to avoid approaching shoplifters, and to report it to a manager, according to The Mirror. But after seeing repeated thefts over the years, Mr Smith decided to act, he said.

He was said to have confronted the thief and snatched their bag. There was reportedly a brief struggle, before the bag ripped and several Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs fell onto the floor. The shoplifter made a run for the exit, but Mr Smith picked up a piece of broken Easter egg and “threw it out of frustration” toward some trollies. He insists these were not thrown toward the thief.

He was reprimanded by his boss at the time but a few weeks later, he was hauled into a meeting with store managers. Mr Smith said he made a final plea for forgiveness, but was told he was being sacked.

Bosses said they were unable to “discuss an individual case” but that Mr Smith’s claims were ‘not the full facts of the situation’.

‘Demoralised’

But Mr Smith told the Guardian: “I tried to stay strong and I didn’t say a word but inside I was crying. They led me out the back door by the bins. I just felt demoralised.

“Waitrose is like my family. My friends are there. I was there for 17 years, I must have been doing something right. I’m not a bad or violent or aggressive person. I just got frustrated seeing this day in and day out and not seeing Waitrose do much about it.”

Mr Smith later thanked supporters on his personal Facebook page. He said his priority for now is to find a new job.

He wrote: “Thank you everyone for getting in touch with kind messages and support, I really appreciate it. I didn’t think it would blow up like this but now it has my priority is getting a job.

“I’m based in Clapham Junction so if you or anyone you know is looking for a reliable, conscientious employee please reach out. I was at Waitrose for 17 years so warehousing, customer service – except dealing with shoplifters(!), or similar would be amazing.”

What Waitrose has said

Waitrose, meanwhile, said the safety of its staff was very important, which is why it had policies for responding to shoplifters. Staff had previously been injured when confronting thieves.

A Waitrose statement read: “The safety and security of our Partners and customers couldn’t be more important to us, and we have policies in place to protect both. We’ve had incidents where our partners have been hospitalised when challenging shoplifters. Luckily, they have always recovered, but that might not always be the case.

“There is a serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters. We refuse to put anyone’s life at risk and that’s why we have policies in place that are very clearly understood and must be strictly followed.

“As a responsible employer, we never want to be in a position where we are notifying families of a tragedy because someone tried to stop a theft. Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for.

“The reporting on this does not cover the full facts of the situation. While we would never be able to discuss an individual case, we can assure you the correct process is being followed, which includes a standard appeals procedure.

“We have campaigned for some time for more to be done to protect shop workers from offenders, including retail crime being made into a specific stand alone offence.”

Balint Pasztor, president of the Vojvodina Hungarian Association, and another key Orban ally, posted on Facebook: “If the investigation proves that we were not the primary target after all, but rather Hungary’s supply lines, then this makes it even clearer: the terrorist attack was planned with the aim of bringing down Viktor Orban.”

The Curing Barn is recalling its 60g pack of British Bresaola, and it has issued a “do not eat” warning for the product.

Listeria monocytogenes is “a bacterium that is potentially harmful if consumed”, the company explains.

The affected batch codes are WLRC, J1Z2, 0WD0 and J85J with the use-by date of June 10, 2026.

Sunday, 5 April 2026. The Curing Barn recalls British Bresaola because of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes #FoodAlert https://t.co/pwerbJWm2O pic.twitter.com/NDfvnnUUiG

— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) April 5, 2026

Shoppers can buy The Curing Barn’s British Bresaola at Tesco for £4.50.

Symptoms caused by Listeria monocytogenes

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced the recall and shared a risk assessment for the product, explaining: “Symptoms caused by Listeria monocytogenes can be similar to flu and include high temperature,  muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea.

“However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.   

“Some people are more vulnerable to listeria infections, including those over 65 years of age, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one month old and people with weakened immune systems.”

The FSA added: “If you have bought the above product, do not eat it.

“Instead, return it to where you bought it from for a full refund.”

The Curing Barn explained that customers who have bought the item with the affected batch codes don’t need a receipt to return it.

What is a food recall?

The FSA explains what a food recall is: “If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).

“The FSA issues Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.

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“In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued.

“This provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.”

Have you bought The Curing Barn’s British Bresaola recently? Let us know in the comments below.

One of the gardens is easy to reach from Cambridgeshire and might be worth a visit in 2026.

A historic garden near Cambridgeshire has been shortlisted to be garden of the year for 2026. The Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award for 2026 will see six gardens across the UK compared to each other to be named the best.

Burghley House, in Stamford, has been shortlisted as one of the places that could see its garden named the best of the year through a public vote. The shortlist has been created by selecting from hundreds of gardens that are publicly accessible member properties of Historic Houses.

Ben Cowell, Director General at Historic Houses, said: “Now that spring is finally here, we are thrilled to offer a truly exceptional shortlist for our annual Garden of the Year competition.

“Each of these six gardens is reflective of the horticultural excellence that can be seen across our member properties at Historic Houses. We look forward to seeing which emerges with the most votes by the end of a busy summer of garden tourism.”

The other gardens up for the award are Coughton Court in Warwickshire, Kelmarsh Hall in Northampton, Monteviot House on the Scottish Borders, Plas Cadnant in Anglesey, and Slemere House in East Yorkshire. The public has until the end of August to vote for their favourite garden.

Ursula Cholmeley, Chair of the Historic Houses Gardens and Parklands Committee, said: “We are grateful to historic house members for a strong list of entries this year and the shortlist features six small and large gardens all open to the public and all worth visiting before you cast your vote.

“There are two awards available to the gardens that entered this year including The Judges’ Choice Award that represents a lifetime’s work. Both awards acknowledge the dedication that owners and gardening teams put into making historic gardens some of the best in the world.”

The Burghley Estate has a few different gardens to explore, including the Garden of Surprises, which was inspired by the Elizabethan fascination with astrology, astronomy, and classical civilisations. The garden features water fountains and a mirrored maze to explore.

For those who love art, the Sculpture Garden has artwork from a “diverse collection of artists” as well as views across the great lake and pathways to follow around the area. The South Gardens are only open on certain days but are worth a visit thanks to the ‘spectacular’ trees and rose garden packed with modern varieties of rose.

You can also take a walk through the deer park if you want to see the herd that lives in the grounds. The deer park was “the vision” of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown who worked with the 9th Earl of Exeter to remodel the parkland in the 18th century.

The Hide and Secrets adventure play area is ideal for children to let off some steam with climbing walls, walkways, and lookout nests for children to run around. The Hidden Towers covers multiple levels with two slides and a rope bridge that takes children to the lookout platform.

Younger children can explore the toddler and pre-schooler area that has a mini slide and things to do that are closer to the ground. The free Spymaster’s Guide activity booklet should keep children occupied for at least a few hours at the house.

If you are in need of something eat while visiting Burghley House, there are a few spots to choose from. At the Garden Café, you can enjoy a hot drink alongside a light lunch, homemade cake, or pick up a children’s lunch box for the day.

The Muddy Mole is also available and set right next to the adventure play area. It has plenty of picnic benches to relax on.

Tickets for access to the gardens and adventure play area cost £11 for adults and £8.50 for children aged between three and 15 with a family ticket available for £35. Tickets can be booked on the Burghley House website.

The gardens are open from 10am until 5pm. Burghley House is only a 26-minute drive away from Peterborough and just over an hour away from Cambridge via the A14. Parking is free for all visitors.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff with a call Sunday to lay down arms and seek peace to global conflicts through dialogue, but he departed from a tradition of listing the world’s woes by name in the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, emphasized Easter’s message of hope as a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection after being crucified.

“Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!” the pope implored.

With the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in its second month and Russia’s ongoing campaign in Ukraine, Leo acknowledged a sense of indifference “to the deaths of thousands of people … to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow … to the economic and social consequences they produce.’’

Without mentioning the wars by name, Leo quoted his predecessor, Pope Francis, who during his last public appearance from the same loggia last Easter reminded the faithful of the “great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day.’’

Francis, weakened by a long illness, died the next day on Easter Monday.

The Urbi et Orbi blessing, Latin for “to the city and the world,’’ has traditionally included a litany of the world’s woes. Leo followed that formula during his Christmas blessing. There was no immediate explanation for the shift.

Earlier, Leo addressed some 50,000 faithful from an open-air altar in St. Peter’s Square flanked with white roses, while the steps leading down to the piazza where the faithful gathered were filled with spring perennials, symbolically resonating with the pope’s words.

He implored the faithful in his homily to keep their hope in the face of death, which lurks “in the abuses that crush the weakest among us, because of the idolatry of profit that plunders the earth’s resources, because of the violence of war that kills and destroys.’’

Speaking from the loggia, the pope announced a prayer vigil for peace April 11 in the basilica.

Small shifts in traditions

Leo greeted the global faithful in 10 languages, including Arabic, Chinese and Latin, reviving a practice that his predecessor Pope Francis had let lapse.

Before retreating into the basilica, Leo stepped forward out of the loggia’s shadow and waved to the cheering crowd below. He later greeted people in the piazza from the popemobile that took him all the way down Via della Conciliazione toward the Tiber River and back.

During the marathon that is Holy Week, Leo also reclaimed the tradition of washing priests’ feet on Holy Thursday, a gesture of encouragement toward clergy, after Francis had chosen a more inclusive path, traveling to prisons and homes for the disabled to wash the feet of women, non-Christians and prisoners.

The 70-year-old pontiff also became the first pope in decades to carry the light wooden cross for the entire 14 stations during the Way of the Cross on Good Friday.

Christians in the Holy Land mark a subdued Easter

Traditional ceremonies at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered by Christians as the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, were scaled back under an agreement with Israeli police. Authorities have put limits on the sizes of public gatherings due to ongoing missile attacks.

The restrictions also dampened the recent Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday, as well as the current weeklong Jewish festival of Passover. On Sunday, the Jewish priestly blessing at the Western Wall — normally attended by tens of thousands — was limited to just 50 people.

The restrictions have strained relations between Israeli authorities and Christian leaders. Police last week prevented two of the church’s top religious leaders, including Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Gaza’s tiny Palestinian Christian community celebrates first Easter since ceasefire

At the Holy Family church in Gaza City, Catholics young and old gathered for a traditional Easter Mass. Singing, they formed a queue in the aisle, waiting for their chance to kiss a sketch of Jesus held by a member of the clergy who wiped the glass frame between turns.

“There is great joy, especially after the ceasefire and after nearly three years of suffering and being unable to celebrate all the holy holidays,” said George Anton from Gaza City. “People are somewhat relieved and more stable.”

Armenian Christians try to show normalcy by celebrating in Iran

Armenian Christians observed Easter at a church in Iran’s capital on Sunday, striving to maintain a sense of normalcy five weeks into the war.

Families embraced and children exchanged painted eggs at the St. Sarkis Cathedral in central Tehran. Iran’s capital has been targeted by daily airstrikes since the United States and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28.

“Whether we like it or not, we have young children who do not understand what’s going on,” said Juanita Arakel, 40, an English language teacher. “They just need to feel normal.”

The Islamic Republic, with a population of around 90 million, is home to some 300,000 Christians, mostly Armenians, and three seats in parliament are reserved for Christians.

“Our calls and prayers are that we will be able to end this war,” said Sepuh Sargsyan, the archbishop of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran. “Our calls and prayers are that we will be able to end this war.”

____

Barry reported from Milan. Associated Press journalists Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Bassem Mroue in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.