Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has hit back at Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has labelled Jamie Carragher’s memorable verdict “disrespectful” after the pundit urged him to leave the club in 2024. The seasoned midfielder has since answered his doubters following his renaissance at Old Trafford.

The Brazil captain has proved crucial in Michael Carrick’s side clinching a Champions League spot this season. Casemiro has scored nine goals in 33 league appearances from defensive midfield to end his four-year spell on a high note.

However, the 34-year-old previously suffered difficult patches of form at United. After a 4-0 thrashing by Crystal Palace in May 2024, Liverpool icon Carragher declared that Casemiro’s days as an elite player were finished.

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“There’s a saying I always remember as a footballer, ‘Leave the football before the football leaves you,’” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level and move.”

Two years later, the five-time Champions League winner has arguably delivered his best season in English football. Casemiro has responded to Carragher after being reminded of his “leave the football before the football leaves you” comment by former United defender Rio Ferdinand, who has also been clashing with his ex-England colleague.

“So… It’s your opinion. I respect your opinion. I don’t like it because it’s disrespectful. It’s disrespectful to me,” Casemiro said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel.

“What I win in football. But football changes. Life changes. Life changes. So, look now. It’s about this. For me, the best thing in this moment we speak in Spain is I live in the big dark. I live in a good feeling.

“Everyone misses Casemiro. You know? About this, I decided to leave because I live in good. Because it’s the same in Madrid. Everyone misses me there. Everyone misses this team. Now, it’s the same. So, life changes.

“It’s the life. Everyone forgets very quick. Everyone forgets very quick. But, again, the mentality.”

Before joining United, Casemiro spent eight-and-a-half years at Real Madrid, winning a litany of major honours, including three La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues. Earlier this season, the Brazilian confirmed he would be leaving United in the summer, despite calls to extend his time at the club.

While Casemiro has hit back at Carragher, the pundit has already acknowledged his error. In February, the 48-year-old revisited his scathing assessment of the United midfielder following a run of impressive displays under new manager Carrick.

“It is now fair to say the football has not left him,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “Casemiro is well within his rights to, if he wants to come back at me and say, ‘Leave the punditry before the punditry’s left you!’ He could definitely get one of those back in. Credit to him, he looks a completely different player.”

Head to the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel to watch part 2 of the full interview live from 8am on Wednesday 13th May.

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

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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In the US, where it is available, the price is cheaper than current injectables, at around $149 per month for the lowest dose, compared with over $1,000 a month for some GLP-1 injections (although US President Donald Trump has announced deals that aim to lower the cost of popular weight-loss drugs).

Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of a brain tumor, his family announced Tuesday.

Collins spent 13 years as a player in the league for six different franchises. He revealed in 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came toward the end of his playing career.

Collins had been diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma, which has an extremely low survival rate. He was 47.

“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” Collins’ family said in a statement released through the NBA. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

Just last week, Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was too ill to attend and his twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted for him.

“I told my brother this before I came here: He’s the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known,” Jarron Collins said while accepting that award.

Jason Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in his career. He helped the New Jersey Nets reach two NBA Finals and in his best season averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds for them in 2004-05.

“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.

“On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues.”

Jason Collins revealed his sexuality in a first-person account for Sports Illustrated in April 2013. He was a free agent at the time, said he wanted to keep playing, and went on to play in 22 games with Brooklyn the following season.

“If I had my way, someone else would have already done this,” he wrote at that time. “Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.”

His decision was widely lauded, with star players such as Kobe Bryant quickly speaking out in support of Collins. There was even support from the White House and then-former President Bill Clinton — whose daughter, Chelsea, went to Stanford with Collins. At Stanford, Collins was roommates with someone who was part of another American political dynasty, that being Joe Kennedy III, who spent eight years in Congress representing Massachusetts.

Collins, in the piece for Sports Illustrated, wrote that he realized he needed to go public about his sexuality when Kennedy walked in Boston’s gay pride parade in 2012 — but Collins couldn’t do the same.

Until then, Collins kept his feelings about gay rights close to the vest. He wore jersey No. 98 for the majority of his final three playing stints with Boston, Washington and Brooklyn — a nod to the year that Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming, was killed. He also wore 46 in one game for the Nets, since it was the only jersey the team had available when he signed.

Collins made nearly 61% of his shots in his career at Stanford, which remains a school record. He was an honorable mention selection for The Associated Press’ All-America team in 2001, a few months before the Houston Rockets took him with the 18th pick in that year’s NBA draft.

“It’s a sad day for all of us associated with Stanford basketball when we lose one of the program’s greats,” former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said. “We all have great memories of Jason and the kind of person he was. It’s hard to separate Jarron and Jason because they thought so alike, but even though he was an identical twin, Jason was unique in his own way. The impact he had on Stanford was immense, as he could match up against anyone in the country because he was big, smart, strong and skilled, all while being a very bright and nice person.”

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The collision tragically claimed the life of 16-year-old Callum Hutchinson

A young boy of 10 has been hailed as a living miracle by his family following his ongoing from a horror car crash last month.

Christopher Faulkner was left in a critical condition after the two-vehicle crash near Nutts Corner in Antrim on Sunday, April. 26

The collision tragically claimed the life of 16-year-old Callum Hutchinson, from Borrisokane, Tipperary, who was a passenger in the same vehicle as Christopher. Two further individuals sustained injuries in the incident.

The driver of the second car, a 29-year-old man, has since been charged with a number of offences including causing death due to dangerous driving, reports the Irish Mirror.

The devastating news came as the Faulkner family, from Longpavement in Limerick, were already mourning the loss of siblings Scarlett and Jason.

Scarlett, 28, passed away at Cork University Hospital three weeks after she was attacked at the roadside in Birdhill on 21 March, while her 34-year-old brother Jason died just two days later on April 19.

A social media update regarding Christopher’s condition stated: “Update for everyone. We just got the best news of our lives.

“Thank you God, Jesus and our lovely Lady. His scans are back. Christopher’s brain is healing.

“Doctors just confirmed he doesn’t need surgery on his neck. Thank you Jesus.

“They are going to take out his breathing tubes sometime today. He is on the road to recovery.

“Christopher is a living miracle. We will forever thank God, Jesus and our lovely Lady for our miracle. My sister and brother-in-law asked me to thank everyone from the bottom of their hearts.

“We will never forget the prayers, love and support shown to our boy. We will be forever grateful to everyone. God is on your side, our miracle boy.”

Earlier on Monday, an update confirmed that Christopher had been transferred to Temple Street Children’s Hospital, home to the “best neurosurgeons in Ireland.

“Christopher will be having lots of brain scans, neck and spinal scans,” it read.

“My sister Julie and William asked me to please everyone pray so hard that the doctors will be happy with these scans.”

A 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named due to her age, has been charged in connection with the fatal assault on Scarlett Faulkner on March 21 in Birdhill, Co Tipperary.

A 40-year-old woman, who is also subject to a court-imposed anonymity order, has been charged in connection with the assault and both have been remanded in custody.

The teenager faces a charge of assault causing serious harm to Ms Faulkner, while the woman faces four charges, including violent disorder, reckless endangerment and two counts of burglary.

Both are due before Nenagh District Court again on May 15.

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

“You will be a vital part of their journey, without the commitment of looking after a dog full time.”

Volunteers in the Belfast area are urgently needed to foster guide dogs in training. It comes as Guide Dogs Northern Ireland is celebrating a major milestone, with then guide dogs currently in training at their Belfast site – the highest number the charity has had in four years.

The increase marks an important step forward in helping people with sight loss across Northern Ireland gain greater independence and confidence through life-changing guide dog partnerships.

The dogs, who are at various stages of their training journey, are learning essential skills including navigating busy streets, avoiding obstacles, and supporting their future owners in everyday life.

READ MORE: ‘I had a cardiac arrest while asleep in bed but lived to tell the tale thanks to our hero dog’READ MORE: New dog park in Belfast opens using upcycled playground equipment

Sam Murphy, Guide Dog Partnership Operations Manager, said: “This month sees a rare crossover between dogs at different stages of their life-changing journey. Some have just joined us from their volunteer puppy raiser’s homes, advancing into early training. Others are close to the final stage, ready to be matched with someone living with a vision impairment in Northern Ireland.

“We are here to provide the best support for people with sight loss, so we’re passionate about developing the skills and knowledge of our staff. We recently welcomed two new members of staff to the teams as part of the Guide Dogs Academy. This involves training and developing new technical staff, the people who train our dogs, our clients, and then the partnership together.”

This latest investment in staff has contributed to the growing number of dogs being trained, but with that success comes an urgent need for more local volunteers to help support the essential training the organisation provides.

Sam added: “We are so grateful to our volunteer fosterers who open their homes and hearts to our dogs whilst they complete their training.

“We are currently seeking more households in the Greater Belfast area. Dogs will need to be dropped off at our training site Monday to Friday, just like the school run. On evenings and weekends, the dog will then enjoy time out from training sessions with you.

“Guide Dogs covers the cost of all the food, veterinary care and equipment required for each dog and provides full training and support. The best part of this role is you get to see the progress your furry companion is making in their training and be a vital part of their journey, without the commitment of looking after a dog full time.”

A guide dog begins its formal training at around 14 months old, and, in usual circumstances, most dogs qualify as working guide dogs by the age of two.

The charity, which recently celebrated 40 years since it opened a site in Northern Ireland, is funded almost entirely by charitable donations. It now costs £77,000 to breed, raise and train every guide dog and £25,000 to support each partnership throughout their working lives together.

Sam added: “We’re aware that not everyone who would love to assist in this amazing journey can, due to the specific geographical needs, but we rely almost entirely on public donations and the kindness of volunteers to continue our vital work. I would encourage anyone from across Northern Ireland to get involved with their local Guide Dogs fundraising group.”

If you think you could provide a loving, temporary home for a trainee guide dog, or wish to help raise much-needed funds for the charity visit guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer

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

The rebranding of the US war effort could see the US President skirt his way around a law that requires US Congress to approve further combat operations if they were to resume

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The US is considering renaming its war with Iran should its tenuous ceasefire collapse, it has been revealed. The renaming could also allow US president Donald Trump to argue that the 60-day clock that requires US congress’ authorisation for war does not need to be restarted. America’s 1973 War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of starting combat. If not, US troops must either be withdrawn within a 60-day period, or Congress must give the green light for continued military action. Operation Epic Fury’s offensive against Iran was put on pause after 40 days. Considering that pause, the Trump administration has argued that conflict has therefore not reached the 60-day threshold for Congress approval.

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A number of US officials have told NBC that discussions about possibly changing the name from Operation Epic Fury to “Operation Sledgehammer”, indicate just how seriously America is considering restarting its offensive. The US-Iran war came to and ‘end’ in early April when the ceasefire began, according to the Trump administration, along with an end to Operation Epic Fury. The Trump administration also told US Congress the same thing. However, the Pentagon has continued to describe its conflict with Iran as ‘Operation Epic Fury’. It has also continued to provide updates to the public on its efforts in the Middle East, with one Pentagon official telling the NBC that Operation Epic Fury has, in fact, continued. The ceasefire merely just pressed pause on major combat operations, the Pentagon official said. A White House official also told NBC that any new offensive against Iran would be conducted under a new name and operation. This would restart the clock with Congress, the person familiar with discussions in the White House added. Additionally, Operation Sledgehammer is not the only name under consideration, they added.

The potential name change comes a week on from comments made last week by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told the press last week Operation Epic Fury was “over”. “The President notified Congress, we’re done with that stage of it,” he said in a briefing at the White House “Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation.” The U.S. and Iran have exchanged fire in recent days as Iran has halted ship passage in the Strait of Hormuz and Trump continues a blockade. Trump is still considering various options for reopening the strait and breaking the stalemate as he expresses deep scepticism that diplomatic talks with Iran will succeed, one of the U.S. officials said, adding that the president has not ordered the U.S. military to restart major combat operations. “The blockade is giving decision space without major combat operations or putting a lot of folks at risk,” the official said. “The status quo will not persist.” On Sunday, Iran presented the US with its latest proposal to end the war through a mediator. Trump quickly denounced the plan on social media, declaring it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”

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Trump said on Monday his qualm with the peace offering is that he insists that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, which immediately weakens Iran’s ceasefire offer. The US President added on Monday: “I would call it the weakest right now, after reading the piece of garbage they sent us, I didn’t even finish reading it, they said — I’m not going to waste my time reading it. I would say it’s one of the weakest right now.” He then described the ceasefire as being on its last legs. Trump said: “I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1 per cent chance of living.” A spokesperson for the Pentagon directed inquires to the White House. The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment. The Mirror has also approached both, to no reply.

The BBC Radio 2 DJ is providing live commentary for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest for the upcoming semi-finals tonight and May 14.

English singer and electronic musician, whose real name is Sam Battle, will represent the UK with his synth and anthemic song Eins, Zwei, Drei on the song contest’s 70th anniversary.

Speaking ahead of his performance during the second semi-final on Thursday May 14, Sara said: “I can’t wait to see Look Mum No Computer up on the stage performing Eins, Zwei, Drei.

“It’s such a lively song. I hope there’s complete chaos on the stage, but more than anything I hope he just really enjoys his moment and gives it some proper welly.”

(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

Look Mum No Computer launched his career on YouTube in 2013 and has become known for his videos about making and playing unusual electronic music equipment, including making an organ out of Furby toys and fusing a synthesiser with a Raleigh Chopper bicycle.

Ahead of the semi-finals, Cox shared some advice for the artists who will take to the stage at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle after Austrian entry JJ won in 2025 with his song Wasted Love, on Saturday May 16.

She said: “I think what’s important for all the artists taking to the stage to remember is that it is fun. It is not brain surgery; it is a fun, joyous celebration of music and togetherness.

“I really hope they can just try and enjoy it and just go for it.”

A total of 35 countries will compete during the live semi-finals with the top 10 countries from each competition going through to the Eurovision Grand Final on Saturday May 16.

As one of the pre-qualified “big four” countries – along with Germany, France and Italy – the UK has a guaranteed place in the grand final, as does Austria as the reigning Eurovision champions and host.

Sara also praised Eurovision for being the most “beautiful, inclusive and fun show” ever.

She added: “I think the Eurovision Song Contest is the must watch or listen event of the year.

“However, this year is the 70th birthday so I think it’s going to be super special and the thing that I love about it the most is that you never know what you’re going to get.

“Expect the unexpected, and I think it’s just the most beautiful, inclusive and fun show… ever!”

It comes amid a string of artists, including Paloma Faith, Massive Attack, Paul Weller and Kneecap, called for the boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 over the inclusion of Israel.

The letter was co-ordinated by campaign group No Music For Genocide (NMFG), and signed by over 1,100 musicians and cultural workers, including David Holmes, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and Macklemore.

It calls for countries to follow in the footsteps of the national broadcasters of Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Spain by withdrawing their participation from the popular music competition.

Sara was recently announced the new presenter for BBC Radio 2’s breakfast programme, replacing Scott Mills.

She will take over the show in the summer after Mills was sacked by the BBC last month, shortly before it emerged the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the 53-year-old in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.

The contest’s semi-finals will take place on May 12 and 14, with the Eurovision Grand Final on Saturday May 16 and will be broadcast live on BBC One and iPlayer, as well as BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

Sara Cox and Rylan bring you the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final on Saturday, May 16.

Eurovision Song Contest 2026 has officially returned for its 70th year — and while the first semi-final saw countries battling for a place in Saturday’s Grand Final, it was Israel’s qualification that once again sparked the most controversy.

Hosted in Vienna after Austrian winner JJ triumphed last year, the first semi-final saw 15 countries take to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle on Tuesday night, all hoping to secure one of just 10 available spots in the final.

But as Israeli contestant Noam Bettan performed his entry Michelle, viewers claimed they could hear boos and pro-Palestine chants breaking through the arena noise during the broadcast.

Later in the evening, news spread on social media that a pro-Palestine protester had allegedly been removed from the arena during the performance.

Israel nevertheless advanced to the Grand Final alongside Sweden, Finland, Greece, Belgium, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland.

Viewers online quickly became divided over Bettan’s performance and the atmosphere inside the arena.

‘Israel are being chanted off by someone who can be heard very clearly by the mic’s this year,’ one viewer wrote on X during the performance.

Another claimed: ‘I heard booing, I heard people shouting “Palestine”.’

But support for the act was equally vocal online.

‘Go Israel, you smashed the stage,’ one fan posted, while another argued that Israel and Poland had ‘the best voices in this semifinal, no doubt’.

The tense response comes after months of renewed controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

Last week, Israeli broadcaster KAN received a formal warning from Eurovision organisers after Bettan appeared in promotional videos encouraging viewers to use all 10 of their votes on Israel — something which breached updated contest rules designed to prevent broadcasters and artists from influencing voting campaigns.

The European Broadcasting Union confirmed it had intervened within minutes of becoming aware of the videos, ordering their removal.

The contest’s executive director Martin Green said Eurovision must remain ‘a celebration of music and unity’ and warned that attempts to manipulate the voting system could result in sanctions.

But for many viewers, the controversy surrounding Israel’s involvement has already become impossible to separate from the competition itself.

Metro journalist Pierra Willix, who is in Vienna covering the contest, noted that despite the city being on ‘high alert’ over fears that the event presents a prime target for terrorists, the atmosphere outside the stadium on Tuesday evening was relatively calm.

‘After being in Basel last year where there were protests outside the stadium that saw police separating pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protestors, I was expecting the tension would be heightened this year, especially after five countries boycotted over Israel’s ongoing inclusion,’ she said.

‘While there was airport-style security screenings for fans and media entering the stadium, the process was quick and efficient.

‘I was also expecting to see protests outside the stadium. I didn’t see a single person opposing the contest, but did see a resident living opposite the stadium had hung a Palestinian flag on their balcony.’

Last year’s final in Basel, Switzerland, saw major pro-Palestine protests erupt both outside and inside the arena, while two demonstrators reportedly attempted to rush the stage during Israel’s performance before being stopped by security.

Elsewhere in tonight’s semifinal, the biggest upset came courtesy of Alicja for Poland, who managed to outperform expectations and snatch a qualifying spot despite many predictions placing her among the likely exits.

Her dramatic staging and powerhouse vocals appeared to give her the edge over SENHIT, whose elimination means Boy George’s Eurovision adventure has also come to an abrupt end.

Other results were as expected, with Finland and Greece among the strongest favourites on the ground in Vienna for days, while Sweden and Israel were also widely expected to sail through to Saturday’s Grand Final.

Meanwhile, several of the countries eliminated tonight had spent weeks languishing near the bottom of the betting tables.

Portugal, Montenegro, Georgia and Estonia had all struggled to gain momentum with fans and bookmakers alike ahead of the live show.

As for UK viewers, there’s still plenty to come.

While the UK automatically qualifies for the Grand Final as part of Eurovision’s so-called ‘Big Five’, British audiences will still be keeping an eye on Antigoni representing Cyprus, alongside eccentric inventor-musician Look Mum No Computer, who performs for the UK during Thursday’s second semi-final.

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MORE: Eurovision love story with tragic end leaves fans ‘sobbing’ minutes into first semi-final

MORE: Who are Eurovision 2026 hosts Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski?

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s plan to put weapons in space — pitched as a “Golden Dome for America” missile defense program — is estimated to cost $1.2 trillion over a 20-year period, according to a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, a far heftier sum than the initial $175 billion price tag he gave last year.

The nonpartisan CBO report, published Tuesday, is described as an analysis that reflects “one illustrative approach rather than an estimate of a specific Administration proposal.”

The futuristic system was ordered by Trump in an executive order during his first week in office. He said then that he expected the system to be “fully operational before the end of my term,” which wraps up in January 2029.

“Over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has become more intense and complex with the development by peer and near-peer adversaries of next-generation delivery systems,” Trump said in his executive order, justifying the need for the missile defense system.

The CBO’s estimates are in part based on a lack of details from the Defense Department about what and how many systems will be deployed, “making it impossible to estimate the long term cost” of the Golden Dome system, the report says.

The concept for the missile system is at least partly inspired by Israel’s multitiered defenses, often collectively referred to as the “Iron Dome,” which played a key role in defending it from rocket and missile fire from Iran and allied militant groups as it prosecutes the war on Iran alongside the U.S.

The U.S. Golden Dome is envisioned to include ground- and space-based capabilities able to detect, intercept and stop missiles at all major stages of a potential attack.

Congress has already approved roughly $24 billion for the missile defense initiative through Republicans’ massive tax and spending measure signed into law last summer.

Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, director of the Golden Dome project, testified last month about its costs. He told lawmakers that various groups estimating costs “just take the cost of a legacy system and they multiply it out and they get these really large numbers and they say, well, that must be it.

“That is not what Golden Dome is doing,” the U.S. Space Force general said. “We are laser focused on affordability.”

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who requested the estimate from the CBO, said in response to the report that the missile defense project is “nothing more than a massive giveaway to defense contractors paid for entirely by working Americans.”

Last May, the president said the Golden Dome would cost $175 billion. The CBO last year estimated that just the space-based components of the Golden Dome could cost as much as $542 billion over the next 20 years.

Margaret Blair lives at Erskine Veterans Charity’s McKellar House care home in Bishopton, and celebrated her birthday on Tuesday with friends and family.

A Scot who has celebrated her 105th birthday said the secret to a long life is “a good cup of tea with friends”. Margaret Blair, who lives at Erskine Veterans Charity’s McKellar House care home in Bishopton, enjoyed her birthday with friends and family on Tuesday.

Born on May 12, 1921, Mrs Blair grew up in her grandmother’s house in Dumbarton with her four younger siblings. She was a pupil at College Street Primary School and later Dumbarton Academy, before finding work in embroidery at the United Turkey Red Words in Dalquhurn, Renton.

She was an overseer at the Blackburn Aircraft Factory in Dumbarton during the Second World War, where Sunderland Flying Boats were created for UK forces. She enlisted in the Women’s Land Army in 1941 and was stationed at her uncle’s farm in Southmains, Milngavie, where she met her husband, Christie Blair, the son of a local gamekeeper.

Mr Blair, who served in the RAF from 1940 to 1947, served in India for a time before he returned home. The pair married in 1948 and moved into a home in Bearsden. They were happily married until Mr Blair died in 2017 while a resident at Haig House, an Erskine care home.

They have a daughter, Senga, who was born in 1957, and Mrs Blair is a grandmother to two and a great-grandmother to three. On Tuesday, she received a second royal birthday card, with a message from the King and Queen, after getting another on her 100th.

The centenarian has never been a drinker or a smoker, and says the simple things in life like home-cooked meals and good company are key to happiness and a long life. She said: “I’ve had a great life and so many happy memories over the years. I feel very fortunate to be celebrating my 105th birthday and to have reached this milestone surrounded by family, friends and everyone here at McKellar House.

“It has been lovely to spend time together and celebrate with so many familiar faces. The secret to a long life is a good cup of tea with friends, and we’ve had a few of them today.”

Ian Cumming, chief executive of Erskine Veterans Charity, said: “It is a pleasure for everyone at Erskine to celebrate Margaret’s 105th birthday.

“Reaching such a remarkable milestone is a significant occasion and a chance to recognise a life filled with memories and experiences. We are delighted to help make the day special for Margaret and to celebrate alongside her family, friends, residents and staff.”

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