Engineering works mean that buses will replace trains on some routes

Rail passengers travelling to Stansted Airport this weekend may have to take an alternative route as major engineering works are taking place. Services running to and from London Stansted will be impacted on May 9 and May 10.

During this time, there will be no direct services to or from London Liverpool Street, with passengers instead encouraged to travel to London via Cambridge and London King’s Cross. Buses have been scheduled to replace trains between Bishops Stortford and Waltham Cross, as well as between Hertford East and Waltham Cross.

Trains will still be operating between Cambridge/Stansted Airport and Bishops Stortford, as well as Waltham Cross and London. The service will only run half-hourly.

Passengers for the Stansted Express are being asked to travel via Cambridge and King’s Cross instead because of limited rail replacement. Tickets for the Stansted Express will be accepted on alternative routes.

Elsewhere on the network, buses will also be replacing trains between Thetford and Cambridge North as well as Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough. Trains will still be operating between Norwich and Thetford, Cambridge North and Stansted Airport, and Ipswich and Cambridge.

The Swifts fell short when losing 3-2 to Coleraine at the weekend

Rodney McAree insists his Dungannon Swifts team will be ready for the second bite at the cherry as they chase a return to Europe.

Having sampled continental action last summer after winning the Irish Cup, the Swifts fell short when losing this year’s final 3-2 to Coleraine at the weekend.

But despite that shattering disappointment, McAree says his tight-knit squad will respond in the right manner as they plot an alternative route back into the UEFA Conference League – starting tonight against Carrick Rangers.

When asked how the Swifts players will be able to pick themselves up after emptying the tank in a classic Cup final, the 51-year-old said: “You just have to do it. There’s no other way.

“You can respond one or two ways, and you either pick yourself up or you don’t.

“And I have complete faith in the changing room.

“Swifts changing-rooms, all over the years, have been extremely tight, barring maybe three or four years.

“We have a tight set of players within the dressing room, and I’ll back them to go and respond because we’re like family.

“We want to fight for each other, and we have to do that. We have no alternative.

“We can either turn up on the night or throw the towel in, but we have an opportunity of getting European football, and that starts on Wednesday night.

“We know that’s going to be a difficult game because Carrick finished the season very, very strongly.

“They’ve got good players also, but it’s another opportunity for us.

“We knew that finishing in the top six and being in the Irish Cup final, we were going to have at least two opportunities.

“So we’ve got to take the second one now.”

Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the latest sports news, headlines and top stories .

At 14:15 local time on 8 April 2026, Israel launched a massive wave of strikes against Lebanon – just hours after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran to pause fighting in the Gulf region.

Israel said it struck 100 targets in 10 minutes, dashing hopes in Lebanon that the pause in fighting in Iran would end the violence there too.

The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah – the Lebanese militia and political party that is funded and armed by Iran – started on 2 March after the group fired rockets into Israel, which responded with widespread air strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

Since then, more than 2,600 people in Lebanon have been killed, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, and roughly a fifth of the population displaced, the UN says.

The BBC’s Nawal Al-Maghafi has been piecing together what happened that day and meeting people who lost loved ones on one of the deadliest chapters in the country’s recent history.

Read more about this story here.

Vincent Kompany is sympathetic to Mikel Arteta’s ‘different worlds’ comment on the quality produced by Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, due to the intense schedule in England.

The Arsenal manager said the first leg of PSG vs Bayern in the Champions League semi-finals is ‘probably the best game’ he has ever seen.

The defending champions won the game 5-4, with the second leg to come in Munich on Wednesday night.

It was a thrilling spectacle, not just because of the goals, but because of the incredible quality on show from both teams.

Arsenal have now booked their place in the final to face either PSG or Bayern, with Arteta saying he is not surprised by the standard the teams produced, given the relatively light pressure on their players domestically compared to in England.

‘Bayern v PSG is probably the best game I have ever witnessed on the quality of two teams, and especially the individual quality that the players deliver,’ Arteta said last week.

‘I’ve never seen something like this. But when I look at the amount of minutes and the freshness of those players, then I’m not surprised. To deliver those moments of quality, you have to be very fresh and the difference in the leagues and the way they compete is night and day, and you just have to see a lot of stats that have been recently around it.

‘We are competing in two different worlds, so you cannot compare one part of that without giving any context to that. I don’t think it’s fair.’

Bayern boss Kompany had no intention of causing a row, understanding where Arteta was coming from with his point.

The Belgian spent 11 years at Manchester City and knows very well the demands placed on the players in England and the unsympathetic nature of pundits and fans.

‘I don’t want to comment too much, but obviously having been in the Premier League for many years, if I read between the lines, it’s basically a calendar discussion,’ Kompany said.

‘I don’t think it’s a criticism on PSG or Bayern Munich or anything like this. It’s that fact that you have 38 games to play, plus the League Cup, plus the FA Cup, you don’t really have a winter break.

‘Then every time someone has a bad game, you go, “well how come they have a bad game?” I think that’s the conversation these guys are having.

‘It’s not for me to jump in, but it’s legitimate. Obviously Jurgen Klopp, being German, how many times has he spoken about this? At that time I was in the league so I understand it. But it’s not my problem to solve at the moment.’

Arsenal secured their spot in the Budapest final with a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday night, completing a 2-1 aggregate victory.

‘An incredible night,’ said Arteta. ‘We made history again together and I cannot be more proud for everyone. The way that we were welcomed outside the stadium was special and unique. The atmosphere, our support has created the energy, the way they managed every ball with us, they made it special and unique, I never felt that in the stadium.

‘We knew how much it meant to everybody. The boys did an incredible job and after 20 years and a second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final.’

MORE: Diego Simeone makes Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid claim after Atletico Madrid defeat

MORE: Thierry Henry reveals private conversation with Arsenal star before Atletico Madrid win

MORE: Arsene Wenger responds to Arsenal celebrations after Atletico Madrid win

‘Racism and discrimination in all forms are completely unacceptable’

A 71-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of directing racist abuse towards Manchester City striker Antoine Semenyo during Monday night’s 3-3 draw at Everton.

Separately, the club said defender Marc Guehi was subject to ‘a series of vile racist social media posts’ after the game.

Guehi made a key error in the match which led to Everton equalising through Thierno Barry before going on to take a 3-1 lead which City clawed back late on.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Merseyside Police said a man from Nottinghamshire was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after supporters and stewards reported that racist abuse was shouted by a fan at Semenyo.

A police statement said: “He has since been bailed with conditions, including restrictions preventing him from going within one mile of any designated sports stadium for a period of up to four hours before kick-off, during matches and up to four hours after the final whistle.

“An investigation into the incident during the match remains ongoing and we continue to work closely with Everton Football Club.”

City condemned the incident, while Everton said: “Racism and discrimination in all forms are completely unacceptable. They have no place in our stadia, our sport or in society, and behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated. A swift response from fellow supporters, stewards and Merseyside Police led to the individual being identified and appropriate action taken.

“The club will continue to work closely with the authorities to support their investigation and will take the strongest possible action in line with its zero-tolerance approach.”

It is the second time this season that Semenyo has been the target of alleged racial abuse. In August, the Ghana international reported an incident during his then club Bournemouth’s 4-2 defeat at Liverpool.

In December, Mark Morgan, 47, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to an offence of racially aggravated disorderly behaviour against Semenyo. His trial was due to begin last month but the case has been adjourned until September to determine whether Morgan is fit to stand trial. Semenyo had been expected to give evidence.

A statement from City said: “Manchester City strongly condemns the racist abuse directed towards Antoine Semenyo at yesterday’s match. We welcome the swift action taken by Everton and the police to identify the individual responsible.

“We are also incredibly disappointed to hear that Marc Guehi was subject to a series of vile racist social media posts last night. We will continue to offer our full support to both Antoine and Marc and never accept discrimination of any kind in our game.”

City’s draw at Everton was a potentially decisive moment in the Premier League title race with Arsenal. By dropping points, they have handed the initiative back to the Gunners who can secure the crown by winning their remaining fixtures against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

A statement posted to the official England account on X read: “This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and must have consequences. We stand with both Marc and his Manchester City team-mate Antoine, and support strong action by the authorities and social media companies.”

The victim suffered a bleed on the brain and developed epilepsy due to Powell’s actions

A Welsh man who stole part of a £3m Viking hoard has been jailed for a “brutal” attack on a friend over stolen gold. George Powell, 45, from Pill in Newport, was jailed in 2019 for his part in stealing 300 Viking coins and gold jewellery he found in a field in Herefordshire in 2015.

It is regarded as one of the biggest treasure finds in British history. In January 2025 Powell went on the run after he failed to repay £600,000 – his share of the hoard.

Police did not find him until nine months later, in October 2025, when he was arrested and charged with GBH following an incident in Paignton, Devon. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

The incident saw Powell’s friend, Lewis Prosser, sustain serious injuries including a bleed on the brain.

Powell previously pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and appeared at Exeter Crown Court to be sentenced for the offence on Monday. He appeared via a link from custody at Exeter HMP.

Prosecuting, Michael Brown, told the court how on October 16, 2025, Powell invited Mr Prosser to stay with him at a caravan at Hoburne holiday park on Grange Road, Paignton. Powell had previously booked into it with a false name to conceal his true identity.

Mr Brown said Mr Prosser recalls that their first evening was uneventful, that they shared some drinks and had a “good night”. “The after his recollection of the events and timeline is poor,” Mr Brown said.

The prosecution had been able to establish that in the early hours of October 18 the victim had booked a taxi with the intention of leaving, after it appeared that a disagreement had taken place.

Mr Prosser told the police that Powell had wanted to carry on drinking, and he hadn’t. However in an initial statement he told officers that the argument arose because Powell had taken gold items and jewellery from him. Subsequently items that matched this description were found.

Mr Brown told the court how Mr Prosser got to Paignton train station but was unable to catch a train due to the time, and so had returned to the caravan to sleep.

It was heard how the victim awoke to Powell on top of him and hitting him with two weapons: a knife and a trunch baton.

It is the prosecution’s case that Powell was hitting Mr Prosser on his head with the knife, with the victim recalling feeling a sharp pain.

Mr Brown described the attack as “prolonged, sustained and repeated”, resulting in “extensive blood at the scene”.

Mr Prosser managed to get to another caravan, it was heard. The occupants of which called the emergency services, with paramedics and police officers arriving on the scene.

Mr Prosser received first aid at the scene and was “in and out of consciousness”. He was in hospital for 10 days, with his injuries identified as: a bleed on the brian, a fractured jaw, a fractured ankle, a full-thickness head wound, bruising and swelling, reduced hearing and reduced and double vision. It was heard how the victim also developed epilepsy as a result of the incident.

In a victim impact statement Mr Prosser described how he has been left with poor short term memory and balance issues. He described having members of his family helping him with basic tasks and checking he takes his medication correctly. He has also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has made multiple attempts to end his own life, he said.

Powell was arrested on October 21, arguing that he attacked Mr Prosser in “self-defence”. He has 23 convictions for 60 offences.

Powell’s defence barrister told the court that this incident is not part of “a pattern of offending”. He added that his client “wholeheartedly regrets” the incident and “has got the capacity to not come back before the courts”. He said Powell has Crohn’s disease which has impacted negatively on his time in custody.

Addressing Powell, Judge Stephen Climie, called the incident a “brutal attack”. He sentenced him to 20 months in prison. This will be added to his current sentence of five years and three months for failing to repay the money.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice

A veterinarian surgery that allegedly turned Derek away has responded to criticism as fundraising organisers look to establish a legacy in the cat’s memory

The much celebrated Cameron’s car park cat has sadly died.

The news was announced on Derek the cat’s GoFundMe page yesterday (Tuesday), after Belfast Live previously reported on how a good Samaritan and others tried to save his life. The fundraising page was originally set up to pay for his recovery but will now cover his vet bills and a memorial to the much-loved kitty.

Derek was discovered collapsed in the Ballymena car park – where he was a fixture who had his own wee house – by shopper Beverley Gibson on Saturday. Beverley said she rang Fenaghy Veterinary Practice just after 1pm where she was told on the phone that the practice would be closing at 2pm. She added that later at the practice, the attending veterinarian announced they had a personal matter to attend to and had to leave on time.

READ MORE: Community rallies to save Ballymena’s ‘celebrity carpark cat’ in critical conditionREAD MORE: Donaghadee Road vehicle fire LIVE as one person airlifted to hospital

Beverley said: “I arrived at the practice urgently with Derek. He was taken from me, but the response I witnessed was deeply concerning and lacked both urgency and compassion.

“I could clearly hear staff discussing closing at 2:00pm and questioning what they were going to do with him, rather than prioritising emergency care. The overall attitude of the staff, and in particular the attending vet, appeared dismissive, uncaring, and lacking in basic compassion for a critically ill animal.

“Although he was briefly examined, staff proceeded to make phone calls to other veterinary practices and Cats Protection while Derek remained in a critical, life-threatening condition on the premises. The attending vet stated that they were unwilling to instigate treatment as the practice was closing at 2:00pm.

“After these calls, I was informed that no one was willing to take responsibility for his care and that the practice was closing. In desperation, I contacted Yvonne’s Independent Cat Rescue to ask if I could bring Derek to their vets, Clare Veterinary Group, and whether he could be placed into their care on a temporary basis in order to ensure he received urgent treatment. Yvonne personally responded immediately and agreed without hesitation.

“I made it clear that Derek was at risk of dying in the car. At this stage, he was gasping for oxygen, his pupils were dilated, and he was in obvious distress. No advice was provided regarding safe transport or emergency measures. he attending vet stated she needed to leave at 2pm due to a personal matter. Before leaving, euthanasia was mentioned without any formal diagnosis or attempt at stabilisation.

“I transported Derek myself, sitting in the back seat holding and comforting him while my husband drove, attempting to maximise airflow. It was a frightening, emotional race against time for a cat that means so much to the local community. I phoned Clare Veterinary Group en-route to alert them. Upon arrival, Derek was immediately taken by a prepared team and given urgent care without delay or hesitation.”

Beverley and her husband rushed Derek to Clare Vet in Ballyclare – more than 15 miles away – in an effort to save his life, but unfortunately, despite their best efforts, he later passed away.

Belfast Live approached Fenaghy Vets for a right to reply.

A spokesman said: “Derek was seen and assessed by our team at Fenaghy Vets on Saturday. The team followed our usual protocol for emergency cases, which in this instance included an ultrasound examination and initial treatment to stabilise his condition.

“Suitable arrangements were then made for Derek to receive out-of-hours care at a 24-hour clinic, ensuring ongoing monitoring and treatment were in place. We recognise how much Derek meant to the Ballymena community and our thoughts are with everyone that cared for him’”

Derek’s memorial page was updated with the following message: “Derek, you made us smile and truly touched our hearts. If anything good can come from this, let it be a reminder to be kind to one another, kindness is everything.

“We will be arranging a memorial service for Derek, and will share details in due course for anyone who would like to attend and celebrate his life. Going forward, after settling Derek’s veterinary bill, we hope to arrange a permanent memorial for him in the car park (council permitting), such as an engraved plaque or stone.

“Any remaining monies will be used to set up ‘Derek’s Memorial Fund’ with Clare Vet Group to help other sanctuary cats in urgent need.”

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

A new update given to councillors on the Education Resources Committee today (May 5) shows how targeted funding is being used to support pupils affected by deprivation across South Lanarkshire Council.

South Lanarkshire Council has outlined progress and steps in its efforts to close the poverty-related attainment gap in schools.

A new update given to councillors on the Education Resources Committee today (May 5) shows how targeted funding is being used to support pupils affected by deprivation across South Lanarkshire Council.

Councillor Katy Loudon (Cambuslang East) praised the report, and said: “Thank you for the report, it’s very detailed and my only comment is to say thanks for that level of information. It’s really important we keep an eye on this, there’s been a significant amount of funding and central investment in this as you can see and from 24/25 as it says that level has gone up.

“It’s really great to see this progress, maths and literacy gaps coming down.”

Around 23 per cent of children in the area live in relative poverty and this continues to have a clear impact on learning and attainment.

Funding through the Strategic Equity Fund has increased to over £2.2 million for 2025/26. It is being used to improve literacy, numeracy, engagement, relationships, curriculum delivery and progression routes for young people.

The council has set targets for the coming year, which include better attainment in literacy and numeracy. They also include improved exam results, attendance and wellbeing. More school leavers are expected to move into positive destinations such as work, training or further education.

There is also a strong focus on reducing the cost of the school day. All schools now have policies to help cut costs for families. They also support access to free school meals and clothing grants.

READ MORE: South Lanarkshire community learning initiative has been praised

In addition, schools will receive £9.9 million in Pupil Equity Funding. This is controlled locally by schools.

Funding is confirmed until at least 2026/27. This gives schools longer-term stability for planning and delivery.

The approach is designed to improve outcomes for the most disadvantaged pupils and progress will continue to be closely monitored.

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

READ MORE: New Post Office opens it doors in Motherwell

Ardent, based in Roecliffe, has been honoured in the King’s Awards for Enterprise 2026 in the category of international trade.

Neil Crowther, CEO and founder of Ardent, said: “This award means a huge amount to us.

“When we started the business over 30 years ago, it was built on a simple idea—do the job properly, look after your customers, and create solutions that genuinely keep people safe.

“To see how far we’ve come, and to be recognised with something as significant as the King’s Awards, is incredibly special.”

The company provides critical safety systems for operators in sectors such as transport and mining.

Its solutions are used by fleet operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) across Europe, as well as at mining sites in Eastern Africa.

Mr Crowther said: “What makes it even more meaningful is that it reflects the effort of our whole team, past and present, and the relationships we’ve built with customers around the world.

“We’ve grown together over the years, and that trust is what’s really behind this achievement.

“We’re very proud of what we’ve built and I am even more excited about what comes next.”

Ardent says its success is rooted in a customer-focused approach, turning complex operational challenges into practical, commercially viable safety solutions.

The company is currently expanding into new sectors, including EV infrastructure and industrial processing.

The company said the King’s Awards mark a new milestone in Ardent’s growth, reinforcing its status as a leader in UK exports and a champion of British engineering on the world stage.

The former Love Island star is backing a British Sign Language campaign

Strictly Come Dancing star Tasha Ghouri has said that she sometimes feels like she’s in an ‘invisible box’ as she called for ‘changes’ in terms of how the deaf community are treated.

The 27-year-old Yorkshire native rose to fame on the 2022 edition of ITV dating show Love Island, where she met her ex-boyfriend Andrew Le Page. Tasha was praised for being open about being born deaf in one ear and revealing she underwent a cochlear implant surgery to enable her to use hearing aids.

Back in 2024, Tasha was paired with Aljaz Skorjanec on Strictly. The duo made it all the way to the final of the series which saw blind comedian Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell lift the Glitterball.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Boasting 1.3 million Instagram followers, Tasha’s rise to fame has seen her land a number of huge brand deals, including becoming eBay’s first pre-loved ambassador. Last year saw her become a roaming reporter for the Strictly spin-off series It Takes Two.

Tasha has now spoken out as new research shows almost a quarter of people would avoid someone who is deaf if they thought communicating with them would be too difficult. The findings from hearing loss charity RNID show the extent to which deaf people still face significant barriers in everyday life, such as shopping, visiting the doctor or socialising.

Tasha is backing the RNID’s It Does Matter campaign, which equips people with simple communication tips and videos to learn basic phrases in British Sign Language (BSL). She said: “Being deaf in a world made for hearing people can feel like being in an invisible box. With a few simple changes, we can include everyone.

“Nobody should struggle doing everyday things like shopping, visiting the doctors or socialising. It’s time to smash the invisible barriers and build a society where everyone is included.

Advertisement

“I was born deaf, so I’m familiar with everyday challenges people with hearing loss face. How you’re forced to adapt, just to survive modern life. Things have moved on since I was younger, but this research shows there’s still a way to go.”

She added: “The good news is, a more inclusive world is within reach. By changing the way we communicate, with a few small adjustments we can ensure deaf people are part of the conversation and no longer face barriers and hurdles.”

RNID, which offers support to the 18 million people who are deaf in the UK, have hearing loss or tinnitus, released the figures to mark Deaf Awareness Week, which runs from May 4-10. It found that 3% of people questioned said they would avoid a conversation with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss, if they thought communicating with them would be too difficult.

Almost a third (32%) worry about saying or doing the wrong thing when communicating with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss. Additionally, more than two in five (43%) of those questioned said they worry they may seem patronising when trying to communicate with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss.

The study suggested that many people do want to communicate better with people who are deaf or have hearing loss, but think they may lack the necessary skills and confidence. On top of this, it found that more than two thirds (69%) of those asked think knowing how to communicate with deaf people and people with hearing loss is everyone’s responsibility.

The majority (78%) said they would be willing to learn simple ways to communicate with deaf people and those with hearing loss better.

Crystal Rolfe, the charity’s director of health, said of the findings: “This research is a stark reminder that we still live in a society that shuts out deaf people and those with hearing loss. Often this is unintentional, but for deaf people it means everyday activities and interactions can be full of invisible barriers – from visiting the shops to catching public transport.

“Negative experiences build up over time and have a significant impact, making people feel lonely and isolated, hitting their confidence. But there is hope. The research also confirms what we already know: that people do want to communicate better and recognise the importance of including everyone in the conversation, but may lack the skills and confidence.

“This Deaf Awareness week is the perfect opportunity to be more deaf-aware. By making small changes to how we communicate, we can break down the everyday communication barriers. Together we can ensure everyone is included and has the opportunity to thrive.”

People can sign up for RNID’s communication tips, including videos of simple BSL phrases, by visiting www.rnid.org.uk/it-does-matter.