Mohammed Afzal, known to his loved ones as Isa, died after a violent incident outside Power League on Market Street, Bury, on August 1 last year.

A trial at Manchester Crown Court in March found Abbas Hussain, 19, Mohammed Rayhan, also 19, and Biryan Ak, 20, all not guilty of murdering Mr Afzal.

But Hussain was convicted of manslaughter for his part in Mr Afzal’s death.

During the trial, the three men had argued that they were defending themselves from Mr Afzal after he and another man emerged from a car.

When interviewed by police after his arrest, Hussain did not comment but gave a prepared statement.

His statement said that Mr Afzal had launched a violent attack on him, but accepted he had stabbed the 19-year-old several times.

At the opening of the trial, Mr Hamilton said that Mr Afzal and his friends had followed a grey Corsa to the Power League complex to target their car.

Mr Hamilton said that on arriving at the Power League, Mr Afzal then got out of his car and approached it with a baseball bat in his hand and opened the door.

This then started the incident that ended with Mr Afzal being fatally stabbed with a blade described as a “Call of Duty” style knife.

Mr Ak, of Norman Grove, Longsight, was found not guilty of murder, while Mr Rayhan, of Chauncy Road, Failsworth, was acquitted of murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

Hussain, formerly of Bolton and of Windsor Crescent, Prestwich, was found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter and of possession of a bladed article.

Hussain was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, April 24.

Mr Nasser Afzal, father of Mohammed Afzal, read a victim’s personal statement aloud to the court in which he described the day of August 1, 2025, as “a day that lives in the depths of my memory uninvited and impossible to escape.”

He said: “No parent should ever have to imagine outliving a child.”

The statement went on to say: “He had a whole future ahead of him with big goals, goals that were never just about himself but about lifting everyone he loved.

“That was who Isa was. Selfless, thoughtful, full of heart.

“That future has now been stolen. Dreams left unfulfilled. Goals that will now never be achieved. A life that will never be lived.”

Mr Afzal said that he buried himself in work “to escape the torment” of remembering his son and that it felt “wrong to smile”.

He went on to say his son had “a pure, generous heart” and “could not tolerate people feeling alone or bullied.”

Addressing the court, he said: “Nothing can undo what has been done, but I ask the court, from one father’s broken heart, to try to understand the lifelong impact this had had on our family.”

He said his family had been left “with a lifetime of grief” that they “will never recover from”.

A second victim personal statement was read aloud to the court by the prosecution from Mohammed Afzal’s cousin, Sana Baber.

The statement described him as “full of love and life” and said that “life feels unbearably unfair”.

It went on to say: “I wanted us to achieve our dreams together.”

It concluded: “If love alone could have saved you, I promise Isa, you would have lived forever.”

The court heard Mohammed Afzal was stabbed seven times within four seconds, one of these being in his back.

Sentencing Hussain, The Honourable Mr Justice Lavender said: “They (Mohammed Afzal’s family) have spoken movingly of the profound loss that you have caused.”

He went on to say: “You stabbed him not once but seven times, with two of the wounds inflicted being capable of killing him.”

He said Hussain disposed of his clothes, the knife, and his phone.

He told the court only a custodial sentence would be justified and sentenced Hussain to seven years in a young offender’s institution, with a 12-month concurrent sentence for possession of a bladed article.

When the sentence was read aloud in court, Mohammed Afzal’s family left the courtroom.

The guests for the afternoon were the Iain Anderson Trio from Langholm.

Biggar Accordion & Fiddle Club gathered for their last meeting of the season on Sunday, April 12.

The guests for the afternoon were the Iain Anderson Trio from Langholm, but firstly the audience enjoyed a wealth of local talent.

On accordions at Biggar Bowling Club were Mark Crawford, Keith Dickson, Hilda Fulton, Adam Gibb, Jim Gold, Sam Gray, David Kennedy Tom Kilean, Fiona Paul, Charlie Todd and James Watson.

Playing piano were Emma Dickson, Keith Dickson, Iona Gold, Jim Gold, Grace Kane and Fiona Paul, while on drums there was Andrew Barrie, Andrew Gibb, David Kennedy, Alex Lyall and Charlie Todd.

The club were also treated to a couple of selections from ten members of the Edinburgh-based Scots Music Group’s Piano Accordion classes: Katie Burns, Sheena Dickson, Maya Forrester, Billy Higgins, Nevil Hopely, Mary Hourigan, Douglas Seath, Hamish Scott, John West and Maggie Wright.

And the guest trio for the afternoon consisted of Iain Anderson from Langholm on lead accordion, Neil MacMillan from Rowardennan on piano and Eric Goodfellow on drums.

The trio entertained with a variety of tempos, many great tunes and quite a bit of light-hearted humour along the way. It was an afternoon thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

With the season at an end chairman Jim Gold thanked Andrew Barrie and the Biggar Bowling Club for hosting everyone, the ladies for the half-time buffet, the raffle prize donors, the local players for supporting the club and the Iain Anderson Trio for their entertaining programme.

The club resumes on Sunday, November 8.

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The new routes will connect passengers to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, Krakow in Poland, and Reykjavik in Iceland this winter.

Flights to Fuerteventura will begin on October 25, 2026, and will operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays.

Services to Krakow will start the day after, on October 26, 2026, with flights departing on Mondays and Fridays.

Connections to Reykjavik will launch the day after that, on October 27, 2026, and will run on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Kevin Doyle, Easyjet’s UK manager, said: “Following the opening of our new base at Newcastle, we’re delighted to be adding three more routes, and several package holiday options, for our customers in the North East.

“These new services to Fuerteventura, Krakow, and Reykjavik provide even greater choice, whether customers are looking for winter sun, a city break, or a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

“Newcastle is a key part of our UK growth, and we’re proud to continue investing in connectivity from the region with great value fares and convenient flight options.”

The Easyjet base at Newcastle only reopened in March.

Fares for the new route start from £25.99.

Read more:

Leon McQuaid from Newcastle Airport, said: “We’re delighted to see further investment at Newcastle Airport with Easyjet’s new winter routes to Fuerteventura, Krakow, and Reykjavik following the opening of their new base.

“These additional services further enhance our growing winter schedule and provide passengers with even more great value flight-only and package holiday options.

“This expansion reflects the strong demand for connectivity from the North East to key European destinations and we look forward to celebrating the launch of Easyjet’s new routes.”

Food lovers are invited to vote for their favourite among the finalists

We are fortunate in Cambridgeshire to have so many incredible options for eating out. Naturally, many of us tend to have our go-to spots, traditions, and those eateries that you dine in only for special occasions.

In what was likely a tricky decision, lifestyle site Muddy Stilettos have created a shortlist for the ‘Best Casual Dining’ award. The shortlist of 10 of the best casual dining spots in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk contains four great spots from our county.

The categories for the awards range from best afternoon tea to best beauty salon, highlighting the diversity of businesses scattered across Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. Food lovers are invited to vote for their favourite among the finalists, before the votes close on May 26 at 1pm. The winners will be announced on June 16.

Take a look at Cambridgeshire’s finalists.

Aromi Cafe in Cambridge

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Inspired by Italy, in 2013, four founding family members brought Sicilian spirit to life in Cambridge and opened Aromi. Nowadays, the brilliant brand has three locations across central Cambridge including on Bene’t Street and Fitzroy Street.

The restaurant takes its Italian cuisine very seriously and promises to bring “big flavours, proper family recipes, and everything made fresh”. Aromi offers a variety of different pizzas, arancini, and more.

Bohemia in St Neots

Bohemia offers a variety of breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes consisting of modern healthy options as well as what they describe as the “finest ground coffee” roasted in their own micro roastery. Reviews have described the establishment as having “one of the best full English breakfasts” with “friendly, happy and attentive” service.

Giovanni’s Pizzeria in Cambridge

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Led by owner and head chef Giovanni, this restaurant prides itself on using traditional methods and the finest ingredients to bring “the real flavour of Italy” with a particular focus on Sardinia.

Giovanni’s sells a variety of pizzas, baked dishes including lasagne and a long list of coffees. To fulfil those sweet cravings, the menu also offers a range of different desserts including cakes, brownies and waffles.

The Yard in Ely

The Yard is located in the heart of Ely and was born from a simple idea: that “the city deserved something bold”. The kitchen boasts having seasonal, locally-sourced food alongside having knowledgeable bar staff serving up some classic cocktails.

The venue is known for hosting events including tastings, DJ nights, comedy and quizzes. The Yard has several different menus on offer including pizza, lunch and dinner, Sunday roasts and breakfast menus, with each being reasonably priced.

Graeme Reid, 45, from Uddingston, director of the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP), will take to the capital’s streets on April 26.

The director leading the delivery of NHS Lanarkshire’s new hospital is taking on the London Marathon to raise funds for cancer support charity Maggie’s Lanarkshire.

Graeme Reid, 45, from Uddingston, director of the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP), will take to the capital’s streets on April 26.

He will be fundraising for Maggie’s Lanarkshire, which is currently based at the University Hospital Monklands site and will move to the new hospital campus at Wester Moffat, Airdrie.

Maggie’s Lanarkshire is a strategic partner in the development of the new hospital campus, with plans underway to deliver a new Maggie’s centre alongside the future hospital. Maggie’s centres provide free practical, emotional and psychological support to people affected by cancer and their families, offering a calm, welcoming, non-clinical environment at what is often one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Speaking about his marathon challenge, Graeme said: “I can’t think of a more appropriate charity for my marathon fundraising. Maggie’s is one of our strategic partners and we’re working together to deliver a new Maggie’s Lanarkshire on the future hospital site.

“Maggie’s has centres across the UK providing vital support to individuals and families affected by cancer. The environment they create allows people to access expert advice, reassurance and support when they need it most.

“This challenge also gives me the opportunity to directly support the Monklands Replacement Project’s wider commitment to community benefits and to the communities our new hospital will serve. Marathon training has definitely been a challenge, with plenty of early mornings, long weekend runs and a few moments questioning my life choices — but knowing it’s all in support of Maggie’s has kept me going.

“The money I’m raising will go towards supporting the ongoing running of the existing Maggie’s Lanarkshire centre, helping ensure these vital services continue to be available to people who need them now.”

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Lorrie Cameron, centre head at Maggie’s Lanarkshire, praised Graeme’s efforts, saying: “We are incredibly grateful to Graeme for taking on the London Marathon in support of Maggie’s Lanarkshire. His fundraising highlights the strong partnership we have with the Monklands Replacement Project and our shared commitment to supporting people affected by cancer across Lanarkshire.

“Every pound raised helps us to continue offering expert support to people and families at some of the most challenging moments of their lives, both now and as we look ahead to our future centre alongside the new hospital.”

Graeme has already received strong backing from colleagues across the MRP team, including NHS Lanarkshire staff and external partners, who boosted his fundraising through a quiz night.

He has already raised more than £8000 through his fundraising page, with time still to support him as he prepares to run his first marathon this weekend: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/graeme-reid

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The warnings come after multiple products sold nationwide were recalled over potential health risks.

The Food Standards Agency has issued several “do not eat” notices affecting items stocked across major supermarkets. Among the recalls are certain batches of porridge flagged due to possible contamination. Customers who may have purchased affected products are being advised not to consume them.

Officials say anyone who has bought the products should follow recall guidance, which may include returning items for a refund or disposing of them safely.

Food Recalls Explained

Marks & Spencer recall

Marks & Spencer has issued an urgent recall for a popular yoghurt product over an undeclared allergen risk.

The recall affects its Authentic Greek Yoghurt with Vanilla, after it was found the product may contain gluten which is not listed on the label.

Product: Authentic Greek Yoghurt with Vanilla

Pack size: 500g

Use by: 12 May 2026

According to the Food Standards Agency, the yoghurt may contain gluten, making it a potential health risk for anyone with:

• A gluten allergy
• Gluten intolerance
• Coeliac disease

Because gluten is not declared on the packaging, it poses a serious risk to affected consumers.

Customers who have bought the product and have a gluten allergy or intolerance are being told not to eat it.

Instead, they should return it to their nearest Marks & Spencer store for a full refund.

Saturday 18 April: @marksandspencer is recalling Authentic Greek Yoghurt with Vanilla because of undeclared gluten #FoodAllergy https://t.co/54upEpx7zJ pic.twitter.com/fM8VFRmhDM

— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) April 18, 2026

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Aldi recall

Aldi shoppers have been issued with a “do not eat” warning after a product recall was issued by the supermarket.

Aldi has recalled The Fishmonger Hot Smoked 2 Salmon Fillets – Honey Roasted because of a packaging error.

The fish has been labelled with an incorrect use by date, meaning it is unsafe to eat two months earlier than customers would assume.

The recall affects products with a use by date of June 25, because they should have a use by date of April 25.

Tuesday 14 April 2026 – ALDI recalls The Fishmonger Hot Smoked 2 Salmon Fillets – Honey Roasted because of incorrect use-by date. #FoodAlert https://t.co/if8JolSCTO pic.twitter.com/4vjojg9XJC

— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) April 14, 2026

An Aldi spokesman said: “As a precautionary measure, our supplier is recalling the fish because the incorrect use by date is printed on the pack.

“Customers are asked to return this product to their nearest store, where a full refund will be given.

“We apologise that this product did not meet our normal high standards and thank you for your co-operation.

“For further information, please visit help.aldo.co.uk . Customer services can be contacted on 0800 042 0800.”

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) added: “ALDI is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling the product.

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought the above product, please do not consume it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was purchased for a full refund.”

Tesco recall

Tesco has recalled a Tesco Finest dessert product because it may contain pieces of plastic.

The supermarket giant, along with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), has issued a “do not eat” warning to shoppers who have purchased the dessert.

The recall affects the Tesco Finest Summer Edition Chocolate Affogato Dessert.

It includes all date codes up to and including April 2027.

Thursday 9 April @Tesco recalls Tesco Finest Summer Edition Chocolate Affogato Dessert because it may contain pieces of plastic #FoodAlert https://t.co/3Prij9koBf pic.twitter.com/vrp5mn3h83

— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) April 9, 2026

An FSA spokesman said: “Tesco is recalling Tesco Finest Summer Edition Chocolate Affogato Dessert because it may contain pieces of plastic.

“This product may contain pieces of plastic which makes the product unsafe to eat.

“Tesco is recalling the above product and has issued a recall notice to alert customers. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought the above product do not eat it.”

A Tesco spokesman added: “If you have purchased the affected product, please do not eat it and instead return it to any Tesco store for a full refund. No receipt is required.

“For further enquiries, please visit the contact page of our website where you will find a variety of ways to get in touch: tesco.com/help/contact.

“No other Tesco products are affected by this recall.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

Porridge recall

Nine porridge products sold at major supermarkets, including Tesco, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s, are being recalled due to “mouse contamination”.

MOMA Foods is recalling various porridge pots and sachet products because of possible mouse contamination at the manufacturing site, making them “unsafe to eat”.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned consumers “do not eat” the affected products and instead return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund.

Sunday 22 March 2026. MOMA Foods is recalling various porridge pots and sachet products because of possible mouse contamination #FoodAlert https://t.co/ZcBEqAqWP1 pic.twitter.com/1FrDYUyX61

— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) March 22, 2026

The nine MOMA Foods porridge products included in the recall, according to its website and the FSA, are:

• MOMA Almond Butter & Salted Caramel Porridge Pot 55g (1pk, 8pk and 12pk) – M5296, M5297, M5303, M5304, M5315, M5339, M5342 (batch codes)
• MOMA Apple, Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Porridge Pot 65g (1pk and 8pk) – M5261, M5328, M5329, M6026, M6027
• MOMA Banana & Peanut Butter Protein Porridge Pot 65g (1pk and 8pk) – M5248, M5251, M5304, M5307
• MOMA Blueberry & Vanilla Porridge Pot 65g (1pk and 8pk) – M5283, M5284, M5285, M5335, M5336, M6027, M6028
• MOMA Cranberry & Raisin Porridge Pot 70g (1pk, 8pk and 12pk) – M5293, M5294, M5295, M5321, M5322, M5329, M5330, M5331
• MOMA Golden Syrup Porridge Pot 70g (1pk, 8pk and 12pk) – M5241, M5244, M5245, M5261, M5293, M5311, M5314, M5346, M5349
• MOMA Plain No-Added Sugar Porridge Pot 65g (1pk and 12pk) – M5279, M5280, M5281, M5308, M5309, M5310, M5311, M5345,
• MOMA Almond Butter & Salted Caramel Porridge Sachets 7x40g (1pk and 5pk) – M5289, M5290
• MOMA Apple, Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Porridge Sachets 6x40g (1pk and 5pk) – M5293, M5294, M5295

MOMA Foods added: “Even though the chance of contamination of any of the above products being affected is low, we have taken this precautionary step to ensure the safety of our consumers.”

The company confirmed that no other products are affected.

Walkers crisp recall

(Image: PepsiCo/Mark Mackenzie)

A packet of crisps sold at UK supermarkets has been recalled by Walkers and shoppers are being warned “do not eat” the affected item.

Walkers is recalling its six-pack of Hot Honey crisps, which can be purchased from Tesco, Ocado and more retailers, because they could contain a Mild Cheese & Onion seasoning which contains milk and is not correctly labelled.

The company said: “Although this product includes precautionary allergen labelling for milk, milk is not included in the ingredients list and therefore the product poses a risk to people with an allergy to milk.”

The affected batch is the six-pack of 25g bags with a best before date of May 16, 2026 and the batch code GBB 584 031.

Hot Honey Walkers! 🔥🍯 At B&M @walkers_crisps #walkerscrisps #hothoney #crisps #wellthisisnew pic.twitter.com/T16lnbpDJU

— Well This Is New (@All_Things_New_) February 8, 2026

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The Food Standards Agency  (FSA) has warned the product may contain milk, which makes it a “possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to milk or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.”

It added: “If you have bought the above product and have an allergy to milk do not eat it.

“Instead, please call the Consumer Care Line on 0800 274 777 or visit contact.pepsico.com/walkers to receive a full refund.”

Walkers confirmed that “no other Batch Codes on this Best Before Code are affected”.

A PepsiCo spokesperson said: “We are recalling a specific batch of Walkers Hot Honey 6 x 25g multipacks from specific UK retailers and wholesalers.

“Some of the packets may contain Mild Cheese & Onion seasoning rather than Hot Honey, meaning the product is incorrectly labelled and may pose a risk to people with an allergy to milk.

“This applies only to product with the impacted batch code.

“No other Walkers or PepsiCo products are in scope for this recall.

“The quality and safety of our products is of paramount importance to us and we sincerely apologise for the error.

“We are working with the Food Standards Agency, impacted retailers and allergen groups to inform consumers.”

What is a product recall?

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 Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.

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

This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.

John Ashby, 32, has been jailed for life for the religiously aggravated rape and abuse of a Sikh woman

An “Islamophobe” who poses an “extreme danger to women” has been jailed for life for the religiously aggravated rape and abuse of a Sikh woman.

John Ashby, 32, followed the victim off a bus and forced his way into her home with a stick in Walsall, the West Midlands, in October. He subjected the woman to a stream of Islamophobic abuse during the “deeply disturbing attack”, wrongly believing she was Muslim, the court heard.

Sentencing him at Birmingham Crown Court to a minimum term of 14 years in prison on Friday, Mr Justice Pepperall described Ashby as a “deeply unpleasant racist and Islamophobe”. “You post an extreme danger to women and no reliable way to say how long you remain a danger,” the judge said.

Ashby pleaded guilty to the attack on the second day of his trial at the same court on Tuesday. Prosecutor Phil Bradley KC told jurors: “Despite her screams, he told her to take her clothes off, he struck her with the stick, and he put his hands around her neck to strangle her and demanded that she climb into the bathtub. Throughout the attack he racially and religiously abused her.”

Body-worn police footage showing the victim after the attack was played to jurors during the trial. The woman was comforted by a female officer as she described how her attacker had called her a “bloody Muslim b****” and had raped her inside a bathroom, armed with a piece of wood. Witnesses described the woman as screaming in distress following the attack.

In a video interview played to the court, the woman told police: “He had a stick in his hand. I said ‘who are you’ and I started screaming. He switched off the light. He said ‘I just want fun with you’. He said ‘you are a f****** Muslim bitch, I said I am not a Muslim, I am a Sikh.”

The prosecution said the attack only came to an end because Ashby was “evidently spooked by a noise outside” and ran away, taking the victim’s jewellery and a mobile phone.

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Victims says she struggles to recognise herself after attack

In a victim impact statement read to court, the woman said she “felt violated” within her own home and that experienced panic attacks following the attack, having to take antidepressants and sleeping medication “to cope with everyday life”.

She said: “Before life was great, I was happy and doing well in my job. I was enjoying life. I had plans for the future.” She added that she and her partner were due to marry in January.

“My life has drastically changed. I feel lost, I struggle to recognise myself. I’m still hyper-aware of every noise I’m hearing… everything makes me jump, I’m constantly on edge,” the statement said, with the victim appearing visibly upset as it was read.

The court heard a victim impact statement from the woman’s partner, which told how he has also suffered from anxiety attacks as a result of the attack. “Seeing her struggle to cope has been unbearable at times,” he said.

Man got up and swore at Ashby as distressing video interview was played to court

As the video interview in which the woman described the attack to police was played to jurors on Tuesday, a man left the public gallery and approached the glass-fronted dock and swore at Ashby, telling him: “You need to sort your s**t out.” Ashby responded by telling the man to “get the f*** out of my face” and also shouted at another member of the public who remained seated in the public gallery.

Rav Dhillon, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said on Tuesday that it was a “deeply disturbing attack driven by religious hatred” and carried out “against an innocent woman in her own home, where she would expect to feel safest”.

“The CPS worked closely together with West Midlands Police to build a robust case which included CCTV footage, DNA evidence and witness testimony, and the strength of that evidence left the defendant no choice but to plead guilty.”

Ashby has 10 previous convictions, including two for violence, one for possession of an offensive weapon and seven for property offences.

The Belgian Grand Prix, for example, is starting a new contract where it hosts four races in six years between 2026-31.

Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “Formula 1 ranks among the world’s foremost sporting events, distinguished by its spectacle, its young fan base, and its leadership in automotive technologies.

“In our country, too, Formula 1 enjoys a broad following across all age groups – especially among our youth – with a truly passionate fanbase.

“The races reach nearly 19 million people in our country, while around 7.5 million follow them closely on social media.

“I regard Turkey’s return to the Formula 1 calendar as a clear reflection of the strong confidence placed in our country – in our robust organisational capacity, in our modern sports and healthcare infrastructure, and, of course, in the renowned hospitality of the Turkish nation.”

F1 president Stefano Domenicali said: “We are delighted to be returning to the incredible and vibrant city of Istanbul from 2027 to thrill all our fans in Turkey and around the world on one of the most exciting and challenging circuits in Formula 1.

“As a city, Istanbul represents a cultural gateway between Europe and Asia, offering a unique blend of history and tradition with a forward-thinking approach to sport, business, and entertainment.”

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Two young people have been arrested in an alleged plot to attack a Texas synagogue that involved driving through the congregation to “kill as many Jews as possible,” according to authorities and court documents.

The arrests come a month after an armed man crashed his pickup truck into a major Detroit-area synagogue in another attack on Jewish people. Synagogues around the world have increased security and protections for worshippers since the U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran on Feb. 28.

Angelina Han Hicks, 18, of Lexington, North Carolina, was being held Thursday in the Davidson County jail under a $10 million bond, jail records show. She was arrested Wednesday and formally charged with conspiring with two “male subjects” to commit murder and assault against members of Congregation Beth Israel in Houston on April 21, 2028, according to warrants laying out two felony counts against her.

The FBI office in Charlotte said Thursday in a social media post that a juvenile was arrested in relation to the plot and charged in Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston. There was no immediate information on whether the juvenile was one of the two male subjects identified in Hicks’ warrants, which listed only their first names and noted their last names as “unknown.”

A Houston Police Department news release on Thursday announced a 16-year-old being arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder related to “a threat directed towards certain Jewish institutions in our area” that the agency learned about Wednesday. The department didn’t identify Congregation Beth Israel specifically. The FBI and the Houston school district police department assisted in the arrest.

“At this time, there is no other known credible threat,” the release said.

Explaining why Hicks’ detention was necessary, District Court Judge Carlton Terry wrote Wednesday in part that the alleged “conspiracy is to kill as many Jews as possible by driving through a congregation at a synagogue.”

“Allowing a co-conspirator a chance to communicate with either of those individuals or those who could relay a message puts lives at risk,” Terry added.

The FBI said its Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force began the investigation Tuesday evening after a tip to a North Carolina law enforcement agency.

While Hicks’ warrants point to a potential attack two years from now, Alan Martin — a senior assistant district attorney covering Davidson County — said in an interview that there had been “some concern that there could be an imminent event” targeting the Houston synagogue. A potential motive for the planned violence wasn’t immediately disclosed in North Carolina court documents. The investigation is continuing.

Attempts to speak by phone with Hicks’ court-appointed attorney were unsuccessful Thursday. The lawyer, Chad Freeman, told the Houston Chronicle that the case was in its early stages and Hicks’ youth could be a factor in her defense.

“I anticipate getting numerous experts involved in the case to look at both investigatory and possible forensic matters,” Freeman told the newspaper. Her next scheduled hearing is May 13.

Congregational Beth Israel is the oldest Jewish house of worship in Texas, founded in the 1850s. It also operates a school going up to fifth grade. The Charlotte FBI’s social media post Thursday mentioned an alleged planned attack at a Jewish school.

The potential threats communicated to congregation leadership by Houston police prompted Beth Israel to close on Wednesday “out of an abundance of caution,” the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston wrote in a social media post. The campus reopened Thursday, the federation said.

“The safety and security of the Houston Jewish community is of utmost importance to all of us,” the federation wrote.

Lexington is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Raleigh.

The FBI said Ayman Ghazali sought to inflict as much damage as he could on Jewish people when he drove his pickup truck March 12 into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Ghazali, 41, was armed when the truck smashed through doors and into the hallway of an early childhood education area, striking a security guard. He then exchanged gunfire with another guard before fatally shooting himself. No one else among the 150 children and staff was injured.

Ghazali, a Lebanese-born man who was a U.S. citizen, had learned a week before the attack that four of his family members were killed in an Israeli airstrike in his native country.

__

Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, and Corey Williams in West Bloomfield, Michigan, contributed to this report.

Downing Street has insisted that the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is “not in question” following reports the US could review Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands as revenge for a lack of support in the Iran war.

An internal Pentagon email set out options for Mr Trump’s administration to punish Nato allies for refusing to join the US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

The memo, first reported by Reuters, suggests reassessing US ‌diplomatic support for “imperial possessions” such as the Falklands.

But on Friday morning, No 10 insisted that “sovereignty rests with the UK”, adding that Britain will not be “pressured on the Iran war”.

It came as Admiral Lord West of Spithead – the commanding officer of HMS Ardent, a frigate that was sunk in the Falklands War – told The Independent the reports were an “insult to the autonomous, self-reliant and free people of the Falkland Islands”, adding: “How dare they!”

But he also dismissed the threats, saying that, militarily, losing US support for British sovereignty would have “no impact”.

“The recognition or otherwise by the US does not make the islands less secure,” the former Royal Navy commander-in-chief added.

Asked about the reports, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The Falkland Islands have hugely voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we’ve always stood behind the islanders’ right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK.”

The spokesman was also asked if Britain was ready to defend the islands from any threats, and replied: “The question of the Falkland Islands and the UK’s sovereignty and the islanders’ right to self-determination is not in question, and we’ve expressed that position clearly and consistently.”

Pressed further if the UK could defend the Falklands, he described the question as a “hypothetical”, adding: “That is not the situation we are in.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said a potential US policy review was “absolute nonsense”, and compared it to Donald Trump’s previous threat to annex Greenland.

“The Falkland Islands are British, they have been for a very long time. The sovereignty is British sovereignty,” she told broadcasters.

“I don’t know what Donald Trump is talking about. This sounds like the sort of thing he was saying when it came to Greenland.

“I don’t think we need to take it that seriously just yet, we need to make sure that we are very determined in protecting British sovereign territory, and that includes the Falkland Islands as well as Chagos.”

Now a British Overseas Territory, the Falkland Islands’ defence is provided by the United Kingdom at a permanent military base, RAF Mount Pleasant, which was built on the Falklands and opened in 1985 by the Duke of York.

The base, which is solely operated by British forces and is not shared with the US, is a key military asset, as it forms the centre of the British military’s presence in the South Atlantic, with between 1,300 and 1,700 military and civilian personnel based there at any one time.

The leaked memo, which includes an option to reassess US diplomatic support for longstanding European “imperial possessions”, such as the Falkland Islands, lays bare the tense relations between Britain and the Trump administration, which have broken down in the wake of the Iran war.

The islands are administered by the UK but are still claimed by Argentina, whose libertarian president, Javier Milei, is a Trump ally.

Britain and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982 over the islands after Argentina made a failed bid to take them. Some 650 Argentine soldiers and 255 British troops died before Argentina surrendered.

The US president has hit out repeatedly at Nato allies since he launched his offensive in Iran, branding the alliance a “paper tiger” and threatening to withdraw from the alliance altogether.

He has also repeatedly attacked Britain and Sir Keir Starmer, saying he was “no Winston Churchill” after he initially refused to grant a request from the US to attack Iran from British bases.

Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said the US War Department will ensure Mr Trump “has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part”.

“As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our Nato allies, they were not there for us,” she said.

Mr Trump has also openly considered withdrawing from Nato, asking, “Wouldn’t you if you were me?” when questioned about the possibility of a US pullout earlier this month.