Scottish Labour will launch their manifesto on Monday but opinion polls show John Swinney is coasting to victory on May 7.

It’s a crucial day in the Holyrood election campaign for Scottish Labour. Anas Sarwar will this morning unveil his party’s manifesto at an event in ­Edinburgh.

It will include a welcome pledge to reduce inflation-busting water charges for households across Scotland. The cost-of-living crisis has not gone away and too many Scots are still ­struggling to make ends meet.

Scottish Water is publicly owned. It doesn’t need to line the pockets of ­shareholders. But it still announced a nine per cent hike in bills this year.

The Scottish Parliament does not control the levers of the UK economy but it does have enough powers already to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

The SNP has been in power since 2007 but opinion polls show John Swinney is coasting to victory on May 7.

Scottish Labour is trailing behind and Sarwar must find a way to convince voters he’s worth their ballot. The unpopularity of Keir Starmer has dragged the party in Scotland down.

Labour now faces a battle just to finish second in terms of MSP numbers, with the arrival of Reform UK on the scene and the increasingly vocal and confident Scottish Greens climbing in the polls.

Many younger Scots, fed-up with soaring property prices and stagnant wages, are equally fed-up with Labour at Westminster and the SNP at Holyrood.

Sarwar has just three weeks left to make his case to the public.

A bold policy offering on how to tackle the cost-of-living crisis would be a good place to start.

Harrowing figures

None of Scotland’s major political parties can plead ignorance when it comes to the state of children’s mental health services.

Waiting times for initial appointments are months long in too many cases, with young people and their families left distraught as a result.

It cannot be said too many times that suicide remains one of the largest causes of deaths among young Scots, a tragic state of affairs made worse by mental health services not being available when needed.

Samantha Merrilees today shares her heartbreak over losing her 16-year-old son Scott. He was denied urgent care in the months before he died – despite repeated attempts took take his own life.

The grieving mum said Scott was failed by the system and left waiting nearly a year for specialist help while his condition deteriorated.

Too many other families have faced similar harrowing experiences.

Mental health waiting times must come down. The next Scottish Government must ensure they do.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE

Turton Road will be shut on April 12, between where it meets Chapeltown Road and Shady Lane, for maintenance work on the railway bridge at Bromley Cross Railway Station.

Traffic will be diverted via Blackburn Road and Crompton Way for those looking to pass between Tonge Moor and Bromley Cross.

Turton Road and the railway bridge. (Image: Google Maps)

Commenting on the road closure, Cllr Nadim Muslim, representing Bromley Cross and Egerton, said: “It’s a bit of a shame we weren’t told any sooner, but hopefully on a Sunday there won’t be any delays.

“They’re looking to do some safety work on the bridge, nothing majorly serious just to update stuff like some signage.

“Cars will have to have longer diversions but pedestrians will still be able to pass by the bridge by going through the train station.”

Nearby, Chapeltown road was closed for three days last month due to electrical repair works after homes and businesses lost power.

Gary Neville fears the selfish actions of two Chelsea stars will see the club miss out on Champions League qualification.

Liam Rosenior’s side saw their hopes of a top five finish suffer a further blow on Sunday when Manchester City left Stamford Bridge with three points following a swashbuckling second half display.

Goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku emphasised the chasm that currently exists between both teams as Chelsea struggled to get to grips with their rampant opponents.

The home side’s cause wasn’t helped by the absence of their skipper Enzo Fernandez who was sitting out the second game of a suspension imposed on him by his own employers for his outspoken comments over the course of the international break.

While Fernandez was forced to miss out, the club took a more lenient view of Marc Cucurella’s revelations but regardless of the former Brighton full-back being let off the hook, Neville believes Rosenior being undermined in such an obvious way can only lead to more unrest.

Neville told Sky Sports: ‘It’s a struggle and you add to that the ill-discipline of Enzo Fernandez and Cucurella who have been speaking up in the last few weeks.

‘As a football player in a dressing room what do the rest of their teammates think.

‘When you speak like they have, that’s entirely selfish. It’s entirely selfish. It’s not helping your manager who is young and inexperienced. It’s not helping your teammates. It’s not helping the fans because they’re thinking you’re discontent.’

Chelsea have now lost five of their six games in all competitions with their only win in that run coming against League One strugglers Port Vale in the FA Cup and Neville condemned the actions of two senior players, particularly given the less than ideal timing.

He said: ‘In a period when you need to knuckle down, you’ve just gone out the Champions League and been mauled by PSG, which is no embarrassment they’re a good team. You needed everybody to knuckle down and stay in that mode of tightness.

‘When you’ve got the two experienced players that they have are demonstrating discontent and saying that the previous manager was good and we liked him and not sure why it changed. I agree there had to be consequences.

‘What they’ve done is say you need to have the camera on you against Manchester City being in the stand with everyone knowing you’ve been ill-disciplined. That can’t be helpful.

‘The problem is those players are still going in the dressing room having an influence and if they’ve got a bottom lip down by their shoe and sulking and slagging the club off, I think you’re going to have a difficult end to the season.

‘It feels to me now that Chelsea will miss out on Champions League football. I think Chelsea are going to miss out because of what has happened over the last few weeks.’

MORE: Michael Owen makes Premier League title prediction after Man City thrash Chelsea

MORE: Rio Ferdinand warns Mikel Arteta ‘you can’t do that’ ahead of Man City vs Arsenal clash

MORE: Liam Rosenior names Chelsea’s problem after Man City loss and says he’s to blame

Nature, luxury, culture and 300 days of sunshine. Take just one of them and you’ve already got the basis for a great holiday. But all at once? That’s something else!

Introducing the Turkish Riviera – a lush, scenic stretch of Türkiye’s southwestern coastline fringed by the dramatic Taurus Mountains.

Spanning 620 miles (1,000 km), it’s a year-round Mediterranean paradise featuring a world-class collection of beachfront resorts, boutique hotels, golf, wellness and all-inclusive experiences. 

Alongside these modern indulgences is a rich local culture shaped by centuries of history, with ancient castles, temples, and ports sitting alongside vibrant coastal cities serving up exquisite local cuisine. 

It sounds idyllic – and it is! Here’s why the Turkish Riviera offers all the ingredients for a dream getaway.

History meets nature  

Visiting historical sites at home is often a rainy-day activity. But in the Turkish Riviera, it’s an open-air experience.

We’re talking sun-drenched ruins scattered among pine forests, Roman temples overlooking turquoise waters and tombs carved into soaring coastal cliffs. 

The area is home to the three ancient regions of Lycia, Pamphylia and Pisidia, which grew wealthy in antiquity and left behind an extraordinary historical legacy.

This includes the ancient cities of Side, Patara, Olympos and Phaselis – considered among the most beautiful in the world (and best admired from the sea via a boat trip from Antalya’s Roman harbour). 

Both are cultural hotspots, with Mersin putting on an annual music festival, while Antalya hosts Türkiye’s most important film festival.

Alongside these historical attractions, the Turkish Riviera is big on outdoor activities of all kinds. Sailing is especially popular, typically aboard a traditional two- or three-masted wooden boat known as a gulet.

The pristine, forest-fringed coves around the cities of Antalya and Mersin are ripe for exploring by boat, as is the picturesque island of Kekova. 

Inland, there are even more outdoor adventures to discover, from caving, camping and biking to trekking along long-distance footpaths like the Lycian Way.

But to make the most of the region’s blend of nature and history, you need to sign up for a diving lesson. Gliding under the crystal-clear waters, you’ll find ruins and wrecks interspersed with vibrant corals and enchanting marine life, from rare Mediterranean monk seals to loggerhead turtles.

Pampering – Turkish style 

After all that exploring, it’s time to enjoy one of Türkiye’s other unforgettable experiences. 

The hammam, a centuries-old purification ritual set in a traditional Turkish steam bath, is the ancestor of the modern spa day.

When you arrive, you’ll be invited to douse yourself in water before lying down on a warm marble bed. 

An expert tellak or natir (male or female attendant) will envelop you in foam before scrubbing away dead skin with a coarse glove. Finally, they’ll treat you to a silky massage to leave you feeling utterly relaxed – and impossibly clean! 

The ritual also has a social element, so be sure to head to the communal refreshment area to enjoy an ice-cold drink or a cup of Turkish coffee.

The pull of the city

Relaxation and wellness are a major part of life in the Turkish Riviera, but there’s a livelier side to it too. Mersin and Antalya, two of its major cities, are major attractions in their own right – and the perfect complement to a nature-themed break. 

Keen shoppers will find plenty to delight them too, from tiny craft stores on side streets to ultra-modern malls. 

Antalya’s pedestrian-friendly, cobbled streets are lined with laid-back cafés and bars. As afternoon eases into evening, set aside some time to relax on a sunny terrace with a cocktail before heading to the harbour to tuck into traditional mezes, such as salted bonito or shrimp in butter and garlic sauce.

This part of the Mediterranean is particularly famous for its citrus fruit, such as oranges and mandarins, which make a refreshing end to an evening meal. And if you’d like the fun to continue, Antalya’s nightlife is second to none, ranging from snug live music venues to high-energy nightclubs.

Where to stay

The Turkish Riviera boasts an astonishing range of holiday experiences, and its accommodation offering is similarly varied. 

From all-inclusive hotels with spacious rooms to private villas featuring breathtaking sea views, there are hundreds of options for both couples and families. 

Think swimming pools, aqua parks and golf courses alongside luxurious spas and lavish buffet restaurants. In other words, everything you need for an incredible holiday!

If you’d prefer something more low-key, you can opt for a boutique hotel nestled in the countryside or tucked away on a side street in a coastal town. 

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While you can visit all year round, May, June and September are considered some of the best times of the year to go, while July and August are peak season. 

Plan your dream trip to the Turkish Riviera at turkishriviera.goturkiye.com

Joe Fishburn from Scarborough, alongside Amanda Wah, a gym owner from Warrington, triumphed in the final of the competition broadcast on April 12 on BBC One.

Joe paid tribute to his grandmother, Christine, who had raised him after his mother died when he was two years old.

He said: “I never had a father figure present, and she’s done everything for me.

“I hope you’re proud.”

Fishburn had a six-second head start on his fellow finalist, East London youth worker Mus Dumbuya, as they entered the Eliminator.

The coach set a new Eliminator record by finishing the course in 0.55 seconds, according to the programme.

Fishburn mentioned he would place the trophy on his “grandmother Christine’s mantelpiece” and described the experience as “definitely the best thing I’ve ever done”.

He said: “We were in an amazing final, and I felt like I already won coming into this process, but obviously it’s always nice to complete the whole thing and take the win.”

He told co-host Barney Walsh: “I have absolutely no words, I just want to say I couldn’t be happier to do this with someone like Mus, it means the world to me and Christine, this amazing woman brought me up from the age of two when, unfortunately, I lost my mum.

“Mus is an amazing opponent, contender, friend, everything he does is so amazing, and it was an honour to be in the final with him.”

In the women’s competition, Aneila Afsar, a supply teacher from Manchester, had the upper hand in the final Eliminator battle, having earned a 1.5-second head start from their previous events, but was ultimately beaten to the finish line by Wah.

Cheering for Wah were her girlfriend, two children, friends, and family, while Fishburn was supported by Roddy Mackay, a contender from 1993, and his family.

Gladiators was revived in 2024 on the BBC, with army officer Finlay Anderson and personal trainer Marie-Louise Nicholson having been crowned champions.

The show originally aired on ITV for eight years until 2000 before being cancelled and briefly returned on Sky from 2008 to 2009.

This story was originally published in the York Press on April 12, 2025.

The lineup included legendary acts like Runrig and Deacon Blue.

Scotland is known for its amazing festivals that have brought iconic musicians to the country from all over the world and delighted tens of thousands of Scottish music lovers over the years. From T in the Park in the 2000s to current-favourite TRNSMT, everyone will have memories of at least one.

One festival that is somewhat forgotten when compared to these behemoths is A Day for Scotland, which took place in Stirling on July 14, 1990. Although you don’t tend to hear much about the event these days, the 30,000-plus people who attended will likely never forget it.

Held at Fallen Inch Field beneath Stirling Castle, the massive outdoor festival offered a unique combination of music, comedy, theatre, and general fun for the entire family. Among the headliners at the event were Runrig, Deacon Blue, Coatbridge pop duo Hue and Cry, and Aberdeen psychedelic rockers The Shamen.

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Other famous faces who appeared at the festival included singer-songwriter Carol Laula, poet and songwriter Hamish Henderson, and folk musician Dick Gaughan. Attendees also enjoyed entertainment from the likes of comedian Elaine C Smith, theatre group 7:84, and the Alien Arts Company.

A Day for Scotland also had a significant political message, providing a link between pop culture and the campaign for a Scottish parliament. The festival, which was organised by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) and Stirling District Council, was an important symbol of the rising enthusiasm for devolution amongst people in Scotland.

As reported by Scene Stirling, Dr Scott Hames of the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities previously commented: “Cultural activism played a key role in the campaign for devolution, and A Day for Scotland is a fascinating example.

“It gave the STUC and pro-devolution campaigners a chance to connect with a much greater audience outside of party politics and a means to connect with young people and communities through the voices of musicians. It also paved the way for large pop concerts at Stirling Castle from the mid-1990s.”

Meanwhile, the Stirling Centre for Scottish Studies reveals that local councillor John Hendry described A Day for Scotland at the time as “a unique opportunity for people of all ages, interests and backgrounds to join together in celebrating Scotland’s past and present achievements through music, drama, dance, comedy, sport, food and everything that is good about Scottish culture.”

According to the University of Stirling, Dr Peter Lynch of the Scottish Political Archive at Stirling University stated: “Billed as ‘a Festival for Our Future’, A Day for Scotland was a key event not only for Stirling, but in linking popular culture and politics in the campaign for a Scottish parliament.

The Monday letters page remembers the glory days of the Commodore 64, as a reader recommends indie game Beyond Words.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Old is new again
All the recent talk about the ZX Spectrum and other retro formats warms my heart, not least because they’re UK formats and not the NES, which I have ever seen in my life and definitely did not know anyone that had one when I was a kid in the early 90s.

I’m not sure why there’s been this sudden outburst of discussion but I imagine it has a lot to do with how messed up the games industry is at the moment and the five or more year wait we have between big games now. Compare that to the old days when you’d get a sequel every year, that was made by just one or two people.

The games felt raw and exciting, not the manufactured rubbish you get nowadays. Indie gaming is a lot closer to what gaming was in the old days but my problem with them is that so much of it is pandering to nostalgia and they’re always held back, either on purpose or by budget, whereas back in the day the game games were always pushing the envelope in terms of technology.

Now, I’m not so much of a hypocrite to say I’m not going to buy GTA 6 or any other big name games I like but more and more I find myself more interested in retro gaming and less in the modern stuff. Especially as there’s so much I didn’t play at the time, so there’s always something new to discover.
Jacob

The best bit
I haven’t seen the film yet (I know I’m going to enjoy it from what I’ve read) but all the talk got me in the mood for Star Fox so I thought I’d play a bit of Star Fox Zero and this game is terrible! When it’s just the Lylat Wars on-the-rails shooter it’s fine and it still looks great. But it keeps forcing you to use the GamePad for aiming and turn into that awful chicken thing.

It’s a great tribute to the N64 game at times but it’s just held back by these baffling gameplay decisions. If they do release a new game then hopefully they don’t try any gimmicks and just keep it as an on-the-rails shooter.
Simon

GC: It’s not terrible, but we don’t think anyone would argue the on-rails sections aren’t the best part. The problem for Nintendo is whether anyone still wants to play a game that is only that.

Licensed property
Talking about the C64 in the Inbox, I have just been watching the Commodore 64: Classic Game Insights Vol 1 Blu-ray and there is an interesting fact about Ron Gilbert (who made Maniac Mansion and The Secret Of Monkey Island games) when he started working at Lucasfilm he and his co-developers could not make any Star Wars games because George Lucas had sold the rights out to third party companies like Atari and others!

So, it’s a bit like somebody going to work for Nintendo and Nintendo telling their developers they couldn’t make Mario and Zelda games because they had sold the rights out to other companies! So what Ron Gilbert and his co-developers did was make up new games like Maniac Mansion and Secret Of Monkey Island, etc., in response to that.

The company that made this documentary is doing a full documentary for the C64 computer and it’s games and are looking for 2,000 followers on Kickstarter before they can launch the Kickstarter for the documentary. They currently have about 1,300 followers, one of which is me!

The people making the documentary also made The PlayStation Revolution documentary and the recent Rubber-Keyed Wonder documentary about the Spectrum, which were both very good in my opinion.
Andrew J.

GC: That sort of thing happens all that time. It’s why Sony still has the licence to make Spider-Man movies.

40 years, man and boy
I’m loving all this chat about the ZX Spectrum.

I never had one myself, but I did have friends when I was a young kid, that either had a ZX or a Commodore 64, so I would enjoy gaming via osmosis through them.

It’s weird because when I look back, I didn’t realise how much of a gamer I was, it was just a new and exciting entertainment form which I was happy to get involved in.

For me personally, it stated with those LCD gaming devices you could pick up at your local paper shop behind the glass cabinet for £2.99.

My friend used to borrow me his Game & Watch Mario and Donkey Kong and I didn’t care what my mom did for tea, as far as I was concerned I was living the life, it really fascinated me.

There was normally a high score of 9999 back then and I might be wrong but I’m pretty sure that’s where the term ‘clocked’ came from, when the game you were playing had no other numbers to give so just reset to 0, hence the term clocked.

I remember the Tomytronic games and the Tomy Racing Turbo, that was a particular favourite of mine.

Anyway what I’m getting at, is it took me years to realise I was a gamer.

I work with a gentleman who takes the mickey out of his son in law and his PlayStation 5 yet he spends most of his time playing online snooker against other people!

I think we all have it in us to enjoy gaming in the same sense you really have to be a movie buff to enjoy a movie or watch a lot of television to enjoy a programme.

It’s a great hobby and I feel very fortunate to have watched it grow up from its infancy.
freeway 77

GC: We believe that ‘clocked’ started with pinball games, but that is the gist of it.

Beyond Balatro
I wanted to write in to alert possibly yourselves, but mainly your readers, to a new game released on PC and Switch 2 (not sure about other formats).

It’s called Beyond Words and it is similar to Balatro but it plays along the lines of Scrabble rather than poker.

It for me, it isn’t necessarily as polished as Balatro but having put a few solid hours into it already… it is going to be right up there for replayabilty. It’s only just over £10 at the minute, so for all those that loved Balatro give this one a try.
Complex

GC: It seems to be on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S as well, to judge by the trailer.

What are ya selling?
I’ve finally gotten around to playing the Resident Evil 4 remake on PlayStation 5. I have to admit the game looks better but more importantly the controls are much improved. Sticky situations with the hostile locals are less sticky now that Leon can move while aiming.

One change for the worse I’ve noticed, however, is the merchant. Have the developers recast him? Leon sounds the same to me, but the merchant definitely isn’t as good. Why change the merchant? Wasn’t he a very popular character when the original version of the game came out?

If I recall correctly the original Resident Evil 4 merchant had a sort of a pirate voice. The new merchant just sounds like a bland cockney. What a bad decision if the developers recast this character. Why not simply reuse the voicework from the original game?

Anyway, I’m enjoying the remake apart from that, but I do fear what else has changed for the worse. Are the regeneradores/regenerators still scary? Is Ashley less annoying?
Michael Veal (Twitter/X)

GC: Everyone was recast; Metal Gear Solid Delta is the only big budget remake we can think of that has ever reused the same voice files from 20 years back. But the merchant was always meant to be cockney.

The unfunniest day of the year
Read some stuff online that the Nemesis system patent had been revoked, you seen anything credible about that?
Magnumstache

GC: We’re afraid that was an April’s Fool ‘joke’. Although if any company wanted to do something similar a patent wouldn’t stop them. Lots of video game ideas are patented – Sega owns the patent to changing camera angles by pressing a button, for example – but they’re always too general to stop anything but a straight clone.

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Stardew nightmare
Great to hear that Graveyard Keeper 2 will be an eventuality, as I thought the first one was a great attempt at a variation on the Stardew Valley experience. It was definitely an interesting theme on the management genre, taking care of the corpses in a correct manner to get cemetery ratings.

It was following the crafting, technology, and economy as what is required in these games, but with the added disposing and preparation of the corpses dropped off by the donkey delivery service. Conducting autopsies for crafting was a great idea, along with the skull ratings you get for doing a good job with the body.

Then putting them in the cemetery making them look as good as possible, with decorative items. It was a great way to do your grave keeping whilst farming parts for the technology and crafting side of the gameplay and then choosing the paths you want to use these items and resources in the technology tree.

Now what’s interesting for the sequel is how it is to expand the creative part of the game and it’s not just fixing up a graveyard and church but an entire community in a zombie infested town with a zombie apocalypse on the horizon.

The town management is definitely a step up, with whole new areas of research to explore and take control of. Can’t wait for another indie classic.
Alucard

Inbox also-rans
I totally understand where the reader at the weekend is coming with when it comes to the GameCube. It was the first console I bought as a wage owner and despite its problems I have very fond memories of it and its games.
Wendel

With so many Resident Evil remake on the way I wish they’d remake the remake of Resident Evil 3, as that was awful was barely anything like the original. Resident Evil 1 is going to be remade twice, so why not that?
Carlet

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Games Inbox: Will GTA 6 be better than GTA 5?

MORE: Games Inbox: What is your favourite retro video game format?

MORE: Games Inbox: What is the best PS5 game?

LIMA, Peru (AP) — A former minister, a comedian and a political dynasty heiress are among the 35 candidates hoping to become Peru’s ninth president in just 10 years.

Sunday’s election is taking place during a surge in violent crime and corruption, fueling widespread discontent among voters, who largely view candidates as dishonest and unprepared for the presidency. Many of the candidates have responded to the crime concerns with wide-ranging proposals, including building megaprisons, restricting food for prisoners and reinstating the death penalty for serious crimes.

“You can’t trust anyone anymore, nothing’s going to change,” construction worker Juan Gómez, 53, said as he carried two heavy bags with potatoes and rice to feed his five children. “(Criminals) come on motorcycles, put a gun to your head… you look around and there’s no police officer.

“What are you going to do? You just let them rob you.”

Here’s what to know about the latest presidential contest.

Who is voting?

Voting is mandatory for Peruvians from the ages of 18 to 70. More than 27 million people are registered, and of those, about 1.2 million are expected to cast ballots from abroad, mainly in the United States and Argentina.

A candidate needs more than 50% of votes to win outright. However, a runoff in June is virtually assured given the deeply divided electorate and the pool of candidates, the largest in the Andean country’s history.

What are the issues?

A major preoccupation is surging crime, which has led to frequent protests. Homicides have doubled and cases of extortion have increased fivefold this decade, according to official data.

“You get on the bus, and you have to sit far from the driver; you don’t know if you’ll make it home alive,” retiree Raúl Zevallos, 63, said. “Criminals drive by on motorcycles, shoot, kill the driver, and you could die, too.”

More than 200 public transportation drivers were killed in Peru in 2025. The same year, a national survey carried out by the state’s National Institute of Statistics and Informatics found that 84% of respondents in urban areas feared becoming victims of a crime in the following 12 months.

Who are the candidates?

Thirty-five names are on the ballot, including Keiko Fujimori, a conservative former congresswoman and daughter of the late President Alberto Fujimori. This marks her fourth attempt to become president.

Keiko Fujimori has promised to crack down on crime with an iron fist, but she has also defended laws that experts say make it difficult to prosecute criminals. The laws, which her party backed in recent years, eliminated preliminary detention in certain cases and raised the threshold for seizing criminal assets.

If elected, she has said judges presiding over criminal cases will be anonymous and prisoners will have to work to earn their food.

Also running is Rafael López Aliaga, the conservative former mayor of Peru’s capital, Lima. He has proposed building prisons in the country’s Amazon region, allowing judges to conceal their identities and expelling foreigners who are living illegally in Peru.

Meanwhile, comedian-turned-politician Carlos Álvarez has tried to garner support by promising to convene the leaders of El Salvador, Denmark and Singapore to tap their expertise in security.

New Senate

Peruvians are also choosing a bicameral Congress for the first time in more than 30 years, following recent reforms of the legislature that will concentrate a great deal of power in the new upper chamber. The president won’t be able to dissolve the new Senate, though the chamber will be able to remove a president from power.

Under the new bicameral structure, impeaching the president will be easier, with the Senate only needing 40 of the 60 senators to approve it. Previously, 87 of 130 lawmakers in the unicameral chamber had to vote in favor of removal, and they frequently exercised that power, contributing to the country’s revolving door of presidents in the last decade.

The bicameral system is returning even though 80% of voters rejected it in a 2018 referendum. Lawmakers amended the Constitution in 2024 to make it possible.

Alejandro Boyco, a researcher at the Institute of Peruvian Studies, said the Senate will appoint and sanction high-ranking officials, including the country’s ombudsman, constitutional court members and some central bank directors. Senators will also review and amend bills from the lower chamber.

“They’ve concentrated too much power in a 60-people chamber,” Boyco said. “They are not going to be immune to being corrupt.”

___

Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Michael Carrick has made a huge impact at Old Trafford since his appointment as Man Utd interim head coach.

Michael Carrick said it was important for Manchester United’s players to be pulling in the same direction when asked about the squad’s support for him to land the job on a permanent basis.

Carrick has won seven Premier League games, drawing twice and losing once, since his appointment as interim head coach in January. The Reds are third in the table, meaning they are well-placed to secure Champions League football.

United travelled to the Republic of Ireland for a four-day training camp last week. Amad and Bryan Mbeumo spoke at a press conference at Carton House, and they backed Carrick to stay beyond this season.

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Amad said of Carrick: “He’s been very great, he’s been doing so much for the team, he has a lot of experience, and he knows the club, so we think he’s the right man, but we are really happy for what he’s doing right now.”

Mbeumo added: “We’ve got good experience with him, I like playing under him as well.”

When asked about whether the backing from the players mattered to him, Carrick responded: “I think the most important thing for me about all that is that we’re all pulling in the same direction.

“Whatever’s said is going to be said, but I think the feeling, the willingness to do things together and to be positive, to be in a good place where we’re positive and hopefully winning games, for me, that’s the biggest thing really. After that, things will get solved in one way or another.

“I think it’s nice for the boys to feel so positive and be in a good frame of mind that they’re enjoying the football. Obviously, we want that to continue as much as possible.”

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.

Carrick was optimistic heading into the interim role that he could make the strong impact he’s had so far. “Certainly coming in with particularly the first two games, in the situation, I was pretty optimistic and pretty positive and always thinking what we can do,” he said.

“We obviously know in the back of your mind what it can look like and what direction it can go in, but it was literally just being positive and attacking the next game, going and winning it and then seeing where we could go.

“We’re still at the same stage. Just because we’ve maybe got a bit of a points difference to certain teams below us, there’s a points difference to certain teams ahead of us as well, so it depends how you look at it.

“But we’re certainly not looking at it backwards to say how it’s been or how great it’s been or whatever like that. It’s all about what’s next really and finishing season strong.

“As much as we’re looking at trying to qualify for the Champions League and what’s behind us, we’re definitely still looking at how many points we can achieve moving forward as well for the teams ahead of us.”

United have seven games remaining to secure their spot in the Champions League. “Strong word that,” said Carrick when asked whether it would be a failure not to qualify for the competition.

“We take where we are. We know as a club we want to be challenging right at the top. There’s no getting away from that. But I think there’s steps in being realistic as well and talking about where we came in and where we are now and just keep building on that.

“I think the boys are in a good place, the squad is in a good place and we keep pushing forward. The club seems to be in a really good place in terms of the supporters, really positive and enjoying it, which is important, and we just try and keep pushing and keep progressing as we go.”

When pressed on whether he would accept finishing sixth, Carrick said: “I didn’t say that. No, I wouldn’t accept it. But it’s not so much accepting it, it’s about trying to finish as high as you possibly can. We’ll see how we get on.”