UK-based gambling reform campaigner Matt Zarb-Cousin punters betting on the World Cup will be “cross-promoted more addictive casino content”. And he pointed to a National Centre for Social Research report showing that, in the UK, 79% of gambling company winnings came from the top 10% of spenders, those who wagered at least £5,639 in a year.

The venue has acted after a ‘Free Rio’ campaign was backed by thousands

A new luxury restaurant and shisha bar has agreed to hand a parrot over to a wildlife group after an outcry over the bird being kept in a glass box inside the venue.

Gardens, situated on the riverbank off Chapel Street on the Salford side of the River Irwell near Manchester city centre, describes itself as a ‘luxury dining and shisha experience’ and the ‘new fine dining Mediterranean terrace everyone is talking about.’

However just a week after announcing their opening, they became the subject of a massive online backlash. Video tours of the venue shared on their social media channels showed a live parrott being kept in a glass box in the middle of the restaurant.

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That prompted a wave of harsh online criticism with hundreds of comments slamming them for the move, and animal rights activists claiming it was ‘completely inappropriate.’

An earlier video before the venue’s opening showed the parrot, a blue-and-yellow macaw called Rio, in a portable cage before it was repeatedly seen in the glass box in the venue in two subsequent videos posted on Instagram.

Vegan food blogger Paul Jennings was one of the first people to raise concerns, and contacted the not-for-profit campaign group Protect the Wild. They launched a petition urging the venue to ‘Free Rio’ which more than 10,000 people signed.

The venue now says it has ‘heard the concerns of the people of Manchester’ and made the decision to hand Rio over for free to the group in order than he can be rehomed in a large aviary or sanctuary.

A member of their management told the Manchester Evening News that the macaw, which they said cost £3,500 to buy, was chosen by the co-owner’s daughter and his business partner’s son and that they felt it complimented the ‘natural environment’ they had created in the venue.

The girl came in each morning before opening to feed it and it was also well fed by the venue’s chefs, he said, as he insisted the bird’s welfare ‘was a priority.’

He said they then spent £5,000 on the glass tank, which has a filtration and ventilation system, and that the branches inside it alone cost £950.

He said the RSPCA visited the venue and raised no concerns, adding they had said it was ‘cared for better than 99 per cent of parrots in the UK.’

The organisation confirmed to the M.E.N that they visited the premises after receiving complaints but said they were unable to comment on the specifics of the case.

The member of management said he believed they ‘adhered to standards’ but said they now understood there was a strong body of opinion that macaws belong in the wild rather kept as pets and that they believed letting him go would be ‘beneficial’ for all concerned.

Charlotte Smith, from Protect the Wild, said: “Today, Rio will be surrendered, and we could not be more relieved. We want to acknowledge The Gardens lounge for engaging with us and making the decision to surrender Rio.

“We know it was not easy, and we respect that ultimately, they chose Rio’s welfare above all else. That matters, they did the right thing and it should be recognised.

“To every single person who signed, shared, and spoke up, Thank you, you did this! 10,000 people in under 24 hours showed Manchester that the public will not stay silent when animals need help.”

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Stephen Smith, from the Manchester Animal Rights Network said macaws were ‘highly intelligents birds and should not be kept in shisha bars and restaurants.’

“”They are vey easily distressed and lots of vibration from the music and being around so many people is likely to cause stress.” he said.

In statements issued before the venue confirmed their intention to release him, an RSCPA spokesperson said: “We are aware of this and have visited the premises. Unfortunately we are unable to discuss specific complaints and what action may have been taken.

“We understand that is frustrating for animal lovers but releasing information could prejudice a future prosecution or lead to us being fined.

“We’re very grateful to people who report concerns about animals to us and we would like to reassure people they will always be looked into.

“A lot of the time issues will be dealt with by advice and education and it is not always appropriate to publicise this information for legal reasons.”

Whilst a Salford Council spokesperson said: “The Council is aware of public concerns that have been raised regarding the welfare of the bird.

“Salford City Council officers will be visiting the premises. At this stage, we are unable to comment on any actions that may result from the visit. Anyone who may have any animal welfare concerns, please report them to the RSPCA in the first instance.”

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He’s been hit severley in the pocket after a prosecution by Carmarthenshire Council

A taxi driver has been ordered to pay more than £2,000 after he transported children to school on five separate occasions despite not having the correct licence to do so.

David Rhydian Thomas, of Windy Corner Coaches in Carmarthenshire, took pupils to school in a licensed private hire vehicle between October 1 and October 8 last year. However, he did not hold the required Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence.

Thomas had previously received a formal warning in October 2024 about driving a licensed vehicle whilst unlicensed. Despite this, further offences were committed. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter

After pleading guilty by post, Thomas was fined £666, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £266, and made to pay costs of £1,762 – a total outlay of £2,694.

Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for enforcement, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “The safety of children and the wider public is our absolute priority.

“Licensed drivers are required to meet strict standards designed to protect passengers, particularly when transporting school children.

“This case sends a clear message that we take breaches of licensing regulations very seriously and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where necessary.”

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As the Makerfield campaign enters its final stretch, Reform leader Nigel Farage was asked about whether Restore could be a problem for his party

Reform leader Nigel Farage has taken a swipe at fellow right-wing party Restore over speculation the rival could cause his party to lose to Andy Burnham in the upcoming Makerfield by-election. Mr Farage said Restore’s support was overblown but ‘has the potential to be unhelpful’.

The hotly-contested by election is entering its final stretch as voters prepare to go to the polls on June 18. 14 candidates are in the running but polls suggest the race will be between Labour’s Mr Burnham or Reform’s Rob Kenyon.

In his fourth visit to the constituency, Reform’s leader Nigel Farage said the party was gaining momentum, telling reporters and local supporters: “There is no doubt in my mind this is close. There’s no doubt in anybody’s mind it is a two horse race.”

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Despite the criticism over his past social media comments, Mr Kenyon told the Manchester Evening News: “I don’t feel the pressure. Pressure is running a business and worrying about the work in to feed your family and keep a roof over your head.

“Pressure isn’t posting leaflets through doors and having the press say nasty things about you. That’s not pressure. That’s just nastiness.”

He argued it had not clouded Reform’s message in the campaign, adding: “The voters aren’t bringing it up on the doorstep. It’s just the press who is bringing it up.

“When we are knocking on doors, the only time it’s ever been brought up is when people are saying ‘take no notice, they are just trying to smear you’. If they are going to attack you personally, it means they can’t attack your policies.”

At an event earlier in the day Mr Farage announced a new Reform policy to increase the threshold small businesses pay VAT to £150,000. He said this would cost £2bn but would be covered by an increase in productivity and boost small businesses which he said was the backbone of the economy.

Taking questions from the press, the party leader also hit back at the continued criticism over Mr Kenyon’s past comments. Responding to the Manchester Evening News, Mr Farage said: “I tell you what they are the kind of comments you will hear in every pub in the country every evening.

“We should be unapologetic that Rob is an ordinary bloke who’s carved quite a career for himself, had the guts to set up a business, served as an army reservist, is a patriot, likes his rugby, likes the odd pint, and said a few laddish things on social media 10 years ago.

“Do you know what I’d say to that? I’d say so what? What about all those politicians at local and national level in the north of England that covered up the grooming gang scandal at exactly the same time? Which of those is more serious?”

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One possible dark horse that could ruin Reform’s chances of winning is whether Restore’s candidate Rebecca Shepherd could take away support. At the event, Mr Farage suggested the Reform campaign was being pushed on social media by X owner Elon Musk but in the short term, Restore ‘has the potential to be unhelpful’ but he does not ‘believe it will last’.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News afterwards, Mr Farage said Restore’s support was overblown as ‘it’s a great media story’, adding: “Of all the people I have met this morning, maybe one who said I am not going to vote Labour or I haven’t decided yet. He didn’t mention them.

“They’ve got some votes out there but I don’t believe it’s particularly huge because I think the logic of if you want to beat Labour, you have to vote for us is getting through.”

Despite Reform winning 24 out of 25 seats in the Wigan local elections on May 7, Mr Farage said they faced a challenge as ‘the Labour Party machine is still quite big in this part of England’ and Mr Burnham’s position as Mayor of Greater Manchester.

He said: “Our vote from May 7 is still rock solid strong I have no doubt about that at all. The question is do people who declined to vote on that day or voted Labour in 2024 but are disappointed with them, do they go out to vote in big numbers or not? That’s the big question around this whole election.”

Defending Mr Kenyon, Mr Farage said: “My message is very simple. It’s this candidate is not using this as a stepping stone, this candidate is a local lad in every way who represented trades and skills, who represents business, who represents family.

“He’s been in the army and he’s a patriotic bloke. Wouldn’t it be nice for once to have somebody in Westminster who actually spoke and thought the way you did?”

New figures have found an increasing number of Scottish adults are experiencing poor mental health.

New figures suggest nearly a quarter of Scottish adults are experiencing poor mental health. In a staggering increase on previous years, experts say this rise in mental health worries is due to rising living costs and pressure on public services “taking a toll”.

Over recent years, there has been more talk about mental health and how it can impact an individual’s health and wellbeing in comparison to those around them. However, these stark figures highlight problems in society are having a direct impact across the country.

Data from The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) shows in 2024, 1.1million Scottish adults were experiencing poor mental health, which sits at 24.6 per cent of people. This number is said to approximately fill Hampden Park 22 times.

In comparison to previous figures, this report is around 425,000 more than in 2009, which recorded 16.6 per cent of Scots were suffering – which is about 720,000 people.

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The MHF has said against a backdrop of austerity, the global coronavirus pandemic, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the most “significant driver” of this poor mental health increase is financial insecurity. Additionally, according to the charity, those experiencing economic and social inequality have been hit the hardest.

Dr Calum MacLeod, policy and public affairs manager at the MHF, said: “The past 15 years have been incredibly challenging for many people. Rising living costs, insecure work and pressure on public services have all taken a toll on people’s wellbeing.

“Today, the number of people experiencing poor mental health in Scotland could fill Hampden 22 times over. We must take urgent action to address the root causes of this public mental health emergency, or that number will continue to grow.”

If people do not receive help, he warned: “Otherwise, more people, families and communities will be devastated by a preventable condition.”

The report found concern around money was a significant factor in the increasing rate of poor mental health, with nearly half of Scottish adults (47%) feeling financially insecure.

A “widening gap” was also shown between communities, with 31 per cent of those in deprived areas stating poor mental health in comparison to 17 per cent of those in the least deprived parts of the country.

While Scotland is recognised as the only UK nation to have decreased childhood poverty rates, as well as having increases in the mental health budget and community initiatives, the charity warns other commitments have been missed.

For example, the 2021 pledge to ensure 10 per cent of NHS spend is on mental health, with one per cent going to service for children and young adults.

Dr MacLeod added: “While our findings are deeply worrying, these trends can and must be reversed. The importance of preventing poor mental health is now widely recognised, with recent Scottish Government strategies giving it greater prominence.

“However, investment and implementation have, so far, fallen short of what is needed. There is broad agreement on the need for a more cross-Government approach, but delivering this in practice remains elusive.”

In a bid to decrease the poor mental health figures in Scotland, the MHF has made a number of recommendations to the Scottish Government, such as creating a new £20million fund for improving mental health and calling for a legal duty to embed preventative action in budgets.

It said the decision was made after “careful consideration” with the BBC, the show’s writer Russell T Davies and production company Bad Wolf all coming to an agreement that means fans won’t see a festive special this year.

Davies told fans on social media that there is now “no need for it”, when discussing the Christmas episode.

BBC confirms Doctor Who’s Christmas special has been cancelled for 2026

The BBC explained: “As part of securing the next phase of the show for future generations, and in line with the BBC’s Charter and Agreement requirements, the BBC will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year.

“Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come.

“After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode.

“This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the TARDIS lands once more, it does so in all its glory.”

Sharing the announcement on Instagram, Russel T. Davies confirmed he hadn’t written a script for the Christmas special.

All 15 Doctors in order

He said: “And so GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who but HELLO to a big new future for the show, as the BBC announces it’s putting the show out to tender.

“As a result, there won’t be a Christmas Special – we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it.

“You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who… but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off.

“So it’s worth it! For the record: there was no script, I never wrote it, and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor.

Recommended reading:

“You may disagree; fine, sit in that chair and wait to be proved right. You’ll wait a lonnng time 🪑

“Now I’m as excited as anyone to see what comes next! Will they keep the theme tune?

“Will they lose the blue box? Will they bring back the Drahvin?!

“It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who, exciting and unpredictable and new!

“Here comes the future, vworp vworp 🌪️ @bbcdoctorwho ♥️”.

Do you think there should be a Doctor Who Christmas special? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

Violence and disorder broke out in the streets of Belfast after a knife attack on Monday night.

The victim, Stephen Ogilvy, lost his left eye in the attack, Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard. The suspected attacker, Hadi Alodid, has been remanded in custody for four weeks after being charged with attempted murder, threats to kill an NHS radiographer and possession of a knife.

BBC Verify has mapped out some of the violent disorder that took place across the city, and elsewhere in Northern Ireland. Videos show masked men walking down the streets, shops and homes attacked and bins and buses set on fire. Merlyn Thomas reports.

Produced by Aisha Sembhi. Graphics by Mark Edwards and Leo Scutt-Richter. Additional reporting by Thomas Copeland.

The drama left fans begging for more after a devastating axe following three seasons.

Period drama fans have been left begging for more of a “masterpiece” programme.

The historical drama, set in Renaissance-era Italy, based on a real noble family of Spanish origins and their rise to power.

The Borgias first aired in 2011, running until 2013 across three seasons, and it’s now free to watch on Channel 4.

Starring Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI, Francois Arnaud as Cesare, Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia and David Oakes as Juan, the series follows the family’s scandalous ascension to the papacy.

Focusing on the highs and lows they face as well as their struggles to maintain the power they hold, The Borgias fictionalises the unstable world of politics in 15th century Europe.

Perfect for Game of Thrones fans, The Borgias follows ruthless political play, and the backstabbing, betrayals and scandals involved within power-hungry dynasties.

Several fans have hailed The Borgias as a “masterpiece”, as one begged: “For the love of god bring back that show! It’s exceptional and one of a kind show… I’m just in love with The Borgias!”

“So good it’s stunning,” another said, adding: “Overall, a superb and satisfying journey throughout that I will never forget.”

A third fan called it “too good for TV,” while another said: “10 out of 10 stars for the masterpiece that is this show!”

One viewer called it a “perfect mini series”, as someone else wrote: “This is by far the best historical drama I have ever seen! The acting was completely amazing and it kept me completely entranced up to the very last second!”

Another called it “magnificent,” saying: “The acting is flawless by the main characters! The story, script and costumes are wonderful! I’ve watched it over and over, many times!”

“The Borgias is one of the best series I have ever watched!” another said.

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As well as widespread acclaim from viewers, The Borgias gained 16 Emmy nominations, and three wins, two for Outsanding Costumes for a Series and one for Oustanding Original Main Title Theme Music.

Despite the demands from fans, it was confirmed in 2013 that The Borgias wouldn’t be returning for a fourth season.

“It has been an honor to work with the great Neil Jordan and the incomparable Jeremy Irons on The Borgias,” David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc, said at the time, as per Variety.

“Neil has written nearly every episode of this series himself. His extraordinary storytelling combined with Jeremy’s fascinating portrayal of the infamous Pope Alexander VI, has made for truly outstanding television that will live on. I look forward to future collaborations.”

The Borgias is available to watch on Channel 4.

It follows disorder that flared on Tuesday evening.

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Two men have been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with rioting during disorder that flared in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening.

Dwayne Thomas Andrew Burton, 42, from Clara Street in East Belfast, was charged with riot and attempting to damage a police Land Rover in the Newtownards Road area in East Belfast.

He also faces a count of assaulting a civilian detention officer while in police custody.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard that Burton is alleged to have thrown a shopping trolley at the Land Rover and was also observed allegedly inciting the crowd of protesters.

He is then accused of jumping on top of the vehicle, punching it and attempting to open the passenger door.

Outlining objections to bail, a PSNI officer told the court that during police interview Burton claimed he had drunk half a bottle of vodka and went to observe the gathering in the Newtownards Road after seeing a post on social media about it.

The officer said when CCTV footage of the incident was shown to Burton, he said he accepted his involvement. The officer described the accused as “extremely volatile” while in police custody.

A solicitor for Burton said the case involved a “grotesque” set of circumstances and the only thing in his client’s credit was his acceptance of the offences.

District judge Steve Keown refused bail on the grounds of risk of offending and risk posed to the public.

Burton was remanded in custody to appear before the same court on July 8.

Andrew Kane, 39, of Carwood Avenue in Newtownabbey, appeared separately before Belfast Magistrates’ Court facing a single riot charge.

He was arrested in the Newtownabbey area on Tuesday evening.

Kane made no application for bail and was remanded in custody to appear before the same court on June 16.

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The images coming out of Belfast overnight on Tuesday were shocking.

Violent unrest erupted in the north of the city after a man was seriously injured in a knife attack and a Sudanese migrant was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. British far-right agitators including Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (also known as Tommy Robinson) wasted no time in race-baiting. They encouraged angry white men and boys to take to the streets and vent their fury. Many did.

I live in Belfast, and in a hark back to the violence of our past, houses were set ablaze and families were left fleeing for their lives. People identified as migrants (often merely people of colour) were singled out as targets. Road blocks were put in place across the city, reportedly patrolled by “loyalist” vigilantes. Migrant-owned businesses were shuttered and others were set ablaze. People trying to travel to or from work were prevented from doing so. Youth groups were cancelled.

There is a legacy in Northern Ireland of people being burnt out of their houses or being forced from their homes as a result of sectarianism and communal hatred. As a result of the outbreak of what has become known as the “Troubles”, some 45,000-60,000 people suffered a similar fate, becoming what many refer to colloquially as “burnt out”.

Niall Gilmartin and I have conducted the only detailed analysis of this displacement, interviewing over 80 victims and survivors, documenting their stories in our 2023 book, Refugees and Forced Displacement in Northern Ireland’s Troubles.

While the historic inequality between Protestant and Catholic in the north of Ireland has in many ways been resolved under the power-sharing arrangement, we remain very much a society that is “comfortably segregated”. There are still issues around the lack of integrated education, and we still live in the shadow of physical barriers – the “peace walls”.

As Northern Ireland has transitioned away from its legacy of conflict and moved beyond the 1998 Good Friday agreement, it has attempted to open up and become more cosmopolitan, pluralist and diverse. But crucially, there is a legacy of failing to meaningfully address issues of violent forced displacement.

While we in the north don’t want to be burdened by our violent history, it remains important. Those who were responsible for Tuesday’s attacks would do well to become more aware, to educate themselves on the causes of division, to get out of the social media echo chamber. They could also listen to the stories of those who were “burnt out” in the past.

The spread of online hate

It’s hard to get away from the clear influence of online racial hatred, spreading in from the toxicity of platforms like TikTok, Instagram and especially X. White supremacy is becoming increasingly amplified online, and getting a political platform under the likes of US President Donald Trump.

From Southampton to Southport, and as seen in Dublin in 2023, racial violence against migrant populations is part of a broader rise in the rightwing tide globally.

In Northern Ireland, this drip-feed effect appears to be ingratiating itself within certain components of the loyalist community, leading to a horrible outpouring of racist, targeted attacks against people who live in these communities. Doctors, nurses, hospitality workers, colleagues and students. Our friends.

By and large, those who were causing violence on the streets on Tuesday look for the most part to have been young kids. The political representation of the loyalist working class has, for decades, been terrible. The DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) in particular has failed to show proper leadership and done little to calm these tensions. It has consistently pursued a politics of negativity, rather than one that shows respect for plurality, diversity and inclusion. This has been clear, for example, in how the party has approached the Irish language or Irish heritage in general.

There can be no space for placating violent white supremacy, masquerading as “concerned” (loyalist) citizens. The message – from politicians to the general public – must be clear and unambiguous. Belfast must move beyond the shadow of its violent past, reject racism and remain a city open, tolerant and welcoming to all.