This is a manager who ended Newcastle‘s seven-decade wait for a major domestic trophy less than a year ago, and who led his side to Champions League qualification in 2025 and 2023.
It is why Howe commanded instant respect from chief executive David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson when they were finally appointed earlier this season.
The pair have quickly struck up a relationship with Howe, and have repeatedly talked about the importance of alignment behind the scenes at a time when there have been very public ructions at clubs elsewhere.
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There has been a degree of an understanding that this side are in transition following a turbulent summer.
There is also a recognition behind the scenes that the incredibly hands-on Howe has not had much training time with his players, and has had to contend with fatigue and injuries during a relentless schedule this season, which is a relatively new phenomenon for Newcastle.
Newcastle have a strong chance of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League, and have an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa to come next week, but this season is unravelling. Fast.
No teams have dropped more points from winning positions in the league than Newcastle (19).
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Howe’s team have only won three away games in all competitions this season, and have lost three of their last four matches at St James’ Park.
They are as close to the relegation zone as they are the top five.
Such statistics are all the more damning in a week during which Hopkinson doubled down on his assertion that Newcastle would be competing for the biggest prizes by 2030.
Howe certainly needs no reminding that he needs to spark a turnaround sooner rather than later.
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“I’ve got to work better, do more and take full responsibility for everything you see on the pitch,” he said.
“I’ve got to work out solutions. That’s for me to do and it’s the same for the players.
“I have to ask them to be really honest with themselves and look at their best level and judge how we are playing against that now in this current moment.
“I don’t think there’s too many who could say they’re playing towards their best so that gives us growth to improve.”
US civil rights lawyer and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong says she was “disgusted” after the White House posted an image of her arrest which was edited to show her in tears.
She was detained for organising a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a Minnesota church last month.
BBC Verify’s Jake Horton spoke to Levy Armstrong about the manipulated image and the backlash she has faced.
A teenage boy was left with “gruesome” facial injuries after a martial arts instructor “snapped” and struck him with a crowbar, a court heard on Monday. Coleraine Magistrates Court also heard that although James Ernest Armstrong “snapped” over his home being repeatedly egged, the boy he struck had nothing to do with the incident.
A court heard on Monday that intruders stabbed a man at his flat in east Belfast after a drugs purchase was arranged on a WhatsApp dealing group. The victim could have died if police had not arrived in time to provide emergency first aid to the serious leg wound, a judge was told.
An 84-year old man was today acquitted of a charge of fraud arising from a proposal to purchase the Northern Ireland loan book. Following an investigation which began over ten years ago and a mammoth four-month trial, corporate financier Frank Cushnahan was found ‘not guilty’ on Monday.
A Belfast man who said if he could go back he would slap himself after he was caught attempting to meet a 14-year old boy was made the subject of a two-year Probation Order on Tuesday. Daniel Keatings turned up for a meeting with whom he believed was a teenage boy but who was instead a decoy with four condoms and two lubricants.
Discussions are taking place between the Criminal Bar Association and the PPS regarding a trial concerning the murder of Ballymena woman Chloe Mitchell, a court heard on Thursday. Brandon Rainey is due to stand trial on two charges arising from the death of the 21-year old whose remains were found in June 2023.
A 32-year old man facing domestic-related offences was granted bail on Thursday with a condition imposed banning him from contacting his ex-partner. James Robinson was due to be arraigned at Belfast Crown Court on four charges dating back to last March.
A motorist drank up to 12 tins of beer before he allegedly drove over three children in a west Belfast neighbourhood, the High Court heard on Thursday. Thomas Maughan, 37, fled the scene after the two girls and a boy were trapped under his car at Black Ridge View, prosecutors claimed.
This week marked the third week of the inquest into the death of 14-year-old schoolboy Noah Donohoe. On Thursday, the inquest heard his appearance on a leisure centre’s CCTV footage appeared to have been “missed” by police in the first “critical” 24 hours after he went missing.
A man awaiting trial over a hoax bomb left outside a police station was on Friday denied permission to attend a Derry City FC home match. Sean Pearson, 32,of Culmore Park, Omagh, Co Tyrone, has been charged with possessing articles for use in terrorism. The charge is in connection with a security alert at Omagh PSNI station almost three years ago.
An Asda delivery driver who knocked down and tragically killed 12-year-old Aaron Webb just after he got off the school bus was handed a suspended prison sentence on Friday.
“We received your message and we understand,” the Today anchor said. She was joined by her brother, Camron and sister Annie, with the siblings all holding hands.
She included the same caption on the video that she has in all of her previous videos: “Bring her home.”
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“We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her,” Guthrie said. She added that her mother is “very valuable to us” and “we will pay.”
Savannah Guthrie tells suspected kidnapper ‘We received your message’ and will ‘pay’ for mother’s return in heartbreaking new video (Instagram)
On Wednesday, the family addressed the suspected kidnapper for the first time in another video address.
“Our mom is our heart and our home. She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer,” Guthrie said in the video.
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In Wednesday’s video, Guthrie said that she and her family “have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media” and that “as a family, we are doing everything that we can.”
“We are ready to talk,” she said.
Guthrie then asked for proof that her mother was still alive.
“However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen,” she said. “Please. Reach out to us.”
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On Thursday, Camron posted his own video on behalf of his family, asking the suspected kidnappers to contact them.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven’t heard anything directly,” he said in the video. “We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first, we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”
Nancy Guthrie is missing in Tucson, Arizona, and is considered a ‘vulnerable adult’ (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
The new message from Guthrie’s family comes just one day after President Donald Trump told reporters that “some answers” were possibly coming regarding the suspected kidnapping.
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“We have some clues that I think are very strong, and I think we could have some answers coming up fairly soon,” Trump said.
He did not provide further details.
On Tuesday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department acknowledged reports that there was a ransom note sent to news outlets making demands for Nancy Guthrie’s release, and noted that it was “following all leads.”
The sheriff, Chris Nanos, told CBS News on Monday that he believes Nancy Guthrie was abducted. Bloodstains, confirmed to belong to Nancy Guthrie, were located outside her home in the Tucson, Arizona area.
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“I believe she was abducted, yes,” Nanos said. “She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly.”
According to Sky Sports News, officials felt Friday’s fixture would be too big to miss and believe his strike is harming the image of the Saudi Pro League (SPL).
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It is further reported the five-time Ballon d’Or winner feels his side are not being backed financially as much as their title rivals Al Hilal.
Both clubs are owned by The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia‘s sovereign wealth fund.
Al Nassr recorded their second successive victory without Ronaldo, beating Al Ittihad by 2-0 thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and Angelo Gabriel.
They now lie second in the SPL, one point behind Al Hilal.
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Ronaldo is earning a reported £500,000 a day in the Middle East and has 18 months remaining on his deal.
Image: Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Pic: Reuters
The Saudi Pro League had publicly warned the ex-Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star before the game.
‘No individual determines decisions beyond their club’
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A spokesperson for the SPL said: “The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules.
“Clubs have their own boards, their own executives and their own football leadership. Decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. That framework applies equally across the league.
“Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition. Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. But no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club.”
They added: “Recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence clearly. One club strengthened in a particular way. Another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions, taken within approved financial parameters.
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“The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four, the title race is very much alive. That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended.
“The focus remains on football – on the pitch, where it belongs – and on maintaining a credible, competitive competition for players and fans.”
Other flood alerts have been issued across the county
A flood warning has been issued in Peterborough, with other alerts in place across Cambridgeshire. Some places in the fllod alerts areas could experience flooding, and those within the flood warning zone are being told to “act now”, according to GOV.UK.
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A flood warning has been issued today (February 7) for North Bank Road alongside the River Nene, east of Peterborough and west of Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice. Further rainfall is forecast today and tomorrow, and river levels will remain high.
The site says that during periods of high tide, the River Nene will be unable to discharge into the sea, resulting in tide lock conditions. This is likely to lead to localised flooding of the North Bank Road, between Peterborough and Rings End.
The GOV.UK flood alert page says: “Whilst this Flood Warning is in force, the Local Authority will close North Bank Road. Diversionary routes have been put in place and further updates will be available through local media. We are closely monitoring the situation. Refer to Local Authority website for road closures.”
Less severe flood alerts will affect the following areas, according to GOV.UK.
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Alconbury Brook
Areas most at risk are around Alconbury Brook at Hamerton, The Alconburys, Little Stukeley and Brampton. You are advised to move cars out of these flood risk areas.
Ellington Brook
Areas most at risk are around Ellington Brook at Spaldwick, Ellington and Brampton. Take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water.
Hundred Foot Washes
Higher river levels could lead to flooding. As of 7:30am, the causeway at Sutton Gault has around 21cm of water on the road.
Lower River Cam
Areas most at risk of flooding are around the River Cam from Stapleford to Waterbeach. Rising river levels could lead to flooding.
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Lower Nene
River levels remain high following recent rainfall. Locations most affected will be low lying land and roads near rivers. Take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water.
Upper River Cam
Rising river levels today may lead to flooding. Areas most at risk are those around the River Cam from Newport to Whittlesford including the Slades.
River Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire from Brampton to Earith
Areas most at risk are around the River Great Ouse from Brampton to Earith, including Back Brook, Hall Green Brook, Parsons Drove Drain, Swavesey Drain and Wadsbys Folly. Access to properties in Berry Lane, Godmanchester may also be affected.
Wharton Construction hopes to “breathe new life” into the former St John Church in Darlington, which closed in 2023.
Plans submitted to Darlington Borough Council detail the applicant’s bid to transform the Grade-II listed building into an “inspiring, contemporary workplace while honouring its ecclesiastical character and social history”.
How the redeveloped church building could look. (Image: Wharton Construction)
Wharton Construction said the proposed redevelopment would follow improvements at the Hippodrome Theatre, Business Central campus and the forthcoming railway station gateway.
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By creating the shared working space, the applicant hopes to “foster a thriving community hub where office tenants can collaborate by supporting growing businesses”.
The proposals include a change of use from church to office, the removal of redundant pews, the organ and associated fittings, and the introduction of a new mezzanine structure to provide additional floor area.
New lifts, ramps and stair elements are proposed to improve accessibility. All significant architectural features would be retained and celebrated, Wharton Construction said.
A planning statement adds: “The proposal represents a balanced and considered approach to heritage-led regeneration. Preserving the special architectural and historic interest of St John’s Church while enabling a viable new use that meets contemporary needs.
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“The development will secure the long-term future of the building, deliver clear social and economic benefits, and accord with both national and local planning policy, making it a positive and appropriate form of development.”
Darlington Borough Council will consider the planning application in due course.
The supermarket giant issued an urgent recall for the Red & Pink Harlequin Super Snuggly Teddy Duvet Set as it may contain metal pins originating from the manufacturing process.
This means that the duvet poses a risk of cutting users and doesn’t meet the requirement of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
In light of this, Asda is urging anyone who bought the single, double, or king duvet to ‘stop using it immediately’ and have pulled it from their shelves online and in-store.
Asda recalls ‘super snuggly’ duvet over ‘laceration risk from metal pins’ (Image: Kennedy News & Media)
The recall affects the Red and Pink Harlequin Teddy Single with the barcode number 5063089974438, Red and Pink Harlequin Teddy Double with the barcode number 5063089974445 and the Red and Pink Harlequin Teddy King with the barcode number 5063089974452.
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Shoppers who bought the duvet, which was sold between August 2025 and January 2026, are urged to return it to the store they purchased it from for a full refund.
An Asda spokesperson said: “It’s been identified that a small number of products may contain metal pins originating from the manufacturing process.
“The presence of these foreign metal components poses a risk of laceration to users.
“The product doesn’t meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, so we have taken the decision to recall the products.
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“If you’ve purchased a Red & Pink Harlequin Super Snuggly Teddy Duvet Set, please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund.
“You don’t need your receipt. The product was sold between August 2025 and January 2026.
“We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused. If you’d like any further information, please contact: Asda Customer Relations – 0330 053 0111.”
Two years on from Philip Schofield’s very public relationship with a younger colleague, he has largely kept out of the public eye.
Caroline Barry and Cally Brookes
22:44, 07 Feb 2026Updated 22:47, 07 Feb 2026
Two years on from Philip Schofield’s very public relationship with a younger colleague, he has largely kept out of the public eye. Many people have been wondering what this means for the well-known, beloved British TV star.
Schofield, now 63, stepped down from ITV after admitting that he had lied about a past relationship with a younger male colleague on This Morning, while he was still married to his wife, Stephanie Lowe.
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He had first met the individual when he was a 15 year old student at drama school. However, the affair did not start until years later. His shock exit marked a very sudden end to two years at ITV where he was host of popular shows such as This Morning, Dancing on Ice and prime time specials, as exclusively reported by the Mirror.
ITV confirmed it investigated the incident but had not found any evidence to contradict Schofield’s statements. Since then, he has not returned to UK daytime presenting.
PR expert Mayah Riaz says: “Phillip Schofield’s situation is complicated as it still makes people feel a bit uncomfortable because it sits in that grey area between a genuine wrongdoing and a very public unravelling.
“What Phillip did was wrong, but the scale of what followed became something far bigger than the original issue. The narrative stopped being about the incident and became about what he represented. He became the person the industry made an example of.”
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She added: “There are certainly people in television who have done far worse and faced far less public and professional consequence. That is where accusations of hypocrisy creep in. Phil’s case was visible, emotional and very easy for the public to understand. That made him a perfect lightning rod.”
Schofield appeared on a survival style reality programme and he gave interviews that addressed his departure – and his treatment by ITV. Despite this, reaction was mixed as some viewers were sympathetic but others were much more critical.
Riaz adds: “His appearance on the survival show and his comments about ITV did not help because they reinforced a narrative of bitterness rather than reflection.
“Audiences are surprisingly forgiving when they feel someone has truly owned their mistakes. They are far less forgiving when they feel someone is still fighting the system.”
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The MailOnline reported that Phil made £20,000 in 2024 which is a long way from his seven figure salary at ITV. Records from Fistral Productions, show it paid £3,947 for the year ending in November 2024.
Despite being active on Companies House, the Google profile claims it’s “permanently closed.” However, the company still claimed net assets of £2.1 million according to records.
Schofield has also owned property in London and Oxfordshire. After the scandal, he stayed at his home in Cornwall which was bought through Fistral Properties – which is a joint company established in 2019. The property had a cosy living room which can be seen in the promotional videos and photos for Philips’ book, ‘Life’s What you make it.’
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Schofield and his former wife have two daughters together, Molly and Rube Lowe. the family are still very close knit and both daughters have expressed support for him.
Molly Schofield told an interviewer on Channel 5 that: “When my dad came out, it was… very hard for me, it was very hard for the entire family – mainly my mum, of course – everything was turned upside down.
“But we talked through it, and over time it’s got easier. You know, my mum, my sister (Ruby), we’re all the same, we will always continue to support him no matter what,” she added.
The presenter had support from his close friend, nurse Joshua Luke Sharman. The two were pictured leaving London’s LGBTQ dedicated cinema, Arzner Bar & Cafe in Bermondsey at 7pm and shared a kiss as they left in August 2025.
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His former co-presenter Holly Willoughby also experienced fallout – although it was very different. Audiences were unsure what she knew and when.
Riaz explained: “She was absolutely collateral damage at the start. She was placed in an impossible position where any reaction was going to be criticised. Silence looked complicit, speaking out looked disloyal. That is a PR nightmare no one trains you for.”
“Her brand was built on warmth, relatability and trust. Once viewers started questioning what she knew and when, that emotional connection weakened. TV audiences are instinctive. If they feel something is off, they drift away quietly rather than loudly.”
The two have not public reconciled since the fallout from the controversy. Sources say that Holly is now ready to face her former co-star – three years on from the scandal.
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“Holly is taking hold of life and facing her demons,” an insider told Heat magazine. “Phillip is one of those, so instead of burying him she will face him. She’s told pals if he wants to talk, she’s prepared to listen.
“Phil has reached out to Holly multiple times. He made several attempts to send her messages via mutual friends, but most fell on deaf ears. Holly wasn’t in a place to receive them.”
Three Northern Irish towns and cities have been named in the top 5 ‘most welcoming places in the UK’.
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The new data comes from travel site Booking.com’s 14th annual Traveller Review Awards. The awards are based on more than 370 million verified reviews from travellers worldwide.
The awards celebrate destinations where guests feel genuinely cared for, with personal touches, warm interactions, and hosts who go the extra mile to make trips memorable.
This year, Newry was crowned the second most welcoming city in the UK behind Harrogate in Yorkshire, followed closely behind by Enniskillen in fourth and Portstewart in fifth.
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UK’s Top Most Welcoming Cities 2026 are:
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Newry
Broadway, Worcestershire
Enniskillen
Portstewart
Wells, Somerset
Dornoch, Highlands
Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
James Waters, Chief Business Officer at Booking.com said: “From welcoming hosts who go above and beyond for guest stays to expert taxi drivers sharing ‘local-only’ tips, these personal touches can make a trip truly special for travellers
“The Traveller Review Awards continue to shine a well-deserved spotlight on our partners who help create lifelong memories for travellers. It’s one of our ways of saying ‘thank you’ from all of us at Booking.com and the hundreds of millions of travellers around the world.”
The father of a teenager killed in a crash on a quiet country lane has spoken of his family’s grief as they campaign for changes to driving laws.
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Max Greenhouse, 17, died after the car he was travelling in left the road and crashed into a farm building on Fir Tree Lane in Aughton, Lancashire, shortly after 9pm on December 11, 2024. He had been a passenger in a Vauxhall Corsa with three friends.
Despite being rushed to hospital with serious injuries, he d
ied a short time later. Fourteen months on, Max’s parents, Andy and Ally Greenhouse, continue to campaign in his memory.
Speaking about the anniversary of his son’s death, Andy, 53, said the first year had been especially difficult. He said: “Last year was really raw.
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“The anniversary was difficult, we ended up going out for the day and going for a big walk, we just tried to keep ourselves busy doing that. It was even more difficult because we knew the police were working on charging someone but we got a year down the line and we didn’t know if there was going to be anyone in court over this.”
Regarding his grief, he said: “You go through waves of it. I’ll have bad days and pick myself up, then Ally and then the kids. We just pick each other up at different times. Our energy levels are just empty.”
In a interview with the Liverpool Echo, Andy and Ally explained how Max developed a love for music, turning his hand to DJing. This proved to be his passion, which he practiced alongside his joinery course at Southport College. The former Deyes High School pupil was determined to make it as a DJ.
Alongside his passion for music and his busy social life, Max was a lifelong Liverpool FC fan and after his death a banner was draped on the front of the Kop at Anfield as Liverpool drew against Manchester United in January last year. The entire stadium burst into applause before an emotional rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone was sung.
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Andy opened up on the struggles the family have faced just leaving their home. When the heartbroken parents last spoke, it was in their home in Lydiate where Max had grown up. But since, they have moved further afield to Haskayne in West Lancashire.
Andy said: “You feel more anxious and not great in social situations in case people ask questions. People have good intentions but you still feel nervous. We don’t go back to Maghull or Lydiate, we don’t go shopping round there, we go out of the area to do things like that because we don’t want to go over it again.”
Ally and Andy are now backing a campaign for graduated driving licences (GDLs). Not only that, the family are encouraging law changes around how many hours learner drivers must log behind the wheel before passing their test in a bid to make the roads safer.
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Max was learning to drive when he was killed, preparing to start lessons after being out in the car with his dad on several occasions, with his parents keen to ensure he was not rushed into driving. The initiative would see restrictions placed on new drivers who have recently passed their practical driving test. It would allow drivers to be gradually given privileges drivers have.
Following a year of campaigning under the name Max’s Mission, blue ribbons in Max’s memory appeared across not just the North West but even across Europe when friends and family travelled out of the country.
Andy, along with family and friends, will be making their way through Liverpool city centre today (February 7) where they will remember Max and campaign urge people to sign their petition.
They will attend 17 landmarks where they will spend 17 minutes at each with a chair Max built during his joinery course. Andy said: “As a group, we want to keep raising awareness.
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“We’re doing this because we don’t want any more empty chairs, we don’t want people to go through what we have. We’re going to spend 17 minutes at each landmark and get people to sign the petition.”
The route will see them travel from Central Station through the city centre, stopping at the Philharmonic and St Luke’s Bombed Out Church before heading to the Liver Building and ending at the Liverpool FC shop in Liverpool One. The full route is:
It was announced last month Northern Ireland will be introducing a a GDL scheme. The reforms include a mandatory minimum six-month learning period, night-time passenger restrictions (11 pm-6am) for new drivers, and two-year R-plate display requirements.
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When asked what it would mean to have the legislation implemented in England, Andy said: “When people say it means the world to them – for us it would mean that Max’s passing wasn’t for nothing if something good can come from it. If we can prevent any future deaths, that’s what matters.
“We would never want for someone to go through what we have been through. We have a strong group around us but some people go through this alone. It would mean something has come out of this, something good and positive.”
