​North Yorkshire Council officers, residents, and councillors disagreed over a proposed harbour strategy for Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey at a meeting of the coastal area committee on Monday (March 2).

​​Scarborough Harbour, Whitby Harbour, and Filey Coble Landing are the focus of North Yorkshire Council’s harbours strategy that aims to set out how they will develop from now until 2036.

​At the meeting, residents suggested that the almost 30-page policy was “nothing but a desktop study” while officers defended the scheme and highlighted that it was a draft, and members of the public could contribute as part of the ongoing consultation.

​Councillors also raised concerns about plans for the development of Scarborough’s West Pier and pressed the authority to commit to a boat lift on the ageing pier.

​Chris Bourne, the head of harbours and coastal infrastructure, said the boat lift was dependent on the delivery of the West Pier redevelopment scheme, as a boat lift “cannot travel between the gap in the current buildings”.

​He added that some funding had been secured for the boat lift, including from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, and costings have been completed for structural improvements.

​It was also suggested that North Yorkshire Council could apply for money from the Government’s new Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF), which will invest £360 million into fishing and seafood businesses and coastal communities across the UK.

​Speaking at the meeting, local businessman James Corrigan said: “I would like to understand the proposed measures for accommodating the crew transfer vessels (CTV) and dozens of guard vessels in connection with the servicing and maintenance of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, to which our port is the closest located.”

​Mr Bourne, head of harbours and coastal infrastructure, replied that “there are a number of proposals in relation to CTV and guard vessels in the draft strategy that are included in the strategic action plans”.

​He said: “These include improving bridge depth, extending the West Pier, and exploring the provision of a bridge.

​“The draft harbour strategy has been available as a public document since January 8, and the website enables any member of the public to download the strategy and provide feedback and comments on the strategy through the website.”

​Cllr Neil Swannick, who represents Whitby Streonshalh, questioned the level of consultation carried out on the strategy to date.

“It says in the report that more members have been part of developing the strategy, but I’d like to put on the public record that I have played no part in this, apart from when [officers] brought earlier drafts for this committee,” he told the meeting.

​Officers said that “a mistake has been made in the past” in relation to the absence of councillors from certain harbour users’ groups and that “this will be corrected”.

​​The draft strategy and the public consultation, which is open until March 22, can be accessed on the council’s website here: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/consultations-and-engagement/current-consultations/draft-harbours-strategy-consultation.

​The purpose of the strategy is to provide a “working framework to ensure harbour users, local communities and key stakeholders know what they can expect regarding development of the harbours over the next 10 years, and to generate a partnership approach to the development of the harbour”.

​​The harbours in Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey have faced a period of decline due to structural issues, a lack of investment and strategy, environmental challenges, and the decline of the fishing industry, the council said.

​

​The strategy’s aim is to “fulfil the potential of Scarborough and Whitby Harbours and Filey Coble Landing, by providing safe, and sustainable facilities, which celebrate their rich maritime heritage and embrace innovation and economic growth”.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has been less ruthless among the forwards.

England’s line-out wobbled badly against the Irish, however, and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, another to be withdrawn before the interval, pays the price with Jamie George coming back into the starting line-up.

Alex Coles partners Maro Itoje in the second row, while Henry Pollock returns to the bench with Guy Pepper returning to partner Tom Curry and Ben Earl in the back row.

Lock Ollie Chessum drops to the bench.

England have sacrificed many of the faces and combinations that fuelled a year-long 12-match winning run, but Borthwick will hope that loss of continuity will be more than compensated for by the energy, form and enthusiasm brought by his new picks.

Atkinson and Murley were among a clutch of players who returned to their clubs last weekend to prove their fitness and form.

After dispatching Wales comfortably in the opening round, England’s performances have taken a sharp downward turn, with losses to Scotland and Ireland by 11 and 21 points respectively.

They have never lost to Italy in 32 previous meetings, but the Azzurri’s performances have been in stark contrast to their opponents.

Italy beat Scotland in their opener and pushed Ireland and France hard in defeat. While they have lost mercurial full-back Ange Capuozzo to injury, centre Ignacio Brex has returned to the set-up after missing the past two games for personal reasons.

Throughout his political career, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has steered his country along two pillars of foreign policy: an ironclad partnership with the United States and a relentless diplomatic and covert battle against the rulers of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Now, with Israel and the U.S. in a joint war against Iran’s leadership, those two strategic paths risk clashing with each other. By enlisting the U.S. in what he views as Israel’s existential battle against Iran, Netanyahu is taking a gamble that could open up the relationship to the strain of a war with far-reaching consequences.

To be sure, persuading U.S. President Donald Trump to join the war was a coup for Netanyahu and highlights the strong ties between the two leaders. If they are successful, they could quickly realize their shared goal of toppling the Iranian government and spare the region a protracted conflict.

But if the war drags on, the two allies’ ties could again be tested.

“A large part of the American public will view it as the Israeli tail wagging the American dog and that it is dragging the United States to a war in the Middle East that isn’t theirs,” said Ofer Shelah, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based think tank. The drop in public support that might unleash “will be very harmful for Israel in the medium and long term,” he said.

But, he added, in a nod to the Israeli leader’s political ambitions: “Netanyahu is not interested in the medium and long term.”

US public opinion has been evolving

For Netanyahu, successfully persuading Trump to strike Iran together is the apex of decades of proximity between the Israeli leader and Washington. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, speaks flawless English after having spent part of his youth in the U.S. and has always portrayed himself as Israel’s bridge to America.

Although he boasts about his tight relationships with multiple American presidents and members of Congress, Netanyahu over the past two years has seen support for Israel among the American public drop. According to Gallup polling, American sympathies in the Middle East have shifted dramatically toward the Palestinians.

That shift in sentiment has been driven in large part by Democrats. But some Republicans, and even Trump’s own backers, have been more outspoken against the diplomatic and financial support the U.S. has continued to grant Israel throughout the past two and a half years, when it has been embroiled in a war on multiple fronts sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. The devastating images from the war in Gaza deepened Israel’s international isolation.

With a new war against Iran — the second in less than a year — Netanyahu is tackling an enemy that he and many Israelis view as an existential threat, citing its support for anti-Israeli militias across the region, its ballistic missile arsenal, and its nuclear program. He has led the crusade against Iran on the world stage for much of his career.

Netanyahu said Sunday in a statement that the U.S. involvement “allows us to do what I have been hoping to do for 40 years — to deliver a crushing blow to the terror regime.” Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.

The conflict could spiral

Days into the war, Israel and the U.S. military appear to be working hand in glove to strike targets — from the initial attack that killed top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to assaults that allowed the forces free rein in Iranian skies.

But the conflict has already set off aftershocks that could reverberate in the American heartland. At least six U.S. troops have been killed. Travel was disrupted across the region, leaving hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded. Oil prices surged, raising the prospect of costlier gasoline for U.S. drivers as well as increased prices for other goods at a time when people have been stung by a rising cost of living.

Questions remain about the direction and aim of the war. It’s unclear whether the air power will be enough to topple Iran’s leadership, who or what should replace that leadership, and what role Israel or the U.S. will have in either. Every day presents new potential land mines.

“Many people will blame Israel if things go badly wrong,” wrote Nadav Eyal, a commentator with the Israeli Yediot Ahronoth daily newspaper. “Israel cannot afford to lose the American public’s support under any circumstances. That is more important than striking any individual military facility.”

Still, Aaron David Miller, who served as an adviser on Middle East issues to Democratic and Republican administrations over two decades, said that Netanyahu has little to lose from the war.

With elections scheduled for the fall, Netanyahu can use the war in Iran to divert attention away from the failures of the Oct. 7 attacks, the worst in Israel’s history. Instead, Netanyahu can set himself up as a brave wartime leader who fulfilled a pledge he has made much of his life to confront Iran.

He can say he did so with support from the American president, who Miller said can pull the brakes on the war whenever he pleases.

“If Trump feels as if it’s going south, he’ll find a way to de-escalate,” he said, “and his good friend Benjamin Netanyahu will follow.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is set to testify Tuesday in the Senate, her first congressional appearance since the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis galvanized widespread opposition to how the Trump administration was executing its mass deportation agenda.

Noem’s appearance in front of the Judiciary Committee also comes on the heels of a weekend shooting at a bar in Texas that is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism, leading to concerns that the escalating conflict in Iran could have repercussions for security in the U.S.

Her department’s immigration tactics triggered a clash in Congress over its routine funding, which remains unresolved, although a spending bill passed last year granted it a significant infusion of cash for the Republican administration’s mass deportation policy.

Noem last appeared in Congress in December. But since then, President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda and its enforcement by Noem’s department have met fierce resistance in Minnesota, culminating in the deaths of two protesters, both U.S. citizens, at the hands of federal immigration officers.

In what was initially billed as an effort to root out fraud in Minnesota, Homeland Security eventually sent hundreds of officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection to the state. They were met by protesters who organized marches, patrolled neighborhoods for ICE activity with whistles and ferried food to immigrants too afraid to leave their homes.

Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer on Jan. 7, setting off intense protests by Minnesota politicians and residents pushing for Homeland Security to end its operation in the state. Then on Jan. 24, Customs and Border Protection officers opened fire on another Minnesota resident, Alex Pretti, who had been filming enforcement operations.

Those deaths led to cries for accountability and transparency. Noem, whose initial comments portrayed both Good and Pretti as the aggressors, has come under withering criticism by Democrats and even some Republicans, who have called for her to resign.

After public outrage over the deaths, Trump sent border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to take control of operations on the ground there. Homan has since announced a drawdown of the ICE and CBP officers who had been sent to Minnesota to carry out what had been dubbed Operation Metro Surge, although he’s been adamant that the president’s mass deportation agenda will continue.

Noem is expected to undergo fierce questioning from Democrats who say officers under her control have abused their power, used excessive force and violated people’s constitutional rights in carrying the Trump administration’s agenda.

“Secretary Noem is the public face for an abominable anti-immigrant crusade. Her agents continue to wreak havoc on our cities and act with unspeakable cruelty against children, immigrant families, and American citizens,” said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the committee, in a statement ahead of the hearing.

The Homeland Security Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Homeland Security has often blamed conflicts on the ground in places like Minneapolis and Chicago where it’s carrying out immigration enforcement activities as the fault of Democratic politicians who they say encourage people to oppose officers as they try to make arrests.

Noem is also slated to appear Wednesday in front of a House committee.

Put 150g self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 30g good-quality cocoa powder, 150g soft light-brown sugar, 2 tsp instant espresso powder, 175g room-temperature butter, 3 lightly beaten large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 50g melted and cooled dark chocolate into a mixer or a food processor with a pinch of salt (or use an electric hand whisk – just make sure the bowl is big enough otherwise the ingredients will fly everywhere when you start to beat them). Beat or whizz everything together until combined. The mixture should drop softly off a spoon. If it’s too stiff, add 2 tbsp milk.

Lance Corporal Joe Spencer died after a fatal gunshot to the head at the Tain Air Weapons Range.

A “misfire” by a sniper rifle could have caused the death of a tragic soldier who died after a fatal gunshot to the head while waiting to go on a firing range in the Highlands, an inquest has heard.

Lance Corporal Joe Spencer, 24, from Hampshire, was killed on November 1, 2016 when an L115A3 sniper rifle fired a round while he was taking shelter from the rain at the Tain Air Weapons Range.

Colour Sergeant Gordon Smart, of 2 Scots The Royal Regiment of Scotland, told the Winchester inquest that he was a safety supervisor on the day of the horror incident.

He said L/Cpl Spencer was sheltering from the rain in an Iso shipping container with colleagues as they waited to go back on to the firing range.

Sgt Smart explained that he heard shouts of “man down” and ran to the shelter where he found L/Cpl Spencer’s body lying on the floor with a rifle underneath him.

He said one of the soldiers, Christopher Leveridge, told him it was his “fault” because he had bumped into him.

He said: “Everyone came out of the Iso, one of the students came out saying ‘That was my fault’, sounds harsh but I kind of grabbed him and he said ‘I bumped into him and then it went off’.

“He was really white, shaking, just shock, I told him it wasn’t his fault.”

Sgt Smart said that he had “speculated” to police at the time that a rifle could discharge a round when knocked if a round had “misfired” earlier.

He explained that a “misfire” meant that the firing pin had not struck the round properly, leaving the round in the chamber, and said that if the rifle was knocked in these circumstances a round could be fired without the trigger being pulled.

He said that a “misfire” where a round had not been discharged had happened “six or seven times” on the range but the round was then ejected from the chamber by the soldier before carrying on with the exercise.

Sgt Smart added that any misfired round should have been ejected from the chamber by a soldier coming off the range as they should carry out an “unload drill” twice to ensure no bullets remained in the rifle.

Sheriff Gary Aitken ruled in a fatal accident inquiry released in December 2024 that the incident was partly due to L/Cpl Spencer’s “utterly inexplicable failure” to unload his rifle properly following a live fire exercise.

The sheriff added that his death could have been avoided if he had not been “holding his rifle vertically in close proximity to his body during the undemanded discharge”.

Sheriff Aitken also pointed to failures in the way the training course had been delivered, saying that if the “correct words of command to carry out the unload drill” had been given, the incident could have been avoided.

The inquest, being heard by a jury of five women and six men, continues.

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Talking to kids about sensitive subjects like war can be difficult but it’s worth doing so if they are at risk of hearing about it elsewhere

As tensions in the Middle East intensify, so too do concerns about the situation. The US and Israel have conducted airstrikes in Iran, and the conflict is spreading into neighbouring nations, with missiles launched at a British airbase in Cyprus.

For those caught up in the violence and attacks, it’s unimaginable – and for those watching from a distance, the feelings of fear and helplessness can be overpowering. For children, who have a more limited understanding of what’s happening, this can be even more frightening.

Hearing terms like ‘bombing’ and ‘World War Three’ without fully grasping what’s occurring is concerning for everyone, and it doesn’t pass our little ones by. An expert has offered her input on the situation and how to speak about it with youngsters.

Hypnotherapist, psychotherapist and mentor, Tania Taylor said: “Children are like sponges; they’re absorbing everything. Whether it’s on the news, someone talking to the shop checkout lady, parents chatting in the playground, or a TikTok video, much of what they are hearing, especially once at school, is out of your control.

“And sometimes, external factors (for example, Kevin in the playground telling everyone that World War Three is starting and we’re all going to die) can provoke more of a fear response.” Even very young children may be more conscious of what war is than we might realise.

Tania says: “Many children have been exposed to adults or older siblings playing war-type computer games or watching YouTube influencers play such games on their own or a friend’s mobile phone or tablet. So, terms such as ‘bombing’ might not be as unfamiliar to our children as we might think.”

So, it’s worth contemplating your choice of words around younger children. But what’s the best way to explain the current situation to the children in your life? And how can you alleviate any worries whilst also handling your own?

How to approach the subject

As parents and carers, we might feel our role is to provide them with all the information and keep them up to date. However, this method can occasionally leave youngsters feeling overwhelmed, Tania explains.

She says: “Children tend to be really good at spontaneous questioning. If they want to know something, they’ll ask.”

But if they do enquire, or you believe they require some explanation or comfort, it’s crucial to consider how you’re feeling first.

Tania advises: “First of all, you need to consider your own state of mind in relation to what is going on and how much information you would personally like to give your child.

“This is important as even if you are led by your child’s questioning, you begin with at least some self-awareness of how you are feeling and where you want to go with it.

“If you are particularly anxious about it all, it may be that you choose to wait until a time when you’re feeling less anxious to talk about it. Or perhaps having a discussion with another important adult in your child’s life, who can talk to your child instead, like a teacher or grandparent.”

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Tania proposes that you might want to begin with a general question, such as ‘have you learned about wars at school?’, and then pay attention to your child’s answer.

She added: “What you’re doing here is enabling your child an opportunity to talk about something which they may not realise they can talk about.

“If your child isn’t interested, they’ll tell you so, and there’s no need to push the conversation. If they go on to hear something at school, they’ll know you know about it, and be more likely to approach you with any questions.”

It’s always wise to let children know that if they have any queries, they can come to you.

What can parents do and say to explain but not frighten?

Discussing the distance between the UK and ongoing events can be useful, Tania suggests.

She explains: “As much as we don’t want to normalise war, it is something that has been happening at varying points across the globe for the whole of your child’s life. Knowing this can help to reassure your child that the chance they will be directly impacted is quite minimal.

“Although they may want to talk to you about the people who are directly impacted. Keep language age-appropriate and be led by your child.

“Taking action, such as getting in touch with a charity organisation that may accept shoebox-type gifts, is a really good way of showing your child that although this is happening far away, there are still small actions we can take to give our support.”

Active listening

Tania also recommends a technique called ‘active listening’, which parents can use if their child is interested and wants to know more.

She says: “What you are doing here is paying full attention to your child throughout the entire conversation, disregarding distractions, and concentrating solely on listening to your child’s words.

“Listen to their queries, and don’t provide more information than they’re asking for. We humans have a tendency to overshare, which isn’t necessarily beneficial in this situation.”

And if you’re unsure of all the answers to their questions, don’t hesitate to admit that you don’t know.

Tania further advises: “Perhaps you can spend time searching for information together, or maybe you feel more at ease saying you’ll find out and inform them later.”

Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin has been rebuked online after he appeared on Fox News Monday and mused on the “smell of war,” despite never having served in the military himself.

Mullin, a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, was discussing the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran when he channelled his inner Lt. Col. Kilgore from Apocalypse Now (1979), who famously relished “the smell of napalm in the morning.”

“War is ugly,” the senator declared authoritatively. “It smells bad. If anybody has ever been there and been able to smell the war that’s happening around you and taste it and fill it in your nostrils and hear it, it’s something that you’ll never forget.

“And it’s ugly. And fortunately, you have President [Pete] Hegseth. Sorry, Secretary Hegseth… That has got a great relationship with President [Donald] Trump and President Hegseth’s been there and he’s done that.”

Despite accidentally elevating the defense secretary to the presidency twice, it was Mullin presuming to speak for U.S. soldiers that sparked uproar.

open image in gallery

Veteran and activist Charlotte Clymer reposted a clip of his comments on X (Twitter) and told the senator, “Sir, you were 24 on 9/11. You were 25 when the U.S. illegally invaded Iraq. You were 28 when I enlisted after high school.

“You didn’t serve. You were an able-bodied young man who chose to inherit your daddy’s business instead of serving. You need to shut your f***ing mouth.”

The Angry Staffer account responded to the same clip with the comment: “Periodic reminder that Mullin was a rancher before he was elected to the Senate. He has no idea what war looks, smells, or tastes like. But he’s fine with sending your kids to die for it.”

Also reacting angrily was the campaign group VoteVets, which said: “Sen. Mullin probably thinks war smells like Mountain Dew, couch cushions, and control sweat because Call of Duty is the closest he’s ever been to war.”

A number of other commentators unkindly shared a photograph of Mullin allegedly attempting to hide from the would-be insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, mocking his record of “brave service.”

Trump also angered some veterans over the weekend over his apparently flippant attitude towards the first U.S. troops killed in the skirmishes, which he described as “the way it is,” leading to criticism from Democrats like Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Reps. Jason Crew and Pat Ryan, who found the phrase callous.

In a separate appearance on Fox Business Monday, Mullin fumbled again when he confused Iran with Iraq.

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“It’s up to the Iraqi people or, I’m sorry, the Iranian people to choose their next go… their next leader,” he said.

“It’s up to them to rise up and kick this regime out of place. If they do not, then they will be with a different leader, but the same regime.”

The senator was echoing Trump’s call for the Iranian public to rise up and overthrow their oppressive government, saying the airstrikes represented a unique opportunity that might not come again.

Mullin has previously offered a somewhat inconsistent stance on Iran, telling CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in January: “Even though we’re not into regime change… If that leadership is going to kill their own people, the president said we’ll come to your rescue.”

A month later, he told the same network: “If it takes us removing the ayatollah from keeping the nuclear program from moving forward, then that’s not off the table, but we would prefer diplomacy.”

Mullin last week attracted attention for sparring with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at a confirmation hearing for Trump’s nominee for surgeon-general, Dr. Casey Means.

The GOP member was incensed when the veteran leftist teased him for making long-winded remarks about the importance of scientific inquiry.

A number of services between Manchester and destinations across the Middle East have been affected as airlines respond to the developing situation in the region.

Passengers are being urged to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport.

In a statement on its website, Manchester Airport said: “We advise passengers to check the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

“Passengers currently abroad who are unable to travel home should contact their airline for guidance on the support and assistance available.

“Passengers travelling to the Middle East area are advised to regularly check with their airline before leaving for the airport.”

The airport said many passengers travelling between the UK and the Middle East are currently facing disruption and stressed that airlines are expected to minimise the impact by keeping customers informed and providing appropriate support.

What are your rights if your flight is cancelled?

According to Manchester Airport, under UK passenger rights legislation, different rules apply depending on where you are travelling from and which airline is operating the flight.

All flights leaving the UK are covered by UK passenger rights laws.

This means airlines must either, get you to your destination, including arranging an alternative flight (known as re-routing), or provide a refund if you no longer wish to travel.

If you choose not to travel after your flight is cancelled, the airline must provide a refund within seven days.

If you still wish to travel, your airline is legally required to arrange an alternative flight at the earliest opportunity or at a later date that suits you, subject to availability.

While you wait, the airline must provide care appropriate to the delay, including meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation if necessary.

However, the airport warned that during periods of major disruption, particularly if airports close at short notice, re-routing may be challenging and delays in getting passengers home are possible.

If an airline fails to offer suitable care or replacement flights, passengers are advised to keep receipts for reasonable expenses and seek reimbursement.

Passengers flying into the UK on UK or EU carriers are also covered by similar protections. However, different rights may apply if the flight is operated by a non-UK or non-EU airline, such as some services from Dubai or Doha.

Travellers are advised to check directly with their airline.

Passengers who booked a package holiday may have additional protections.

If cancellations or major changes mean the original package cannot be provided, travel companies must offer a suitable alternative or a full refund.

Will passengers receive compensation?

Although airlines can be required to pay fixed compensation in some cases, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has indicated that disruption directly caused by the situation in the Middle East is likely to be classed as “extraordinary circumstances”.

In such cases, passengers are unlikely to be entitled to fixed sum compensation.

However, this does not affect their right to refunds, re-routing or care.

The CAA said its interpretation of “extraordinary circumstances” is guidance only and that individual cases depend on specific facts.

Passengers who disagree with an airline’s decision can still pursue a claim, including through the courts.

Manchester Airport is continuing to advise passengers to check Foreign Office travel guidance and confirm their flight status with their airline before travelling.

Travellers can view the latest government advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.