The welcome news of a ceasefire in the Israeli-US war against Iran, for a two week period to open trade through the Persian Gulf while Iran’s regime reels from an onslaught that Donald Trump threatened would erase a civilization, suits one man – Vladimir Putin.

The rest of the world has been left reeling and impoverished by an illegal conflict.

Iran’s military capacity may have been mangled and its theocratic leadership left cowering in bunkers . But it is the reputation of the United States that has been badly, probably irreparable, mauled.

America is weaker now than it has ever been and the ceasefire is a sign that Trump wants to get out of the Iran mess while that damage is “probable” and not certain.

Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing indictments at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, has agreed to hold off on further bombing on Iran, for now.

From his perspective the war in Iran is not over. Israel’s far right government, which includes ministers who have made genocidal statements against the Palestinians of Gaza, wants to see the end of the Tehran regime and the rule of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The IRGC has survived. The ayatollah’s remain in charge. And Iran’s insurgent-style “mosaic defence” system which delegates autonomy to low-level commanders, means its plans to survive political decapitation have worked.

But Israel and the US have certainly set back Iran’s missile programme. Its pre-war capacity revealed by attacks on Israel including with missiles delivering cluster bombs.

Netanyahu was able to convince Trump to join his war on Iran because, he claimed, that Tehran was weeks away from producing a nuclear weapon. That statement was a lie in February. Trump claimed that Iran’s nuclear capacity had been “obliterated” last summer. Still, it’s more obliterated now.

But Israel’s ultraviolet response to the October 7 atrocities committed by Hamas-led militants and others out of Gaza in 2023, with the killing of upwards of 70,000 people in the enclave and the total destruction of infrastructure for 2.2 million people there, shows that Israel believes it is safer to fight a forever war than seek peace.

So Israel has attacked Hezbollah, the vast Lebanese militia that is backed by Iran, in Lebanon. Hezbollah, the “Party of God” has no reason to exist in Lebanon except to fight Israel.

The Israel Defence Forces are forcing the population of southern Lebanon to flee their homes and are likely to return to a full time occupation of the south of the country. That will guarantee Hezbollah’s future raison d’etre.

Meanwhile Israel’s parliament has brought back the death penalty – for Palestinians who kill Jews. on the Israeli-occupied West Bank Palestinians are tried by Israeli military courts which have a conviction rate of about 99 per cent.

Which means that those accused of murder will almost certainly hang – a form of jurisprudence associated with despots not a country that pretends to be a democracy. (A democracy does not deny political rights or citizenship to five million people it has ruled for between 59 and 78 years based on their ethnicity).

America’s modern standing in the world reached it height in the single term administration of a Republican president, George HW Bush, Bush Senior.

He shepherded the world through the end of the Soviet Union, German reunification, the Start 1 nuclear treaty, built the coalition to kick Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait after the Iraqi dictator’s invasion, began the process that brought the North America Free Trade Area to the US and Mexico, disposed Manuel Noriega in Panama.

He also co-hosted, with Mikhail Gorbachov, the then Soviet leader, the Madrid Conference when he used US pressure to bring Arabs and Israelis to talks for the first time insisting that: “The time has come to put an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict”.

This led to the now dead peace Oslo process during which hope for a two-state solution for peaceful Israelis and Palestinians first bloomed then withered over decades.

Above all he led a multinational United Nations sanctioned invasion of an entirely Muslim nation, Somalia, that put an end to the deliberate starvation of hundreds of thousands of people to death for profit by local warlords. It was a mission of noble intent that succeeded and which, by the way, the UK did not take part in on any level.

Since that Bush, the US reputation for trying to make the world a better more democratic place has declined through the Iraq war debacle and the Afghan fiasco but under Trump it has taken a cliff dive.

Trump has invaded Venezuela and has boasted he did so for profit. He has backed Netanyahu in Gaza and even endorsed proposal to forcible remove most of the population to third countries in an act that would be a crime against humanity.

On Iran he threatened that “A whole civilization will die tonight” and his “secretary of war” has issued orders that are outright incitements to war crimes.

“We will keep pressing we will keep pushing, keep advancing. No quarter, no mercy, for our enemies,” said Pete Hegseth as the Iranian campaign got underway.

Key to proving genocide is malice aforethought – a plan, not an outcome, is key to the charge. Trump and Hegseth demonstrated the intent to erase a civilization and order troops to violate the Laws of War (“no quarter” means take no prisoners nor any surrender). That means they’re open to charges of war crimes and worse.

All this is clear to America’s Nato allies who are now bracing for the time when Trump leaves the organization. Many may feel that their nations are far better off standing apart from the madness that has gripped the Oval Office.

America’s Gulf allies now see Washington as a liability. They’re under fire because they have enormous US military bases on their turf across the Persian, or Arabian, Gulf from Iran and whatever the outcome of the ceasefire they won’t be thanking Trump for starting a war in their manor.

Which leaves Russia. An initial oil price hike bonanza netted the Kremlin an extra $7-10 billion in revenues. By now that figure is likely to be around $15-25 billion by my calculations.

Putin sees the biggest threat to him to be Nato. His invasion of Ukraine backfired when Finland and Sweden joined the alliance.

Now he’s sitting in the Kremlin relishing the threats trump has made to invade Canada and Greenland (both part of Nato) and to quit the alliance because its members see no point to his war in Iran.

The ceasefire in Iran offers a respite, but not a cure for the end of reason.

Two years ago, Luc Davies’ family were watching him die. Now an Aberdare family are speaking out about a lifechanging diagnosis.

What was meant to be a relaxing summer escape quickly became something far more serious for one Aberdare family. In a matter of days, a holiday filled with anticipation gave way to a race against time after 10-year-old Luc became critically ill far from home.

At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Like many children at the end of a long school year, Luc Davies appeared tired. He had lost some weight, but it was easy to put that down to an expected growth spurt. The warmer weather explained his constant thirst, and the extra trips to the toilet barely raised concern.

Looking back now, the signs were all there. But at the time, they were easy to miss. “We should have seen the warnings. Luc was almost textbook as his ability to make insulin began to fade,” his family said. “But we had no idea about diabetes and missed every sign.” Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter

Two years ago, the family headed off on their family holiday to Koz, but within hours of stepping off the plane Luc was sick and off his food. Despite a visit to the pharmacy, they couldn’t seem to get him feeling well.

However it was a couple of evenings into the holiday, when things took a turn for the worst. According to Luc’s family, he couldn’t focus, struggled to breathe, and started seeing things. “We knew we had to act but it was the middle of the night, in a hotel, in a strange place,” they said.

He was carried to reception where a kind taxi driver agreed to take the young boy to a hospital. Those moments proved to be critical, as Luc’s father recalled sitting in the vehicle: “I held him in my arms, watching him die.”

The situation quickly escalated, and it became clear that Luc’s condition was far more serious than anyone had imagined. “The air force was called, and he was flown on a military aircraft to Crete because his blood glucose levels were off the scale,” his family said.

“We were told they didn’t think he would survive the journey to Athens. He was in DKA, and it was the first time our family had ever heard the term diabetic.

“We were separated as he was taken alone to an ICU unit. It was a fight, but over the next 24 hours they managed to stabilise his blood glucose levels and, two days later, I was finally allowed to see him. Nearly two weeks later, he was well enough to leave hospital and fly home.”

Reflecting on those early warning signs, his family now recognises how easily they were overlooked. “If only we had known the signs,” they said.

“He was tired… but it was the end of a busy summer term and we thought he was just exhausted from all his end-of-term activities. He was thin… but he was due a growth spurt and being with him every day meant we didn’t notice as the weight dropped off. He was thirsty… but it was a hot summer and drinking a lot was not unusual. He went to the toilet a lot. He even went three times during a cinema trip… but that was because he was drinking a lot.”

Two years on, life looks very different – but also, in many ways, reassuringly normal. Luc is now managing Type 1 diabetes and getting on with being a young teenager.

“We are now two years in and he is living his best Type 1 diabetes life, busy in Year 7 and enjoying playing football and learning karate. We were a slower taxi ride away from losing him and we completely missed the signs his body was giving. It was a terrible time, but could have been avoided. We are so fortunate and are forever grateful for those who saved his life and care for him now.”

For healthcare professionals, stories like Luc’s are a stark reminder of how quickly Type 1 diabetes can develop – and how important it is that more people are aware of the warning signs.

Aimee Grimwood, Lead Paediatric Diabetes Nurse Specialist, shared: “When I read stories like Luc’s, my heart goes out to his whole family. They did what they could once they knew something was seriously wrong – but like so many parents, they simply had no reason to connect what they were seeing to diabetes.

“We want to keep sharing this message to help every parent, guardian, family member, friend and teacher/coach recognise the signs and symptoms of Type 1 diabetes.

“Type 1 diabetes can develop very quickly, and a child can go from seeming under the weather to being critically unwell in a matter of hours.

“If your child is unusually tired, losing weight, drinking more than normal, going to the toilet frequently or having fuller nappies, please don’t wait and see – speak to your GP or call NHS 111 Wales.”

“No family should have to go through what Luc and his family experienced, and early diagnosis really does make all the difference.”

The warning was given to Paul Smith after he admitted two charges of conveying a list A prohibited article into a prison, at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court.

Both charges relate to class C drugs, pregabalin and etizolam, which the defendant attempted to take into HMP Deerbolt, near Barnard Castle, on a visit on Saturday, August 2, last year.

Jordan Parkinson, for Smith, said there was no basis of plea and the admissions were made by the defendant “on the full facts” put forward by the prosecution.

She asked for preparation of a background report on the defendant by the Probation Service prior to him being sentenced, adding: “He’s been out of trouble for many, many years.”

Judge Richard Bennett told Smith: “You have had the good sense to plead guilty to these two matters.

Read next … more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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Bishop Auckland prison ‘drug mule’ faces ‘likely’ jail sentence

‘Entrenched drug culture’ remains at HMP Deerbolt near Barnard Castle

“You’ll receive full credit for indicating those pleas at an early stage, but you must understand the fact I’m adjourning for a report and granting you bail in the meantime should not be taken as any indication as to the likely sentence.

“It’s highly likely, if not inevitable that you will go to prison.”

The 40-year-old defendant, of Ellison Meadow, Horden, was bailed to return for sentence on Thursday, May 14.

Mr Trump told his Truth Social followers: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

YouTuber Scott Manson, known as Planes, Trains and Everything, decided to travel from Glasgow to Stornoway to sample fish and trips, taking more than 18 hours to complete the round trip

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A man journeyed 460 miles from Glasgow just to sample fish and chips. YouTuber Scott Manson admits he has embarked on some “crazy” day trips over the years, and his latest adventure was no different.

Scott set off from Glasgow at 5.30am, making his way to Stornoway to try the local fish and chips before catching a flight back home. He acknowledged it would be a “long, long day” that would see him touching down back in Glasgow at the stroke of midnight.

“Why Stornoway? Well funnily enough I was thinking of the thought process of coming up with the idea of going to Stornoway for fish and chips, but I’m glad it happened anyway,” he told viewers on his Planes, Trains and Everything channel. “I’ve never been to Stornoway before, I’ve never been to the Isle of Lewis and Harris before and I love fish and chips.”

On arriving, Scott declared the airport a “beautiful terminal building” and was surprised by how spacious it was inside. He also praised the “typical springtime weather” as he stepped off the plane into glorious sunshine and a “decidedly chilly” temperature.

Scott chose to make the two-mile trek from the airport into the town centre on foot, soaking up the stunning Stornoway beaches along the way. His route took him on a “quick trip to Tesco” to pick up “supplies” before he reached the town centre, reports Glasgow Live.

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During his visit, Scott also found himself exploring Lews Castle. The 19th century structure sits within a 250-hectare site, boasting sweeping gardens, woodlands and parklands, affectionately known to locals as the Grounds. Established in the 1850s by Sir James Matheson, the Grounds have long been recognised as one of Stornoway’s principal public parks.

Having reached the town centre at 10.45am, Scott felt it was “too early” to tuck into his fish and chips, opting instead to spend additional time wandering about.

When midday arrived, Scott splashed out £19.50 for a serving of haddock and chips at a local coffee shop. Following his meal, Scott made his way onto the ferry bound for Ullapool before pressing on to Inverness to resume his homeward journey to Glasgow.

He characterised his crossing as “a little chilly” but commended the “absolutely amazing” scenery. The content creator’s travels carried on with a coach to Inverness where he planned to catch a train back to Glasgow.

However, with the “last train of the day” already departed, he found himself resorting to “plan C” which involved boarding an Ember coach to Glasgow. He touched down back in Glasgow at 11.27pm, leaving him with less than thirty minutes to reach the airport.

Once there, Scott pondered whether the mammoth day trip had been worthwhile. He said: “A told you it was going to be a long, long day, but was it worth going to Stornoway for just fish and chips?

“Definitely not, now they were good fish and chips but it wasn’t worth the trip.”

Shay Given was quick to shut down criticism of David Raya following Arsenal’s victory over Sporting, with his fellow pundit claiming Caoimhin Kelleher was the superior goalkeeper of the two.

Raya is widely considered to have been the standout goalkeeper in the Premier League this season, producing a string of decisive performances to help the Gunners take a nine-point lead at the top.

The Gunners have shipped just 22 goals in the English top flight and the Spain international has been central to the side’s defensive rigidity, playing every single minute with only seven matches remaining of the campaign.

Mikel Arteta decided to rest Raya for two major setbacks in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup prior to Arsenal’s trip to Lisbon – and his absence was felt as the north Londoners’ quadruple hopes went up in smoke.

But the 30-year-old was restored to Arteta’s starting XI for Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night and produced three important saves to keep the scoreline level before Kai Havertz’s breakthrough in the first minute of stoppage time.

Shortly after the final whistle, Raya was handed the official Player of the Match award for his contribution in the Portuguese capital, with Havertz later declaring his team-mate ‘the best in the world’.

‘It’s unbelievable,’ the German told Amazon Prime when asked about Raya’s showing between the sticks.

‘I think still underestimated in the world of football but, for me, the last two seasons, the best ‘keeper in the world.

‘He’s outstanding, he’s saved us so many times and we’re very glad to have him.’

Arteta was also glowing with his praise, admitting Arsenal were ‘very lucky’ to have such an ‘extraordinary’ goalkeeper in their ranks.

‘He had two moments where he made two big saves. And that’s the Champions League, the Champions League is always decided in the boxes and because there’s so much quality here,’ Arteta said.

‘At the moment he’s phenomenal and extraordinary since he joined us. We are very lucky to have him.’

However, it appears Raya is still yet to completely win over all fans and pundits, with Kenny Cunningham picking out what he felt was a ‘small weakness’ in the Spaniard’s game on Premier Sports Ireland.

The ex-Republic of Ireland, Wimbledon and Birmingham defender raised eyebrows with his bold assertion that Brentford’s Kelleher was the better goalkeeper.

‘In terms shot-stopping: very good, athletic. Does he make a fair number of good quality saves? Yeah, absolutely,’ Cunninham said shortly after Arsenal’s 1-0 win.

‘Decent with the ball at his feet, yeah. I think Caoimhin Kelleher is better in terms of his ball distribution.

‘In terms of coming off his line and dominating the box, the six-yard box and beyond, and really imposing himself, I don’t think he does it often enough.

‘I think he goes into his shell a little bit when the opposition put players into the six-yard box and I don’t think he dominates. I think that’s the small weakness in his game.

‘That’s why I don’t put him up with the likes of [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, [Thibaut] Courtois… Alisson we know is on the slide a little bit, to an extent.

‘Caoimhin Kelleher, for me, is the better goalkeeper. You need to tell me what attribute in his [Raya] game is better than Caoimhin Kelleher in terms of his shot-stopping, his distribution and his ability to command his box.

‘Where does he get the advantage on Caoimhin Kelleher? Those three facets.’

Shay Given, sat alongside Cunningham in the Premier Sports Ireland studio, made it clear he disagreed with his fellow countryman’s remarks about Raya.

‘I’m not sure you can compare Caoimhin Kelleher and David Raya. I’m here to talk about David Raya because he played tonight,’ the former Newcastle goalkeeper responded.

‘I said this before the game and I’m not saying I’m right and he’s [Cunningham] is wrong, I’m just saying the performance tonight was absolutely brilliant.

‘We talk about the save in the first half…’

Before Given could finish his sentence, Cunningham cut in: ‘One save, one very good save in the first half! That’s it. That [the praise from Kai Havertz] is his team-mate there, blowing smoke.’

But according to Given, Raya’s contribution this season is undoubtedly one of the key factors in Arsenal finding themselves in such a strong position in both the Premier League and Champions League.

‘You speak to people who know about goalkeepers and ask them… I think he’s one of the reasons they’re nine points clear at the top of the Premier League,’ Given explained.

‘One of the reasons why they’re probably one foot in the semi-finals of the Champions League is because of David Raya as well.

‘There are big games coming up around the corner over the next seven weeks and he’ll play a huge part in what they’re going to succeed with.’

On Cunningham’s claims that dominating the box was a ‘weakness’ for Raya, Given added: ‘I disagree with that as well. He’s one of the springiest, he picks crosses up from lots of stuff that other goalkeepers don’t come for.

‘I disagree with that totally. There was one at the start of the second half, he was on the halfway line, out for a header.

‘He’s a sweeper ‘keeper, he’s on the front foot and he reads the game so well. It’s not just about shot-stopping, it’s about decision-making, setting the tone of the game.

‘As a goalkeeper, he does everything.’

Cunningham was not done there, though, insisting Raya remained a level below the likes of Donnarumma and Courtois due to a lack of ‘aura’ and ‘personality’.

‘I think it is just in terms of the confidence. I think it’s an aura, a personality, a presence,’ he went on.

‘It’s difficult to put your finger on it. Hopefully I’m giving you an understanding of what I’m talking about.

‘I’m talking particularly in terms of crosses coming into the box, corner kicks, long throw-ins, it’s such an important part of the game.

‘Those other goalkeepers that you’re speaking about [Donnarumma and Courtois], for me, are ones who take responsibility.’

But again, Given hit back, pointing out how Donnarumma was a poor example to use based on some of the Italian’s performances for Manchester City this season.

‘I think Donnarumma has struggled this year, at times, with balls into the box and crosses into the box,’ he said.

‘He’s getting involved in fighting people and punching at stuff, flapping at things when balls are in the box and the physicality of it so I don’t think that’s a good example.

‘I think Donnarumma is a brilliant goalkeeper, I just think you’re being extremely harsh [on Raya], to say the least.’

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Drake’s Fisheries at 3-5 Silver Street, Knaresborough, re-opened on Thursday with a new pink-themed interior.

The popular restaurant and take-away closed last September, with the former manager Jaime Wilson, blaming rising costs and rents. He had run the business for 25 years.

Now, it will be run by Karley Thompson-Drake, along with sister Sara Drake.

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The fish and chip shop is well-regarded, with it receiving 4.3 stars out of five on Tripadvisor, based on 1,322 reviews, ranking it 8th out of 60 restaurants in Knaresborough.

Google awards Drakes in Knaresborough 4.1 stars out of five, based on 828 Google reviews.

Customers have welcomed the re-opening.

One posted on Drake’s Knaresborough Facebook page: “Just had fish from the newly opened Drakes. Really good.”

Drakes has other restaurants and take-aways in York and Leeds.

Last September, the Drakes branch in Ripon also closed and the property has since been put on the market.

The Press has approached Drake’s for comment.