The Daily Telegraph focuses on Donald Trump’s criticism of Sir Keir Starmer for, as he put it, taking “far too long” to let him strike Iran from British bases. “I am very disappointed in Keir” reads the paper’s headline. The Daily Mail quotes the Pentagon, which has accused the prime minister of “hand-wringing” and “pearl-clutching” over the operation. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says Sir Keir has distanced himself from US actions to placate voters who are swayed by conflicts in the Middle East, not the British national interest, according to the paper. The i Paper notes Sir Keir’s response to the criticism, in which he said the UK didn’t believe in “regime change from the skies”.

Mohammed Algasim, 20, was stabbed in the neck on August 1, 2025.

A family has paid tribute to a “dutiful” and “loving” 20-year-old student who was killed in Cambridge last year. Mohammed Algasim was stabbed in the neck in the late hours of August 1, 2025, in Mill Park.

On Monday (March 2) Chas Corrigan, 22, was found guilty of Mohammed’s murder following a two-week trial. Mohammed’s family have paid tribute to him.

In a statement, the family said: “Muhammad Yousef Algasim. A young man brimming with enthusiasm, brimming with chivalry and courage.

“He was a dutiful son, a loving brother, and the leader of the family in spirit, not in appearance. He was cheerful, chivalrous, pure of heart, quick to give, and passionate about others.

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“Over time, he became the family’s charisma, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy in every gathering. He was his father’s support, his familiar companion, and the assistant to his uncles and maternal uncles.

“He was the most compassionate person to ever visit a mother’s heart and the closest to his sisters’ embrace.” Mohammed, from Saudi Arabia, was on a 10-week placement to study English in the city.

On the night of his death, Corrigan stabbed Mohammed with a kitchen knife. Mohammed ran from the scene, but he collapsed, and a member of the public called an ambulance.

Three off-duty doctors and paramedics found Mohammed bleeding heavily on the pavement, and despite their best efforts to save him, his injury to his neck was so severe that he was pronounced dead at 12.19am.

The incident was captured on CCTV, which was shown to jurors in court. Throughout the trial, Corrigan, of Holbrook Road, Cambridge, accepted he was the man in the CCTV footage and had been carrying a knife to scare off any attackers, but claimed he had no intention of using it.

He said he didn’t intend to cause harm but aimed to wave the knife between himself and the victim. Corrigan is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Inspector Dale Mepstead, who led the investigation from the major crime unit, said: “This was a senseless and devastating attack on a young man with his whole life ahead of him. Corrigan armed himself with a knife and chose to carry it onto the streets of Cambridge — a decision that had tragic consequences.

“I want to thank the members of the public who came forward, as well as the medical professionals who tried desperately to save Mohammed’s life. Our thoughts remain with his family, who have shown incredible strength throughout this investigation.”

Former Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City players are among the ex-footballers joining big name celebrities at Soccer Aid in 2026

Premier League legends from clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United will be among the big sporting names joined by Champions League winner Jordi Alba in the 2026 edition of charity fixture Soccer Aid.

Former Barcelona star Alba, who retired in 2025, is one of nine debutants set to feature this year. He is also one of two European Championships winners, with iconic Italy centre-back Leonardo Bonucci returning after catching the eye last year.

A number of well-known celebrities are also set to take part, including Adolescence actor Owen Cooper – the youngest participant in either squad at only 16 years of age – and Gladiators star and ex-Team GB Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, more commonly known as Nitro.

Alba is one of three footballers set for a first appearance in the charity game, which will take place at the London Stadium in May. United States women’s international Ali Krieger and former Arsenal and Scotland women’s star Jen Beattie are the others set to feature in the mixed-gender fixture.

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Since its first edition back in 2006, Soccer Aid has generated an impressive £121million for Unicef. The 20th anniversary edition sees the match return to London after taking place at Old Trafford in Manchester last year, with former England internationals Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and Joe Hart among the others signed up for the game.

Nine newcomers will be making their Soccer Aid debuts, with ex-pros Alba, Beattie and Krieger – joined by celebrities in GK Barry, Owen Cooper, Damson Idris, Joe Marler, Nitro and Jordan North. Dermot O’Leary and Alex Scott will present the match, which will also include an extended half-time show to mark Soccer Aid’s 20th anniversary.

The classic England XI versus World XI format continues, with the World XI having clinched a dramatic 5-4 victory in 2025. England’s most recent win came in 2024, with Walcott and Jermain Defoe scoring that night and chasing more goals this time around.

Soccer Aid co-founder Robbie Williams will manage the England team from the touchline. Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, who scored in the 2023 edition as a player, will be on managerial duty for the World XI.

“It’s an absolute dream come true for me to be playing in Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2026,” Gladiators star Nitro said. “I’m a massive football fan and a big kid at heart. I’ve never stopped playing, whether that’s been on the playground, the athletics track, the Gladiator arena — and now the football pitch. I’ve watched Soccer Aid for years and now I get to share the experience of being involved with my daughter, who’s even more excited than I am!

“Fellow Gladiator Diamond, who played last year, told me it’s one of the best things she’s ever done. Childhood should be all about play, imagination and fun but for so many children around the world that freedom is taken away by things completely outside their control, like conflict, disease and disasters.

“That’s why being part of this incredible match, playing alongside legends of the game and supporting UNICEF’s life-changing work, means so much to me. I’m proud to be involved and I hope we can raise even more than last year. Please come and support us on Sunday May 31.”

Footballers confirmed for Soccer Aid 2026: Jordi Alba, Jen Beattie, Ali Krieger, Leonardo Bonucci, Jermain Defoe, Toni Duggan, Joe Hart, Steph Houghton, Wayne Rooney, Edwin van der Sar, Jill Scott, Theo Walcott.

Celebrities confirmed for Soccer Aid 2026: GK Barry, Owen Cooper, Damson Idris, Joe Marler, Nitro, Jordan North, Maisie Adam, Usain Bolt, Alex Brooker, Richard Gadd, Angry Ginge, Tom Grennan, Tom Hiddleston, Paddy McGuinness, Olly Murs, Sam Thompson, Robbie Williams, Big Zuu.

The twentieth anniversary of Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on Sunday 31^st May at the London Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at socceraid.org.uk/tickets

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Actor James Cartwright has shared what Theo Silverton’s next move will be and it’s not looking good for Todd Grimshaw and his loved ones

Coronation Street star James Cartwright has said that Theo Silverton is ‘so dangerous’ as his next plan is seemingly uncovered in spoilers for next week’s episodes of the long-running show.

It’s approaching a year since the character was first seen in Weatherfield, and he has quickly found himself involved in a hard-hitting, coercively controlling, and abusive relationship with Todd Grimshaw, played by Gareth Pierce since 2020.

When they randomly met on the cobbles, with Theo working as a scaffolder on a local site, there was an instant spark between the pair. But Theo’s true self has slowly come to light and Todd is struggling to cope in their abusive relationship.

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However, as fans know, Todd had finally decided to leave Theo after Billy Mayhew discovered the full extent of what his friend and former partner had been going through.

But Billy’s plan to help Todd leave Theo was dramatically torn apart as when they prepared to head back to Weatherfield from Debbie Webster and Ronnie Bailey’s wedding in Yorkshire in the minibus, Theo arrived, making for an uncomfortable journey.

And as viewers are aware, the minibus ended up being one of the vehicles caught up in a horror multi-vehicle pile-up which was at the centre of the dramatic crossover between Corrie and fellow ITV soap Emmerdale, dubbed Corriedale. While most of the passengers managed to escape, but Billy was trapped by his seatbelt.

Despite him seemingly freeing himself, when an evil Theo returned to see who was still trapped inside the minibus, he appeared to clip Billy back into his seat as he read his last rites, before leaving him to burn alive as the vehicle exploded with him still inside.

And while Theo has appeared guilty for what happened with Billy, it hasn’t stopped his cruelty towards Todd, trying to make him feel guilty for Billy’s death, while also turned to financial abuse, cutting up Todd’s cards and giving him access to limited amounts of cash to control him further.

Spoilers for next week have revealed that as Todd and Summer Spellman sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Theo Silverton, he unwraps his presents and he’s clearly underwhelmed.

Later, in the Bistro, Theo invites Gary and Maria Windass to join him for his birthday lunch as Todd is running late at work and when he eventually rushes in, Theo shoots him daggers. With lunch over, Theo hands Todd the bill and insists they treat Gary and Maria, but Todd sheepishly tells Nick Tilsley that he’s only got £80.

Back at home, Theo accuses Todd of ruining his birthday and orders him to get a bottle of wine. When Todd suggests coffee instead, Theo loses it.

Speaking about the violence that unfolds, James admits: “It’s like any violence; you become conditioned to it. It takes on a life of its own and becomes more extreme every time it goes unchallenged. Violence is an awful, awful thing; in a relationship, it’s just unthinkable. And it becomes another tool of control for Theo. Theo’s just trying to absolutely give him the consequences of not doing his will.

“It’s just abhorrent. And the more Todd bites back, the more Theo is trying to knock that out of him and impose himself physically. There’s a big size difference there. Theo’s this larger, bigger muscular scaffolder; and to impose his physicality on him is a tool that he’s now using. It’s something that he’s using to his advantage to make sure he gets what he wants.”

The following day, as Todd tidies up the broken crockery from last night’s fight, he tells George Shuttlewroth he won’t be coming into work. Meanwhile, Gary clocks Theo waking up in his van and Tho makes out that Todd’s worried about money and they had an argument.

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At the flat, Todd makes some soup but when he can’t get the blender to work, he loses his temper and throws it. Soon after, Gary arrives to pick up some clothes for Theo and surveys the mess. Upset, Todd tells Gary that he wants to patch things up. Later, having been summoned by Gary, Theo calls at the flat to talk.

As the week progresses, alone in the flat, Todd worries that Theo could return at any time. Meanwhile, at the undertakers, an agitated George receives another funeral cancellation.

In the Rovers, George, Christina Boyd, Sarah Platt and James Bailey rally round Todd in a bid to cheer him up, but when Todd spots Theo, he’s overcome with emotion and leaves. Theo follows and suggests they need to talk but soon, as James guides a drunken Todd home, Theo watches from the shadows.

Things only get worse when later, Theo overhears Summer telling George how James stayed the night on the sofa. In Speed Daal, Theo clocks Adam Barlow with a client, when Gary reveals it’s Annie, the woman accusing George of fraud, With a new plan forming, Theo sidles over.

Explaning Theo’s decision, James commented: “Theo’s trying to isolate Todd because he doesn’t want anyone else’s opinions getting into his head. And so, the last person who really has Todd’s ear is George; he’s his closest ally. Seeing this opportunity to get George out of the picture is too good to miss. So he sees it, and he thinks, ‘Do you know what, with a little bit of Machiavellian manoeuvring, I might be able to get George out the picture, which is the right thing to do because then me and Todd can be together, and George is an old fusspot anyway, we’ll be happy then.’

“So when he sees this woman accusing George of something, he goes over to her and he makes up a complete lie that George did the funeral for his ex-wife’s mother and tried to fleece them and that he’s got it coming, which just isn’t the case. It’s a complete lie, but he’s doing what he thinks is necessary to get George out of the picture.”

Asked what viewers will see from Theo in the coming weeks, James added: “He’ll do some things that you expect and some things that you don’t. As ever with Theo, he’s a ball of unpredictability, and that’s what makes him so dangerous, it also makes him so thrilling to watch. You just never know.”

Royal Ascot has been scrubbed off Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie’s social calandar with the Palace reportedly banning them from the event in light of their parents, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

It’s a sad and cruel blow for the sisters, who until now have considered the horse racing event in June — a favourite of their grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II — a basic normality of their existence. This was the place where the “blood princesses” could not only show their support for the wider family, but also show off some wild and wacky headgear too.

But it’s over. No longer will they join senior royals in the royal procession in fancy carriages or take their seats in the royal box. In a situation described succinctly by friends of the princesses as a “never-ending sh** show” regarding their parents, this latest move has “blindsided” them, according to the Mail on Sunday. And it doesn’t stop at a day at the races either. They are not invited to any other royal events for the “foreseeable future”. How much worse can it get?

With millions of Epstein files still waiting released, the answer to that question suggests, probably a lot worse. And the sisters will be left to pick up the pieces of the shattered lives left in their wake.

Whatever their father may deserve, it can’t have been much fun watching him being dragged by the police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. While the rest of the world may have revelled in the humiliation of the former prince as he was held at Aylsham Police Investigation Centre in Norfolk for 11 hours, the girls will have been left trying to explain it to his grandchildren.

And now thanks to their father’s public disgrace, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, have been cast out in the cold even further than they could ever have imagined possible. Prince William reportedly already warned royals not to be photographed anywhere near them for the “rest of the year”.

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The only royal left in a possibly worse position is Prince Harry, who of course understands exactly how it feels to be persona non grata, and is rumoured to have offered his cousins a listening ear and a safe refuge at his Montecito home with his wife Meghan in California. This is the most intense family cooling-off session imaginable — and it must be blowing their minds.

The sisters have their own, no doubt complicated, relationship with both their father and mother. They will need to make sense of any remaining sinew of loyalty to their disgraced parents, while disentangling themselves from the increasing horror of the situation.

My heart goes out to them — and yes I feel huge sympathy for their plight. I never thought I’d say that, or care so much, but the fact Beatrice and Eugenie, like me, have young children and are mums makes the shame and rumours swirling around family dysfunction and wrongdoing far worse.

How will they broach the ins and outs of their family madness with Beatrice’s daughters, Sienna, four, and Athena, one, as well as her nine-year-old stepson Edoardo, and Eugenie’s sons, August, five, and Ernest, two? How do you explain that they won’t see parts of their wider family in public anymore — unless it’s under the cover of darkness? It’s one thing reconciling their own egos and vanity with not being part of the royal “show” any more, but how do you explain this new “keep out of the way” lifestyle to their children?

While they are living this public reality, I know how painful it can be to feel like an outcast in an extended family. I became estranged from mine after a spat over my late dad’s will — and the toxic fallout had started years earlier when I was his sole carer. I also have to explain a milder version of this to my children every Christmas and at birthdays — and the sadness I feel about it is crushing.

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They will feel like they are dragging their own families into a drama that is not of their making. Known to be polite and thoughtful, the York sisters have had to cope with the chaos their parents have brought since they were small.

On the surface it might all look like pretty dresses and tea parties at the palace, but the girls have endured a life marked by divorce, lewd public headlines, and a father known for his arrogant demeanour, alongside a grift-prone mother all their lives.

Despite Sarah calling herself and Andrew the “happiest divorced couple in the world” after separating and divorcing in 1996, it was clearly never the full picture. A childhood with a desperate, needy mother must have taken its toll on Beatrice and Eugenie. While Fergie would happily refer to herself and her girls as “The Tripod”, it hints that her daughters were propping her up instead of being parented properly.

This might explain their own bad judgements. It has been reported that Beatrice helped advise her mother on how to get back into Epstein’s good books, and that she also encouraged her father to take part in the catastrophic Newsnight interview in 2019. There are fears that the princesses may have had indirect financial links to Epstein. Anything feels possible with Sarah and Andrew at the helm.

You only have to look at the family photo of the Yorks at Beatrice’s 18th birthday party at Royal Lodge in Windsor in 2006 — which Jeffrey Epstein attended — to realise how surreal their world was. Sarah, Beatrice and Eugenie, dressed in period costumes resembling something from Frozen, with Andrew in military attire, looked more like characters on the set of Bridgerton than members of a modern royal family.

Not only have they long been a laughing stock, now they are having to face the reality of seeing their father kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the floor and read how their mum once told Epstein that she was waiting for Eugenie to return from a “shagging weekend”. It just adds to dysfunction that they have had to endure all their lives.

The Epstein files shown revealed their mother told Epstein “Just marry me”, referred to him as the “brother I always wished for” and asked him “When are you going to employ me” . We now know they were reportedly taken to lunch with Epstein in 2009 at his Palm Beach home less than a week after he was released from prison for soliciting a child for prostitution. We also know Andrew sent photos of his daughters to Epstein in 2010 and 2011 of Beatrice climbing Mount Blanc and Eugenie in a charity bike ride.

Of course what the girls are going through is nothing compared to the trauma of Epstein’s victims, who recall years of being used and abused and trafficked to some of the most powerful men in the world. But the shame of knowing your father was cosying up with a paedophile and having his sex life sliced and diced by millions is bound to cause deep shame and pain.

So where do they go from here?

At one point, Beatrice was rumoured to be preparing to move Sarah into a modest granny annexe at her Cotswolds home after she was reportedly forced out of Royal Lodge. Luckily for Beatrice, that never materialised. Instead, Sarah is believed to have travelled to the French Alps to stay with friends before later taking refuge at the world-renowned £13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, over a month ago.

How does any child come to terms with such parental betrayal and shame by association. I hope they both have access to strong emotional support and that, in time, can build happy and stable lives far removed from the current nightmare.

I truly believe the best thing Beatrice and Eugenie could do is step away from royal life, relinquish the public burden of their titles, and focus fully on raising their families in a calm and stable environment — something they themselves were rarely afforded. They should devote their lives to meaningful work and ensure there is never even a whisper of hypocrisy in the paths they choose.

The sisters have survived a childhood defined by chaos, scandal, and parental misjudgements. Now, as mothers themselves, they face the cruel irony of protecting their own families from a world their parents helped to make so incredibly messy. Walking away from the glare of public life may not erase the past, but it will gift them something more precious: the chance to raise their children in calm, stability, and dignity — and finally live a life that belongs to them alone

Good luck to them. They’ll need it.

Rachel Reeves will resist pulling rabbits out of a hat when she delivers her second spring statement today, as the crisis in Iran brings new turbulance to world markets

Rachel Reeves will today present her second Spring Statement as Chancellor.

The Labour frontbencher is set to present her forecast against alarming turbulance in the Middle East following strikes on Iran. Government insiders have repeatedly stressed there will be no policy announcements, and Ms Reeves will not be tempted to pull any rabbits out of a hat.

It is expected, sources say, that she will only be at the dispatch box for around half an hour. During that time she will pick through forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The Chancellor will also point to progress on tackling the cost of living, which Keir Starmer has put at the heart of the Government’s mission.

Ahead of the Spring Statement, the Mirror has pulled together a rundown on the life of our Chancellor Ms Reeves.

READ MORE: Autumn Budget predictions from income tax to benefits and cars – what it means for youREAD MORE: Pension change warning as new 40% tax comes in from this date

Political career

The Chancellor has overseen the scrapping of the two child benefit cap in a busy start to the year. In February she told The Mirror: “I am proud to have been the Labour Chancellor that removed that cap and, alongside the roll out of free breakfast clubs and free school meals for those with parents on Universal Credit, we are lifting more than half a million children out of poverty by 2030.

“That’s half a million children who will have a better start in life.” 2025 was a difficult year for the Chancellor, who came under fire after accepting free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert, arguing security concerns mean she couldn’t sit in the crowd.

She also appeared to be in tears in the Commons during a tense PMQs in July, shortly after the PM swerved a question over whether Ms Reeves would still be Chancellor at the next election. Mr Starmer backed her immediately after PMQs, and a spokesperson for the Chancellor explained it had been over a personal matter.

There were further issues in October when she admitted an “inadvertent mistake” after failing to obtain a rental licence on her family home. She had failed to obtain a “selective” licence from Southwark council to rent out the house. The local authority requires licences on privately rented properties in certain areas.

Ms Reeves wasn’t elected as a Member of Parliament until her third attempt. In 2010 she became MP for Leeds West, where she won a majority of just over 7,000. She served the constituency until boundary changes last year, when she was re-elected as an MP for the slightly altered Leeds West and Pudsey area with a majority of 12,392.

Just five months after being elected in 2010 Ms Reeves was promoted to Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions under then Labour leader Ed Miliband. The following year she became Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and in 2013 the Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions.

She became a backbencher during Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure and would later distance herself from his leadership. Under Mr Starmer she became Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, before being appointed Shadow Chancellor in 2021. After the election, she took on the role of Chancellor.

Ms Reeves has previously spoken about Alistair Darling, the last Labour Chancellor and who steered the country through recession in 2008, being a mentor to her when she first joined Parliament. Ms Reeves described Mr Darling, who died in 2023 aged 70, as the person who she would love to be able to pick up the phone to now. “I hope that he would be proud of what I’m doing as the next Labour Chancellor after him,” she said.

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Banking career

Ms Reeves studied the prestigious degree of PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Oxford University, a course taken by the most recent Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and ex-PM Liz Truss. She also completed a masters in economics at the London School of Economics.

Despite having a photo of former PM Gordon Brown on her desk at university (apparently bought for her as a joke because he was a hero of hers), Ms Reeves wanted to get a “proper job” before considering any sort of career in politics. She pursued a career at Bank of England as an economist and later worked for the Bank of Scotland for more than three years.

Dame Sue Owen, who was her boss in Washington DC when Ms Reeves became the Bank’s first member of staff posted in the US capital, told the i newspaper last year: “I think she was quite conscious that there were people, even people like Gordon Brown, who’d only ever been in politics and that to have some credibility, she thought you needed to have done a real job first.”

At one point, she turned down a job at Goldman Sachs – a decision she says she does not regret but has joked: “I could have been a lot richer.”

Interests

One of Ms Reeves’ biggest and most well-known passions is chess. As a child, she had clear skills and talents in maths and was taught to play chess by her dad when she was seven. She went on to become under-14s British girls chess champion.

And she has gained skills that should come in handy this Budget, having told the BBC in a 2021 interview: “It’s about getting you to look ahead; to think strategically and not just tactically and to think about what your opponent’s next move is going to be as well as your own.”

As well as being a dedicated chess player, she is known to be a huge fan of Beyoncé. Ex Labour MP Michael Dugher, with whom Ms Reeves once shared an office in Parliament, told the i this week: “She is someone who is great company and great fun. She’s a bit more Beyoncé than Taylor Swift in her musical tastes. She also loves Ronnie Scott’s [jazz bar in London’s Soho]. She takes being a mum extremely seriously as well, so she’s just normal is what I would say.”

Family life

Ms Reeves was born in 1979 in southeast London to teacher parents Graham and Sally, who split up when she was seven. She went to a comprehensive school in Beckenham – Cator Park – with her sister Ellie and would spend her school holidays with their grandpa and grandma at their council maisonette in Kettering. The pair would go on to become the first sisters in history to sit around the Cabinet table – with Ellie also being a Labour MP and Cabinet minister.

Having been a Labour member since 1996, she has spoken of memories of her dad telling her to vote for the party when she was under the age of 10. She has also talked about her dad instilling a competitive spirit in her at a young age, with him never letting her win at chess. Ms Reeves is married to a senior civil servant, Nick Joicey. The pair have two children, whom they try to keep out of the spotlight.

Emmanuel Macron has announced France will increase its nuclear arsenal – claiming that France needs to be “feared” on the world stage. 

The French President will also allow temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries for the first time ever.

The move is part of a new strategy aimed at strengthening Europe’s independence amid heightened geopolitical tension, but has been condemned by disarmament campaigners.

“To be free, one needs to be feared,” Macron said at a military base at Ile Longue on Monday.

The base, in northwestern France, hosts the country’s ballistic missile submarines.

Macron said the new posture could “provide for the temporary deployment of elements of our strategic air forces to allied countries”, but insisted decision making regarding deployment would remain solely with France.

Since Brexit,the country has been the only nuclear power in the European Union.

It is understood his speech was planned long before the recent outbreak of war in Iran.

Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark are currently locked in talks about deterrence, Macron added.

France will also allow European partners to join in deterrence exercises, which has been welcomed across the continent.

In a joint statement, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the two countries would deepen integration in deterrence starting this year, “including German conventional participation in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic sites”.

In a letter to Dutch politicians, defence minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius and foreign minister Tom Berendsen said the Netherlands was in strategic talks with France on nuclear deterrence as “a supplement to, and not a replacement for, NATO’s collective defence and nuclear deterrence capabilities”.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X that “we are arming up together with our friends so that our enemies will never dare to attack us”.

Read more from Sky News:
Could Iran attack the UK?
Brits caught up in the Middle East conflict

France is increasing its number of warheads for the first time in 34 years.

They currently sit at below 300, however Mr Macron did not say how many more his country would maintain.

“I have decided to increase the numbers of warheads of our arsenal,” Macron said.

“My responsibility is to ensure that our deterrence maintains – and will maintain in the future – its assured destructive power.

“If we had to use our arsenal, no state, however powerful, could shield itself from it, and no state, however vast, would recover from it,” Macron said.

He did, however, rule out the possibility of German Air Force planes being used to carry French nuclear bombs – an idea floated by Merz last month.

European leaders have voiced growing doubts about American commitments to help defend Europe since President Donald Trump took office last year.

France and Britain have since adopted a joint declaration in July that allows both nations’ nuclear forces, while independent, to be “coordinated”.

The move has prompted fury from The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.

The group’s executive director, Melissa Parke, said: “This announcement from French President Macron is a direct threat to the peace and security of the region, and the world.

“France already spent $6bn on its nuclear weapons in 2024 and it is unclear how much this unexpected increase will add to that exorbitant sum.

“This is not progress, it’s a nuclear arms race that no one can afford.”

The £91,167.34 grant from NHS England will go to Teesside-based charity ARCH, which provides specialist support to people affected by sexual violence and abuse.

The funding, secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Cleveland, will be used to help deliver additional counselling sessions over the next 15 months.

The aim is to help reduce waiting times for survivors and ensure they receive timely support.

Mr Storey said: “Increasing the capacity of sexual abuse and violence counselling supports two of the priorities in my Police and Crime Plan 2024-29.

“Those priorities are Improving safety for women and girls and ensuring the right support is available for victims and vulnerable people.

“I want to see an end to violence against women and girls in our society – but while it does exist, it’s doubly important to focus on the victims and make sure they get the right support at the right time to recover as successfully as possible.”

ARCH Teesside has seen demand for its services rise year-on-year, reflecting a wider trend affecting specialist support organisations.

Timely access to counselling and support is critical to helping survivors recover, putting even more pressure on services to deliver.

Lisa Russell, clinical lead at ARCH Teesside, said: “This past year has tested our services in ways we could never have imagined.

“That is why receiving funding from NHSE for our counselling work at ARCH Teesside means so much.

“This support doesn’t just keep our doors open, it gives us the stability to reach even more survivors across Teesside, offering them the safety, compassion and understanding they desperately need and truly deserve.”

She added: “Sexual violence continues to destroy lives and our communities; it also impacts our children and young people.

“This is something as a society we cannot accept. This funding will strengthen our ability to stand alongside survivors, helping them to feel safe, supported and begin their healing journey.”

Last year, Mr Storey awarded ARCH a one-off grant of £15,000 to fund a support navigator.

The navigator helps bridge the critical gap between being referred to Arch and getting specialist support.

Since 2025, the OPCC has been able to apply for non-recurrent funding from NHS England. NHSE funding supports specialist services to deliver support, which aligns with its Sexual Assault and Abuse Strategy.

Melting ice is an emblem of climate change. For sea ice, the Arctic has been grabbing most of the headlines for its truly alarming rate of decline. But recently Antarctica has followed suit.

Around ten years ago everything changed. After decades of stability and within just a few years, an ocean area nearly the size of Greenland suddenly became sea-ice free. At first, scientists thought this could be a blip, but now it is described as a step change, with large ocean areas remaining ice free ever since.

This has dramatic consequences for the marine life of Antarctica. The ice decline was so sudden it challenged most existing computer models of the Southern Ocean and its ecosystems. Models tend not to predict step changes very well. Likewise, due to the sheer seismic suddenness of ice loss, the boots-on-the-ground fieldworkers could not scramble fast enough to document how the loss of sea ice was affecting the plants and animals living here.

Our 2025 study looked at ice loss from a different perspective. We used satellite imagery to pinpoint the exact wavelengths of light that are reflected from the upper ocean back into space.

Just like landscapes can be classified, we divided the ocean into distinct “seascapes”, based on the wavelengths of light that they reflect. This tells us about the phytoplankton – the tiny drifting planktonic algae that support the rest of the food web. Changes in light reflections indicate how much phytoplankton is present and also which types of species are present.

Surprisingly, we found that large and remote expanses of the Southern Ocean actually increased from very low concentrations of phytoplankton to more moderate levels. Nearly 70% of the Southern Ocean now has, on average, more phytoplankton since the ice declined around ten years ago.

This increase in food supply might sound good. But sea ice supports unique marine ecosystems, and in many ways. For example, it provides nooks and crannies for shelter and nursery. Sea ice also nurtures hotspots of food, supporting large algae called diatoms that are easily eaten and passed up Antarctic food chains.

Diatoms are a key food source for Antarctic krill, shrimp-like crustaceans which also need sea ice as a nursery habitat. Krill in turn are the food source for penguins, whales and other marine species, as well as being the target species for an important fishery valued in hundreds of millions of dollars.

Winners and losers

Krill do not seem to be benefiting from the increases in phytoplankton after the dramatic loss of sea ice. Instead, gelatinous filter feeders known as “salps” associate with the ice-free seascapes that have increased in size.

Salps are a colonial, barrel-shaped group of species that pump water through their transparent bodies, filtering out even the smallest phytoplankton. They are more nutritious than most jellyfish, but much less carbon rich than crustaceans such as krill, who help in the storage of carbon at depth.

A study by another team sheds more light on what was happening. They showed that the step-change in sea ice marked a sudden shift in phytoplankton composition. Suddenly, a group of tiny phytoplankton called cryptophytes started increasing.

Salps act like marine vacuum cleaners that can rapidly and efficiently remove even these small cryptophytes from the water. It looks like the recent low ice era has changed large expanses of ocean from having too little food even for salps into that sweet spot – not super-rich but just good enough for these vacuum cleaners to thrive.

These studies are just starting to map how the “new-normal” low-ice era is reshaping Antarctic ecosystems. Salps are not fished commercially, do not appear so important in storing carbon, and support different types of food chain. Any long-term shift in the relative dominance of krill and salps will have far-reaching ramifications for Southern Ocean ecosystems and their role in nutrient cycling.

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The latest Pixar film, Hoppers, is earning rave reviews from critics.

The animated original, which arrives in theaters March 6, follows 19-year-old environmentalist Mabel who “hops” into the mind of a beaver before attempting to help a colony save their habitat in a plot that has drawn comparisons to Avatar.

The film, which features a cast of voice actors including Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Dave Franco, Jon Hamm and Meryl Streep, has earned a near-perfect score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, currently sitting at 97 percent.

Although that score may fluctuate as more reviews come in, it currently represents the best rating for a Pixar film in almost a decade since 2017’s Coco.

The first two Toy Story films both have a 100 percent rating on the site, while Toy Story 3, Finding Nemo, Inside Out and Up all scored 98 percent.

It is the first of two Pixar films slated to be released this year, with Toy Story 5 set to follow in June. In recent years, the animation studio has balanced original stories such as Luca, Elemental and Elio with sequels and spin-offs, including Lightyear and Inside Out 2.

They have already announced another original film, Gatto, for a 2027 release, and are reportedly working on two further sequels: Incredibles 3 and Coco 2.

Pixar first started in 1979 as the computer animation division of Lucasfilm. It was originally known as Graphics Group before it changed its name to Pixar in 1986, the same year it became an independent company backed by Apple founder Steve Jobs. In 1995, the studio released the groundbreaking Toy Story, the first fully computer-animated feature film. It was distributed by Disney, which later bought Pixar outright in 2006.

The Independent critic Clarisse Loughrey was among those who praised Hoppers. In her four-star review, she wrote: “Yes, it’s basically James Cameron’s Avatar, and director Daniel Chong and screenwriter Jesse Andrews are honest enough to admit that within the first 15 minutes of their film.

“That said, it’d be uncharitable to call Hoppers derivative, when it’s otherwise odd and spiky enough to carve out its own niche. Pixar, certainly, have only benefited from the energetic, expressive influence of anime on Western animation. All their creatures leap around the screen like they’ve just been electrocuted. It’s worth noting, too, that the degree of life-like fluffiness Pixar achieves with beaverfied Mabel makes Monsters Inc look positively primitive.”