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Police in Britain arrest former ambassador to US Peter Mandelson in probe into Epstein ties

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Police in Britain arrest former ambassador to US Peter Mandelson in probe into Epstein ties

LONDON (AP) — British police on Monday arrested Peter Mandelson, a former U.K. ambassador to the United States, in a misconduct probe stemming from his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein. It came days after a friendship with Epstein landed the former Prince Andrew in police custody.

Both men are suspected of improperly passing U.K. government information to the disgraced U.S. financier, and the high-profile British arrests are some of the most dramatic fallout from the trove of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents released last month by the U.S. Justice Department.

London’s Metropolitan Police force said “officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office” at an address in north London. He was taken to a police station for questioning.

The man was not named, in keeping with British police practice, but the suspect in the case previously was identified as the former diplomat, who is 72. Mandelson was filmed being led from his London home to a car by plainclothes officers on Monday afternoon.

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Under U.K. law, police can hold a suspect without charge for up to 24 hours. This can be extended to a maximum of 96 hours. Mandelson could be charged, released unconditionally or released while investigations continue.

Claims of leaked government information

Police are investigating Mandelson over claims he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.

His arrest came four days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested in a separate case on suspicion of a similar offense related to his friendship with Epstein. Andrew was released after 11 hours in custody while the police investigation continues.

Mandelson served in senior government roles under previous Labour governments and was U.K. ambassador to Washington until Prime Minister Keir Starmer fired him in September after emails were published showing that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor.

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The files released in January contained more explosive revelations about Mandelson’s ties to Epstein, whom he once called “my best pal.”

Messages suggest that Mandelson passed on sensitive — and potentially market-moving — government information to Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson was a senior minister in the British government. That includes an internal government report discussing ways the U.K. could raise money after the 2008 global financial crisis, including by selling off government assets. Mandelson also appears to have told Epstein he would lobby other members of the government to reduce a tax on bankers’ bonuses.

British police launched a criminal probe earlier this month and searched Mandelson’s two houses in London and western England.

The decision to appoint Mandelson nearly cost Starmer his job earlier this month, as questions swirled around his judgment about someone who has flirted with controversy during a decades-long political career.

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Though he acknowledged he made a mistake and apologized to victims of Epstein, Starmer’s position remains precarious. His future may rest on the release of files connected to Mandelson’s appointment. The government has pledged to begin releasing those documents in early March, though the timeline may be complicated by his arrest.

Mandelson a contentious figure

Mandelson has been a major, if contentious, figure in the center-left Labour Party for decades. He is a skilled — critics say ruthless — political operator whose mastery of political intrigue earned him the nickname “Prince of Darkness.”

The grandson of former Labour Cabinet minister Herbert Morrison, he was an architect of the party’s return to power in 1997 as centrist, modernizing “New Labour” under Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mandelson served in senior government posts under Blair between 1997 and 2001, and under Prime Minister Gordon Brown from 2008 to 2010. In between, he was the European Union’s trade commissioner. Brown has been particularly angered by the revelations and has been helping police with their inquiries.

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Mandelson twice had to resign from government during the Blair administration over allegations of financial or ethical impropriety, acknowledging mistakes but denying wrongdoing.

He later returned to government and was back on the political front line when Starmer named him ambassador to Washington at the start of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. Mandelson’s trade expertise and comfort around the ultra-rich were considered major assets. He helped secure a trade deal in May that spared Britain some of the tariffs Trump has imposed on countries around the world.

The status of the deal is now up in the air after Trump announced a new set of global tariffs in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision quashing his previous import tax order.

Earlier this month Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords, Parliament’s upper chamber, to which he was appointed for life in 2008. But he still has the title — Lord Mandelson — that went with it.

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The Pentagon has not received orders to deploy a ‘hospital ship’ to Greenland despite Trump’s bizarre post, report claims

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The Pentagon has not received orders to deploy a ‘hospital ship’ to Greenland despite Trump’s bizarre post, report claims

The Pentagon reportedly has not received any orders to send a hospital ship to Greenland, despite President Donald Trump claiming at the weekend that a vessel was “on the way.”

The military hasn’t received orders to deploy any Navy vessels, The Wall Street Journal reported, and both Navy hospital ships are reportedly docked at a shipyard in Alabama.

The Independent has contacted the Navy, Pentagon, and White House for comment.

On Saturday, President Trump claimed a mission was heading for the self-governing Danish territory, posting an image of the Navy’s USNS Mercy hospital ship.

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“Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It’s on the way!!!”

The Pentagon reportedly has not received orders to send a medical ship to Greenland, even though President Trump claimed over the weekend one was bound for the Danish island territory

The Pentagon reportedly has not received orders to send a medical ship to Greenland, even though President Trump claimed over the weekend one was bound for the Danish island territory (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)

The same day as the president’s post, the Danish military conducted an emergency medical evacuation of a crew member on a U.S. submarine near Greenland, flying them via helicopter to a hospital in the island’s capital, Nuuk, for treatment.

Leaders in Greenland and Denmark dismissed the suggestion a hospital ship was needed.

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“That will be a ‘no thanks’ from us,’” Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen wrote on Facebook Sunday.

“President Trump’s idea to send a U.S. hospital ship here to Greenland has been duly noted,” he added. “But we have a public health system where care is free for citizens.”

“Happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to health for all,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote in a separate statement. “Where it’s not insurances and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment. You have the same approach in Greenland.”

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has said the territory does not need a U.S. hospital ship because healthcare is already free on the island

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Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has said the territory does not need a U.S. hospital ship because healthcare is already free on the island (AFP/Getty)

Landry, who also serves as the special U.S. envoy to Greenland, reacted angrily to the condemnation from the officials.

“Shame on Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen!” he wrote on X on Sunday.

“After speaking to many Greenlanders about the day to day problems they face, one issue stood out—healthcare,” he added. “Many villages and small towns lack basic services that Americans often take for granted.”

The confusion over the hospital ship mission comes amid larger tensions between the U.S. and its neighbor to the north, given President Trump’s repeated overtures suggesting he wants to take over or perhaps invade Greenland despite opposition from local officials and European partners.

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In January, Trump swore off using military force on Greenland and rowed back a threat to tariff U.S. allies who opposed the push.

He has said the U.S. and NATO allies reached a “framework of a future deal” about the Arctic island territory.

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Create inset weeks so families can book cheaper holidays, schools urged

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Create inset weeks so families can book cheaper holidays, schools urged

Headteachers are being urged to group together school inset days into full weeks to reduce term-time absences and enable families to book more affordable holidays.

The proposal comes from travel company On the Beach, which claims the measure would solve a problem the government “has run out of answers to”.

Most schools in England currently have five inset days annually, with Welsh schools observing six.

These are days when teachers work but pupils do not attend.

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While schools determine their own schedules, these days are rarely grouped together.

On the Beach has written to 25,000 headteachers across England and Wales, requesting they implement regionally staggered inset weeks.

The company said enabling families of schoolchildren to book week-long trips outside of term time would give them “access to holidays at a fraction of peak-season prices”.

Analysis by insurer Go.Compare published in July last year found the average price of a package holiday in Spain was 20% higher during school breaks compared with term time, which was equivalent to an extra £337 per person.

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While schools determine their own schedules, inset days are rarely grouped together
While schools determine their own schedules, inset days are rarely grouped together (Getty/iStock)

Parents can be fined if their children have unauthorised absences from school.

The daily rate is £80 if paid within three weeks, or £160 if paid within four weeks.

Recent Department for Education (DfE) figures show nearly 460,000 fines for unauthorised family holidays were issued in 2024/25.

Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach, said: “Families shouldn’t have to choose between following the rules and being able to afford time away together.

“The real frustration we hear is that parents can see cheaper off-peak holidays, but there’s no straightforward way to access them without their children missing school, and that’s exactly where inset weeks can help.

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“Approximately 25,000 headteachers hold the key to getting more families on holiday for less, boosting attendance figures and solving a problem that the Department for Education has run out of answers to.

“Inset weeks are the answer.”

Andy Stirland, principal at Python Hill Academy in Nottinghamshire, which has had an inset week tagged on to the spring bank holiday every May for the past seven years, said: “Parents should not be faced with fines or enforcement for wanting to spend family time together.

“Inset week has allowed families at our school the option of cheaper holidays while maintaining our attendance figures.

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“Our school attendance figures have been above the national average every year and I believe without inset week this would be a very different story.”

The DfE was approached for a comment.

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BAFTA issues ‘unreserved’ apology to Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan after racial slur

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Daily Record

On Sunday night’s ceremony, the Sinners castmates were left shocked as they presented an award.

The BAFTAs has issued a formal apology to both Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo following a racial slur being shouted at them while on stage at the film awards. The Sinners stars were left momentarily shocked after the outburst came from Scots campaigner John Davidson, who is diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome.

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This apology comes as Delroy reportedly shared with Vanity Fair at a BAFTA after party while he and his co-host Michael “did what he had to do” while presenting the award for special visual effect , he wishes “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards”.

Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at 25 but first experienced symptoms at the age of 12, was the inspiration behind the film ‘I Swear’ which had been nominated for a BAFTA. Along with winning Best Casting, Robert Aramayo – who portrayed Davidson – was also awarded Best Actor and Rising Star.

Following Davidson’s involuntary tics in parts of the show, which can manifest in muscles movements or sounds, the BBC issued a statement apologising if it had “caused any offence”. This has now been followed by a statement from the BAFTAs which thanks Michael and Delroy for their “incredible dignity and professionalism”.

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The statement reads: “At the Bafta Film Awards last night our guests heard very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many. We want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all.

“One of our guests, John Davidson MBE, has Tourette syndrome and has devoted his life to educating and campaigning for better understanding of this condition.

“Tourette syndrome causes involuntary verbal tics that the individual has no control over. Such tics are in no way a reflection of an individual’s beliefs and are not intentional. John Davidson is an executive producer of the Bafta-nominated film, I Swear, which is based on his life experience.”

It continues: “We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion. We took measures to make those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began and throughout that John was in the room and that they may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.

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“Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room. Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.”

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The statement adds during the ceremony John decided to leave the auditorium and watched the rest of the proceedings from a screen. BAFTA added: “We would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others on what should have been a night of celebration for him.

“We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.”

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Davidson has also since released his own statement sharing he is “deeply mortified” if anyone has considered his involuntary tic as “intentional or to carry any meaning”.

Thanking the BAFTAs for inviting him to the broadcast, he shared he was blown away by the applause he received as it was announced ahead of the recording of his attendance and the symptoms of his condition.

He said: “I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me.”

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Masked suspect in abduction of Nancy Guthrie may have been at her front door earlier than date of disappearance: reports

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Masked suspect in abduction of Nancy Guthrie may have been at her front door earlier than date of disappearance: reports

The masked suspect in the abduction of Nancy Guthrie may have been at her front door earlier than the date of her disappearance, according to multiple reports.

Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show star Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills outside of Tucson, Arizona, on February 1. Police believe the elderly woman was taken as she slept.

Authorities released photos of the suspect, who has yet to be publicly identified, earlier this month. The suspect was wearing a ski mask, gloves and, in most of the photos, a backpack.

The photos were taken from a doorbell camera at Nancy’s front door the morning of her disappearance, according to the FBI.

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The masked suspect in the abduction of Nancy Guthrie may have been at her front door earlier than the date of her disappearance, according to multiple reports

The masked suspect in the abduction of Nancy Guthrie may have been at her front door earlier than the date of her disappearance, according to multiple reports (FBI)

But ABC News reported Monday, citing sources familiar with the investigation, one of the images, which showed the suspect without a backpack, was taken on another day before the alleged abduction.

A CNN source later confirmed the suspected kidnapper was at her front door on a night other than the day Nancy disappeared.

It’s unclear which day the suspect came to the home before Nancy vanished.

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The Independent has reached out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which referred to the FBI. The FBI has been contacted for comment.

Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show star Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Arizona home more than three weeks ago

Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show star Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Arizona home more than three weeks ago (NBC/Today via Reuters)

It’s been more than three weeks since Nancy vanished. Authorities and the Guthrie family are desperate to find her.

The reward for valuable information in connection with Nancy’s disappearance has grown to more than $200,000. Savannah and her family have even gone as far as to offer to pay for her safe return following reports of ransom notes that have yet to be verified by police.

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Savannah has not posted on Instagram, where she usually posts updates about the case, in more than a week.

In her last post, the TV journalist spoke directly to her mother’s suspected kidnapper: “I wanted to say to whoever has her, or knows where she is, that it’s never too late.”

“It is never too late to do the right thing,” she said.

This is a developing story…

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TUI, easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 warning over toys banned in hand luggage on flights

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Manchester Evening News
TUI, easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 warning over toys banned in hand luggage on flights – Manchester Evening News

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Princess Kate shares ‘hard conversations’ with George, Charlotte, and Louis

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Cambridgeshire Live

The Prince and Princess of Wales made their first joint public appearance since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at the annual BAFTAs in London

The Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out for an evening of glitz and glamour on Sunday as they attended the annual BAFTAs in London. The outing marked the first time the royal couple had undertaken a joint engagement since William’s uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday.

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Following their red carpet appearance, where Princess Kate looked stunning in a pink-toned floor-length Gucci gown, Kate chatted with Emily Stillman, Chair of Bafta’s Film Committee, where she spoke openly about Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis’ growing love of film and how their interest in cinema is enabling her to broach “hard conversations” with them.

Emily reminisced with the princess and said: “Last time I saw you, you were pregnant with George and you were doing your Harry Potter spells”, referring to the royal couple’s 2013 visit to the Warner Brothers studios in Hertfordshire, where they toured the set of Harry Potter.

Kate replied: “I was saying how much the children would love to look around. They love the idea of going behind the scenes and finding out how it all happens.”

The Princess of Wales went on to reveal that the three children are becoming increasingly interested in films, saying: “The children are starting to get interested in films and it’s a really great way to have some of the hard conversations with them.”

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Prince William and Princess Kate have a well-documented appreciation of film, having regularly attended the BAFTAs, where William has served as President since 2010, reports the Mirror. At the annual awards ceremony, Prince William made a frank remark about his wife’s reaction to the emotional film Hamnet, which was nominated in the Best Picture category.

He revealed that she was left in “floods of tears” after watching it. When questioned if he had seen the film, William candidly responded: “I need to be in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment. I will save it.”

In conversation with Emily Stillman, Kate remarked: “Yes, I think it was a very bad idea actually… ended up with very puffy eyes.” She described the film as “really very very powerful”, lauding the “fantastic” and “raw” music score and discussing its depiction of “intergenerational grief”.

The BAFTAs appearance by William and Kate comes amid reports from royal insiders that the Prince of Wales is committed to aiding the King in regaining the nation’s trust, following the arrest of former prince Andrew that has embroiled the royal family.

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Mountbatten-Windsor was interrogated for 11 hours last week over allegations of misconduct in public office, and the future king has been discreetly formulating plans to transform the monarchy. According to sources, William aims to manage the institution with a “corporate-like structure” to enhance accountability to the public.

The arrest of the King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, last Thursday on suspicion of leaking confidential information to his billionaire paedophile friend, Jeffrey Epstein, has sharply raised questions about the suitability of the monarchy.

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Hop into Easter at Dobbies’ Sandyholm store

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From the brand-new Dino-Paws and Dino-mite Party to the much-loved Easter Bunny Breakfast, there are plenty of activities at Dobbies to make this year’s Easter eggs-traordinary.

Dobbies’ Sandyholm store in the Clyde Valley is inviting families and pets to join the Easter fun, with a fantastic selection of events to enjoy.

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From the brand-new Dino-Paws and Dino-mite Party to the much-loved Easter Bunny Breakfast, there are plenty of activities at Dobbies to make this year’s Easter eggs-traordinary.

The store is hosting a brand-new event, Dino-Paws, in support of Dogs Trust, taking place on Saturday, April 4 and 11 as well as Sunday, April 12.

Well-behaved dogs are invited along to enjoy a fun-filled event that includes dinosaur themed treats, toys and games with their owners.

Dogs can unleash their inner dinosaur at Dino-paws, with the opportunity to step back in time and enjoy some fossil fun.

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The event includes a Dino Dig Site for dogs to sniff, dig and unearth hidden treats, a dino-themed toy, a dog cookie to take home, and a digital photo in front of the dinosaur-themed backdrop taken by a Dobbies’ colleague.

Dogs will also get to take part in a sniff-ari around the store, where they can explore their surroundings and will be guided on a scent adventure. The sniff-ari activity helps dogs decompress, make their own decisions and build confidence, leading to a more content pup.

After taking part in the dino activities, dogs and their owners can enjoy a puppuccino and a hot drink in the dog-friendly restaurant, which is free when owners purchase a slice of cake or breakfast roll.

READ MORE: Motherwell minister landed top job with the Church of Scotland

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Tickets for the Dino-Paws event are priced at £15 per dog and the experience is taking place in 50 stores. The Dino Dig is recommended to last ten minutes, followed by the 25-minute sniff-ari.

By joining the event, guests are invited to donate to Dogs Trust’s vital work to provide care, rehabilitate and rehome thousands of dogs each year.

Also new to Dobbies’ Snadyholm store this year is the Dino-mite Party, a dinosaur themed afternoon event for children and families. The party will be filled with fun, prehistoric activities and games, and children will have the opportunity to meet the Dobbies’ dinosaur.

The Dino-mite Party is suited to families with children aged three to 10 years old, and children under three can still take part in some activities with the support of an adult.

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READ MORE: Airdrie Town Hall to host Easter pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’

The event will take place from Thursday, April 9 to Sunday, April 12, with tickets priced at £18 for children and £14 for adults. The event is expected to last 90 minutes.

Dobbies’ Easter Bunny Breakfast is back by popular demand and taking place on Friday 3 and Monday 6 April at the Sandyholm store. The whole family can enjoy an Easter breakfast together, with a selection of cooked, vegan and pancake breakfast options for children and adults.

Children’s tickets are priced at £18, and this includes breakfast, games and activities, meeting the Easter Bunny and the Easter craft experience. Adults’ tickets are priced at £11.75, including breakfast. The event is expected to last 90 minutes,

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Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is excited to welcome families along to enjoy the in-store activities this Easter.

She said: “Our Easter Bunny Breakfast is always a family favourite and a lovely way to bring everyone together to celebrate the occasion.

READ MORE: North Lanarkshire Community Safety Hub continues to make a difference

“This year, we have added brand-new dinosaur events, Dino-Paws and the Dino-mite Party, that are set to be popular for our young dinosaur fans and four-legged friends. We can’t wait for our customers to get involved in the fossil fun at our Sandyholm store.”

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For more information about the Easter events at Dobbies’ Livingston store, visit www.dobbies.com/events

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READ MORE: Major road in Wishaw set for roadworks early next month

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Human remains found in search for Sydney pensioner kidnapped ‘by mistake’

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Daily Mirror

Detectives have located human remains 11 days after the 85-year-old was snatched from his bed in a shock case of mistaken identity – police have now provided a tragic update on the case

Detectives searching for missing pensioner Chris Baghsarian have uncovered what they believe are human remains, nearly 30 miles from where the 85-year-old was last seen alive.

Police in Australia confirmed that a body has been found in the New South Wales village of Pitt Town, a regional community 40 miles north-east of Sydney.

A New South Wales Police spokesperson said: “Following extensive inquiries, about 8am today (Tuesday 24 February 2026), detectives located what is believed to be human remains near a golf club in Pitt Town.”

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Police added that Investigations into Mr Baghsarian’s disappearance are ongoing and inquiries are still continuing.

The grim development comes 11 days on from the horror morning the 85-year-old grandfather was abducted from his own home in what police believe was a shocking case of mistaken identity. Chris Baghsarian was taken just before 5am on Friday after intruders forced their way into his home in New South Wales, Australia, with his captors caught on camera bundling the elderly man into a waiting car as he pleaded for help.

Grainy vision aired on Australian news network Nine shows two men — one wearing a high-visibility jacket — arriving at the North Ryde home in a dark four-wheel-drive before approaching the property. Moments later, Mr Baghsarian can be seen being pushed towards the vehicle before it speeds away into the darkness. Police later discovered an abandoned dark Toyota SUV that they believed is linked to the abduction. The car, found more than eight miles away, was completely burned out. New South Wales Police Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks said officers were “a million per cent confident” the kidnappers had taken the wrong man, stressing that Mr Baghsarian and his family had no links to organised crime.

Police had begged his captors to return Mr Baghsarian safe and sound, but it seems their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. New South Wales premier Chris Minns described the family as “distraught” in the days following his adduction. He too had called on those responsible for the savage abduction to do the right thing. “This is a man over 80 years old,” Mr Minns said. “Please return him to his family.”

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor latest: MPs seek to force release of files on former duke’s trade envoy job

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor latest: MPs seek to force release of files on former duke’s trade envoy job

Timeline of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s scandals as royal arrested on his birthday amid Epstein allegations

Rebecca Whittaker24 February 2026 01:00

Watch: Infamous photo of Andrew’s arrest hung in Louvre by protesters

Infamous photo of Andrew’s arrest hung in Louvre by protesters

Rebecca Whittaker24 February 2026 00:00

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Australia supports removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from royal line of succession

Rebecca Whittaker23 February 2026 23:00

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should not face ‘trial by media’, says Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage said Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “looks to have done some terrible things” but should not face “trial by media”.

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“Mountbatten-Windsor looks to have done some terrible things, but they have not yet been proven,” Mr Farage said.

“I don’t think we should allow trial by media. I don’t think we should convict anybody or pass parliamentary legislation until the police have finished their jobs, and possibly the courts too.

“I do believe in due process, and I do believe that people are innocent until they’re found guilty.”

Rebecca Whittaker23 February 2026 22:30

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Lib Dems seek to force release of files on Andrew’s trade envoy job

The Liberal Democrats will seek to force the public release of files relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy.

The Lib Dems will table a humble address in the Commons in a bid to compel the Government to disclose information about Andrew, who served as a trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.

The motion will call for the release of papers relating to Andrew’s appointment to the post, including any vetting and any correspondence from Lord Mandelson.

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Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “The public is rightly demanding to know how Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was appointed to represent our nation in a high-level trade role.

“The Liberal Democrats are moving a binding motion to force the Government to come clean.

“We need to see the vetting files, the due diligence reports, and the correspondence to understand how this appointment came to be, and whether glaring warning signs were missed.

“There’s also a much broader principle at stake here. No one, regardless of their title or their friends, should be beyond the scrutiny of Parliament.

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“It is time to end the age of impunity, scrap rules that stifle scrutiny or debate, and ensure that everyone in public office – no matter how powerful – can be held properly to account.”

Becky Whittaker23 February 2026 22:00

Watch: PM confirms government are considering succession of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

PM confirms government are considering succession of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Bryony Gooch23 February 2026 21:00

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Recap: Timeline of the investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

30 January – US Department of Justice releases a tranche of two million Epstein files mentioning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and other high profile figures.

9 February – Republic CEO Graham Smith files report with Thames Valley Police against Mr Mountbatten-Windsor for misconduct in public office following allegations in the tranche.

19 February – Thames Valley Police arrest Mr Mountbatten Windsor on his 66th birthday and open an investigation on suspected misconduct in public office.

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He is released after 11 hours of investigation.

20 February – Thames Valley Police say searches in Berkshire, where Royal Lodge is, are ongoing and would likely to be ongoing until Monday.

23 February – Retired civil servants tell the BBC that the then-prince allegedly used public money for massages and excessive travel costs.

One former civil servant told the broadcaster they had initially refused his request to pay for “massage services”, but was overruled by more senior staff.

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Bryony Gooch23 February 2026 20:00

How the royal family is weathering its worst crisis in 90 years

Bryony Gooch23 February 2026 19:00

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Watch: Labour ‘not ruling anything out’ over removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from line of succession

Labour ‘not ruling anything out’ over removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from line of succession

Bryony Gooch23 February 2026 18:00

In pictures: Police officers enter a van at the entrance to the Royal Lodge

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Bryony Gooch23 February 2026 17:30

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‘Compromised safety fencing’ forces lane closure on Cambs city road

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Cambridgeshire Live

It is unclear when the road will reopen

A Peterborough road is partially closed after a three-vehicle crash damaged safety fencing. The crash happened on Saturday (February 21) and the drivers of all three vehicles had left the scene when police arrived.

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Peterborough City Council have now confirmed that there are lane closures and reduced speed limits in place whilst the fencing is fixed.

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: “Fletton Parkway Junction 3A, on Stanham Way overbridge, has lane closures in both directions and reduced speed limit due to an area of compromised safety fencing following a RTC.”

Repair crews plan to assess the damage today and then the repairs will be scheduled.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “We were called at about 7.20pm on Saturday ( 21 February ) with reports of a collision between three vehicles on the A1139 Fletton Parkway in Peterborough.

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“Officers attended but the drivers had left the scene. The vehicles were recovered and investigations are ongoing.”

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