Calum Alexander and Liam Reynolds, participants from the charity AWARE Scotland, were part of a group of supporters who gave the men’s team a rallying cry.

Two lucky lads were among a group of fans who got the surprise chance to give the Scotland squad a World Cup rallying cry thanks to Specsavers,

Calum Alexander (24) and Liam Reynolds (29), participants from the charity AWARE Scotland, were part of a group of supporters who attended Barclays Hampden before the men’s team jetted out to the USA.

They believed that they would be writing postcards to send to the players and enjoying a tour of the national stadium.

While they took in their guided tour and prepared to post their messages, however, little did they know Scotland stars Kenny McLean and Lawrence Shankland were waiting in the wings to surprise them.

Kenny and Lawrence collected the messages of support from the gathered fans to share with the rest of Steve Clarke’s squad.

With the friendly matches now behind them and focus turning to the group-stage kick-off, Scotland fans will be vital in driving the team on. Specsavers was on hand to make sure their messages of support reached the squad directly before they headed off to the US.

Liam, from Cambuslang, went down the personal route, directing his message to Kieran Tierney, asking the left back to ‘score some more goals’ and wishing him the best of luck at the tournament.

And Calum, who is from Mount Florida, urged captain Andy Robertson to get the team ‘hyped up’ and to let him know if he needs any help.

The pair, who both have additional support needs and receive support from AWARE Scotland, enjoyed their day and hope Scotland can be successful Stateside.

Liam said: “It was an incredible experience, and I hope Kieran Tierney gets my postcard!”

Calum said: “It was so amazing and I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was great to wish good luck to the whole team and let them know all of Scotland is behind them.

“I think we’re going to win it all and if they want a hype man, I’m there.”

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Tasked with the responsibility of delivering the messages is Lawrence Shankland, who appreciates the support of the Tartan Army as Scotland attempt to make history this summer.

The Scotland striker said: “It was brilliant to meet Calum and Liam and to see their excitement about the tournament.

“We’ve got letters to Kieran Tierney we need to pass on now so it was good to meet them and it’s those small moments that those guys will remember for a long time.

“There’s been a long build up from qualifying and the excitement is building all over Scotland and you can really feel it.”

Specsavers renewed its sponsorship deal with the Scottish FA in 2024, becoming the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner and extending one of the longest-running partnerships in sport.

The agreement runs through to 2028 and includes continued support for referee training and development, as well as raising awareness of grassroots and local football across the country.

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The numbers ’86 47′ have appeared in the green grass on Washington DC’s National Mall in an apparent message to the President.

Days before Donald Trump turns 80 and a UFC match takes place in the area, new aerial photos have revealed the message in the dying grass.

It’s not clear when the numbers were etched into the grass, but they’ve previously been used to snub Trump – ’86’ being code in hospitality to get rid of an order or patron.

And given that Trump is the 47th US President, the rest of the message is quite clear.

Earlier this year, former FBI director James Comey was indicted for ‘threatening’ Trump with a photo of seashells spelling out ‘8647’.

The former FBI chief was interviewed by the US Secret Service in May after Trump administration officials claimed that he was advocating the assassination of Trump, the 47th president.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ’86’ as slang meaning ‘to throw out, to get rid of or to refuse service to’.

It added: ‘Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill’. We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.’

Comey deleted the post shortly after it was made, writing: ‘I didn’t realise some folks associate those numbers with violence… I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down.’

Trump, in a Fox News Channel interview, accused Comey of knowing ‘exactly what that meant’.

‘A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear,’ he said.

MORE: Why Donald Trump is not attending World Cup opening ceremony and USA’s first match

MORE: Woman’s life saved from gun-wielding dog by gaming PC

MORE: Pentagon locked down and evacuated after false alarm

Average asking prices have increased by 18 per cent annually in Bridlington, according to analysis by Rightmove.

The property website, which looked across Britain but excluded London from the analysis, found that Bridlington and St Helens in Merseyside led the way as first-time buyer price hotspots.

In Bridlington the average asking price for a typical first-time buyer home was £167,321, while the figure stood at £133,106 in St Helens.

First-time buyer homes were defined in the research as those with two bedrooms at the most, including houses and flats.

Rightmove said the fastest-growing areas for asking prices on its list had average prices below £170,000, highlighting continued demand for more affordable homes.

In contrast, several higher-priced southern markets, including Brighton and Southampton, are seeing average first-time buyer prices ease compared with last year, it said.

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Rightmove said that the average asking price across the research for a typical first-time buyer home is £228,048, down by 0.7 per cent annually.

Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said: “Affordability continues to shape where first-time buyers are looking, and we’re seeing the strongest price growth in areas where homes remain within reach for more people.

“Lower-cost locations are still seeing strong interest, with competition for homes helping to hold prices up.

“In more expensive markets, tenants are taking a bit more time and thinking more carefully about what they can afford, which is keeping growth relatively flat.”

People are being asked to watch the dramatic explosion from a viewing area with roads and footpaths shutting

The long-awaited controlled explosive demolition of the chimney stack at the former Aberthaw Power Station is set to take place on Friday.

Aberthaw, in the Vale of Glamorgan, was Wales’ last coal-fired power station and closed in 2020.

A date for blowing up the landmark chimmney stack was only issued on Thursday under advice from police and local authorities.

The chimney is scheduled to come down at 10am on Friday but viewing starts from 8.30am.

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Temporary road and access restrictions will be in force near the site leading up to and during the explosion, which will last only seconds and make a loud “thunderclap” noise.

A temporary exclusion zone will also be in force around the demolition area and only authorised personnel will be allowed inside.

Limpert Bay Road and sections of the Wales Coast Path surrounding the site will be temporarily closed for a short period to allow the demolition to take place safely. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Police officers and other offiicials will be at access points and diversions to advise drivers and walkers.

People wanting to watch the explosion are being asked by police and demolition contractors to use the designated viewing event at Fonmon Castle.

Cardiff Capital Region Energy (CCR Energy), the company leading the project to redevelop the site to produce alternative energy, said earlier this year that it had finished demolishing the turbine hall and deaerator bays at the huge site. Now the tower will go too.

Erith Contractors, which is carrying out the demolition with a team of specialist demolition and explosive engineers, said it is being carried out in accordance with UK legislation, industry best practice, and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance.

It said the demolition will create “a short-duration noise similar to a loud thunderclap” as the chimney stack is brought down.

“While this noise may be noticeable it will be very brief and is expected to last only a few seconds.”

The demolition marks a significant step in the future of the Aberthaw site, which first started operating in the 1960s.

Environmental and risk assessments have been carried out prior to the demolition of the tower including a controlled exclusion zone around the demolition area.

Erith said the demolition date has been released on Thursday under guidance from South Wales Police.

“Owing to the significant public interest in the event communications have been carefully managed to help protect public safety, minimise congestion on the local road network, and ensure suitable viewing arrangements are in place,” the contactor said.

“The site is accessed via a limited road network and it is essential that access remains available for residents, contractors, and emergency services throughout the operation. “

No vibration will be felt outside of the site boundary, the demolition firm added.

“The demolition has been subject to detailed engineering assessment, which confirms that any ground vibration generated will be contained within the controlled site area and remain well below levels that could be felt to the surrounding community.

“As an additional precaution vibration monitoring equipment will be deployed during the demolition to verify performance and ensure that all activity remains within established safe limits.”

Some dust is expected immediately following the demolition. The demolition has been planned to minimise the spread of dust and ensure it remains “within acceptable limits”.

Assurances have also been given that there is no risk from asbestos.

“The chimney stack has undergone extensive surveys and preparation works ahead of demolition,” said Erith.

“Any asbestos-containing materials identified within the structure have been removed by licensed asbestos specialists in accordance with strict health, safety, and environmental regulations.

“The demolition will also be supported by dust-suppression measures and environmental monitoring throughout the operation.

“Based on the surveys and remediation works completed there is no expectation of asbestos being released as a result of the chimney stack demolition.”

Work has also been carried out to protect local wildlife from the effects of the explosion.

Over the last two years ecological surveys have been done across the site to comply with environmental and wildlife protection requirements.

Bird and bat boxes have been installed within the tree line to the east of the site providing alternative nesting and roosting opportunities.

A dedicated peregrine falcon scrape has been installed in the northeast of the site.

The peregrine scrape is now actively being used by a breeding pair of peregrine falcons, which the demolition company said showed the success of the ecological improvements made ahead of the tower being blown up.

After demolition the collapsed material will be assessed and processed and environmental monitoring will continue at the site.

The viewing event is being managed by Fonmon Castle from 8.30am until 11 amand and is subject to availability. You can register to view here.

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Tributes have poured in for the 25-year-old, whose death has left the local community ‘deeply saddened’

The death of a gifted Cambridge musician has left the local community “deeply saddened”. Harrison Cole, 25, was found in the River Cam on Sunday morning (June 7), police said it was not treating the death as suspicious.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “We were called to the River Cam at about 9.15am on Sunday with reports of the body of a man in the river near to King’s College. The death is not being treated as suspicious and has been passed to the coroner.”

Mr Cole was assisting organist at King’s College and has been described as a “glorious person and an amazing organist” in a tribute from the college. In a statement, the college said: “We are deeply saddened to share the news of the death of Harrison Cole, Assisting Organist at King’s College. Harrison Cole was a music scholar at Ipswich School, and during his school years, he spent three years as a student at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music.

“Following a gap year organ scholarship at Wells Cathedral, he came up to Trinity College, Cambridge as organ scholar in 2019. Upon graduation, he spent a year as assistant organist at Gonville and Caius College before taking up his position at King’s in September 2024.”

During his time at King’s, the organist accompanied the Choir on recordings, broadcasts and concert tours, including two A Festivals of Nine Lessons and Carols services, and tours to Australia, Estonia, the USA and Canada.

Harrison was due to leave King’s this summer, according to the college. He had recently been appointed to assistantships at St Paul’s in Knightsbridge and St Michael’s in Cornhill: two significant musical establishments in London from which he was poised to develop a freelance career as pianist, organist and conductor.

Provost Gillian Tett said: “The entire College community has felt this loss keenly, particularly the Choir and Chapel teams. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this sad time.”

The celebrity organist Anna Lapwood wrote: “Still can’t quite get my head around this news. Harrison was such a glorious person and an amazing organist. Sending all my love to his family, and to everyone in Cambridge. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.”

Channel 4 has confirmed that a hit true crime doc that’s previously left fans feeling “physically sick” will air next week.

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Taskmaster is drawing to a close and Channel 4 has already revealed what will fill its slot next week.

Greg Davies and Alex Horne are presiding over the final instalment of their quirky Channel 4 game show tonight, Thursday, June 11, with the five celebrities keen to claim the coveted golden Taskmaster trophy.

At present, comedian Amy Gledhill, writer Armando Iannucci, actor Kumail Nanjiani and Gavin and Stacey’s Joanna Page all remain in contention for victory, though presenter Joel Dommett unfortunately no longer has sufficient points.

Channel 4 audiences are keenly anticipating the finale, but many are already curious about what will succeed Taskmaster following its 10-week run in the Thursday evening primetime schedule.

It has now been confirmed that Taskmaster series 21’s replacement next week is a “real hidden gem” that has both “captivated” and previously left audiences feeling “physically sick”.

Billed as an “eye-opening” true crime documentary series, Channel 4 is scheduled to repeat a popular episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody.

The critically acclaimed programme follows the daily work of officers investigating serious crimes, documenting the journey from initial arrest through to final charge.

Originally broadcast in 2021, this episode, titled The No Body Murder, which follows Cambridgeshire Police, sees “DCI Adam Gallop believe a man declared missing in 2015 has been murdered.

“But has so far been unable to locate his body and the more time passes, the less chance there is of new witnesses or forensic evidence turning up.”

The official description continues: “The police investigation takes officers from an urgent excavation in the woods where the missing man is believed to have been shot to a journey across Europe in search of clues.”

Writing on IMDb, one viewer commented: “Arguably ‘true crime’ has never seen a better documentary.”

Another described it as “Gripping, unpredictable, shocking. A fantastic insight into the Police in Beds/Cambs. Unmissable TV.”

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A third viewer observed: “Pure drama that challenges the perception of modern day police work and the modern day accused.”

However, before 24 Hours in Police Custody returns to screens next week, viewers must first enjoy tonight’s Taskmaster finale.

The official synopsis for this evening’s Taskmaster final reads: “Amy Gledhill literally tears her hair out, Armando Iannucci plays the recorder while riding a trike with a plunger on his head.

“Joel Dommett sniffs the contents of a vacuum, Kumail Nanjiani mistreats a beloved resident of the Taskmaster house and Joanna Page lays waste to Little Alex Horne. Plus, the greatest pillow fights of all time.”

24 Hours in Police Custody is available to watch on Channel 4.

Iran’s Kharg Island, home to a terminal through which the country exports most of its oil, has emerged as a focus of the war launched in late February by the United States and Israel.

Strikes on oil infrastructure on Kharg — or a ground invasion — would severely curb Iran’s oil exports, a key source of revenue for the Islamic Republic. An assault would also mark a major escalation that could provoke even heavier retaliatory attacks on Gulf Arab infrastructure and further drive up oil prices. The skyrocketing cost of fuel is already threatening the world economy.

U.S. President Donald Trump said strikes in mid-March “obliterated” Kharg’s military assets but did not target the island’s oil infrastructure. He warned that if Iran continued disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, he would reconsider the decision to spare energy targets on the island.

Then on Thursday, Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. would “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas industries, including the Kharg Island terminal, in the “not too distant future.”

The president made the post as escalating attacks between the countries pushed the Middle East closer to the resumption of a full-scale war. His latest threats emerged at a time when efforts to negotiate an end to the war appear to be stuck.

The island is on the other side of the Persian Gulf from U.S. bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. A U.S. occupation of it would put American troops in a stationary position just 33 kilometers (21 miles) off Iran’s coast. That’s well within range of Iranian drones and missiles, if the Islamic Republic is willing to inflict damage on its own territory.

The small coral island is especially important because Iran’s coastline is mostly too shallow for tanker ships to dock. The U.S. has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, which has impeded Iran’s efforts to export oil, mainly to China, through the Strait of Hormuz, even as Iranian attacks have closed the vital waterway to most traffic.

The destruction or loss of the island would deny the government a major revenue source, but it would also remove even more oil from world markets at a time of soaring prices. The destruction of the terminal would further damage Iran’s already weakened economy and undermine any efforts at postwar reconstruction.

Iran has continued to exert control over the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passed before the war. Meanwhile, the U.S. has sent thousands of soldiers and Marines to the region.

Kharg Island has storage tanks and housing for thousands of workers. Gazelles roam freely near the refineries and depots. It also is home to a medieval Portuguese fortress and the ruins of one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the Persian Gulf.

The launch of her book Tell Your Friends will take place at Waterstones Darlington from 6pm to 7.30pm on Thursday, June 18.

It will feature a conversation between Ms Wilson and fellow young Darlington author HF Askwith, who will host the discussion and explore the themes and inspiration behind the new novel.

HF Askwith (Image: Supplied)

Tell Your Friends follows Crystal Shaw, a reluctant online personality who sees university as her chance to break free from her controlling vlogger family.

While outwardly agreeing to her mother’s demands to create a spin-off channel about her university experience, Crystal is secretly looking for someone who can help her expose some damning evidence about her parents.

She hopes this evidence will destroy their social media empire and give her and her younger siblings freedom.

(Image: Supplied)

The story takes a dark turn when Crystal confides in Alyssa, a fellow journalism student who turns out to be a secret superfan of the family’s vlog.

Alyssa, unwilling to lose her connection to the vlogger family, develops her own plans—raising the stakes for both girls.

Ms Wilson, who was born and raised in Darlington and now lives in Newcastle, is a journalism graduate with an MA in creative writing from Northumbria University.

She has worked as a freelance journalist and served as temporary production editor at Mslexia, a magazine for women writers.

Her debut novel, The Goldens, was a bestseller and named Waterstones Book of the Month in July 2025.

The panel host, HF Askwith, is a winner of the Northern Writers’ Award and also holds an MA in creative writing from Northumbria University.

Both authors will be signing stock at the end of the evening.

Royal Ascot is just days away but there’s still some good racing to come before then and I’ve found four to follow on betting sites, all running at York, for Friday’s racing tips.

Plenty in Bintaryana’s favour for York run

We’re going to start Friday’s selections with an unexposed filly in BINTARYANA. William Knight has his string in good form and this daughter of Showcasing has only seen the racecourse four times, winning a fillies’ maiden at Nottingham (6f, good) on the second of those.

She’s not been quite as good as that on either start since, finishing second at Southwell (6f, AW) under a penalty next time and then racing too freely for her own good at Haydock (5f, good to soft) last time out when second on her handicap debut.

Despite that, she’s up 2lb and with that bit of extra experience under her belt and back over 6f she could be a better proposition. She’s also got a handy draw from stall five and receives weight from all her opponents, so there are a few things that we have on our side in playing to relatively small stakes.

Friday tip 1: Bintaryana – 1pt each-way @ 11/4 (bet365)

Big Negotiator can strike a winning deal

Regulars will know this isn’t the type of race I normally cover in this column but unless there is a good newcomer, I think BIG NEGOTIATOR looks to have a very good chance and I’m prepared to break the ‘norm’ and get involved on horse racing betting sites.

Her debut effort in a Navan fillies’ maiden (5f, yielding) was promising and she built on that despite being a beaten favourite at Listowel (6½f, good). In the latter contest, she swept to the front and looked booked to break her duck but just didn’t see out the longer trip quite as well as the winner Beibhinn.

I think the return to the minimum trip on should suit and it can make her trip from Ireland a worthwhile one with a win.

Friday tip 2: Big Negotiator – 2pts win @ 13/8 (bet365)

Altareq close to maiden success

This looks both fascinating and tricky in equal measure. The best of Wahdan on his first start for Tim Easterby would make the former Joseph O’Brien inmate very interesting. Urban Glimpse is another for short lists, with first-time cheekpieces a potential fillip.

Cloth Of Gold looks nicely treated on his best form so far but I’m going to side with ALTAREQ each-way. Jim Goldie trains this former John and Thady Gosden inmate, who is 0-5 to date. He’d improved on the last of his three starts for his previous stable, who then let him go for 95,000gns.

Stepping up on that form immediately for this trainer, when beaten just over 1l over C&D last month, from a wide draw and after being slowly away, it was a good reappearance effort.

Dropped back in trip at Hamilton last time, he wasn’t far away in third. I think the return to this trip will be a positive. We know he acts here and he’s also better drawn this time. If jockey Lauren Young can get him off to a better start, then he could be a threat to all.

He’s unexposed and my idea of an each-way selection. At the time of writing 16 runners are declared, so you will get four or maybe even five places on betting apps.

Friday racing tip 3: Altareq – 1pt each-way @ 5/1 (bet365)

Watch Forest Phoenix soar at York

Vinciamo and FOREST PHOENIX both make this handicap debuts here having met just under two weeks ago at Catterick, when the former led for much of the way but the latter came out on top.

There’s little to choose between them with regard to the draw here, with Vinciamo perhaps marginally better off being the lower of the two but stall seven shouldn’t be a major handicap for the selection.

What struck me watching that race was that once the winner had got going, he won very cosily and left the impression that improvement should follow. He’s saddled by Tim Easterby and we know that whichever branch of that family sends them to the Knavesmire, they need treating with plenty of respect.

That Catterick outing felt like a reconnaissance mission for a trip here and he looks to have been allotted a fair mark (72) by the handicapper. Fellow last-time winners I’m Dan Dare, Adalida, Simba’s Pride and Houndhill will all have some support, which should help with a very solid market for this race.

Friday racing tip 4: Forest Phoenix (York, 16.45) – 1pt each-way @ 6/1 (bet365)

Betfred are offering new customers £50 in free bets right now, with the entire bonus available for wagering on racing.

A lot of betting sites place restrictions on which sports free bets can be used, but Betfred don’t limit a punter’s choice.

Sign up using the link below, complete the registration process and then make a first deposit of at least £10. Next, wager £10 or more on any event at the Betfred sportsbook at odds of evens or greater.

Once the bet is settled, punters will receive the £50 in free bets, which is split into 5 x £10 free bet tokens. £30 of the welcome bonus can be used on any sport, while the other £20 can only be used on accumulators.

If you’re having a bet on Friday’s racing, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.

Betting can be addictive, and it’s important to stay in control of your gambling, whether you’re using online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites, bingo sites or any other gambling platform.

Never treat gambling as a way to make money, never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop.

Gambling sites offer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options, to help you stay in control.

But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don’t hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.

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