“Of course, we can never control what the president thinks, or what the president will say, of course we don’t, many many people have very strong views on the president, including myself, a number of times I would disagree with what he says on a range of issues – but ultimately I am here to champion Northern Ireland, and I think that we’ve done that very well this week.”

The Barbican Centre’s 2025-26 concert season, Fragile Earth: Sounds of a Living Planet, brings the connection between music and nature, and its vulnerability to climate change, to the fore.

The chamber orchestra Britten Sinfonia embraced the theme with their contribution, Nature and Rapture: Recycling Concerto, which took place on March 12 and 13. The concerto was written by Gregor A. Mayrhofer for the virtuosic percussionist Vivi Vassileva. Together, the pair have collected and tuned an enormous battery of percussion from repurposed rubbish.

The stage presented a striking array of litter, including an enormous plastic bottle marimba, a wall of tuned glass bottles, discarded flower pots, cooking pans and a washing machine drum.

The first movement, The Happy Tsunami of Wealth, emerged with the crackling and rustling of plastic bags as Vassileva threw them across the stage. She then, with astonishing accuracy, used makeshift single-use beaters such as corks, plastic lids and coffee capsules, throwing them at the traditional tuned percussion and leaving them discarded on the floor. The music built to a dense sound, described by Mayrhofer as “an insurmountable pile of acoustic rubbish”.

In the second movement, Meltdown Meltup, the mood of the piece moves from joy and abandon into reflection, recycling music from the first movement. It also references the theme from Charles Ives’s The Unanswered Question as recognition that we don’t have the answers yet, but we can’t just sit back and let this assault on our planet continue.

In the Plastic Bottle Cadenza, Vassileva performed a virtuosic cadenza with just two plastic drinking bottles that changed pitch as she released air from them. Mayrhofer and Vassileva have made something quite stunning out of rubbish. The beautiful sounds of the unique instruments provide quite the juxtaposition to the pile of used bottles, pans and pieces of non-descript metal with which they started.

In the final movement, Recycling Music, Mayrhofer continues to recycle existing themes within the composition. Several of these are taken from the advertising jingles of some of the biggest polluting corporations in the world – think soft drinks, fast food, coffee and communications companies. These themes weave into the performance like a musical naming and shaming.

The orchestra, soloist and conductor brought the performance to a peaceful close, quoting again The Unanswered Question, ankle deep in plastic bags, discarded lids and other rubbish. It was a visually and aurally striking end to a moving plea to take more care of our environment.

From the noise of pollution to the sounds of nature

The second half of the evening opened with a breathtaking performance of Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Cantus Arcticus: Concerto for Birds and Orchestra. Rautavaara combines recordings of birdsong, recorded in the Arctic Circle and the marshlands of Limnika, with the orchestra, creating an immersive experience of music and nature combined.

The first movement, The Bog, opens with two flutes calling and answering to one another. They’re soon joined by a recording of marsh birds. The movement evolves with instruments mimicking the birdsong.

I was completely absorbed by the sound-world, often unable to differentiate between true birdsong and the orchestral imitations.

Movement two, Melancholy, begins with the call of the shorelark, but transposed down two octaves, described by the composer as a “ghost bird”. This is accompanied by a chorale-like structure, first in strings only until it builds to a full orchestral sound that is almost overwhelming for a short time before quickly fading back to nothing.

The final movement, Swans Migrating, features the call of the whooper swan which builds to a cacophony of music and birdsong, fading in the final few moments of the piece. It is a beautiful expression of nature that was a striking contrast to the first half of the concert.

The concert closed with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 Pastoral, which is truly evocative of the environment. The five movements describe the countryside while portraying Beethoven’s emotional connection to nature.

I left the concert on a musical high, but also feeling reflective. To hear the sounds of nature as experienced by Beethoven, an early 19th-century nature enthusiast, in the same programme as the Recycling Concerto was extremely thought-provoking.

Musicians are increasingly using their craft to communicate the climate crisis. This potential to influence audiences in their attitudes to the environment is currently a subject of research, for example at the Influencing Environmental Values Through Music research group at the University of Sheffield.

In the orchestral music sphere, intentional programming to address the climate crisis is starting to become more common. Ensembles like the Orchestra for the Earth aim to inspire audiences to connect with and care for the natural world. Julie’s Bicycle is an international non-profit supporting creative organisations to take climate action in their practices, and in terms of engaging their audiences, and the Association of British Orchestras offers guidance to help orchestras operate sustainably.

If music can convey the message of environmentalism to audiences, as research suggests, then cultural organisations could be said to have a duty to take action. There is research that shows audiences for classical music are in decline and lack diversity. Further research explores the motivations of audiences attending cultural events: sustainability messaging could be a way to reach out to a new audience for whom this is an important issue.

Britten Sinfonia, with its innovative approach to programming and public engagement, is well placed to lead the way.

The climate crisis has a communications problem. How do we tell stories that move people – not just to fear the future, but to imagine and build a better one? This article is part of Climate Storytelling, a series exploring how arts and science can join forces to spark understanding, hope and action.

The UK Government has said claimants still on legacy benefits should have transferred to Universal Credit by the end of March.

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People who have transferred to Universal Credit from Tax Credits are being warned they could face a fine of up to £100. Martin Lewis issued the alert for claimants in England who have moved from the so-called legacy benefit who ticked the box for ‘free prescriptions and dental treatment’.

Prescriptions are free in Scotland which means nobody in work or claiming benefits needs to pay for them. However, this is not the case in England.

Martin urged people not to assume you get free prescriptions and dental care on Universal Credit because you did so on Tax Credits. During the latest edition of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on STV, the consumer champion explained income for people on Tax Credits was assessed annually, but Universal Credit is on a month-to-month basis. Incorrectly claiming free prescriptions could land claimants in England with a penalty of up to £100.

Martin told viewers: “Do not assume if you move from Tax Credits to Universal Credit you will get free prescriptions and dental. The Universal Credit income threshold for these is lower than under Tax Credits and remember, with Universal Credit your eligibility is deemed by a monthly assessment and with Tax Credits it is an annual assessment.”

The financial expert continued to explain that when individuals are completing the form, they reach the section for free prescriptions and dental care and simply tick either the Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Tax Credits box. However, this can prompt a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) asking them to verify their eligibility as they may not be aware that the income threshold varies.

Consequently, those who fail to check it and understand the difference could face a fine of up to £100 – even if they were unaware they had made an error, reports the Daily Record. Martin mentioned he is also in discussions with the UK Government to improve the clarity of the forms due to the increase in fines over the past couple of years.

He added: “Protect yourself and go check if you are eligible.” Comprehensive information on eligibility for free prescriptions on Universal Credit can be found on GOV.UK.

Transition to Universal Credit

Universal Credit is progressively replacing six existing benefits, including Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

The UK Government states that the new system aims to streamline the benefits system by consolidating several payments into a single monthly payment.

The managed migration process has been underway for several years and involves directly contacting claimants when it is their turn to transition to Universal Credit. The DWP sends out letters detailing the necessary steps individuals need to take and offers assistance to those who require help with the application process.

Under the managed migration scheme, claimants who receive a Migration Notice are instructed to apply for Universal Credit within a given deadline. Those who fail to submit a claim in time could see their current benefits halted.

The transition of people receiving Income Support and income-based JSA is nearly finished, and these two benefits will officially cease at the end of March as the UK Government continues its broader reform of the welfare system.

However, the DWP have agreed to a brief extension for some cases involving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The Department states that many ESA claims are more complex and necessitate additional support to ensure people transition safely to Universal Credit.

Actress Amy Walsh, who plays Tracy Robinson, will be taking time off the show for maternity leave as she prepares to have her second baby with husband and EastEnders actor Toby-Alexander Smith.

The soap star filmed her exit in February, taking to social media at the time to reveal it was her last day on set after 12 years, having joined back in 2014.

Emmerdale star Amy Walsh’s exit storyline on ITV soap is teased

Next week in the village: the Dingle vs Tate farm begins to grow and Cain’s behaviour causes concern for Charity.

For more: https://t.co/rrMTFHeSlT #Emmerdale pic.twitter.com/bJLZQTvd7c

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— Emmerdale (@emmerdale) March 17, 2026

For those wondering how Tracy would be written out of Emmerdale, the character’s exit storyline has now been teased.

Fresh spoilers for next week’s Emmerdale episodes have revealed that Tracy has been keeping secrets from her sister Vanessa.

Amy’s character was left distraught after her on-screen husband, Nate, was killed by John Sugden.

Now, Vanessa is hunting the truth and will recognise that sister Tracy needs time away from the village.

Her move away will coincide with Amy’s time away from the soap with her family.

Amy revealed the pregnancy news last year, and later told fans that it would be her second daughter with husband Toby-Alexander Smith.

The soap star shared that she filmed her final scenes as Tracy Robinson in February, posting a picture on Instagram showing the entrance to ITV studios.

She wrote: “Last day! Let’s do this.”

Which Emmerdale stars have left the show recently?

Emmerdale has seen plenty of exits recently, with a few having already left this year, and some last year.

While some were only temporary, others have been permanent.

Isabel Hodgins, similar to Amy Walsh, is also taking a break from Emmerdale after welcoming her first baby with husband, Adam Whitehead.

Isabel, who has played Victoria Sugden in Emmerdale for nearly 20 years, said she surprisingly “felt ready” for the break from filming .

Her character, Victoria, left for a new life in Portugal, but did tell Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) that she would return.

Joe Absolom, who played the dangerous drug dealer Ray Walters, also left earlier this year, however his character died, having been killed by Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards).

The exits follow the likes of Rachael Gill-Davis as Gail Loman, Paula Lane’s Ella Forster, who left in 2025.

Despite some characters leaving, some returns are coming, with the likes of Mandy Dingle on that list.

Lisa Riley made a temporary exit to take part in last year’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, where she finished fifth.

Who is your favourite character in Emmerdale? Let us know in the comments.

Town hall chiefs have hailed the changes as some of the biggest improvements to public transport in years.

The routes of the 575, 576 and 615 buses will be altered to help shoppers and staff get to and from Middlebrook, bringing an end to the long running frustration with public transport to one of the UK’s biggest shopping destinations.

And people who work at Logistics North will benefit from changed timetables for the 20, 471, 507 and 511 buses.

Transport Commissioner Vernon Everitt (Image: TfGM)

The changes are designed to make bus journeys better match the times of shift patterns at the major employment hub, helping people to get to and from work more conveniently.

People using the 471, which links Bolton with Bury and Rochdale, will find the changes are not just about getting to Logistics North, say transport bosses, with more buses put on during the morning, daytime and evening to improve performance and carry more people, while the Sunday service will increase from 7am to midnight.

In the last of the changes, the number 36 late night service between Bolton and Manchester will be continued on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, alongside proposals for changes to the timetable on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Bus network improvements across the whole of Greater Manchester (Image: TfGM)

Transport chiefs say that the “far-reaching changes” are only possible because of the switch to public control of buses under the Bee Network, giving Greater Manchester the first locally controlled, integrated transport system in the UK outside of London.

Bolton was one of the first two areas to join the Bee Network and bus journeys have seen a 14 percent year-on-year increase.

The leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Nick Peel, said: “This is great news for Bolton that will boost jobs and make life easier for people.

“People have been crying out for a bus to Middlebrook as well as better buses to Logistics North and now thanks to the Bee Network they are finally on their way.

“Alongside the continuation of the £2 flat fare and the removal of restrictions for all-day free travel for pensioners and disabled people, we are fully on board with these improvements and will keep working with the mayor to bring new and better public transport to Bolton.”

The director of Middlebrook Retail Park, Robert Hallworth, said:“Following today’s announcement from Andy Burnham regarding improvements to bus services across Greater Manchester, this is particularly great news for Bolton and Middlebrook retail park.

Transport Commissioner Vernon Everitt (Image: TfGM)

Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, Vernon Everitt, said: “The Bee Network is doing exactly what it was created to do, delivering reliable, affordable and better-connected transport for the people and businesses of Greater Manchester.

“These improvements show how local control is already transforming services: linking workers to jobs, supporting our shops, hospitality and nighttime economy, and making it easier for families and communities to travel right across the city-region.

“As we continue to integrate and expand the network, we are focused on making everyday life easier and opening up new opportunities for everyone who lives, works or invests in Greater Manchester.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham (Image: TfGM)

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “These changes will benefit people right across Greater Manchester. They have come about as a direct result of your feedback and support for the Bee Network and have been made possible by the decision we took to bring our buses back under local control.”

“After the erosion of bus services to Middlebrook over the years we are really pleased that the 575, 576 and 615 will now provide direct connectivity between Bolton town centre and Middlebrook retail park.

“With over 7,000 employees on site and thousands of shoppers a week these services will provide greatly needed access between these two shopping and employment hubs in Bolton.”

Councillors are worried children in Comber will try to cross River Enler on fallen trees

A call has been made for trees in County Down that were felled into a river by the notorious Storm Eowyn to be lifted, over a year after the event.

Elected representatives at Ards and North Down Borough Council have said fallen trees over the Enler River, Comber, are presenting a health and safety problem and present “an accident waiting to happen,” with children attempting to treat the deadfall as a bridge across the water.

Councillors have agreed at committee level to ask officials to “engage with other statutory agencies” and safely remove the fallen trees over the Enler River, which have been there for 14 months since Storm Eowyn. Uncertainty appears to remain as to what branch of government is exactly responsible for addressing the problem, and also who owns the land in question.

READ MORE: Call made to protect North Down biodiverse parkland after widespread destruction

READ MORE: Football coming home to Newtownards as Ards FC stadium approved after 25 year wait

The motion, which was agreed at the March meeting of the council’s Environment Committee, still has to go to the full council meeting next week for ratification, where it is expected to pass.

Storm Éowyn, named after a JRR Tolkien character, occurred on January 21, 2025. It was a highly destructive windstorm affecting Ireland and Britain, bringing 100mph gusts and stronger, and causing over one million power outages. The storm caused a fatality in County Donegal, created havoc across the natural world, particularly with trees, tore roofs off buildings, and caused severe travel disruption. It is believed to have been the most severe storm in Northern Ireland since 1998.

At the Ards North Down council meeting, DUP Councillor Libby Douglas, who forwarded the motion, said: “Storm Eowyn, as we all know, caused damage to the roof at Bangor Aurora Leisure Complex, extensive tree damage in parks, and widespread debris that forced closure of roads and closed some of our cemeteries.

“Along the Enler River in Comber, several trees fell across the river bank, into fencing for social housing at Newtown Green. I have been contacted by many constituents who walk along this stretch with their dogs, and families with their children. It is also an area that young people use to get access to the skate park.

“Requests have been made to statutory agencies including the Rivers Agency at DfI, and Apex Housing, but no-one will take responsibility for having the trees removed.”

She said: “The worry is these trees stretch from one bank to the other, and they present a dangerous temptation to children and young people to try and climb onto the trees, to see how far across the river they can go. I worry this is an accident waiting to happen and young people will end up in the River Enler. I also believe it is a security issue for the people in Newtown Green, as some of the fencing has been damaged.”

She added: “The brighter evenings mean that young people will be around this area on a more frequent basis, and so the problem needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.”

DUP Alderman Trevor Cummings said: “It is a health and safety issue now, and is very concerning. It is being raised (to me) by parents on a regular basis. It runs parallel to the Comber Greenway, a frequently used path, so accessibility is all too easy for children and young people.

“Essentially what we are looking for here is a coordinated response. Many of us have approached each department. The principle of community planning lies right at the core of local government, and I believe we are best placed to approach departments in a coordinated fashion to ask for their assistance.”

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Health professionals had stated the child required “required increased and close supervision” but they were left on their own

A children’s home where a vulnerable child attempted to harm themselves has been rated inadequate. “Serious and widespread failures” were highlighted after an OFSTED inspection at Clare Lodge Secure Children’s Home in Peterborough.

OFSTED inspected the children’s home over February 10 and 11 and a report was published on Tuesday, March 18. The report said children often “do not feel valued or respected” by staff.

In one instance, a vulnerable child with a history of self-harm was left alone in a lounge area for an extended period of time, almost entirely out of view of CCTV. The child became unresponsive after tying a ligature around their neck, according to the OFSTED report.

After staff checked on the child, emergency services were called to the home and the child was taken to hospital. The centre manager was aware of the incident as he had walked past the room on two occasions but did not take any action. The child had a safety plan in place and health professionals had said she “required increased and close supervision”.

Not all the children have clear strategies to help them in their risk assessment reports to help guide staff in “effectively supporting and safeguarding” them, according to the report.

The report added: “Placing social workers said that they are not always informed about incidents or concerns about the children promptly. They say that incident reports that are sent to them are not always sufficiently detailed and leave them having to contact the home for further information and clarifications. Some family members also shared concerns about the lack of communication from staff.”

The home has had three different centre managers since February 2025. The report stated that the centre managers have failed to “develop a good-quality service” for its children and have “not established effective and collaborative working relationships” with the heads of departments.

Councillor Katy Cole, PCC Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “We acknowledge receipt of the report and accept responsibility for the concerns raised regarding Clare Lodge. We are taking Ofsted’s feedback extremely seriously, and steps are already being taken to make the necessary improvements to the facility.

“As Cabinet Member, I want to emphasise that we are all corporate parents and I take that responsibility seriously. We remain dedicated to further developing Clare Lodge and delivering a high standard of care for the vulnerable young girls who reside there, ensuring they are supported, protected, and given a voice.

“I am committed to ensuring that every child in this city is treated with the respect and care that I would want for my own children.”

It was a much-needed victory for the east Belfast boys, who have perished in two Cup competitions over the past 10 days

Declan Devine’s Glentoran enhanced their title credentials on Wednesday night with a 3-0 win over erratic Cliftonville at the Oval.

It was a much-needed victory for the east Belfast boys, who have perished in two Cup competitions over the past 10 days.

Not only were they beaten by rivals Linfield in the BetMcLean Final on Sunday, but they were dumped out of the Irish Cup the previous week by Larne – albeit on a penalty shootout.

Defender Daniel Larmour headed the Glens into a first half lead before striker Pat Hoban bagged a delicious double after the restart.

The win moved the Glens up to second place in the Sports Direct Premiership table, just two points adrift of Larne. With only six games remaining, it promises to be race to the finish line.

It was the Glens who had the first sniff at goal after only three minutes when Cliftonville goalkeeper Peter Morrison flapped a cross from Jarlath O’Rourke, but there were no takers in the middle.

Cliftonville really should have been in front on 11 minutes when Brian Healy burst through the middle, totally unchallenged and, when confronted by Andrew Mills, he could only blast his effort against the legs of the big shot-stopper.

The visitors almost shot themselves in the foot six minutes later when Morrison let an innocent back pass skip under his boot, only to get back and whip the ball off the line.

Defender Danny Amos picked up the scraps, but he could only shoot over the crossbar.

But Glentoran at last made the breakthrough on 25 minutes. Ryan Cooney’s long throw in caused mayhem in the Reds’ defender. The ball was flicked on by O’Rourke to Larmour and his header looped over Morrison’s outstretched glove.

Another Morrison error 10 minutes from the interval led to Jack Malone putting the ball in the net, but referee Jamie Robinson spared the big keeper’s blushes by awarding him a free kick.

Then, just before the interval, MJ Kamson Kamara joined his forwards to meet a Cooney corner kick, but he could only head wide.

After the restart, Glens midfielder Cammy Palmer tried his luck with an audacious 30-yard effort that curled inches past the post.

But the home had to wait until only the 52nd minute for the killer second goal. This time, Jarlath O’Rourke’s free kick was helped on by Larmour and Hoban superbly flicked the ball over the head of Morrison.

They did it again on 63 minutes. Another Cooney throw in was helped on to the post by Reds’ skipper Rory Hale and when the ball fell to Hoban, hoofed home from six yards for his 30th goal of the season.

Cliftonville almost fell further behind when Amos’ shot was beaten out by Morrison and when Palmer reacted, but he could only flick the ball into the gloves of the relieved goalkeeper. Then, Hale was perfectly positioned to knock an Amos shot off the line.

The Glens now face Coleraine at the weekend, while Larne face a tricky test away at Glenavon.

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Callum Wray, of Annan Road, in Billingham, was first put on the sex offenders register back in 2022 after being convicted of making indecent images or pseudo-photographs of children.

The now 25-year-old was handed a suspended sentence, as well as a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and made subject of a restraining order.

Callum Wray, 25. (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

But now, Wray has appeared back in the dock at Teesside Crown Court for his latest set of offences.

On Wednesday, March 18, he was sentenced to three years behind bars after being arrested last summer.

Wray was detained in June 2025 and later charged with two breaches of a SHPO, failure to comply with notification requirements and breach of a restraining order. In February he was additionally charged with making and distributing indecent images.

He will now spend three years behind bars.

Detective Constable Niamh Birdsall said: “I am pleased with the outcome today which has resulted in communities being protected from Callum Wray and his predatory behaviour.

“We will put people before the courts where necessary, in order to protect our communities and bring offenders to justice.”