Despite being “caught redhanded”, Lord Justice Colton held that he was still entitled to credit for admitting his crimes

A County Tyrone man jailed for smuggling “massive quantities” of high quality cannabis into Northern Ireland has won a legal battle to secure a reduced sentence.

The Court of Appeal ruled the term imposed on Barry McMoran, 50, for bringing in a consignment worth up to £1million is to be cut from 12 to 10 years.

But senior judges dismissed co-defendant Thomas Taggart’s challenge to the six-and-a-half year sentence handed down for his role in the operation.

Both men were detained after police seized 204 kilos of cannabis in Coalisland in May 2024.The illicit consignment was hidden inside two concrete blocks. The two defendants travelled to England separately to carry out the transaction, returning later on a ferry from Cairnyran.

Taggart, 39, from Sullenboy Park in Cookstown, was driving a Mitsubishi towing a trailer containing the drugs.

Days earlier he had replied to a text message from an associate asking about cannabis, telling him “you can have as much as you want when I get home”.

McMoran, from Doon Avenue in Dungannon, returned in another car following the deal.

PSNI officers arrested the men and intercepted the drugs after searching a shed in the Annaghnaboe Road area of Coalisland.

The cannabis had an estimated street value of between £700,000 and £1million, the court heard.

Both men subsequently pleaded guilty possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply, while McMoran also admitted two further offences.

Messages found on his phone indicated involvement in supplying cocaine and cannabis over a period from February until May 2024.

He was assessed as being heavily involved in the drugs trade at a high level.

Appealing against McMoran’s 12-year term, defence barrister Richard McConkey KC claimed it was manifestly excessive.

He disputed the trial judge’s process of imposing consecutive sentences for his client’s separate offences.

Prosecution counsel insisted it had been justified as both a deterrent and a reflection of McMoran’s previous activities.

“This is someone who was operating at the highest echelons of the drug trade,” he submitted.

However, the Court of Appeal ruled that the overall sentence was excessive, instead imposing a concurrent term to cover the scale of the operation and McMoran’s role in it.

Despite being “caught redhanded”, Lord Justice Colton held that he was still entitled to credit for admitting his crimes.

“Those who plead (guilty) on arraignment should be given a very significant discount because it doesn’t happen often enough in this jurisdiction,” he said.

“We allow the appeal and reduce the determinate sentence from 12 years to 10 years.”

McMoran will now serve five years behind bars and five years on licence.

Dismissing Taggart’s challenge, the court identified no basis for interfering with his sentence – also split equally between custody and supervised licence.

“He was involved in a sophisticated, well-planned and resourced criminal enterprise which involved bringing massive quantities of high-quality cannabis into this jurisdiction,” Lord Justice Colton stated.

“Leaving aside the precise nature of his role, it is clear that it was more than subordinate and he was heavily involved in this entire enterprise.”

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Kylian Mbappe marks his 100th international cap for France with a brace, moving him second on the all-time World Cup goal scoring list with 16 goals. His performance spearheaded a dominant 3-0 victory over Iraq, securing France’s spot in the last 32 after a two-hour storm delay.

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A place where people choose to take a stroll with beautiful views across the water acts as a reminder to many of their abandoned homes and a horrible chapter in their history

It was once a vibrant and traditional Welsh-speaking village before it was completely abandoned, ready to be drowned with no trace in sight.

The flooding of this beloved village still remains a sensitive subject among locals in the area, as they fought tooth and nail to keep their homes in place. Their efforts, unfortunately, were not enough, as the UK government submerged the village completely to supply water to a much larger English city.

In 1965, the village of Capel Celyn, nestled in the Tryweryn Valley in North Wales, vanished without a trace when its contents were left to sink to the bottom of a huge reservoir. It was a controversial move, to say the least, led by the Liverpool Corporation, to supply water to Liverpool and the Wirral.

While for some it may seem like a simple change in construction, for most, this was a change that ran much deeper, and the disruption it caused to this area and the wider Welsh community went on to have a huge effect politically, leading to a rise in support for the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru.

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The fight for the village

It was in 1955 that the people of Capel Celyn first learned their homes had been sacrificed for a new site set to transform into a reservoir, and it marked the beginning of a 10-year-long battle.

Soon enough, the villagers formed an alliance, known as the Capel Celyn Defense Committee, which debated, protested, and denounced the scheme throughout the country and into Liverpool. On numerous occasions, this saw them march to Liverpool to make their objections loud and clear.

Despite their efforts, Liverpool councillors voted overwhelmingly to proceed with the plans, and in 1957, a private bill sponsored by Liverpool City Council was brought to Parliament.

All 35 Welsh Members of Parliament who voted opposed the bill, and yet it was still passed in 1962. Three years later, the village and its buildings, including people’s homes, were drowned. In total, there were around 800 acres of land, taken by the water, made up of the school, the post office, the chapel and the cemetery.

There were 48 people who lost their homes out of 67 who lived in the valley, with many left to relocate to entirely new areas and start new lives.

What made this move so controversial was the complete erasure of this traditional Welsh culture, as the village stood as a testament to authentic Welsh culture and its dying language.

The site today

People continue to visit the site. One TripAdvisor reviewer described the place as “beautiful but sad”. They wrote: “This wasn’t my first visit to this beautiful area, but after researching the flooding of the village and being Welsh, we spent more time around where the village once stood.

“There is no doubt the scenery is outstanding, but I also found it to be quite sad; people’s lives were completely upturned, and their entire village was drowned. Well worth a visit, especially if you read the history of the village.”

The reservoir provides a wonderful landscape, backed by the rolling hills of the valley, and many choose to take a walk around the site. To commemorate the village that once was, a memorial chapel stands as a place where people can remember their time there.

Another visitor shared: “Poignant and stunning. The heartbreaking history of this reservoir should never be forgotten.”

There is a good chance the village will be visible this year, as it only nudges above the water’s surface during periods of intense heat. The current heatwave may cause the water level to fall far enough, as happened back in 2018.

Wet bulb temperatures offer valuable insights into atmospheric moisture and human comfort levels.

It plays a vital role in climate monitoring and helps explain the impact of humidity on daily life.

One of the most traditional and widely used measures of humidity is the wet bulb temperature.

The Met Office say: “This value provides insight into how saturated the air is and is essential for calculating other humidity-related variables such as relative humidity and dew point temperature.”

What is a wet bulb temperature?

Measured using a thermometer wrapped in a damp muslin wick, wet bulb temperature represents the lowest temperature achievable through evaporative cooling.

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The reading drops as water evaporates from the wick, drawing heat from the thermometer. This cooling continues until the air becomes saturated and can absorb no more moisture.

On foggy mornings or in fully saturated air, wet bulb temperature matches the dry bulb temperature—the actual air temperature.

In all other conditions, the wet bulb reading is lower.

The underlying principle is simple: evaporation requires energy.

Water vapour draws heat from the surrounding air and thermometer, leading to a cooler reading.

The larger the gap between dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures, the drier the air.

When there is no difference, the air is fully saturated and evaporation stops.

Traditionally, wet bulb temperature is measured using a psychrometer—an instrument with paired dry and wet bulb thermometers.

However, most modern weather stations no longer use this classic setup.

“Instead, they rely on two separate thermometers housed in a Stevenson screen: one dry bulb (measuring air temperature) and one wet bulb (wrapped in a moist wick connected to a water reservoir).”

Air moves over both thermometers, allowing evaporation from the wet bulb and resulting in evaporative cooling.

The dry bulb remains unchanged.

The temperature difference helps meteorologists calculate relative humidity and other important humidity metrics.

Modern technology has introduced capacitive sensors to the process.

These sensors measure humidity by detecting voltage changes caused by varying amounts of water vapour in the air.

Readings are then converted into relative humidity or dew point values, providing an automated and more precise method of measurement.

Wet bulb temperature is closely tied to other indicators, such as dew point temperature—the point at which air becomes saturated and moisture begins to condense.

On cool mornings, this is seen as dew forming on grass.

If the dew point or wet bulb temperature equals the air temperature, relative humidity is 100 per cent.

Both values are critical for understanding atmospheric moisture.

They enable meteorologists to assess the likelihood of rain, fog, or heat stress for people and animals.

The Met Office added: “Wet bulb temperature remains a fundamental tool in meteorology for assessing humidity and its effects on weather, climate, and human health.

“Whether measured using traditional psychrometers or advanced sensors, it provides valuable insights into atmospheric conditions.

“By understanding and monitoring wet bulb temperatures, the Met Office continues to deliver accurate forecasts and support public safety across a wide range of sectors.”

Are you looking forward to the heatwave or dreading it? Let us know in the comments

Government statistics1 show that driver fatigue is recorded as a contributory factor in around four per cent of reported collisions.

In this instalment of Drive Time, John discovers GEM Motoring Assist is urging people not to drive while tired and reveals Subaru has tasty offer for motorists when trading in their vehicle – and it doesn’t need to be a Subaru.

Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging drivers to prioritise rest before setting off, as evidence continues to highlight the serious dangers of driving while tired.

Government statistics1 show that driver fatigue is recorded as a contributory factor in around four per cent of reported collisions.

However, safety experts believe the true figure is much higher, with fatigue potentially playing a role in up to one-in-five crashes and around a quarter of fatal and serious incidents.

Fatigue-related collisions are also more likely to result in death or serious injury, as drivers who fall asleep at the wheel are unable to brake or take evasive action.

Hot weather can significantly increase the risk of fatigue, especially on long motorway or dual carriageway journeys.

Higher temperatures, bright sunshine and stuffy cabins all contribute to drowsiness, dehydration and reduced concentration, particularly for drivers who are already tired or have not rested properly.

GEM is reminding motorists that on hot days it is vital to stay hydrated, keep the vehicle well ventilated and build in extra breaks to avoid the added strain that heat can place on the body.

Fatigue-related collisions are also more likely to result in death or serious injury, as drivers who fall asleep at the wheel are unable to brake or take evasive action.

Common early warning signs of fatigue include frequent yawning, difficulty concentrating, drifting within a lane and missing road signs.

As tiredness worsens, drivers may experience ‘microsleeps’ – brief, uncontrollable episodes of sleep lasting a few seconds.

At 70mph, a vehicle is travel more than 100m in just three seconds, meaning even a momentary lapse in attention can have serious consequences.

James Luckhurst, GEM’s head of road safety, said: “A fatigue-related crash is one of the most dangerous scenarios on our roads because the driver may have no opportunity to react at all.

“These collisions are often high-speed and high-impact, with devastating consequences.

“Fatigue isn’t something that suddenly takes over – it builds gradually, and your body gives clear warning signs. Ignoring those signs can cost lives.

“The key message is simple: if you are tired, you should not be driving.

“No journey is so important that it’s worth risking lives. Planning ahead, recognising the signs of fatigue and taking timely breaks can make all the difference.”

Plan journeys and stay alert GEM offers five simple tips to reduce the risk of a fatigue-related collision:

• Get a good night’s sleep before setting out on a long journey.
• Avoid driving at times when you would normally be asleep.
• Steer clear of heavy meals before or during a journey, especially at lunchtime.
• Stay hydrated. Take a break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours or 100 miles of driving; get out, stretch and refresh yourself.
• If you feel tired, stop as soon as it is safe. A short nap and caffeine can help temporarily, but proper rest is essential.

Meanwhile, Subaru UK has launched a new ‘Trade In, Trade Up’ offer, giving drivers a contribution of £1000 towards a new Subaru when they trade in their current vehicle.

The offer is applicable to customers trading in any type of vehicle – not just those with a Subaru.

The offer is applicable to models across the entire Subaru UK model range, including Crosstrek, Forester and Outback.

The £1000 contribution will be added on top of the customer’s trade-in value.

Jonny Miller, sales director for Subaru UK, said: “We’re pleased to launch our ‘Trade In, Trade Up’ offer, which gives drivers a straightforward route into a new Subaru.

“Whether a customer is already part of the Subaru family or looking to make the switch from another brand, they can trade in their existing vehicle and receive an additional £1000 contribution towards a new Subaru.

“With the entire Subaru range included in the offer, customers can find a new model that perfectly suits their needs.

“We’d encourage anyone considering a change to speak to their local dealer before the end of June.”

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Translink are saying the Castle Street closure is slowing up traffic elsewhere in the city

A Stormont department is proposing the potential reopening of lower Castle Street in Belfast city centre to public transport.

Lower Castle Street has been essentially pedestrianised since the Primark building fire in 2018. To some this has been welcome, and has addressed the problem of car dominance in the city centre, while to others it has blocked some business and has presented new antisocial behaviour issues, including those involving scramblers. Translink have argued that it has caused congestion and delays for public buses in other parts of the city.

Officials at Belfast City Council have revealed the Department for Infrastructure have submitted a request to present to the August 2026 meeting of the council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee to provide elected members with an update on their potential plan to reopen lower Castle Street to public transport.

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Councillors at the June meeting of the committee agreed to receive the presentation from DfI later in the summer, and also agreed to request that the Department provides an update on the Eastern Transport Plan – a strategy by DfI guiding transport policy and investments across the Belfast Metropolitan region up to 2035.

Some elected members in Belfast Council have said that the plan to reopen Castle Street in the city centre contradicts the Eastern Transport Plan – which aims to reduce unnecessary private car journeys, boost public transport, and improve walking and cycling infrastructure. DfI is planning to bring forward a consultation on the ETP in the near future.

In the aftermath of the Bank Buildings/Primark fire in 2018, Castle Street was closed between Fountain Street and Castle Place through a road closure order to facilitate a cordon surrounding the building for reconstruction. The reconstructed Primark store at the historic buildings officially reopened to the public on November 1, 2022.

The officer’s report for the council committee states: “Following the construction works, the section of Castle Street remained closed, effectively pedestrianising the lower part of Castle Street, with the potential to create a people-focused space, safe pedestrian movement and wider placemaking.

“However, pending the development and recommendations of the Eastern Transport Plan, it has not been feasible to develop a proposition for the area, and in the interim scenario there have been occasions of antisocial behaviour issues, for example, lack of definition, and use of the space and access/escape of e-motorbikes.”

It adds: “Road closure notices on Union Street and Brunswick Street were also brought forward at that time. They enabled the delivery of additional public realm and spill-out space for hospitality that were successfully delivered through the Primark Revitalisation Fund, reanimating and activating these streets into popular destinations in their own right.”

In the current draft of the Eastern Transport Plan, lower Castle St remains closed to all traffic and Royal Avenue is designated as a two-way Glider only route, although this is subject to consultation and finalisation.

Earlier this year councillors approved the final “A Bolder Vision” strategy, which supports only two-way glider movement on Royal Avenue, thereby blocking full public transport movement. Reopening lower Castle St to public transport will almost certainly compromise this position.

The council report states: “In advance of the finalisation of the ETP, the Department has been considering re-opening Castle Street to address issues highlighted by Translink.

“Specifically, these include congestion at bus stops on Chichester Street, additional journey time, and poor bus-stop provision on North Street that they advise have affected the North Belfast Services in the period from 2018 to present.

“DfI held a meeting with traders and elected representatives in September 2025 to gauge support for reopening lower Castle St to public transport. At this meeting some traders were in favour of the proposal to reopen Castle Street supporting the additional benefits of having additional halts in the area, while some were against the proposal citing additional traffic, a negligible impact on trade and loss of a potential better use of the space.”

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A federal judge has blocked an attempt by the Trump administration to subpoena Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials, accusing the Justice Department of using its investigatory powers to retaliate against state officials for not cooperating with federal efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.

In a ruling unsealed Monday, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz found the “dominant purpose” of the subpoenas was to “coerce Minnesota officials into assisting the federal government with enforcing civil immigration law and to harass and retaliate against them for failing to do so.”

Tensions between the Trump administration and Minnesota’s Democratic leaders escalated in January as federal immigration officers clashed with protesters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, especially after officers’ fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

President Donald Trump even threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to quell protests and accused Walz, who was Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ running mate in 2024, and others of encouraging protesters to disrupt Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.

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The subpoenas seeking records were served in January as part of an investigation into whether Walz and other officials obstructed or impeded law enforcement actions. They were sent to the offices of Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and officials in Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

The ruling is the latest rebuke by the federal judiciary of Justice Department efforts to aggressively implement the Trump administration agenda in courts and target the president’s political adversaries through subpoenas and similar demands.

The judge ruled that there appeared to be “extremely weak to nonexistent” connections between the information sought in the subpoenas and any possible criminal violation. The subpoenas seek materials “that largely if not entirely relate to constitutionally protected conduct,” the judge wrote, noting that Minnesota has the legal right not to devote its resources to enforcing federal immigration law.

The Justice Department “is not conducting a criminal investigation,” the judge wrote, “but is instead using the grand jury process for other (unlawful) purposes.”

Over the last year, judges have dismissed indictments against two prominent Trump foes, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, and grand juries have repeatedly refused to return indictments sought by the Justice Department.

The moves reflect mounting public concerns that the Justice Department, an institution meant to make investigative and prosecution decisions independent of the White House, is being politicized under the current Trump administration.

Vice President JD Vance has separately called on the Justice Department to investigate Walz and Ellison over allegations they failed to stop widespread social services fraud, though the department has not said whether it will open an investigation. Walz and Ellison have described those allegations as politically motivated and defended their efforts to combat fraud in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, other legal battles related to the immigration surge continue. The federal government has suggested Minnesota prosecutors don’t have jurisdiction to investigate federal officers.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty in March sued the administration for access to evidence in the Good and Pretti killings, accusing the administration of withholding evidence from state investigators. Moriarty also has pursued criminal charges against ICE officers in two other incidents, including the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man, and suggests her office is investigating several other cases as well.

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Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.

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This story has been corrected to show the federal judge’s name is Patrick Schiltz, not Schlitz.

Donald Trump has been scathing in his criticism of outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, saying the British public “did not like” his refusal to be drawn into the war against Iran

Donald Trump has declared that the British public “did not like” Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to be drawn into the war against Iran, once again dismissing the outgoing Prime Minister as “not Winston Churchill”.

The president also reiterated his claim that Sir Keir had “hurt himself very, very badly” over his position on immigration and energy, while describing him as “a very nice man” and “sort of a friend of mine”.

Mr Trump made his remarks at the White House following Sir Keir’s resignation as Labour leader, after the former premier conceded he had lost the backing of his MPs, with ex-Greater Manchester mayor and newly elected MP Andy Burnham poised to step into the spotlight.

The president has been openly scathing of the Prime Minister ever since he refused to grant the US access to British military bases for its bombing campaign against Iran, though limited authorisation was later given for defensive strikes.

Tensions were further inflamed by the subsequent standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington lambasting the response of the UK and its allies to the Gulf crisis, insisting that other nations depended on the vital waterway far more than America did. The White House has shown little enthusiasm for UK and France-led proposals for a defensive mission to guarantee safe passage for vessels through the channel once the fighting ceased.

The conflict has only deepened existing friction over Nato, with Mr Trump insisting that America has been bearing the burden of defending other nations. Just last week, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of American military forces in Europe at a meeting of the alliance, hitting out at members who “have yet to show a credible path” towards fulfilling their spending commitments.

He told his counterparts that “some of Nato’s largest economies” still appear “to think the era of free-riding is here”.

A row over UK military spending prompted John Healey to recently resign as defence secretary, heaping further pressure on the already beleaguered Prime Minister.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Mr Trump, who is due to meet Nato chief Mark Rutte this week, said: “So we have been a great member of Nato. In many ways certainly the predominant member. We paid trillions of dollars over the years, not billions, trillions over the years to protect Europe.”

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Turning to the Iran conflict, the president added: “We didn’t need any help at all. I was more curious than anything else, so I said to Pete (Hegseth) ‘Let’s see if they’d actually come’. So we asked him to come, and they weren’t there for us.

“By the way Starmer wasn’t there, and you know what, the people of the UK did not like it that he wasn’t there. Starmer said no. Starmer said worse than no. He said ‘We’ll be there as soon as you win’. I said ‘We don’t need you as soon as we win’.”

Mr Trump continued: “This was not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with. As soon as we win, they’re going to come and help us.” He also branded Germany and Italy as “very bad” over the Iran war, and has clashed publicly with the leaders of both nations. Mr Trump said: “The numbers that we spend are so crazy for Nato and they weren’t there for us.”

Suggesting the US was spending “hundreds of millions of dollars to protect them (members) from Russia mostly”, he dropped a hint that America might not come to the aid of its allies in the future.

The president said: “We spend all of this money, and then when we want to maybe have help on small stuff – this is small time, this is not the big one, this is small potatoes – they say ‘No, we’d rather not help’. Stupid thing to say, because we can say that to them if we want, and we might.”

Mr Trump also took another dig at Sir Keir over his immigration and energy policies. He has repeatedly pushed for the UK to exploit the North Sea for oil rather than depending on “windmills”.

While acknowledging his criticism of Mr Starmer, Mr Trump said: “I think he’s a lovely man, but I said ‘You’re really messing up energy. You have windmills all over the place’. In the meantime, you have the North Sea oil, and they won’t let anybody drill.

“It’s one of the great fields in the world. You know that the UK buys much of its energy, you know where? Norway. You know where they get their oil? The North Sea. The UK has a much better portion of the North Sea, they don’t want to do it for environmental purposes.”

The president continued: “He’s a very nice man, I mean, sort of a friend of mine, I mean he was not good to us with Nato, Pete (Hegseth), right?”.

Turning to Sir Keir’s initial reluctance to allow the US access to British military bases, Mr Trump remarked: “That was a bad move that hurt him badly. I wish him well, but he’s got two problems – energy and immigration – and crime. But energy and immigration. He’s really hurt himself very, very badly.”

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Scoring goals and breaking records is what Lionel Messi does, and he is already doing that again in his sixth World Cup.

The Argentina captain now has the World Cup scoring record all to himself after another standout performance, one that began with frustration after missing a penalty kick and ended in pure elation with another victory.

Messi, who many consider the greatest player of all time, scored both goals in his team’s 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday. That gave him 18, six days after his first-ever hat trick in the tournament had matched Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 World Cup goals.

“Beyond anything I’m so happy for the win,” Messi said. “It was huge, tough and difficult. It would allow us to be relaxed to what’s ahead. All matches in this World Cup are very even, very intense. I’m enjoying this moment and craving to enjoy with my teammates.”

The first goal against Austria came in the 38th minute and two days before his 39th birthday, and amid the concern of an ailing father back at home. It was the sixth consecutive World Cup game in which Messi has scored — joining France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho as only players to do so.

That was about a half-hour after he missed a penalty kick with a chance to match the record.

“There were moments when I was really angry about missing the penalty, but I was able to make up for it,” said Messi, who has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards as the best player in Europe.

Argentina advanced to the knockout round by winning its first two group games. Messi also scored all of his team’s goals in a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City.

Messi added his 18th World Cup goal in the waning seconds of stoppage time when he shot one through several defenders after the first attempt was turned away by goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Messi said in translated remarks. “The way things are going in the World Cup, the way it’s being played, it’s a very even game. No one is giving away anything.”

The goal record became Messi’s alone in the first half when he caught Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facuno Medina’s pass go by him and directly onto Messi’s left foot from about 20 yards.

“I have no more words to talk about Leo,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter.

As the ball went into the net on the record 17th goal, Messi ran toward a corner and thrust his right arm into the air to celebrate the mark with the decidedly pro-Argentina crowd among the 70,649 fans in the sold-out home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

“Someone who is 39 years old and can score two goals, and five goals overall at the beginning of the World Cup, well, that makes a difference,” Austria coach Ralf Rangnick said through an interpreter. “We knew that he is on a level of his own, and Lionel Messi showed us today that he’s one of the best, and he is the best.”

There had been a gasp from those same fans when Messi missed the penalty kick in the ninth minute.

His left-footed attempt went just wide of the right post. He is now 4 of 7 on penalty kicks in regulation play at the World Cup with misses in three consecutive tournaments.

Klose played in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and Argentina.

In an interview published on June 12, Klose said he expected Messi to break the scoring record.

“With the larger field of competing teams there are more games and so more chances to score goals. And I assume Argentina and France will go far,” Klose told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. “That’s perfectly OK, the record will be broken eventually anyhow and Messi is welcome to be the one who does it. I’m a big fan of Messi, always have been. Messi is a genius.”

Messi’s hat trick in the previous game, in his 200th international appearance, came 20 years to the date of his World Cup debut in Germany, when he also scored. Monday was his FIFA-record 28th match in the tournament.

The penalty kick came after Lautaro Martinez was running free in the box and was tackled from behind by Xaver Schlager and Stefan Posch, the defender playing with a broken jaw.

Play continued for more than a minute with Martinez still on the ground near the goal. When the game was stopped for him, officials reviewed the play and called the penalty.

Messi’s father has been undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, the family said in a statement last week while not providing any specific details. The 68-year-old Jorge Messi has played a key role in his third son’s soccer career, acting as his agent and managing his business affairs off the field.

Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria, and said after that match his tears came following some tough days not related to soccer.

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AP Sports Writer James Ellingworth in Duesseldorf, Germany, contributed to this report.

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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted he is not a fan of the controversial hydration breaks being used at the World Cup.

Tuchel, 52, was speaking before England’s second Group L game against Ghana in Boston on Wednesday (21:00 BST), where rain and cool temperatures are forecast.

England’s fans started the now customary jeering of the breaks when play was stopped in the first half of their opening game against Croatia in Dallas, despite the match being played under a roof in an air-conditioned arena.

The breaks will continue to be used in Boston irrespective of the weather, but Tuchel expressed his reservations about them and the impact they are having on games.

“I think that it interrupts and changes the identity of a football match much more than I thought. I had hydration breaks before when it was really, really hot and needed, but they were shorter,” Tuchel said.

“They were shorter and they were just in a few matches. In the interests of fairness here, it is now done in every match for every team.

“It breaks the match almost in four quarters. And I think it changes the characteristic of the match more than I thought.”