On their impressive European run, Palace have shown they are not just about individuals, but a team stepping up when it matters.

Japan midfielder Kamada had not scored since October 2024 before his composed finish on Thursday restored Palace’s lead just as Shakhtar looked to be taking control following their equaliser at 1-1.

Palace fans were in great spirits before the match in Krakow, and there’s a feeling that all connected with the club are pulling in the same direction.

There could be an air of sadness for the remainder of the campaign with boss Glasner, who led Palace to a fairytale FA Cup victory last season, just two games away from European glory before he departs this summer.

But spirits instead seem high as the club work together to achieve the goal of winning more silverware.

“It’s an amazing group of people, of men, of characters,” said Glasner, who won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022.

“There is such a big spirit and great togetherness and we always believe in ourselves.

“There is no button we can press to switch it on. It is something we have created over months and years – that we know we can always come back and score a goal.”

The Race Across the World contestant broke down in tears during the latest episode

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BBC Race Across The World contestant Kush was moved to tears while discussing his father’s death.

The 19-year-old competitor and best mate Jo, 19, from Liverpool are the youngest participants attempting the challenge of racing against rivals across more than 12,000km from Sicily to Mongolia.

Hoping to claim the £20,000 prize, the duo embarked on another stage of their adventure during tonight’s (April 30) episode, marking the midpoint of the competition.

Together with their fellow competitors, they tackled the longest stretch of the race, journeying through Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked nation, before entering Uzbekistan.

Midway through their travels, they chose to visit a local gym to practise some judo, as Kush trains in Muay Thai back home, reports the Liverpool Echo.

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The experience, however, triggered memories of his late father, who tragically took his own life during lockdown.

Speaking to camera, he began: “Coming to this gym, it means a lot to me. It’s more than just throwing and hitting fighting. There’s a lot of meaning behind it.”

In an honest moment, he revealed: “I think back to memories with my dad. I found it sick to do what your dad does. Being in the gym, I wonder what he’s thinking. He would be standing on the side with a particular sort of smirk on his face, watching me do judo throws.”

Clearly emotional, Kush remembered: “I remember the day he passed. It was locked down and it was a real big shock. He had really poor mental health and he took his own life. You never forget that shock factor.

“I still think about him all the time. Being on this journey has brought back little moments and I wish I could sort of show who I am now because when you’re 14, I didn’t know who I was and I was still a child.

“I made a lot of mistakes when I was younger and I feel like, if I could sort of show him what I’ve learn’t…” The 19 year old was unable to complete his sentence as he became overwhelmed with emotion.

Viewers at home were deeply affected by the poignant scene, taking to social media to express their feelings. One viewer posted: “Poor Kush. He’s a lovely lad, they both are. #RaceAcrossTheWorld.”

Another commented: “Kush opening up on the loss of his father at just 1 year old-oh man #RaceAcrossTheWorld.” A third shared: “kush is breaking my heart omg #raceacrosstheworld.”

Someone else posted: “Damn! Kush lost 2 dads at such a young age. I’m sure they’re proud of him #RaceAcrossTheWorld.” While another remarked: “Such a heartbreaking leg for Kush and Joe – what humble lads they are #RaceAcrossTheWorld.”

Race Across the World is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

He said that such a unit would provide specialist inpatient mental health care, allowing mothers to stay with their babies while receiving treatment, and such an approach is recognised as best practice.

Northern Ireland’s first dedicated mother and baby unit should be open no later than 2029, the health minister has said.

Mike Nesbitt said it had been a personal priority to address the “unacceptable” lack of such a unit in Northern Ireland, making it the only part of the UK without one.

He said that such a unit would provide specialist inpatient mental health care, allowing mothers to stay with their babies while receiving treatment, and such an approach is recognised as best practice.

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“It supports recovery, protects infant wellbeing, and strengthens the earliest bonds between mother and child, bonds which are critical for lifelong health and development,” he said.

He added that, after asking officials to assess all options for potential sites, that a permanent mother and baby unit would be established at a site at Belfast City Hospital.

He said a scoping exercise had “confirmed” that alternative locations or construction approaches would not deliver “a

materially shorter timeline or better value for money”.

He said in some cases they would involve “additional costs, staffing pressures and increased clinical risk”.

“Most importantly, they would not offer the same level of safety and assurance for mothers and babies,” he said on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, no agreement was possible with clinicians on a temporary/interim solution. However, I have secured a significant shortening of the timeframe for construction, by at least two years, meaning the unit should open no later than 2028/29.

“The outline business case for the facility has been approved at trust board level and submitted to the Strategic Planning and Performance Group.

“Departmental Health Estates has confirmed that preparatory work is complete and as the commissioner’s letter of support has been issued, a design team can be appointed immediately and the project can proceed to the next stage of delivery.

“This represents a significant step forward from commitment to delivery.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

A humanities teacher who was arrested after sending sexual messages to a 13-year-old girl has been banned from teaching “indefinitely”.

Liam Walker, 31, a teacher at Sir William Stanier School in Crewe, Cheshire, from 2023 to 2024, used Snapchat and another online chatroom where he used usernames including “HungTeacherMeet” and “Fit Teacher” to speak to the child.

Walker, who was in correspondence online with the child for a week, asked her “intrusive questions about her sexual history and made other sexualised remarks”, according to allegations upheld by a Teaching Regulation Agency panel.

According to the evidence, the girl, identified in the documents as “Child A”, informed Walker, “during their first online interaction” on 7 August that she was 13.

Despite this, Walker continued to engage in online correspondence with her until 15 August.

“In many of the messages sent by Mr Walker to Child A he asked Child A intrusive questions about her sexual history and made other sexualised remarks,” the panel heard.

These included comments such as: “you never know what creeps are out there trying to get into your pants”, “are you a virgin?”, “you’re defo gonna get someone in trouble haha hope you don’t send nudes”, “are you looking for sex?”, and “I’m always a little worried to talk dirty to a teen as it’s illegal haha”.

On 4 September 2024, Walker was arrested for engaging in sexual communications with a child, and five days later he was dismissed from his role with immediate effect.

The panel noted that Walker’s behaviour “took place in the summer holidays outside of the education setting”, but said he “had failed in his duty of care to children by exposing Child A to the risk of being groomed” and of failing to promote her safety and welfare.

The panel also said Walker “appeared to be testing the boundaries with Child A”. They said “this conduct was exacerbated by his use of the usernames ‘HungTeacherMeet’ and ‘FitTeacher’ which were both capable of having sexual connotations”.

They said his actions amounted to “serious departure from the personal and professional conduct elements of the Teachers’ Standards”, as well as “sexual misconduct … involving actions that were sexually motivated or of a sexual nature and/or that use or exploit the trust, knowledge or influence derived from the individual’s professional position”.

The panel said the public interest considerations, the protracted nature of the communication with Child A and the intrusive and explicit nature of the conversation with her was a “significant factor” in recommending a prohibition order be imposed with immediate effect.

Assessing the panel’s recommendations, Stuart Blomfield, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, said: “The findings of misconduct are serious,” adding that “the panel has found all of the allegations proven and found that those proven facts amount to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.”

He added: “In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession.”

Why might nuns live longer, healthier lives?

You don’t need to become a nun to see these benefits

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light was raided on Wednesday

The names of 25 people charged with public order offences have been revealed after hundreds of police officers raided addresses affiliated with a religious group in Crewe yesterday (April 29).

Cheshire Police said that on Wednesday more than 500 officers from their force, with support of colleagues from neighbouring forces, conducted three warrants at three addresses in Crewe linked to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, including their headquarters.

It followed serious allegations alleged to have involved members of the group, including modern slavery, forced marriage and sexual offences.

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The co-ordinated raids followed reports in March of the offences, said to have taken place in 2023. The force confirmed all ten people arrested are members of the group and all offences relate to one victim, a woman, who was also a member of the group.

Now, Cheshire Police has said that during the raids, 25 people were arrested for public order offences inside the property. Following questioning, 25 people have been charged and are scheduled to appear in court.

The charges in full

• Mammadagha Abdullayer, 35, of Timbrell Avenue, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 25 June. (Nationality – Azerbaijan)
• Raimah Batul, 18, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker. She will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 25 June. (Nationality – British)
• Laure Delogne, 31, of Underwood Lane, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. She will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 23 June. (Nationality – Belgium)
• Tahani A Hashem, 27, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. She will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 23 June. (Nationality – British)
• Maryham Marfoug, 32, of Gresty Road, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. She will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 23 June. (Nationality – Morocco)
• Dareem Charles, 36, of Redwood Drive, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 16 June. (Nationality – Tobago)
• Jahmeel Musa, 32, of Redwood Drive, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 16 June. (Nationality – British)
• Aydin Onur, 36, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 22 June. (Nationality – Germany)
• Gustavio Ruiz-Quinteros, 34, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Friday 17 June. (Nationality – American)
• Soufiane Ben Abdeslam, 32, of Nantwich Road, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable and assault of an emergency worker. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Friday 17 June. (Nationality – Belgium)
• Ahmed Elhaouss, 20, of Redwood Drive, Crewe, was charged with assaulting a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 June. (Nationality – France)
• Rad El-Kanami, 47, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Friday 17 June. (Nationality – Iraq)
• Ramazan Demirovic, 59, of Richard Street, Crewe, was charged with assaulting a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 22 June. (Nationality – American)
• Hussein Khadum, 18, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 June. (Nationality – Sweden)
• Diniy Sisyam, 19, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 22 June. (Nationality – Malaysia)
• Mohammad Hiary, 32, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 23 June. (Nationality – Jordan)
• Hatem Sider, 42, of Wandon Road, London, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 23 June. (Nationality – British)
• Marc Ferreira, 38, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 23 June. (Nationality – France)
• Hamidreza Saghari, 39, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 25 June. (Nationality – Iran)
• Sarah Batul, 32, of Badger Avenue, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. She will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 June. (Nationality – British)
• Raimah Batul, 18, Webb House, Crewe, was charged with assaulting a constable. She will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 25 June. (Nationality – British)
• Taymour Elalfy, 37, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 June. (Nationality – Egypt)
• Alireza Khatib Haghighi, 40, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with obstructing a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 25 June. (Nationality – Iran)
• Mohamed Ayob, 38, of Webb House, Crewe, was charged with assaulting a constable. He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 25 June. (Nationality – Egypt)
• Myrah Hashem, 27, of Blount Close, Crewe, was charged with failing to comply with a section 35 direction excluding a person from an area. She will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 23 June. (Nationality – British)

CCTV footage has been released of the moment the White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect appears to shoot at a US secret service agent.

Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney for DC, says the footage was released to the public to prove ‘there is no evidence the shooting was the result of friendly fire.’

Earlier on Thursday while answering questions from reporters, President Donald Trump said “it wasn’t friendly fire,” adding that “it wasn’t us”.

Wood’s spot-kick, smashed high beyond Emi Martinez, was his 200th career goal and gives Forest something to defend at Villa Park next week.

The New Zealand international only returned this month, having been sidelined since October with his knee issue.

He missed the entirety of Sean Dyche’s reign, having surgery in December, but started the quarter-final first-leg draw in Porto three weeks ago.

Lucas Digne’s baffling decision to raise his arms and handle the ball as Omari Hutchinson tried to keep it in play gave Wood his chance with 19 minutes left.

There was an audible cheer when Wood stepped up to take the penalty – Morgan Gibbs-White having missed from the spot against Strum Graz and Braga this season.

There was a sense of expectation, which is only fair as Wood has not missed a penalty in 10 years – since failing to score against Hull for Leeds in April 2016.

He has now scored 28 successive spot-kicks.

“That’s what I have to do and that’s what I try to do. It’s the job, the responsibility that my team gives me,” he told TNT.

“It’s cup competitions. They come down to small margins at times. Both teams played very well. But it’s small moments that can potentially change games. Thankfully it went in our favour tonight and hopefully again next week.

“It’s one leg of the tie. It’s nice to have the advantage but going to Villa Park will be a tough game. They’re good at their place. But we’ve done the job here at home and now hopefully we’ll build into next week.”

He scored in last Friday’s 5-0 Premier League win at Sunderland – his first goal since a penalty against Midtjylland in October – and has six goals in 19 games for club and country this season.

Wood, 34, has explained he will have to manage his knee injury for the rest of his life – but after watching so much of Forest’s battle against the Premier League drop from the sidelines, he is just glad to be back in action and scoring.

“That’s all I wanted to do,” he said. “I wanted to get back fit and firing to help my team as best as I can at the end of the season. I knew we had a lot to play for when I was fighting to get fit and it’s showing. It’s some big competitions to be a part of.

“We’re in the crunch end of the season. We need to perform on both parts and we’ll be looking to do that for sure.”

The threat level indicates the likelihood of a terrorist attack in the UK is highly likely

What are the threat levels?

There are 5 levels of threat:

• low – an attack is highly unlikely
• moderate – an attack is possible but not likely
• substantial – an attack is likely
• severe – an attack is highly likely
• critical – an attack is highly likely in the near future

BREAKING: UK terror threat raised from “substantial” to “severe” meaning a terror attack is highly likely in next six months

— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) April 30, 2026

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The level is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5).

Threat levels do not have an expiry date, they can change at any time as different information becomes available.

What are the police doing to keep us safe?

On the government website it states: “Our overriding priority is to keep the public safe by working closely with all of our communities.

“We constantly review our operations and contingency planning, liaising with central and local government, emergency services and other agencies.

“We also use a wide range of overt and covert policing tactics. Covert tactics, by their nature, are not obvious to the public, but we also use overt tactics such as high visibility policing at a variety of locations.

“This includes Project Servator, which uses officers who’ve been specially trained to spot the tell-tale signs that someone is planning to commit a crime, including an act of terrorism, to patrol our towns and cities at unpredictable times and locations.

“We also use Prevent to try to stop vulnerable people from being radicalised by terrorists or extremists in the first place.

“We use these extra measures for a variety of reasons. For example, it could be as a response to seasonal crime patterns or as a precautionary measure in the light of the current threat from international terrorism.

“If you live, work or visit our towns and cities, you’ll continue to see a selection of policing tactics used in the future.”

Routes to Work South (RTWS), an arms-length external organisation of South Lanarkshire Council, has launched the recruitment drive.

A new chairperson and up to five independent directors are needed for an organisation that has supported thousands of unemployed South Lanarkshire residents into work, skills, and training.

Routes to Work South (RTWS), an arms-length external organisation of South Lanarkshire Council, has launched the recruitment drive after celebrating their 20th anniversary last year.

The deadline for anyone wishing to be considered has been extended to Friday, May 29. A CV and short supporting statement can be sent by email, or informal enquiries can also be emailed or call 0141 584 2915.

The positions are voluntary (with expenses reimbursed) and successful applicants will attend quarterly board meetings and sub-committees.

And the organisation welcomes applications from individuals with experience in:

■ Finance, audit, or risk management

■ Human resources / people and culture

■ Legal and regulatory compliance

■ Strategic leadership and organisational development

■ Digital, data, or information governance

■ Employability, skills, health, or economic development

■ Community development / third sector leadership

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The council’s Head of Enterprise and Sustainable Development, Alison Brown, said: “RTWS has grown into an award‑winning Scottish charity and a key contributor to tackling poverty and promoting economic inclusion across South Lanarkshire. The organisation supports residents to develop the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to progress into sustainable employment.

“We would love to hear from people interested in helping us grow the service, guide its strategic direction, strengthen governance and ensure high‑quality delivery of employability programmes.”

The recruitment drive follows the decision of Bill McBride, long‑serving Chair of RTWS (pictured above), to step down after 17 years in the role.

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