It will see a net revenue budget of just over £408m taken forward for the 2026-27 financial year

A heated debate over council tax increases has been held by members of Bridgend County Borough Council ahead of the approval of their annual budget.

The budget for the 2026-27 financial year was given the go-ahead by members at a full council meeting following lengthy discussions.

It will now see a net revenue budget of just over £408m taken forward in the coming year along with a council tax increase of 4.7%.

It came after the Bridgend County Independents Group put an alternative budget forward with a proposal to use more than £700,000 of unallocated funding to reduce the proposed council tax increase from 4.7% to 4%.

This funding came after a better than expected settlement from the Welsh Government which meant Bridgend County Borough Council’s budget was increased by 4.6%.

The leader of the borough’s largest opposition group, Cllr Amanda Williams, said they had tabled the “simple, practical amendment” that would put more money in resident’s pockets and lessen pressure on household finances.

However Cllr Hywel Williams, cabinet member for finance and resources, said the funding worth £736,000 wasn’t unallocated but had been set aside for pressure in future years – though some felt this needed to be made clearer during scrutiny.

Addressing the chamber the council’s leader Cllr John Spanswick specified the sum would be set aside for local schools and would be used to make sure there weren’t any cuts to the school budget in the 2027-28 financial year – in a move that was recommended by officers.

The proposed amendment was later rejected after a vote of 33 councillors to 16 before a second vote on the final budget was approved by 28 councillors to 18.

This £408m sum will now see around £167m given to the education, early years, and young people directorate, £127m to social services, and £38m for services provided by the communities team.

A council tax increase of 4.7% was also included which is the equivalent of an extra £1.73 a week for people in a Band D property.

The proposal was brought to council after a public consultation which received in excess of 1,200 responses and showed that schools and education were the highest priority for people in the borough along with maintaining local roads and pavements.

Speaking on the plans the deputy leader Cllr Jane Gebbie said with £32m worth of savings needed over the next four years the strategy prioritised stability and sustainability and prepared for uncertainty in future settlements.

It was approved alongside a capital strategy which has around £121m available for the 2026-27 financial year, though this also faced scrutiny from Cllr Martin Williams who questioned how much of it would be delivered on time.

Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

The Foreign Office has warned against all travel to Israel and Palestine

A number of airlines have cancelled flights to the Middle East after the US launched military action overnight against Iran.

The Foreign Office, meanwhile, updated its travel advice on Saturday to warn against all travel to Israel and Palestine.

In a statement on its website, the Foreign Office said: “Due to the threat posed by escalation in the region, we recommend against all travel to Israel and Palestine. On 28 February 2026, the US and Israel commenced joint military action in Iran, Israeli airspace has now closed.”

British nationals in the region are being urged to take ‘sensible precautions’, including following advice from regional authorities, staying away from military facilities and ensuring travel documents are up to date.

Click here to prioritise Manchester news in Google from the MEN

Airspace over Iran and Iraq was empty on Saturday morning, maps by flight-tracking service Flightradar24 showed, with a number of airlines saying they were monitoring the situation.

Air France has reportedly cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel and Beirut in Lebanon for Saturday. Only one flight to Tel Aviv had been scheduled for Saturday.

Indigo airlines said it was monitoring regional updates, news agency Reuters reported.

Advertisement

German airline Lufthansa suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel, Beirut in Lebanon, and Oman until March 7 and flights to and from Dubai on Saturday and Sunday. They also said they would not add Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace until March 7.

Virgin Atlantic, meanwhile, said it would temporarily avoid Iraqi airspace, resulting in some pre-planned rerouting of its flights and cancelled its VS400 service from London Heathrow to Dubai on Saturday.

Wizz Air halted flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman with immediate effect until March 7.

The Foreign Office has also updated travel advice for UK nationals in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait to warn people to ‘immediately shelter in place’.

The advice on the FCDO website said: “Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.”

It is understood the UK was not involved in the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Sir Keir Starmer will chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on Saturday morning.

The Wellbeing team provide personalised assessments and tailored support plans (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Middleton Grove offers far more than just a place to live. Residents can enjoy an active village lifestyle with access to a wide range of facilities, including The Orangery Bistro, library, art studio, hairdresser and personal therapies. A varied programme of activities, social events and weekly outings encourages connection and engagement, helping residents maintain an active and fulfilling lifestyle.

The on-site Health & Wellbeing Centre further supports residents’ wellbeing, offering a swimming pool, jacuzzi and gym. A dedicated Health and Wellbeing team provides personalised assessments and creates tailored support plans, ensuring residents receive the right level of assistance while remaining as independent as possible.

Restaurant-quality food is served in Middleton Grove’s Conservatory dining room (Image: Tracy Kidd)

Each apartment has been thoughtfully designed to combine comfort and accessibility. All feature a living room, bedroom, fully accessible bathroom and a well-equipped kitchen, giving residents the freedom to prepare their own meals if they wish. Some apartments also benefit from balconies or patios overlooking the estate’s landscaped gardens. Apartments include a telephone, smart TV, Wi-Fi and residents are able to personalise their home with their own furniture and belongings.

Residents can choose the level of support that suits them, from housekeeping and laundry services to personal care if required. Dining is flexible, with residents able to cook in their own apartment or enjoy restaurant-quality meals in Middleton Grove’s Conservatory dining room.

A well-equipped kitchen is included. (Image: Tracy Kidd)

The community atmosphere in Middleton Grove has been widely praised by residents and their families. One resident said: “The wonderful surroundings and variations of supported living have the best impact on my experience here at Middleton Hall.”

A family member added: “Everyone who works here is so friendly and kind, they can’t do enough for you. I decided to make the move and haven’t regretted it.”

Another family member commented: “My mother visited Middleton Grove for a short stay to help her decide whether she would like to move there permanently. She loved it so much, she decided she didn’t want to return home.”

The newly refurbished apartments have been thoughtfully designed (Image: Tracy Kidd)

To find out more about the Middleton Grove apartments at Middleton Hall Retirement Village, visit mhrv.co.uk or call the friendly team on 01325 332207.

Middleton Hall Retirement Village, Middleton St George, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 1HA.

Officers were called to Deansgate in Bolton town centre yesterday evening, Friday, February 27, to reports of an assault.

Multiple police vehicles were seen on the street at around 7pm, near to a number of drinking establishments.

A Greater Manchester spokesperson said that on arrival, officers arrested a “woman in her 20s” on suspicion of assault and assaulting a police officer.

The spokesperson added that she remains in custody for questioning.

Eyewitnesses told The Bolton News that they saw a woman “hitting someone” and “being aggressive”.

The ghost of a former head gardener has also reportedly been seen working in the gardens

A posh hotel in a picturesque Cambridgeshire village is said to be haunted by a former queen. Many sites across Cambridgeshire are bound to be haunted given how old they are – if ghosts exist, of course.

The Haycock Manor Hotel, dating back to the 16th century, is set in the beautiful village of Wansford, near Peterborough. It’s considered one of England’s most haunted coaching inns.

One notable name said to haunt its hall is Mary Queen of Scots, nicknamed ‘Bloody Mary’, as she executed a lot of Protestants. Mary stayed at the Haycock on the way to her execution at the nearby Fotheringhay Castle. Many people have said they have seen her at the hotel, as well as other establishments that she stayed in before her death.

When people have ‘seen’ her, she appears tall and regal, and in Tudor dress. She is also seen carrying a rosary. Also, those who see her have reported feeling sadness and a drop in temperature. People have also said they have heard whispered Scottish prayers from her.

Other figures believed to haunt the hotel include a man named Richard Braithwaite, who has been seen in 17th century clothing. He appears in the older parts of the hotel. In the walled garden, an old man with a gardening trug, believed to be former head gardener, has been seen.

As well as being visited by Mary Queen of Scots, the hotel has been visited by many notable names in its past. It was seen as a desirable location as it was a convenient stop between London and Stamford in Lincolnshire. Another queen who visited the hotel was Queen Elizabeth I.

Over its history, the hotel has changed hands a number of times. Its first innkeeper was noted to be William Hodgson, who died in 1706. It then changed ownership several times before it went over to the Percival family. This family owned it for around 100 years until 1898.

Throughout the 19th century it was run as a successful farm, before it became a private home in 1928. It was changed back into an inn after dairy farmer Charles Allday purchased it. It has been refurbished, mixing the traditional and modern, and is a popular wedding destination.

Donald Trump’s decision to launch “major combat operations” in Iran is the biggest gamble by any American president since George Bush invaded Iraq more than two decades ago.

The US commander in chief – who came to power as an arch opponent of the US’s so-called “forever wars” – has set out ambitious and extensive goals for his attack against the Islamic Republic, saying he plans to prevent this “wicked, radical dictatorship” from threatening the United States.

But he is not in complete control of events.

Mr Trump is gambling that overwhelming US military firepower from the air – rather than boots on the ground – will be enough to destroy the Iranian regime but Tehran – while its military has been degraded by previous US and Israeli strikes – is showing no sign of rolling over.

Follow live updates here.

It retains the ability to inflict significant harm against Israel as well as US forces in the region – and is already fighting back.

The scale of that retaliation and how much the US and Israel can withstand the counterattacks will be a fundamental indicator to track.

Mr Trump has prepared his country for the potential for American service men and women to be killed, saying in his video address “we may have casualties. That happens in war”.

He has calculated that any pain the US side suffers is worthwhile to end the threat posed by Iran.

And he spelt out these objectives – a move that could come back to haunt him if they are not achieved.

Chief among these war goals is a vow to prevent Iran from ever having nuclear weapons. But the US president has also pledged to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and to “annihilate” its navy.

Advertisement

Share

‘Americans have sent F22s to Israel which is a very capable aircraft’ he explains.

He issued an ultimatum to all members of the Iranian armed forces and security services from the Republican Guard to the police, telling them to lay down their weapons “or face certain death”.

There is no indication that the Iranian security forces are about to betray the regime.

The fact that Iran is now retaliating by launching missiles against Israel is a clear sign that Tehran has not been cowed by Mr Trump’s opening salvo and is ready to fight.

Even if the regime is toppled, the next moment of peril is what comes next.

The US president made clear that he wants the Iranian people to step up and “take over your government”.

But, again, he does not have the ability to control what that would look like and whether what comes next is better than what he seeks to destroy.

The history of wars in the Middle East shows that no plan by either side survives first contact with the enemy.

A TikTok user claims he looks so much like Justin Bieber that he ‘can’t go anywhere’, with hundreds of people commenting on his striking resemblance to the popstar.

Advertisement

A man claims his striking resemblance to Justin Bieber means he ‘can’t go anywhere’ without being noticed. It feels like only yesterday that the Canadian singer burst onto the scene from obscurity in the late 2000s.

Since then, Bieber has firmly established himself as one of the most recognisable and influential figures in pop music, whilst also becoming both a husband and a father.

Bieber and his wife Hailey tied the knot in a private ceremony in New York in 2018, before welcoming their first child, Jack Blues Bieber, on August 23, 2024.

Whilst Bieber’s face is amongst the most familiar on the planet, this has proved something of an inconvenience for one man, who insists his likeness to the pop sensation means he ‘can’t go anywhere’ without being stopped.

Jack, who posts on TikTok under the username @jacktiktok__, receives hundreds of comments on his videos from followers remarking on his similarity to the star.

One person said: “You’re the first person I’ve seen on this app that actually looks like him.”

A second said: “You should dress like him, go out and make people think you are really him.”

A third commented: “[shocked face emojis] The resemblance!”.

A fourth said: “That’s actually crazyyy bro you look like Justin Bieber.”

Justin Bieber, who celebrates his 32nd birthday today, was most recently spotted at the Grammys, where he took to the stage for the first time in four years, performing ‘Yukon’ clad only in a pair of shorts, as a beaming Hailey watched on proudly. Among the other acts to take to the stage were Please Please Please singer Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars and ROSE, as well as Lady Gaga.

During his appearance on the red carpet, he seized the moment to make a political statement in response to the controversial shootings involving ICE in the US, sporting a small pin on his black suit bearing the words “ICE OUT”.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an 8-minute video posted on his Truth Social that the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S. and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government.”

Here’s Trump’s address in full:

A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.

For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel.

In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lines. It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer.

From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, something like the world has never seen before.

Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. Again they wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades.

They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing the long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland. Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had, and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message.

For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs, or roadside bombs as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces. I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration and there is no military on earth even close to its power, strength or sophistication. My administration is taking every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way. And we trust that with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail.

To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity. Or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.

For many years, you have asked for America’s help. But you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny, and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.

May God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you.

___

This story has been updated to correct “Fort Doe” to “Fordo.”

The awards show recognises the best in British and international music, with there being a huge number of trophies up for grabs.

Olivia Dean and Lola Young lead the field with five nominations in five separate categories, with Sam Fender just behind with four.

Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena will be hosting the awards for the first time tonight (Saturday, February 28), with the past 15 ceremonies having taken place at London’s O2 Arena.

How to watch the BRIT Awards 2026

Coverage from the BRIT Awards will be available to watch on ITV1 and ITVX from 8.15pm.

Additionally, you can watch along on ITV’s YouTube channel from 8.45pm.

If you’re from outside the UK, you can watch coverage on the BRIT Awards YouTube channel from 8.45pm.

The show will go out live and is expected to conclude at around 10.30pm.

However, if you wanted to get a taste of the action a bit earlier, then The Red Carpet, hosted by Charley Marlowe and Tyler West, will be live on The BRITs Instagram from 5.30pm.

Across their social accounts over the night, Sarah Story will be chatting to winners and performers backstage.

Who will be hosting the BRIT Awards 2026?

Comedian Jack Whitehall will be taking on presenting duties again, having also done so for the 2025 ceremony.

Who will be performing at the BRIT Awards 2026?

A major part of the BRIT Awards is live performances from several major artists.

In 2026, Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Mark Ronson, sombr and RAYE will be among the acts showcasing some recent work.

It is theorised that Harry Styles will perform the lead single, Aperture, from his upcoming album, Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally.

Recommended reading:

His performance comes just weeks before he plays at the same arena for his ‘One Night Only’ show.

Alongside that, EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI – who are the singing voices for the fictional girl group HUNTR/X in KPop Demon Hunters – will take to the stage.

Will you be watching The BRIT Awards 2026? Let us know in the comments.

Britain’s Katie Boulter was unable to build on a superb start as she lost to Italian top seed Jasmine Paolini in the last eight of the Merida Open.

Against the world number seven in Mexico, Boulter won the first set in 28 minutes without dropping a game.

But errors started to creep in as Paolini went on to win 0-6 6-3 6-3.

Having won only three points on her serve in the opening set, Paolini started the second set strongly, holding for the first time and then breaking to go 3-1 up.

Boulter, who came into the contest on the back of a seven-match winning run, including claiming the Ostrava Open title, broke straight back to love but neither player could hold serve in the next three games.

It was Paolini who held her nerve to take the second set and level the contest.

The 2024 Wimbledon and French Open finalist raced into a 2-0 lead in the decider and, although Boulter broke back and held serve to lead 3-2, the Italian’s confidence grew as she won four games in a row to claim a semi-final spot.

“It was a really tough one – Katie, the first set she was smashing every ball and hitting a winner everywhere,” Paolini told Sky Sports.

“I was telling myself to play more deep in the court and hit the ball harder because I had to raise the level to try and win the match and in the end it worked out.

“I was trying to be calm, to think what I had to do. I think when you’re nervous you can’t find the solutions.”