NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — European Union leaders meeting in Cyprus need to start preparing a playbook on what should happen if an EU country under attack puts out a call for help from bloc partners, the president of Cyprus said.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, President Nikos Christodoulides said EU leaders will discuss “giving substance” to Article 42.7 of the bloc’s treaties, which oblige all 27 member states to assist each other in times of crisis.

The article states that if a nation is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, its partners should provide “aid and assistance by all the means in their power.” It has never been used before so there’s no hard and fast rules on how EU members should respond to any call for assistance.

“We have Article 42.7 and we don’t know what is going to happen if a member state triggers this article,” Christodoulides said ahead of an EU-Mideast summit he is also hosting later this week, expected to focus on the Iran war and its fallout. “So we’re going to have a discussion and prepare, let’s say, an operational plan of what is going to happen in case a member state triggers this article, and there are a number of issues.”

The issue resonates particularly with Christodoulides, who appealed for help from fellow EU countries last month when a Shahed drone struck a British air base on the island’s southern coastline. Cypriot officials said the drone was launched from Lebanon whose capital is just 207 kilometers (129 miles) away from Cyprus’ southern coast. Greece, France, Spain, The Netherlands and Portugal dispatched ships with anti-drone capabilities to help defend the island.

Clarification needed on countries that are also NATO members

Christodoulides said since many EU countries are also members of NATO, the playbook should clarify how those countries would respond to a call for help from an EU partner without conflicting with their obligations under the military alliance.

NATO’s own security guarantee, Article 5, states an attack on one ally is deemed an attack on them all, requiring a collective response.

“So what is going to happen in this situation if a member state is both NATO member state and an EU member state? What is going happen?” Christodoulides said.

Another issue that needs to be addressed under the Article 47.2 is whether a response would be a collective one in the NATO mold or just one for states neighboring the country in distress. There’s also the issue of what means would need to be used to deal with varying types of crises.

Forging closer EU ties to the Mideast

Christodoulides said he’s pleased to see that fellow EU leaders now “understand the importance” of bringing the bloc closer to the Middle East with such initiatives as the Mediterranean Pact that implements specific projects on a range of issues including health, education and energy in Middle Eastern countries.

Closer EU ties to the Middle East has been a key priority for Cyprus’ EU presidency, which Christodoulides said offers a “very good opportunity … to give substance” to that objective. Attending the informal EU leaders’ summit later this week will be the leaders of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, affording the opportunity “not just to exchange ideas but to see in action how we elevate our cooperation in a strategic level.”

“We can represent the interest of the countries of the Greater Middle East to Brussels, but at the same time, and this is very, very important, the countries in the region, they trust Cyprus to represent them in the European Union,” he said.

Bringing India to Europe

Christodoulides is a strong proponent of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a trade, energy and digital connectivity corridor that would link the continent with the world’s largest democracy and is hoped to usher peace and stability in the Middle East.

Christodoulides said under the Cypriot EU presidency, a “Friends of IMEC” group has been set up to promote the initiative, which still lacks what he said are more specific projects. One such project is the Great Seas Interconnector, an electricity cable connecting the power grids of Greece and Cyprus and eventually Israel that has been plagued by delays.

“We can work together with the Americans, with the U.S. Government, with President Trump in order to give substance because it will be a win-win situation for both the European Union and the United States” with additional concrete projects, Christodoulides said.

The Iran war again brought the need for the EU to diversify its energy source into sharp relief. Christodoulides said he’s in talks with the EU’s executive arm on how Cyprus’ own offshore natural gas deposits can help the bloc find alternative energy sources and routes.

He said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will unveil on Friday “very specific proposals” regarding energy costs and how the bloc can become more energy independent.

The Cypriot president said the EU has made significant strides in hastening its decision on making mechanisms but has failed to deliver on its pledge to add new members in the last two years, diminishing the trust that prospective member nations have in the union.

“So we have a strong geopolitical tool that we are losing mainly because of our mistakes. The situation today is much better. We are deciding in a much faster, let’s say, pace,” said Christodoulides. “And enlargement is one of the geopolitical tools that, as a European Union, we need pretty soon to have specific decisions.”

The force received “good” gradings for leadership and force management, workforce development and diversity, use of police powers, prevention of crime and antisocial behaviour, safeguarding, and fraud management.

PEEL report rates North Yorkshire Police good in 6 areas (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

The independent PEEL assessment by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has been published today, Wednesday 22 April.

The assessment is carried out in the public interest and looks at how well police forces across England and Wales serve the public.

However, inspectors found some areas needed improvement. North Yorkshire Police was graded “adequate” for responding to the public and investigating crime.

The force was rated “requires improvement” in providing a safe and lawful custody environment – the lowest grading in the report.

In response, the force has developed an action plan to address recommended areas for improvement, including protecting the rights of child detainees, and says it will continue to work with partners to do so in areas including provision of appropriate adults.

HMICFRS said its PEEL inspections are designed to give the public a clear, independent view of how effectively forces operate and where they need to improve.

Scott Bisset, Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, welcomed all the findings and said the ‘good’ ratings reflected the hard work and commitment of all force employees.

“Achieving six very solid good gradings demonstrates the excellent progress we are making in our ambition to be an outstanding force, which provides the best service to victims and communities across the City of York and North Yorkshire.

“The report represents independent findings which show that North Yorkshire Police has continued to improve over the last three years.

“We have demonstrated a focus on prevention, with a 9.5 per cent reduction in crime over the last two years.

“We are arresting more criminals more quickly, are third in the country for charging suspects and detect more crime than two years ago. This work is contributing to the lowest overall crime rate per head of population across England and Wales and North Yorkshire Police also has one of the highest public confidence ratings.

“Our average answer time for 999 calls has reduced from seven seconds to four seconds in the last two years. The average wait time for a member of the public who calls us with a non-emergency call has decreased from four minutes and 41 seconds to three minutes in the last two years – but we still have a firm focus on improving our response to 101 calls.

“As much as we recognise the progress, we still have work to do. North Yorkshire Police is not complacent.

“Specific areas for improvement have been identified in the report and we will continue to work hard, including with our partners, to address the important areas identified. As the report states, we have already taken robust steps to address any recommended areas for improvement and the focus continues.”

The report says the force’s use of force and strip search in custody is lawful, necessary and proportionate, but “should be subject to robust scrutiny”.

The report also noted that the force is addressing recommendations for improvement made about effectively assessing, managing and reviewing risk regularly throughout detention and on release

The force has implemented an action plan on effective governance and quality assurance processes to manage the safety and wellbeing of detainees.

The actress is known for having played Noreen in the ITV sitcom for more than a decade

Benidorm star Elsie Kelly has died aged 89, it has been confirmed, as her co-stars have spoken out in tribute to the actress who they described as an ‘absolute joy.

The actress, who is known for having played Noreen in the ITV sitcom for more than a decade, passed away “surrounded by her family” on Tuesday (April 21), her agent confirmed on Wednesday (April 22).

Michelle Sykes confirmed Elsie, who also played Mrs Tardebigge in Crossroads among other TV roles, had passed away after a “short illness” in a statement which read: “She passed away peacefully, after a short illness, surrounded by her loving family on 21st April 2026 at the age of 89.

“With a career spanning decades across television, theatre, and film, she most recently became a household name through her work on Benidorm… Her unmistakable charm, sharp timing and gentle humour made her a fan favourite.

“Beyond this iconic role, she appeared in numerous British television programmes, including Inside No. 9, Harry & the Wrinklies, The Famous Five and Crossroads.”

Actress Crissy Rock, who also starred in Benidorm, shared an emotional tribute on social media. She said: “So sad to hear of the passing of Elsie Kelly this morning. We shared so many wonderful memories filming Benidorm, moments I’ll always treasure.

“She was an absolute joy to work with and brought so much warmth and laughter wherever she went. I was so touched that she came to see me on tour a couple of times recently at St Helens Theatre Royal – it meant a lot. Thinking of her family and all who loved her. She’ll be deeply missed.”

Derren Litten, the creator and writer of Benidorm, also wrote on social media: “So sad to pass on the news of the passing of Elsie Kelly aka Noreen in Benidorm. One of the best loved characters in the show and certainly one of the most beloved cast members. Elsie’s acting abilities and comic genius were so natural they were almost taken for granted. Thanks for your talent but most of all your friendship Elsie, I am very sad today but also happy to think of such a wonderful life well lived.”

Carol Challis, the wife of John Challis, who played Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, also shared: “We have lost this dearest and kindest lady. Elsie has exited stage right. She was much loved by everyone and I shall miss our catch up calls. God bless you, Elsie.”

ISTANBUL (AP) — Sadri Haghshenas spends her days selling borek — a layered, savory pastry — at a shop in Istanbul, but her mind is on her daughter in Tehran.

The family had to send her home to Iran after they ran into difficulties renewing her visa, despite fears that a shaky ceasefire could soon collapse.

For years, short-term residency permits have allowed tens of thousands of Iranians to pursue economic opportunities and enjoy relative stability in neighboring Turkey. But it’s a precarious situation, and the war has raised the stakes.

“I swear, I cry every day,” Haghshenas said, raising her hands from behind the counter of the pastry shop. “There is no life in my country, there is no life here, what shall I do?”

A daughter sent back

Haghshenas and her husband moved to Turkey five years ago with their then-teenage daughters and have been living on tourist visas renewable every six months to two years.

They could not afford a lawyer this year, because her husband is out of work due to health problems. As a result, they missed the deadline to apply for a new visa for their 20-year-old daughter, Asal, who is still in her final year of high school.

Asal was detained at a checkpoint earlier this month and spent a night at an immigration facility. Her mother found a friend to take her back to Tehran rather than face deportation proceedings that could complicate her ability to return to Turkey. They hope she can come back on a student visa.

Haghshenas has been unable to talk to her daughter since she left because of a monthslong internet blackout in Iran.

Many Iranians have temporary status

Turkey has not seen an influx of refugees, as most Iranians have sought safety within their country. Many who have crossed the land border were transiting to other countries where they have citizenship or residency.

Nearly 100,000 Iranians lived in Turkey in 2025, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute. Around 89,000 have entered Turkey since the start of the war, while around 72,000 have departed, according to the United Nations’ refugee agency.

Some Iranians have used short-term visa-free stays to wait out the war, but there are few options for those who want to stay longer.

Sedat Albayrak, of the Istanbul Bar Association’s Refugee and Migrant Rights Center, said that getting international protection status can be difficult, and the system encourages Iranians to apply for short-term permits instead.

“There are people who have lived on them for over 10 years,” he said.

If the war continues, more may have to return

Nadr Rahim came to Turkey for his children’s education 11 years ago. Now, the war may force him to go home.

Because of the difficulty of getting a permit to start a business or work legally in Turkey, he lived off the profits of his motorcycle salesroom in Iran. But there have been no sales since the war started, and international sanctions — and the internet outage — make it extremely difficult to transfer funds.

His family only has enough money to stay in Turkey a few more months. His children grew up in Turkey and don’t read Farsi or speak it fluently. He worries about how they would adapt to living in Iran, but said “if the war continues, we will have no choice but to return.”

In the meantime, he spends most of his days scrolling on his phone, waiting for news from his parents in Tehran or discussing the war over waterpipes with Iranian friends.

‘A bad life’ in Turkey and Iran

A 42-year-old Iranian woman came to Turkey eight months ago, hoping to make money to support her family. She and her daughter registered as university students to get study visas. She attends classes in the morning to keep her legal status before rushing to service jobs, sometimes working until 3 a.m.

They share a room with six other people at a women’s boarding house, she said, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear for her security should she return to Iran.

“I truly love Iran. If necessary, I would even go and defend it in war,” she says. But she sees no future there, while in Turkey, she’s barely scraping by and only able to send small amounts of money to her parents.

“I have a bad life in Turkey, and my parents have a bad life in Iran,” she said. “I came to Turkey with so much hope, to support my parents and build a future. But now I feel hopeless.”

From one temporary refuge to another

A 33-year-old freelance architect from Tehran traveled to Turkey during Iran’s violent crackdown on mass protests in January. She had planned to return after the situation calmed down, but then the United States and Israel went to war with Iran at the end of February.

“I started to believe that it’s a very bad situation, worse than I expected,” she said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of persecution if she returns to Iran.

She has been unable to work for her usual clients back in Iran because of the internet blackout. With the end of her 90-day visa-free window approaching, she can’t afford to apply for a longer stay in Turkey.

Instead, she has decided to go to Malaysia, where she will get free accommodation in return for building shelters during a month of visa-free stay.

She has no plan for what comes next.

Eden Camp near Malton is taking part in this year’s Drive It Day on Sunday, April 26, bringing together classic cars and transport heritage while raising funds for charity.

The national campaign, established in 2005 by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, celebrates the UK’s motoring heritage.

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As part of the event, the museum which is the only remaining prisoner of war camp in Britain, will host a display of classic vehicles, with all proceeds supporting NSPCC Childline to provide vital assistance to vulnerable children.

Classic cars at Eden Camp for Drive It Day in aid of NSPCC. (Image: Eden Camp)

Classic car owners are invited to join the display and can access discounted museum entry at £5 per person. Pre-booking online is required, with all entry fees donated directly to the charity, which provides support to vulnerable children across the UK.

Luke Hudman, marketing manager at Eden Camp, said the attraction was looking forward to welcoming classic car owners and enthusiasts “for a brilliant day at Eden Camp”.

“Drive It Day is a fantastic opportunity to bring people together through a shared passion for classic vehicles whilst supporting an incredibly important cause. .”

Classic cars at Eden Camp for Drive It Day in aid of NSPCC. (Image: Eden Camp)

Attendees can also show their support by purchasing official Drive It Day fundraising plaques, which are available from the official Drive It Day shop.

Classic car enthusiasts can book tickets online. Visitors are strongly encouraged to book ahead to secure entry and take advantage of discounted rates. Adult tickets are priced at £17 online (£20 on the day), and child tickets at £15 online (£18 on the day), with free entry for children under five. Family and group ticket packages are also available.

For more information, and to book, visit https://edencamp.co.uk/whats-on/drive-it-day/.

Eden Camp, which was built in 1942, still has the original huts that have been preserved and turned into immersive displays.

The huts have been re-equipped to tell the story of The People’s War, the social history of life in Britain from 1939 to 1945, featuring a new Blitz experience in Hut 5

Eden Camp received £224,000 in funding from North Yorkshire Council from the £16.9 million UK Shared Prosperity Funding allocated to North Yorkshire, used to restore the original POW huts built in 1942.

The collection at Eden Camp includes historic military vehicles, thousands of military items and has an archive collection with over 103,000 documents, artefacts and photographs.

Eden camp welcomes over 25000 children each year for formal educational visits in a typical year.

Actor Liam McCheyne has been flooded with praise as she revealed he had completed the Manchester Marathon after just two weeks of training

Coronation Street star Liam McCheyne has been flooded with praise as she revealed he had completed the Manchester Marathon after just two weeks of training.

The actor, who is best known for playing Dylan Wilson in the ITV soap, revealed earlier this month that he be running the Manchester Marathon to raise funds for charity.

Taking to Instagram to share the update, he posted a video in which he could be seen speaking directly to the camera and said: “Now, I don’t usually do videos like this, but I have a massive favour to ask and I really hope that you can help,” McCheyne began addressing his followers in a clip posted yesterday.

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“I’ve signed up to do the Manchester Marathon. I signed up last week, so I’m really cutting it short,” he said of the sports event taking place on Sunday, 19 April. I’ve got two weeks to train, I’m gonna give it my best shot.”

He went on to share: “The charity I’m gonna be doing it for is Charlie’s Promise, which means a heck of a lot to me. We did a lot of work with them when we did the knife prevention story on Corrie. They’re doing unbelievable work, so that’s what’s gonna get me through this marathon.”

Charlie’s Promise is an organisation dedicated to putting an end to knife crime in the UK in memory of teen Charlie Cosser, who was stabbed to death at a party in 2023. They helped Liam and his co-stars on a knife crime storyline, which saw teen Mason Radcliffe lose his life after being stabbed.

Liam then rounded off his video by saying: “I’m gonna give it my best shot, like I said, for an amazing cause. And if you can help, it’d be greatly appreciated.” Sharing the update on Instagram, he wrote: “Never done a marathon before. What’s the worst that can happen. Your support will really get me through this. All for an unbelievable cause. Got the just giving link in my bio!”

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The huge event then swept over the city on Sunday (April 19) and Liam later updated fans as he confirmed he had completed the run. Sharing a number of photos from marathon and of him with his finishers medal, the soap star said on Instagram: “First marathon completed. With 2 weeks of training. But what an experience thank you so much to everyone that’s donated all going to the amazing work done by @charliespromisecharity.

“Thank you for everyone that came out today to cheer on the runners. Thank you to those that sent gorgeous messages throughout the day.” He added: “Huge congratulations to everyone that took part you should all be incredibly proud. Final thank you to @andy_geelan wouldn’t have finished that marathon without out you mate.”

And it didn’t take long for the comments to come flooding in, especially from his Corrie co-stars. Samia Longchambon said: “Congrats Liam.. amazing achievement for a brilliant cause!” Sydney Martin replied: “Star boy.” Luca Toolan, who played Mason in the ITV soap, commented: “Incredible brother.”

Tony Maudsley posted: “GOOD LAD!!!!! Very proud of you!!” Jane Danson shared: “AMAZING. WELL DONE !!” Sue Devaney gushed: “So proud of you darling! You’re the best!” Harriet Bibby wrote: “You are BRILLIANT.” Kyran Bowes added: “Amazing well done pal.”

Members of North Yorkshire Council’s executive committee today (TUESDAY) voted to carry out a review of the authority’s network of conveniences, including the introduction of a standard entry fee.

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As part of the review, the council has committed to an improvement programme to ensure that all toilet facilities are in a good or excellent condition by 2030.

Councillors took the decision despite a call from Norton division councillor Keane Duncan to keep it ‘free to pee’ in North Yorkshire.

Cllr Duncan told the meeting at Ripon Town Hall that members of the public who had contacted him “believed that public toilets are a basic fundamental service that should remain free to access”.

He added: “While I recognise the council’s financial position, I do hope the executive would agree that charging to go to the toilet should never be the council’s first instinct. It should be its last resort and only where it makes practical and financial sense.

“I would like to seek an assurance that every alternative will be fully and properly exhausted before any move towards extending charging or making closures.”

But Councillor Richard Foster, executive member for managing our environment, said entry fees were needed to provide a better toilet infrastructure.

“I’ve heard about the free-to-pee campaign, and it would be great, but there is a cost and unfortunately, there isn’t a free pee.

“Somebody pays for it somewhere, the cleaning fees, the water rates, electricity, the consumables that go into toilets all have a cost.”

Councillor Simon Myers, executive member for culture, arts and housing, said the former district and borough councils that did not introduce charges had left some conveniences in a “shocking state that North Yorkshire Council now has to pick up the tab for”.

He added: “How can we expect to balance the books and provide the statutory services that we have to provide, at the same time as justifying spending very considerable amounts of public money on our public lavatories?

“Although I am not necessarily keen on charging for public toilets, I think it’s inevitable in the current financial climate, if we are to bring things up to a decent standard.”

Councillors agreed that the entry fee should be set at 40p rather than a higher proposed rate of 50p.

External funding will be sought to help fund conveniences in areas popular with tourists, but plans to increase fees to park in car parks with toilets, to help cover the cost of running the conveniences, was abandoned.

The council says it will consider the closure of dilapidated conveniences or those with low footfall as part of the review, although talks will take place with parish and town councils first.

The authority is currently responsible for 85 traditional toilet blocks and eight changing places toilets — more than any other council in the UK.

Of those, 28 already have entry fees, which were introduced by previous district and unitary authorities.

It cost the council around £230,000 to operate its toilet network in 2025/26.

Climate change has “prolonged the pollen season”, increasing the time people with hay fever are exposed to allergens, according to the Lancet Countdown in Europe 2026 report.

The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, found that flowering – and therefore pollen release – is shifting.

Researchers looked at birch, alder and olive and detected an earlier season start of one to two weeks for all allergenic trees between 2015 and 2024 compared with 1991 to 2000.

“Climate change has prolonged the pollen season by one to two weeks, increasing the duration of exposure for people with allergic rhinitis,” the authors said.

Commenting, Anne Biggs, deputy head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: “Hay fever impacts millions of people in the UK each year.

“While for some their symptoms can be mild, for many their hay fever symptoms impact their quality of life.

“Research and understanding into the timing and length of the different pollen seasons is vital to support clinicians to ensure treatment and management of allergic conditions can be optimised.

For me the start of Spring in Westminster is when the plane trees dump all their pollen in a huge cloud – today! I don’t get hayfever normally but remember once in a BBC interview in the park having to assure them that I was weeping due to the pollen, not the pension deficit…

— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) April 21, 2026

“Details on longer pollen seasons is essential in the understanding and management of allergic conditions associated with pollens and air quality.

“It is an opportunity to raise awareness on not only the impact of hay fever, but the treatment options available to ensure people with pollen allergies can live symptom-free.”

A separate allergy strategy says the UK has some of the highest allergy rates in the world, with 39% of children and 30% of adults affected, but care is “dramatically under-resourced” in the NHS.

The broader climate and health report also flags rising heat‑related deaths, increased dengue risk and warns that “as long as Europe relies on fossil fuels our economies, our public budgets and ultimately our health will remain vulnerable”.

How many people in the UK could be affected by hay fever?

According to the BBC , “An estimated 13 million people in the UK suffer from hay fever,” with scientists at the University of Worcester predicting higher levels.

However, Jason Murphy, Head of Pharmacy at online pharmacy Chemist4U told Newsquest: the figure could be much higher.

“Tree, grass and weed pollen are the main triggers for hay fever, with tree pollen affecting around 25% of the population, the equivalent of 16.8 million people.

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“Typical symptoms can include repeated sneezing; a runny or blocked nose; itching in the nose, throat or ears; and watery, red, or itchy eyes.

“Tree pollen specifically can also trigger post-nasal drip, which leads to frequent throat clearing, coughing, and a hoarse voice.

“Those with asthma may also notice a tight chest, wheeze or shortness of breath, so it’s worth taking symptoms seriously when forecasts flag very high tree pollen levels.

Developers say there is demand for homes in the area.

Plans to expand housing in Lesmahagow have been unveiled, with developers seeking approval to build 19 new homes.

Modern Housing has submitted a planning statement backing the proposal on land at Brocketsbrae Road which would extend an existing development already under construction nearby.

According to the plans, the development would include a mix of house types, featuring both family homes and bungalows designed to create a cohesive and walkable neighbourhood. A small landscaped seating area is also proposed as a community space.

Developers say there is demand for homes in the area. Of the 26 properties approved in the earlier phase, several have been completed and occupied, while the remaining plots have reportedly secured buyer interest.

Modern Housing also points to wider community benefits, including a £39,000 contribution towards upgrades at nearby Brocketsbrae Park and improved pedestrian links to local green space.

If approved, the development would form part of South Lanarkshire’s housing land supply.

The application will now be considered by South Lanarkshire Council, with a determination deadline of May 30.

Neighbourhood and standard consultation for the development began on April 8.

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