That game is followed by an international break, with Liverpool then travelling to Manchester City in a blockbuster FA Cup quarter-final tie in early April ahead of their latest two-legged meeting with PSG, the winners of which will play either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the last four of the Champions League.

The joint US-Israeli strikes killed Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the father of Mojtaba, at the beginning of the conflict

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Iran’s new supreme leader has issued a statement after some believed he may have died or sustained serious injuries.

In his statement, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a warning to Washington and paid tribute to top security official Ali Larijani who died in strikes on Iran days earlier. It was believed that Mojtaba himself had been killed.

“It is with great sorrow that I received the painful news of the martyrdom of Mr. Dr. Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and the Leader’s representative on that council, as well as his distinguished son and some of his colleagues,” Mojtaba said in a statement on Wednesday, March 18.

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Iran has been in conflict with the United States and Israel since February 28. The US and Israel carried out joint strikes on key sites in Iran and killed Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the father of Mojtaba, at the beginning of the conflict. Iran responded by attacking targets across the Middle East, plunging the region into war.

Mojtaba went on to describe the security official as “a learned, far-sighted, intelligent, and committed individual with diverse experiences in various political, military, security, cultural, and managerial arenas.”

“The enemies of Islam should know that shedding this blood only makes the mighty tree of the Islamic system stronger, and of course, every drop of blood has its price, which the murderous killers of these martyrs will soon have to pay,” he added, reports the Express.

This is the second time Mojtaba has released a statement in recent days after reports surfaced that he had lost a leg and was in a coma.

He did not feature on camera on this occasion. It’s highly probable that Khamenei is concealed at an undisclosed location to avoid assassination attempts.

Mojtaba has been regarded as an even more stringent hard-liner than his father. The possibility of him becoming the next supreme leader was seen as a potential regression to Iran’s former hereditary monarchy but with a religious dimension.

The younger Khamenei took on the position of supreme leader with his military at war but also with reserves of highly enriched uranium that could be utilised to build a nuclear weapon.

‘We are against any discrimination in any form’

Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh has said that labelling the group as antisemitic means people “water that term down”.

The group were interviewed by the Big Issue after it was ruled the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, will not face a terror trial after being accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig.

O hAnnaidh told the magazine: “When you start labelling bands and people who speak out against Israel as antisemitic, what you do is water that term down. We are not antisemitic.”

O hAnnaidh also said it was “impossible” to remember everything that happens during a performance.

“When you’re playing a gig it’s impossible to be perfectly conscious all the time. I don’t remember all – and that’s not just from drink, that’s pure adrenaline,” he told the Big Issue.

Band member Moglai Bap said the group is “from the north of Ireland”.

“We know about f****** religious conflicts, people using religion as a way to murder, maim and all this stuff,” he added.

“We are against any discrimination in any form.”

The alleged offence was said to have taken place at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21 2024.

But the case was thrown out in September last year, with chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruling the proceedings were “instituted unlawfully”.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) appealed against the decision at the High Court at a hearing in January, with the rapper opposing the challenge.

In a judgment last week, two judges at the High Court upheld the decision and dismissed the CPS appeal.

The full interview can be read in Monday’s Big Issue, on sale from street vendors and online via bigissue.com.

Graffiti artist 10Foot has created new artwork, which will feature on the cover of the magazine.

He has also contributed an exclusive print, which will come free with each magazine sold.

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

It can help breakdown grease and keeps sinks looking shiny

Cleaning the kitchen sink can be an annoying chore, as it doesn’t last long until it needs a good scrub again. However, I have found a hack that costs just 70p and keeps my sink looking clean and smelling fresh.

I like to keep on top of cleaning my sink, especially as I don’t have a dishwasher. Some products on the market can get expensive, so I decided to test how well the humble washing-up liquid could work as a sink cleaner.

To my surprise, it worked better than other disinfectant products I had used in the past. It helped bring a shine back to my sink and provided a fresh lemon scent.

I find it works best to clean the sink with washing-up liquid regularly. All you need is a bottle of washing-up liquid and a sponge.

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I use Sainsbury’s own washing-up liquid, which is priced at 70p. Then, clear the sink before squirting a generous amount of washing-up liquid over the whole area.

I wet my sponge with warm water and scrub the areas I covered with washing-up liquid. It soon starts to fluff up, making the sink look shiny again.

Once I have scrubbed the whole area, including the tap, I rinse my sponge with warm water and wipe over the sink. You can leave it to air dry or use a dry cloth.

Plus, washing-up liquid can help prevent clogs in the drain. When cleaning my sink with washing up liquid, I squirt a generous amount down the plug hole.

I let it sit for around 15 to 20 minutes before flushing with hot water, as this can help break down any grease.

I haven’t had any blocked drains since trying out the hack, as I remember to do it when cleaning the sink, so it’s become a regular task.

If you have stubborn sink stains and want a deep clean, you can still use washing-up liquid, but add baking soda as well. This enhances the cleaning power, helping remove stains.

For limescale, you can add white vinegar or lemon juice. These can lift soap scum or limescale build-up on taps and sinks.

Your passport might look valid, but a little-known rule could still stop you boarding your flight this Easter, and it’s catching out thousands of Brits

Brits heading abroad this Easter are being urged to check their passports now, as a little-known rule could derail travel plans at the last minute. It turns out that even documents that appear valid could still see you fail a number of countries’ entry requirements.

With Easter Sunday falling on April 5, many holidaymakers are entering the final countdown to their trips. However, experts warn passport checks are often left too late, increasing the risk of being turned away at the airport.

The issue centres around strict validity rules enforced by many countries. According to the UK Government’s official travel advice, what matters is not just the expiry date, but how much longer your passport is valid for after your trip.

Andrea Platania, travel expert at Transfeero, says many Brits misunderstand how the rules work. He explained: “A lot of travellers look at their passport, see that it expires later in the year, and assume that means everything is fine. But for many destinations, that is not how the rule works.

“Across Europe, the 29 countries in the Schengen Area, including Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Greece, all require British passports to be valid for at least three months beyond the day you leave the country. On top of that, these countries also enforce a separate rule: the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years on the date of entry, creating an additional layer of confusion for travellers.

The UK Government confirms these rules apply across Schengen countries. Travellers who fail to meet them can be denied entry, even if their passport has not yet expired.

Beyond Schengen, similar rules apply in other popular destinations. Platania says countries such as Cyprus, Albania and Montenegro typically require around three months’ validity, while Turkey requires at least 150 days from arrival.

Further afield, requirements can be stricter still. According to the UK Government’s travel advice for Thailand, many long-haul destinations require at least six months of validity remaining.

Data from ABTA shows millions of Brits travel abroad during peak periods like Easter each year. Experts say this surge increases the likelihood of last-minute passport issues.

Platania warns that many travellers only check documents days before departure. He says this is when people realise they fall within the three or six-month rule, leaving little time to fix the problem.

The HM Passport Office advises travellers not to book trips without a valid passport. It also notes that renewing online is typically cheaper and faster than applying by post.

Experts say the safest approach is to check your passport as soon as you book a trip. Renewing early can help avoid costly delays, stress, or even missing your holiday altogether.

The King has paid tribute to the contribution of people of Nigerian heritage as he held a state banquet for the country’s president.

President Bola Tinubu and his wife Oluremi Tinubu are in the UK for a two-day state visit.

The King said Britain was “blessed” that many people of Nigerian heritage are “at the heart of British life through excelling at the highest levels of business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature and the arts, and public service”.

He said he had met “so many of these quiet heroes in our schools, businesses, National Health Service and universities”.

“From Afrobeats filling our concert halls and Nollywood captivating our screens, to stars competing in our Premier League and adjudicating our highest courts, so much of Britain’s culture is, in truth, profoundly enriched by Nigeria,” said the King.

Guests at the banquet tucked into a menu that included quail egg tartlet, fillet of turbot, lobster mousse wrapped in spinach, and iced blackcurrant souffle.

A mocktail called Crimson Bloom was also served, using West African beverage Zobo and other ingredients.

President Tinubu is Muslim, so he did his toast with a soft drink, and the King also wished him “Ramadan Mubarak” to mark the end of the Islamic holy month.

Alcohol was available at the banquet for those who wanted it.

The King last visited Nigeria – a country of some 230 million people – in 2018.

He told guests at tonight’s banquet that the country had “arrived” and was “transforming at a remarkable pace”.

The Nigerian dignitaries were earlier welcomed to Windsor by the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

There was an impressive guard of honour and a carriage ride in the sunshine.

Nigerian and Union flags also adorned the streets of the Berkshire town for what is the first state visit by a Nigerian head of state for 37 years.

Read more from Sky News:
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The King and his visitors later viewed items from the royal collection and met organisations promoting dialogue between different faiths at an event in The Vicars’ Hall.

Representatives from the Mosaic programme, set up by The King’s Trust charity, were part of the gathering.

The scheme brings together Muslim men and women in positions of religious authority – from across ethnic and theological differences – for a leadership programme.

The gripping detective drama has been a huge hit with viewers and one star has opened up about returning for a potential third series

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Channel 5’s Ellis has been a massive hit with viewers and as Series 2 of the gripping drama concludes, fans have been left speculating if it will return for another series.

Series 1 first graced our television screens back in 2024 and at the time it became a favourite among detective drama enthusiasts, who couldn’t get enough.

It was a success after featuring the UK’s first black solo female lead as award-winning actress Sharon D Clarke led the cast. Following the triumph of Series 1, Channel 5 viewers were treated to another season that aired last week.

Fans once again saw DCI Ellis (Sharon D Clarke) and DS Harper (Andrew Gower) investigate the disappearance of a local lad, a murder that unearthed a lot of old resentments and the death of a student who was found crushed beneath scaffolding. As the show concluded tonight, everyone has been left pondering if Ellis and Harper will make a return to our screens again.

READ MORE: Piers Morgan storms off after furious row with Louis Theroux manosphere starREAD MORE: Netflix’s live action Scooby-Doo cast and where you’ve seen them before

As of now, Channel 5 are yet to confirm whether the show will continue, however, the good news is Andrew Gower, who portrays DS Harper, is very eager to return to his role and the show, reports the Mirror.

When speaking to Radio Times on the prospect of him filming the show again, he said: “Oh yeah, that’s a very easy ‘yes’. To work with Sharon and to keep giving life to Harper and Ellis.”

He continued: “I’ll keep reiterating this but it’s the audience, they always say it’s all about the audience, right? If we can keep entertaining audiences and they keep wanting more, then that’s what we’ll do with Ellis.

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“I think the more series we have or the more episodes we have – films, whatever people call them – then that means that we’re doing something right and that means that this relationship can grow.”

The star added: “At some point maybe grow apart to come together, whatever. That’s the exciting thing about British detective shows, there’s scope where you can build from one series to however many. Long may it continue.”

Discussing the legacy of the detective drama, co-star Sharon D Clarke previously said: “The thing I love the most about Ellis is that she is on our screens! I love playing Ellis because I didn’t grow up seeing anybody like her on my television screen.

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“So that is my joy, that this is a first, and I am getting to lead that brigade and hopefully pass that baton on to people coming behind me. We’ve waited a long time, but we’re here, and we’re here to stay.”

Channel 5 has since revealed what programme will be taking Ellis’ place next week in the 9pm slot on Tuesday evening. On Tuesday, (March 24) the broadcaster will screen Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, a feature-length drama featuring Martin Clunes, Osian Morgan, Sian Reese Williams, and Jason Hughes.

Channel 5 stated: “Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is a major, feature-length factual drama exploring the story of how a vulnerable 17-year-old boy was groomed by one of the most powerful figures in television – Huw Edwards.

“Starring Martin Clunes (Doc Martin, Wuthering Heights, Manhunt) as Edwards, the drama delves into the newsreader’s double life as it spirals out of control, leading to his complete departure from public life following his conviction for making indecent images of children.”

Ellis is available to stream on Channel 5

The airline has now abandoned most flights to the region until June as US and Israeli strikes across Iran are continuing.

In the latest update, British Airways told its passengers it has extended the temporary reduction in its flying schedule due to “continuing uncertainty”.

The airline has now announced it will not fly to Bahrain, Dubai, Tel Aviv and Amman in Jordan, until after May 31.

Meanwhile, Doha flights have been axed until April 30.

Additionally, Abu Dhabi flights remain cancelled until much later in the year (October).

British Airways extends Middle East flight suspensions from UK

In a statement post on its travel updates page, British Airways said: “Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, and to provide more clarity to our customers, we’ve extended the temporary reduction in our flying schedule in the region.

“We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options.

“Since the situation in the Middle East began, we’ve helped thousands of customers return home and operated eight relief flights from Muscat in Oman.

“We are also operating additional flights to and from Singapore (x4) and Bangkok (x3) and continue to review options to bring back more customers who have been disrupted.”

Best and Worst Airlines in the UK 2025

You can see the latest Foreign Office travel advice for Brits heading to the likes of Dubai on the UK government’s website.

The new travel update came as BA confirmed last week that it would stop running rescue flights from the Middle East because of “reduced demand”.

The UK airline had been running daily flights from Muscat in Oman to London’s Heathrow Airport since March 5.

But it said it was going to “pause” the flights after Thursday’s (March 12) departure.

BA does not usually serve Muscat, but the capital has emerged as a key location for tourists stranded in neighbouring countries because of the current conflict.

British Airways reveals new flights to Australia from UK

Elsewhere, the airline revealed this week it will introduce direct flights to Melbourne as part of an expansion of its long-haul links.

British Airways shared it will operate a daily return flight between London Heathrow and the Australian city from January 9 next year.

This will be in time for the 2027 Australian Open tennis tournament and Australian Grand Prix.

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The flights will be an extension of the travel company’s existing service to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The only Australian destination served by the carrier at present is Sydney via Singapore.

Were you due to fly with British Airways to the likes of Dubai from the UK in the coming weeks? Let us know in the comments below.

The Thursday letters page thinks 2026 is set to be one of the best years ever for video games, as one reader is saddened by the decline in VR gaming.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Fight the future
So this whole DLSS 5 unveil is not going the way Nvidia imagined, huh? Who would’ve thought the whole gaming world would turn against it and Digital Foundry would be forced to put out an apology! And now we learn that the developers never even knew anything about it?! It was all a corporate deal by the bigwigs and not an artistic vision at all.

Like the reader said yesterday, I bet the companies won’t take the hint – there’s too much money in it for them – but I love that gamers aren’t taking this laying down. People act so helpless when it comes to bad decisions in the games industry but time and time again, we see that publishers back away the instant they think people are voting with their wallets.

I don’t know if the situation is that simple this time around, but all this is sending a clear message that we don’t want AI slop in our games, and the companies need to be changing their plans if they think this is the future of anything.
Gurney

Halcyon days
So I’m officially old now, if Xbox 360 is retro, huh? It’s an odd thing thinking back to that time. It seems simultaneously like yesterday and forever ago. I had to send mine back twice because of the Red Ring of Death but I still loved it. It wasn’t just the games it was the whole vibe, with online being new at that time and games still being cheap enough to make that you got some weird and interesting stuff.

There’s no question the Xbox 360 was better than the PlayStation 3, and any of the other Xbox consoles, but I’d also put it ahead of the PS1 and definitely the PlayStation 5. It’s a shame Microsoft let the early success go to its head and started on all the Kinect rubbish so soon but for a while there you saw the industry giant they could’ve been.
Lord Buckethead

Lance the boil
I never imagined that the boss of Take-Two would end up being the voice of sanity in the great AI debate but everything he’s said about it has been on point. There even seems to be a vague hint of respect and loyalty from him, towards his developers. Not that I’m sure he wouldn’t throw them under the bus in an instant, if it thought it would earn him an extra cent, but at least he pays lip service to them being artists – which is more than somewhere like EA would.

My hope is that the whole AI bubble bursts as soon as possible and we move past it. The longer things go on like this, with all the ridiculous lies from the AI companies (and the AI itself!) the worse it’s going to be when it all explodes. If I was Take-Two I’d put a ‘Not made with AI’ stick on GTA 6 and maybe that would catch on.
Bosley

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Another one bites the dust
And so the winding up on another thing that makes me smile is taken away. Got an email yesterday from Meta to say that the VR Worlds aspect is being shut down from the 15th of June.

I never purchased the headset with the intent to make friends across the globe but I found out that by joining the Worlds aspect, that people from all around the world, from all walks of life, can come together. This was a lovely thing.

I will always stand by my enthusiasm for VR. It is the zenith of what I dreamt of during the early to mid ‘90s. It may be coughing and spluttering but I’ll keep on nursing my headset and keep on rocking. Most of the games installed just can’t be done in flat.
D Dubya
PS: Any update on the Alien: Rogue Incursion sequel?

GC: No, but it hasn’t been cancelled.

Summer blowout
If we’re not going to get as many new releases this Christmas as we would normally, because of GTA 6, I hope they compensate for that by having more announcements than usual during the summer, so we’ve at least got stuff to look forward to.

I’m dying to know what Persona 6 is about and what FromSoftware’s next big single-player game is. There’s so many companies that either haven’t announced anything for ages or where we basically only know the name. What happened to the new Bioshock game and what exactly is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet? I really don’t want to wait until next year to find out.
Tacle

A year of extremes
Thanks for the Pragmata preview, I’m glad to see that it’s shaping up nicely.

I played the short demo last week and found that the rub your belly/pat your head style of gameplay clicked right at the end of my 18 minute playtime, so I’m looking forward to the full game.

I feel like I say this every year, but isn’t 2026 shaping up to be low-key great for games?

We have two huge commercial and critical hits already in both Pokémon Pokopia and Resident Evil Requiem, with Capcom planning to also deliver both Onimusha and Pragmata later in the year.

Meanwhile the conversation around Crimson Desert seems to point to another banger (I feel sorry for the contributor last week, who said they hope it’s bad so they can focus on other releases; can’t they just play it at a later stage of their life if it is?), and I’d like to think that Nintendo are poised to reveal some exciting Christmas games for Switch 2.

Considering I haven’t even mentioned the looming GTA 6 release in November I think that we’re in for a pretty great year for new releases, despite everything that is going on with gaming hardware and in the real world.
Anon

Mega bonus
Although it’s great to know that Subnautica 2 is finally going to be out soon, surely I’m not the only one that is shocked by the bonus total of $250 million? I’m not begrudging the developers the money but surely that must be much bigger than the budget of the game?

Spider-Man 2 was just north of $300 million and that was meant to be one of the biggest ever, so what’s going on here? Maybe the publisher just never intended to pay up but why even suggest it, because I’m pretty sure it’s not something the developer would’ve gone into it expecting.
Phil

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Resident Evil 9 (out of 10)
***Mild spoilers for Resident Evil Requiem***

I’ve just started playing Resident Evil Requiem, choosing the Switch 2 version over the PlayStation 5 version for portability.

I’m about a quarter of the way through and I feel the reason why the game works so well is that it takes some of the best bits from some of the better Resident Evil games.

The beginning areas with Grace in the hotel and with the monster that’s scared of the dark feels very reminiscent of the Baker mansion in Resident Evil 7. The rest of the Rhodes Hill Care Centre feels like if the RCPD department precinct from the Resident Evil 2 remake and the castle from Resident Evil Village had a weird zombie lovechild.

Leon’s sections feel very much like what I have played of Resident Evil 4 remake.

I’ve got to say so far, with what I’ve played, they’ve nailed it. The parts with Grace feel tense and claustrophobic and ammo is scarce. The bits with Leon just feel like the perfect respite, just unadulterated fun, where you get to let loose and kill zombies to your hearts content.

I think the fact that since 2017 Capcom have managed to release either a new Resident Evil entry or remake less than every two years, and have the series still feel relevant and exciting, is pretty remarkable; especially when you consider that it wasn’t that long ago when the franchise looked to be dead and buried.
matc7884

Inbox also-rans
So Digital Foundry got death threats for their positive video on DLSS 5 and their response was to make a new video where they pretend to have the same opinions as their viewers. The gaming community is a messed up place for sure.
Gecky

I see something called Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss but it looks pretty low budget and I’ve not liked the previous games I’ve played. GC, what would you say is the best Lovecraftian game, that is actually good?
Pascal87

GC: That’s easy, it’s Bloodborne. As a bonus it’s also one of the best games ever made.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

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MORE: Games Inbox: Is Starfield a good game?

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Despite Liverpool’s dominance, the talk at half-time was of Mohamed Salah’s missed penalty. For a man who rarely misses, it was an unusually weak attempt and one that would certainly have got the headlines had Liverpool not progressed.

By now, Salah’s hunger for success is clear and it spoke volumes that instantly after his miss, he forced a save from Ugurcan Cakir.

And the Egyptian was involved in all three of Liverpool’s second-half goals to cap off a terrific all-round display.

First, Salah teed up Hugo Ekitike and it was Ryan Gravenberch who finished after Salah’s strike was saved, for Liverpool’s third.

The goal to make it 4-0 was a work of art as the 33-year-old used his left foot to curl a sublime effort into the top corner from outside the box.

“It says a lot about his mentality,” said Slot. “That was a difficult moment [when he missed the penalty] but then to come out in the second half with a great assist for Hugo and then score a trademark goal coming inside and finding the top corner.

“That tells you a lot about his mental strength, so credit to him and the whole team because adversity is something we can talk about when it comes to this season.”

Salah could have easily had more on a night where he became the first African to score 50 Champions League goals and recorded his 200th and 201st goal involvements for Liverpool at Anfield in all competitions (140 goals, 61 assists) in just 211 appearances.

There was some concern when Salah asked to be substituted in the 74th minute, with Slot saying afterwards that he had felt something.

But this was another timely reminder of his sheer class. Salah’s numbers alone are stupendous and whether or not he is still a Liverpool player come next season, there is little doubt that Liverpool have a stronger chance of knocking out PSG with him fit and firing.