The tone has always been feisty and combative, but in recent years it seems to me like opinion has ossified, weaponised, and tribalised. There’s a growing fear (among political scientists and others) that in our modern, social media-driven world, every issue is reduced to a zero-sum game and shoved into a political tick box. I feel that I’m walking on eggshells. Causes and positions are embraced uncritically. Nuance and understanding are viewed as signs of weakness. Either you’re with us, or you are history.

The Bolton ‘am dram’ scene puts many other towns to shame and it continues today.

Here we have been into the archives for a few photos which were taken to promote various productions over the years.

The youth group from Farnsworth Little Theatre were presenting Trapped in January 1992 which included scenes from Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox and The Diary of Anne Frank

From Gilbert and Sullivan to uproarious farce and from school musicals to thought-provoking works, Bolton’s societies and schools have been responsible for a dazzling array of productions.

Perhaps you were involved in one of them or maybe you might recognise some of those who were.

The DWP has confirmed that disability benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will rise by 3.8 per cent in 2026 – here are the new payment rates

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that disability benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance will increase by 3.8 per cent for the 2026/27 financial year. The revised weekly payment rates will come into effect from 6 April 2026.

At present, PIP ranges from £29.20 to £187.45 per week, with payments typically issued every four weeks which equates to awards of between £116.80 and £749.80.

A 3.8 per cent rise will see payments increase to between £30.30 and £194.60, or £121.20 and £778.40 every four-week payment period, according to the Daily Record.

PIP payment rates for 2026/27.

PIP is made up of two components – daily living and mobility. From Monday, 6 April, PIP will be paid at the following amounts per week:, reports the Mirror.

Daily Living component.

• Enhanced: £114.60 (from £110.40)
• Standard: £76.70 (from £73.90)

Mobility component.

• Enhanced: £80.00 (from £77.05)
• Standard: £30.30 (from £29.20)

PIP payment combinations for 2026/27.

Individuals on PIP could receive the lowest rate of one or both parts, the highest rate of one or both parts, or a mixed award of the lower or higher rates of each component.

The DWP will send letters to all claimants before April detailing their new payment rates. There are eight possible awards, these are listed below.

Single component award only.

You may be awarded the lower or higher daily living or mobility component:

• Standard daily living only – £76.70 per week, £306.80 per pay period
• Enhanced daily living only – £114.60 per week, £458.40 per pay period
• Standard mobility only – £30.30 per week, £121.20 per pay period
• Enhanced mobility only – £80.00 per week, £320.00 per pay period

Lower rate for daily living and mobility.

If you are on the lower rates of both components, your new payments are forecast to be:

• Standard daily living and standard mobility – £107 per week, £428 per pay period

Higher rate for daily living and mobility.

If you are on the higher rates of both components, your new payments are forecast to be:

• Enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility – £194.60 per week, £778.40 per pay period

Lower rate of one component and higher rate of the other.

If you are on the lower rate of one component and the higher rate of the other, your new payments are forecast to be:

• Standard daily living and enhanced mobility – £156.70 per week, £626.80 per pay period
• Enhanced daily living and standard mobility – £144.90 per week, £579.60 per pay period

Remember, PIP and all disability benefits are tax-free and do not affect the benefit cap.

It comes as the popular UK sports channel prepares for one of the “most highly anticipated” F1 seasons in recent years, which began in Australia yesterday (March 6).

With this in mind, consumers can expect a “deeper way to watch F1” such as a “new immersive sidebar”.

New feature for Sky Sports F1 2026 coverage revealed

Sky revealed: “New for 2026, fans can look forward to even more flexibility and choice with a new immersive sidebar for TV viewing during race weekends.

Jenson Button and Craig Slater discussed the first F1 qualifying of the season which saw George Russell claim a dominant pole position for Mercedes in Australia 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/DiJW9HHWnK

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 7, 2026

“Features will include Race Control, Recap and in-race standings plus dedicated driver & team pages with onboard cams, enhanced data, explainers and improved homepage navigation.”

The feature will be available later this season for Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Q customers (an official date has not yet been confirmed).

Additionally, as part of the Sky Sports F1 coverage this season, fans will be able to select an onboard live stream of any of the 20 drivers.

This will be complete with team radio messages for every race, Sprint, qualifying and practice. 

Elsewhere, viewers will have access to pre-race insights and VIP interviews from the track, approximately 30 minutes before “lights out”. 

As part of The F1 Show, on  Fridays, the Sky Sports team will be previewing the race ahead and bringing customers the latest news live from the paddock on Sky Sports F1. 

Sky continued: “They will be with you on Tuesdays to break down all the action from the weekend and take on fan questions – available on YouTube or as an audio listen for fans on the go.”

For those who are non-Sky subscribers but want “instant, contract-free access” to all Sky Sports channels including Sky Sports F1, you can purchase a NOW Sports Day or Month Membership. 

When is Sky Ultimate TV package with Netflix, HBO Max and more launching in UK?

The new F1 features on Sky Sports isn’t the only recent update from the TV giant, with the release of the Ultimate TV package now just weeks away.

In February, the company announced a “world-first” single subscription including the likes Sky, Disney+, Hayu, Netflix and HBO Max.

The entertainment bundle will be available from £24 a month, starting April 1.

At the time, Sophia Ahmad, chief consumer officer at Sky shared that Sky Ultimate TV “marks a new era for Sky and NOW”.

Sophia explained: “Nowhere else offers this breadth of incredible entertainment in a fully integrated experience, with everything customers love watching side by side so viewers can jump from show to show with ease.

“Millions of existing customers will get easy access to this new line-up as standard at unbeatable value.

“All NOW Entertainment customers will get access to HBO Max, included at no extra cost, fully integrated within the NOW app.

“We’re proud to continue Sky’s legacy of innovation, making it easier than ever for people to enjoy the very best entertainment and best experience, all in one place.”

Eddie Howe has warned Arsenal that Manchester City are getting back to their best form under Pep Guardiola after Newcastle United’s FA Cup exit.

City ran out deserving 3-1 winners over Newcastle in the FA Cup fifth round at St James’ Park on Saturday night to secure their place in the quarter-final draw.

Harvey Barnes had given Newcastle the lead in the 18th minute but City equalised through Savinho before a second-half double from Omar Marmoush sealed the win for Guardiola’s men.

Meanwhile, City currently sit seven points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table after they were held at home to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest earlier this week.

But Howe believes City are now hitting top form and claims Guardiola’s side have been ‘the best team’ Newcastle have faced this season.

‘I think that they [City] made changes to their team but I think you see the strength in depth that they have and they possess,’ Howe said after Newcastle’s defeat.

‘I think that was probably a step too far for us today against them when they’re in that mood, I thought they were excellent and we fell away in the game.

‘We seemed to lose our energy but they do that to you because they keep the ball so well, they make you run, they make you chase, then you’re tired and you make another technical mistake and you’re chasing again.

‘They’ve done that for years. That’s why, for me, they’ve been the best team that we’ve continually faced and today I thought they were in a really good place and we just fell out of energy.

‘I don’t think it was necessarily a tactical problem for us, it was more the way they play and how good they are technically. They took a stranglehold of the ball and when we got it back we gave it away too easily, maybe looking too vertical and not horizontal enough at times.

‘Then as soon as you make a technical mistake against them you’re not seeing the ball again for long periods and then your energy just drains away.

‘That’s why they’ve been the best team for so long and I think they’re coming back into the type of form that makes them that team again. They’re evolving into a different version of what they’ve been before but very, very effective.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

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MORE: Joe Cole singles out ‘monster’ Chelsea star after FA Cup win vs Wrexham

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A pigeon briefly stopped play during Atletico Madrid’s 3-2 win over Real Sociedad with unflappable defender Jose Gimenez plucking the bird off the pitch and taking it to safety.

The stoppage came in the 22nd minute with the Uruguayan removing the injured bird from the pitch after it had apparently been hit by the ball.

Speaking about the incident, Spanish media reported Gimenez as saying: “I asked the referee what was happening. He told me it was because of the pigeon and I said: ‘Seriously? You stopped the match because of the pigeon?’

“I picked it up. I don’t know if there’s supposed to be a protocol. I hope it wasn’t seriously hurt.”

It was Gimenez’s second assist of the match after setting up Atletico’s opener, flicking on a long throw for Alexander Sorloth to score in the fifth minute.

Carlos Soler then responded for the visitors four minutes later.

Nicolas Gonzalez then scored twice either side of a Mikel Oyarzabal strike as Diego Simeone’s side strengthened their hold on third place in the league.

A bombing at a nightclub in Peru has injured at least 33 people, including teenagers.

The explosion occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the Dali nightclub in Trujillo – a province along Peru’s northern coast.

The region has recently been affected by violence and crime.

It wasn’t immediately clear who was responsible, and a motive is unclear.

At least five of the injured were in serious condition, said Gerardo Florian Gomez, the executive director of the Trujillo Health Network.

Some of those in surgery have required amputations and treatment for shrapnel wounds.

Among the injured are a 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds, Mr Gomez said.

Fiorella Mantilla, who was at the nightclub when the explosion took place, told reporters she had glass embedded in her legs and said “it sounded as if the sound system had suddenly been turned off”.

Read more from Sky News:
Ukraine’s second largest city hit by deadly missile attack
What is the strategy behind the US and Israel’s strikes

The explosion occurred less than a month after another blast in the same city that damaged 25 homes but caused no injuries or deaths.

The La Libertad region is rife with extortion and illegal mining.

The region experienced 286 explosions in 2025, 136 of which occurred in the city of Trujillo, according to official figures.

In January 2025, an explosive device was detonated in a prosecutor’s office building in Trujillo.

In August and September, two explosions damaged dozens of homes and left more than 20 people injured.

Authorities have said such incidents are linked to an extortion scheme run by organised criminal gangs, including Los Pulpos, the criminal activities of which have stretched to Chile and other countries in the region.

The majority of people in Northern Ireland want the UK to introduce an Australia-style ban

An overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland support a social media ban for under-16s, exclusive polling for Belfast Live has shown.

Australia has already taken steps to ban children from social media, and according to extensive polling on smartphones and young people, four out of five in Northern Ireland (77%) want the UK to follow suit, amid fears that many young teenagers spend too much time on their screens.

Social media giants are accused of creating harmful algorithms that parents claim have led to addiction, radicalisation, self-harm, and even suicide.

Last month, the House of Lords voted decisively for a full social media ban for under-16s – backing an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill by Conservative peer Lord Nash in favour of such a measure in the UK.

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Exclusive polling shows that the vast majority in the UK (80%) would welcome that ban.

People in Northern Ireland are the most concerned in the UK about screentime, with 79% admitting they are worried about what their children are seeing on their smartphones. However, 13% said they had no concerns, the highest proportion in the UK.

The most common concern people in Northern Ireland had was that children could be exposed to inappropriate content.

The poll also revealed that children in Northern Ireland most commonly receive their first phone at the age of 9 years, 11 months, and 12 days.

That’s seven months younger than the UK average of 10 years, 6 months, and 26 days.

The Australian ban is a world first and came into force in December. It prevents under-16s from accessing content from 10 major social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Snapchat, and Instagram.

You can check the poll results and see how your area matches up using our interactive map.

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

Athena, aka Karenjeet Kaur Bains, suffered a “savage” knee injury during the “early stages” of filming for season three of Gladiators.

She suffered a complete ACL tear, a complex tear to her lateral meniscus, tears to both her LCL and MCL, an extensive bone contusion, and an impact fracture to her lateral femoral condyle (bottom of the femur/thigh bone).

Posting on Instagram following the injury, Athena (Bains) said: “Hearing that news was devastating.

“Being Athena, Queen of the Arena, isn’t just a role. It’s part of who I am. I live for the roar of the crowd, the power, the pride, and the responsibility of representing strength, fire, and fearlessness.

“But here’s what I want you to know: this isn’t the end of my story.”

Athena issues injury update

Six months on from the injury, Athena (Baines) is now back running.

Posting an update on social media, she said: “6 months ago I had ACL surgery. Today… I ran free for the first time again. No treadmill. Just me, the park, and sprint drills.

“Cones out. Agility ladder down. And for a moment… I felt like I was flying again.

“People see the clip. They don’t see the months of rehab, the pain, the setbacks, or the days you question everything.

“But moments like this make it all worth it. Never give up. Do the hard things. Stay patient.
Your moment will come.”

Fans took to the Instagram post to share well-wishes with Athena as she continued her recovery.

One person commented: “You inspire me Athena I’m crying.”

Another added: “Damn impressive so quick after your knee surgery!!”

A third viewer wrote: “What an absolute powerhouse.”

While this fan posted: “Love you Athena! You’re one of my favourite gladiators!”

Viewers on the Reddit group r/gladiatorsuk were also impressed with Athena’s recovery.

One Reddit user posted: “Honestly, her recovery from such a major injury has been amazing to watch.

“Its only been half a year yet this girl could prolly already catch the slowest female contenders on the wall again lol!

“No disrespect for Diamond ofc. She is also doing steady progress from the exact same injury!”

A second fan commented: “Can’t wait to see her return to the series.”

Which Gladiators were injured during series 3?

Three other Gladiators were injured during filming for series 3, which took place in summer 2025:

• Legend (Matt Morsia) – arm
• Bionic (Matty Campbell) – shoulder
• Diamond (Livi Sheldon) – knee (ACL)

Two Gladiators injured during series two have returned for the third installment of the hit BBC show in 2026 – Giant (Jamie Bigg) and Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey).

Which injured Gladiator have you missed the most this series? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

More than 500 people from across York’s communities gathered at the mosque in Bull Lane, off Lawrence Street, for the Ramadan Iftar on Saturday evening (March 7).

It came as Muslims across the country held iftars – the fast-breaking evening meal – on Saturday to mark entering the final 10 days of Ramadan.

Faizal Mohamudbuccus, ambassador for York Mosque, said Saturday’s event was a chance for the place of worship to get together with its wider community during the holy month of Ramadan.

From left, City of York Council leader Cllr Claire Douglas, Faizal Mohamudbuccus, Rachael Maskell MP along with North Yorkshire Police officers and members of the mosque (Image: Dylan Connell)

“With the times that we’re in at the moment, it’s important that we present as one community, on one front, speaking the same language,” he said.

“It’s of paramount importance to show that we’re in solidarity with one another and we’re here for the city of York.

“We are representing York and we want York to be a diverse, multicultural city that accepts everybody and anybody.”

York Mosque where hundreds of people gathered on Saturday evening (March 7) for the Ramadan Iftar (Image: Dylan Connell)

He added that the iftar was an “opportunity for us to share with the public why we fast, the benefits of fasting and what we get out of fasting”.

Mr Mohamudbuccus said Ramadan offers a chance to reflect. “It’s about seeing the kind of person that you are and how you help others.

“It also makes you appreciate what you have compared to other people who are less fortunate around the world.”

‘More and more people come every year’

Imam Ammar Sacha said it was “very heart-warming” that hundreds of people had attended the iftar.

“More and more people come every year,” he said. “It’s a time when the community aspect gets to really be on show, especially in a place like York where we know we have diverse backgrounds and people from all walks of life.

“To see everybody come and show solidarity with each other … it’s very, very nice to see.”

The imam said the event came days after the Archbishop of York joined those at the mosque to break fast.

“He [the archbishop] comes down every year,” Mr Sacha said. “It was nice having him, we had a good chat.”

Preparations underway to break fast during the Ramadan Iftar at York Mosque on Saturday evening (March 7) (Image: Dylan Connell)

The imam added: “We’re constantly trying to make sure that people know what’s happening at the mosque – we’re no different to anyone else.

“We’re opening our doors and having that sense of transparency – but also just showing the mosque is more than a place of worship, it can be a community hub as well.”

Among those in attendance on Saturday were Rachael Maskell MP, the Lord Mayor of York and City of York Council’s executive members.

Ms Maskell hailed the event as a chance to “break down the barriers that are often erected between different cultures”.

“It’s extremely important that the community can come in and meet with the community here and understand what drives this community forward in the heart of our city,” the York Central MP said.

“Some people would never set foot inside a mosque – and may not understand what actually happens [inside], or the values that Muslims hold.

“When they come here, they will learn the essence of the Muslim faith and how that drives the community to serve our city for everybody.”