Contestants from every series of BBC’s Race Across the World will take part in the Great Manchester Run in memory of Sam Gardiner

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Contestants from every series of BBC’s Race Across the World will compete in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday in honour of late participant Sam Gardiner.

In 2020, BBC audiences watched Sam take part in the beloved television programme alongside his mum, Jo. While the duo didn’t claim victory, they captured the nation’s affection as they journeyed through South America.

Sam died tragically in hospital after sustaining injuries in a car accident in May 2025. The 24 year old had been travelling on the A34 near Manchester when his vehicle, which had inadequate tyre tread, veered off the road and overturned before settling on its side.

In tribute to Sam’s memory, contestants from every series of BBC’s Race Across the World will run in remembrance of the former participant at the Great Manchester Run on Sunday.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Saturday, Emon Choudhury, who claimed victory in the second series featuring Sam, and recent competitor Harrison Devine discussed the race, reports the Mirror.

Presenter Sarah Campbell said: “Just looking back at those images of Sam, I mean, he seemed like a really lovely guy. You sort of knew him. I know you sort of travel separately, but you spend time together as well.”

To which Emon responded: “Yeah, I think with Sam, I think when we got together at checkpoints, we sort of like let it all loose. So, you know, we experienced such a magical race with him and then, obviously, sad news.

“It was actually yesterday, last year, that we found out that he passed away. It hit us all hard, do you know what I mean? Because we had a shared experience, not just myself, but his family, his family and friends. I just wanted to do something for him, I guess.”

Emon went on: “I managed to get a star-studded cast from, I’ll say star-studded, from Race Across the World, from all seasons one to six.

“We’re going to be running in memory of Sam. For the person he was, his love of life, you know, he was more than a handful. I know Jo will be watching today, will probably have tears in her eyes. But we’re all there to support each other.

“Our experience that we had is just, it’s one in a million. So, yeah, we’ll be taking part in the Great North Run Manchester 10K and we’ll be supporting an amazing charity that’s close to us all, and that’s The Christie Charity.”

Meanwhile, Harrison commented on his participation: “I was a massive fan of [Race Across the World] before going on it myself. So, like, I vividly remember Sam and the relationship with his mum and how amazing they were and their travels around South America.

“I think was one of the most inspiring stories and series to watch so far. So, yeah, when I got the call about it from Emon, it was a no-brainer. We both loving running as well so it was a perfect combination.”

BBC Breakfast continues at 6am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Airports at Brit holiday hotspots including Spain, France and Portugal have reported severe delays and long queues – some as long as three-and-a-half hours at peak times

British tourists are being advised to allow more time at airports across Europe before travelling home because of major delays caused by biometric checks.

Wizz Air boss Yvonne Moynihan warned holidaymakers returning home from an EU destination that they should arrive at the airport three hours before their flights are due to depart amid concerns about the new security procedures.

The EU entry-exit system (EES) has now replaced passport stamps with a digital registration, involving biometric checks carried out on entry and exit for all non-EU citizens.

The EES has been gradually introduced across Europe since October last year but came into full force last month. Since then, tourists have reported huge delays at border control,.

Just last week, French police temporarily lifted the EES checks at the Dover port to free thousands of tourists trapped in long delays in the scorching heat.

Ms Moynihan told the BBC: “Because there is another passport check … that’s where we see that people have, again, experienced longer waiting times than anticipated.”

She said that while usual advice is to arrive at the airport two hours before a flight, “in these circumstances, we are advising three hours”.

The new measures have been “fragmented across Europe”, she continued, with some EU countries recording “seamless travel” while in extremes, there have been long queues and delays at “usual hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, France”.

“When you land in the destination airport, there might be queues, so you should bring a portable charger or water,” Moynihan said her airline is advising in general to any British customers travelling from an EU destination.

For those with connecting flights, she advised planning for several hours.

Her comments come as the European airports association ACI Europe warned queues have been reaching an eye-watering three-and-a-half hours in peak traffic times, based on its survey conducted across 45 airports in 20 EU states on May 26.

“Airports which previously did not report excessive waiting times are now doing so despite the extensive use of partial suspension of EES,” it said in a statement to Travel Weekly.

However, the European Commission told the BBC that the EES was not the only factor that can cause delays at the border, stating information may only take around a minute to register.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Scammers are swindling British animal lovers out of thousands by posting pitiful pictures of dogs from fake shelters to beg for cash

Hundreds of social media accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube – claiming to be fundraisers from pet shelters – are being operated from Mityana, a town in central Uganda. Open-source intelligence techniques (OSINT) were used to examine fundraiser for pet shelters in Uganda. They raised more than £540,000 in five years, according to BBC data, after appealing for financial help on the donation platform GoFundMe. A lot of these operations could have been involved in scamming, the BBC revealed.

Now a BBC Africa Eye investigation from the BBC World Service, which has been shared with The Mirror, has exposed their lies. An undercover reporter said: “Last year, we received a tip off about the large-scale scam. “Grassroot organisations in Uganda and Europe told of their worry about what was happening to dogs in Mityana and to donors around the world. The volume of videos was overwhelming – so many accounts, often changing their names – and so many dogs.”

One 15-second TikTok video posted in January, showed an injured dog lying on the side of the road, saying it “got into an accident” and asking viewers “to save his life” by sending donations via an online link. Named Russet by a donor, thousands of pounds were raised before, three weeks after the post, a UK donor secured his release and he was taken to a veterinary clinic in Kampala.

The vet, Dr Isa Lutebemberwa, said his injuries were unlikely to have been accidental and, despite his best efforts, Russet died. Dr Lutebemberwa said: “He endured a lot of pain and suffering.” The undercover reporter continued: “Russet appeared to have been passed around different content creator groups for three weeks, while having severe injuries to his hind legs. Russet and his pain appeared to have been used as props for generating content, and possibly revenue.”

Animal lover Lianne Stone, a 38-year-old carer from Manchester, was scammed out of her savings, which she donated to help dogs like Russet. She said: “The videos are heartbreaking, painfully thin dogs, some injured, some in pain. It’s hard to scroll past them without thinking, ‘I should help them’.” Of the scammers, she continued: “They fooled me. Over six months I gave them more than £1,300 – over half of my savings. I sent money by PayPal and Western Union. I thought I was making a difference to these poor dogs.”

Investigators reviewed hundreds of online pages raising money for pet shelters in Uganda. Almost 40% of them were linked to shelters in Mityana. The donation money was being used to buy phones, on pool parties and cars, according to the BBC. Bart Kakooza, chairman of the Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, said: “These young men [the scammers] realised they can make money if they get a dog.”

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Typical videos show dogs living in makeshift shelters. Viewers are told “they are hungry” asked “please help us”. Lianne stumbled on videos of hungry dogs while scrolling on Instagram in January 2025. She said: “I’ve got a chihuahua called Rowley. It was clear to anyone who came across my page that I loved dogs. These videos started appearing on my feed – starving six week old puppies in Uganda, desperately trying to eat bones. I commented underneath, ‘Why are they so hungry?’ and started getting messages back asking for money to help feed them.”

Scammers assured Lianne, who is single, that they would rescue the dogs, but needed funds to care for them. She said: “I transferred my first £70. The person on the other end promised to use it to feed the dogs in the video. I felt better knowing that I’d helped them.” Her friends donated, too.

The BBC’s undercover reporter went to one shelter run by Charles Lubajja, where about 15 dogs were kept in the same cage, lying in their own waste. Many appeared severely underweight and lethargic. Lubajja said the shelter primarily exists to make money from social media viewers abroad. He gave advice on how to increase revenues, sharing tricks including how to film fake veterinary treatments.

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He was secretly filmed telling the reporter: “Once you receive the GoFundMe money, you use it to buy a car or build a house.” He told the reporter to “squeeze” and “drain” donors – also confessing that content creators have “cut the dogs” to make them appear more battered. This all tallies with Lianne’s experience. She explains: “I got loads of messages asking me to donate via Paypal, which I did. I’d pay £5 here for a taxi for them to take the dog to the vets, another £10 for cartons of milk, £25 for big bags of dog food. I’d throw in £15 for the men to get themselves some dinner.”

Lianne, who had little disposable income, added: “I had about £2,000 in my savings account and gave away £1,300 of it – probably more.” She first suspected wrongdoing when she asked for a personal video of the dogs eating. She said: “They sent me a clip of a group of older dogs – not the puppies I’d wanted to help. Something wasn’t quite right.”

Last July, the penny dropped. She said “Despite my donations, the dogs just weren’t getting better. When the videos came, I could see the dogs were hurting. The dogs cowered like they’re going to get hit. I suddenly thought, ‘that dog is scared of that man’. Something isn’t right.”

Realising she’d been scammed, she continued: “My stomach dropped. I was devastated.” The “business” is so organised that some shelter owners allow multiple content creators to film with the animals for a fee. In turn, they run their own fundraising drives, using the video footage of dogs.

Last August, following the scam, Lianne deleted Instagram. She says: “I came off social media, It had affected my mental health.” Mityana Police said they have investigated animal cruelty at dog shelters in the area, rescuing injured dogs and making arrests. One case was closed with a warning.

Lianne said: “I’ll never get the money back that I’ve lost and the dogs are still in danger. The more successful the scam gets, the more animals these people will harm. It’s disgusting.” Dr Isa says fundraising platforms must carry out more due diligence, adding: “On the government side, there needs to be better shelter regulation.”

The Mirror contacted TikTok. And, according to TikTok, per their Community Guidelines, they don’t allow content that shows or promotes animal abuse, cruelty, neglect, or exploitation. Nor do they allow content that promotes scams, fraud, or deceptive schemes.

They said between October and December 2025, 97.7% of content they proactively removed for breaching their fraud and scam policies was taken down before being reported. They also proactively removed 99.4% of content that breached their animal abuse policies. We also contacted GoFundMe, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram for comment.

Meanwhile, a Go Fund Me spokesperson said: “Our Trust & Safety team works around the clock to make sure people can give safely on GoFundMe and misuse is rare. We have banned several accounts linked to this activity and would encourage anyone with concerns to report it to us. We remain the only major platform with a Giving Guarantee allowing donors to give in confidence.”

BBC Africa Eye’s TV Documentary Save our Dogs: Inside Uganda’s Rescue Scam can be seen on BBC iPlayer. The World Service radio documentary For the love of Dogs is available on BBC Sounds.

Westmeath and Cavan are set to face off in Round 1 of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on Saturday evening – but what time does the game start and how can you watch it on GAA+? Here’s everything you need to know

This weekend sees Westmeath take on Cavan in Round 1 of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Westmeath arrive full of confidence following their extraordinary Leinster championship campaign, during which Mark McHugh’s squad caused a major upset against Meath before going on to defeat Dublin in the provincial decider.

Cavan, on the other hand, are aiming to regroup following their departure from the Ulster championship and will view this fixture as a significant chance to make their mark in the All-Ireland series.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match:

Where is the game taking place?, reports the Irish Mirror

TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar.

What time does it start?

Throw-in is scheduled for 5pm on Saturday, 30 May.

Is it on television?

The fixture will be available to stream live on GAA+ but has not been picked up for free-to-air broadcast.

Betting odds

Westmeath enter the contest as favourites according to the bookmakers:

Westmeath – 4/9

Draw – 8/1

Cavan – 9/4

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Willie Collum has backed the VAR decision to award Celtic a penalty in the dying moments of their Scottish Premiership clash with Motherwell

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Willie Collum has defended both Andrew Dallas and John Beaton following the contentious penalty awarded to Celtic during their match at Fir Park.

The decision to penalise Sam Nicholson for handball ignited widespread debate after the spot kick, converted in the 96th minute, preserved the Hoops’ title aspirations heading into the final day of the campaign, where they defeated Hearts to secure a fifth consecutive Premiership title.

The VAR audio recording has now been made public, revealing Dallas’ insistence that the ball clearly made contact with Nicholson’s hand, which he confirmed to Beaton when the referee sought verification.

Despite supporters questioning how either match official could be certain, head of referees Collum maintains that both had conclusive proof of the handball offence.

“For us there’s clear evidence, particularly the still image,” he told the Sky Sports VAR Review Show. “In our opinion this is clear.”, reports the Daily Record.

“When you strip it back, 95th minute of the match, VAR goes through a clear process. They’re clear it’s a handball.

“When the referee comes over, he agrees. So we fully support the decision.

“The key for me is Nicholson’s hand and arm are already in an unnatural position. It moves further into an unnatural position. The player takes a huge risk when he jumps with his hand in that position.

“It’s not a foul on the Motherwell player. We’ve been consistent with handballs. Falkirk against Hibs, Connor Barron against Falkirk. We believe we’ve been consistent in our approach.

“We felt he wasn’t trying to get his arm out of the position. We didn’t feel he was trying to protect his face, it wasn’t a shot coming at him from a close distance.

“We need to be careful talking about an advantage being gained. It wasn’t a case of trying to avoid contact, or trying to protect his face.Another small point.

“People say ‘support the on-field decision?’ There wasn’t an on-field decision, it was completely missed. We had a decision at the end of an Old Firm where no-one appealed for a handball but it was checked. We have to be thorough.”

When questioned about whether Beaton ought to have consulted Dallas regarding the handball call, Collum responded: “When you bring a ref to the monitor, you’ve already come to the conclusion that it’s hit the hand.

“The ref’s focus has to be to check the position of the arm. He just quickly confirms ‘has it hit the arm?’ You wouldn’t bring him over if it hadn’t.

“There’s three key people here. The VAR, the AVAR and the referee. They see this as a clear error and a punishable handball. It’s crucial they identify that.”

Regarding the penalty Hearts were denied at Fir Park days before, involving Tawanda Mashwanise’s challenge on Alexandros Kyzirids, Collum believed Steven McLean ought to have awarded a spot kick. “The VAR team feel it’s a penalty so they bring the referee over,” he said. “There’s been a bit of a debate about whether this is a clear error. But once the referee comes to the monitor, they expected the penalty to be awarded.

“My personal opinion is that’s a penalty. There’s some debate within refereeing and we’ll discuss it in pre-season. But I feel it should be awarded.

“The VAR process is going to the final degree. The referee has been brought over then VAR shows the angles they’ve based their judgement on.

“They’re the only two angles available. Whether the angles are sufficient, that’s another debate. But can you imagine the criticism if VAR tried to convince the referee?

“Perhaps that contributes to the doubt in the referee’s mind. We’ll need to have discussion with referees and clubs. But in my opinion, the expected outcome is a penalty kick.”

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This embellished M&S co-ord genuinely looks far more premium than I expected. A matching cami top and embellished trouser set perfectly capture that confident, glamorous summer energy the collection is all about.

The cami top is the real hero piece for me. The all-over beaded embroidery catches the light beautifully and gives the top a luxe eveningwear finish that looks much more expensive than it is.

I am no fashion model, but I felt comfortable in this M&S co-ord – and my dogs were big fans (Image: Jade Wright)

I also love the elegant scoop neckline, which keeps the silhouette soft, flattering and easy to wear. The regular fit means it drapes beautifully without feeling restrictive, making it comfortable enough for summer parties or holiday evenings.

As part of the wider M&S Summer of Love That campaign – which celebrates confidence, compliments and feel-good summer fashion – this embellished set perfectly delivers that “main character” energy Amelia Dimoldenberg brings to the Casa del Compliments collection.

What I particularly love is how wearable the outfit feels despite the statement embellishment.

M&S Embellished cami, £30, and balloon trousers £46 (Image: M&S)

Sometimes heavily embellished pieces can feel overdone, but this set still manages to feel modern, effortless and very on trend.

The rich brown shade also feels incredibly current for 2026 and offers a softer alternative to classic black.

It’s available here, but be quick as the hot weather has seen stocks flying out this week.

M&S Embellished balloon trousers £46 (Image: M&S)

The matching embellished trousers completely pull the look together. The flowing wide-leg shape gives the outfit movement and elegance – it’s better when it moves than in the picture.

They’re pretty see-through but the built-in shorts make sure there’s no wardrobe malfunctions.

The elasticated waistband adds comfort without compromising the silhouette, and the gathered detailing creates a beautiful drape through the fabric that moves effortlessly when walking.

Together, the pieces create a standout co-ord that needs very little styling. I paired mine with my usual jewellery and flat sandals, or heels, and the embellishment did all the work. I also love that the trousers can easily be styled separately with a simple satin camisole or blazer, making them feel even more versatile.

The soft viscose fabric also makes the outfit surprisingly lightweight and comfortable to wear for long periods, which is something I always look for in occasionwear. It feels glamorous without feeling heavy or uncomfortable.

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It’s stylish, flattering and has that instantly uplifting effect where you genuinely feel more confident the second you put it on.

If you’re looking for affordable high street occasionwear that looks elegant, expensive and fashion-forward without designer pricing, this M&S embellished co-ord is easily one of the standout pieces from the Summer of Love That collection.

The Met Office has warned of possible thundery showers today

There is a chance of some thundery showers in Northern Ireland on Saturday as the dry and sunny weather ends this weekend.

The Met Office has said that May 30 could see thundery showers alongside outbreaks of heavy rain in the afternoon and evening. This follows a week of sunny weather with rain forecast throughout the week ahead.

It said in its Saturday forecast: “Some early brightness in southeast, but generally a cloudy morning with outbreaks of occasionally heavy rain. During the afternoon the rain turns more showery and perhaps thundery.

“Showery rain will push northeast through the evening, occasionally heavy and perhaps thundery at times. Clear spells and scattered showers overnight.”

Sunday is forecast to see a combination of sunny spells and rain throughout the morning which will become drier in the afternoon, with temperatures reaching 18 degrees. However rain is due to return later in the evening.

The Met Office has also forecast cloudy and rainy weather on Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2, to start the week.

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

BANGKOK (AP) — Rescue workers in Laos said Saturday they have safely evacuated four villagers trapped in a flooded cave for 10 days, the day after another one was successfully extracted. Two men remain missing.

Lao and Thai rescue groups posted about the successful operation on social media, along with photos of the men lying on stretchers, wearing oxygen masks and being wrapped in foil blankets.

The villagers had reportedly entered the cave last week to look for valuable minerals before being trapped by flash flooding that blocked their way out. One other villager escaped in time and alerted the authorities to the seven left behind.

Lao organization Rescue Volunteer for People said on its Facebook page that the water level inside the cave receded low enough for them to leave with divers who had gone in to deliver food and water. They said they will continue their search for the two who remain missing.

The first man was safely evacuated on Friday. According to rescuers, that operation took about 30 minutes. Videos showed the moment he emerged from the water alongside a diver, catching his breath before struggling to crawl through a narrow, flooded passage and rising unsteadily to his feet. As rescuers helped him away from the tunnel, one could be heard warning others to be careful because his hands were injured. He was then wrapped in a foil blanket and helped into a seated position.

Another video showed the man getting out from the cave’s entrance with a lamp strapped to his forehead. He was walking unsteadily with the assistance of two men, who handed him over to other team members amid a waiting crowd.

The villagers had reportedly entered the cave last week to look for valuable minerals before being trapped by flash flooding that blocked their way out. One other villager escaped in time and alerted the authorities to the seven left behind.

Five of them were found alive Wednesday. They were identified by their first names as Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing and Laen.

The men had been supplied with water, soft food and foil blankets to keep them warm, although videos shot inside the cave suggested that their conditions continued to deteriorate.

Rescue teams from Laos and neighboring Thailand were joined by Japanese and Malaysian colleagues. Indonesian, French and Australian specialists also reportedly arrived at the site in a rugged area in the central province of Xaisomboun, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Vientiane.

Several of them had taken part in the complicated 2018 cave rescue in northern Thailand of 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach.

More risky tasks await rescuers

In a video shot Friday, just about an hour before the evacuation of the first man began, Thai rescuer Kengkaj Bongkawong of the Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin detailed the challenge they are facing in the operation.

The team has set up a station in a large chamber inside the cave, accessible only by navigating more than 200 meters (yards) of twisting, narrow, flooded passages with jagged walls. From there, divers need to dive through a flooded tunnel about 30 meters (yards) before reaching the trapped men.

“To dive in a cave, there are issues with the temperature, narrow areas, control of movement, and managing the panic of the survivor, which will be difficult, but we have to do it,” Kengkaj said.

There is a significant risk for the team of guiding the survivors without diving skills through zero-visibility water.

A video showed Thai diver Norrased Palasing and Finnish diver Mikko Paasi teaching the men how to use diving gear, including breathing techniques underwater.

“All the way, breathe through your mouth only. Do not ever breathe with your nose, do you understand?” Norrased said during the session.

Rescuers are also preparing to search for the two villagers who remain missing.

Kengkaj said the team plans to explore an area deeper inside the cave, about 20 to 25 meters (yards) beyond where the survivors were found. However, he cautioned that the section is heavily flooded.

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