The Easter Liliy launch will happen at City Hall on March 24

The TUV has failed in an attempt to prevent this year’s Easter Lily launch happening at Belfast City Hall.

The campaign launch has been held in Belfast City Hall previously in 2024 and 2025 by the Belfast National Graves Association. The event commemorates Irish republicans who died in conflict for Irish sovereign independence. The Easter Lily is worn as a symbol of remembrance for those who died in the 1916 Easter Rising.

At the March meeting of the full Belfast City Council at City Hall, elected representatives by a majority vote approved the event for City Hall on March 24. The committee document says the event amounts to “a reception and speeches focusing on local history” and will accommodate up to 80 people.

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In the City Hall vote on a TUV proposal not to hold the event, 17 elected representatives voted in favour, from the unionist parties, while 26 voted against the proposal from Sinn Féin, the SDLP and People Before Profit. The Alliance Party and the Green Party abstained from the vote.

TUV Councillor Ron McDowell said at the council meeting: “This is an annual event that commemorates active service members of the IRA, and I don’t believe it is something we should be facilitating on Section 75 and Good Relations grounds, within Belfast City Council.

“When I think of the IRA, and I can think of many things, but what I think is about the disappeared, those who were abducted from their homes and tortured, and buried in a shallow grave. I think of Jean McConville, who was dragged screaming from her home, and atrocities on the Shankill, where Thomas Begley killed those innocent civilians, and the Bayardo bomb attack in my own constituency.”

Listing a further series of atrocities from the Troubles period, he said: “I reiterate I don’t think this is an event that we should be holding within this council.”

Sinn Féin group leader Councillor Ciarán Beattie replied at the meeting: “You have listed people killed by the IRA, you haven’t mentioned the other several thousand people that were killed. A lot of them were killed by loyalists, the British Army, the RUC.

“All people have their dead who they remember. Every year outside this building there are commemorations for the RUC and the British Army, the same organisation that murdered people in the streets of Ballymurphy and New Lodge and shot children in the face with plastic bullets. That is the experience in this city.

“If you have a problem with one particular group, then have a problem with them all because if you don’t, you are being selective.

“If you look at other events (that we will be hosting) – the Belfast Bands Forum wouldn’t be our cup of tea, or one we would like to support. But we recognise that is the culture and history for one section of society in this city. We have to recognise there are also other communities in this city, and we have to welcome them all.”

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Electricity North West (ENW) has reported that 148 properties in Bromley Cross are currently experiencing a power cut.

They said they’re on site and investigating the issue – estimating that it will be restored by 10.58pm tonight (March 5).

This power cut affects these postcodes: BL7 9AA, BL2 3DU, BL7 9AE, BL7 9AF, BL7 9AB, BL2 3EF, BL7 9BG, BL2 3DW, BL7 9BJ, BL7 9GB, BL7 9GE.

A spokesperson said: “This power cut has been caused by an unexpected incident on the high voltage cable that provides electricity to your home or business. 

“We didn’t know before your electricity went off that this was going to happen but now we know, rest assured we will get your power back on safely and as quickly as possible.

“Please be aware that all our timescales are estimated based on previous experience and may change if new information becomes available while our engineers are fixing the issue. 

“With high voltage power cuts, we’re often able to get many of the homes involved back on before our estimated time of restoration.”

A further 55 properties in Bromley Cross are out of power because of another “unexpected incident with the underground cable”.

ENW are preparing to send a team, but estimate these properties won’t have their power restored until 2.45am.

The following postcodes are affected by this cut: BL7 9JL, BL7 9JJ, BL7 9LS, BL7 9BQ, BL7 9BG.

A spokesperson said: “With underground power cuts, we may need to dig to repair the cable and this can sometimes extend the length of time you are without power.”

Four houses in Blackrod are also without supply because of an unexpected incident with the overhead cable, expected to be restored by half 10pm.

The two postcodes BL6 5RS and BL6 5JF are affected.

A different incident with the overhead cable providing power in Ramsbottom has also left six properties in the BL0 0PR postcode without supply.

ENW estimate these will have power restored by midnight.

Blake House, run by an all-female team, has launched the competition to give one York-based woman the environment and community to help accelerate her business.

The winner will receive a dedicated desk for six months in Blake House’s tranquil 13-desk coworking studio – an intentionally small workspace designed to create a genuine business community, promising a calm and focused alternative to the large, impersonal workspaces that many entrepreneurs reportedly experience.

Since opening its doors on Blake Street in 2011, Blake House has consistently attracted a higher-than-average number of female founders, freelancers and business owners. It has since become home to a vibrant community of women building businesses across a wide range of sectors.

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Wendy Tunnicliffe, founder of Blake House, said: “We’ve always had an incredible number of women building their businesses at Blake House. And we love the fact we are an all-female team here. International Women’s Day felt like the perfect opportunity to give one local entrepreneur a genuine boost.”

“Running a business can feel isolating. The right environment makes a huge difference. Keeping things small, independent and local – people really get to know each other..”

“We hope this opportunity gives one woman the space and confidence to take her next step.”

Wendy Tunnicliffe and manager Jessica Boyes

The competition is open to York-based female entrepreneurs, freelancers and start-ups – whether newly launched or already established, who would benefit from a professional workspace and supportive business community.

The winner will receive:

• A dedicated private desk in Blake House’s design-led studio (worth £1,500)

• Access to a supportive business community

• Promotion of their business through Blake House’s network and social media

Entries open ahead of International Women’s Day and close on March 27.Apply via: blakehouse.co.uk/IWD

From the weird and the wacky to the downright scary, lets take a look back at some of the best costumes we saw this World Book Day.

The spookiest

First in our list of spooky costumes is this Wednesday Addams from Lillie-Louise, aged 6.

Lillie-Louise, 6, looking spooky as Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family (Image: Rebecca Leigh)

We had several submissions from characters playing villains this year – for example this menacing Ms. Trunchbull from Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

Aria-Rose, 7, as Ms. Trunchbull from the legendary Roald Dahl book/film Matilda (Image: Laura Roscoe)

Then there was this incredible face-paint job from Lennox McCarthy, 9, who adopted the role as the monster from Stranger Things.

Lennox McCarthy, 9, looking scary as the monster from Stranger Things (Image: Gill Ramsden)

Wizard of Oz

Wizard of Oz costumes were a popular choice this year, with Dorothys and Tin Men galore.

Joshua, 10, Jaxson, 6, Lila, 4 as Lion, Dorothy, and Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz (Image: Laura Satti)

Diellza Elara, 4, also dressed as Dorothy, with a little Toto in her basket.

Diellza Elara, 4, as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz (Image: Chesca Cristina Marone)

And Willow, 10, as Glinda the Good.

Willow, 10, sparkling as Glinda The Good from The Wizard of Oz (Image: Elizabeth Gannon)

Harry Potter

As always, Harry Potter was a popular theme for this year’s World Book Day.

Lula-Rae Boardman, 8, as Ginny Weasley from Harry Potter (Image: Shauny Gregory)

Fellow wand-wielder Charlotte, aged 4, went as Hermione.

Charlotte, 4, as Hermione Granger with knitted owl and wand (Image: Hayley Beys)

Modern

While many youngsters stuck to the tried-and-true classics, some dressed up as characters of a more modern stripe.

Patrick, 6, as Donut from Donut Squad (Image: Red Arsc)

Stickman was a popular character this year, from the popular book by Julia Donaldson.

Reggie, 5, as the popular Stickman character from the book by Julia Donaldson (Image: Cerise Campbell)

A were the Gangster Grandparents from David Walliams’ smash hit book series’.

Alfie, 8, in his fantastic ‘Gangster Grandpa’ costume (Image: Katie Smith)

Classics

But this isn’t to say the classics of children’s fiction and fairytale – Roald Dahl, Dr Seuss – weren’t also well represented

Ralph,7, in his very detailed Cat in the Hat costume (Image: Alex McKeown)

TWO Willy Wonkas here from Freddie, 6, and Junior, 4.

Freddie aged 6 and junior aged 4 both dressed up as Willy Wonka (Image: Brogan Grundy)

And an Orphan Annie from the classic musical.

Harmony-Grace as Orphan Annie (Image: Anne Kendall)

Or the fairytale Red Riding Hood.

Freya, 8, as Little Red Riding Hood (Image: Laura Sheehy)

Or William Neagle here as perennial children’s favourite Mr Bean.

William Neagle, 5, as Mr Bean, complete with sharpie-drawn mole and teddy bear (Image: Steff Marie Owen)

Creative

Some outfits were especially creative – either in theme or in execution.

Like this Lewis Hamilton, which came with its very own car.

Albie, 5, as Lewis Hamilton (Image: Chloe Atherton)

Or Imogen Allen’s Alice from Alice in Wonderland combined with the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

Imogen Allen, 9, as Alice AND the Mad Hatter’s tea party all in one! (Image: Charlotte Allen)

Or Daisy, who chose to dress up not as a fictional character but as legendary fashion icon Coco Chanel.

Daisy, 7, looking chic as Coco Chanel (Image: Vicky Alice)

Even the adults got involved!

Alissa, Grace & Isabell age 7 & their teachers from Tonge Moor Academy (Image: Demi Morris)

Markwayne Mullin’s first inkling that he was about to be offered a Cabinet post came with a call from the White House switchboard that the first-term Oklahoma senator was not at all expecting.

Speaking to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday just minutes after President Donald Trump announced that he’d be tapped to lead the Department of Homeland Security, the MAGA loyalist called the news “a little bit of a surprise” but then said he wasn’t headed directly to the White House.

“Need to talk to my wife first,” the hulking one-time MMA fighter told reporters.

Mullin added that he and Trump “have a really good relationship” and “talk all the time,” and said he was “super excited” to get the massive department “working for the American people.”

“The Department of Homeland Security very broad jurisdiction, and Ithink there is a lot of work that we need to do and I am excited,” he said.

The president’s choice of Mullin to replace the embattled Noem will put a first-term senator with just an associate’s degree in charge of a sprawling bureaucracy encompassing everything from airport security to disaster response to the United States Coast Guard.

Mullin, 48, has served in the upper chamber since 2023 after a decade-long career representing the Sooner State’s first Congressional district in the House of Representatives. His committee assignments include the Armed Services Committee, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the Committee on Indian Affairs and the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

He is currently the only sitting senator who lacks a Bachelor’s degree and he has no meaningful experience with the labyrinthine department he will soon lead. And while he is known to be a full-throated supporter of Trump’s immigration policies, he is not from a border state and has no real experience dealing with immigration issues.

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His political career began when he successfully ran for a House seat left open by the retirement of former Representative Dan Boren in 2012.

At the time, he hosted a syndicated home improvement show on a Tulsa radio station and ran an eponymous plumbing company, Mullin Plumbing, as well as other family-owned real estate and farm operations.

An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin also had a brief but undefeated career as a mixed martial arts professional in the Xtreme Fighting League, recording one technical knockout victory in 2007 and two victories by submission in 2006 and 2007.

He spent his House career as a backbencher but gained a measure of attention during the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol when he and two other House members helped police barricade the House chamber doors against a riotous mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters.

When he and other members were leaving the chamber to shelter at a secure location during the attack, he witnessed a U.S. Capitol Police lieutenant shoot a pro-Trump rioter, Ashli Babbit, as she tried to climb through a locked door into a secure portion of the Capitol near the chamber.

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He later told ABC News that the officer “didn’t have a choice” to shoot her.

“The mob was going to come through the door, there was a lot of members and staff that were in danger at the time. And when he [drew] his weapon, that’s a decision that’s very hard for anyone to make and, once you draw your weapon like that, you have to defend yourself with deadly force,” he said.

Mullin later added that the officer’s actions “saved people’s lives.”

When then-Senator Jim Inhofe announced his retirement in February 2022, Mullin entered and won a special election to serve out the remaining three years of his term starting in January 2023.

He quickly made his mark in the upper chamber as a full-throated supporter of Trump’s MAGA movement who wasn’t afraid to tangle with detractors — rhetorically or otherwise.

In one now-infamous exchange, he accused Teamsters president Sean O’Brien of “intimidation” during a Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee hearing on a Democratic-backed labor organizing bill.

He claimed the Teamsters forced union members to pay dues and complained about an attempt by union organizers to establish a union at his former plumbing business.

After Mullin pressed O’Brien about his salary compared to that of a UPS driver, O’Brien called the query “out of line” to which Mullin replied: “Shut your mouth.”

The Teamsters boss called Mullin a “greedy CEO” and mock him as a “tough guy.”

Months later, Mullin clashed with O’Brien again during a second appearance before the HELP panel when he challenged the Teamsters leader to a fight after reading a tweet in which O’Brien had called him a “cowboy” and invited him to find him “anyplace, anytime.”

Mullin said: “You want to run your mouth? We can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here.”

The confrontation ended when then-HELP Committee Chair Bernie Sanders told him to “sit down” and reminded him that he was a United States Senator.

In the years since, Mullin has maintained his reputation as a rhetorical brawler with frequent appearances on cable news, even on channels which most Republicans tend to avoid.

His constant presence on television as a defender of Trump endeared him to the president, who according to White House officials “loves” watching him on cable news.

A 19-year-old man remains in hospital

Police have issued an update after a man suffered ‘life-changing’ injuries after being shot in the leg in Rochdale.

Emergency services were called to Beswicke Royds Street in the Belfield area of the town at around 3.20pm on Thursday following reports of a shooting. A 19-year-old man was found by officers at the scene with an injury consistent with a gunshot wound to his leg.

He has been taken to hospital with injuries described as life-changing but not believed to be life-threatening.

A number of roads in the area remain closed, including on nearby Reservoir Street, as police and forensics begin their investigations. There was a damaged black car and vehicle debris within the police cordon.

A burning car spotted three miles away from the scene of a shooting is ‘part of the investigation’ into the incident, the M.E.N understands. Fire crews had been called to a fire involving a white 4×4 vehicle up in flames, parked close to Watergrove Reservoir in Wardle on Thursday afternoon.

In an update issued on Thursday night, police say no arrests have been made, and are appealing for information. Officers also believe the incident was a ‘targeted attack’ and there is no wider threat to the public.

Superintendent Lucy Smallwood from our Rochdale district said: “This incident will undoubtedly cause concern for the local community and residents in the Rochdale area.

“Since first receiving the reports, our officers were at the scene within minutes, and we are working quickly to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident.

“We are continuing to investigate all lines of enquiry, and we are actively looking to arrest anyone who we believe is a suspect in relation to this incident.

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“It is believed this was a targeted attack and there is no wider threat to the public.

“Officers will remain in the community over the coming days to provide reassurance and maintain a visible presence. If you have any concerns, please speak to an officer, we are here to help.”

Witnesses or anyone with information can report it by 101 quoting log 2097 of 05/03/2026, or 999 in an emergency.

You can also report information via LiveChat on our website, or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some two dozen states challenged President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs on Thursday, filing a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court.

The Democratic attorneys general and governors in the lawsuit argue that Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15% tariffs on much of the world.

Trump has said the tariffs are essential to reduce America’s longstanding trade deficits. He imposed duties under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs he imposed last year under an emergency powers law.

Section 122, which has never been invoked, allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15%. They are limited to five months unless extended by Congress.

The lawsuit is led by attorneys general from Oregon, Arizona, California and New York.

“The focus right now should be on paying people back, not doubling down on illegal tariffs,” said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. The suit comes a day after a judge ruled t hat companies who paid tariffs under Trump’s old framework should get refunds.

White House vows vigorous defense

The White House said Trump is acting within his power. “The President is using his authority granted by Congress to address fundamental international payments problems and to deal with our country’s large and serious balance-of-payments deficits,” said spokesman Kush Desai. “The Administration will vigorously defend the President’s action in court.”

The new suit argues that Trump can’t pivot to Section 122 because it was intended to be used only in specific, limited circumstances — not for sweeping import taxes. It also contends the tariffs will drive up costs for states, businesses and consumers.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes pointed to a New York Federal Reserve Bank study that found Americans largely bear the cost of the tariffs, which has been estimated at $1,200 a year per household. “That is money out of the pockets of American families trying to buy groceries, pay rent and keep their small businesses afloat,” Mayes said.

Many of the plaintiff states also successfully sued over Trump’s tariffs imposed under a different law: the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Four days after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping IEEPA tariffs Feb. 20, Trump invoked Section 122 to slap 10% tariffs on foreign goods. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant told CNBC on Wednesday that the administration would raise the levies to the 15% limit this week.

The Democratic states and other critics say the president can’t use Section 122 as a replacement for the defunct tariffs to combat the trade deficit.

The Section 122 provision is aimed at what it calls “fundamental international payments problems.’’ At issue is whether that wording covers trade deficits, the gap between what the U.S. sells other countries and what it buys from them.

Section 122 arose from the financial crises that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s when the U.S. dollar was tied to gold. Other countries were dumping dollars in exchange for gold at a set rate, risking a collapse of the U.S. currency and chaos in financial markets. But the dollar is no longer linked to gold, so critics say Section 122 is obsolete.

Awkwardly for Trump, his own Justice Department argued in a court filing last year that the president needed to invoke the emergency powers act because Section 122 did “not have any obvious application’’ in fighting trade deficits, which it called “conceptually distinct’’ from balance-of-payment issues.

Still, some legal analysts say the Trump administration has a stronger case this time.

“The legal reality is that courts will likely provide President Trump substantially more deference regarding Section 122 than they did to his previous tariffs under IEEPA,’’ Peter Harrell, visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Institute of International Economic Law, wrote in a commentary Wednesday.

The specialized Court of International Trade in New York, which will hear the states’ lawsuit, wrote last year in its own decision striking down the emergency-powers tariffs that Trump didn’t need them because Section 122 was available to combat trade deficits.

Trump does have other legal authorities he can use to impose tariffs, and some have already survived court tests. Duties that Trump imposed on Chinese imports during his first term under Section 301 of the same 1974 trade act are still in place.

Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Tottenham host Crystal Palace this evening in what feels like a huge game in their season. Igor Tudor, who took over as interim head coach until the end of the current campaign, has lost his first two games in charge, amid the unlikeliest of relegation battles for one of the country’s biggest clubs. Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League table, just one point clear of the drop zone.

North Yorkshire Police have launched an urgent appeal to find missing Mark West who was last seen in a village in the north of the county earlier today (March 5).

The 63-year-old has not been seen or heard from since 7.45am this morning and was last seen in Romanby near Northallerton.

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The county’s police said it believes he may have links to York and Whitby, but could still be in the local area.

“Mark is described as a white man, around 6ft 3in tall, with short dark brown hair and glasses. He may be wearing a grey parka-style coat with a fur‑trimmed hood, along with black jeans or trousers and black trainers.

“We are extremely concerned for Mark’s welfare and extensive searches are taking place to try and locate him,” said a spokesperson for the force.

For immediate sightings of Mark, please dial 999 so the police can quickly make sure he is safe. You can also pass on information by calling North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Please quoting reference number 12260040028 when providing details.

Skiing duo Menna Fitzpatrick and Scott Meenagh, who are Great Britain’s flagbearers, will not be at the ceremony as they are competing the following day in Cortina.

Instead, they will take part via a video sequence, along with fellow ParalympicsGB team-mates, to be shown as part of the parade.

“We made that decision [not to attend] about a year ago when we knew that the opening ceremony was going to be as far away from where we are up here in the mountains as we are,” ParalympicsGB chef de mission Phil Smith told BBC Sport.

“I think there are a number of nations who are in the same boat. We know that any athletes who do attend from here in Cortina won’t be getting back to the athlete village until between two or three in the morning.

“All of our athletes here compete on the first day so from a pure performance and sport perspective, it was never our intention to send athletes to the opening ceremony.”

The Games will run from 6-15 March.