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Starmer ‘will not tolerate’ energy companies exploiting Middle East crisis for profit

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Starmer ‘will not tolerate’ energy companies exploiting Middle East crisis for profit

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that the government “will not tolerate” heating oil suppliers exploiting the Middle East crisis for profit.

During a visit to Belfast on Thursday, Sir Keir will stress that home heating oil costs must be “fair, transparent and justifiable”.

He will meet with political leaders, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, amid increasing concerns about the Middle East war’s impact on energy prices.

This issue is particularly pertinent in Northern Ireland, where around two-thirds of domestic properties depend on home heating oil.

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Global oil prices have surged sharply due to the conflict, with Iran launching strikes following attacks by the US and Israel, directly contributing to the rise in home heating oil expenses.

The market in Northern Ireland, unlike gas and electricity, is unregulated.

Treasury minister Lord Livermore met with some Northern Ireland MPs on Wednesday to discuss the issue.

This issue is particularly pertinent in Northern Ireland, where around two-thirds of domestic properties depend on home heating oil
This issue is particularly pertinent in Northern Ireland, where around two-thirds of domestic properties depend on home heating oil (PA Wire)

The Government said Sir Keir will use his visit to Northern Ireland to “highlight his relentless focus on cutting the cost of living for working people”.

A statement said: “Recognising that the majority of households in Northern Ireland rely on heating oil to heat their homes, the Prime Minister will send the strong message to companies that prices must be fair, transparent and justifiable, not inflated at the expense of working people.

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“If companies hike prices without justification, the Government will act, including through regulation.”

The Prime Minister said: “Global instability has real impacts on the lives of working people across the UK, and I know families in Northern Ireland are worried about what the war in the Middle East could mean for their finances – especially given so many households rely on heating oil to heat their homes.

“Let me be clear, we will not tolerate profiteering or unfair practices.

“If companies fleece customers or rip them off, we will not hesitate to step in, and that includes on regulation.

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“This Government stands with working people, no matter the headwinds.

“In Belfast I am spending my time meeting not only the politicians making decisions in Stormont, but also the people whose lives are shaped by conflicts abroad and the approach we take at home.”

The Government has asked the Competition and Markets Authority to look at heating oil prices.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will also meet with members of a local community to discuss the cost of living.

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Meet the disabled dogs thriving thanks to a Lincolnshire racetrack

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Meet the disabled dogs thriving thanks to a Lincolnshire racetrack
At the special centre,dogs like Percy (above) can run around, negotiate obstacles and navigate their wheelchairs at speed on tarmac before being promoted to the park (Picture: Supplied)

In the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside, there is a learner driver centre unlike any you have ever seen. Here, you won’t find any examiners, provisional licences or emergency stops (hopefully) – just excitable dogs racing around practising with their new wheels.

That’s because it is home to Broken Biscuits, a disabled animal rescue charity and sanctuary where poorly and recovering pups are given a new lease of life at what the founders say is the ‘world’s first disabled dog park’.

Here, disabled dogs are initiated at the learner driver centre, where they can run around, negotiate obstacles and navigate their wheelchairs at speed on tarmac before being promoted to the park, where they yip, chase balls and run without a care in the world.

Tim Giles, co-founder of Broken Biscuits, tells Metro: ‘A lot of times, when you get a dog fitted into a wheelchair, if it’s in strange surroundings, like a park, the dog will just stand there. But we found the best place to take a dog to do a fitting was a tennis court, because there is tarmac, a fence around it and they have space to run around.’

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Tim with some of the dogs that use the exercise space at Broken Biscuits (Picture: Supplied)

After their discovery, Tim, 58, and co-founder and wife Cassie Carney, 49, built the racetrack to get the dogs running again.

The seven-acre park enables dogs to pass their learner driver’s test on hard surfaces, before graduating to a grassy area alongside stables and small houses where timid dogs can hide or take a break and grassy mounds which more advanced wheelchair users can climb up and race down.   

The couple set up the charity 18 years ago after going on holiday in Europe and seeing how many stray puppies were paralysed then euthanised after being hit by cars.

Cassie, a veterinary nurse, and Tim started working with clinics, providing spaying and neutering in Moldova, Bosnia and Romania, when they came across Otto, a shih tzu-yorkie cross whose back legs were amputated after he was hit by a car and was due to be put down.

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NEEDS TO RUN MARCH 2 - Wheelchair dogs - feature
Tim and wife Cassie, a veterinary nurse, launched the charity 18 years ago after going to Europe and seeing how many stray puppies were paralysed and euthanised after being hit by cars (Picture: Supplied)

They brought Otto back to the UK in 2009, along with two other dogs, and set up a sanctuary that is now home to 20.

Cassie admits that working with disabled dogs, they made ‘a lot of mistakes’, because fitting wheelchairs is a complicated art. They often require a lot of adaptation, and dogs in shelters are frequently undernourished, so the fit needs to change as the pups gain weight.

‘If you get the wrong equipment, you then put the dog off. If you put them in a wheelchair that’s rubbing on their body or becomes too hot in the sun because the bars heat up, you lose that trust with the dog. So you’ve spent all this money on a wheelchair, and you feel like you failed them,’ she explains.

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For the past few years, the couple have been working alongside Rachel Wettner, founder of dog charity Winston’s Wheels. She knows just how valuable a wheelchair can be after she was told her beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier Winston would have to be put down in 2017 due to a spinal tumour.

NEEDS TO RUN MARCH 2 - Wheelchair dogs - feature
Rachel Wettner named her charity, Winston’s Wheels, after her own dog (Picture: Supplied)

‘We [she and husband Sydney who passed away last year] took him to the vets and after scans and tests they said – just take him home and enjoy him, and when you’re ready, put him to sleep. And that was it,’ Rachel, from Suffolk, tells Metro.

‘It was heartbreaking because even though he couldn’t use his back legs, he was exactly the same dog down to his waist. He was cheeky and playful and he just wanted to carry on. And we were devastated – we’d had him from a puppy so we had such a close bond. We were just determined we weren’t going to give up on him.’

In desperation, Rachel, a learning mentor for young adults with special needs, asked for advice on social media and a kind stranger got in touch offering to loan her a wheelchair.

‘That was a real blessing because Winston took to it straight away and did everything he did before – like dog shows and paddling in the sea. It was a total game changer. He really was amazing. And the cat was fascinated by him,’ she recalls.

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Rachel with her dogs Ernie, Winnie and Dino (Picture: Supplied)

Every time the wheelchair came out for a run around the garden or a walk, Winston’s tail would wag like crazy, Rachel remembers, and he enjoyed three extra years sniffing around and playing in his wheels before passing away in 2020.

Inspired, Rachel, went on to home two further disabled dogs and set up Winston’s Wheels in his memory, which has helped thousands of dogs.

The charity loans out wheelchairs to pets, which are returned when they are no longer needed after the dog has either recovered or passed away. They have even provided wheelchairs for disabled sheep. And the charity has enlisted the help of Team Tactics, who run corporate days building the wheelchairs to help spread awareness and raise funds.

NEEDS TO RUN MARCH 2 - Wheelchair dogs - feature
Rachel’s charity loans out wheelchairs to pets (Picture: Supplied)
NEEDS TO RUN MARCH 2 - Wheelchair dogs - feature
Blueberry the black lab

‘It’s fantastic, because people get to see these special dogs and they fall in love with them instantly. People’s reaction to them is amazing and for them to see how the wheelchairs transform dogs’ lives is brilliant, Rachel says.

Disabled dogs can live a long time – as Otto is living proof. Although now aged 13 and going through heart failure, he ‘still looks and acts like a puppy’, Cassie says.

Care for disabled dogs has come a long way in recent years aided in part by the popular TV show Colin from Accounts.

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Colin From Accounts Gordon (PATRICK BRAMMALL), Ashley (HARRIET DYER),? 2022 CBS Studios Inc., Easy Tiger Productions Pty Ltd, Foxtel Management Pty Ltd, Create NSW,Billy Plumber
The Australian comedy tells the story of Gordon and Ashley who were catapulted together by a stray terrier (Picture:CBS Studios Inc)
NEEDS TO RUN MARCH 2 - Wheelchair dogs - feature
Disabled dogs can live a long time – as Otto, now 13, is living proof (Picture: Supplied)

‘It’s not unusual to see a dog in a wheelchair now. When we first started, we would have Otto in his chair and cars would stop, people would point, say it’s cruel,’remembers Tim.

Cassie adds: ‘Disabled dogs are put into a “freak show” – “too difficult” category. But we want to normalise it. It doesn’t have to be that difficult or scary. Nearly all pet parents will have their dog become disabled at some point in their life – by being hit by a car or having a stroke.

‘But also, they will become disabled as they age. They will lose bladder control, their sight, their hearing, or there are diseases like cancer, arthritis and Cushing’s that will affect their mobility. It’s just a normal part of life.

‘Life rolls on and we’re glad to be able to help dogs and their owners as they navigate that.’

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Man killed in Shildon incident named as family pay tribute

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Man killed in Shildon incident named as family pay tribute

Jeff Blair died after being attacked on Dent Street shortly after 1pm on Tuesday (March 10).

He suffered serious injuries and was taken to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, but sadly died a short time later. A man was last night arrested on suspicion of his murder and remains in custody at this time, police said.

In a statement, his family said: “Jeff was a much-loved son, brother, father, partner, uncle, and good friend to many.

“His ability to apply humour and laughter to any situation and lighten the mood will be irreplaceable to our family.

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Jeff Blair, 55, died following a suspected assault in Dent Street (Image: DURHAM POLICE)

“We are devastated to lose Jeff in such tragic circumstances, and he will be forever missed and remembered always, with much love and affection.”

Durham Police said his family is being supported by specialist family liaison officers and they have asked for privacy while they grieve.

A 49-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and has been taken into police custody where he remains.

Dent Street remained taped with white-suited forensic officers seen working at the scene today.

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Police at the scene on Wednesday (March 11). (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Police are expected to remain in the area for some time, and say they are treating the attack as an isolated incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Sharon Alderson, who is leading the investigation, previously said: “We understand that this incident will have caused shock to the community, and our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time.

“While there will be an increased police presence in the area as we carry out our enquiries, I can reassure the community of Shildon that we believe this to be an isolated incident.

“I’d like to thank residents for their support and co-operation while our investigation is carried out.

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“A team of officers are currently working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and we are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident who has not yet spoken to us.”

On Tuesday residents told how the incident unfolded, and police descended on the street.

Susan Weston came home from the doctors and found her street full of police. The 56-year-old said: “What I saw out the front was just awful. There was blood. I didn’t want to look.

“Seeing that out the front of my house, I felt sick. I felt shaky.”

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Another man said: “You couldn’t move around here for police.

“The air ambulance came over and people were running up and down getting things like gauze. Someone was lifted into the ambulance.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident reference 209 of March 10, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org

 

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Pep Guardiola makes honest prediction over Man City’s chances of beating Real Madrid | Football

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Pep Guardiola makes honest prediction over Man City's chances of beating Real Madrid | Football
Guardiola not feeling too confident over City’s last eight chances (Picture: Getty)

Pep Guardiola is not giving Manchester City much of a chance of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after their first leg defeat to Real Madrid.

Los Blancos sealed a 3-0 win in the first leg of their last 16 tie on Wednesday night with Federico Valverde scoring a sensational hat-trick in the Spanish capital.

Real were denied a fourth when Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Vinicius Jr’s penalty but City have it all to do in the return leg in Manchester next week.

City crashed out of the competition at the play-off stage to the same opposition last season and face another early exit unless they can stage a huge fightback on home turf.

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But when asked what chance do City have of progressing to the next round, Guardiola told a post-match press conference ‘Right now, not much.

‘Of course we are going to try. Now everything is more difficult with our mindset but we will be there, we will be with our people, we can do more to be better in the final third and we will try.’

City are back in Premier League action away to West Ham United on Saturday evening in a game where they cannot afford to drop any more points in the title race with Arsenal.

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Real Madrid C.f. V Manchester City - Uefa Champions League 2025/26 Round Of 16 First Leg
Valverde scored a stunning hat-trick against City (Picture: Getty Images)

Real then come to the Etihad next Tuesday.

‘Against teams like Real Madrid you know that as soon as you lose the ball that they’re just waiting to play a counter attack and then they score,’ Jeremy Doku said.

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Real Madrid CF v Manchester City FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg
City have the chance to save the tie back in Manchester next week (Picture: Getty)

‘They scored three goals and then it’s difficult to come back because they played very defensively, but I feel like if we scored the first chances that we had it’s a different game.

‘[Donnarumma’s save] helped us massively, we’re still confident.

‘Obviously we have a game against West Ham before, but we trust our qualities and we know that at the Etihad it’s also a different game.

‘We’ll need our fans to help us and if they can score three goals why can’t we?’

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PM was warned of ‘reputational risk’ from Mandelson ties to Epstein, files show

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PM was warned of ‘reputational risk’ from Mandelson ties to Epstein, files show

“He is held hostage by his back benches, and they can see right now that as much as the Prime Minister wanted to make this about Peter Mandelson, this is really about Keir Starmer being dishonest with them, with the country, with Parliament, about what he knew,” she told broadcasters.

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Three things we learned from Chelsea FC loss as Liam Rosenior’s bravery punished in Champions League rout

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Three things we learned from Chelsea FC loss as Liam Rosenior's bravery punished in Champions League rout

The task facing the Blues to stay in the competition and reach the quarter-finals is now an almighty one.

Chelsea left with a mountain to climb

Chelsea’s approach in Paris was undeniably brave, taking their hosts on at their own game and seeking to press as aggressively as their hosts. By the end, though, you were left wondering whether this had been more naivety than well-placed courage.

Chelsea’s line was oh so high. Wesley Fofana went darting into midfield to press Ousmane Dembele aggressively, with Moises Caicedo sometimes dropping in as cover — to Chelsea’s relief — and sometimes, terminally, not doing so.

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The thought process was there, using the fastest defender to restrict PSG’s best player, and it was not just Fofana who was getting at PSG. It did not work, though.

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Wesley Fofana impressed in Paris but ultimately could not contain Ousmane Dembele

AFP via Getty Images

Too many bodies were committed for a Cole Palmer chance which was saved by Matvei Safonov in the first half. Just 14 seconds later and Chelsea were 2-1 down because Caicedo went in for a challenge rather than holding his ground and Chalobah did the same.

Simply, easily, Desire Doue rounded him, played Dembele through on half a pitch of free and open turf. Dembele flew through and scored on the break with Fofana on the floor and Jorgensen beaten.

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Chelsea paid such a heavy price for allowing PSG the space and time to counter at searing pace in those final 16 minutes. They all but ended the tie for the Blues.

Rosenior’s brave call backfires

If it was a huge call by Liam Rosenior to drop Robert Sanchez and start the far less experienced Filip Jorgensen at Villa Park a week ago, it was an even bigger selection decision to pick Jorgensen at the Parc des Princes.

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Trump administration kicks off new tariff strategy

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Trump administration kicks off new tariff strategy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Wednesday opened a new trade investigation into manufacturing in foreign countries — an effort that comes after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s previous use of tariffs by declaring an economic emergency.

Trump and his team have made clear that they’re seeking to replace the hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenues after the Supreme Court’s February ruling by using different laws to establish new tariffs.

In this case, the administration is starting investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which could eventually lead to new import taxes. But U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in a Wednesday call with reporters, said he didn’t want to prejudge the outcome of the process.

“The policy remains the same — the tools may change depending on, you know, the vagaries of courts and other things,” said Greer, stressing that the goal was to protect American jobs.

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The start of the process to fully replace Trump’s prior tariffs could invite a return of much of the drama that rattled the global economy last year. The since-overturned tariffs led to new frameworks with U.S. trade partners — and it’s unclear what impact a new set of import taxes could have on those agreements. Greer described the trade frameworks as standing on their own and suggested they were separate from the new investigation.

This new set of tariffs could play out against the backdrop of a war in Iran and midterm elections in which Democrats are running against Trump’s Republican allies by emphasizing that the public is owed tariff refunds following the Supreme Court decision.

Greer said that the investigation would examine excess industrial capacity and government backing that could give foreign companies an unfair advantage over U.S. companies.

The entities subject to the investigation include China, the European Union, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, the self-governing island of Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan and India. The government is looking for what it deems to be persistent trade surpluses with the U.S. and policies such as subsidies and the suppression of workers’ wages, among other factors.

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The administration is also rolling out a Section 301 investigation to ban the importing of goods made by forced labor.

Greer indicated that there could be additional Section 301 investigations over issues such as digital service taxes, pharmaceutical drug pricing and ocean pollution, among other possibilities. The Commerce Department has separate trade investigations under Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act.

There are timeline pressures for the administration to complete its investigations. The administration has imposed 10% tariffs on foreign-made goods under section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, but those expire after 150 days on July 24. Trump said he planned to raise that import tax to 15%, but he has yet to do so.

Greer said the administration is “keying off” the new investigation based on the 150-day deadline, saying that the goal is to bring “potential options” to Trump as soon as possible.

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Greer said the investigations would be separate from the trade frameworks announced last year by Trump that set baseline tariff rates, which led to 15% rates charged on goods from the European Union, Japan and South Korea, among other places, that have since been overturned by the Supreme Court. Still, he suggested that the frameworks could play a factor.

“My sense is that these countries continue to want to deal, and President Trump continues to want the deal,” Greer said, adding that since tariffs are in play the commitments that the countries have made and the implementation of the frameworks would be considered as they “bump” against the demands of the Section 301 process.

___

AP writer Mae Anderson contributed to this report.

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Iran won’t play in World Cup, minister says | World News

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Iran won't play in World Cup, minister says | World News

“Under no circumstances” can Iran compete in this year’s World Cup, the country’s sports minister has said.

The team’s participation has been in doubt after US and Israeli forces struck Iran, with Tehran retaliating with attacks on American assets and allies across the Middle East.

Follow the latest on the Iran war

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said earlier that he met US President Donald Trump on Tuesday night “to discuss the status of preparations” for the tournament, and received assurances Iran would be welcome to compete in the World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

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However, Iran’s sports minister ​Ahmad ⁠Donyamali told state television that “considering that ‌this corrupt regime ‌has assassinated our leader” – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – “under no circumstances ⁠can we ​participate in ​the World ​Cup”.

According to state news outlet WANA, the head of Iran’s football federation Mehdi Taj also said: “Which rational person would send the national team into such a situation?”


From 3 March: Will Iran play in the World Cup?

Iran’s men’s national team are scheduled to play in the US against New Zealand in June, before facing Belgium and Egypt.

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Last week, Mr Trump, who received FIFA’s inaugural peace prize last year, said that “I really don’t care” if Iran takes part in the tournament.

In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, Mr Infantino said that during discussions last night, “President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States”.

“We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World,” Mr Infantino added.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino. File pic: Reuters
Image:
FIFA president Gianni Infantino. File pic: Reuters

It comes after six members of the Iranian women’s football team – five players and one member of staff – were granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia over fears they could be in danger after they did not sing Iran’s national anthem before a game. They were in Australia for the Asian Cup.

One player on the team has since decided to return to Iran.

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Iranian footballers granted asylum in Australia

A travel ban imposed by Mr Trump means Iranian fans will not be able to travel to America this summer, but teams are due to be given exemptions to participate.

Read more from Sky News:
March banned to ‘prevent serious public disorder’

British couple drown at popular Australian beach

FIFA’s World Cup chief operating officer said earlier this week that the tournament is “too big” to be postponed because of global turmoil caused by the Iran war.

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Heimo Schirgi said: “The World Cup will go on obviously, right? The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified.”

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the Beirut suburb at the heart of an Israeli military doctrine

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the Beirut suburb at the heart of an Israeli military doctrine

Over the ten days of the renewed conflict in the Middle East, Beirut’s southern district of Dahiyeh has been targeted by Israel, which is looking to deal a knockout blow to Hezbollah. It’s not the first time the area has been bombarded. Dahiyeh was bombed by Israel during its 2006 war with Hezbollah, again in 2014 and yet again in 2024 and 2025. Now the Israel Defense Forces is bombing the area again.

The attacks mark the return of a strategy first developed by the Israeli armed forces in Dahiyeh before becoming a military doctrine, bearing the name of the suburb. The Dahiyeh doctrine is a military strategy that calls for using overwhelming and disproportionate force against civilian infrastructure in areas controlled by hostile armed groups in order to deter attacks on Israel. It has repeatedly put into practice in Gaza. Now the Dahiyeh doctrine is once again being enacted in the place where it was first conceived.

Dahiyeh is a Hezbollah stronghold. It became the main urban centre of Lebanon’s Shia population in the middle of the last century when poor Shia families from Baalbek and south Lebanon migrated to Beirut’s suburbs.

During the civil war between 1975 and 1990, Hezbollah established its urban base in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Dahiyeh – the word means “suburb” – is the heart of Hezbollah’s political, social and service networks. Which is why it has become a target for Israel’s military.

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Byword for mass urban destruction

The doctrine was developed in the aftermath of the 2006 Lebanon war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel’s military leadership realised that Hezbollah had stalled their advance in urban combat.

To respond to this, the director of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Gabi Siboni, a former senior IDF officer, wrote a paper in the INSS journal in October 2008, arguing for the use of overwhelming force against both fighters and the urban environment in which they operated and lived.

This was developed by the IDF into a working strategy. As Gadi Eisenkot, head of the army’s northern division, explained at the time: “What happened in the Dahiya quarter of Beirut in 2006 will happen in every village from which Israel is fired on. We will apply disproportionate force on it (village) and cause great damage and destruction there. From our standpoint, these are not civilian villages, they are military bases. This is not a recommendation. This is a plan. And it has been approved.”

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Dahiyeh, southern Beirut, is a Hezbollah-dominated Shia stronghold.
Gunning, Jeroen, and Dima Smaira. 2022. ‘Who You Gonna Call? Theorising Everyday Security Practices in Urban Spaces with Multiple Security Actors – The Case of Beirut’s Southern Suburbs’, Author provided (no reuse)

The primary goal of the doctrine was punishment and deterrence. The idea was to disrupt civilian life and make reconstruction almost impossible to afford. The doctrine’s architects hoped that its outcome would force the civilian population to rebel against the armed groups sheltering among them.

Siboni had made clear in his paper that this strategy was also applicable to Israel’s conflict in Gaza. In 2014, Operation Protective Edge targeted civilian infrastructure, including private houses as well as water, sanitation, electricity and healthcare facilities. Again, after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the IDF has applied the Dahiyeh doctrine in the Gaza Strip, this time destroying between 80% and 90% of its civilian infrastructure.

Critics argue this violates international humanitarian law (IHL). IHL demands that states and groups make a clear distinction between civilians and combatants. It is necessary for armed groups to take all precautions to avoid acts of extreme destruction in heavy civilian residential locations.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has warned that the blanket evacuation orders directed at Dahiyeh’s population risk violating international humanitarian law, saying they risk amounting to “prohibited forced displacement”. While Israeli strategists defend the doctrine as a means to defeat groups like Hezbollah, critics describe it as a template for handing out indiscriminate punishment to combatants and civilians alike.

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What this means for Lebanon

The attacks on Dahieyh come at yet another fragile moment for Lebanon. The power-sharing government, led by the prime minister, Nawaf Salam, with the president, Joseph Aoun, as head of state, is still trying to implement economic reforms after the catastrophic 2019 financial collapse (estimated by the World Bank to be among the top three most severe economic crises globally since the mid-19th century). The latest round of conflict will severely set back the Lebanese government’s attempts to rebuild the economy.

Wrecked buildings in Dahiyeh, Beirut.
Repeat performance: Dahiyeh has regularly been a target for Israeli bombardment. Before the past ten days, the most recent previous attack was in 2025.
EPA/Wael Hamzeh

The brunt of Israel’s assault on Lebanon is being felt in Dahiyeh. UN officials had estimated that the latest Israeli evacuation orders have forced at least 100,000 people to leave the area for shelters across Lebanon.

So far the Lebanese government’s response is to try to pull Hezbollah back from yet another drawn-out war with Israel. On March 2, Aoun formally banned Hezbollah from engaging in military activities and ordered the group to surrender its weapons to the Lebanese army. The government has also postponed the legislative election scheduled for May 2026 by two years.

The Lebanese government has put forward a four-point plan and called for an Israeli ceasefire to allow negotiations to proceed. The plan calls for “establishing a full truce” with Israel, the disarmament of Hezbollah and direct negotiations with Israel “under international auspices”.

But the international community seems incapable of applying any pressure to change the situation in Lebanon. As of March 9, by UN estimates, nearly 700,000 people had been forced from their homes, including 200,000 children. Meanwhile, the IDF continues to carry out strikes in Dahiyeh.

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The Dahiyeh doctrine is so effective for the IDF because it is designed to move faster than the often glacial workings of international diplomacy. It can accomplish a military objective before the international community can craft an agreed and workable plan. This is not the only time residential districts have been bombed or civilian infrastructure targeted. Far from it. Modern warfare is full of examples of bombing civilian districts and Hezbollah has also launched attacks against residential areas in Israel.

But in the years since the doctrine was first articulated, it has been observed at work in both Lebanon and in Gaza, where Israel’s approach to operating in civilian areas was was criticised by the UN after Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09 as an official military strategy “designed to punish, humiliate and terrorise a civilian population”. As such, it’s a chilling illustration of the horror of modern warfare as waged in the Middle East today. And once again it appears to have come home to Dahiyeh.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold names ‘most underrated player in the world’ after Man City win | Football

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Trent Alexander-Arnold names 'most underrated player in the world' after Man City win | Football
Alexander-Arnold was blown away by his teammate’s performance (Picture: Getty Images)

Trent Alexander-Arnold has named Real Madrid teammate Federico Valverde ‘the most underrated footballer on the planet’ following his stunning hat-trick against Manchester City.

In the first leg of their Champions League last 16 showdown, Los Blancos took a commanding step towards the quarter-finals of the competition with a 3-0 victory at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

With Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe ruled out, Valverde took centre stage, scoring all three goals in what was a magnificent performance from the Uruguay international.

The 27-year-old scored an injury time winner against Celta Vigo at the weekend and opened the scoring against Pep Guardiola’s side after 20 minutes, slotting home from a tight angle after beating Nico O’Reilly and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

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He doubled his haul seven minutes later before rounding off a hat-trick just before half-time, brilliantly flicking the ball over Marc Guehi before lashing home.

Valverde’s contribution to Real’s success has been invaluable but in a team of stars, is often overlooked. After tonight’s performance, Alexander-Arnold believes he may now start getting the credit he deserves.  

‘Even as a Liverpool player I admired him and I think he is undoubtedly the most underrated footballer on the planet,’ Alexander-Arnold told TNT Sports.

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Real Madrid C.f. V Manchester City - Uefa Champions League 2025/26 Round Of 16 First Leg
Valverde was unstoppable against City (Picture: Getty Images)

‘When you have played with him you understands how much he gives to the team, he covers every blade of grass, he gives his all.

‘As a player, the best attribute you can have is that your teammates can always count on you and he is always there, he never lets us down.

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Real Madrid C.f. V Manchester City - Uefa Champions League 2025/26 Round Of 16 First Leg
Valverde put City to the sword (Picture: Getty)

‘Maybe people might start talking about him now but for many years he has been in that top bracket of midfielders’

While Real have a commanding lead to take to Manchester next week, Thibaut Courtois warned the tie is far from done.

‘In the Etihad I’ve lost 4-3, lost 4-0 – everything can happen there so we have to be calm, Courtois said.

‘It’s a very nice result I’m not going to lie but we have to keep our foot on the floor.’

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Gianluigi Donnarumma’s private message to Joe Hart over Man City vs Real Madrid tie

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Manchester Evening News

Manchester City have a mountain to climb heading into the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie at the Etihad Stadium, following a damaging 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made his feelings clear to Joe Hart with a private message, claiming the Champions League tie with Real Madrid is far from over.

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On TNT Sport, Hart lifted the lid on an interaction between the two after the full-time whistle and the former City goalkeeper said: “He said: ‘Let’s go, it’s not over, let’s go’, It gave me chills, I love that guy!”

Pep Guardiola’s side have a mountain to climb with Real Madrid racing into a 3-0 lead by half-time. A brilliant hat-trick from Fede Valverde has Alvaro Arbeloa’s side in total control ahead of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium next week.

A lot had been made of Los Blancos’ extensive injury list ahead of Wednesday’s encounter with their old adversaries at the Bernabeu, with notable absentees including Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo.

However, Valverde rose to the occasion and the Uruguayan midfielder tore City to shreds with a ruthless display of finishing.

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He netted three times in just 22 minutes and things could have deteriorated further for Pep Guardiola’s men had Donnarumma not denied Vinicius Junior from the penalty spot in the second half.

It capped a miserable 48 hours for English clubs in the Spanish capital following Tottenham’s 5-2 thrashing at the hands of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

City, who had entered the tie as favourites, have a daunting challenge in next week’s return leg at the Etihad Stadium.

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The away side actually began positively and tried to impose themselves on Real Madrid. Antoine Semenyo unleashed an early effort at Thibaut Courtois whilst the energetic Jeremy Doku fired efforts across the goalmouth.

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Nico O’Reilly also came close and Bernardo Silva sent a volley narrowly wide as they tried to capitalise on a depleted Real Madrid side.

But the hosts issued a warning when former City academy graduate Brahim Diaz drew a save from Donnarumma, though it went ignored.

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The Premier League side were caught napping by a long delivery from Courtois which sailed over O’Reilly’s head, and Valverde controlled it superbly in his stride. He then glided past Donnarumma and finished superbly while off-balance from a narrow angle.

City had scarcely had chance to recover before Valverde added his second seven minutes later. He may have benefited from fortune as a Vinicius pass deflected into his path, but there was nothing lucky about his touch as he composed himself to fire a low left-footed effort beyond Donnarumma.

The third was the best of the bunch and completed his stunning hat-trick before the interval as Jude Bellingham watched on in awe.

Valverde flicked the ball over the head of Marc Guehi and hammered home a volley to ramp up the pressure on City ahead of the return fixture.

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