Donald Trump and his family could be put in serious danger if work on the $400 million White House ballroom is stopped, his administration has suggested.

A district judge in Washington DC provoked the president’s ire last week when he paused construction on the lavish extension.

White House lawyers are now urging a federal appeals court to halt that ruling and allow builders to get back on site.

In a motion filed on Friday, they argued the judge’s order is ‘threatening grave national-security harms to the White House, the president and his family, and the president’s staff’.

That is because materials are being installed to make the site ‘heavily fortified’, they said, with the ballroom project also including a bomb shelter and military installations according to the Guardian.

The side of the mansion has also been left ‘open and exposed’, the lawyers warned, following President Trump’s decision to go ahead with the demolition of the historic East Wing without consultation.

Elsewhere in the motion, the lawyers argued the district court did not have authority to tackle the suit, saying it ‘rests on a single pedestrian’s subjective architectural feelings’.

The Guardian reported that the decision from Judge Leon – who was nominated by George W Bush – addressed national security, and he exempted construction necessary for the security of the building from his order.

The president ‘has complete authority to renovate the White House’, the motion adds.

Leon’s decision came as a result of a preliminary injunction from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which asked for construction to be paused amid their lawsuit alleging Trump exceeded his authority with the project.

In a Truth Social post after the ruling, Trump described the organisation as a ‘Radical Left Group of Lunatics’.

The creation of the ballroom is one aspect of the president’s ambition to reshape the heart of the US capital within his final term in office.

Other plans in the works include a 250-foot triumphal arch, while he has already unilaterally inserted his name into the title of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

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Some parts of the country are much worse for the bloodsuckers than others.

The “worst places in Scotland” for midges have been named ahead of the start of summer, with hikers being advised to avoid certain parts of the country if they don’t want to be set upon. Experts have also shared a list of locations around Scotland where hillwalkers and holidaymakers are less likely to encounter the biting beasts.

Midges, particularly the Culicoides impunctatus species, are biting flies that are usually very prevalent between late spring and late summer. The small flies are infamous for ruining hikes and camping trips in Scotland across the warmer months, with their bites leaving irritating and itchy lumps.

On Wednesday, April 3, travel experts at Two Scots Abroad shared a guide to midges in Scotland to help Scots and holidaymakers in the country alike minimise the impact of the blood-sucking insects. A total of nine destinations and regions across Scotland were singled out as especially bad for midges.

One of the areas in the country where midges are particularly prevalent according to the experts is the Northwest Highlands, which comprises Wester Ross, Assynt, and Sutherland, as well as part of Caithness. The region offers conditions very favourable for midges to breed, such as wet soil, damp moss, and sheltered glens with minimal wind.

In particular, Glen Coe, Fort William and the Great Glen, Torridon, and the Isle of Skye were named as top hotspots for midges that should be avoided if possible. Meanwhile, Argyll and Bute and parts of the North Coast 500 were named as locations with a lower risk but where midges are still common.

The Two Scots Abroad website states: “What all of these share: sheltered, boggy, wet highland terrain with limited wind exposure. If a place is famous for dramatic scenery and moody weather, it’s probably also famous for midges.”

On the other hand, there are certain parts of Scotland where you are far less likely to be bothered by midges during the spring and summer. According to Two Scots Abroad, these generally comprise open and coastal regions where strong winds prevent the insects from thriving.

Among the locations in Scotland where midges are unlikely to be as much of a nuisance are the Scottish Borders, Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Central Belt. Those in Orkney and Shetland may also have better luck when it comes to midges according to Two Scots Abroad.

Additionally, the experts shared tips that can help you avoid midge bites even if you head into areas such as the Northwest Highlands. According to Two Scots Abroad, using repellent such as Smidge, wearing head nets and brightly coloured clothes, and avoiding dusk and dawn can all minimise your chances of being bitten.

Scots keen to avoid the worst of the midges this spring and summer can also use The Scottish Midge Forecast to plan their trips. The forecast uses data from biting midge traps and mini-weather stations across the country to provide a regularly updated view of midge levels throughout Scotland.

When it comes to Easter, it has to be lamb for me. Always. To shake things up a bit — as you don’t want to be cooking the same thing year on year, now do you? — I like to take a shoulder of lamb (the bigger, the better), generously drizzle it with tahini and slow roast it in the oven with lemons and wild garlic. A big bowl of soft polenta is the perfect companion, it’s like eating a hug. The whole thing is simple, easy to cook, and my gosh — the flavour! If that’s not your bag, try shoulder with fresh lavender, rosemary, garlic, honey and salt. Pick your rosemary straight from the garden and blitz the leaves with salt in a blender. Remove the lavender buds from the stalks and add them to the honey. I rub the lamb all over with salt before placing in a roasting tray in the oven, covered with foil, for 20 minutes at 200°C. Remove the foil and leave to roast for a further 40 minutes before pouring over the lavender and honey and returning to the oven for a final 10 minutes. Resting is key — I do this for 10 to 15 minutes with some foil on top to keep it warm, before serving with pan juices and spring vegetables.

Resident doctors will begin their strike at 7am on Tuesday (April 7), which will run for six days until 7am on Monday (April 13).

Hospital teams across the country, including in York, say they will continue to “minimise” this disruption, with GP practices, NHS 111 and urgent and emergency care services continuing to be available throughout the industrial action.

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The NHS said that patients should attend planned medical appointments unless they have been contacted to reschedule.

The strike is expected to be “particularly challenging” for the NHS due to a short notice period and the timing of the strike, which falls during the Easter holiday.

“The government has the power to avert this strike action”, the BMA has said (Image: PA)

In a statement, leaders of the action, the British Medical Association (BMA), said: “The government has the power to avert this strike action – by coming back to the table with a credible offer on both jobs and pay.

“We remain willing and available to re-enter negotiations, but we are not willing to risk locking in further pay erosion.

“The government shifted the goalposts on pay at the 11th hour, leaving us with no option but to make ourselves heard from the picket line.”

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer gave the resident doctors committee of the BMA a 48-hour deadline to reconsider the government’s deal on pay and jobs, which included the offer of extra NHS training posts.

As the deadline approached, the BMA set out a list of demands for Government which would need to be addressed for them to call off the strike.

Wes Streeting had urged doctors to reconsider their industrial action (Image: PA)

Responding, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that the BMA has decided to press ahead with strikes next week, despite conversations we have been having in recent days in a bid to protect the NHS from strikes.

“This government offered resident doctors a generous deal to improve their pay, career progression and working lives that would have seen resident doctors on average 35.2 per cent better off than they were four years ago.

“Because the BMA resident doctor committee has not agreed to call off these strikes and put an offer to members, we will now not be able to deliver the 1,000 extra training places which the BMA asked for.

“These posts would have gone live this month, but as systems now need to prepare for strikes and more uncertainty, it simply won’t be operationally or financially possible to launch these posts in April in time to recruit for this year – this won’t impact the overall number of resident doctors and the NHS will be there for patients when they need it.

“Our attention and that of leaders across the NHS is now on protecting patients, staff and our NHS by minimising disruption to the health service.”

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In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the doctors’ committee, said: “It is not unexpected, but extremely disappointing to see the government has scrapped 1,000 new specialty training places at a time when doctors so urgently need more jobs and patients so desperately need more doctors.

“It is genuinely disheartening to be at this point after what had been constructive talks up until a few weeks ago when the government moved the goalposts.

“It is simply wrong that the development of the doctors of the future is being used as a pawn like this.

“We have consistently maintained that we are willing to postpone industrial action should a genuinely credible offer be provided.

“This remains the case now, up to, and throughout any period of industrial action.”

‘Longer waits expected’

A spokesperson for York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “During the strikes, there may be fewer doctors working than usual, and they will need to prioritise life-saving care.

“Less urgent cases may experience longer waits during strikes.

“The NHS is asking patients to choose services appropriately during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most.

“This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs, and as ever only using 999 if it is serious or life-threatening emergency.”

Soaps are regularly changing their schedules due to other programmes being shown in their usual time slots, including football matches.

While fans of the soap will still get to watch an episode of EastEnders on Easter Monday (April 6), it will be at a later time.

Here’s what we know about the changes and when you can watch the soap this week.

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EastEnders to see TV schedule change this week

The Easter schedule will see Celebrity Escape to the Country fill EastEnders’ usual slot as it starts at 7.45pm, with EastEnders usually beginning at 7.30pm on BBC One on Mondays.

It’s not all bad news though, as you can still get your soap fix on Monday as EastEnders will start an hour later than usual – at 8.30pm on the same channel.

Despite this schedule change, soap fans will be able to watch EastEnders on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at its usual time this week.

ITV makes schedule changes to Coronation Street and Emmerdale

Fans of Corrie and Emmerdale can also expect some schedule changes this year because, back in 2025, ITV announced changes to its soap schedule.

From January 2026, the broadcaster introduced a “soaps power hour” on weekdays with 30-minute Emmerdale episodes at 8pm and 30-minute Coronation Street episodes at 8.30pm.

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Coronation Street previously aired for three hour-long episodes a week, while Emmerdale aired four 30-minute episodes and one hour-long instalment.

In May 2025, ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said the company was making “good progress” on a cost-cutting drive, and that she expected to make £30 million of non-content savings during 2025.

ITV also introduced changes to its popular daytime TV shows such as Good Morning Britain (GMB) and Lorraine.

From January this year, GMB has been extended by half an hour, while Lorraine Kelly’s morning talk show has been reduced to 30 minutes for 30 weeks of the year.

Are you happy about the EastEnders schedule change this week? Let us know in the comments.

Emergency services were called to Midridge Road just before 8.30pm on Saturday (April 4) after the smash.

In total, five ambulances were sent to the scene and took five people to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The circumstances of the crash are not yet known. Durham Police have been contacted for more information.

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called to a road traffic incident on Midridge Road, Newton Aycliffe, shortly before 8.30pm on April 4.

“We dispatched five double-crewed ambulances and a clinical team leader. Five patients were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.”

Some popular Easter treats could be helping your heart

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Millions of chocolate Easter eggs are set to be devoured this weekend and, while overindulging in the beloved sweet treat is never advisable, choosing the right kind of chocolate could actually bring some surprising health benefits.

Health specialists have shed light on the potential advantages of dark chocolate and its possible effects on your heart, cholesterol and brain function. Dark chocolate typically contains between 35 and 90 per cent cocoa solids, considerably more than other varieties, while also tending to have lower levels of sugar and dairy.

Heart health

It is the elevated cocoa content that gives dark chocolate its edge when it comes to cardiovascular protection. As BHF Senior Dietitian Dell Stanford explained: “Cocoa solids are a good source of flavanols, a type of chemical that naturally occurs in plants.

“Flavanols give dark chocolate its slightly bitter taste, and its potential health benefits such a helping to lower blood pressure and making blood vessels more flexible.”

A 2025 review established that foods containing flavanols, cocoa amongst them, showed potential in reducing the risk of heart and circulatory conditions, as well as helping to bring down high blood pressure. However, commercially produced chocolates tend to contain lower flavanol levels than the cocoa bean products typically used in research studies.

Cocoa nibs boast some of the highest concentrations of flavanols, while milk chocolate contains none at all. Notably, the flavanol content in both milk and dark chocolates can vary considerably and bears little relation to the stated cocoa percentage.

Flavanol levels aren’t typically displayed on packaging, making it virtually impossible to determine how much your preferred chocolate bar contains. In the UK, cocoa-based products can only be labelled ‘rich in flavanols’ if they deliver 200mg daily, a threshold most chocolates simply cannot meet.

It’s also practically unfeasible to obtain all the necessary flavanols from dark chocolate alone, as consuming the required quantity would lead to adverse health consequences from excessive sugar and fat intake.

Brain

The flavanols present in dark chocolate may also enhance oxygen supply, nerve function and blood circulation to the brain. According to ZOE, these flavanols have been associated with increased nerve cell development, particularly within the hippocampus.

Previous research involving rats has indicated that flavanols might shield the brain from deteriorating function and conditions such as dementia, though further studies are required to establish this conclusively.

Cholesterol

Dark chocolate typically contains elevated levels of polyphenols. These compounds can boost ‘good’ cholesterol levels in your body while simultaneously reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol. Nevertheless, according to the BHF, these advantages can be negated if you’re consuming excessive amounts of chocolate due to its sugar and saturated fat content.

Professor Tim Spector from ZOE advises choosing chocolate containing at least 70 per cent cocoa, while remaining cautious of varieties that may appear dark but still harbour high quantities of refined sugar or dairy products.

Great deals are available on garden furniture sets for every occasion, size and budget – from Habitat and IKEA to Dunelm and Argos

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With longer evenings and brighter days firmly upon us, now is an ideal moment to splash out on some new garden furniture. We’ve pulled together nine of the finest discounted lounge sets, dining sets and comfortable chairs to carry you through to the warmer months.

Although it can feel like a considerable outlay, investing in quality garden furniture is genuinely worthwhile. That said, it’s always sensible to make the most of any deals on offer, and a host of retailers from Habitat and Dunelm to IKEA and Wowcher have launched their spring sales.

From Scandi-inspired dining table and chair sets to Mediterranean-style rattan sofas and snug hanging egg chairs, there’s something to suit every garden size and aesthetic, reports the Mirror.

Habitat Malta 6 Seater Garden Corner Sofa Set. Was £800 Now £640 (using code GREEN20)

Habitat has truly excelled with their garden furniture range this year, delivering seriously stylish pieces without the eye-watering price tag, and this garden corner sofa set is no different.

Wowcher Acorn Dove Grey Rattan Garden Lounge Sofa Set. Was £449 Now £299

Rattan never goes out of fashion and is a wonderful way to introduce a Mediterranean vibe to your outdoor space. This grey rattan set from Wowcher is currently slashed by nearly £200, with both 5 and 10-seater options to choose from.

Argos Home Sicily 6 Seater Metal Patio Set. Was £230 Now £184 (using code GREEN20)

If you enjoy throwing an outdoor dinner party, this 6-seater patio set ought to be near the top of your garden shopping list. The chairs are stackable, making storage incredibly straightforward when you require the additional space.

OUTSUNNY 4 Piece Garden Furniture Set with Cushions Coffee Table. Was £648.99 Now £248.20

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Among the finest garden bargains we’ve spotted thus far comes from Debenhams. They’ve reduced prices on numerous sets, including this 4-piece collection from OUTSUNNY. The black metal framework gives it a considerably more premium appearance than its now-under-£300 price point would indicate.

Abdul Metal 2 – Person Seating Group with Cushions. Was £668.99 Now £599.99

Keen to establish the ideal relaxation spot in your garden? Then this 2-person outdoor collection is the answer. Constructed from a lightweight aluminium framework, this pair is incredibly simple to relocate around the garden, whether you wish to be in the sunshine or shade.

Dunelm Singapore Double Egg Chair. Was £399 Now £299

Dunelm hasn’t got many reductions on garden furniture collections, but they have cut £100 from this double egg chair. If you’re limited on space, this is an excellent substitute for a large 4 or 6-seater collection.

IKEA JUTHOLMEN 4-seat conversation set. Was £429 Now £373 (until 24th May with IKEA Family membership)

If you possess an IKEA Family membership, this is the moment to utilise it. The Scandinavian homeware retailer has reduced prices on dozens of furniture pieces, including several garden collections like this 4-seater option.

Miacomet Modular PE Rattan Garden Sofa Set and Table. Was £1,464.97 Now £670

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Wayfair is currently offering substantial spring discounts, and the reduction on this modular rattan garden set is simply too impressive to overlook. Slashing nearly £1000 from the original price tag, this collection is ideal for warm days spent outdoors.

Habitat Scandi 6 Seater Metal Patio Set. Was £500 Now £400 (using code GREEN20)

For those seeking to add a splash of colour to their outdoor area, this Scandi-influenced green metal patio set from Habitat is the ideal solution. Understated, stylish and vibrant without being excessively bold.