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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Athena issues injury update

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which Gladiators were injured during series 3?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘More and more people come every year’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Residents “can’t believe” there isn’t a defibrillator already on the green

A Cambridge woman is fundraising to get a defibrillator fitted outside of her coffee kiosk in a busy city park. Amanda Langley, the owner of Kiosk on the Green, which can be found on Jesus Green, has started a campaign to get a life-saving defibrillator placed for people to use at any time of the day.

Ms Langley said: “We have been thinking about this for a while because we are in such a prominent position and there are so many people that use the space on Jesus Green, from people playing tennis and people paddle boarding. There are kids playing and a skate park. We have the lido as well.

The closest defibrillator to the green is in an office block across the River Cam but they are only open on weekdays. Ms Langley decided the area needed one that was “easily accessible” and available everyday and started to raise money to buy the kiosk its own defibrillator.

She added: “I thought if anything happened, it’s quite a difficult place to get to. You have to come over the bridge. If anything happened, how would we get help over here quick enough?”

According to the British Heart Foundation, around 3,300 people suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the East of England each year. But only one in 12 people survive.

Jesus Green is used by hundreds of people each day including runners, rowers, and those visiting the lido. Ms Langley added: “People have passed out here and have fallen ill before. I haven’t seen anyone have a heart attack but I thought what if somebody did and they needed help quickly?”

To raise the money needed, Ms Langley has placed a QR code the kiosk and on the Jesus Lock Bridge to encourage people to donate. The fundraiser is already over halfway to its target.

As well as customers at the kiosk, many local businesses have got involved to help Ms Langley reach her target. She added: “One of the punt companies, Let’s Go Punting, put in £100. RHP architects, who often visit us from their office, they’ve all put in £20 or £30 each. The businesses around here are supporting us as well.”

Many members of the public have mentioned they “can’t believe” there isn’t a defibrillator on Jesus Green already. Ms Langley said people are “really happy” about the campaign and what it hopes to achieve.

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June Davison, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: “Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest so having swift access to one of these lifesaving devices nearby can be the difference between life and death.

“Every defibrillator has the power to save a life, so it’s fantastic to see people working to have them installed across local communities, where they can make a real difference. We encourage all defibrillator guardians to register their device on The Circuit, the UK‑wide database that maps defibrillators for use by emergency services. Registration is quick and easy, and it ensures 999 call handlers can direct a bystander to the nearest available defibrillator in the event of a cardiac arrest. By doing so, you could help save a life.”

Ms Langley wants to get the defibrillator fitted on the kiosk by summer. She said: “I just want to get the fundraiser over the line now and get the defibrillator operational for spring and summer. That’s obviously when we’re most busy. If we could get it running by then, it would be amazing”.

You can donate to the fundraiser for the defibrillator by visiting the My Community Defib website.

Wrexham were reduced to 10 men in the second half of their FA Cup clash against Chelsea on Saturday, which Phil Parkinson’s men eventually went on to lose in extra time

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has insisted that George Dobson’s red card in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea was the wrong decision, as VAR overturned the on-field decision.

The Red Dragons were reduced to 10 men in injury-time with the score level at 2-2. Referee Peter Bankes had originally shown the midfielder a yellow card, before VAR recommended him to head to the on-field screen and review the incident again.

A short review followed before Banks overturned his decision and sent Dobson off. Wrexham went on to suffer more VAR heartbreak as Lewis Brunt’s equalise was ruled out for offside.

Speaking after the eventful cup tie, which his side lost 4-2 after extra-time, Parkinson doubted whether the decision needed to be changed. He said: “In the second half I think we were the better team and I was confident we were going to win.

“The referee gave a yellow. I’m not sure of the rules, it’s the first time we’ve had VAR and it has to be clear and obvious to overturn it. I think the referee could have just kept it at a yellow.

“I said at the break in extra time there are still going to be chances for us. Unfortunately we didn’t take one but we have to take a lot of heart from that performance.

“It’s been a great cup run. Tonight was a great spectacle and we were competitive against a very good side. We will take a lot of positives from it.”

Wrexham knocked out Premier League opposition Nottingham Forest in the third round of the tournament, beating them on penalties.

They had gone ahead twice against the FIFA Club World Cup champions on Saturday, thanks to goals from Sam Smith and Callum Doyle.

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“I’m very pleased with the way we acquitted ourselves tonight,” Parkinson added. “We showed a lot of good aspects to our play and played some great football. We weren’t just coming here to stop Chelsea – we believe we can play.

“We were frustrated not to come in at half-time ahead. The lads have given a lot tonight and to play extra time with 10 men is really hard.

“We wanted to have a real go in the second period and we had some great chances. We had moments even with 10 men and the lads have to take a lot of credit tonight.”

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North Yorkshire Police has issued a photograph of a woman offers want to speak to about the theft in Kings Street on Monday, February 2.

The force said £117 worth of stock was stolen from the shop, which has not been named.

On Saturday (March 7) police issued the photograph and said the woman pictured may have information to help the investigation.

“Please contact us if you recognise the woman pictured on CCTV, as she may have information that will assist our investigation,” a police spokesperson said.

They urged anyone with information to email Ben.Hepworth@northyorkshire.police.uk or phone 101 and ask for PC 685 Hepworth.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via its website.

Quote reference 12260021732 when passing on information to the police or to Crimestoppers.

On Saturday, March 7, emergency services attended the scene at the junction connecting Mill Street and Cricketers Way, close to Sainsbury’s in Westhoughton.

Just after 6pm, part of Mill Street was reportedly closed by police while officers dealt with the incident, although traffic continued to flow along Cricketers Way.

A photograph taken at 6.10pm shows a white car lying upside down in the road, with three police vehicles present and the area partially cordoned off.

Around 8pm, a resident said: “Mill Street is still closed in one direction but the overturned car is now being loaded on a truck to take it away.

“The barriers at the pedestrian crossing have been damaged in the crash.”

It is not yet known how the vehicle came to be overturned or whether anyone was injured in the incident.

The Bolton News has contacted Greater Manchester Police for an official statement.

There are long waits for driving tests at test centres right across the country

Learner drivers can expect to wait six months for their driving test at most test centres in Britain, an exclusive Reach Data Unit investigation has found.

More than half (53 percent) of driving test centres have average waiting times of 24 weeks for car practical tests. That’s a total of 170 of Great Britain’s 319 test centres.

Meanwhile, another 13 percent of centres (43 in total) have average waits of between 21 and 24 weeks, meaning two-thirds of learner drivers can expect to have to wait at least three months for their practical test.

The figures have become available thanks to Freedom of Information requests to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) by the Reach Data Unit. Only six driving test centres in the whole country have an average waiting time of six weeks or less, which works out as two percent of test centres.

Now, using our interactive map, learners can see the average waiting time at their local test centre.

In Cambridgeshire, both the Cambridge (Brookmount Court) and Peterborough test centres have an average wait of 24 weeks, which is equivalent to six months.

There are some encouraging signs for learner drivers, however. The data obtained via FOI shows that the number of centres with waits of 24 weeks is actually falling.

Back in November, a total of 245 centres, 77 percent of the total, had average waits of six months. That’s down to 53 percent now. A massive 80 percent of centres had average waits of at least 21 weeks, down to 66 percent now.

A DVSA spokesperson said: “DVSA is taking decisive action to reduce driving test waiting times by making more tests available. While there’s still a long way to go, we have conducted over 123,000 extra tests since June 2025.

“We are also using military driving examiners to support our efforts to supply more tests and following our recent consultation, we’re working at pace to implement the technical changes to the driving test booking system – including introducing limits on changes that can be made to a test, allowing only the learner driver to book a test.”

There are regional differences in driving test waiting times. Wales has the lowest average wait in the country at 17.0 weeks per test centre. In Yorkshire and the Humber, that rises to 18.5 weeks.

In Scotland, the average is 19.1 weeks, in the North East it’s 19.4, and in the South East, 20.5 weeks. The South West has average waits of 20.8 weeks, the North West 21.0 weeks, the West Midlands 21.7 weeks, the East of England 22.2 weeks, the East Midlands 22.9 weeks, and London 23.0 weeks.

A six-year-old deaf boy has been deported from the United States with family members – and the Department of Homeland Security refused to allow him his hearing aid before departure, a lawyer has said.

The child, his younger brother and mother, Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, were detained earlier this week during a routine check-in at Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office in San Francisco. The family were asylum seekers from Colombia, and had been living in Hayward, California, for five years.

Nikolas De Bremaeker, an attorney with Centro Legal de la Raza, said he was given misleading information and was unable to find the family for two days before tracking them down to a detention center in Arizona. They have since been deported to Colombia.

De Bremaeker said Gutierrez, who works in childcare, had an order of removal but no criminal record and therefore had a legal right to be notified prior to deportation.

At a news conference, the attorney said that while the mother and two boys were at the ICE center in San Francisco, a relative had gone to give the six-year-old his hearing aid, which he relies on communicate, but was turned away by officials.

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“This child has been dragged from detention center to detention center, to places that are not meant for children,” Bremaeker said, according to The Los Angeles Times.

“They are definitely not built for children with severe disabilities. It’s inhuman, illegal, and unconstitutional.”

The six-year-old boy attended California School for the Deaf at Fremont for three years, according to Tony Thurmond, California Superintendent of Public Instruction. He demanded the return of the boy to California at the news conference.

Thurmond said he was “deeply disturbed” that the boy was deported without access to his necessary medical devices. “This unnecessary cruelty must end,” he said.

“No child should be ripped from their home community and hidden in a detention center, especially not a deaf child who is being deprived of the ability to communicate and understand what is happening to him. I am calling on the federal government to return our student to his school community now.”

De Bremaeker said he had spoken Friday to Gutierrez, and that she and her children were traumatized by the ordeal.The Independent has contacted the attorney for further updates.

In a statement to The Independent, a DHS spokesperson denied that Gutierrez had not received due process.

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“She received full due process and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on November 25, 2024,” the statement read.

“ICE does NOT separate families. Parents are given a choice: They can be removed with their children or place them with a safe person they designate. This is consistent with past administration’s immigration enforcement. Gutierrez chose to be removed with her children, and they returned to their home on March 5.”

The spokesperson added: “Being in detention and in the country illegally is a choice. Parents can avoid detention and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app. By using the CBP Home app illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way and live the American dream.”

Yet it could have been so different.

Newcastle may have been feeling the effects of playing with 10 men for so long in a spirited midweek win against Manchester United.

But Newcastle started this fifth-round tie like a side who recognised that the FA Cup was not only their best chance of winning silverware this season.

It was also their most obvious route back into Europe at a time when Howe’s team lie in 12th place in the Premier League.

Newcastle quickly got the crowd into the game with their energy and intent.

Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford and defender Matheus Nunes uncharacteristically booted the ball out of play as the hosts pressed high.

Perhaps, most crucially, Newcastle grabbed the opening goal as Harvey Barnes fired his side in front with a fine curling effort.

It felt like a familiar script for Guardiola, who had previously seen Barnes score twice in a 2-1 win against his side at this very stadium back in November.

“The first 15, 20 minutes always happens,” he said. “We talk about that. We could not control.”

Just as the visitors rallied, though, Newcastle dropped deeper and deeper, and could not get out of their half.

The Magpies were pinned back by City, who dominated possession and repeatedly played their way through the hosts’ midfield.

“The way they play and how good they are technically, they took a stranglehold of the ball,” Howe said.

“When we got it back, we gave it away too easily, maybe looking too vertical and not horizontal enough at times.

“As soon as you make a technical mistake, you’re not seeing the ball for long periods and then your energy just drains away. That’s why they have been the best team for so long.”