Zhao Tong Li also modified a fake firearm to try and make it appear genuine, intending to cause fear of violence.

The 23-year-old, of Claypath in Durham, admitted a string of charges from custody at a plea hearing at the city’s crown court, on Thursday (March 12).

He pleaded guilty to charges of attempted kidnap, threatening a person with a knife in a private place, at ‘Student Castle’, in Claypath, possessing an imitation firearm to cause a fear of violence and modifying an imitation firearm, by painting it black, all said to have been committed in February this year.

Li also faces a charge of stalking the same woman, involving him allegedly making threats and the use of a tracker device, between September 1, 2023, and February 9 this year.

But his counsel, Laura Miller, said he would, instead, offer to plead guilty to a charge of controlling and coercive behaviour in a relationship, if considered acceptable by the prosecution.

John Crawford, prosecuting, said he would consult the reviewing Crown lawyer in the case to see if that would be considered a suitable alternative.

But he said that may be acceptable, given the other pleas made by the defendant.

Mr Crawford said he would confirm the Crown’s views on that charge within a fortnight.

Miss Miller said the defendant has had “ongoing mental health issues” and asked for psychiatric assessment to be prepared on him for the court before he is sentenced.

Judge Jo Kidd agreed and said a background report on the defendant by the Probation Service would also be required prior to a sentencing hearing.

Adjourning the case, she told Li: “You will be spoken to by a psychiatrist to look at issues as to why you committed these offences.

“The reports will assist as to the background of the case.”

She remanded the defendant back to custody to appear on April 30.

Australian chef Curtis Stone is among the guests on ITV’s James Martin’s Saturday Morning

Curtis Stone is one of the biggest stars of the culinary world and has made a huge name for himself though his Michelin star restaurants, kitchen ranges, cookery books and appearances on popular TV shows.

While he is a household name in his native Australia, the 50-year-old from Melbourne will also be familiar to UK audiences for his appearances on MasterChef Australia, which is available on streaming channels.

He will be one of the guests on James Martin‘s Saturday Morning on ITV on March 14 alongside Jane McDonald and mixologist Merlin Griffiths. But what do we know about Curtis?

Here we look at his hugely successful career, family life and why he faced backlash from MasterChef Australia viewers.

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Cooking career

Curtis began cooking with his grandmother, Maude, (his dad’s mum) when he was just four years old and clearly got the bug as he went on to study for a commercial cookery apprenticeship.

He worked in Australian restaurants before leaving to work in London, where he debuted his cooking career at age 18 at the Savoy Hotel. He later cooked under the legendary Marco Pierre White (who was also Gordon Ramsay’s mentor) at the Café Royal and Mirabelle, before becoming head chef at White’s Quo Vadis

Curtis’ first restaurant wasn’t in London or Australia but in Beverley Hills. He opened it in 2014 and named it Maude after the grandmother who inspired him to cook. It was awarded a Michelin star in 2019. His second restaurant Gwen (after his maternal grandmother) was launched in Hollywood in 2016 and won a Michelin star six years later.

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TV star

Curtis has appeared in a wealth of TV shows in Australia, the US and the UK, including Dinner in a Box, Good Food Live and Saturday Kitchen. He also hosted the first season of My Restaurant Rules in Australia and has become a famiar face on MasterChef Australia.

But despite his popularity, he’s also gained some criticism from viewers of the latter. Following one of his most recent stints as guest judge, he was called out by fans for being “too harsh” and “unpleasant” with the contestants, reported the Daily Mail.

However, Curtis defended his tactics and told how his tough love was designed to push the competitors to showcase their talents.

Curtis told Yahoo Lifestyle how his judging style changed as they got closer to the final and insisted the contestants appreciated his “tough” criticism.

“So I always think as the chef, you have to be a good mentor, and you have to feel out your team, you have to understand where they’re at and know how much pressure, how much to push,” he said.

“And last season, I had a group of guys that were really wanting it, really wanting it a lot. So I gave it to them, and I pushed them, and I made them extend themselves, and I think that, you know, they were really grateful for it at the end of it, and it was really, really fun.”

Marriage and family life

The chef began dating American actress Lindsay Price in 2009 after meeting on a blind date. They got engaged three years later and married in June 2013. They have two sons, Hudson and Emerson, and Curtis regularly shares photos and updates with fans on his official Instagram account.

On Lindsay’s birthday, he shared a photo of them celebrating in Mexico saying: “Happy birthday to my beautiful baby @lindsayjprice so glad we can celebrate you in your favorite place, Mexico!”

James Martin’s Saturday Morning is on ITV on Saturdays at 9.30am and ITVX

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

The resident has been issued with six parking fines, totalling between £360 or £600, depending on when they are paid

A woman who has been issued with six fines for parking on her housing estate says she is considering selling her car because of the “unfair” fines.

Nadia Mullins-Hills, 37, lives in Trumpington on the Aura Development in the Long Road area of Cambridge. She has lived here since June 2024 but didn’t start receiving parking fines until January this year. She’s been issued with six parking fines so far.

Nadia said that she was either parked in one of the designated parking spots, or ‘laybys’ next to the pavement. She claims that there are no obvious signs prohibiting parking in these areas. She was later told that she had to park within a visitor marked spot when she receieved the fines.

Nadia said: “There are 37 houses just in our postcode, and we have four visitor’s parking spots.”

One of her six fines, she said was likely to have been when an event or club was taking place at the nearby school. She said parking is “severely impacted while there are visitors to the school”.

Nadia added: “It is impossible to see clearly as the images are so dark, and I expect my car was actually parked in the correct bay.”

A spokesperson for Bridge Parking & Asset Management (BPAM) which is the parking company who issued the fines said: “PCN’s may be issued to a vehicle for parking not in accordance with the displayed terms and parked in the same location every 24 hours. If that vehicle has been in breach of these terms, then a PCN could be issued everyday if seen at the time of event of a patrol staff member.”

In one week, Nadia said that she received three fines at once, two of which were on consecutive days. She has now been issued with six parking fines, totalling between £360 or £600, depending on when they are paid.

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Nadia has appealed and made complaints about the fines, as she believes them to be unfair. She has found the situation “extremely stressful”, and said that she is anxious to travel by car to and from her own home because she is concerned about receiving another fine when she returns.

She has reached out to MP Daniel Zeichner about her situation. MP Zeichner said: “After Ms Mullins‑Hills approached me about her situation, I contacted the parking company in question to raise the concerns she highlighted and to ask that they review the circumstances in full. I recognise the worry this has caused her, and I will continue to stay in touch with her while the issue remains unresolved.”

A spokesperson for BPAM added: “PCN’s would only be issued to vehicles parking outside of the displayed terms and conditions.”

Nadia said: “I am actually considering selling my car, because I haven’t got an option.”

Nadia said she left her car in a designated spot for a week because she “can’t run the risk of coming back and not being able to park anywhere”.

In response to these claims, BPAM added: “Bridge Parking & Asset Management (BPAM) only operate on private land and under the current code of practice issued by the BPA. We are audited to ensure compliance is maintained and only issue PCN’s in a fair and precise manner.”

Nadia is now unsure as to when the fine needs to be paid as her appeal has been rejected, but the PCN still showing as being in appeal status.

BPAM explained that when an appeal is logged, the case will be on hold until the appeal has been read and reacted to. From this point forward if the appeal is rejected, the company offers a further discounted period offering a further 14 days to pay the reduced fee of £60.

Alternatively, the appellant can choose to log an appeal with the parking ombudsmen POPLA.

There may be many more people who are suffering in silence.

Professionals working in the field estimate the extent of domestic and sexual abuse is widely under-reported, with victims often unwilling to reveal to relatives, friends, agencies or the authorities what is happening to them.

The current domestic abuse strategy plan for York and North Yorkshire, estimates there are 32,500 adults suffering domestic abuse in its area alone.  

As well as its Yorkshire-wide domestic abuse service, IDAS provides an independent sexual violence advisor service in North Yorkshire, which in 2025 supported 507 adults and 198 children and young people, with 27 per cent being aged between 16 and 20. Two per cent were aged 65 or over.

Its chief executive officer Sarah Hill said: “We know that long-term change can only be achieved when communities are equipped to recognise the causes and impacts of abuse and so we have strengthened our whole-community approach, embedding specialist support in everyday settings and building partnerships that extend far beyond traditional service boundaries.

“We believe that everyone has the right to live a fulfilled life, free from abuse and violence and we want to ensure that this is a reality for those we support today and for future generations.”

In 2025, the charity worked with the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and survivors of domestic abuse in rural areas to run campaigns, train volunteer coordinators to act as champions in their areas and attend rural roadshows to bring support closer to where domestic abuse occurs.  

It also started initiatives to help those in military families or surroundings.

IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Service) provides help for those suffering from violent, emotional, coercive and other domestic abuse across Yorkshire. 

In 2025, in addition to 29,513 calls to its helpline, IDAS also managed 20,762 referrals and responded to 1,952 online chats on its website, its 2025 impact report reveals.

It trained 12,805 professionals and champions of survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, supported 8,014 adults and children and provided accommodation for 318 adults and children.  

A health expert with millions of TikTok followers has warned that thinning eyebrows could be a cause for concern

If you have noticed your eyebrows thinning, the reason might not be cosmetic. According to a doctor with millions of followers on TikTok, it could actually be your body indicating a crucial nutrient deficiency.

The alert comes from Dr Eric Berg, a health guru with over 2.3 million followers and 30.7 million likes on TikTok, as well as approximately 14 million subscribers on YouTube. In a recent video, he informed viewers: “Thinning eyebrows, especially on the outer third is an iodine deficiency.”

This specific pattern is widely recognised in medicine. Doctors refer to it as the ‘Hertoghe sign’ or ‘Queen Anne’s sign’, which denotes thinning or loss of the outer third of the eyebrows.

According to Medical News Today, this symptom is often associated with thyroid issues. The outer edge of the eyebrow is the area most commonly affected when thyroid hormone levels are low.

Iodine plays a vital role because this mineral is required to produce thyroid hormones. Without sufficient iodine, the thyroid cannot generate enough hormones, potentially leading to an underactive thyroid and symptoms including hair thinning.

These hormones also regulate the growth cycle of hair follicles. As per Healthline, low thyroid hormone levels can prevent hair follicles from regenerating properly, which may result in hair loss on the scalp and eyebrows.

When hormone levels decline, hairs can enter the resting phase of their growth cycle prematurely. Experts suggest this disruption may result in fragile hair and visible thinning along the outer eyebrow.

Iodine deficiency continues to be a worldwide health concern despite contemporary diets. Research referenced by the World Health Organization suggests approximately two billion people globally may have inadequate iodine intake, though severe deficiency is now rarer in developed nations.

The condition can trigger a broad spectrum of symptoms beyond hair loss. Tiredness, weight gain, dry skin and sensitivity to cold are also frequently associated with low thyroid hormone levels resulting from iodine deficiency.

Dr Berg’s video prompted numerous reactions from viewers online. One person joked: “I’m deficient in everything.

“Thin eyebrows but I was a 2000s teenager,” another wrote, referencing the thin brow trend of the era. Several viewers thanked the doctor for highlighting the symptom.

One commented: “Thank you so much Dr Berg,” whilst others felt the warning was personal: “Bro called me out,” a viewer admitted.

​The Ox Pasture Hall Hotel, at Lady Edith’s Drive, Scarborough, is seeking a new premises licence from North Yorkshire Council.

​If approved, the licence would permit the playing of live and recorded music indoors and outdoors.

​The premises licence application also seeks permission for the supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises.

​The provision of late-night refreshment has also been proposed for consumption on and off the premises.

​“The Ox Pasture Hall Hotel is a relaxing and romantic place to stay,” according to its website.

​“A former country house which has been transformed into a beautiful country house hotel, located in the magnificent North Yorkshire Moors National Park just outside Scarborough, it’s perfect for relaxing breaks or romantic getaways on the Yorkshire coast.”

​The proposal was submitted by Asquith Hall Ltd and is open to public comments until Wednesday, April 8.

​In 2023, the hotel also applied for a premises licence, which proposed the sale of alcohol from 10am to 2am, Monday to Saturday.

​The hotel’s website adds: “This stunning country house hotel is widely regarded as the best of all the Yorkshire Coast hotels and is consistently rated as one of the top hotels in North Yorkshire.”

​Members of the public wishing to make representations regarding an application must give notice in writing to: North Yorkshire Council, Licensing Services, Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, YO11 2HG or, by email, to licensing.east@northyorks.gov.uk.

​

Sterling has risen from around €1.14 to about €1.16 in the past two weeks, reaching its highest level since June 2025. Currency specialists say the shift means UK travellers heading to Europe may currently get a slightly better deal when exchanging money.

Analysts say the movement has been driven largely by expectations that the Bank of England will keep interest rates higher for longer than the European Central Bank, which markets think could move sooner to cut rates.

Tony Redondo, founder of Cosmos Currency Exchange, said rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions have pushed markets to rethink the outlook for inflation and interest rates.

He said: “The Pound’s rise and the Euro’s decline are being driven by another uptick in oil prices. In an environment of rising global fuel prices, markets are betting that the Bank of England will raise UK interest rates faster and further than the European Central Bank.

“That could benefit UK businesses importing from the EU and holidaymakers looking to book an Easter break or summer holiday on the continent.”

While the stronger Pound could make trips to Europe slightly cheaper, analysts say the move reflects weakness in the Euro as much as strength in the UK economy.

Prem Raja, head of trading floor at Currencies 4 You, said markets have become less confident that the Bank of England will cut rates in the near future as inflation risks rise again.

“The Pound’s recent strength against the Euro is less about strong UK fundamentals and more about relative market pricing,” he said.

“At the same time, the Euro has been under pressure because the eurozone is seen as more exposed to higher imported energy costs.”

That dynamic has helped support Sterling in recent weeks, even as global uncertainty rises.

But experts warn that currency markets can shift quickly, meaning today’s favourable exchange rate might not last.

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Rohit Parmar-Mistry, founder of Pattrn Data, said even small currency swings can have a big impact for businesses and travellers.

“A 1% move between the Pound and the Euro is noise for traders but it matters if you price in Euros and pay costs in Pounds,” he said.

“For importers it offers a bit of breathing space, but don’t bank it as the new normal. Forex trends love to reverse the moment a data print surprises or risk appetite turns.”

For holidaymakers, the current exchange rate could offer a small window of opportunity.

You don’t have to read between the lines when President Trump posts on Truth Social.

The motive for the bombing of Kharg Island was writ large – literally – some of it, caps on.

The tone was performative, the wording absolute, almost cinematic, and prepared for multiple audiences.

His first audience, Iran. He highlights the completeness of the strike and vulnerability of the island.

Sitting in the Persian Gulf, close to all major shipping routes, it handles 90% of Iran’s oil exports.

Follow the latest on the war in Iran

Trump was sending a signal that the country’s “crown jewel”, in terms of its economy, lies within reach of the US.

The underlying signal was deterrence. If military sites can be hit, the oil terminals can be too, “should Iran, or anyone else” disrupt shipping.

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Trump says Iran war to last ‘as long as necessary’

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His second audience, global oil traders. He claimed the US had “totally obliterated every MILITARY target”. Note the caps on.

He stressed that he had “chosen NOT to wipe out” the oil infrastructure on the island.

That’s because he knows crippling Kharg could send crude prices skyrocketing, as high as $150 per barrel according to some analysts.

That makes the island much more than Iran’s economic heart. It is a pressure valve for the global economy.

A single escalation could ripple from the water of the Gulf to petrol stations in Europe, Asia and America.

Read more:
‘Trump is doing a favour for humanity’: Views from ‘Tehrangeles’
All crew members killed in US refuelling plane crash in Iraq
Oil tankers to be escorted through Strait of Hormuz

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Iran war day 14: Videos on the ground

And there’s a third audience: the domestic one. The language of short, sharp strength.

The bombing was over, it was historic, he claimed, declaring the US military “Lethal, Powerful and Effective”.

That turns a complex geopolitical move into a simple narrative for a base already nervous about this war.

Taken together, the president’s post was political theatre – less technical explanation, more strategic signal.