NewsBeat

The tranquil Cambridgeshire village with pub dubbed ‘absolute gem’

Published

4 hours ago

6 April 2026

The village hosts a tranquil setting away from the hustle and bustle of city life

A picturesque Cambridgeshire village is known for its famous Roman burial mounds alongside an award-winning pub considered an “absolute gem” by customers. Bartlow is a small village located around 12 miles south-east of Cambridge and sits against the banks of the River Granta.

Perhaps one of the most popular features of this village is it being blessed with some truly tranquil areas away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Some people know Bartlow very well but others not so much so here are a few reasons why this village is such a lovely place to live.

Batlow has an intriguing history with one particularly interesting landmark. Barlow Hills consists of four remaining ancient burial mounds dating back to the Roman era that offer locals a glimpse of those who used to live there.

The mounds reportedly contain cremated remains of high-ranking individuals and chambers. Standing 15-metres high, the tallest barrow is considered the largest Roman barrow north of the Alps.

What is even better than a village steeped with history is a village filled with history that one also home to a beautiful pub offering traditional classics.

The Three Hills, a dog-friendly, country pub, is hosted in a 17-th century Grade II listed building which initially opened as an alehouse in 1847. The kitchen has earned multiple awards including two AA Rosettes, a Michelin Plate for great food, and named Highest Newcomer in the Top 50 gastropubs in the UK in 2021.

This gastropub offers foods from haddock and steak dishes to lamb belly and a potato risotto.

Not only has this pub earned recognition through awards, it has also built a strong reputation of reviews online. With an average of 4.6 out of five stars on Tripadvisor, amongst over 450 reviews, new customers can feel assured to have a delightful experience.

One guest said that The Three Hills is an “absolute gem” while another said “I can’t recommend this place enough.”

Another wrote: “The location was prefect, the staff were friendly and professional and our room was lovely.

“The evening meals and breakfasts were delicious, fresh and beautifully presented and the staff in the kitchen and serving worked really hard. I cannot fault this place and will definitely be back.”

The pretty village is around 20-minutes away from Cambridge by car or regular bus routes from the village into the city are available.

Barlow is home to a nursery called Little Hands, that offers care for babies from six-months old. Nearby, families can send their children to Castle Camps Church of England School or Linton CE Infant School. For older ones, Linton Village College is the local secondary school and provides education between the ages of 11 and 16.

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US stocks drift higher ahead of Trump’s deadline to bomb Iranian power plants

Published

3 minutes ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

US stocks drift higher ahead of Trump's deadline to bomb Iranian power plants

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted higher in hesitant trading on Monday, ahead of a deadline that President Donald Trump has set to bomb Iranian power plants.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, coming off its first winning week in the last six. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 165 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5%.

Oil prices likewise rose after seesawing through the day amid uncertainty about what will happen in the war with Iran and how long it will slow the global flow of oil and natural gas. Iran on Monday rejected the latest ceasefire proposal and instead said it wants a permanent end to the war.

“We won’t merely accept a ceasefire,” Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Cairo, told The Associated Press. “We only accept an end of the war with guarantees that we won’t be attacked again.”

Fighting continued in the war, meanwhile, including an Israeli attack on an Iranian petrochemical plant. And in the background was the clock ticking toward a deadline, one that Trump has moved multiple times, where he has threatened to attack Iranian power plants if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz. A fifth of the world’s oil typically sails through the strait during peacetime.

Trump on Monday suggested that his latest deadline of Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern time will be the final one, saying he’d already given enough extensions. “The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump said.

Monday also offered the first chance for U.S. stock prices to react to a report from Friday that said U.S. employers hired more workers last month than economists expected. The unemployment rate unexpectedly improved.

They’re encouraging signals for an economy that’s had to absorb painful leaps in costs for gasoline since the war’s beginning. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is nearly $4.12 across the country, according to AAA. It was below $3 a couple days before the United States and Israel launched attacks to begin the war in late February.

For countries that don’t produce as much oil as the United States, the pain has been even worse. That’s because they are more reliant on oil coming from the Middle East, and the war has blocked in much of the crude produced in the Persian Gulf area. That oil typically gets to customers around the world by exiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The price for a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 0.8% to settle at $112.41 after erasing an earlier modest dip. Brent crude, the international standard, added 0.8% to $109.77 per barrel and remains well above its roughly $70 price from before the war.

On Wall Street, a split performance for the Big Tech stocks that dominate the U.S. market kept things in check. Apple rose 1.1%, and Amazon added 1.4%. Tesla slid 2.2%, and Microsoft fell 0.2%.

Bank stocks were strong, including a 1.3% rise for JPMorgan Chase.

CEO Jamie Dimon said in his annual letter to shareholders released on Monday that the U.S. economy continues to be resilient, and businesses still look healthy. He, though, also acknowledged that prices for stocks and other assets are high, which could imply “anything less than positive outcomes could have a dramatic impact on global markets.”

All told, the S&P 500 rose 29.14 points to 6,611.83. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 165.21 to 46,669.88, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 117.16 to 21,996.34.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The 10-year Treasury yield was sitting at 4.33%. That’s still well above its 3.97% level from before the war. The rise has pushed up rates for mortgages and other loans going to U.S. households and businesses, which slows the economy.

A report on Monday said that finance, transportation and other U.S. businesses in services sectors grew in March for a 21st straight month of expansion. But the growth was slightly slower than economists expected, and a measure of prices accelerated at its fastest pace since 2022 in a potentially discouraging signal for inflation.

In stock markets abroad, Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.5%, and South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.4%. Many other markets in Europe and Asia were closed for holidays.

___

AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed.

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Hundreds take part in Gawthorpe coal-carrying race

Published

10 minutes ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Hundreds take part in Gawthorpe coal-carrying race

The annual World Coal Carrying Championships in the village of Gawthorpe, near Ossett, saw 240 entrants haul sacks of coal across a distance of 3,320ft (about 1,000m). Men carried 7st 12lb (50kg) sacks of coal, with women racers shifting 3st 2lb (20kg) bags, from the Royal Oak pub to the village’s Maypole Green.

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How to ace a marathon, according to London’s most seasoned runners

Published

18 minutes ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

How to ace a marathon, according to London's most seasoned runners

As we emerge from our winter hibernation, many of us will be dusting off our gym leggings and limbering up for our first exercise class in, oh, we wouldn’t like to say. But, for a dedicated tribe, however, spring means even more than that: the start of marathon training season.

This lot has probably (*hopefully*) already been pounding the pavements and parks for months now, but if not, there’s no better time to get started than the New Year, with the London Marathon set to happen a mere few weeks away (April 26).

Running a marathon is a mammoth feat and the ultimate test of endurance – and more of us than ever are signing up to do it.

That’s not to say it gets any easier though. If you need some last minute motivation, here’s what to know about how to do it right, from the experts.

When your training should have started

Ania Gabb finishing the London Marathon

Asics

Training for a marathon should start many weeks in advance.

“If you’re a beginner, if it’s your first ever marathon then I would always suggest [starting] 16 to 20 weeks before the marathon. If you’re intermediate, or advanced, or if you’ve done a marathon before, then I’d say 12 to 16 weeks,” says Ania Gabb, an ASICS frontrunner and a coach.

For Gabb, the important thing is to start slow: it’s all about getting the body used to endurance running. Start with running 30 minutes a day, then building it up to 45 minutes, increasing week by week.

“You start with a small mileage and then increase that by 10 per cent: week one would be five, six miles. Then you gradually increase it and when you get to the end of about six weeks you’ve got to around 10 miles.”

There’s another bonus to the long training time, too: it means it’s possible to skip a week here or there (for instance, due to illness) without falling too far behind.

First things first: don’t start carb loading now. “There’s some people that start from week one, thinking, ‘I’ve got to start carb loading now,’ says Gabb. “It’s near the end of the marathon training you start focusing on that and testing things out before your long runs.”

Instead, keep it healthy: vitamins, minerals, healthy fats from things like avocados and fish.

“I always say to people, don’t try anything new,” she says. “Make sure that you’re getting all the right nutrition because you’re putting your body under such stress. You need to make sure that you’re looking after yourself.”

Chris Hatfield

Asics

Kitting yourself out in all-new gear for the biggest run of your life does sound tempting – but it’s a trap.

“‘Never wear gear for the first time on race day’ is one of my biggest pieces of advice,” says Chris Hatfield. He’s an ASICS ambassador who has recently completed the mammoth task of running 30 half marathons in 30 days across different cities. During the runs, he’s been encouraging members of the public to run alongside him and chat, in the hopes of raising awareness about mental health and the importance of opening up.

Hatfield says it’s important to always wear things in in advance. “Even before this challenge, I wore everything beforehand on a shorter run just to test it out,” he adds.

“There’s nothing worse than going on that longer run and you’ve put that T-shirt on for the first time, or a pair of shoes or socks and then [they’re uncomfortable] and you’re like, I’ve still got to do X amount of kilometres in these.”

Where’s good for kit? To start with, check out athletics brand Sweaty Betty: their gear is not only lightweight and comfy, but they have a pleasing number of running vests and T-shirts that will stay airy and cool amid the heat of a race. Factor in their range of leggings and running shorts (essentially, gear to suit any weather) and it’s a no-brainer.

247

For something that marries performance with fashion, 247 is also an excellent shout. These guys are the sporting offshoot of fashion brand Represent, but they’re plugged into the running scene, with collabs, expert input and even a line of precision-engineered cult fave trainers, the ARC-1 and ARC-2. The clothes themselves are nothing to sniff at either: the women’s performance leggings and long-sleeved tops are optimised for endurance, and are surprisingly breathable, even for long-distance running. Plus, they look great.

For girls, things can be a little bit more complicated. For instance, what if your period starts on the day, or the day before? Well, period brand Snuggs has recently launched a collab with Man City Women’s football team to create a line of sports underwear, but the rest of their range also features great leak-proof underwear that’s well worth a look.

Plus, while we’re talking about underwear, Australian brand Step One are a gamechanger when it comes to anti-chafe gear. They sell both bras and pants that are both comfy and breathable: a must, really.

Check your gait to get the right trainers

No matter how far you’re running, every runner should get a gait analysis done to benefit their race.

“Understanding your running style, regardless of shoes is really helpful,” says Hatfield. “It can help you be more conscious of how you’re training, maybe of your potential deficiencies, and of where you can strengthen.”

It can also help you prevent injuries. “A lot of runners out there don’t realise that they need stability shoes, as they might pronate or supinate,” says Gabb. To explain: pronation is where the foot rolls inwards on striking the ground, and supination is where it rolls outwards. “If they’re wearing a neutral shoe, they can injure themselves.”

During a gait analysis, people will often be asked to walk and run on a treadmill where a camera assesses their gait. Afterwards, the store attendants will be able to talk through the results and pick a trainer that suits their running style.

Fortunately, gait analyses are relatively easy to find in London – and they should be free to do, as well. The ASICS stores in Oxford Street and Canary Wharf do it, as do The Running Lab and Runner’s Need: they all cater to every type of runner, from beginner to expert, and should be able to offer excellent advice.

Strength training is important too

Runners crossing Tower Bridge during last year’s marathon (PA)

PA Wire

Don’t skimp on the weights, even if it sounds counter-intuitive: Hatfield calls it a “non-negotiable.”

“There’s this big fear, I think, of ‘if I do too much strength training, I’m going to put on size.’ But I think it’s better to look at it as building resilience and durability for your body,” he says.

“Running is a single-leg sport. And every single time you’re doing it, you’re not doing it in moderation, you’re doing a thousand reps’ equivalent of it. And that’s not building muscle, it’s often depleting muscle or causing muscle storage to deplete.”

In addition keeping your body in fighting shape, strength training is a way to safeguard yourself against injury: for instance, not rolling an ankle if you misstep, because the tendons are stronger. Hatfield himself went to the gym “probably two or three times a week” for the six months building up to his challenge: it’s an important element to build into your training routine. And not just the lower half of the body, but the upper, too: all of the body is working during a run, so don’t go missing arm day.

It’s natural to feel anxious before the race – expected, even. But there are ways to manage those nerves in a healthy way.

“I think one of the biggest things is being conscious of your self-talk,” says Hatfield. “I think we’re so aware of what other people say to us, or how we speak to others, but less so of ourselves. If you’re starting to tell yourself, ‘I can’t do this, I’m not going to finish, I’m not going to be able to achieve this,’ then your brain’s confirmation bias is going to come in and tell you all the reasons why this isn’t going to work, and then of course the body is often going to follow that as well.”

In addition to working on more positive self-talk, it’s also important to set realistic expectations around the race itself.

“I think sometimes people almost go in too much with a hope of perfectionism and then something will go wrong and they’ll think, ‘Oh my god, it’s ruined,’” he says. Instead, factor in an awareness that things can — and do — go wrong.

Gabb agrees: she recommends putting an ‘A, B and C’ goal into place with regards to expectations around the race.

“The A goal being the one where, that’s going to be your PB [by a long way]. B could be just, go for a personal best, so whether that’s even 30 seconds faster. Then C is just enjoy it, get round and complete the distance.”

Runners taking part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon run past St Paul’s Cathedral (James Manning/PA)

PA Wire

Let’s face it: the idea of running 26.2 miles, or even half of that, is a daunting prospect if you’ve not done it before — or even if you have. So don’t look at it that way, says Gabb.

“I think people panic, so I will say: break it into segments,” she explains. “Just focus on getting to the first five miles or focus when you’re taking your next gel. That’s the way I do it. That kind of mindset break it into segments and it’s just a lot easier.”

The other thing to be wary of is getting overtired at the start of the race. Ideally, the first two miles should be about 10 to 20 seconds lower than your average; an easy thing to forget in the heat of the moment.

“You need to get your body used to that pace and then you start going into it,” she says. “I would say always make sure you don’t go off too fast to start with: start slow and gradually build.

“Music helps. So, kind of going to the beat of the music. That’s a great way to pace yourself,” she adds.

Gabb recommends investing in a pace app, or a good old-fashioned pace band, to keep track of your speed. If you’re listening to music, it’s also important to find headphones that don’t fall out of your ears during the run itself. Beats have a great new Powerbeats Pro 2 earbud made for runners, which hooks over the ear and keeps everything cemented in place — a must for long runs.

Otherwise, Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds are also a good shout: they clip over the outside of the ear and rest on the conch, as opposed to within the actual ear canal. That means you can listen to music while also hearing what’s going on around you — which in turn means you can keep an ear out for friends and family who’ll motivate you to get to that finish line!

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DIY-fanatic builds supersized versions of everyday items

Published

24 minutes ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

He took on the supersized project following his retirement

A retired electrician who says “you can only cook and clean for so many hours” has earned himself the nickame “Mr Big Stuff” thanks to his new and rather unusual hobby. DIY-fanatic Steve Wainwright builds supersize versions of everyday household objects.

So far in Steve’s collection, he has made items including a giant pencil, cassette tape and a playing card. These usually palm-sized objects are made out of wood, metal and plastic and can take anywhere from three days to two weeks to complete.

Steve, 62, and from Stanground near Peterborough makes his models from a workshop at the bottom of his garden and has now made 20 different models, including a 1.5m tall Staedtler pencil and a 1m tall cassette tape.

He said: “I took on the role of a house husband as I retired before my wife. You can only cook and clean for so many hours so I decided I wanted to build something. I didn’t want to be bored in the house.

“I had a tape measure in my hand when I saw an electrical plug and I thought I could build that bigger. I settled on ten times the size as it’s easy maths but sometimes I do use a bit of artistic licence.

“Anything that will fit in the palm of my hand, I will give it a go – lipstick, screws, pencil sharpeners.”

Steve, who also worked with the ambulance service for 10 years, describes himself as a “maker of things”. He started building in his garage but soon moved into a £4k workshop which he built himself. His sculptures catch the eyes of those passing by, and he has also exhibited some items for charity.

He said: “From the male point of view, they’ll say ‘This is amazing!’ But from the female perspective, they usually ask where I could possibly keep everything. I’ve been asked to support charities and the blind find they can identify items by touch, especially with the original, smaller version alongside it. The public loves the pencils.”

Steve has made a table-sized retractable tape measure whic took two weeks to build, whilst the pencil sharpener took him three days. He has even sulpted giant keys – one shed and one Yale – and said he’d love to take them into Timpson.

Steve says that he thinks he has spent around £2.5k on the materials, but added: “It was never about the money. The joy of it would fade. People don’t appreciate the skills they have and look over just how capable they can be.”

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Coronation Street favourite says ‘I can’t do this anymore’ after exit news

Published

32 minutes ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Coronation Street favourite Debbie Webster, played by Sue Devaney, was dealt with heartbreak yet again on Easter Monday’s episode as she realised how she was being conned again

Coronation Street’s Debbie Webster appeared to disown her long-lost son on Easter Monday’s episode of the ITV soap. The hotelier, who is played by Sue Devaney, has only just been released from prison after winning an appeal off-screen after she took the blame for son Carl’s dangerous driving during the Emmerdale crossover.

Up until recently, Debbie was said to be Carl’s sister but she revealed the truth to him just before she was sent to prison. Back at work at the Chariot Square hotel Carl (Jonathan Howard) was soon up to his old tricks and asking Debbie to bail him out financially yet again. He claimed that he was £10,000 in debt to ruthless businesswoman Fiona (Sara Poyzer) yet again and she agreed to help him out, on the condition that he paid her back by working at the hotel.

Debbie, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia last year after producers confirmed that the much-loved character will be killed off at some point in the future, seemed to be happy to make this arrangement but her husband Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan) smelled a rat instantly.

OPINION

Ronnie is the former flame of Fiona, so had no qualms out calling her up to check on the situation. As he did this, Carl had been pestering Debbie to make the transfer all day and she fobbed him off with excuses about bank security checks causing a delay. When Ronnie turned up on the scene later that afternoon, Debbie said: “I know, Ronnie, you don’t approve of it, but once he’s paid off this debt, he can start afresh!”

Ronnie told Debbie: “I’ve just been to see Fiona. His debt was five grand. Not ten. He’s fleecing you. Five grand on the debt, and another five in his back pocket. He’s playing you, babe. “

Debbie was visibly heartbroken as the truth dawned on her as she turned to Carl and said: “After everything I’ve done for you?” On the verge of tears, she said: “Do you know what? We’re done! Camels and straws and all that etc. I can’t do this anymore, Carl. I can’t do it.”

Viewers will know that Carl is one of five potential murder victims, as teased in a flashforward that aired earlier this year. On April 23, fans will finally discover whether Carl, Jodie Ramsey, Maggie Driscoll, Megan Walsh, or Theo Silverton will be killed off.

Fans were thrilled that Debbie had finally seen the light, but some were concerned that Carl may be able to return to his ways once her condition deteriorates.

Taking to X, one fan said: “Debbie cutting Carl off now that she’s lucid but will he take advantage when she has a memory symptom? A part of me thinks Carl will ruin the hotel as retaliation thus ruining the #Swarla wedding but another part says if he ruins the hotel he won’t have a place to live. #Corrie.”

Another said: “I did love watching Debbie wash her hands of Carl. Let’s hope it sticks though,” whilst a third wrote: “Tell him Debbie,” and emblazoned their tweet with a clapping-hands emoji.

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A fourth said: “Debbie’s finally accepted that Carl is playing her. She’s known for a while, she’s been understanding, she’s forgiven him but he just keeps doing it & now she’s had enough!”

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X.

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ITV News viewers baffled as bulletin vanishes from air and channel issues apology

Published

38 minutes ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

ITV local news programmes suddenly disappeared off-air on Monday evening including bulletins from Northern Ireland

James Holt Senior Live and Breaking News Reporter and Karen Price Assistant Editor of Screen Time

20:16, 06 Apr 2026

ITV regional news broadcasts abruptly vanished from screens on Monday evening (April 6), prompting baffled viewers to flood social media asking ‘what’s going on?’.

Television sets displayed nothing but a static ITV News graphic as local news services experienced widespread disruption. Concerned viewers flocked to X to report the technical fault, which seemed to have knocked out Granada Reports throughout the North West region.

Additional reports suggested programmes in Northern Ireland, Yorkshire, and the West Country were also hit by the outage. The broadcaster’s other channels continued to operate without issue.

Local news bulletins on the flagship channel went dark across various parts of the nation, leaving audiences staring at animated regional studio logos, reports the Manchester Evening News.

One viewer wrote: “Looks like a full network breakdown on@ITV1 with no regional news bulletins across the whole of the UK including @GranadaReports and with them unable to return back to national for @ITVNews.

“What’s happened to the Granada tv region signal? Its frozen on the ITV news logo,” queried another, while a third asked: “ITV1 seems to be down. Just a massive ITV logo and the region name below. Supposed to be airing the news right now.

“What the hell is happening with the local news/ national news in Yorkshire area as nothing on ?” another questioned.

In a message posted on X, ITV Granada confirmed the broadcaster had been encountering technical difficulties. It stated: “Apologies to viewers tuning in for our bulletin this evening – ITV has been experiencing technical problems and is working hard to fix the technical issues.”

The issues with the ITV news programmes came days after it was reported that ITV was closing one of its biggest channels. The iconic CITV is reportedly shutting down for good after 42 years, with its last broadcast on ITV2 scheduled for April 10.

Having launched the careers of several well-known telly stars, including Stephen Mulhern, Holly Willoughby and Cat Deeley, the channel also aired much-loved shows, such as Art Attack with Neil Buchanan, Tots TV and Horrid Henry.

CITV officially closed in 2023, however a programming block showing all the classics launched on ITV2, so viewers could still get their fix. But now, it’s no more, with the channel reportedly being shut down for good.

Announcing the news of the CITV’s demise this week, a social media account said: “This really means the end of the iconic CITV brand that’s been around for 42 years. Farewell CITV, this time for real.”

However, revealing that some of the shows would be picked up by CBBC while the rest will be under ITVX Kids, the post continued: “CBBC will have some of CITV’s programming while the rest will be under ITVX Kids.”

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Figures reveal number of PSNI officers dismissed for sexual misconduct

Published

46 minutes ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

An independent review recently found “clear evidence of sexism and misogyny within the PSNI”

20:23, 06 Apr 2026

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request reveal the number of PSNI officers dismissed due to sexual misconduct in the past 10 years.

It comes as the Chief Constable pledged last week to take action after an independent review found “clear evidence of sexism and misogyny within the PSNI“.

The FOI request to the PSNI asked for the numbers of officers dismissed due to sexual misconduct. It found that from the start of the 2015 financial year, there has been 26 officers dismissed, with the majority of these dismissals taking place within the last five years.

There has been 26 officers dismissed for sexual misconduct in the last 10 financial years:

2015 to 2020 – Total 3 officers
2021 to 2025 – Total 23 officers

The PSNI “made the decision to withhold the year by year breakdown requested as this information could lead to the identification of individual officers”.

In the Chief Constable’s accountability report for April, he addressed some of the recent misconduct cases he has chaired with officers being dismissed without notice for incident which included misogyny, inappropriate sexual relationships, misogyny, domestic abuse and sexual assault.

It said: “In 2024, I chaired eleven special case hearings to consider alleged misconduct of officers, nine of which resulted in dismissal without notice, one final written warning and one reduction in rank. One of these hearings related to an inappropriate sexual relationship with a person the officer met on duty. He was dismissed without notice.

“In 2025, I oversaw a further eleven special case hearings, all resulting in dismissal without notice. Of these cases, six involved elements of misogyny. Four related to inappropriate messaging, one involved domestic abuse and one followed a criminal conviction for two counts of sexual assault on a colleague.

“So far in 2026, I have overseen two special case hearings where both officers were dismissed without notice. One related to gross indecency and the other related to domestic abuse. We will continue to work closely with the Police Ombudsman and other partners to ensure robust prevention, early identification and decisive action. Where standards fall short, we will act.”

Last week Chief Constable Jon Boutcher addressed the Policing Board following the publication of an independent review by Rachel Langdale KC that he had requested. It looked at the PSNI’s response to violence against women and girls along with the culture within the force itself.

The review found “clear evidence of sexism and misogyny within the PSNI” and that its misconduct process was “flawed”.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: “The review recognises a number of positive developments and the significant work already undertaken by officers and staff. It also identifies areas where further improvement is required. I have accepted all the recommendations in full and am committed to building on the progress already made.

“We are developing a refreshed and updated Violence Against Women and Children Action Plan, where the recommendations from this review will be included, setting out our clear priorities, responsibilities and timescales for delivery. Robust governance arrangements will continue to ensure senior oversight and sustained implementation of the recommendations. We will also report to the Northern Ireland Policing Board on our progress.

“The review was commissioned as an assurance exercise to inform improvement and strengthen operational delivery. In commissioning the report, particular care was taken to ensure that it remained an internal report. This approach was adopted to create a safe and trusted environment for those contributing, allowing individuals to speak openly and candidly without fear of identification or adverse consequence. This, in turn, enabled the most honest and constructive insights to emerge. We are committed to acting on its findings and to demonstrating measurable progress in the areas identified.

“I am sharing the foreword and recommendations at this stage to provide visibility of the key findings and proposed actions arising from the review. These elements capture the overarching themes and intended direction of travel for the organisation as we continue to seek to learn and improve systems and processes.

“Our focus remains on delivering the highest standards of policing for the communities we serve and maintaining public confidence through continuous improvement and accountability. I thank Rachel Langdale KC and her team for their approach to this report and for her honest assessment of our systems processes and culture.”

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Mikel Arteta hits back at Arsenal’s critics with firm message before Sporting clash

Published

52 minutes ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Arsenal are looking to bounce back from back-to-back damaging defeats in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup when they take on Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter finals

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will not allow “panic” to creep in with their whole season hanging in the balance.

Gunners boss Arteta says his players are “hungrier than ever” to save their season from collapse ahead of their Champions League quarter final showdown with Sporting Lisbon. Arsenal have suffered back-to-back defeats in the Carabao Cup final and then crashed out of the FA Cup at Southampton on Saturday to turn up the heat on Arteta’s men.

But Arteta says Arsenal are ready for the challenge of their lives as the Premier League leaders face Sporting on Tuesday night and then a crunch showdown with Bournemouth on Saturday. Arteta said: “I think what we have to do is clear, instead of panic, understand if that happens, why it happened and bring clarity.

“And when you analyse that and you accept that, you’ll be better. That’s it, and that’s the thing that we have to do. We are hungrier than ever, very excited and very motivated. Feel the pain, use it to improve.

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“I know what it means to them and I know how much they want it. It’s now the moment to show it, and we have to do it on that green tomorrow at the highest level. I think when you have the opportunity that we have, that has to be taken through excitement, through preparing yourself in the best possible way, focusing on the present and on the things that we have to do.

“And especially in our identity, it’s very clear what is taking us on the way to where we are, and that’s where we have to focus.”

Arteta insists the players can handle the pressure – because they have had their mentality questioned since the first day of the season. He added: “That’s in football, from the first game of the season. That’s going to be questioned. It’s okay, what about Arsenal this season? It’s been like this for the last nine months, and that’s going to continue; that’s never going to change when you play at this level for this club.

“There’s always going to be a question mark. You have to live the present; you have to deliver it every day. You cannot pick the game, you cannot pick the moments or the actions. It’s every action, every game, every moment. And that’s the standard that we set and that’s part of identity and it’s part of this football club.”

Arsenal have been boosted by the return of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard to the squad to face Sporting, Gabriel is also fit while Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber could be fit to face Bournemouth.

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How long is I’m a Celeb South Africa 2026 on TV for?

Published

1 hour ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

How long is I'm a Celeb South Africa 2026 on TV for?

The spin-off switches locations from the Australian jungle to the African savannah, and has only aired on one previous occasion.

Featuring previous contestants from the original programme, the all-stars version was reportedly made in case the production was unable to return to Australia due to to Covid restrictions.

Filming for the first South Africa series took place in July 2022, but was not needed as a backup, with the show being able to return to Australia in November of that year.

ITV then decided to broadcast the spin-off in April and May of 2023.

After a gap of three years, it has now returned, with it having been pre-recorded in September 2025.

How long will I’m A Celeb South Africa 2026 be on TV for?

I’m A Celebrity South Africa’s first episode will air on Monday, April 6 and is set to conclude on Friday, April 24.

For those three weeks of airing, it will be broadcast on weeknights, with it taking a break on weekends.

In most cases, episodes will start at 9pm, with the finish times varying.

I’m A Celebrity South Africa lineup 2026

The line-up for I’m A Celebrity South Africa’s second series is:

Former football manager Harry Redknapp
Reality star Gemma Collins
Soap actress Beverley Callard
Olympian Sir Mo Farah
Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt
Champion boxer David Haye
Actor Adam Thomas
Former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts
Comedian Seann Walsh
Pop star Sinitta
Red Dwarf star Craig Charles
Ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard

Scarlett Moffatt and Harry Redknapp performed the best on the original show out of the contestants, winning their respective series in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

Other strong performers from the original show include Ashley Roberts, who was runner-up in 2012.

Meanwhile, Adam Thomas earned third place in 2016, which was the same placing David Haye got in 2012.

Mo Farah and Seann Walsh came in fifth place in 2020 and 2022, respectively.

I’m A Celeb South Africa final to be aired live

In a change from the first series, the final of I’m a Celeb South Africa will be aired live on Friday, April 24.

The Radio Times shares that rather than making the 12-hour flight back to Africa, the entire celebrity cast will instead gather in a UK studio.

Recommended reading:

From here, the public will be able to vote to crown this year’s I’m a Celebrity Legend.

Discussing the change, Ant & Dec said: “It’s going to be here in the UK, live on the television.

“We’re going to get all the cast back, we’ll have the finalists in the studio.

“It’ll be a live vote like we do in Australia and the public will decide their Legend.”

Will you be watching I’m A Celeb South Africa? Let us know in the comments.

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Why Gemma Collins quit original I’m A Celeb after 72hrs as she returns for All Stars

Published

1 hour ago

6 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Gemma Collins will join 11 other I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here Allstars for a round in the South African jungle

20:07, 06 Apr 2026Updated 20:17, 06 Apr 2026

Gemma Collins is one of the most prolific Essex stars ever. With her signature blonde locks and bodacious attitude, the 45-year-old is back on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here: South Africa All Stars. The second series of the ITV spin-off, which features some of the show’s most memorable campmates, is set to launch on Monday, April 6.

When was Gemma on I’m A Celebrity?

After being on the show on the 14th series in 2014, but subsequently quit three days into the show due to a bout of Malaria, the TOWIE icon, known as the GC, is returning and hoping everything would be “different a second time”.

“I’d be like Lara Croft and Angelina Jolie rolled into one, and I’d do the tasks,” she said. I’m not scared of anything. Hopefully one day the producers may give me another chance.”

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will join the returning stars in the South African jungle for some of the biggest trials in I’m A Celebrity … history.

Who is Gemma Collins?

Gemma is known for her time on The Only Way Is Essex from 2011 to 2020. She joined the show during its second series alongside Chloe Sims and Joey Essex. Her time on the show was a whirlwind of relationships, including a close friendship with former castmate Bobby Norris and Ferne McCann.

Now, she is one of 12 stars signed up for a series of brand new trials and challenges in the South African wilderness. She’ll join Adam Thomas , Ashley Roberts, Scarlett Moffatt, David Haye, Beverley Callard, Seann Walsh , Sinitta, Sir Mo Farah, Craig Charles, Jimmy Bullard and Harry Redknapp in the Kruger National Park, home to black mambas, spitting cobras, spiders, scorpions, baboons, hippos, hyenas and leopards.

Speaking in the promo video, Gemma said of the last time she was in the jungle: “It was all a bit too much, to be honest. This is a far cry away from Essex.”

What did Gemma Collins do on I’m A Celebrity?

“It was like I’d committed a murder,” says Gemma of her first jungle experience. “I stepped off the plane and Good Morning Britain was there. I’ve never lived it down. I felt like the woman from Game Of Thrones who has to walk through the streets naked.”

Gemma stayed in the jungle for 72 hours but after not being able to handle the jungle conditions (who would?!), she suffered a panic attack the night before filming began and decided to leave.

Now, Gemma is ready to face whatever the jungle throws at her. The star will be leaving her family, friends, partner Rami and stepson Tristan behind as she faces the trials. Will they be watching and voting for her?

“I did cry for about an hour into the plane journey because I was scared,” says Gemma. “It brought back a lot of deep-rooted trauma from the past.”

Will she last longer than the first time around? We can only hope. We’re rooting for you GC.

I’M A CELEBRITY…SOUTH AFRICA RETURNS MONDAY 6TH APRIL AT 9PM ON ITV1 & STV

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