When there’s a major crisis in the UK, you may hear the name Cobra being mentioned in the news.

It sounds very ominous – and to a large extent it is, when you find out more about why Cobra meetings are held.

They’re essentially emergency briefings which are called when there’s a national or regional crisis, or during events abroad with major implications for the UK.

The name comes from where these meetings are held – in the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms, which can be abbreviated to COBR.

You might be able to tell where this is going – one of the rooms is designated the letter A, leading to the handy acronym Cobra.

The rooms are located at 70 Whitehall, which is the Cabinet Office main headquarters just behind 10 Downing Street.

There has only been one – rather blurry – photo released of Briefing Room A, which was sent out after a Freedom of Information Request in 2010.

Those involved in briefings can include security and intelligence officials, civil servants, military chiefs, senior government ministers and leaders of emergency services, depending on what sort of crisis has taken place.

The Prime Minister will usually chair Cobra meetings, especially if the crisis at hand is more severe. However, this isn’t necessary, and another person can be nominated to chair.

It is roughly equivalent to the White House Situation Room, which became famous during the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011.

A meeting was first called to respond to the miners’ strike of 1972, and has since covered events including 7/7, the Paris attacks, the 2017 Westminster attacks, and the Covid pandemic.

Among the more recent Cobra meetings was prompted by the Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites last year, which led to the so-called Twelve-Day War.

Iran was to be the focus of a Cobra meeting again today, with Keir Starmer gathering ministers and officials to discuss the conflict in the Middle East.

Measures to keep fuel prices affordable and avoid an escalation in the cost-of-living crisis would likely be discussed.

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Klevi and Nivalda Pirjani were jailed for life after murdering their tiny son Miguel Pirjani in November 2024 after being “systematically abused” by his parents

This is the harrowing moment a couple were arrested after murdering their 13-week-old baby.

Klevi and Nivalda Pirjani were jailed for life after murdering their tiny son Miguel Pirjani in November 2024 after being “systematically abused” by his parents. Police have now revealed shocking bodycam footage showing the sick parents’ attempts to feign ignorance over the murder.

The video also included the 999 emergency call, where it was revealed the baby had stopped breathing, and had already starting turning a different colour. Mum Nivalda Pirjani tried to appear confused when police told her the baby had a fractured skull, whereas dad Klevi burst into tears on the floor.

Little Miguel was left with numerous broken bones and a bleed on the brain, after being subjected to repeated assaults during his short life. The husband and wife later blamed one another for his death, with the mum claiming the dad had “lost control” before headbutting and kicking their son.

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Both were sentenced to life in prison earlier today at Liverpool Crown Court. Nivaldi Pirjani was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of at least 15 years and three months behind bars.

Klevi was told he must serve at least 19 years before having any chance of release. He appeared to be wiping away tears as he learned his fate, closing his eyes and hanging his head at one stage before taking of his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

Nivalda meanwhile showed no reaction, sitting with her arms folded as she was jailed for life. Klevi also looked to his left towards his wife at once stage before he was taken down to the cells, while she remained facing forwards.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Baker, the High Court judge who presided over their trial, told them: “The best of medical science could not save Miguel Pirjani. He died from the irreversible effects of severe trauma to the head and neck.

“Migel was 13-and-a-half weeks old when he died. You were his parents, and you killed him by what must have been an act of appalling violence, intending him to suffer really serious harm. It is possible that you intended to kill him to be rid of him, but I am not sure that was your intention.

“I am sure that the fatal trauma Miguel suffered involved a heavy blow or series of blows to the right side of his head. Precisely how that was inflicted, I cannot say. Whether there was a single blow to head or several, I cannot say.

“Whether Miguel’s head was battered onto a hard surface or some blunt object was battered onto his head, I cannot say. I cannot even say which of you did that. I think it is more probable that it was you Klevi.

“I cannot say precisely when or how Miguel was fatally battered or even be sure about which of you fatally battered him. Only you two know. You have chosen not to tell anyone. What exactly happened to Miguel that morning remains the guilty secret of a warped relationship where you came first to one another. The interest of Team Klevi and Nivalda came first.

“The jury were sure it was encouraged by the other of you, both of you intending Miguel to suffer at least grievous bodily harm. The fatal assault was not a one off incident that came out of the blue.

“There must have been an escalation in the violence against Miguel in the final few days, culminating in the assault on the 24th of November. It did not matter which of you launched the final fatal assault. You were in this together, encouraging each other and intending that defenceless infant boy to suffer really serious harm.

“It was an abuse of power and gross abuse of trust of the bond between a baby and parents. I consider there to be no mitigation available to you Klevi. I acknowledge the difficult start you had in life, affected by armed conflict and the deaths of your father and young sister. However, I do not believe that offers any reason to reduce the sentence.

“In your case Nivalda, you were of previous good character. You were suffering from post natal depression and estranged from your own family.

You have shown a measure of remorse through your parting words to Miguel and through some of what you said to the jury. That is rendered a little shallow by your determination to fight your trial, which extended to trying to limit your criminal responsibility.”

Localist – The Food Merchant, based in East Kilbride, launched in 1994 (as Food From Scotland Ltd) with the aim of helping independent food businesses in Scotland grow.

Over the years, the company has expanded and begun helping local food suppliers across the UK get their products to major retailers, including Morrisons, Co-op, and Waitrose, and food services.

Localist delivered 4,000 products per week to more than 2,500 retail stores and 1,000 contract catering units, according to The Grocer.

Co-op was one of the major retailers Localist – The Food Merchant used to provide products to. (Image: PA)

The company changed its name to Enterprise Foods Ltd in 2001, before rebranding again in 2025 to Localist – The Food Merchant.

Localist – The Food Merchant shuts down after entering liquidation

Now, after 32 years, Localist – The Food Merchant has ceased trading after entering liquidation, according to Companies House.

The closure of the wholesaler has resulted in the loss of 71 jobs.

George Lafferty of BTG was appointed liquidator by Hamilton Sheriff Court on March 18.

Managing partner of BTG in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Thomas McKay, speaking to the Glasgow Times, said: “The directors had made efforts to restructure the debt of the company in order to save the business and rescue the jobs, and the loss of the jobs was sadly inevitable when this was not successful.

“There are many small suppliers to the business that are owed money, and the loss of this route to market will also have a serious knock-on effect on these food producers as well. 

“We are working to assess all claims and establish whether there will be any dividend paid to unsecured creditors, but it is not likely to be significant, given the level of secured debts in the business.

“Regrettably, the failure of the company has resulted in 71 redundancies and we are working closely with those affected to help them access the financial entitlements and support available to them, including assistance from Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) and the Redundancy Payments Service.

“Our priorities now include ensuring these employees receive the guidance and advice they need during this process, and that we maximise the return from the sale of assets to the benefit of creditors.”

Turbulent start to 2026 for UK high street

It has been a rough start to 2026 for the UK high street, with several retailers entering administration and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street retailers, including River Island, Primark, and Poundland, have already been forced to close stores in 2026, while Revolution and BrewDog have shut the doors to 21 and 38 pubs, respectively.

Several other retailers have fallen into administration recently, including:

Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have closed in the opening weeks of 2026:

EcoJet Airlines, billed as “the world’s first Electric Airline”, has also entered liquidation after just three years, resulting in the cancellation of all planned flights.

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out over the coming months after being acquired by InPost.

Tesco also recently revealed plans to cut 380 jobs in stores across the UK, while it’s been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Which of these recent insolvencies or closures has affected you the most? Let us know in the comments below.

Bonus points caught some flak at the end of the Six Nations.

Had champions France drawn their high-scoring game against England in the final round, rather than winning it by one point, they would have finished top of the standings despite having won one fewer match than second-placed Ireland.

However, the concept came good at the end of Leicester’s win over Bristol on Sunday.

With the clock in the red, Leicester 28-19 up and each team having scored three tries, the Bears were attacking hard deep inside the host’s half.

Bristol couldn’t win the game, but a try would deliver them two bonus points and keep them within one of Leicester in the table and the race for a top-four finish.

When replacement Tigers’ hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas turned over the ball, it seemed Leicester would take the money and kick to touch.

Their coach Geoff Parling certainly thought so.

“Could you not hear me at the end? I wanted us to kick it off,” he said later.

Instead, despite the rest of the backline standing flat and fatigued and the left-hand touchline invitingly close, Izaia Perese flung a long pass the other way.

Freddie Steward caught it, kicked a pinpoint bomb across to Billy Searle, who fed inside to Gabriel Hamer-Webb to streak in to secure Leicester’s own four-try bonus.

It was a sensational finish.

Bea Pollard has made quite an impression on EastEnders fans since rocking up in the Square earlier this year, introduced as an old acquaintance of Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

The newcomer made a memorable and uncomfortable entrance in January when she encountered Linda at a high school reunion.

Having only recently returned to Walford at the time, Linda was clearly unsettled by the idea of revisiting her past, and she even considered pulling out altogether.

However, her mum, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) was determined not to let her hide away, convincing Linda that she needs to get herself out there.

Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) was left thrilled at the prospect of attending the reunion and eagerly volunteered to go along for moral support and a night out.

Together, Linda and Honey headed to the event, but things quickly take an unexpected turn when Bea rocked up – and this led to a series of events in the months since as Bea will and truly made her presence felt.

Who is Bea in EastEnders?

Bea is an old school friend of Linda’s. Her debut appearance came in January when Linda improvised at the school reunion and handed Honey a name tag which said ‘Bea’ to get her into the event.

The real Bea Pollard subsequently turned up at the reunion, exposing the lie and setting the stage for an explosive confrontation.

Bea struck up a conversation with Honey, she began to share her version of events from their school days, and it paints a very different picture of Linda to the one viewers might expect.

According to Bea, Linda was far from innocent at school and allegedly bullied her, a claim that leaves Honey shocked and Linda visibly rattled. It’s clear that Bea and Linda remember their past very differently, and the uncomfortable exchange forces Linda to confront aspects of her younger self that she’d rather forget.

Though Linda disputed her version of events, she decided that she should make amends for what Bea felt during their time at high school and thus invited her to stay at Peacock Palace after she was kicked out of her home.

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Bea was thrilled but it soon became clear that there was more to her than meets the eye.

After feeling like she was getting under Elaine’s feet, she decided to move out of the B&B, instead taking up residence at Honey’s home while she, Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) and the kids headed away on a trip.

Billy returned home last week and found Bea’s presence unsettling as she grew closer to the Janet and Will. When Honey returns home this week, the situation escalates further, making for some intense scenes along the way.

Who plays Bea in EastEnders?

Bea Pollard is played by Ronni Ancona, a hugely recognisable face to British TV audiences.

Best known for her work on sketch shows such as ‘The Big Impression’, Ronni has built a career on sharp comedy, uncanny impressions, and memorable character performances. She’s also appeared in hit series, including Still Game and Skins, making her a familiar and respected figure across the industry.

Ronni’s casting was announced in early December, when it was revealed she would be joining EastEnders for a short stint as Bea, one of Linda Carter’s old school acquaintances.

Initial details were deliberately vague, teasing that Bea and Linda would come face-to-face at a high school reunion in the new year, with hints that their shared history wasn’t as straightforward as it first appeared.

At the time of the announcement, Ronni said: ‘I am honoured to have been invited to join the iconic institution that is EastEnders, and to go on this whirlwind of a journey with such an unpredictable, nuanced and complex character as Bea. I hope audiences have as much fun watching her as I have had bringing her to life.’

This role marks Ronni’s first appearance on EastEnders, but the soap holds a special place in her career history. She famously spoofed the show and its characters in sketch shows, including a well-known parody filmed on the very bench in Albert Square where her first EastEnders scene takes place.

‘Stepping onto the actual set for the first time was an especially strange experience,’ Ronni admitted. ‘My first scene was on the bench in the middle of Albert Square, exactly where Alastair and I once filmed our sketch The Bench of Tears.

She also shared a surreal moment filming inside The Queen Vic, recalling her much-loved impression of the late Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell. ‘I couldn’t help remembering my impression of Peggy, which mostly involved me shuffling around on my knees in padded knee guards because Barbara was so much shorter than I am,’ she laughed.

Thankfully, the current cast have embraced her arrival, with Ronni revealing that Jessie Wallace even did Ronni’s own impression of Kat Slater back to her on set.

As for what’s next, Ronni has teased that viewers should expect ‘lots of twists and turns and lots of unexpected developments’ as Bea settles into life in Walford.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

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The expansion by VetMedi.co.uk aims to meet a growing demand for affordable pet healthcare.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate accredited dispensary has recently created three jobs, with further rolers in dispensary, warehouse and office teams expected in the coming year.

The new premises allows the online pharmacy, founded in 2021, to triple its daily order capacity. More storage space and better vehicle access will help fuel future growth.

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Dr Charlotte Inness of VetMedi UK reaches £1m milestone

This comes has the company reports 85% year-on-year growth in medicine sales as pet owners seek better value during the cost-of-living crisis.

Founded by North Yorkshire veterinarian Dr. Charlotte Inness, the business has transitioned from a home-run operation into a million-pound enterprise.

After hitting the seven-figure mark in just its second year of trading in 2023, VetMedi continues its upward trajectory, with revenues projected to reach £8million in 2026.

Today, VetMedi operates a nationwide digital platform delivering prescription veterinary medicines, nutrition and supplements and health supplies directly to doorsteps across the UK. This is complemented by a local dispensary, providing a personal touch and immediate service for the local community.

VetMedi founder Dr Charlotte Inness said: “Moving to our new space in Sutton-on-the-Forest was the natural next step in our journey. We are incredibly proud of our Yorkshire roots. These larger premises allow us to deliver expert support not only to our local community, but to a rapidly expanding customer base nationwide.”

Dr. Inness – whose 14 year veterinary career has seen her care for animals in the UK and Australia – added: “Looking back at how VetMedi started at a kitchen table, progressed to a garage, and has now moved into this professional office space and dedicated warehouse, it feels like an absolute privilege.”

“It is particularly rewarding to know we are providing a vital service. While we are a national player, we remain committed to our local customers, offering a fast delivery service and the option to collect directly from our premises to save on postage and further reduce growing animal veterinary care costs.”

Amid widespread rumours about a shake-up ahead of this year’s season of Strictly, The Sun published a piece over the weekend claiming that the spin-off show’s presenters Janette Manrara and Fleur East were being “axed” in further changes to the franchise.

However, a spokesperson for the show has now issued a statement to Metro refuting this version of events.

“It is factually incorrect to claim that either [Janette or Fleur] has been ‘axed’,” they said, adding that “plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course”.

Janette was previously a Strictly pro for eight seasons before landing the role as host of It Takes Two in 2021.

After two seasons co-hosting with Rylan Clark, he was replaced by former Strictly contestant Fleur.

Karen told her Instagram followers over the weekend: “After 14 years on Strictly Come Dancing, I’ve decided this is the right time for me to close this chapter and take on new projects in other areas that I’m passionate about.

“Strictly completely changed my life, not only as a performer and a teacher, but as a human being. I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people, and brilliant celebrity partners who have become close friends and people I admire so much.”

What are “reverse lunges”?

Why are they easier on the knees?

How do I do a “reverse lunge”?

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After what feels like centuries of grim, wet winter; spring has finally sprung (meteorological spring started on 1 March).

The weather seems to have gotten the memo, with sightings of the sun already starting to transform the mental wellbeing of people up and down the nation – including yours truly.

At the beginning of the season, however, the transitional weather can be particularly hard to predict. You might leave the house feeling pretty chilly, start sweating on your lunch break, and be back to seeing your breath again by sunset.

The key to dressing right for the season is by layering, but it doesn’t have to be all function, no fashion.

Here’s a list of some of the best (and most chic) layerable buys on the high street to get you started.