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Vernon Kay surprise visit to Greenhalgh’s in Horwich

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Vernon Kay surprise visit to Greenhalgh’s in Horwich

Greenhalgh’s Craft Bakery in Horwich welcomed the Bolton-born television and radio presenter on March 4, as he stopped by his local shop for a quick catch-up and no doubt a tasty treat or two.

The Bolton-born star, who grew up in Horwich, made the day of staff members Jackie and Natalie, the shop’s mother-and-daughter team, who were “all smiles” as they grabbed a quick selfie with the presenter.

The Greenhalgh’s bakery said: “It was a brilliant surprise to see Vernon pop into our Chorley New Road shop!

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“As a proud Boltonian, he clearly knows best where to come for his pie fix.”

Sharing the moment on social media, the bakery added: “Look who popped into our Horwich shop yesterday!

“Thanks for stopping by, Vernon!”

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Vernon Kay is best known for presenting popular television shows, including All Star Family Fortunes and Beat the Star, as well as hosting programmes on BBC Radio 2.

Greenhalgh’s is a favourite across the borough, offering a wide range of award-winning and freshly baked goods, from multi-portion pies and bespoke celebration cakes to fan-favourite pasties.

The family-run business has grown into one of the largest employers in the Bolton area, with around 950 staff and 59 retail shops.

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Blake House offers female entrepreneur free workspace

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Blake House offers female entrepreneur free workspace

Blake House, run by an all-female team, has launched the competition to give one York-based woman the environment and community to help accelerate her business.

The winner will receive a dedicated desk for six months in Blake House’s tranquil 13-desk coworking studio – an intentionally small workspace designed to create a genuine business community, promising a calm and focused alternative to the large, impersonal workspaces that many entrepreneurs reportedly experience.

Since opening its doors on Blake Street in 2011, Blake House has consistently attracted a higher-than-average number of female founders, freelancers and business owners. It has since become home to a vibrant community of women building businesses across a wide range of sectors.

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Wendy Tunnicliffe, founder of Blake House, said: “We’ve always had an incredible number of women building their businesses at Blake House. And we love the fact we are an all-female team here. International Women’s Day felt like the perfect opportunity to give one local entrepreneur a genuine boost.”

“Running a business can feel isolating. The right environment makes a huge difference. Keeping things small, independent and local – people really get to know each other..”

“We hope this opportunity gives one woman the space and confidence to take her next step.”

Wendy Tunnicliffe and manager Jessica Boyes

The competition is open to York-based female entrepreneurs, freelancers and start-ups – whether newly launched or already established, who would benefit from a professional workspace and supportive business community.

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The winner will receive:

• A dedicated private desk in Blake House’s design-led studio (worth £1,500)

• Access to a supportive business community

• Promotion of their business through Blake House’s network and social media

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Entries open ahead of International Women’s Day and close on March 27.Apply via: blakehouse.co.uk/IWD

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World Book Day Bolton – best costumes from children

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World Book Day Bolton - best costumes from children

From the weird and the wacky to the downright scary, lets take a look back at some of the best costumes we saw this World Book Day.

The spookiest

First in our list of spooky costumes is this Wednesday Addams from Lillie-Louise, aged 6.

Lillie-Louise, 6, looking spooky as Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family (Image: Rebecca Leigh)

We had several submissions from characters playing villains this year – for example this menacing Ms. Trunchbull from Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

Aria-Rose, 7, as Ms. Trunchbull from the legendary Roald Dahl book/film Matilda (Image: Laura Roscoe)

Then there was this incredible face-paint job from Lennox McCarthy, 9, who adopted the role as the monster from Stranger Things.

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Lennox McCarthy, 9, looking scary as the monster from Stranger Things (Image: Gill Ramsden)

Wizard of Oz

Wizard of Oz costumes were a popular choice this year, with Dorothys and Tin Men galore.

Joshua, 10, Jaxson, 6, Lila, 4 as Lion, Dorothy, and Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz (Image: Laura Satti)

Diellza Elara, 4, also dressed as Dorothy, with a little Toto in her basket.

Diellza Elara, 4, as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz (Image: Chesca Cristina Marone)

And Willow, 10, as Glinda the Good.

Willow, 10, sparkling as Glinda The Good from The Wizard of Oz (Image: Elizabeth Gannon)

Harry Potter

As always, Harry Potter was a popular theme for this year’s World Book Day.

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Lula-Rae Boardman, 8, as Ginny Weasley from Harry Potter (Image: Shauny Gregory)

Fellow wand-wielder Charlotte, aged 4, went as Hermione.

Charlotte, 4, as Hermione Granger with knitted owl and wand (Image: Hayley Beys)

Modern

While many youngsters stuck to the tried-and-true classics, some dressed up as characters of a more modern stripe.

Patrick, 6, as Donut from Donut Squad (Image: Red Arsc)

Stickman was a popular character this year, from the popular book by Julia Donaldson.

Reggie, 5, as the popular Stickman character from the book by Julia Donaldson (Image: Cerise Campbell)

A were the Gangster Grandparents from David Walliams’ smash hit book series’.

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Alfie, 8, in his fantastic ‘Gangster Grandpa’ costume (Image: Katie Smith)

Classics

But this isn’t to say the classics of children’s fiction and fairytale – Roald Dahl, Dr Seuss – weren’t also well represented

Ralph,7, in his very detailed Cat in the Hat costume (Image: Alex McKeown)

TWO Willy Wonkas here from Freddie, 6, and Junior, 4.

Freddie aged 6 and junior aged 4 both dressed up as Willy Wonka (Image: Brogan Grundy)

And an Orphan Annie from the classic musical.

Harmony-Grace as Orphan Annie (Image: Anne Kendall)

Or the fairytale Red Riding Hood.

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Freya, 8, as Little Red Riding Hood (Image: Laura Sheehy)

Or William Neagle here as perennial children’s favourite Mr Bean.

William Neagle, 5, as Mr Bean, complete with sharpie-drawn mole and teddy bear (Image: Steff Marie Owen)

Creative

Some outfits were especially creative – either in theme or in execution.

Like this Lewis Hamilton, which came with its very own car.

Albie, 5, as Lewis Hamilton (Image: Chloe Atherton)

Or Imogen Allen’s Alice from Alice in Wonderland combined with the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

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Imogen Allen, 9, as Alice AND the Mad Hatter’s tea party all in one! (Image: Charlotte Allen)

Or Daisy, who chose to dress up not as a fictional character but as legendary fashion icon Coco Chanel.

Daisy, 7, looking chic as Coco Chanel (Image: Vicky Alice)

Even the adults got involved!

Alissa, Grace & Isabell age 7 & their teachers from Tonge Moor Academy (Image: Demi Morris)

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Markwayne Mullin describes frantic pace of Trump call to replace Noem as DHS chief: ‘Need to tell my wife first’

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MAGA senator Markwayne Mullin slammed online after describing ‘smell of war’ when he’s never served in the military

Markwayne Mullin’s first inkling that he was about to be offered a Cabinet post came with a call from the White House switchboard that the first-term Oklahoma senator was not at all expecting.

Speaking to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday just minutes after President Donald Trump announced that he’d be tapped to lead the Department of Homeland Security, the MAGA loyalist called the news “a little bit of a surprise” but then said he wasn’t headed directly to the White House.

“Need to talk to my wife first,” the hulking one-time MMA fighter told reporters.

Mullin added that he and Trump “have a really good relationship” and “talk all the time,” and said he was “super excited” to get the massive department “working for the American people.”

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“The Department of Homeland Security very broad jurisdiction, and Ithink there is a lot of work that we need to do and I am excited,” he said.

The president’s choice of Mullin to replace the embattled Noem will put a first-term senator with just an associate’s degree in charge of a sprawling bureaucracy encompassing everything from airport security to disaster response to the United States Coast Guard.

Mullin, 48, has served in the upper chamber since 2023 after a decade-long career representing the Sooner State’s first Congressional district in the House of Representatives. His committee assignments include the Armed Services Committee, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the Committee on Indian Affairs and the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

He is currently the only sitting senator who lacks a Bachelor’s degree and he has no meaningful experience with the labyrinthine department he will soon lead. And while he is known to be a full-throated supporter of Trump’s immigration policies, he is not from a border state and has no real experience dealing with immigration issues.

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Mullin has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee since his election to the upper chamber

Mullin has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee since his election to the upper chamber (AFP/Getty)

His political career began when he successfully ran for a House seat left open by the retirement of former Representative Dan Boren in 2012.

At the time, he hosted a syndicated home improvement show on a Tulsa radio station and ran an eponymous plumbing company, Mullin Plumbing, as well as other family-owned real estate and farm operations.

An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin also had a brief but undefeated career as a mixed martial arts professional in the Xtreme Fighting League, recording one technical knockout victory in 2007 and two victories by submission in 2006 and 2007.

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He spent his House career as a backbencher but gained a measure of attention during the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol when he and two other House members helped police barricade the House chamber doors against a riotous mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters.

When he and other members were leaving the chamber to shelter at a secure location during the attack, he witnessed a U.S. Capitol Police lieutenant shoot a pro-Trump rioter, Ashli Babbit, as she tried to climb through a locked door into a secure portion of the Capitol near the chamber.

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) (L) greets Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg before he testifies to the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill April 11, 2018 in Washington, DC

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) (L) greets Facebook co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg before he testifies to the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill April 11, 2018 in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

He later told ABC News that the officer “didn’t have a choice” to shoot her.

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“The mob was going to come through the door, there was a lot of members and staff that were in danger at the time. And when he [drew] his weapon, that’s a decision that’s very hard for anyone to make and, once you draw your weapon like that, you have to defend yourself with deadly force,” he said.

Mullin later added that the officer’s actions “saved people’s lives.”

When then-Senator Jim Inhofe announced his retirement in February 2022, Mullin entered and won a special election to serve out the remaining three years of his term starting in January 2023.

He quickly made his mark in the upper chamber as a full-throated supporter of Trump’s MAGA movement who wasn’t afraid to tangle with detractors — rhetorically or otherwise.

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In one now-infamous exchange, he accused Teamsters president Sean O’Brien of “intimidation” during a Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee hearing on a Democratic-backed labor organizing bill.

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He claimed the Teamsters forced union members to pay dues and complained about an attempt by union organizers to establish a union at his former plumbing business.

After Mullin pressed O’Brien about his salary compared to that of a UPS driver, O’Brien called the query “out of line” to which Mullin replied: “Shut your mouth.”

The Teamsters boss called Mullin a “greedy CEO” and mock him as a “tough guy.”

Months later, Mullin clashed with O’Brien again during a second appearance before the HELP panel when he challenged the Teamsters leader to a fight after reading a tweet in which O’Brien had called him a “cowboy” and invited him to find him “anyplace, anytime.”

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Mullin said: “You want to run your mouth? We can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here.”

The confrontation ended when then-HELP Committee Chair Bernie Sanders told him to “sit down” and reminded him that he was a United States Senator.

In the years since, Mullin has maintained his reputation as a rhetorical brawler with frequent appearances on cable news, even on channels which most Republicans tend to avoid.

His constant presence on television as a defender of Trump endeared him to the president, who according to White House officials “loves” watching him on cable news.

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Police issue update after man, 19, suffers ‘life-changing’ injuries in Rochdale shooting

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Manchester Evening News

A 19-year-old man remains in hospital

Police have issued an update after a man suffered ‘life-changing’ injuries after being shot in the leg in Rochdale.

Emergency services were called to Beswicke Royds Street in the Belfield area of the town at around 3.20pm on Thursday following reports of a shooting. A 19-year-old man was found by officers at the scene with an injury consistent with a gunshot wound to his leg.

He has been taken to hospital with injuries described as life-changing but not believed to be life-threatening.

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A number of roads in the area remain closed, including on nearby Reservoir Street, as police and forensics begin their investigations. There was a damaged black car and vehicle debris within the police cordon.

A burning car spotted three miles away from the scene of a shooting is ‘part of the investigation’ into the incident, the M.E.N understands. Fire crews had been called to a fire involving a white 4×4 vehicle up in flames, parked close to Watergrove Reservoir in Wardle on Thursday afternoon.

In an update issued on Thursday night, police say no arrests have been made, and are appealing for information. Officers also believe the incident was a ‘targeted attack’ and there is no wider threat to the public.

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Superintendent Lucy Smallwood from our Rochdale district said: “This incident will undoubtedly cause concern for the local community and residents in the Rochdale area.

“Since first receiving the reports, our officers were at the scene within minutes, and we are working quickly to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident.

“We are continuing to investigate all lines of enquiry, and we are actively looking to arrest anyone who we believe is a suspect in relation to this incident.

“It is believed this was a targeted attack and there is no wider threat to the public.

“Officers will remain in the community over the coming days to provide reassurance and maintain a visible presence. If you have any concerns, please speak to an officer, we are here to help.”

Witnesses or anyone with information can report it by 101 quoting log 2097 of 05/03/2026, or 999 in an emergency.

You can also report information via LiveChat on our website, or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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States sue over Trump’s new global tariffs

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States sue over Trump's new global tariffs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some two dozen states challenged President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs on Thursday, filing a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court.

The Democratic attorneys general and governors in the lawsuit argue that Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15% tariffs on much of the world.

Trump has said the tariffs are essential to reduce America’s longstanding trade deficits. He imposed duties under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs he imposed last year under an emergency powers law.

Section 122, which has never been invoked, allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15%. They are limited to five months unless extended by Congress.

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The lawsuit is led by attorneys general from Oregon, Arizona, California and New York.

“The focus right now should be on paying people back, not doubling down on illegal tariffs,” said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. The suit comes a day after a judge ruled t hat companies who paid tariffs under Trump’s old framework should get refunds.

White House vows vigorous defense

The White House said Trump is acting within his power. “The President is using his authority granted by Congress to address fundamental international payments problems and to deal with our country’s large and serious balance-of-payments deficits,” said spokesman Kush Desai. “The Administration will vigorously defend the President’s action in court.”

The new suit argues that Trump can’t pivot to Section 122 because it was intended to be used only in specific, limited circumstances — not for sweeping import taxes. It also contends the tariffs will drive up costs for states, businesses and consumers.

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Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes pointed to a New York Federal Reserve Bank study that found Americans largely bear the cost of the tariffs, which has been estimated at $1,200 a year per household. “That is money out of the pockets of American families trying to buy groceries, pay rent and keep their small businesses afloat,” Mayes said.

Many of the plaintiff states also successfully sued over Trump’s tariffs imposed under a different law: the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Four days after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping IEEPA tariffs Feb. 20, Trump invoked Section 122 to slap 10% tariffs on foreign goods. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant told CNBC on Wednesday that the administration would raise the levies to the 15% limit this week.

The Democratic states and other critics say the president can’t use Section 122 as a replacement for the defunct tariffs to combat the trade deficit.

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The Section 122 provision is aimed at what it calls “fundamental international payments problems.’’ At issue is whether that wording covers trade deficits, the gap between what the U.S. sells other countries and what it buys from them.

Section 122 arose from the financial crises that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s when the U.S. dollar was tied to gold. Other countries were dumping dollars in exchange for gold at a set rate, risking a collapse of the U.S. currency and chaos in financial markets. But the dollar is no longer linked to gold, so critics say Section 122 is obsolete.

Awkwardly for Trump, his own Justice Department argued in a court filing last year that the president needed to invoke the emergency powers act because Section 122 did “not have any obvious application’’ in fighting trade deficits, which it called “conceptually distinct’’ from balance-of-payment issues.

Still, some legal analysts say the Trump administration has a stronger case this time.

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“The legal reality is that courts will likely provide President Trump substantially more deference regarding Section 122 than they did to his previous tariffs under IEEPA,’’ Peter Harrell, visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Institute of International Economic Law, wrote in a commentary Wednesday.

The specialized Court of International Trade in New York, which will hear the states’ lawsuit, wrote last year in its own decision striking down the emergency-powers tariffs that Trump didn’t need them because Section 122 was available to combat trade deficits.

Trump does have other legal authorities he can use to impose tariffs, and some have already survived court tests. Duties that Trump imposed on Chinese imports during his first term under Section 301 of the same 1974 trade act are still in place.

Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

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Tottenham vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League latest score, match stream, goal updates and fan reaction

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Tottenham vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League latest score, match stream, goal updates and fan reaction

Tottenham host Crystal Palace this evening in what feels like a huge game in their season. Igor Tudor, who took over as interim head coach until the end of the current campaign, has lost his first two games in charge, amid the unlikeliest of relegation battles for one of the country’s biggest clubs. Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League table, just one point clear of the drop zone.

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North Yorkshire Police searching for missing 63-year-old

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North Yorkshire Police searching for missing 63-year-old

North Yorkshire Police have launched an urgent appeal to find missing Mark West who was last seen in a village in the north of the county earlier today (March 5).

The 63-year-old has not been seen or heard from since 7.45am this morning and was last seen in Romanby near Northallerton.


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The county’s police said it believes he may have links to York and Whitby, but could still be in the local area.

“Mark is described as a white man, around 6ft 3in tall, with short dark brown hair and glasses. He may be wearing a grey parka-style coat with a fur‑trimmed hood, along with black jeans or trousers and black trainers.

“We are extremely concerned for Mark’s welfare and extensive searches are taking place to try and locate him,” said a spokesperson for the force.

For immediate sightings of Mark, please dial 999 so the police can quickly make sure he is safe. You can also pass on information by calling North Yorkshire Police on 101.

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Please quoting reference number 12260040028 when providing details.

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Winter Paralympics 2026: No UK government ministers or officials to attend opening or closing ceremonies

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General view of the Paralympic logo in Cortina

Skiing duo Menna Fitzpatrick and Scott Meenagh, who are Great Britain’s flagbearers, will not be at the ceremony as they are competing the following day in Cortina.

Instead, they will take part via a video sequence, along with fellow ParalympicsGB team-mates, to be shown as part of the parade.

“We made that decision [not to attend] about a year ago when we knew that the opening ceremony was going to be as far away from where we are up here in the mountains as we are,” ParalympicsGB chef de mission Phil Smith told BBC Sport.

“I think there are a number of nations who are in the same boat. We know that any athletes who do attend from here in Cortina won’t be getting back to the athlete village until between two or three in the morning.

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“All of our athletes here compete on the first day so from a pure performance and sport perspective, it was never our intention to send athletes to the opening ceremony.”

The Games will run from 6-15 March.

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Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

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Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, after mounting criticism over her leadership of the department, including the handling of the administration’s immigration crackdown and disaster response.

Trump, who said he would nominate Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin in her place, made the announcement on social media after Noem faced a two-day grilling on Capitol Hill this week from GOP members as well as Democrats.

Noem’s departure marks a stunning turnaround for a close ally to the president who was tasked with steering his centerpiece policy of mass deportations. But she appeared to increasingly become a liability for Trump, with questions arising over her spending at her department and over her conduct in the aftermath of the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis earlier this year.

Trump said he’ll make Noem a “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative that he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere.

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Noem, who appeared at a law enforcement event in Nashville, Tennessee, moments after Trump’s announcement, did not address her ouster there. She read from prepared remarks and was not asked by attendees about the development.

Later, in a social media post, she thanked Trump for the new appointment and touted her accomplishments as secretary.

“We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again,” she wrote.

The administration’s immigration crackdown faced criticism, especially in Minnesota

Noem is the first Cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term. Her tenure looked increasingly short-lived after hearings in Congress this week where she faced rare but blistering criticism from Republican lawmakers. One particular point of scrutiny was a $220 million ad campaign featuring Noem that encouraged people in the country illegally to leave voluntarily.

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Noem told lawmakers that Trump was aware of the campaign in advance, but Trump disputed that in an interview Thursday with Reuters, saying he did not sign off on the ad campaign.

Noem has faced waves of criticism as she’s overseen Trump’s immigration crackdown, especially since the shooting deaths of the two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration enforcement officers. The former South Dakota governor was also criticized over the way her department has spent billions of dollars allocated to it by Congress.

Her department, DHS, has been at the center of a funding battle in Congress over immigration enforcement tactics and has been shut down for 20 days, although many of the employees are continuing to work, often without pay.

Even before Noem’s appearance before key congressional committees this week, Republican lawmakers had been anticipating the secretary’s eventual ouster, particularly after her handling of the immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis.

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As they tried to end the ongoing Homeland Security shutdown, Senate Republicans had noted privately to Democratic senators that Noem was likely on her way out and that that should prompt Democrats to move forward with agreeing to fund the department again, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

Democrats did not see that as an actual concession by Republicans, considering Noem was becoming a political liability for the GOP, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations.

DHS leadership changes come at a pivotal time

Aside from immigration, Noem also faced criticism — including from Republicans — over the pace of emergency funding approved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and for the Trump administration’s response to disasters.

Mullin would need to be confirmed by the Senate, but under a federal law governing executive branch vacancies, he would be allowed to serve as an acting Homeland Security secretary as long as his nomination is formally pending.

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Voting in the Senate just after Trump’s announcement, Mullin said he has “no idea” how quickly his nomination will move.

“The president and I are good friends. So we look forward to working closer with the White House, and obviously I’m gonna be over there a lot more,” he said.

Mullin would need to be confirmed by the Senate, but under a federal law governing executive branch vacancies, he would be allowed to serve as an acting DHS secretary as long as his nomination is formally pending.

Mullin would take over the third-largest department in government that has responsibility for carrying out Trump’s hardline immigration agenda. And he would assume the role at a pivotal time for that agenda.

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Immigration enforcement during the first year of Trump’s administration was largely defined by high-profile, made-for-social-media operations with flashy names, often led by Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who reported directly to Noem. Noem herself often went out on those operations, riding along with officers when they went out to make arrests.

But those high-profile operations in places like Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis often led to clashes with activists and protesters that were captured on video and drove opposition to the president’s immigration agenda.

That culminated with the shooting deaths in Minneapolis after which Trump shuffled leadership of the operation. The number of officers there was drawn down shortly after.

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Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed.

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What satellite images reveal about war in Iran | World News

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A satellite image shows a ship sunk at Konarak port. Pic: Vantor provided by European Space Imaging

Satellite images have revealed the scale of damage at Iranian military sites following US and Israeli strikes, but civilian infrastructure has also been hit, including schools and hospitals.

There has been an internet blackout since the start of the war on 28 February. Satellite imagery has become one of the few ways to find out what is happening on the ground.

Zoom in to explore strike locations in satellite maps

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Missile bases

The US and Israel are targeting Iran‘s missile bases to reduce the regime’s ability to launch ballistic missiles.

A base in the northwest of Isfahan, located near the ‘Ahmad Kazemi barracks’, named after IRGC general Ahmad Kazemi, was targeted.

Images from 1 March show initial damage to a building at the site and then on 3 March show the same building flattened.

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The building on the left-hand side was previously targeted in June by Israel and has been targeted again.

It’s one of several missile bases that have been targeted. Another close to Kermanshah in northwest Iran was also hit.

visualization

It’s one of Iran’s extensive underground “missile cities”, which are deep tunnel complexes built into mountains to house and shield large parts of the country’s missile arsenal from detection and attack.

In imagery from 4 March provided by Planet Labs, Sky News has identified at least 10 buildings that have been destroyed. Alongside the buildings, there are craters left from strikes at the front of tunnel entrances. This tactic may be being used to collapse the tunnels.

Iran’s missile capabilities are a threat to the US and Israel. They produce multiple different missile types. The longest-range missile, the Sajjil, has a maximum range of up to 2,000km (1,242 miles). That’s far enough to hit Moscow or Athens – making any missile base a key target.

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US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on 4 March that the number of Iran’s missile launches has dropped 86% in four days.

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said that hundreds of air defence sites, ballistic missiles and drones had been destroyed by US strikes.

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Naval ports

Ports have also been targeted by the US and Israel. They are being targeted as this is where Iran’s navy operates from, launching missiles and attacks.

Imagery from satellite provider Vantor and European Space Imaging show Konarak naval port in southern Iran was badly damaged.

Satellite image from 4 March 2026. Pic: Vantor provided by European Space Imaging
Image:
Satellite image from 4 March 2026. Pic: Vantor provided by European Space Imaging

Satellite images from 4 March show two destroyed buildings at the port and a sunken Iranian ship.

The head of US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, claimed that 17 Iranian vessels, including its “most operational” submarine, have been destroyed.

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The naval base is significant because it sits very close to the Strait of Hormuz, a key commercial shipping route being controlled by Iran. The base is used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and is said to launch patrols and exercises in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean, staging missile and naval training operations.

Konarak also supports the port of Chabahar, one of Iran’s only deep-water ports with direct access to the Indian Ocean.

Another port targeted was the military harbour at Bandar Abbas, which is the main headquarters of the Iranian Navy, and provides access to the Strait of Hormuz.

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The imagery shows the Iranian vessel, IRIS Makran, with a plume of smoke after a strike on 2 March.

Although unclear how much damage the vessel sustained, the ship is Iran’s largest naval vessel and serves as a floating base, if out of operation this will be a blow to the naval capabilities of the regime.

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In more recent imagery from 4 March, it appears a building can be seen with major damage to the roof.

Satellite image from 4 March 2026, shows a hole in the roof of a building at Bandar Abbas port. Pic: Planet Labs PBC
Image:
Satellite image from 4 March 2026, shows a hole in the roof of a building at Bandar Abbas port. Pic: Planet Labs PBC

Nuclear facilities

Nuclear facilities have been targeted as the West believes Iran is building a nuclear weapon.

One of the locations targeted was Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant in western Iran.

Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant is Iran’s primary uranium-enrichment plant that is known to be operating after US and Israeli strikes in June 2025. According to Rafael Grossi, of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the centrifuges were “severely damaged if not destroyed altogether after this strike”.

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Additional strikes appear to have taken place on 2 March.

visualization

Imagery from 3 March shows three buildings destroyed at the site.

The IAEA confirmed damage to the entrance on the site on 3 March.

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) confirmed the buildings were damaged as personnel and vehicle entrances.

The dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme is ongoing. The regime in Tehran has long insisted it has no intention of making a nuclear weapon.

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Civilian infrastructure

Civilian infrastructure has been hit in the airstrikes. Some of the sites are near Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities, including police stations.

Iranian officials said more than 150 people were killed when a girls’ school was hit in the city of Minab on 28 February.

The school was located near an IRGC base.

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Imagery from 4 March appears to show six locations where missiles or shrapnel likely fell on the school.

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US secretary of state Marco Rubio said in an interview that “the United States would not deliberately target a school. Our objectives are missiles”.

Israel also said it had not found any connection to their operations.

More satellite imagery shows Gandhi Hospital in Tehran.

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Images from 1 March and 3 March show a television tower directly next to the hospital in ruins. Videos verified by Sky News show it wasn’t just the television tower affected; the hospital was also hit.

The Data x Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

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