He added: “I’ve benefited from individual, national security briefings, which I’m grateful for, but I think we need to have more partnership, more dialogue, more engagement, because, as we saw with the Bella 1 tanker, it didn’t take long for something that happened on the high seas to come right into the Moray Firth and be an issue that we had to wrestle with.”

The actress starred in the ITV soap alongside Philip Lowrie and Martin Shaw

Former Coronation Street and Casualty star Angela Pleasence has died, aged 84.

Angela appeared in Coronation Street in early 1968 as Monica Sutton. Although her role as Monica was a guest appearance across four episodes, viewers will recall her days in the long-running soap. Born in South Yorkshire, she was the daughter of acting legend Donald and his wife, Miriam Raymond.

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The Sheffield actress sadly died aged 84-years-old. In a statement shared on social media, her agency said: “We are very sad to announce the passing of our dear client, Angela Pleasance. We were honoured to represent Angela, who built a career of quiet distinction spanning more than five decades.

“After training at RADA, she made her stage debut in 1964 as ‘Titania’ in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

“She went on to perform at the National Theatre and in the West End in productions including Ghetto, The Hothouse, and The Cherry Orchard.

“Angela also became closely associated with classic British horror, delivering memorable performances in films such as From Beyond the Grave, The Godsend, and Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York. In these roles, she brought remarkable depth and unease to complex, often enigmatic characters.”

It concluded: “While never defined by any one genre, her contribution to the British industry remains a distinctive and much-admired part of her legacy. Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.”

Outside of the Weatherfield cobbles, the actress was known for her role as Catherine Howard in the 1970 BBC television series The Six Wives of Henry VIII, she also appeared in The Possessed, A Legacy, Murder at the Wedding, The Walls of Jericho, The Barchester Chronicles, Mansfield Park, Casualty, The Bill, Whitechapel and Happy Valley.

Angela also starred as Queen Elizabeth I in the 2007 Doctor Who episode “The Shakespeare Code”, and Winnie in the BBC drama Happy Valley.

Carly Madison Gregg, 15, was convicted of killing her mum and attacking her stepfather in a chilling assault captured on surveillance video in Mississippi

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An “evil” 15-year-old girl murdered her mother before playing with her dogs beside the corpse – and then attempted to kill her stepfather.

Carly Madison Gregg’s heinous acts were captured in harrowing CCTV footage from her family home.

During five days of shocking evidence, jurors witnessed Gregg hiding a weapon behind her back while pacing through her Mississippi home, reports ABC news.

The crack of gunfire echoed through the recording. Prosecutors stated she shot her mother, Ashley Smylie, in the face on March 19, 2024. Smylie was a 40-year-old secondary school maths teacher.

Prosecutors claimed her appalling attack began after a mate informed Gregg’s mum about the teenager’s cannabis consumption. Gregg’s legal team maintained she was experiencing a mental health breakdown, reports the Mirror US.

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Following the shooting of her mum, Gregg is captured returning to the kitchen as though nothing had happened. Gregg is then filmed messaging on her mobile and frolicking with her pet dogs.

When her stepfather, Heath Smylie, returned home Gregg launched her attack on him as well – firing a bullet in his direction.

He succeeded in wresting the firearm from his stepdaughter and placed a frantic emergency call. “She killed her mom,” he can be heard telling operators.

His heartbreaking 999 call was also broadcast to jurors. Heath Smylie testified that the “gun went off in my face before the door was open.”

The 15-year-old wept in court on hearing her sentence.

She was condemned to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. “Carly Gregg is evil and that’s not easy to say, but the truth of the matter is that sometimes evil comes in young packages,” said Rankin County District Attorney Bubba Bramlett.

“She doesn’t know what was going on at that time. We’re asking you to find her not guilty by reason of insanity,” Gregg’s defence solicitor Kevin Camp implored the jury before their verdict.

“I put three in my mom and I got three – I got three more waiting for my stepdad,” state prosecutor Kathryn Newman reenacted. “You think that sound like an insane person? No.”

After just two hours of deliberations, the jury found Gregg guilty on all counts. The defence announced their intention to appeal.

In September, Gregg’s lawyer James Murphy, who spoke to the Clarion Ledger about “mistakes” which resulted in an “unjust outcome” in Gregg’s “unfair” murder trial, lodged an appeal.

Gregg’s legal team argued the case went to trial on an “exceptionally compressed schedule and under a series of statutory and constitutional errors that tainted both sentencing and the overall fairness of the proceedings.

“Carly was indicted barely two months after the incident and brought to trial within six months-effectively a ‘rocket docket,’” the brief stated.

“In a case of this magnitude requiring collection and review of extensive medical and mental-health records, multiple evaluations, substantial family/background history, and a disputed motive-such acceleration is extraordinary in Mississippi criminal practice.”

Gregg’s legal team has petitioned for oral arguments before the state’s supreme court, hoping to overturn her conviction and sentences or return the matter to the lower court for fresh proceedings and sentencing.

Asked why the slogan focuses on the Prime Minister, as opposed to a Reform policy, Mr Farage told reporters the upcoming elections “are in some of Labour’s strongest areas in the country, and the offering that he gave the country back in 2024, frankly, has been ignored completely”.

Stojsavljevic, 17, is the second-lowest ranked player in a Great Britain team missing Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, Katie Boulter, and Fran Jones – all of whom are ranked inside the world’s top 100 for singles.

But the 2024 US Open junior champion, described by Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong as “not your average 17-year-old”, was unfazed by her underdog status and the Australian crowd, holding her nerve to clinch the first set in a tie-break after letting a 3-1 lead slip.

She later saved five break points in the penultimate game of the match before converting her first match point.

“It feels amazing. I can’t believe it. I can’t even remember the last point,” Stojsavljevic said. “I had amazing support from the side and managed to get through.

“Going into it, I knew she’d have the home ground. I’m grateful to the people supporting GB today.

“It was a good match. We have very similar games, both quite aggressive, so I’m happy I got through it.”

Keothavong added: “She’s not your average 17-year-old. For some, it can be overwhelming, but I think for Mika, she’s really taken it into her stride. I also have to credit her team-mates. They’ve shown her the ropes.

“Being able to express whether you feel nerves, that’s OK, because your opponent’s probably going to feel exactly the same, if not more because let’s face it, the pressure was on Talia [Gibson] and any player going on court against her.”

Dart’s meeting with world number 80 Birrell was characterised by service struggles, with no fewer than 16 breaks of serve and 27 break-point opportunities across the match.

After losing the opening set 6-4, the turning point for Dart came in the fifth game of the second when she held to 15 to end a run of four consecutive dropped service games. She then won three of the next five games, including a crucial second hold, to force a deciding set.

At 3-3 in the third, the 29-year-old broke Birrell for the eighth time before winning the next two game to secure the win.

The object was thrown “full force” at the windscreen of a passing car.

A six-year-old child was left “covered” in shattered glass after a “brick” was thrown from a bridge in Glasgow. A motorist was forced to slam on the brakes after the object smashed into their windscreen while travelling along Springburn Road.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 7.50pm last night after the driver managed to pull over safely. No injuries were reported following the incident but police are now investigating, reports Glasgow Live.

The No1seems2care Facebook page shared images of the “extremely dangerous” incident. In a post, they said: “Imagine driving a car with a 6-year-old child on board and youths throw a brick full force at your windscreen from the bridge at Springburn.

“The child was covered with fragments of glass and absolutely terrified. Not only could this have seriously injured or killed the child, the sudden impact and shock could have caused the driver to lose control and crash the vehicle into other vehicles.

“This was an extremely dangerous thing to do! This isn’t the first time this has happened at the bridge at Springburn and the bridges on the M8 near the Royston area.

“This has to stop before people get seriously injured or killed. This could happen to you or your loved ones. Please talk to your children about this. Thank you.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed they are investigating the incident.

The spokesperson said: “Around 7.50pm on Thursday, April 9, we received a report of a windscreen being damaged from an item thrown from an overbridge on Springburn Road, Glasgow.

“There were no reported injuries and enquiries are ongoing.”

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Hotel chiefs are blaming a slump in international visitors for World Cup bookings on a ‘Trump slump’ as key venues, such as Boston where England play Ghana, have not seen the expected economic boost

US hotel chiefs are blaming a ‘Trump Slump’ for a downturn in bookings for the World Cup.

Key venues such as Boston, where England take on Ghana on June 23, have not seen the expected economic boost from the tournament. It is claimed that international visitors have been put off travel to the US.

Now, an expert in hospitality has said that he would be “surprised” if there was a last minute boost of international fans travelling to the US because of “the way everything is now”. And one hotel chief revealed that World Cup room holds have been returned, ‘without a single reservation’.

READ MORE: England fans fume after ANOTHER outrageous World Cup expense confirmed – ‘Disgusting’READ MORE: World Cup ‘beyond reach’ of most families as England superfan pays £20k for trip

Alan Fyall, professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, told Forbes business magazine: “I would be surprised if there’s a big influx of international fans at the last minute this time. It’s not so easy to get here at the last minute, the way everything is now.”

Jan Freitag, a national director at CoStar, the industry analytics firm, warned: “We are seeing much more muted optimism about the hotel results.” Harry Carr, Pivot Hotels & Resorts’ senior vice president, said FIFA returned some of the company’s room-block holds ‘without a single reservation’. He added: “We are much less bullish about the World Cup than we were three months ago.”

HRI Lodging’s Bay Area hotels chief commercial officer Lior Sekler, said the demand for reserved room blocks has been “very lacklustre”. Only 15 percent of FIFA’s reserved rooms were picked up.

Fans’ groups have criticised the soaring costs of tickets and hotels. Some host cities are not holding fan fests. The Football Supporters Association (FSA) described the costs of the World Cup – including the most expensive final ticket – as ‘absolutely staggering’.

Spokesman Thomas Concannon said: “It comes as no surprise after everything that has happened over the last few months. But the price final ticket is still absolutely staggering. I don’t know any supporters who can afford that. It is beyond the reach of ordinary fans.”

The FSA, which represents around 600,000 supporters across the UK, has been on a fact finding mission to the States and Mexico. Trains to the Boston venue, where England play Ghana on June 23, are rising from $20 to $80.

Garford Beck, 64, of London, has hardly missed an England game since 1980 and this summer will be his 8th World Cup. He manages the England fans’ team, which held a minute’s silence for former FA Chairman Lord David Triesman a their last game.

He warned that working-class fans were being ‘taken to the cleaners’ on everything from match tickets to shirts. He said: “They give so much to the game, yet the door is being closed on them. It is incredibly sad.”

New Jersey has dropped plans to hold one.

Lijnders made the comments after City’s 4-0 FA quarter-final win against Liverpool last weekend, with Guardiola unable to fulfill media duties as he was serving a touchline ban.

“You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don’t exist,” said Lijnders.

“But every good story comes to an end, and I hope he enjoys the last months – there are only six weeks – and has a good farewell.”

Silva, a 2017 signing from French club Monaco, made his 450th appearance for City in the EFL Cup victory against Arsenal last month.

The 31-year-old was made club captain last summer following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne.

“He is not the tallest one, the most muscular one, or score 50 goals or make 50 assists a season,” said Guardiola.

“These are the type of players that are spotlighted and everyone talks about. From nine years, I know him quite well and for what a manager requires.

“All managers would say how much they love him because he is incredibly competitive, has a fire inside him always. In the toughest moments and on the biggest stages, he is always there.

“He has been an incredible signing for us, incredible. I love this club and I would love if he could stay and finish his career here but I do not know. He will decide what he will decide. It is his decision.”

First Lady Melania Trump gave a shock denial about having ties to Epstein in a statement that “blindsided” her husband President Trump, indicating they aren’t “aligned”, a psychologist tells the Mirror

Melania Trump has sent shockwaves through the White House after releasing a bombshell statement denying ties to Jeffrey Epstein – a move that reportedly left President Trump in the dark.

Now as the President juggles a precarious ceasefire deal with Iran, expert say the First Lady’s decision to “reclaim her authorship” proves now that the couple are operating on separate tracks.

The timing of the statement appears to have caught the White House off guard, with Trump telling a journalist he “didn’t know anything about” her statement, before adding “she didn’t know [Epstein]” and hanging up the call.

The First Lady said that online theories that Epstein introduced her to Donald were “mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation,” adding: “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect.”

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Christopher Bucktin

In a move that distances herself from the White House, where many individuals are facing increased focus on their ties with the billionaire paedophile, she urged for Epstein survivors to be given the opportunity to speak at Congressional hearings, adding: “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”

She also dismissed an email between herself and Epstein’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell as “casual correspondence”.

Melania’s statement, the timing of which is not entirely clear, indicates that the First Lady and the President are operating separately, an expert has told the Mirror.

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Dr Jane Halsall, a Chartered Counselling Psychologist, described the move as a psychological “assertion of agency”, with the fact she didn’t seek his approval beforehand suggesting a relationship where “alignment is absent.”

“From a psychological perspective, the fact that Donald Trump was unaware of such a significant and emotionally charged statement by Melania Trump is very insightful into their relational dynamics,” Dr Halsall said “It raises important questions about communication, alignment, and autonomy within high-profile relationships.

“In close partnerships particularly those lived out in the public eye there is often an assumption of shared messaging and mutual awareness, especially around issues as sensitive as advocacy for victims. The fact that she didn’t seek approval or share her intentions shows how alignment is absent in their partnership and how both these powerful individuals are operating in parallel rather than in emotional synchrony. This doesn’t necessarily indicate dysfunction, but it may suggest a relationship where independence is prioritised over cohesion, or where communication is more strategic than intimate, something that is unusual for a couple in such a high profile position.”

Last year Trump’s long-time biographer Michael Wolff claimed the pair are essentially “separated.”

He told The Daily Beast podcast: “They clearly do not in any way inhabit a marriage as we define marriage. And I think maybe we can more specifically say they live separate lives.

“They are separated. The President of the United States and the First Lady are separated.”

Speculation surrounding the state of the couple’s marriage has been rife for years, with a source telling the Mirror in 2023 that the pair only ever came together for the occasional dinner at his Palm Beach mansion.

“Their paths barely cross,” a source told the Mirror after Stormy Daniels alleged that she had an affair with Trump

“Melania is no different to any woman. Having her husband accused of cheating on her not just once but twice is extremely disturbing. There is little wonder people believe it’s not just the criminal court Trump is heading to but possibly a divorce one too.”

Advisor to the First Lady Marc Beckman tried to clear up the cryptic statement, telling the New York Post that Melania “spoke out now because enough is enough”.

He added: “It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as First Lady, the lives she has positively impacted, and her commitment to our nation.”

Trump has more than enough on his hands at the moment, as a proposed ceasefire in the US and Israel‘s war against Iran hangs in the balance.

It had been put forward that a two-week conditional ceasefire could take place, contingent on the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has forced closed in recent weeks – something that has caused global shocks across financial markets, and is set to see UK households feel a major hit as prices across the board are set to rise.

Even if the Strait reopened today, and stayed open, much of the financial damage by these shockwaves has already been done, but with Israel continuing to attack Lebanon, and peace talks due to take place over the weekend, the situation is precarious.

Last week, the White House hit back at rumours that the President had been rushed to hospital, with officials slamming the claims as a “conspiracy”.

Speculation has grown over the last year about the real state of the President’s health, from visibly bruised hands and swollen ankles as well as apparent facial paralysis at an event honouring 9/11 victims last September.

In the psychological expert’s view, Melania’s shock decision to speak out indicates that she felt the urge to take back control and exert some “agency” – and her choosing to do so without running it by her husband’s office shows just how important this was to her, and that she was not willing to run the “risk of being shut down”.

“Melania’s decision to speak in a way that advocated for the victims can be understood as an assertion of personal agency. Her desire to defend herself publicly was to reclaim some control and shift the narrative that she personally was in some way involved in the Epstein files. Would she have had the opportunity to share her voice if she had asked permission first? The fact she did not risk being shut down, shows how compelled she felt to get her words across and regain psychological coherence.”

Symbolically, amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s high-profile connections and big name acquaintances – though appearing in the Epstein files is not necessarily a sign of wrongdoing, the emails and messages are littered with A-list names – Melania’s decision to speak out is huge, Dr Halsall explains and a “redefining” of the traditional role of First Lady altogether.

“In high-profile roles, silence is rarely neutral; it is often interpreted, projected onto, or even weaponised. As a result, her speaking out was about reclaiming authorship over her identity and letting the victims know that they have a powerful First Lady in their corner. In this context, her advocacy was a deliberate effort to realign how she is seen with what she believes, an act that, psychologically, reflects both self-protection and self-definition. Psychologically, this reflects a shift from a traditionally symbolic or supportive role and modernises the representation of the first lady into someone that is values led and self-directed. For someone in her position, that carries weight. It signals not just a stance on an issue, but a redefinition of identity within the relationship and in the public sphere.”

It also serves a reminder that even in a couple occupying such public positions, there are always “private dynamics” behind closed doors, and a constant tension between the two spheres playing out. “Moments like this highlight the psychological tension between unity and individuality in relationships under scrutiny. They remind us that even in the most visible partnerships, there are private dynamics at play where voice, power, and identity are continually being negotiated.”

READ MORE: From Ghislaine Maxwell email to photos – the Epstein links that Melania Trump denies

An email exchange from October 2002 between Melania and Ghislaine Maxwell was dubbed by the First Lady as “polite” and “casual”. The first email was sent by Melania and reads: “Dear GI How are you?

“Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania”

Maxwell replies in a similar tone, writing, “Sweet pea – thanks for your message. Actually plans changed again and I am now on my way back to NY. I leave again on Fri so I still do not think I have time to see you sadly. I will try and call though. Keep well Gx”

However there are other mentions of Melania in the Epstein files between the sex offender and those he corresponded with. One email from a redacted account sent shortly after Trump’s first presidential victory in 2016 reads: “I simply can not believe this victory..

“No one called it, we all thought she’d win. You must be happy tho. I remember flying back with Donald on his plane the first weekend I went to visit you in Florida was the weekend he met Melania and he kept on coming out of the bedroom saying ‘ wow what a hot piece of ass’

“Nuts. Anyway, hope you’re enjoying Saudi”

Another email sent by Epstein to Michael Wolff in December 2017 mentions ‘Melania’, “some journalists working a lead on a Melania boyfriend”.

Two further emails sent to Wolff in January 2018 reference ‘Melania’. The first, sent on 11 January reads: “holding up? . hi= sh**hole countries comment. his i will sign whatever is=put in front of me, clearly shows cracks in his mental state. = transcripts. could drive him over the edge if the=melania story doesnt come out”.

Another sent on 21 January that year sees the sex offender write, “achlles heal , melania, transcipt. melania also focused on dates of porn star, before birth of baron or after. . they also now have two army people escorting her to kids school :)”

Do you have a story to tell? Email: emma.mackenzie@reachplc.com

All four people in the property were able to make it out of the house safely

A house fire that “destroyed” a bedroom and caused “serious damage” to the upstairs of the property is believed to have been started by a candle. Firefighters from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue were called to the scene of a house fire in March.

When they arrived at the property, they found a bedroom fully engulfed in fire. Crews from March, Wisbech, and Chatteris helped to contain the fire.

The crews stopped the fire from spreading further and were able to extinguish it. There were four people in the property at the time of the fire but they were all able to make it out of the house before the crews arrived.

Station Commander Clive Allen said: “The fire is believed to have been caused by a curtain blowing onto a lit candle. We would like to remind people to always remain vigilant when lighting candles. Our advice for the safe use of candles is to never leave them unattended and keep them in a draught-free area away from curtains, furniture and other flammable surfaces. Alternatively, you could use LED candles as a safer option.

“Thankfully the occupants had working smoke alarms on each floor of the house which is exactly what we would advise people to warn you of a fire in your home. We also recommend you test all smoke alarms in your home once a month to ensure they are working properly. If you need a reminder to test your alarm, you can sign up to get an email from us every month to give you that nudge.”

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