Prof Marian Knight, director of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, which researches the care of women and babies in pregnancy and birth, says the rise represents a “total change in how women give birth” in England, and that it has not been replicated in other European countries.

Our reporters have had their say on whether Man United should keep or sell the defenders currently at the club.

Manchester United are planning to overhaul their midfield in the summer transfer window. Casemiro has departed after four years at the club, and there is recognition that investment is required to inject new life into midfield.

The defensive department at United could be boosted by a left-back signing this summer, but it could be argued that a new centre-back is needed after a campaign in which United’s centre-backs picked up injuries.

Michael Carrick started Noussair Mazraoui alongside Ayden Heaven against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, for example. United won 1-0 in the capital, but makeshift backlines are more likely to be exposed in a season when the schedule returns to normal, given the Reds’ Champions League commitments.

With that in mind, our writers have given their ‘keep or sell’ verdict on the club’s current defenders:

Diogo Dalot

Tyrone Marshall: Dalot faced some criticism from supporters in the first half of last season and he still isn’t particularly popular, but he was steady back at right-back and his contribution to build-up play is underrated. Keep

Steven Railston: Dalot was quietly decent in the last few months of the season. It’s not fashionable to praise Dalot, but he is a consistent performer when he plays as a right-back in a back four. Keep.

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Noussair Mazraoui

Tyrone Marshall: A difficult season last year and has clearly lost the battle to play at right-back, but offers experience and can play both full-back roles. Worth another season at least. Keep

Steven Railston: It was a forgettable season for Mazraoui, who played just over 1,000 minutes. However, he has played in eight different positions during his time at the club, and his versatility is handy in a busy season. Keep.

Matthijs de Ligt

Tyrone Marshall: Feels almost impossible to sell him this summer, but needs a big year next year. Clearly an excellent centre-back there, and still only 26 years old. Could play a big role and be Maguire’s successor if he stays fit. But if his form drifts, there is a problem. Keep

Steven Railston: De Ligt last played against Crystal Palace on November 30. Although he was producing the finest performances of his United career before picking up that injury, I’d cut ties if it were possible this summer. The obvious problem is that nobody will buy a defender who has just had back surgery. Sell.

Harry Maguire

Tyrone Marshall: Just signed a new contract and the best natural centre-back at the club. Fits the way United have played under Carrick, where his defensive strengths have been to the fore. Keep

Steven Railston: Maguire is still the best defender at United and should be on the plane for the World Cup this summer. He thoroughly deserved his new contract, which was a no-brainer for United. Keep.

Lisandro Martinez

Tyrone Marshall: Loved by his coaches, makes United better tactically when he plays and a cult hero on the terraces. Only thing not to like is the fact he’s been able to start just 65 of 152 Premier League games since he joined the club. Keep for now, but if he has another injury hit year then his time will be up. Keep

Steven Railston: Martinez missed the first three months of the season as he recovered from a knee injury, before missing more time between February and March due to a calf injury. The centre-back is a leader and drives the group on the training pitch, but United need someone more reliable. Sell.

Patrick Dorgu

Tyrone Marshall: Made a real impact on the wing under Carrick and now a key member of the squad. Could play an attacking left-back role or left-wing. Won’t start every week, but will have a big role to play next season still. Keep

Steven Railston: Dorgu might be permanently regarded as an attacker by the end of the season. Regardless of which position his long-term future lies, there is a feeling that there’s plenty more improvement to come from him. Keep.

Leny Yoro

Tyrone Marshall: Not done enough in two years at the club to warrant the excitement around his signing, when United beat competition from Real Madrid to land him. Needs to kick on this year and if he does, he could be first-choice by the end of the season. Keep

Steven Railston: I expected a little bit more from Yoro this season, albeit it wasn’t a bad season for him by any means. Still, he was signed in a £52m deal and should be nailing down a spot in the starting team next term. He has the skillset to become one of the best in the world. Keep.

Luke Shaw

Tyrone Marshall: Just had his most productive year yet in terms of starts and performances were of a generally high standard. Next season represents a different challenge and with one year on his contract, it makes sense to wait until early 2027 before making a call. Keep

Steven Railston: Shaw was also snubbed by England for the World Cup squad. He would be in my squad if I were England manager, though. The 30-year-old started every Premier League game this season, and United need to give him a chance of staying fit next term by signing a back-up. Keep.

Ayden Heaven

Tyrone Marshall: A lot to be excited about and looks an ideal stand-in for Martinez at the moment. Probably needs to play more than he did last season, but a deeper schedule will give him those chances. Could be part of this defence for years to come. Keep

Steven Railston: Carrick raved about Heaven’s performance at Stamford Bridge – and that praise was deserved. The youngster came into the side in difficult circumstances and still has plenty of scope to improve. Keep.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

India‘s air accident investigators are preparing to release an anniversary report into the crash involving a London-bound Air India flight that killed 260 people last year.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board crashed in Gujarat, western India seconds after take-off on 12 June, slamming into a medical college’s hostel outside Ahmedabad airport and erupting in a fireball. One passenger, a British citizen, miraculously survived the crash, while another 19 people were killed on the ground.

Under international regulations, investigators must aim to provide a final accident report one year after an incident, revealing what they have found about the probable cause of the crash and providing recommendations on how to avoid similar incidents in the future. If they cannot do so, they must release an update on their investigation on each anniversary of the crash.

Many questions remain unanswered about what went wrong with Air India Flight 171, with both bereaved families and those injured on the ground anxiously awaiting the accident report – not least because a host of lawsuits filed against Air India and Boeing are now proceeding through the courts in both the UK and US alleging culpability on the part of the airline and manufacturer.

India’s civil ​aviation minister said last month that the investigation was in the “last stage” and that the report would “mostly” be ready by the one-year anniversary date. “However, the investigation is being done by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and we don’t interfere in it,” Ram Mohan Naidu told reporters. “We are giving them all the resources they need.”

When will the Air India report be released?

India’s authorities were prompt in releasing a preliminary report into the crash last year, exactly 30 days after the incident in line with their international obligations.

Mr Naidu has said investigators are trying to complete their work “as soon as possible”, while the AAIB said on 20 May that their report will be published “as soon as the investigation is completed and accepted for publication”.

Officials have not committed to releasing their final findings by the 12 June anniversary of the crash, however, and media reports indicate that it is more likely an “interim” report will be produced instead. A source told Reuters it would not be a final report because “it is a very complex investigation and is taking time”, and that a timeline for the final report remained unclear.

There is plenty of precedent for final crash reports taking longer than the ideal target of one year stipulated by the UN’s aviation body. The final safety report after MH370’s 2014 disappearance was published four years later, for instance, while a revised final report into United Airlines Flight 585’s 1991 crash was published over 10 years later.

What did the preliminary report say?

Last year’s preliminary report stuck to providing the factual sequence of events, stopping short of any causal analysis and leaving deeper questions unanswered. It claimed that three seconds after taking off, both the aircraft’s fuel control switches almost simultaneously flipped from “run” to “cutoff”, starving the engines of fuel.

The switches returned to the “run” position after about 10 seconds. It was too late. Moments later, one of the pilots transmitted a “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” call.

The plane immediately began to lose thrust and sank. One pilot could be heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he had cut off the fuel. “The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the report noted. An auxiliary power unit intended to provide power to the aircraft in the event of engine failure deployed automatically, but did not provide enough lift to prevent a catastrophic crash into a hostel at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College.

The 15-page preliminary report assigned no blame, identified no cause and didn’t conclude whether the crash was the result of technical failure, human error, maintenance issues, or systemic oversight gaps.

However, it sparked a media trial of the pilots, first officer Clive Kunder, 32, who was flying, and captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, who was observing. US officials have said that the cockpit recording supports the view that it was the captain who cut the flow of fuel to the plane’s engines, while the captain’s family have petitioned India’s top court to try and clear his name.

What will the report uncover?

The AAIB says its investigation “is looking into each and every factor to identify the root cause/ contributory factor(s) leading to the accident”. It said its final report would also issue safety recommendations to avoid a repeat of such accidents in the future, although it’s not immediately clear how much this point will be covered in the interim report.

Independent aviation experts hope the report will shed more light on theories beyond pilot action that have emerged since the crash, including a possible electrical fault. The lone survivor of the crash, Viswashkumar Ramesh, has described how the lights flickered inside the plane just before it started to fall – some experts say this could point to a water leak.

According to the Foundation for Aviation Safety, an advocacy group in the US, the specific Boeing aircraft involved had a record of technical and electrical failures.

It entered service with Air India in 2014 and went on to suffer a series of system failures, including an electrical fire in 2022 which led to the replacement of core system components, the group said in a submission to the US Senate. The issues, it alleged, were caused by “a wide and confusing variety of engineering, manufacturing, quality, and maintenance problems throughout its 11-year life”.

Boeing’s chief executive Kelly Ortberg had offered the manufacturer’s “deepest condolences” to the victims after the crash, and said Boeing “stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau”.

The Independent has reached out to Air India, Boeing and the AAIB for a statement. Boeing has previously referred media inquiries to the Indian authorities, citing the ongoing crash investigation.

The event will take place at The Hub on Central Drive, Westhoughton, on Thursday, June 4, from 7pm to 8pm.

Hosted by Greater Manchester Police‘s neighbourhood policing team, the surgery will give people the opportunity to raise concerns about issues affecting their area and discuss matters directly with officers.

Police say the event is designed to help them identify and tackle the issues that matter most to local communities.

Residents who are unable to attend can also contact their neighbourhood policing team to share concerns and provide information about problems in their area.

The force is encouraging people to sign up to Bee in the Loop, Greater Manchester Police’s free community alert system, which provides updates on local policing activity and crime prevention advice.

For non-emergency incidents or to report a crime, people can contact police by calling 101 or using the Live Chat service on the GMP website. The public should only call 999 in emergencies where there is an immediate threat to life or a crime is in progress.

More information is available on the Greater Manchester Police website.

They have also announced their opening date

Popular food hall Common Market is set to welcome a brand-new resident very soon.

The announcement comes after Zeus God’s of Food took to social media at the beginning of May, saying they would be closing their doors at the end of the month after 4 years in the food market, citing “rising costs” as the reason.

Four days after Zeus shut up shop, its replacement has been announced. Sal’s, which is marketing itself as a “neighbourhood Italian joint”, is set to open up soon.

Belfast Live understands it will focus on ‘red sauce Italian food’ like tomato pasta, meatball subs and lasagne.

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Alongside the announcement, they have let their followers know when they’ll be opening up shop. It is set to open on Friday, June 6, which is just in time for summer.

Sal’s, which has rebranded from Fat Sal’s, previously operated as a pop-up restaurant in the nearby 39 Gordon Street and in Trademarket before it shut.

It is the second new opening in Common Market this year, with Phat Dragon opening a few months ago. Specialising in the famous ‘half and half’ and other Asian cuisine like spring rolls and a spice bag.

There is a long list of ‘viral’ food places already operating in Common Market, like Wing Society and Smash Bros, which consistently have long lines of punters. It will open alongside Knead, Pie Eyed, Top Dog and Sicarios.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The airport’s first-ever JD Wetherspoon pub will be located in the departures lounge of the newly expanded Terminal 2.

While an exact date is still yet to be confirmed, the airport has said it will open in September, and passengers have been given a first look at the interior.

The new pub will open in September (Image: Manchester Airport)

Manchester Airport reveals name of new JD Wetherspoon pub

Named The Belle Vue, it pays tribute to Manchester’s historic showground, which was once home to a pub, zoological gardens, greyhound racing, and a speedway track.

It was a focal point for social life in the city from the Victorian period right up until 2020, when the final event was held at Belle Vue Stadium.

Spanning 338 square meters and seating more than 300 guests, the venue will feature a clubhouse-style design blending classic and contemporary elements, and decorated with sports memorabilia.

Stephen Turner, chief commercial officer at Manchester Airport, said: “We’re very excited to be able to reveal more detail about Terminal 2’s new JD Wetherspoon pub The Belle Vue, which will encapsulate the spirit and traditions of sporting entertainment in Manchester.

“This will be the first JD Wetherspoon pub at Manchester Airport and it is fantastic to have yet another household name taking its place among those opening units in the terminal, as part of its £1.3bn transformation.”

The pub is the airport’s first-ever JD Wetherspoon venue (Image: Manchester Airport)

The Belle Vue will be the final major food and drink outlet to launch as part of the airport’s £1.3 billion, decade-long transformation programme.

Richard Jackson, retail director at Manchester Airport, said: “From the outset of the transformation programme, we were keen to ensure we had a varied food and drink offering in the terminal with a strong sense of place and The Belle Vue will complement the existing bars and pubs in Terminal 2, expanding the choice on offer to passengers, with something to suit all tastes and budgets.

“Our new Boutique Mall in Terminal 2, featuring a number of fashion’s big names, will open this summer too – so it is shaping up to be an exciting few months.”

JD Wetherspoon chief executive, John Hutson, said: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport.

“We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”

Will you visit the new JD Wetherspoon pub at Manchester Airport? Tell us in the comments below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Kennedy Center is beginning the process of removing references to President Donald Trump a week after a federal judge ruled that his name had been illegally added to the performing arts center.

Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, said in a statement to The Associated Press that “we are complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump’s leadership.”

In a Thursday memo to staff from the Kennedy Center’s Office of General Counsel, the institution’s lawyers said email signatures, letterhead and other documents must reflect the name as “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center.”

The changes, the memo said, must be completed by June 12.

In a May 29 decision, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper also blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that had been planned to start in July.

Hours after the ruling, Trump said he was backing away from the revamp and making arrangements to relinquish control to Congress of what, until the Republican president’s second term, had been known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The next day, Trump on social media branded Cooper as “an anti Trump Hater” and predicted that the performing arts center that he wanted to shutter for a two-year overhaul will “soon be closed, probably never to open again.”

Clearly angered by his latest legal setback, he said it was “impossible for me to be treated fairly,” tying Cooper’s ruling to earlier losses, including the Supreme Court’s rejection in February of his sweeping tariffs.

The removal marked a setback in the president’s second-term plans to remake many of Washington’s landmarks — and add new ones.

On Thursday, his administration said renovations had been completed on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, painting the bottom what Trump has called “American flag blue.” The White House East Wing was demolished to build a large ballroom, and Trump plans to build an arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

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Associated Press writer Hillel Italie in New York contributed to this report. Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C.

James Handy, 81, was found unconscious on his front garden with a stab wound to the chest, according to police

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Top Gun actor James Handy has been fatally stabbed outside his home.

The Jumanji star was killed in Los Angeles on Wednesday, 3 June.

His girlfriend’s son, Michael Gledhill, 44, allegedly told officers he was the person they were searching for, according to the California Post.

Los Angeles Police said they received a deeply disturbing call at around 9.30am on Wednesday from a man who stated “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”

Officers rushed to Handy’s address on the 19200 block of Erwin Street in Tarzana, where the 81 year old was discovered unconscious in his front yard with a stab wound to the chest.

He was pronounced dead after being transported to hospital.

Shortly afterwards, the suspect flagged down police and told them he was the man they were looking for.

Gledhill had been living at home with his mother, and investigators are yet to establish a motive.

He is currently being held on $2 million bail.

The police statement read: “On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, around 9:30 a.m., West Valley area patrol officers responded to a radio call of unknown trouble in the 19200 block of Erwin Street.

“The 911 caller stated, ‘I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.’ Upon their arrival, officers discovered 81-year-old James Handy in the front yard of the residence, unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest.

“The victim was transported to local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, where he was pronounced deceased. The suspect flagged down nearby responding officers, telling them he was the one they were looking for. The suspect resides at the location with his mother, who is the victim’s girlfriend.

“Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and there appears to be no danger to the public at this time,” the police statement said.

Handy’s most recent appearance was in Top Gun: Maverick. Throughout a career spanning back to the 1970s, he also featured in numerous television programmes.

Among them were The West Wing, NYPD Blue, Castle and The X-Files.

Homemade sausage rolls are tasty and easy to make

Sausage rolls are a wonderful snack, made even more enjoyable when prepared at home. There are countless recipes available online to follow, including one from Mary Berry. This particular recipe from Tesco Food boasts more than 35 five-star ratings and requires just three straightforward ingredients.

The recipe notes said: “Could this be the easiest sausage roll recipe ever? You need just three ingredients to create the tastiest snack for your picnic, lunchbox, party or afternoon tea break.”

This recipe yields 16 sausage rolls and takes just over an hour from beginning to end.

Three-ingredient sausage roll recipe

Ingredients:

• Six pork and apple sausages
• Two tablespoons of Bramley apple sauce with cider, plus extra to glaze
• 375g light puff pastry

Method:

Preheat the oven to 220°C or 200°C Fan, then squeeze the sausage meat out of its casing into a bowl.

Mix together until smooth, then stir in the apple sauce and season to taste.

Next, unroll the pastry and slice it in half lengthways. Split the sausage mix in half and shape each half, offset from the middle, along the length of the pastries.

Fold the wider side of the pastry over the top of the meat and press a fork along the border to seal.

Repeat with the other length of pastry, and put both uncut sausage rolls into the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.

Cut both lengths of sausage roll into 8 even pieces and place them on a large, lined baking tray.

Repeat with other sausage rolls, then lightly brush a little apple sauce over them for a delicious glaze.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown, and enjoy warm.

These are best enjoyed on the day of baking but can be reheated the day after.

Jon Boutcher backed a call by Henry Nowak’s parents that his death in Southampton should not be “used to create division”

Some people from ethnic minority communities in Northern Ireland are stockpiling food in their homes out of fear of potential race hate incidents, it has been claimed.

It comes after disorder broke out in Ballymena and spread to other parts of the region last summer.

Police figures have indicated an increase in race hate incidents, with 2,367 recorded between April 2025 and March 2026, up 561 (31%) on the previous year.

These represent the highest recorded levels since the data series began in 2004/05.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher’s latest accountability report to the Policing Board said crimes with a racist motivation increased to 1,507 in 2025/26 from 1,187 in the previous financial year, an increase of 27%.

It also said that a victim satisfaction survey found that those who believed the PSNI treated them with fairness and respect had increased to 85.1%, with almost 70% of victims satisfied with their contact with officers.

During remarks to the board on Thursday Mr Boutcher expressed concern about the “malign influence of bad actors spreading extreme and hateful disinformation on social media”.

He backed a call by Henry Nowak’s parents that his death in Southampton should not be “used to create division”.

“There are those who decide to seek to use any incident in our communities to create misunderstanding, generate fear and provoke hatred,” Mr Boutcher said.

“I, like everybody here, was devastated to watch the footage of Henry Nowak’s arrest and death.

“My heart goes out to Henry’s family who, with great dignity and humility… make clear his death would not be used to create division.

“Offensive murals, banners and posters have recently been erected in parts of Northern Ireland. It’s incumbent on all of us to stand up to all forms of hatred.”

Former Community Relations Council chairman Peter Osborne welcomed the comments by Mr Boutcher.

He put to the leadership of the PSNI that the report “shows that race hate incidents and crime from a very high level are getting even higher, both numerically and proportionately”.

He said he has heard from ethnic minority communities an appreciation of PSNI outreach at a senior level, but also of anxiety and fear of “what’s going to happen over the next number of months”.

“I even hear of people storing food in the house,” he said.

“To be clear what that means, there are people, because of the colour of their skin, believe that over the summer they may be so frightened that they or their families will not leave the house for long periods of time.

“You mentioned bad actors, whether it’s banners appearing where the legislation is clear about removing it, or whether it’s people on social media or any other manifestation of that race hate – how are you preparing for the summer?”

Mr Boutcher replied: “We have a really good relationship with ethnic minority communities. I meet them regularly.

“We’ve had some really difficult major disturbances in the last two years. I’ve spoken to this board about me meeting families who weren’t reporting activity against them and never have, because there was an acceptance of it, and now they are reporting that.”

Mr Boutcher said officers are “always alive” to incidents elsewhere causing tensions, leading to disorder on the streets of Northern Ireland.

“I do have some real concerns because of what I’ve seen happen this week, but we are ready for it, and we’re reassuring people,” he added.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.