A ceremonial plaque is also being proposed

A Northern Ireland council is to consider conferring the Freedom of the Borough Kilrea-born football manager, Martin O’Neill.

During June’s Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council meeting members were presented with a motion by Sinn Féin Councillor Sean Bateson. It seeks to award the Freedom of the Borough to Mr O’Neill, who recently led Celtic FC to victory in the Scottish Premiership.

A ceremonial plaque in Kilrea is also being proposed.

The notice of motion was seconded by fellow Sinn Féin Councillor Leanne Peacock, and reads: “That this council recognises and celebrates the outstanding sporting achievements of Martin O’Neill, a native of Kilrea, whose distinguished career has brought immense pride and recognition to Kilrea and the wider Causeway Coast and Glens Borough.

“Council notes his exceptional contribution to football both as a player and manager, including winning two European Cups with Nottingham Forest, captaining at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and enjoying major managerial success with clubs including Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.

“Council further notes his recent return to management with Celtic, culminating in the remarkable achievement of winning the league title at the age of 74, demonstrating his enduring leadership and contribution to the game.

“Accordingly, this council calls on officers to explore appropriate ways to formally recognise Martin O’Neill’s contribution and legacy within the borough, including the installation of a commemorative plaque or civic recognition in Kilrea and/or the awarding of the Freedom of the Borough.

“Council further agrees to engage with local stakeholders, sporting organisations and the O’Neill family as part of this process.”

Members agreed to consider the motion at a future meeting of council’s Corporate Policy and Resources Committee, while a separate proposal to award the Freedom of the Borough to Coleraine FC, following their Irish Cup win, will be debated at a future Special Council Meeting.

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BUNIA, Congo (AP) — The rare Bundibugyo type of Ebola that Congo is battling took locals by surprise after weeks of spreading unnoticed. Hundreds of cases were suspected when the outbreak was declared in May, but many dismissed the news as a “Western conspiracy.”

Congolese authorities announced the new Ebola outbreak on May 15. As of Wednesday, at least 62 people had died from 363 confirmed cases. Yet the outbreak has been challenged by skepticism, attacks on health workers and misinformation.

Vérité Johnson, a journalist and editorial secretary at the Radio Télévision Mont Bleu station in Bunia, the eastern Ituri province capital where the outbreak is concentrated, decided to produce a new program to combat rumors.

The radio show has emerged as a vital tool to win over some residents who have been unaware or skeptical about the facts of Bundibugyo.

The 45-minute program runs daily at 10 a.m., reminding people of the dangers and regularly featuring health specialists providing updates and answering questions. The show’s jingles about the virus also play intermittently throughout the day and residents are able to call in with questions.

“So far, there’s still a layer of resistance within the population, and that’s where the media plays an important role,” Johnson said.

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Analysts say some people in Congo have been receptive to disinformation due to mistrust of the healthcare system and because some local officials have not become actively involved in containing the disease.

“What is key is to involve the local actors at all levels. If we try to impose what we think is right to the community, we are running towards failure,” said Basile Rambaud, emergency programs director for Mercy Corps in Congo. “If people do not trust the response, they end up delaying to seek care, rejecting protective measures, or avoiding working with health teams, giving the virus more time to spread.”

Ituri province residents have launched at least three attacks against health centers, demanding the bodies of deceased patients. Some people who are believed to have Ebola left the centers during the attacks and health workers could not account for their whereabouts.

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“We don’t even know what the body of a person who died of Ebola looks like, but we just see images and montages on our phone,” said Bunia resident Chantal Francine, who expressed doubts over the reported deaths.

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Full scale of the outbreak is unknown

The virus has rapidly spread from an initial three health zones to 24, according to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said Wednesday that the virus “had a big start.”

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Experts and WHO officials have warned the numbers might not reflect the true scale of the epidemic as weeks of testing for the wrong type caused a delay in containing the virus.

The outbreak has been worsened by an ongoing armed conflict between Congo’s government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, as well as attacks by the Islamic State-affiliated group the Allied Democratic Force, which killed 16 people in Beni territory in North Kivu on Tuesday.

The attacks by both groups have caused massive displacement of people living in the conflict areas, officials said.

Despite the growing Bundibugyo outbreak and the conditions that are enabling the disease to spread, Johnson said Radio Télévision Mont Bleu continues providing residents with vital facts.

“Everyone is free to think what they want, but the information remains the same. The epidemic is here,” Johnson said.

___

Adetayo reported from Lagos, Nigeria.

Tickets for the star’s only UK show are out in the next few days.

Christina Aguilera has confirmed she will be playing one major show in the UK this year. The gig is due to take place on Friday, August 2026.

The iconic American star has not played a headline show in the UK since her 2022 show at London’s O2 Arena. Now, she’s set her sights on a royal location.

The 45-year-old will be performing at the incredible Sandringham Estate. This is best known as one of King Charles ‘ residences.

READ MORE:

And Christina Aguilera will not be performing at this location alone. She has a massive line-up of guests joining her throughout the day of the one-off concert.

On the docket are some legendary British names from throughout the pop industry. This includes Craig David, Blue and Ruby Roberts.

Buy Christina Aguilera tickets from AXS

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Buy tickets here.

Christina Aguilera tickets can be purchased from AXS here.

Tickets for this historic show will be released in a matter of days. But fans who are excited to get involved are encouraged to prepare ahead of time.

We’ve detailed everything fans need to know about how to buy tickets this month, and where to look. Here are the details.

How to buy Christina Aguilera tickets now

Christina Aguilera tickets will be released on general onsale from Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 9am. These will be available from a couple of different online retailers.

First up is Ticketmaster, one of the world’s biggest ticket-sellers. They’re followed by AXS, another of the show’s official ticket sellers.

Here are the ticket links:

AXS – Buy Christina Aguilera tickets here.

TICKETMASTER – Buy Christina Aguilera tickets here.

At the time of writing, this is Christina Aguilera’s only confirmed UK show of 2026. She is not expected to announce any other shows.

Her show at Sandringham Estate is part of the HeritageLive Festival series of concerts. Included in the line-up at the moment are such incredible names as Janet Jackson, Lionel Richie and Eric Clapton.

Giles Cooper of HeritageLive Festival said: “We’re delighted to have Christina Aguilera completing our 2026 line-up. There aren’t many artists who have had the kind of career Christina has. For more than 25 years she’s continued to reinvent herself while remaining one of the most recognisable and respected voices in music.

“Her catalogue speaks for itself, and her live performances continue to showcase the extraordinary talent and stage presence that have defined her career. To welcome an artist of her stature to Sandringham is a real moment for us, and we can’t wait to see her take to the stage this summer alongside some incredible special guests in Craig David, Blue, and Ruby Roberts.”

He added: “With five incredible nights of live music ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be our biggest year yet!”

Elliott (UK) Limited, based in Trimdon Colliery, is seeking to amend its current licence to include an additional site for storing its goods vehicles.

The new operating centre would be located at Blue Cube Storage Ltd on Blackhills Road, Horden, Peterlee.

The company is looking to park three goods vehicles at the site, with no trailers.

People who own or occupy land near the proposed new operating centre, and who believe their use or enjoyment of their land would be affected by the change, have the right to make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner.

For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal – Public Notices from The Northern Echo ( publicnoticeportal.uk). 

These should be addressed to Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, and must be made within 21 days of the notice being published.

Representations must clearly state the reasons for the objection.

At the same time, a copy of the representations should be sent to the applicant at their registered address on North Moor Avenue.

A guide on how to make these representations is available on the government’s website.

Japanese authorities have been trying to catch a bear in north-east Japan after it injured four people and evaded capture seemingly by opening a window by itself.

Footage released previously shows the bear chasing and attacking a man outside a building in Fukushima.

The bear was then holed up inside an electronics factory but escaped in the night, authorities said.

The bear’s trail suggests it released the window latch and pushed it open, according to city officials.

Before Wednesday’s escape, the bear was reportedly seen turning on a water tap with its paws.

“We believe it to be extremely intelligent,” Fukushima Mayor Yuki Baba said, according to Kyodo news agency.

More on this story here.

The UK may have to make ‘different choices and different priorities’ in the face of growing threats from Russia.

That’s the warning issued by Sir Richard Knighton, the chief of defence staff.

Talking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said the UK is in ‘the most dangerous period’ in decades and we need to prepare of potential ‘longer conflicts’.

He cites Russia using cyber attacks, technology smuggling, reckless sabotage and ‘assassination attempts’ to test and challenge our defences.

Sir Richard also said the country needs to invest more in our drone capability because they’re ‘going to be increasingly important in the future of warfare’.

He said: ‘In my 35-year career, this is the most dangerous period that I have known, and as a consequence, it is important that we enhance the capability and the readiness of our armed forces alongside our allies to deter our adversaries from doing something daft.

‘Over the last two decades we have been preparing for shorter wars and for conflicts that are confined and limited, what we need to ready ourselves for is potentially much greater, longer conflicts, as we’ve seen in Ukraine.’

On Monday, the Defence Secretary John Healy told MPs Prime Minister Keir Starmer was hoping to launch the UK’s long-await defence investment plan before the Nato summit in Turkey on July 7.

MORE: Janette Manrara confirms she’s ‘no longer a part’ of Strictly Come Dancing

MORE: Putin mouthpiece says using nuclear weapons would be ‘good’ for Russia

MORE: BBC Radio 2 legend Bob Harris releases sad statement as he retires due to ill health

Kaleb Cooper is reportedly set to star in an advert for a brand associated with fellow Clarkson’s Farm star Jeremy Clarkson as his career continues to build momentum

One of the break-out stars from Jeremy Clarkson’s Clarkson’s Farm Amazon Prime television show has been Diddly Squat’s farm manager Kaleb Cooper.

Since the show first aired in 2021, the nation has fallen in love with the 27-year-old whose career has gone from strength to strength.

In recent years he has developed a following around the UK and even done his own solo tours outside of his work with Jeremy.

As a result, Kaleb has become one of the leading voices for the next generation of farmers tackling the economic and environmental challenges sweeping the UK and its farms.

Now, Kaleb is set to take another step in his career development as he is due to appear in Hawkstone’s first major television advert that will aired during ITV’s coverage for the World Cup.

According to reports, Kaleb will feature in the advert that is due to have its first public airing on June 17 before England’s group game against Croatia.

However, Kaleb will not be static in the advert with the author also set to do his own stunt. The Times reports that Jeremy has taken a step back as he let’s Kaleb come to the fore.

The 66-year-old said: “He’s Tom Cruise now. We have done online ads but never done a proper, full-on, all the bells and whistles, hair and make-up, two catering trucks, full ad-man-gone-mad television commercial before.

“The star is Kaleb. I am just in the back, where I belong.”

It isn’t just Jeremy who thinks that Kaleb’s star should continue to rise further. Fans have also come out in support of Kaleb having his own breakaway farming show after the fifth season of Clarkson’s Farm was released.

One person wrote on Reddit in response to a post about Kaleb becoming a father: “Damn Kaleb needs to get his own TV show.”

Kaleb is also due to star in his own show on Prime Video called ‘Kaleb in Australia’, but this is yet to air.

Filmed last year, it will follow Kaleb as he travels to Australia and learns more about the country’s agricultural industry.

Announcing news of the programme on his Instagram, the father of three said: “You know hard it is for me to leave Chippy so flying to Australia is definitely taking me out of my comfort zone. But I’m on a mission to see if I can make my farming contracting business go international.”

One of the people to respond to the positive news was Kaleb’s colleague Jeremy, who joked that Kaleb’s absence would allow him to run his farm how he wanted.

He wrote: “I’m so happy about this. Because finally I can run my farm without him mucking everything up.”

Ethan Simpson, 14, disappeared from the Forfar area on Saturday night but has now been located.

A teenage boy who had been missing from Forfar for nearly a week has been found. Ethan Simpson, 14, was reported missing on the morning of Monday, June 1 after last being seen in the Priory Court area on Saturday night.

Officers launched a public appeal for information as concerns grew for the young man’s welfare and enquiries were launches to establish his movements since he was last seen on May 30.

The public were asked if they had seen Ethan or anyone matching his description, or had any private CCTV, doorbell or dash-cam footage which may have captured anything which could help cops find him.

His devastated mum Claire Simpson, who lives in York, said her son had been staying with his dad in Scotland when he vanished. She issued a heartbreaking plea for help on Facebook on Tuesday which was shared thousands of times.

Attaching two photos of Ethan, Claire said in part: “My little boy is missing… Ethan is just 14 years old and loved and missed very much.

“The police are doing all they can to help find him safe but if by some miracle he makes it back to York, please can you keep an eye out for him and let either myself or the police know.”

Police Scotland has now confirmed that Ethan has been traced. In an updated statement issued last night, a spokesperson for the force said: “Ethan Simpson, reported missing from Forfar, has been traced.

“Thank you to everyone who shared and responded to our appeal.”

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The initiative, launched as BSI marks its 125th anniversary, brings together parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to highlight how standards help the UK respond to global challenges – from emerging technologies, to workplace wellbeing.

Bathgate and Linlithgow MP Kirsteen Sullivan has been appointed as a Parliamentary Champion for the British Standards Institution (BSI), joining a new cross-party network of MPs and Peers committed to promoting the importance of standards in Westminster and beyond.

The initiative, launched as BSI marks its 125th anniversary, brings together parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to highlight how standards help the UK respond to global challenges – from emerging technologies, to workplace wellbeing.

Ms Sullivan said: “It is a real honour to take on the role of Parliamentary Champion for BSI. Standards play a vital role in everyday life, often without us even realising it.

“From something as simple as the safety of the plugs in our homes, to the reliability of fire alarms and the protection offered by workplace equipment, standards help ensure the products and services we rely on are safe, effective and trustworthy.

“Through my work campaigning for inclusive personal protective equipment (PPE), I have seen first hand how important it is that standards work for everyone.

“I want to use this role to raise awareness of just how important standards are – not only in underpinning safety, but in supporting innovation, improving quality of life and ensuring fairness across society.”

BSI, the UK’s national standards body, has a long history of shaping safety and quality in public life.

From its origins developing standards for infrastructure such as bridges and railways, to modern work on areas like net zero, artificial intelligence and digital technologies, standards continue to provide consistency and trust.

The newly launched Parliamentary Champions network reflects the universal importance of this work.

It aims to strengthen understanding of how standards support safe products, resilient supply chains and economic growth, while ensuring protections keep pace with rapid technological change.

Ms Sullivan added: “As we enter a new era of industrial and technological change, standards will be more important than ever.

“Whether it is ensuring new technologies are developed responsibly, or making sure workplaces are safe and inclusive, standards provide the foundation we need to build a fairer and safer society.

“I look forward to working with BSI and colleagues across Parliament to champion this vital work and highlight how standards make a real difference in people’s everyday lives.”

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Lucknow Junction on Higher Market Street, Farnworth, has won the Best Regional Indian Cuisine Restaurant – North Indian at the Indian Restaurant Awards 2026.

Monica with the award (Image: Monica Verma)

Based on the North-Indian cuisine of Lucknow, from where head chef and owner Monica Verma hails, the restaurant won despite a crowded field, with competitors from all across the UK.

Monica said: “We’re absolutely over the moon – very, very happy.

“There were many, many restaurants there, from England, Scotland, Wales – there were jurors from India, restaurants there with Michelin stars.”

(Image: Monica Verma)

Lucknow Junction has been open in Farnworth for around 2.5 years, before which it was a takeaway in Oldham.

“People still talk about that takeaway – it was the takeaway’s popularity that convinced us to open up the Farnworth restaurant,” said Monica.

“If you go round Oldham now everyone still knows us.

The award (Image: Monica Verma)

“I had someone tell me once they used to get all their food from Lucknow Junction before it shut – they didn’t know I was the owner!”

Monica is from Lucknow, which is in Northern India, about 45 minutes away from Delhi.

A serious food hub itself, Lucknow has been named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, highlighting its importance as an international food production and innovation centre.

(Image: Monica Verma)

Monica is intent on bringing that culture to the UK.

“It’s quite unique, what we do here,” said Monica.

“The incredible galouti kebabs, the basket chaat – if you look on a Saturday, all our tables are filled with the multicoloured basket chaat. It’s beautiful.”

Basket chaat are small bread-like containers which are filled with a variety of toppings, each one different in flavour and colour, like a bouquet of edible flowers.

“It’s very unusual to get proper Northern Indian food in the UK. You have to have a lot of skill – and heart, of course,” said Monica.

(Image: Monica Verma)

“But 70 per cent of English people don’t know about it. I end up giving them a lecture about it at the table. I look back and they’re all sat there drooling!

“I’m extremely passionate about this food. I wouldn’t put anything on the table that I wouldn’t want to eat myself.”

Lucknow Junction is located at 27 Higher Market Street, Farnworth.