It is no coincidence that the UK and its allies chose a security conference in Munich to accuse the Kremlin of killing Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny with dart frog poison.
The news that Mr Navalny, 47, had died in prison in Russia broke on the opening day of the same Munich Security Conference of global leaders almost exactly two years ago.
Naming the person or government allegedly responsible for such a political assassination – if the claim of poisoning is substantiated – is a form of information weapon.
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The intent is to make sure perpetrators cannot hide in the shadows and could face serious consequences such as sanctions or even criminal convictions.
The thinking – which might well be wildly optimistic – is that greater scrutiny could make a hostile state think twice before sanctioning plots to kill political opponents or other enemies.
Only Russia could poison Navalny – Yvette Cooper
It is doubtful that the efforts by Yvette Cooper, the British foreign secretary, and her German, Swedish and Danish counterparts, who made the poisoning announcement, along with Mr Navalny’s widow, will deter the Kremlin from such allegedly ruthless action in the future.
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However, their words are at the very least evidence of a growing resolve amongst NATO allies to stand up to what they regard as attempts by President Vladimir Putin to attack their countries and societies in the grey zone – under the threshold of conventional war. This also includes acts of sabotage, cyber hacks and disinformation spread online.
Speaking to a group of journalists about the case, Ms Cooper spelt out clearly the charges she was levying against Moscow.
“We have confirmed that a deadly toxin was found in Alexei Navalny’s body and that toxin has been identified as a toxin that is found in Ecuadorian dart frogs,” she said.
“Only the Russian government had the means, the motive and the opportunity to use that toxin against Alexei Navalny in prison and that is why we are here today to shine a spotlight on the Kremlin’s barbaric attempt to silence Alexi Navalny’s voice. To show that the Russian government has contempt for its citizens and the willingness to use this deadly toxin.”
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How could Navalny have been killed by toxin of poisonous frog?
Yulia Navalnaya, Mr Navalny’s widow, also spoke. She learnt about her husband’s death while at the Munich conference on 16 February, 2024.
“It was the most horrible day in my life,” she recalled, visibly upset.
“I came to the stage and I said my husband Alexei Navalny was poisoned. What could else happen with Putin’s number one enemy in Russian prison?
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“But – sorry, it is very difficult for me to say this – what could else happen with my husband in Russian prison? But now I understand and I know it is not just words. It is scientific proof.”
British scientists played a key role in identifying the deadly neurotoxin – called epibatidine – that was allegedly administered to Mr Navalny.
The poison is found in the skin of the South American dart frogs, although Sky News understands it is likely the version used in the alleged murder was manufactured in a laboratory.
Image: Yulia Navalnaya spoke about the death of her husband
The effects of the poison are devastating, causing paralysis, respiratory arrest and an agonising death.
If – as claimed by Britain – the Kremlin did choose to use such an exotic substance to silence a critic, it demonstrates an unusual level of ruthlessness.
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The Kremlin is already accused of trying to kill Mr Navalny in 2020 with a Novichok nerve agent – the same chemical weapon deployed against a former Russian spy on the streets of Salisbury two years earlier.
Fighting back, Moscow is well-practised and highly adept in the information space.
Its embassy in London was quick to respond to the allegations about dart frog poisonings.
“The goal of this ridiculous circus performance is transparent: to stoke waning anti-Russian sentiment in Western society. If there’s no pretext, they laboriously invent one,” it said.
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“The method chosen by Western politicians – necropropaganda – is truly shocking. This isn’t a quest for justice, but a mockery of the dead. Even after the death of a Russian citizen, London and European capitals cannot give him peace, which speaks volumes about the instigators of this campaign.”
The attack follows a series of “retaliatory strikes” by Tehran against American buildings in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
A blast has struck the US Embassy in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, police have confirmed, with multiple explosions heard at the entrance to the US compound in the early hours of Sunday (March 8) morning.
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It remains unclear if anyone sustained any injuries in the explosion.
Oslo police spokesperson Mikael Dellemyr confirmed authorities were called to the American compound at about 1am local time, in the wake of a loud blast and heavy smoke near the consular building.
“The police are in a dialog with the embassy,” he said, adding that police will remain at the scene “for many hours” to come. Local students who drove past the scene described the area being engulfed in smoke immediately after the explosion.
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“There was a very thick layer of smoke on the street,” said Sebastian Toerstad, an 18-year-old school student who drove past the embassy at the time of the incident, as per CNN.
Norweigan publication NRK reports that police have combined the use of ” dogs, drones and helicopters to find one or more potential perpetrators” in connection with the blast.
The embassy explosion comes in the wake of recent attacks on diplomatic buildings around the globe, with similiar attacks in Saudi Arabia. linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel, the US, and Iran.
Police urged the public to report any tips or unusual observations from the area between midnight and 2:00 am (2300 GMT and 0100 GMT).
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The attack follows a series of “retaliatory strikes” by Tehran against American buildings in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
So, before you dismiss your morning stroll, here are some of the many benefits of walking:
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1) It’s great for your heart
As little as 2,337 steps a day can lower your risk of dying from heart-related health conditions, including heart attack and stroke, a review of studies found.
It can help to manage your blood pressure and cholesterol, too.
2) Your lungs will thank you
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According to a 2025 paper, faster walkers tend to have a much lower risk of lung cancer than slower strollers. That aside, walking is an aerobic exercise which strengthens your lungs over time.
3) It can strengthen your bones
In one study, postmenopausal women – a group at higher risk of weakened bones – who walked about 1.6km a day had denser bones and a lower rate of bone loss than those who didn’t.
4) Walkers sleep better
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Walking seems to improve every facet of your kip, from sleep quality to preventing 3am wakeups to ensuring you’re not sleepy the next day and improving sleep efficiency. Half an hour a day seems plenty.
5) It can help your joints
The more purposeful steps participants in a 2025 paper took, the less likely they were to experience knee arthritis.
That’s just one piece of evidence suggesting the activity may help to protect your joints. It can also ease pain in existing arthritis cases.
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6) Walking may lower dementia risk
Walking 9,826 steps a day has been linked to a 51% reduction in dementia risk. But you don’t have to do that much to see that likelihood go down; walking for 7,000 steps a day is associated with a 38% lower risk.
7) It makes us live longer
Walking 7,000 steps a day has been linked to a 47% risk reduction in all-cause mortality. A half-hour brisk walk daily may add 1.4 years to women’s lives, and 2.5 to men’s.
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8) It can protect from type 2 diabetes and control the blood sugar in those who have it
Researchers think physical activity could flush bacteria from our airways, though we’re not yet sure.
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Whatever the exact mechanism, though, people who walked 20 minutes or more a day had 43% fewer sick days than those who exercised once a week or less in one paper.
10) It may protect from some cancers
One study involving young men found that regular brisk walking was linked to a reduced risk of nine types of cancer (including pancreatic, kidney, and oesophageal kinds) as they aged.
Another review of studies suggested that premenopausal women who moved the most, including through walking, had a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer – But we will remember.
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The race itself was a mixture of the fun and the downright confusing, which was perhaps to be expected as the sport gets to grips with the biggest regulation overhaul in a generation.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, starting fourth, got off to a flyer thanks to his car’s smaller turbo and passed Russell in short order, with Lewis Hamilton almost doing likewise.
The opening laps were frantic. The lead changed hands six times in nine laps as the cars experienced the ‘yo-yo’ effect which had been predicted, with drivers depleting their batteries overtaking each other, then allowing their rivals to re-overtake them.
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By lap 25, five cars were already out of the race, there had been two virtual safety car (VSC) periods and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was already 11 laps down on the leaders as Aston Martin treated the grand prix as an in-race test.
Overall, F1 announced afterwards, there were 120 overtakes in the race, up from 45 last year.
A Ferrari strategy blunder – failing to bring either driver into the pits after the first VSC came out – effectively decided the race, allowing Russell and Antonelli to reclaim the lead once Ferrari did finally come in.
Russell eventually took the chequered flag 2.9 seconds clear of his team-mate, with Leclerc holding off the fast-closing Hamilton for third. Hamilton, who was chasing his first podium for Ferrari, was just 0.6sec behind his team mate at the finish, which was encouraging for him.
She has spoken about her struggle with her mental health as a teenager and credited her love of music and theatre for helping with her recovery.
Carla Feric Press Association Entertainment Reporter
06:00, 08 Mar 2026
Irish actress Jessie Buckley has spoken about her struggle with her mental health as a teenager, and has credited her love of music and theatre for helping with her recovery.
Buckley, 36, from Killarney, Co Kerry, has been a juggernaut through awards season, receiving a string of awards for her performance as William Shakespeare’s wife Agnes Hathaway, historically known as Anne, in the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel.
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Buckley described acting as “essential” and said it is “like water to me”, adding that her passion for her craft helped her to overcome an eating disorder and depression during her school years.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne, Buckley said: “I didn’t know how to be alive the way I wanted to be, and it was difficult.
“But I do not for a second regret it, and I think I’ve been able to transform it and recognise our vulnerabilities as humans in the world.
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“You can’t walk through life not being affected, but you can transform that into something that allows you to be more human and alive in the way that you want to be.”
She continued: “When I moved to London, I still wasn’t out of the woods.
“I think there were moments where I was like, ‘if I don’t get better here, this music, this being part of theatre – I’m not going to be able to do this any more, and I probably won’t survive’.
“And that was the thing that turned it in my head, I was like, ‘I don’t want to sacrifice that, this is bigger than that’, and won.”
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The actress, who has been nominated for an Oscar, remembered the first time she performed on stage and said: “It was like drinking water, you know? I just think, the more I did it, the more I realised this is essential to me.”
Buckley also recounted her time on BBC talent show I’d Do Anything, which was about the search for an actress to play Nancy in a West End production of Oliver!, and which catapulted her to fame.
In an interview with British Vogue in January, she spoke about being criticised for her appearance during her time on the show.
Speaking to Laverne, Buckley said: “I don’t like that part of it.
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“I think that was a young woman who’s trying to discover her body and herself, like we all do. And I wish that hadn’t happened.
“I think I was putting a brave face on, because really what I wanted to do was sing and I wanted to act, and I wanted to be part of this industry, and all of a sudden you had to be a certain kind of person.
“And I just wasn’t, I never will be. That’s just not me.”
Buckley added: “I’m so proud of that girl. I think she did great and I don’t regret any of it.”
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She also spoke about her “extraordinary” mother, and said: “My parents are no longer together, and she lives in Dublin, and she’s writing her own story right now at 60 years of age, and I’m so proud of her.”
She sounded emotional as she gave her first song choice, which was a rendition of her mother, Marina, singing O Holy Night in church.
Listen to the full Desert Island Disc episode on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 4 from Sunday at 10am.
A renewed deep-sea search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been unsuccessful.
The Boeing 777 disappeared from radar shortly after departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport en route to Beijing – 12 years ago today.
In a statement, Malaysia’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau said 28 days of searching, covering more than 2,900 square miles (7,500 sq km), had yielded no new findings.
A company called Ocean Infinity had been given permission to scour the Indian Ocean on a “no find, no fee” basis.
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The agreement meant it would only be paid $70m (£52m) if the wreckage was located.
Image: An Australian flight officer scans the waters of the southern Indian Ocean during a search for the missing MH370 in 2014. Pic: AP
Malaysian officials say they “remain committed to keeping the families informed and will continue to provide updates as appropriate”.
Voice370 – a group representing the families of those who were on board the flight – have urged the government to extend its contract with Ocean Infinity.
The search, which happened in two phases, were periodically disrupted by poor weather and conditions at sea. It concluded on 23 January.
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However, campaigners fear a third phase won’t begin before June, when the current contract ends, because the winter months are approaching in the southern hemisphere.
Voice370 said: “A simple addendum extending the contract period without altering the core terms of the agreement would allow the search to continue without delay.”
The group added that other exploration firms should be given the opportunity to search on this “no find, no fee” basis.
2024: MH370 search back on
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MH370 was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members when it vanished, becoming one of the world’s most enduring aviation mysteries.
In 2018, a report by Malaysian investigators drew no conclusion about what happened, but did not rule out the possibility that the aircraft was deliberately taken off course.
The events began today and will run until Saturday, March 14.
International Women’s Day is on Sunday, March 8, and this year’s global theme is “Give to Gain”.
One of the upcoming events is a conference at Le Chaudron, Bolton town centre.
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Taking place on International Women’s Day itself, the conference will run from 2pm to 8pm.
It has been described on social media as a celebration of women’s empowerment, with a special focus on supporting African artisans.
Attendees will be able to shop directly from artisan stalls, mingling with the conference’s educational and inspirational talks.
The attendance list features the mayor, councillors, and a roster of notable guest speakers, including Ms Olaide Awogbile, Nkoyo Shadracks, Joanne Chipo Angel Mclean, Noelene Gillat, Carine Embala, and First Lady Primrose.
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Bolton Council and Bolton Library and Museum Services have put together a week-long programme of free events to celebrate this special day from March 10 to March 14.
The programme will include special guided tours and book decoration sessions.
The tours, named ‘The Brilliant Women of Bolton’, are an exploration of the achievements of the town’s remarkable women.
These free guided tours, starting from Bolton Town Hall’s ‘Women of Bolton’ corridor, will take place on Tuesday (March 10) and Thursday (March 12) at 10.30am and 3.30pm.
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The tours will conclude at the museum where related collections and expert-led stories of the women will be shown.
Limited capacity applies to these tours.
On Monday, March 9, Bolton Central Library will host ‘Bedazzled Books and Brilliant Women’.
This book-themed event from 5.15pm to 6.15pm gives attendees a chance to decorate books by female authors and share reading tips.
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Anyone aged 14 and above is welcome, and all craft materials are provided.
The Women in Bolton’s Archives Tours will take place on Saturday (March 14) at Bolton Central Library.
Bolton’s Town Archivist will lead behind-the-scenes tours of the town archives at 11am and 2pm, exploring the history of women who shaped Bolton.
Tickets are limited due to space constraints.
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For a grand conclusion to the fortnight-long celebration, a film screening by Bolton UNISON will be held at the Bolton HUB, Bold Street (BL1 1LS), on Saturday, March 14, as a nod to International Women’s Day 2026.
A brand-spanking new sci-fi action movie on Netflix has captured its top spot on the streamer’s chart (Picture: Ben King/Netflix)
Netflix’s latest original film has been praised by fans as one of the best films of 2026 and ‘highly entertaining’ on its way to top the streamer’s charts.
War Machine, starring Reacher actorAlan Ritchson, soared straight into the number one position in the UK just one day after its pretty quiet release on the platform.
It beat the likes of Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s action caper The Fall Guy, popular animated movie The Boss Baby, grisly horror Abigail and true crime documentary Murder on the Doorstep.
War Machine, directed and co-written by The Hitman’s Bodyguard filmmaker Patrick Hughes, follows the final recruits of a gruelling special ops boot camp who encounter a deadly force from beyond this world.
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The movie also stars Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, Jai Courtney and Mission: Impossible’s Esai Morales.
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Ritchson plays Staff Sergeant 81, a highly capable Afghanistan veteran with PTSD who struggles to bond with his fellow candidates and refuses a team leader position on the course despite his experience.
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War Machine stars Alan Ritchson as a soldier on the elite Rangers selection course who encounters an alien threat (Picture: Ben King/Netflix)
During the final exercise, the team is startled by an unknown blast in the sky, which knocks out communications, before they find what looks to be a classified aircraft in the creek.
But after detonating it with explosives, it transforms into a walking machine and starts killing the team, with Ritchson’s character heard saying in the trailer: ‘Whatever that thing is it’s hunting us – and it won’t stop.’
War Machine has made a solid debut with fans and critics alike, managing a 70% rating so far from professional reviewers on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes and 75% from audiences.
‘Legitimately entertaining, it’s not an Oscar contender but a great popcorn movie. Basically Reacher fights space robot, but well shot and a good time,’ summarised Brett W.
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The film has been described as ‘a great popcorn movie’ and fans are already hoping for a sequel (Picture: Ben King/Netflix)
Other fans were more effusive, with Melissa W writing, ‘I loved it. Had to pause it for a minute to get myself together’, while others singled it out as the best action movie of 2026 so far and several shared their hopes for a sequel.
‘Kept me on edge the whole movie, waiting for the 2nd,’ said Dominic M, and Edith N added: ‘Not the biggest fan of war movies but this kept me watching and wanting more action and hits of wit. I hope there is sequel because I felt hanging and hoping for more [sic.].’
But some audience members were less entertained, dissmissing it as ‘brainless eye candy and immediately forgettable’ and suggesting there was ‘a good movie in here trying to get out’.
Will you be watching War Machine on Netflix?
Yes, it sounds entertaining
No, it’s not my cup of tea
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Critics praised it as ‘gloriously fun’ while reviewer Nagier Chambers quipped: ‘It does not reinvent the wheel, but it straps alien artillery onto it and drives it hard enough to make for an entertaining, if familiar, ride.’
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‘War Machine is big, loud, occasionally ridiculous, and fully aware of it. It’s a high-volume time killer that doesn’t apologise for its influences – it practically flexes them,’ observed AU Review’s piece as JoBlo’s Movie Network’s critic called it ‘a fun and action-packed throwback that’s one of the better action movies in recent memory’.
It’s received largely positive notices from critics as well (Picture: Ben King/Netflix)
‘The pleasures of Netflix’s sci-fi action movie War Machine are simple, straightforward, and gut-level. There’s a strong thread of competence porn here, and it covers both what’s happening on screen, and what’s clearly going on behind it,’ argued Polygon’s review.
But others were less generous, as critic Eddie Harrison described it as ‘a Predator rip-off without a fresh idea in its thick head’.
But the 43-year-old actor has said that War Machine represented his biggest challenge yet.
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Reacher star Ritchson said War Machine pushed him further than ever before (Picture: Ben King/Netflix)
‘It was hard. I’m not going to lie, this was the most I’ve ever been pushed physically, and it was the most I’ve ever doubted my own ability to finish,’ he told The Hollywood Reporter.
He and director Hughes have teamed up for a second time already, on an untitled movie based on Vietnam veteran Navy SEAL Mike Thornton’s service, which earned him the Congressional Medal of Honour, the highest US military decoration – and it sounds like the ante has already been upped.
Ritchson revealed: ‘We’re working on another movie now, and it was the first time I ever had to ask for oxygen on set. The first day of filming, I was like, [gasping] “A medic! I’m going to die.”’
War Machine is streaming exclusively now on Netflix.
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A travel content creator believes this enchanting village is worthy of your holiday bucket list, with pastel buildings, sub-tropical gardens and stunning architecture that will transport you to the Mediterranean
Alan Johnson Social News Reporter
06:07, 08 Mar 2026
Next time you’re planning a UK break, you might want to take note of a travel content creator who insists she’s discovered a picture-perfect spot that will make you “feel like you’re in Italy”.
After visiting the location, Amy Hulley described the captivating British village as thoroughly deserving of a place on your holiday “bucket list” as she posted an update to Instagram for her followers. “For a moment I genuinely forgot I was in the UK,” she confessed in a video. Visitors can purchase an entrance ticket to explore the village for the day, or book accommodation in one of its charming hotels and cottages.
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The destination? Portmeirion in Gwynedd, North Wales on the border of Snowdonia National Park.
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Amy added: “Pastel buildings. Arches and domes. Palm trees overlooking the water. It felt Mediterranean, almost cinematic.”
She also disclosed her visit happened to coincide with a steampunk festival, with period dress and live entertainment only contributing further to the “fun atmosphere”.
Discussing the village’s exotic gardens and remarkable architecture, Amy continued: “Sir Clough Williams-Ellis began creating it in 1925 to prove that colourful, theatrical design could sit beautifully within nature rather than damage it. Every building was carefully positioned to frame the estuary and protect the woodland around it.”
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Writing in response, one past tourist praised: “A wonderful place to visit, a little expensive but worth it!”
A second person admitted: “Wow I can’t believe this is in the UK, Amy. Stunning Italian vibes.” A third enthused: “Can’t wait to visit here! So picturesque.”
While a fourth Instagram user gushed: “This is beautiful, it’s definitely on my bucket list now.”
Meanwhile, Portmeirion’s official tourism website proudly states: “Experience the magic of staying in Portmeirion. See the dawn break over the mountains of Meirionnydd; watch the tide fill the Dwyryd estuary from shore to shore.
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“Stay in one of two luxury 4-star hotels or in a suite in the middle of the village. Portmeirion also offers self-catering accommodation on the picturesque North Wales coast. Situated on the southern flank of its own private peninsula, Portmeirion is a place apart.”
The village also features multiple cafes alongside an Italian-style gelateria serving genuine home-made gelato. “There are three shops in the village The Prisoner Shop with souvenirs of the famous series filmed here in 1966-67, the Rob Piercy Gallery and The Ship Shop with gifts, toys, housewares and Portmeirion Pottery best-ware, Portmeirion Pottery seconds as well as preserves, wines, and confectioneries,” the website continues.
It also served as the filming location for the 1960s cult classic series, The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan. “It was probably one of the most influential pieces of television of the 1960’s not only in the UK and USA, but also in France, Australia, and many other countries,” according to the site.
The website elaborates: “The series is rich in imagery and visual impact. The surreal architecture of the village with its Mediterranean atmosphere coupled with the high-tech interiors, tannoys, surveillance cameras and piped music create a bizarre combination.”
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