The British government may have been backed into a corner over US demands to launch attack on Iran from UK bases – and it may cause a dramatic split with President Donald Trump, says Mirror Defence and Security Editor Chris Hughes
Britain has apparently flat-out refused permission for the US to launch attacks on Iran from UK military bases, causing tension with Washington.
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Not that US President Donald Trump seems to care about international law and convention but the UK tends, these days, to give it more consideration.
Whilst we play host to tens of thousands of US troops on bases throughout the UK, It has for decades been the UK’s prerogative to green-light offensive actions from its shores by those military personnel. This stems from the 1951 NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951, which was followed a year later by the Visiting Forces Act.
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But tension has really mounted, according to the mentality of the US President, as Trump appears to be annoyed with the UK for its police having arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Perhaps it puts more pressure on America to look at pushing for the FBI to act on the naming of him and others in the Epstein Files.
But the lack of permission for bombers to launch operations from UK bases, although not at all essential to a mission against Iran, could cause a serious rift between Keir Starmer and Trump. The ban likely comes from the fact that an attack on Iran may be deemed illegal since Tehran has not attacked the US.
The 1951 rules define a combat mission as when US aircraft are armed and ready to strike another country. And as such any bomber taking from, say, RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, or Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, and heading for Iran would be considered part of a combat mission.
International law rules there is no difference between a state carrying out an attack and one which has supported that state if its government has prior knowledge “of the circumstances of the internationally wrongful act”. In 1986 the UK gave the green light to the US to launch 18 F-111’s to bomb late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya after a terrorist bombing in Berlin.
Operation El Dorado Canyon was launched in reaction for the death of a US serviceman in that bombing after the US found what it called “exact, precise, and irrefutable” evidence of Libyan involvement. But this time is different and the UK government is likely simply sticking to legality- it can allow the US to refuel etc but just not launch the attack.
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So on that occasion the attack was deemed legal. The United States is pressuring Iran to pull back both its nuclear and ballistic weapons programme, stop funding proxy forces such as Hezbollah and ease ill-treatment of opposition protesters.
And as Geneva were underway this week a huge US war-machine armada was building in the Persian Gulf, under the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. This, and its three guided missile destroyers, will be joined by the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, the biggest warship in the world by the end of the weekend.
Trump has threatened strikes on Iran if it does not reach an agreement. He said Iran will find out “over the next probably ten days” if an agreement can be reached and whether strikes will be launched.
But the UK being seen to impede any aspect of threat towards Iran will have started a rift with Washington and may take a mammoth diplomatic intervention to heal.
Since 2019, Hodgkinson has trained with coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows in Manchester.
Meadows, a former international runner, was in France to watch her protege take almost a second off the 800m indoor record, set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak almost 24 years ago.
“She actually said to me the day before: ‘obviously I know I’m going to get it’,” said Meadows.
“There had been so many benchmarks we measure in training, we had no doubt that she would do it.
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“Her biggest fear was to set a world record, but be disappointed with the time. She said ‘what if I can’t smile? What if I’ve got the world record, and everyone’s so excited, and I think, oh that was rubbish. I could have gone faster’?”
The date – 19 February 2026 – had long been set in the diary by Meadows and Hodgkinson given the track in Lievin is notoriously fast.
“Lievin has had a lot of world records over the years, and we kind of thought ‘you know what, let’s go with the statistics’,” Meadows said.
“We’re only probably going to get one opportunity during this indoor season to go for it. So that’s the event that we picked, and that’s the date we’ve really had etched in our minds the last three months.”
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“I’ve got to say, the time she did was the bare minimum of what she was happy with,” Meadows added.
“She definitely would have liked to run faster, and there was definitely half a second, maybe even up to one second in those legs.”
Everything you need to know as person seriously injured in major crash | Cambridgeshire Live
Need to know
Two people were taken to hospital
Police closed the road(Image: Getty Images)
Everything you need to know
A person has been seriously injured in a major crash in Cambridgeshire. The incident saw a head-on collision take place involving two vehicles this morning. One of the vehicles involved was a truck.
Police officers were called to the A1307 Babraham westboundat 5.25am and they closed the road. Ambulance crews, including two ambulances and a paramedic car, arrived shortly after to provide urgent medical assistance.
Two people were injured in the crash and were taken to hospital for treatment. Both patients were taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
One person has been left with serious injuries, while the second is reported to have sustained only minor injuries. The A1307 Babraham westbound was closed to all traffic immediately following the arrival of the emergency services. This closure began around 6am and remained in place for several hours.
Drivers faced significant delays while the westbound stretch of the A1307 was closed. Drivers were advised to seek alternative routes while the road was cleared and investigated.
Cambridgeshire Police has launched an investigation. The East of England Ambulance Service said two ambulances and a paramedic car were sent
What’s in store for you today? (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The Moon in Aries is tied to Mars in Aquarius, creating a sizzling cosmic energy. Thoughts become action today, and productivity is on the cards.
Pisces, Aquarius and Capricorn, changes are simmering beneath the surface. Tune into this transformation and embrace it with an open mind.
Ambition and innovation will stir today. Don’t apologise for what you want; go after it now, and who knows what the future holds.
Ahead, you’ll find all the star signs’ horoscopes for today: Saturday February 21, 2026.
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Today you get a double shot of courage as a cosmic blend of strong emotions and electric ideas sets things in motion. You’re bold, fired up and ready to act, but your moves are fuelled by innovation, not just instinct. The Moon in your sign and its tie to Mars in Aquarius turns energy into purpose and may push you in unexpected ways. Just watch the impulse to charge ahead without a plan.
Your inner world is buzzing beneath that calm exterior. You’re fired up behind the scenes with planning and maybe even scheming of the productive kind. Flashes of insight around career, purpose or long-term goals could arrive like lightning, especially when you give yourself space to think unconventionally. This isn’t the day for basking in your comfort zone, as it’s more about breakthroughs.
A lively line-up means your energy is electric, your ideas spark like lightning and your social charm is off the charts. Today’s cosmic blend fuels your thirst for action, adventure and a few clever debates along the way. You’re not just thinking outside the box, you’ve launched it into orbit. Group projects or visionary goals could get the green light. Just be mindful not to scatter your brilliance in too many directions.
Your usual cosy instincts get a jolt of ambition and innovation. You may be dreaming about change, but also ready to do something daring, especially in your career or shared ventures. Emotional courage meets strategic firepower, making this the perfect time to take a calculated risk or lead with confidence. Break free from outdated rules and trust your ability to navigate unfamiliar territory.
You may feel bold, bright and a bit rebellious as the Aries Moon aspects Mars in eccentric Aquarius. This alignment fires up your desire for adventure, big ideas and thrilling connections. You’re ready to shake things up, whether it’s booking a spontaneous trip, diving into a new philosophy or sharing something that really needs saying. Even so, being right isn’t as powerful as using wisdom when it’s needed.
You could get a celestial nudge to shake up your usual systems in a strategic way. You may crave depth, efficiency and a dash of rebellion, especially around work, wellness or behind-the-scenes matters. It’s the perfect day to tackle a problem with fresh eyes or finally kick an unhelpful habit for good. Enthusiasm meets precision now and your instincts are sharp. Just don’t let perfectionism slow you down.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
Sparks may be flying in love, collaboration or creative pairings. This is no time for tiptoeing, as you’re drawn to bold connections and brilliant minds, craving excitement with purpose. Someone may challenge you, but that’s not a bad thing, as it could ignite something fresh. A little playful tension might push things in a stimulating new direction.
Your focus zeroes in on routines, responsibilities and that to-do list you’ve been eyeing up. But this isn’t about dull activity, it’s about action with attitude. You’re ready to revolutionise your daily flow, ditch outdated habits and spark change where life has felt stale. Health, work or home projects could get a boost. Be determined, be efficient and above all trust your instincts.
Your energy is practically electric thanks to today’s Moon-Mars tie-up. You’re fired up creatively, romantically and intellectually, and you’re not in the mood to play small. This cosmic blend fuels daring self-expression, unplanned adventures and inspired ideas that deserve sharing. Flirt with life, share that wild concept or dive into a project fearlessly. Let your inner visionary take the wheel and enjoy the ride.
Your foundations are on fire, but in a constructive way. Emotions may bubble up around home, family or your sense of stability, pushing you to make bold moves where you usually prefer careful planning. Have a sudden urge to rearrange your space, initiate a tough conversation or set new boundaries? Follow it. This is action with intention. Lead with calm confidence, but don’t fear the shake-up.
Your mind is blazing and your conversations may be too. You’re bursting with ideas and the urge to act now. Discussions are lively, curiosity fills the air and your words can motivate or mildly startle those around you. Use the energy of the Aries Moon and Mars in your sign to champion a cause, launch a project or say what’s been simmering. Your originality is your power today.
Your inner world buzzes with daring intentions, even if you’re keeping them private. You’re quietly preparing a revolution, driven by intuition and a surge of enthusiasm. This is the perfect time to liberate yourself from an old habit, limiting belief or sleepy routine. Don’t underestimate the power of a private breakthrough. Big changes often start small but can be truly revolutionary.
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Liverpool is not one of the “blue zones” – a term used for regions of the world where people tend to live unusually long lives, such as parts of Sardinia, Okinawa and Ikaria.
Healthy life expectancy in Liverpool is only about 56 years. However, overall life expectancy is much higher there, with many people living into their late 70s and beyond. This means many residents spend their final working years and a large part of retirement managing chronic illness or disability.
Ageing is inevitable but losing independence is not. As a PhD researcher studying muscle ageing, I work with adults in their 70s whose strength, mobility and resilience challenge common assumptions about later life – despite many of them living with long-term health conditions.
Jackie has three prolapsed discs in her spine and osteopenia, a condition where bone density is lower than normal and fracture risk is higher. Norma lives with a stoma following bowel cancer surgery. Mike jokes that his medical notes make him sound like “a wreck”.
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But then you see the three of them train together five times a week.
During lockdown, when gyms closed and isolation threatened their health, they converted Mike’s garage into a makeshift training space so they could keep moving and stay independent. “We thought, we’ve got to do something,” Mike told me.
They embrace effort. They run parkrun, climb stairs deliberately, and value the feeling of being challenged – slightly breathless but capable. I think of them as Liverpool’s “blue people”. Their experience suggests that ageing well depends less on where you live, and more on how you live.
I met them through Research Roasters, a science cafe connecting scientists and the public around health and ageing. They volunteered for studies on muscle health and physical function in later life, and helped shape how they were designed and delivered. They helped refine participant information and consent materials, introduced me to community groups and offered feedback on study design.
Muscle ageing starts earlier than many people realise. From our 30s, strength begins to decline – often faster than muscle size. People can look healthy while their muscle function is deteriorating.
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One simple way to glimpse this is through movement. Try standing up from a chair and sitting back down five times as quickly as possible without using your hands. If it feels slow, difficult or unstable, it may signal reduced muscle quality.
This matters because muscle function predicts future health. Poor muscle quality increases fall risk, slows recovery and raises the likelihood of conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
At the microscopic level, muscle quality is shaped by proteins. These generate force, produce energy and repair damage. Unlike genes which remain relatively stable, proteins are constantly renewed. During physical activity, muscles rebuild and reorganise their protein machinery to meet demand. When muscles are not challenged, this renewal slows. The system becomes less responsive and function declines.
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In my research, we use “dynamic proteome profiling” to track how thousands of muscle proteins are produced and renewed in older adults. This approach measures how quickly proteins are built, repaired and replaced inside muscle tissue.
Participants complete strength and mobility tests, wear activity monitors and provide small muscle samples, supported by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians. We analysed thousands of proteins and also grew their muscle stem cells in the lab, to understand how muscle adapts to activity.
The results do not show simple deterioration. Older muscle is different, but remains adaptable. Protein turnover may be slower and some repair processes less efficient, but muscles still respond to activity by building the proteins needed for strength, energy production and resilience.
Even later in life, muscles can adapt when they are used. This helps explain why our participants became stronger and more capable despite existing health conditions. Their experience highlights a crucial point. Ageing is strongly influenced by how muscles are used across the lifespan.
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Blue people
Ray’s gym is a community fitness space in Liverpool where many of our participants train regularly. Not a formal research site, it is where the group work out, supporting each other and maintaining the strength and mobility that underpin their independence. The environment encourages effort, personal progress and accountability.
Members are not defined by their age. They are people working towards goals that matter to them – often, simply staying independent and in control of their lives.
This challenges common narratives about blue zones, which emphasise location, diet or lifestyle traditions as the main drivers of longevity. Those factors matter, but they can create the impression that healthy ageing is largely determined by where you live, rather than what you do. Liverpool’s “blue people” suggest something different.
Their strength comes not from perfect health but ongoing adaptation. They challenge their muscles and stay engaged with their bodies. Muscle quality is not fixed – it reflects the demands placed on it.
The implications are significant. Healthy ageing does not require relocation to longevity hotspots or adherence to exotic diets. It begins with recognising muscle as the organ that underpins independence, and maintaining it through regular activity.
Research is helping us understand the biology behind this process. New studies and recruitment cycles reflect growing efforts to understand how muscle health can shape independence across the lifespan.
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The people taking part are already showing what this looks like in practice. They are not reversing ageing, but they are maintaining capability. In doing so, they offer a realistic and accessible vision of growing older well.
Most of us can become a “blue person” by investing in the organ that most strongly shapes whether we age with independence as well as longevity: muscle.
Cambridgeshire County Council has said it will cut the speed limit along Bates Drive after a fatal collision to try and improve safety
The speed limit along Bates Drove near Littleport will be cut to try and improve safety after a fatal crash. Cambridgeshire County Council has said it will be cutting the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph.
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The decision was made following a number of incidents on the road, including a “tragic” fatal motorcycle collision that happened in June last year.
A report published by the county council said another “serious” motorcycle collision took place just eight days later, and that a further two incidents where people had been injured had been recorded along the road in recent years.
A multi-agency investigation was launched to assess the safety of the road following the incidents. The report said: “The investigation team undertook several site visits and conducted a thorough review of the traffic conditions. Their assessment concluded that the existing speed limit is inappropriate for the road’s structure and environment.
“Bates Drove is characteristic of Fenland infrastructure, it is undulating due to subsidence, narrow in places, and visually deceptive in terms of safety, particularly for powered two-wheeled vehicles.
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“Additionally, sections of the nearby A1101 are straight and encourage higher speeds, further increasing the risk of serious collisions. Many surrounding Fen roads are already subject to a 50mph limit, reflecting the unique challenges posed by the terrain and road layout.
“Reducing the speed limit on Bates Drove would bring it in line with these roads and enhance safety for all road users, especially vulnerable groups.”
Concerns were raised by some about the plans to cut the speed limit along Bates Drove. Five objections were lodged during a statutory consultation on the proposals, with many making the argument that it would be better to repair the roads than to cut the speed limit.
One objector said: “The road surface is more of an issue than the speed limit. The new speed limit won’t be enforced and so won’t make a difference. The council is proposing speed limit changes purely as it’s cheaper than sorting the road.”
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The county council report said road maintenance is “undertaken according to the authority’s asset management plan”. It added that cutting the speed limit would not be a substitute for ongoing maintenance, but would be a “proportionate and evidence-based measure to address specific risks identified by a multi-agency investigation”.
The plans were considered at a meeting this week (February 18) by Councillor Lorna Dupré, Councillor John Wells, and Richard Ling, the interim head of parking and traffic management.
They agreed that the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) should be made to cut the speed limit along Bates Drove from 60mph to 50mph. The decision notice said the members believed it would be “unlikely” that the national speed limit would be maintained if the route was resurfaced and maintained to a higher standard.
It also said that the “risk of harm” at 60mph was “still much higher” than at 50mph and that on these grounds alone a lower speed limit could be “justified”.
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Director Mary Bronstein’s discomfiting new film, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, is a compelling watch. Centred by a career-defining performance from Rose Byrne that has gained her an Oscar nomination, the film is a dark treatise on motherhood, swirling in blame, shame and an increasing sense of dread.
Byrne’s Linda is an exhausted and perpetually worried mother, wife and therapist harbouring both guilt and resentment. She is looking after her seriously sick child, who is almost never shown on screen. Linda is not a woman unravelling, she is unravelled – the remnant pieces disintegrating in front of our eyes through a series of escalating awful events.
Her life is literally falling apart: her daughter’s health is not improving, her work as a therapist is difficult and unfulfilling, her husband (Christian Slater) is away for work and barely interested. Then the ceiling of her apartment falls in.
Byrne is magnetic, searingly raw and unfiltered as a woman pushed to the edge. She is ferociously committed to her performance and has never been better onscreen. She moves with emotional precision, careful and considered, never slipping into cliched melodrama or histrionics.
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Throughout the film, Byrne is shown in close-up – in all interactions, the camera is focused on her. In this way, the director brings the audience fully into Linda’s mind and point of view. Every unsympathetic dismissal (even from her own therapist, a grim-faced Conan O’Brien), every moment of blame, is keenly felt and depicted without apology.
Linda’s daughter’s doctor (played by Bronstein) has an impatient callousness which compounds the anxiety. Linda’s daughter is around ten years of age, and portrayed primarily through sound off-screen: grating, insistent and impossible to ignore. Her cries, her arguing, her screams and the beeping of her medical equipment create an uncomfortable and urgent soundtrack, which draws viewers even further into Linda’s intense and stressful reality.
Even welcome moments of levity are tinged with a darkness which restricts their impact. Linda’s therapy clients provide some light relief, but a pervading heaviness hangs in the air, particularly in disturbing scenes with Caroline (an excellent Danielle Macdonald). An anxious, needy and demanding patient, Caroline is also a struggling mother, like Linda.
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An unfortunate incident with a hamster builds in dark hilarity, only for the laughter to curdle. Linda becomes locked in a battle of wills with a motel receptionist (Ivy Wolk), whose jobsworth insistence around the sale of wine is exaggeratedly maddening – and leads to Linda’s unlikely connection with a charming motel employee, James (A$AP Rocky in fine form).
This is an urgent, important and admirable cinematic portrayal of motherhood, but I can’t say I enjoyed watching it. Its treatment of maternal anger and ambivalence without softening the edges is confronting and somewhat triggering. But this may have been Bronstein’s directorial intention.
Modern cinema has become less interested in saccharine, idealised depictions of mothers and more concerned with their inner lives, however messy. Recent films such as Nightbitch and Die My Love forego maternal sentimentality and tidy redemption, instead showing mothers as complex and imperfect human characters raising children.
Based on some of Bronstein’s real-life experiences of caring for a sick child, If I Had Legs I’d Kick you shines a glaring and uncomfortable light on aspects of motherhood which are usually kept in the shadows: the thankless drudgery, the loss of selfhood, and all the resentment and resultant guilt these carry with them.
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Linda is drowning in despair and shame, unable to find help, empathy or even a break. Her experience of motherhood is harrowing and messy, and the film dares its audience to confront the strain both of looking after a sick child and of fierce maternal attachment.
Like its depiction of Linda’s life, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is imperfect and at times overwhelmingly chaotic. At its core, this is a dark and unsettling film which will start conversations about the complexities of motherhood. Byrne’s unrelenting and towering central performance makes it a compelling and unforgettable watch, albeit a challenging one.
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A mum has been found guilty of murdering her daughter who suffered multiple fractures after coming into contact with a hard surface
Caroline Barry and Nick Horner
23:00, 20 Feb 2026
A mum from West Bromwich has been found guilty of murdering her two-month-old daughter.
Emergency services rushed to the home of Zara Arsalan after receiving a call to say a baby girl was unresponsive after she fell from her mother’s lap on July 23, 2020. However, paramedics found Harleen had suffered a serious head injury and her breathing was not stable.
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The child was taken to hospital but died from her injuries the next day. A post-mortem determined that Harleen had suffered multiple skull fractures, bleeding on the brain, fractured ribs and a fractured collar bone.
The injuries were believed to have come from contact with a hard surface and were not consistent with a fall, reported Birmingham Live.
It was believed Harleen was also likely shaken. Arsalan was arrested and later charged with Harleen’s murder.
She had pleaded not guilty to killing her baby. However, a jury found the 31-year-old guilty of murdering her daughter at Coventry Crown Court on Friday (Friday, February 20).
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Detective Chief Inspector Phil Poole, from West Midlands Police’s Homicide Unit, said: “This is an incredibly tragic case. Harleen was only two months old when she died at the hands of the person who should have been doing everything to keep her safe.
“Arsalan has never taken responsibility for her actions. Instead, she has repeatedly lied about what happened to Harleen despite being shown evidence that rejects her claims.
“I want to thank all of the officers involved as I know they were deeply affected by this investigation. They have worked incredibly hard to get justice for Harleen and her family.”
Karen Byrne and Brian Redmond appeared on The Late Late Show ahead of Dancing With The Stars’ 100th episode as the judge recalled the iconic Dessie Swim moment with Des Cahill
Rob Currell and Michelle Townsend
23:31, 20 Feb 2026Updated 23:32, 20 Feb 2026
Karen Byrne had Late Late Show audiences in fits of laughter as she looked back on an unforgettable moment from her debut series on Dancing With The Stars.
Prior to the programme’s 100th episode airing on Sunday evening, Karen and fellow judge Brian Redmond, both present since the beginning, appeared alongside host Patrick Kielty on the popular RTÉ chat show.
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Whilst the pair reflected on memorable moments from previous years on the dance floor, Patrick highlighted one particular recollection – leading Karen to confess, “What was I thinking?”.
The Late Late host was referencing the ‘Dessie Swim’, a signature move Karen created whilst paired with sports journalist Des Cahill during the show’s first series.
The duo replicated a swimming motion during an Austin Powers themed performance, which remains one of the programme’s most celebrated moments, reports RSVP Live.
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Patrick remarked: “Karen, there are many moments from over the years that are highlights when we think of you.
“I know exactly what you’re going to say. I bet I do. The Dessie Swim,” Karen responded.
“Does everyone remember that in the audience? What was I thinking?”.
“When I was doing the choreography I don’t know what was going through my mind. But listen, people loved it. Give the people what they want. Oh no, don’t play it!”.
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Patrick subsequently showed the footage, prompting the audience to erupt in laughter.
Karen chuckled: “Live telly. Why not?”.
“It’s a move that hasn’t caught on in dance floors around Ireland,” Patrick observed. “I don’t ever remember studying that in a ballroom dancing technique when I was a young lad,” Brian remarked.
“The first time I saw it was live on the show. It’s not often you’re stuck for words as judges, but I was like, ‘Des, Karen, what are you thinking? My God, this is just iconic’.
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“You could see it in the moment, from the reaction in the audience.
“It was Austin Powers for Movie Week. And come here, we’re still talking about it nine years on so I must have been doing something right,” Karen responded.
Meanwhile, Nicky Byrne has confirmed he’ll be making a return to Dancing With The Stars this week as a special guest judge to mark the programme’s 100th episode.
The Westlife singer presented the show from 2017 through to 2022.
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Speaking about rejoining the programme for this milestone occasion, Nicky said: “I couldn’t be more excited to be heading back to the Dancing with the Stars ballroom. The show has been a massive part of my life for nearly 15 years – I’ve been a contestant on Strictly in the UK, I hosted five incredible seasons in Ireland and now I get to be a judge for one night only. It really is a full-circle moment for me.
“I’m really looking forward to the performances on the night because at the end of the day it’s all about the celebrities, professionals and the journey they’re on. I’ve been in those dance shoes before… I know the nerves, the pressure and the adrenaline, so I’ll definitely be encouraging and supportive… and if Brian gets out of line, I’ll be the first one sticking up for them!”.
“I can’t wait to see all my friends from the cast and crew again. It’s going to be such a special night – you only turn 100 once so as a great man once said, ‘It’s going to be ‘Box Office!’”.
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This is the moment an fake animal rescue centre owner who abused pets in his care was arrested.
Oaveed Rahman, 26, purported to be looking after the animals at a rehoming centre called Save A Paw in Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex. Instead, he left them to suffer in filthy conditions amongst the caracasses of other dogs.
He took about £4,800 from his 11 victims, telling them it would be used to rehome dogs, provide a new kennel block or train dogs to behave around children and other animals.
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Essex Police found 37 dead dogs when they first searched the rehoming centre in May, 2025. Four more dead dogs were found after the property was demolished.
“Many animals taken in by you… were subjected to prolonged barbaric mistreatment, cruelty and neglect,” Judge Conley said.
On Friday (20 February), Rahman, of Hope Road, Crays Hills, was jailed for a total of five years and given a lifetime order banning him from owning any animals.
Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 10 people in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and another two people in a Palestinian refugee camp, the Lebanese Health Ministry has said.
Hezbollah has confirmed senior leader Hussein Yaghi was killed in the Bekaa attacks.
He is the son of former Hezbollah MP Mohamed Yaghi, and his funeral is set to take place on Saturday, according to Hezbollah media.
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Twenty-four people – including three children – were also injured in the attack.
Earlier on Friday, another Israeli strike hit Ain al-Hilweh – a densely populated Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, killing the two people.
The strikes are among the deadliest reported in eastern Lebanon in recent weeks and risk rupturing a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, strained by frequent accusations of violations.
In a post on X on Friday evening, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: “STRUCK: Hezbollah command centers used to advance terror attacks against IDF troops and Israel, in the Baalbek area in Lebanon.
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“Within the command centers, weapons and funds utilized by Hezbollah were being stored, constituting a violation of the understandings between Israel.”
Referring to the separate strike, the IDF posted hours earlier: “In response to repeated ceasefire violations, the IDF struck a Hamas command center, from which terrorists operated, in the Ain al-Hilweh area in southern Lebanon.”
Israeli airstrikes in several areas of southern Lebanon early on Thursday morning targeted Hezbollah weapon depots, missile launchers, and other military sites, the IDF said, as reported by The Times of Israel.
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The strikes were the latest in the Israeli military’s campaign against Hezbollah.
There have been frequent airstrikes as the military says the terror group continues to try to rebuild its capabilities, contravening the US-brokered ceasefire in November 2024.
The truce came after more than a year of war along the border.
This included two months of open conflict in which a ground operation in Lebanon’s south was carried out by the IDF as it sought to enable the safe return of some 60,000 displaced residents of northern Israel.
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Hezbollah started attacking Israel on 8 October 2023 – a day after Hamas’s invasion of southern Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.
The ground invasion of southern Lebanon, launched in September 2024, significantly damaged the terror group’s leadership and stripped back its military capabilities.
Israel and Hezbollah were required to withdraw from southern Lebanon, to be replaced by the Lebanese armed forces.
Israel has left all but five strategic posts along the border, The Times of Israel reports.
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The IDF said more than 400 Hezbollah operatives and members of allied terror groups have been killed in strikes since the ceasefire.
The Israeli military says it has struck hundreds of Hezbollah sites and has carried out over 1,200 raids and other small operations in southern Lebanon.
