Trump questions Putin's desire for peace after meeting Zelensky at the Vatican

2 hours ago Share Save Emma Rossiter, Paul Kirby & Ian Aikman BBC News Share Save

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky meet before Pope Francis' funeral

Donald Trump has questioned Vladimir Putin's willingness to end the war in Ukraine following his meeting with the country's leader Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral. Posting on social media after leaving Rome, Trump said he feared Putin was "tapping me along" after Moscow's strikes on Kyiv earlier this week, adding there was "no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas". Earlier in the day Trump and Zelensky were seen in deep discussion in St Peter's Basilica shortly before the funeral began. The White House described the 15-minute meeting with Zelensky as "very productive". The Ukrainian president said it had the "potential to become historic".

It was Trump's first face-to-face encounter with the Ukrainian president since February's acrimonious Oval Office showdown. Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump said the Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities "makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?'". Trump had previously said Russia and Ukraine were "very close to a deal" following Friday's three-hour talks between his envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian president. The Kremlin meanwhile said on Saturday that Putin had confirmed to Witkoff Russia's readiness to enter into direct talks with Ukraine "without preconditions".

Andriy Yermak/Telegram

Trump and Zelensky's sit down in Rome was the first time the leaders had come face-to-face since their White House meeting, when Trump told Zelensky "you don't have the cards" and he was not winning against Russia. He repeated that message this week, saying the Ukrainian leader had "no cards to play". Trump has previously blamed Ukraine for starting the war and has accused Zelensky multiple times of being an obstacle to peace negotiations. But the White House struck a more positive tone about Saturday's meeting, while Zelensky described the sit down as a "very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results". Two images were released of the meeting, showing the US leader in a blue suit and Ukrainian president in a black top and trousers, sitting opposite each other in intense conversation. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also posted an image of the meeting on X with the caption: "No words are needed to describe the importance of this historic meeting. Two leaders working for peace in St. Peter's Basilica."

Andriy Yermak/Telegram UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron speak with Trump and Zelensky in the Basilica

Another image posted by the Ukrainian delegation from inside St Peter's showed the two men standing alongside British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron, his hand on Zelensky's shoulder. The implication was that the prime minister and French president had helped to bring the two together, against the sombre backdrop of the funeral. After the meeting, Trump and Zelensky walked down the steps of the basilica, where Zelensky's arrival was met with applause from the crowds, and took their seats in the front row.

During the service, the pair sat a short distance from each other, with Macron and other heads of state in between. In his homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re spoke of Pope Francis's incessant calls for peace. "'Build bridges, not walls' was an exhortation he repeated many times," said the cardinal. Ukrainian officials had talked of a possible second meeting but Trump's motorcade drove away from St Peter's immediately afterwards and his plane left Rome a short time later. Zelensky, however, later met Macron in the garden of Villa Bonaparte, home to the French embassy to the Holy See. He also met Sir Keir at Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador's residence, as well as holding separate talks with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

PA Media

Thousands line streets of Rome as Pope Francis laid to rest after Vatican funeral

7 hours ago Share Save Laura Gozzi BBC News Reporting from Rome Share Save

Watch: Key moments from the funeral of Pope Francis

Pope Francis has been buried in Rome after a funeral ceremony and procession attended by hundreds of thousands of people and many heads of state. The first South American pontiff passed away on Monday aged 88, marking the end of a 12-year pontificate. As the Italian capital woke up to a hazy morning, teenage pilgrims, nuns and priests of all denominations filed silently down the streets leading to the Vatican. Many of the streets around St Peter's Basilica were closed - both to allow the flow of visitors and for security reasons, as more than a hundred foreign dignitaries were expected to join the funeral mass.

More than 8,000 Italian police of different branches were out in force, as well as firefighters, medics, canine unit handlers, volunteers, members of the armed forces and even park guards. Many had been called in from all sides of Italy to be in Rome today - resulting in a rather joyous blend of accents from across the country, from the Sicilian to the Milanese. By 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) much of the square was already full. Jessica, 22 and from Mexico, and Cyril, 20 and from the US, had arrived at dawn to secure a front row spot to the funeral mass. "We never thought we'd be this close. We sacrificed a little sleep to be here but it's worth it," said Jessica. She's a Catholic and said her relatives in Mexico would "never believe it" when she told them she had been at the Vatican for the Pope's funeral.

Laura Gozzi/BBC Jessica and Cyril had waited for hours to secure a good spot at the funeral mass

As heads of state and foreign dignitaries took their places to the right of the altar, hundreds of photographers in the press area on the roof of the colonnade snapped their cameras furiously, hoping to capture a candid image of US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose last meeting in February gave rise to a combative exchange in the Oval Office. But soon after, as a striking photo of the two men sitting on two chairs inside St Peter's began to circulate, it emerged that they had already met for around 15 minutes before the service began. Later, Zelensky said the meeting "had potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results". No more details were shared, but some on social media later joked that, given the setting, the meeting had been a "miracle". Photos showed that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump, Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron had also all met in the Vatican.

Andriy Yermak/Telegram The head of Zelensky's office, Andriy Yermak, shared images of the two presidents deep in conversation

From the bright red of the clergy's habits to the muted grey and blue of nuns' veils to the rainbow sun hats worn by pilgrims, all morning St Peter's Square was a riot of colours glistening in the sun. Hymns played out on giant speakers, occasionally drowned out by the sound of helicopters flying overhead, as drones and seagulls crisscrossed over Michelangelo's dome. Yet the voice of 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re rang loud and clear as he presided over the mass. The service's structure was very similar to that of any Catholic funeral mass, although the readings were done in many different languages and all hymns were sung in Latin. Outside St Peter's, a crowd the Vatican later said numbered 200,000 applauded as large screens showed Zelensky take his seat. There was also applause when the Pope's simple wooden coffin was brought out. The crowd's applause marked some other salient moments - such as when Cardinal Re, as part of his homily, remembered the Pope's commitment to migrants and peace.

EPA Clergy and large crowds attended the funeral mass

He mentioned that the Pope's first trip had been to the Italian island of Lampedusa, the port of arrival in Europe for many migrants who make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean, and recalled the mass the Pope celebrated at the US-Mexico border. "War, he said, results in the death of people and the destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. War always leaves the world worse than it was before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone." The cardinal emphasised that Pope Francis had repeatedly urged the world to "build bridges, not walls". "It was good to hear that on a day when so many heads of state were on St Peter's Square," a woman called Maria told the BBC. She and her friend Grazia had flown in from Sardinia especially for the funeral. "It was a message especially for them, I think, because it's them who decide whether there's going to be war or peace, not us... Let's hope something made it through to them." "Otherwise them being here was just pure hypocrisy," added Grazia. During communion, a procession of white-clad priests made its way down St Peter's Square, carrying golden chalices full of wafers for communion, as many in the large crowd moved forward to receive the hosts. Soon after, Cardinal Re blessed the Pope's coffin with holy water, before burning incense in a thurible - a symbol of cleansing - and the basilica's bells tolled three times after the blessing of the coffin was carried out.

Reuters Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re blessed Pope Francis' coffin during the funeral mass

After some brief mingling, world leaders started making their way out of the basilica. Their motorcades then filed out of the Vatican. Within an hour Trump was reported to be back on Air Force One, while other leaders held various informal meetings in Rome. Meanwhile, the Pope's coffin was carried through Rome in a slow procession to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial. Authorities said 140,000 had lined the streets, clapping and waving as the hearse – a repurposed white popemobile – crossed the Tiber river and drove past some of Rome's most recognisable sights: the Colosseum, the Forum and the Altare della Patria national monument on Piazza Venezia. Once the coffin reached Santa Maria Maggiore, it was taken inside and the live broadcast ceased. Pope Francis was buried in the righthand side of the church, near a beloved icon of the Virgin Mary, at around 15:00.

People line the streets as 'popemobile' carries Francis' coffin through Rome

Two women injured in attack involving crossbow

15 minutes ago Share Save Pritti Mistry & Emily Johnson BBC News Share Save

BBC/Cathy Killick West Yorkshire Police have closed roads in the Otley Road area of Leeds

A man has been arrested and counter-terrorism police are investigating after two women were seriously injured in an attack involving a crossbow and a firearm in Leeds. Three people were found injured and taken to hospital - including the suspected attacker - in Otley Road, in the Headingley area, at 14:47 BST. A 38-year-old man who suffered a "self-inflicted injury" was arrested and two weapons - a crossbow and a firearm - recovered from the scene. Counter Terrorism Policing North East said it had taken over the investigation from West Yorkshire Police and an extensive cordon remained in place in the Otley Road area.

YappApp Two weapons were recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm, police say

Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley said: "From the enquiries undertaken so far, there is no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in the attack, and, at this time, we are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident." A spokesperson said extensive inquiries were continuing to establish "the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation". Assistant Chief Constable Carl Galvin said: "Clearly this has been a shocking incident and we fully realise the concern it has caused. "Due to the enquiry being active we are limited in what we can say, but I do want to reassure residents that everything possible is being done to investigate and understand what took place."

BBC/Cathy Killick Some businesses on Otley Road closed early following the incident

He said uniformed officers were in the Otley Road area "to reassure residents and continue our enquiries at the crime scenes". "I also want to thank members of the public for the support they gave victims and the emergency services as we attended the scene. "We would strongly urge people not to speculate online or share information or footage which could affect the active investigation and continue to work closely with colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing North East." The incident happened on the Otley Run, which is a popular pub crawl route in Leeds. Those participating in the run could be seen in fancy dress outside venues on Otley Road, close to where the incident happened.

YappApp Police cordons remain at the scene in Headingley

Taylor's Sports Bar & Grill, a venue which is part of the pub crawl, announced on social media it would be closed until further notice. A statement on its Facebook page said the closure was "due to unforeseen circumstances", before apologising to customers. Joanna Myers, owner of the Swine Bistro on Otley Road said: "It was all very shocking, especially with all the Otley runners out. "It could have been a lot worse than it was." Ali Khan, owner of Indian restaurant The Cat's Pyjamas, which is on Otley Road, said people were "afraid and concerned" following the incident. "We didn't find it safe to go out anywhere unless we knew what was going on," he said. "I told all my staff members to stay inside and stay safe and vigilant." Chancellor of the Exchequer and MP for Leeds West and Pudsey Rachel Reeves said it was "shocking" and asked anyone with information to contact the police. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said her thoughts were with the victims of the incident. She said she was being updated on the situation and thanked police and emergency services for "their swift response". Additional reporting by Olivia Courtney-Ashton

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

Russia claims it has regained full control of Kursk from Ukraine

1 hour ago Share Save Ewan Somerville BBC News Share Save

EPA Russia's army chief made the claims in a video meeting with President Vladimir Putin

Russia's military says it has regained full control of the country's western Kursk region - a claim denied by Ukraine. Top Russian commander Valery Gerasimov said the last village held by Ukrainian troops had now been recaptured - eight months after Kyiv's surprise incursion. He also praised the "heroism" of North Korean troops during a Russian counter-offensive, in what is the first time Russia has publicly acknowledged their involvement. Russian President Vladimir Putin described Ukraine's efforts in Kursk as a complete failure. Ukraine says its troops are still conducting operations in the Russian border region, with the military describing Moscow's claims as "propaganda tricks".

Ukrainian forces have been in retreat in Kursk in recent months, facing 70,000 Russian troops and heavy drone attacks as part of Russia's drive to regain the territory. In its latest report on 25 April, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think-tank said: "Russian forces recently advanced near the international border in Kursk Oblast [region] as part of efforts to push Ukrainian forces from their limited remaining positions in the area." The ISW also reported that "fighting continued in [Russia's] north-western Belgorod Oblast [region] on 25 April".

During a video conference meeting with Putin on Saturday, Gerasimov said: "Today, the last settlement in the Kursk region, the village of Gornal, has been liberated from Ukrainian forces." Gerasimov said more than 76,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and wounded in the Kursk region - a claim not verified independently. He also praised North Korean troops for providing "significant assistance in defeating the group of Ukrainian armed forces". "The Kyiv regime's adventure has completely failed," Putin told Gerasimov in response, claiming that it would pave the way for further Russian advances on other fronts. Russia's military says its troops now control several settlements in Ukraine's north-eastern Sumy region, located next to Kursk. Responding in a post on Telegram, the Ukrainian military's general staff said the situation on the battlefield was "difficult" - but insisted its forces were still holding positions in Kursk and were continuing an incursion in the Belgorod region, which lies immediately south of Kursk. Ukraine's incursion was launched last August as an attempt to create a buffer zone on the border between the two countries that would prevent Russian forces from being deployed on Ukraine's eastern front line.

Ian Wright says he "cannot accept" Eni Aluko's apology for suggesting the former England striker risked blocking female pundits from being given broadcasting opportunities.

Wright, who is a pundit for various outlets on the men's and women's game, said he had seen the apology from the ex-England forward but wanted to move on from it.

"I'm very disappointed by what Eni has said," the 61-year-old Arsenal legend said. "She knows how I have helped her and supported her publicly.

"I can't accept it [the apology] but I also want to move on from it. I don't need any further social commentary directed at anyone."

Mini dachshund rescued after spending 529 days in Australian wilderness

Valerie survived intense heat and avoided venomous snakes as well intense rescue efforts during her 529 days in the wilderness.

Georgia Gardner and her boyfriend, Joshua Fishlock, had momentarily left Valerie in a playpen at their campsite while the couple went fishing. When they returned, she was gone.

Kangala Wildlife Rescue had been working "around the clock" to find the dog, Valerie, since she was last spotted by her owners on a November 2023 camping trip.

A miniature dachshund has been found alive and well on Kangaroo Island off the coast of Australia, more than 500 days after she first went missing.

"After weeks of tireless efforts [...] Valerie has been safely rescued and is fit and well," Kangala said in a social media post.

Kangala Wildlife Rescue said volunteers spent 1,000-plus hours searching for Valerie, covering more than 5,000km (8,046 miles).

The effort also included surveillance cameras and a trap cage with a remote door system filled with food, Ms Gardner's clothes and some of Valerie's toys from home.

In the initial days after Valerie went missing, other campers spotted her underneath a parked car which startled the dog and sent her fleeing into bushland, the Washington Post reported.

Months later, island locals reported seeing a pink collar that matched Valerie's, much to the surprise of Jared Karran, a director at Kangala.

"Of all dogs, that would be the last one I would say would survive out there, but they do have a good sense of smell," Mr Karran said.

Ms Gardner sent rescuers a t-shirt that she had worn that helped lead to Valeries' capture by creating "scent trail" inside the large dog trap.

In a 15-minute video on social media, Kangala directors and rescue volunteers Jared and Lisa Karran explained how the "rollercoaster" rescue transpired.

Ms Karran said they had to wait until Valerie was in the right part of the trap and calm enough to ensure she would not attempt another escape.

"She went right into the back corner, which is where we wanted her, I pressed the button, and thankfully it all worked perfectly," Mr Karran said.

"I know people were a little bit frustrated, like 'why is it taking so long?' but these are the things that we were doing in the background," he said.

Ms Karran said she wore the remnants of Ms Gardner's clothes as she approached Valerie and sat with her until the dog was "completely calm".

Ms Gardner said on social media after Valerie's long-awaited rescue: "For anyone who's ever lost a pet, your feelings are valid and never give up hope.

"Sometimes good things happen to good people."

Large crowds of people have lined the streets of Rome to watch Pope Francis' coffin be carried from the Vatican to his final resting place at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The Pope died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 and one of his final requests was that he be laid to rest in a simple tomb in the ground.

Follow live updates

"Our goal is to grow the team, establish Wrexham AFC as a Premier League club, in front of increased attendances at an improved stadium while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham."

The club's mission statement spells out the scale of the ambition of co-chairmen McElhenney and Reynolds.

And Wrexham's hierarchy have plenty to ponder as they plan for the club's first season in the second tier since 1981-82.

Their squad size will rise from 22 players to 25, while matchday squads will feature nine substitutes as opposed to seven.

It could, in theory, pave the way for Paul Mullin's return to the squad following his absence over the previous 13 games.

Whatever striker Mullin's situation, it is clear there is further work to be done on the squad, as Parkinson will want to bring in more players of a higher calibre to bolster his side's Championship prospects.

The inevitable acquisitions will lead to an increased wage bill, with Ker recently suggesting Wrexham would need to quadruple their wage outgoings to be competitive in the Championship.

Work is also due to commence on improving the iconic Kop Stand at their Stok Cae Ras home, while there are plans to develop a training ground and for expansion of facilities for the academy and women's side.

It all requires money - and lots of it. But on the plus side, the club are currently operating with a model most EFL clubs will envy.

The £26.7m Wrexham made in revenue during their 2023-24 League Two season puts them just below the top Championship sides - who benefit from parachute payments - in terms of income.

TV and sponsorship revenue will only increase in the Championship, so there is no doubt Wrexham are well placed at present.

The next challenge is always the toughest, and the Championship is a different beast from what Wrexham have face over the past few years.

But with such impressive alignment from top to bottom at the club, Wrexham know they are in a strong position to achieve their ultimate goal at some stage - whether it be next season or beyond.

Huge blast at key Iranian port kills 14 and injures more than 750

2 hours ago Share Save Frances Mao BBC News Share Save

Moment driver sees huge explosion rip through Iran port

At least 14 people have been killed and 750 injured in a massive explosion at one of Iran's key ports, authorities say. The blast took place at Shahid Rajaee, the country's largest commercial port, near the southern city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday morning. It blew out windows and roofs of nearby buildings and destroyed cars. Residents reported feeling the impact of the blast up to 50km (31 miles) away. Videos verified by the BBC show a fire growing in intensity before a huge explosion, with people subsequently fleeing the blast and others lying wounded on roads surrounded by smoking debris.

"The entire warehouse was filled with smoke, dust and ashes. I don't remember if I went under the table or was thrown there by the blast," one person who was in the area told state TV. Aerial footage showed at least three areas ablaze and Iran's interior minister later confirmed that the fire was spreading from one container to another. Schools and offices in the region have been ordered to remain closed on Sunday. One private maritime risk firm said it believed the affected containers had contained solid fuel destined for ballistic missiles. The fire was the result of "improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles", Ambrey Intelligence said. Ambrey said it was aware that an Iran-flagged ship "discharged a shipment of sodium perchlorate rocket fuel at the port in March 2025". The Financial Times newspaper had previously reported that two vessels had shipped fuel to Iran from China. State media quoted witnesses as saying the explosion occurred after a fire broke out and spread to unsealed containers storing "flammable materials". Customs officials later released a statement reported by Iranian state TV saying the explosion had probably resulted from a fire that had broken out in a hazmat and chemical materials storage depot. In a later update Ambrey quoted Iran's National Disaster Management Organisation as saying officials had previously issued warnings to Shahid Rajaee port regarding the safe storage of chemicals.

EPA

Reuters Highways were littered with debris and rubble after the explosion

Russia detains suspect in car bomb attack that killed general

Russian security forces say they have detained a Ukrainian spy accused of killing a senior Russian general in a car bomb attack in Moscow's suburbs on Friday.

The FSB secret service said they had apprehended "Ukrainian special services agent Ignat Kuzi" who had "planted explosives in a Volkswagen Golf" to kill Gen Yaroslav Moskalik.

Gen Moskalik had been the deputy head of the main operational directorate of the military's General Staff. He died after walking past the car parked outside his house in the suburb of Balashikha.

The FSB said Kuzin had rigged the car with a homemade explosive device and the bomb had then been set off remotely from Ukraine.

Anger flares at Just Stop Oil 'last day of action'

6 hours ago Share Save Share Save

PA Media The driver of the minivan appeared to edge forwards slowly until the bonnet was pressing against the protesters

The minivan was also carrying a child and at least one other passenger.

PA Media Hundreds of people rallied in Westminster on Saturday afternoon for Just Stop Oil's "last day of action"

People standing front of the vehicle, some holding a JSO banner, were seen holding their hands up, with one shouting to the police "officer, I'm being pushed back". The driver exited the vehicle and could be heard remonstrating with the protesters about the road being blocked. Police reminded the man the disruption was temporary and people had a right to protest.

Other similar incidents of drivers apparently becoming frustrated with people in the road were also caught on camera. In its March statement announcing the end of direct action, the group said: "Just Stop Oil's initial demand to end new oil and gas is now government policy, making us one of the most successful civil resistance campaigns in recent history. "We've kept over 4.4 billion barrels of oil in the ground and the courts have ruled new oil and gas licences unlawful."

EPA The Labour government has said it will not issue licences for new oil and gas exploration

The Labour government has said it will not issue licences for new oil and gas exploration, while a series of recent court cases have halted fossil fuel projects including oil drilling in Surrey, a coal mine in Cumbria and the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields in the North Sea over climate pollution. Labour has distanced itself from Just Stop Oil, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer criticising its actions and saying protesters must face the full force of the law. The Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment.

Woman who used lipstick to write on statue during Brazil unrest jailed for 14 years

10 hours ago Share Save Joshua Cheetham BBC News Share Save

Brazil Supreme Court

A woman who wrote on a statue using lipstick during unrest in the Brazilian capital in 2023 has been jailed for 14 years. Debora Rodrigues took part in the unrest along with hundreds of supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who attacked government buildings following his election loss the previous year. The 29-year-old was convicted of involvement with a criminal organisation aiming to launch a coup and eliminate the democratic rule of law. Justice Cristiano Zanin, one of a panel of five judges overlooking Rodrigues's case, stressed she was not being tried solely for the graffiti and was convicted of multiple offences, but many in Brazil believe her sentence is too harsh.

Supporters of Bolsonaro meanwhile say the ruling is further evidence that the Supreme Court has become too powerful and partisan. Rodrigues was arrested as part of a broader investigation into an alleged coup plot against the newly-elected President Lula da Silva. The 39-year-old hairdresser apologised for writing "You lost, idiot" on the statue of Justice outside the Supreme Federal Court - an incident dubbed the "lipstick coup". She maintains that she did not take part in any violence. "I went to the protests and I didn't imagine that they would be so turbulent," said Rodrigues. "I have never done anything illegal in my life". Rodrigues' lawyers said that she did not enter any buildings during the riots and acted impulsively in the "heat of the moment." She expressed regret over her actions. ​

Joédson Alves/Agência Brasil

Original Coronation Street star Philip Lowrie dies

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PA Media Philip Lowrie played Dennis Tanner in the ITV soap who went on to marry Rita Sullivan played by Barbara Knox

Original Coronation Street star Philip Lowrie has died aged 88. Lowrie, who appeared in the first episode of the ITV soap in 1960 as the original bad boy Dennis Tanner, died on Friday, his publicist Mario Renzullo said. "My client and very dear friend, Philip Lowrie, the beloved actor renowned for his role as Dennis Tanner on Coronation Street, passed away yesterday," he said. "His death marks the end of an era for the world's longest-running soap, where he became a cornerstone of its storytelling."

Lowrie was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.

PA Media Philip Lowrie (top row fourth left) with the original cast of Coronation Street in 1960

When the soap started more than six decades ago, Lowrie's character was seen as a national heartthrob thanks to his roguish role. Dennis was introduced as the son of Elsie Tanner, and moved in with his mother after being released from prison. Lowrie had originally auditioned for the role of Ken Barlow prior to the show's launch, and appeared in the first episode at the age of 24. William Roache was soon cast as Ken for the beginning of the soap and became a regular sparring partner for Dennis. He left the Street in 1968, when he married Jenny Sutton and moved to Bristol, and did not return until 2011.

Corrie reappearance

According to Mr Renzullo, Lowrie was presented in September 2011 with a certificate by the Guinness World Records for being the person with the longest gap between television appearances as the same character in the same show. Dennis soon got back in touch with newsagent Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox), who was his sweetheart when she first appeared in the show in 1966, and they tied the knot when he came back. He left the soap again in 2014 and was later killed off without making another appearance on screen.

Varied career

Lowrie's mother saved for his fees to go to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) in London after he left school. After graduating three years later, he soon received his first parts in the West End, appearing with Dame Margaret Rutherford and Peggy Mount in the play Farewell, Farewell, Eugene. He also appeared on Victoria Wood's comedy shows, such as Victoria Wood's All Day Breakfast, Victoria Wood, Pat and Margaret, Live In Your Own Room, We'd Quite Like To Apologise, Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, and Wood And Walters. His later stage lead roles in the 2000s and 2010s included being in Dame Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, The Case Of The Frightened Lady and The Lady Vanishes.

Trump & Zelensky Meet At The Pope's Funeral Trump & Zelensky Meet At The Pope's Funeral

Chris Eubank Jr narrowly beat bitter foe Conor Benn as one of Britain's most rancorous and long-running boxing rivalries lived up to the hype at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Both fighters showed wild aggression, taking the centre of the ring and letting their hands go in a 12-round edge-of-your-seat firefight.

Neither boxer could land the telling blow but it was the experience of Eubank, 35, which prevailed as all three judges scored it 116-112.

He claims bragging rights in a family feud which began 35 years ago when their legendary fathers first fought.

"I knew I could do that, I just needed someone to bring that out of me and I didn't think that he would be the guy to do that," Eubank said.

In a sensational plot twist, Eubank arrived at the venue alongside his father, Chris Eubank Sr. The pair had supposedly been estranged for years and Eubank Sr had criticised the match-up.

"I'm happy to have this man [Eubank Sr] back with me. We upheld the family name - onwards and upwards," Eubank added.

The heartwarming reconciliation seemingly gave Eubank a boost as he extended his record to 35 wins in 38 fights.

In a result which could have easily gone either way, Benn, 28, loses for the first time in 24 professional fights.

"I felt like it was a close fight. I'm not going to say 'yeah I should have won that' - I've got to watch it back. It was close," he said.

The boxers signed a two-fight deal and, after putting on such a show, could contest a rematch later this year.

'Kicking butt' or 'going too fast'? Trump voters reflect on 100 days

25 minutes ago Share Save Ana Faguy BBC News, Washington DC Share Save

BBC

When Donald Trump made a historic return to power earlier this year, it was with the help of voters who represented a diverse coalition of backgrounds - truck drivers, veterans, business owners and more. They represented a wide range of perspectives that helped explain Trump's enduring appeal. But 100 days after he took office, how do his staunchest supporters feel now? The BBC has returned to five of them. Here's what they had to say about the promises he kept, the pledges he has yet to address, and what they want next.

'If this doesn't work, I'll say it's a mistake'

Ronda Churchill

Luiz Oliveira says he "can't keep up" with the rapid policy changes Trump has made in his first 100 days. On immigration, he has appreciated the flurry of new border restrictions and the emphasis on deportations, including sending men to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador. Encounters between migrants and US border agents at the US-Mexico are now at a four-year low. The issue is important to Luiz, a Brazilian who came to the US legally in the 1980s and now lives in Nevada. Echoing Trump, he describes the influx of migrants in recent years as an "invasion". Luiz, 65, says Trump is telling undocumented immigrants: "This is my house, my yard, and you're not going to stay here." In other areas, however, he, is nervous about Trump's approach. The coffee shop owner supports Trump's efforts to make other countries pay "their fair share" through tariffs. But he's apprehensive about the short-term economic effects as well as how long it could take for America to see the benefits. "It's going to be painful [and] I don't think it's going to be as fast as he says. "I'm a supporter, but at the end of the day, if this doesn't work, I'll say it's a mistake - he did things too fast, scared the markets, scared the economy."

He's 'kicking butt' and restoring a 'merit-based society'

Nic Antaya

Amanda Sue Mathis backed Trump in 2024 because she felt he was the best candidate to address America's most pressing problems - 100 days in, she says he's made strong progress. "There were a lot of people who cared about the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, but I think it's time we look at our country and get things in order before we go fix other countries' problems," the 34-year-old Navy veteran says. She wants a "merit-based society" and praises Trump's rollback of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies which had tried to boost minority representation and tackle discrimination. Critics say those policies are themselves discriminatory - and Amanda Sue believes they went too far in recent years. She also welcomes Trump's executive orders restricting gender care for Americans under the age of 19 and banning transgender women from female sports. Broadly, she thinks the president is "kicking butt" and his first 100 days have made her "happier with [her] vote". But Amanda Sue is prepared to have her mind changed too. "I'm not one of those people who is always for Trump," she says. "If he messes up, I'll be the first one to tell you."

'Trump has earned back the respect' with tariffs

Mark Pynes

Trump's promise to impose tariffs and bring manufacturing jobs back to America was a key reason why Ben Maurer, a 39-year-old freight truck driver from Pennsylvania, voted for the president. "A lot of people thought he was bluffing on more than a few things," he says. So Ben's delighted Trump hit the gas immediately, imposing tariffs on countries that range from allies like Canada and Mexico to adversaries like China. It has not been a smooth ride, however. In a tumultuous series of announcements, the administration has raised, lowered, delayed and retracted tariffs in response to ongoing trade negotiations and stock market reaction. Currently, the US has imposed a 10% tariffs on all imports - and China has been hit with a 145% tax on goods it exports to America. Despite economists' concerns about higher prices, Ben believes the businesses he delivers to will benefit in the long run. "Trump has earned back the respect [for the US]," he says of the president's tariff policies. "We are still the force to be reckoned with." Overall, he feels Trump has been more productive at the start of his second term. The president had time to prepare, he says, and it shows.

'Musk is a character I don't understand'

Phillipe Studio

June Carey's opinion of Donald Trump has not changed, but the first few months of Trump's second term are not what she anticipated either. "He's a bit more aggressive and a little bit more erratic than I expected," the California artist says. But June, 70, doesn't see the surprises as negative. She is "blown away" by the "waste" the so-called Department of Government Efficiency - led by billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk - says it has found. Critics say his claims about savings appear to be inflated and he has faced a backlash for blunt cuts at government departments that were later reversed, including firings of key federal workers. June says she's uncertain about Musk himself. "Musk is a character I don't understand," June says. "My feeling is that if Trump has trusted him as much as he has, than he must be a pretty good guy with the right ideas and the right goals." She previously told the BBC she was concerned about welfare spending and hoped Trump would push Americans to be more self-sufficient. While she is happy with the cuts so far, she hopes they leave alone social security - the monthly government payments that she and 67 million retired or disabled Americans live off. Democrats warn those are at risk in future, but June asks: "Why would they cut [social security] when they've cut so many things that have saved them millions and millions of dollars?"

Trusting Trump amid 'temporary pain' of tariffs

Allegra Boverman

Trying to book a driving test 'like buying a festival ticket', say learners

24 minutes ago Share Save Grace Dean BBC News Share Save

Lauren Devlin Lauren, 37, said she had to wake up early on multiple Monday mornings to join the online queue before she was able to book a test for August

Some people used the Easter Monday bank holiday as a chance to have a much-needed lie-in. Not Stephen Dawes, who set his alarm for 05:45. It wasn't to start work or to catch a train - he just wanted to book his driving test. When he logged into the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) website, he entered an online queue "almost like buying a festival ticket", he says. "I was number 11,000 in the queue." The 26-year-old, who lives in Newcastle, started learning to drive in February. His instructor told him about a month ago to book his practical test, but each time Stephen looked, the only slots available were in Berwick-upon-Tweed or Scarborough, both more than an hour's drive away. After looking online, he discovered the trick was to log on at 06:00 on Mondays, when the DVSA releases new slots. But some people say it takes several weeks of trying to secure one. Stephen's experience reflects those of other learner drivers across the UK, who tell BBC News they're on a road to nowhere with getting a driving exam booked during an ongoing test backlog. Some are even paying for apps that alert them when slots become available.

'Easier to pass than book'

BBC Verify found this week that the average waiting time across the 319 driving test centres in Great Britain was 22 weeks, with three-quarters of centres hitting the maximum average wait time of 24 weeks. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has pledged to reduce the average waiting time to no more than seven weeks by summer 2026, a deadline the government had previously set for the end of 2025. She said the current situation was "totally unacceptable" and that ministers would aim to clear the backlog with measures such as doubling examiner training capacity and reintroducing overtime pay incentives. Pauline Reeves, the DVSA's director of driver services, told the BBC the organisation had "made significant progress" in reducing wait times since last December but customers were not yet seeing this. Jodie Johnston, a driving instructor in Exeter, likens booking a test to the infamous annual scramble to buy tickets for Glastonbury Festival - and says some learners in London, where demand can be even higher, are travelling 200 miles to take their tests in Devon. "It's easier to pass a test than book a test at the moment," adds Ali Slade, a driving instructor in Farnham.

Courtesy of Jodie Johnston Jodie Johnston has been a driving instructor for about four years

A backlog of tests - and problems

One consequence of the long wait list is that many learners are trying to book their practical exam far in advance, despite DVSA advice stating that learner drivers should book it when they're "test-ready". And when learners eventually get a slot, for some it's so far in advance that they're having to fork out extra money on refresher lessons. Some learners say they're also worried about their theory tests expiring as they only last for two years - and you need one to take a practical test. Many driving schools have long waiting lists for lessons - Ali says hers is about seven months. It can therefore be difficult for learner drivers to align finding an instructor, passing their theory test, and booking a practical exam.

This was the experience of Ella Davis, 26, from Leeds, who says her instructor told her to book her test as soon as she started learning. "I had to book way before I was ready for a test and just guess when I would be ready," she says. Even then, when she looked, she struggled to find any slots in her area or at the right time.

Ella Davis Ella Davis is relying on an app to get a test slot

In the end, she booked a test for several months away, and then paid £18 for a mobile app that allowed her to change her test to an earlier date, in April 2024, so she wouldn't have to keep paying for more lessons when she already felt ready. Apps like these alert users when slots become available through other learners cancelling their tests. The DVSA says it does not endorse any apps that find cancellations. "It just felt like the only way," Ella says. Lauren Devlin had put off using these apps, but she's worried she will soon be left with little choice. "It felt a bit scammy to me… but at this point, I may just have to try," she says. Lauren, 37, got her driving licence in New Jersey, US, when she was 16. When she first moved to the UK, she relied on public transport to get around - but she's decided she would now like the freedom of being able to drive. Lauren estimates she's already spent about £2,000 on driving lessons, two theory tests and one practical test in summer 2024 that she failed.

She has another test scheduled for August, for which she had to wake up early on multiple Monday mornings to join the online queue before she was able to book. But she's worried about what happens if it gets cancelled, or if she fails, as her theory certificate only lasts until next March.

'I've gotten nowhere'

So, what's the cause of the current situation? A DVSA spokesperson has blamed an "increase in demand and a change in customers' booking behaviour" for the backlog. DVSA data shows that the number of people taking practical driving tests plummeted during waves of lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. There was then a surge in between September 2023 and March 2024, but the number of tests being taken is now similar to pre-pandemic levels. Just under 450,000 practical driving tests were taken between July and September 2024, the most recent data shows. The DVSA also says that bots have been buying up some test slots and then reselling them at inflated prices. The agency says a high-speed consultation in May will aim "to improve the booking system and block bots from accessing tests".

Area burned by UK wildfires in 2025 already at annual record

28 minutes ago Share Save Mark Poynting and Erwan Rivault BBC Climate & Data teams Share Save

Planet Labs A prolonged dry spell created perfect conditions for wildfires

The area of the UK burnt by wildfires so far this year is already higher than the total for any year in more than a decade, satellite data suggests. More than 29,200 hectares (292 sq km or 113 sq miles) has been burnt so far, according to figures from the Global Wildfire Information System, which has recorded burnt area since 2012. That is more than the previous high of 28,100 hectares for the whole year of 2019. The prolonged dry, sunny weather in March and early April helped to create ideal conditions for widespread burning, according to researchers.

Wildfires are very common in the UK in early spring, with plenty of dead or dormant vegetation at the end of winter that can dry out quickly. The switch back to wetter conditions over the past couple of weeks has largely brought an end to the spell of fires for now, but not before reaching record levels.

The figures from the Global Wildfire Information System only capture fires larger than roughly 30 hectares (0.3 sq km). More than 80 such fires have been detected across the UK since the beginning of the year. Most fires are deliberately or accidentally started by humans, but favourable weather conditions can make it much easier for fires to ignite and spread quickly. "We had an exceptionally dry and sunny March," said Will Lang, head of risk and resilience services at the Met Office. "This followed quite a wet autumn and winter, which can have the effect of increasing the vegetation that acts as fuel for any fire that does start." A lack of rainfall in March and April can be particularly conducive to fires. "The vegetation is coming out of the winter and it has gone dormant, so it's not growing, and therefore it's very dry and doesn't have water," explained Guillermo Rein, professor of fire science at Imperial College London. "Then in the spring, before you start to collect the water into the live tissue, there is a period where it's very flammable."

The seven days from 2 to 8 April saw more than 18,000 hectares (180 sq km) burnt, the highest weekly figure on record. The BBC has also analysed satellite images to illustrate two of the biggest burns this year. In Galloway Forest Park, in south-west Scotland, an estimated 65 sq km burnt, nearly a quarter of the UK total.

A fire in the Cwm Rheidol area of Wales, about 25 km (16 miles) from Aberystwyth, also burnt a large area of roughly 50 sq km. Fires have also been detected by satellite imagery on the Isle of Arran, the Isle of Bute and the Isle of Skye in Scotland, as well as in the Mourne Mountains in south-east Northern Ireland. All occurred in early April.

These early season burns - predominantly grass, heath and shrub fires - have created great strain on fire services, but their ecological impacts can be complicated. Not all fires, particularly smaller, lower-intensity burns, are necessarily catastrophic to long-term vegetation health. Certain plants, such as heather, are adapted to fire-prone environments. But increasingly frequent or severe blazes can impair their ability to naturally recover. Some researchers are concerned about the second peak of the fire season, which typically comes later in the year when temperatures are high and vegetation has dried out again. "My number one worry is what is going to happen in the summer," said Prof Rein, when "there are fewer wildfires but they are bigger and they can actually be seriously catastrophic". "You can have 100 [small] wildfires across the whole country and all of them can be handled in one day, or you could have one summer wildfire that actually cannot be stopped in a week and actually goes on to burn houses." The recent widespread burns don't necessarily mean this summer will be a busy fire season. But scientists expect the UK to see an increase in weather conditions conducive to extreme wildfires in a warming world, even though there's lots of variation from year to year. A study led by the Met Office found that the extreme "fire weather" that helped spread the destructive blazes of July 2022 were made at least six times more likely by human-caused climate change. Shifts in the way land is used can also play a key role in shaping fire risk. "One thing that seems to have consensus is that we are likely to see more fires and possibly worse fires with climate change," said Rory Hadden, senior lecturer in fire investigation at the University of Edinburgh. "We need to be prepared for this to become more common."

Additional reporting by Phil Leake

'Bottle kicking trampling left me unable to walk'

21 minutes ago Share Save Dan Martin BBC News, Leicester Share Save

Alexie Winship Alexie Winship said she would need to use a wheelchair for several months to come

A woman says she has been left unable to walk after she was accidentally trampled by players participating in an annual Easter Monday tradition. Alexie Winship said she was among spectators watching the Hallaton bottle kicking event in Leicestershire, where players attempt to wrestle wood kegs through a field to win. The 23-year-old was caught up in a scrum and seriously injured. At hospital, she was found to have suffered a neurological injury and a bleed on her spine, which has left her without most feeling below her waist. Ms Winship, who remains in hospital, said she could not remember much of what happened.

"I was on the outskirts [of the players], just watching when a beer keg came flying out in my direction," Ms Winship said. "I couldn't get out of the way. I was with friends who said I got kicked in the head, knocked out, and then trampled on. "It was like a stampede. One of my friends pulled me out and I was blue-lighted to hospital."

Supplied Ms Winship said she was kicked in the head and trampled when Hallaton bottle kicking participants surged towards her

Bottle kicking takes place in a field between neighbouring villages Hallaton and Medbourne. It has few rules, but is won when players are able to carry two of three barrels across a stream back to their village. Two of the "bottles" contain beer, while one is completely wooden - painted red and white - and is referred to as the dummy. Organisers have said local legend suggested the event, preceded by a procession through Hallaton in which hare pies are scattered, can trace its roots back 2,000 years.

Getty Images Event organisers said they paid for paramedics to attend bottle kicking, as injuries are common

Ms Winship told the BBC she had planned to run a half-marathon on Sunday, but her injuries had "thrown a spanner in the works". She added while she was a spectator, she "never intended" to get involved in the action. "I can't feel anything below my waist. I can't walk," she said. "I don't know what's going to happen and that's the scary thing. I'm an active, fit and healthy person." Ms Winship, who works in retail, has been told she will recover, but that it would be "a long-term thing" and that she was facing "months" using a wheelchair. She added she wanted people to be aware of the risks of attending the event. "I wasn't standing particularly close," she said. "We were a few metres away but it surged so quickly towards us. "They [the players] were looking at the keg, not where they were going. I know it was an accident. "Maybe they could have marshals to make it safer."

PA Media Bottle kicking organisers said people were warned that they entered the field of play at their own risk

Phil Allan, chairman of the bottle kicking organising committee, said he wished Ms Winship a "full recovery". He added people were warned well in advance of the risks of entering the field of play. "We don't want anyone to get hurt but you do get the odd injury - it's an age-old problem," Mr Allan said. "We've looked at all sorts of things but you can't marshal it. It's an unpredictable event. "We put posters up around the field telling people they enter at their own risk so they are warned. And we pay for ambulances and paramedics to attend in case anyone does get hurt." Bottle kicking is not the only peculiar rough-and-tumble English tradition that comes with a risk of injury. Paramedics are deployed to the annual cheese rolling event in Gloucestershire, where participants chase a 7lb (3kg) Double Gloucester down a steep 200-yard hill, many tripping and tumbling as they go. Medics have also been required to treat players hurt during Royal Shrovetide Football, which takes place annually in Ashbourne in Derbyshire, as the Up'Ards and Down'Ards compete to move a ball to opposite ends of the town.

Getty Images Injuries, including bloody faces, have been a feature of the bottle kicking event

Australia's universal healthcare is crumbling. Can it be saved?

54 minutes ago Share Save Tiffanie Turnbull Reporting from Streaky Bay, South Australia Share Save

BBC

From an office perched on the scalloped edge of the continent, Victoria Bradley jokes that she has the most beautiful doctor's practice in Australia. Outside her window, farmland rolls into rocky coastline, hemming a glasslike bay striped with turquoise and populated by showboating dolphins. Home to about 3,000 people, a few shops, two roundabouts and a tiny hospital, Streaky Bay is an idyllic beach town. For Dr Bradley, though, it is anything but. The area's sole, permanent doctor, she spent years essentially on call 24/7. Running the hospital and the general practitioner (GP) clinic, life was a never-ending game of catch up. She'd do rounds at the wards before, after and in between regular appointments. Even on good days, lunch breaks were often a pipe dream. On bad days, a hospital emergency would blow up her already punishing schedule. Burnt out, two years ago she quit – and the thread holding together the remnants of the town's healthcare system snapped.

Victoria Bradley is the only doctor in the community of Streaky Bay

Streaky Bay is at the forefront of a national crisis: inadequate government funding is exacerbating a shortage of critical healthcare workers like Dr Bradley; wait times are ballooning; doctors are beginning to write their own rules on fees, and costs to patients are skyrocketing. A once-revered universal healthcare system is crumbling at every level, sometimes barely getting by on the sheer willpower of doctors and local communities. As a result, more and more Australians, regardless of where they live, are delaying or going without the care they need. Health has become a defining issue for voters ahead of the nation's election on 3 May, with both of Australia's major parties promising billions of dollars in additional funding. But experts say the solutions being offered up are band-aid fixes, while what is needed are sweeping changes to the way the system is funded – reform for which there has so far been a lack of political will. Australians tell the BBC the country is at a crossroads, and needs to decide if universal healthcare is worth saving.

The cracks in a 'national treasure'

Healthcare was the last thing on Renee Elliott's mind when she moved to Streaky Bay - until the 40-year-old found a cancerous lump in her breast in 2019, and another one four years later. Seeing a local GP was the least of her problems. With the expertise and treatment she needed only available in Adelaide, about 500km away, Mrs Elliott has spent hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars accessing life-saving care, all while raising three boys and running a business. Though she has since clawed back a chunk of the cost through government schemes, it made an already harrowing time that much more draining: financially, emotionally and physically. "You're trying to get better… but having to juggle all that as well. It was very tricky."

Renee Elliott says rural patients are being shortchanged

When Australia's modern health system was born four decades ago – underpinned by a public insurance scheme called Medicare – it was supposed to guarantee affordable and accessible high-quality care to people like Mrs Elliott as "a basic right". Health funding here is complex and shared between states and federal governments. But the scheme essentially meant Australians could present their bright green Medicare member card at a doctor's office or hospital, and Canberra would be sent a bill. It paid through rebates funded by taxes. Patients would either receive "bulk billed" – completely free – care, mostly through the emerging public system, or heavily subsidised treatment through a private healthcare sector offering more benefits and choice to those who wanted them. Medicare became a national treasure almost instantly. It was hoped this set up would combine the best parts of the UK's National Health Service and the best of the United States' system. Fast forward 40 years and many in the industry say we're on track to end up with the worst of both.

There is no denying that healthcare in Australia is still miles ahead of much of the world, particularly when it comes to emergency care. But the core of the crisis and key to this election is GP services, or primary care, largely offered by private clinics. There has historically been little need for public ones, with most GPs choosing to accept Medicare rebates as full payment. That is increasingly uncommon though, with doctors saying those allowances haven't kept up with the true cost of delivering care. At the same time, staff shortages, which persist despite efforts to recruit from overseas, create a scarcity that only drives up prices further. According to government data, about 30% of patients must now pay a "gap fee" for a regular doctor's appointment - on average A$40 (£19.25; $25.55) out of pocket. But experts suspect the true figure is higher: it's skewed by seniors and children, who tend to visit doctors more often and still enjoy mostly bulk-billed appointments. Plus there's a growing cohort of patients not captured by statistics, who simply don't go to the doctor because of escalating fees. Brisbane electrician Callum Bailey is one of them. "Mum or my partner will pester and pester and pester… [but] I'm such a big 'I'll just suffer in silence' person because it's very expensive." And every dollar counts right now, the 25-year-old says: "At my age, I probably should be in my prime looking for housing… [but] even grocery shopping is nuts. "[I] just can't keep up."

This is a tale James Gillespie kept hearing. So his startup Cleanbill began asking the question: if the average Australian adult walked into a GP clinic, could they get a free, standard appointment? This year, they called almost all of the nation's estimated 7,000 GP clinics – only a fifth of them would bulk bill a new adult patient. In the entire state of Tasmania, for example, they couldn't find a single one. The results resonate with many Australians, he says: "It really brought it home to them that, 'Okay, it's not just us. This is happening nationwide'." And that's just primary care. Public specialists are so rare and so overwhelmed – with wait times often far beyond safe levels – that most patients are funnelled toward exorbitantly expensive private care. The same goes for a lot of non-emergency hospital treatments or dental work. There are currently no caps on how much private specialists, dentists or hospitals can charge and neither private health insurance nor slim Medicare rebates reliably offer substantial relief.

Priced out of care

The BBC spoke to people across the country who say the increasing cost of healthcare had left them relying on charities for food, avoiding dental care for almost a decade, or emptying their retirement savings to fund treatment. Others are borrowing from their parents, taking out pay-day loans to buy medication, remortgaging their houses, or selling their possessions. Kimberley Grima regularly lies awake at night, calculating which of her three children – who, like her, all have chronic illnesses – can see their specialists. Her own overdue health checks and tests are barely an afterthought.

ABC News/Billy Cooper Kimberley Grima says all appointments for children should be free

"They're decisions that you really don't want to have to make," the Aboriginal woman from New South Wales tells the BBC. "But when push comes to shove and you haven't got the money… you've got no other option. It's heart-breaking." Another woman tells the BBC that had she been able to afford timely appointments, her multiple sclerosis, a degenerative neurological disease, would have been identified, and slowed, quicker. "I was so disabled by the time I got a diagnosis," she says. The people missing out tend to be the ones who need it the most, experts say. "We have much more care in healthier, wealthier parts of Australia than in poorer, sicker parts of Australia," Peter Breadon, from the Grattan Institute think tank says. All of this creates a vicious cycle which feeds even more pressure back into an overwhelmed system, while entrenching disadvantage and fuelling distrust.

Every single one of those issues is more acute in the regions. Streaky Bay has long farewelled the concept of affordable healthcare, fighting instead to preserve access to any at all. It's why Dr Bradley lasted only three months after quitting before "guilt" drove her back to the practice. "There's a connection that goes beyond just being the GP... You are part of the community. "I felt that I'd let [them] down. Which was why I couldn't just let go."

Dr Bradley in her office overlooking...

the bay - what she calls the "most beautiful practice" in Australia

She came back to a far more sustainable three-day week in the GP clinic, with Streaky Bay forced to wage a bidding war with other desperate regions for pricey, fly-in-fly-out doctors to fill in the gaps. It's yet another line on the tab for a town which has already invested so much of its own money into propping up a healthcare system supposed to be funded by state and private investment. "We don't want a gold service, but what we want is an equitable service," says Penny Williams, who helps run the community body which owns the GP practice. When the clinic was on the verge of closure, the town desperately rallied to buy it. When it was struggling again, the local council diverted funding from other areas to top up its coffers. And even still most standard patients – unless they are seniors or children – fork out about A$50 per appointment. It means locals are paying for their care three times over, Ms Williams says: through their Medicare taxes, council rates, and then out-of-pocket gap fees.

Who should foot the bill?

"No-one would say this is the Australia that we want, surely," Elizabeth Deveny, from the Consumers Health Forum of Australia, tells the BBC. Like many wealthy countries, the nation is struggling to cope with a growing population which is, on average, getting older and sicker. There's a small but increasing cohort which says it is time to let go of the notion of universal healthcare, as we've known it. Many doctors, a handful of economists, and some conservative politicians have sought to redefine Medicare as a "safety net" for the nation's most vulnerable rather than as a scheme for all. Health economist Yuting Zhang argues free healthcare and universal healthcare are different things. The taxes the government collects for Medicare are already nowhere near enough to support the system, she says, and the country either needs to have some tough conversations about how it will find additional funds, or accept reasonable fees for those who can afford them. "There's always a trade-off... You have limited resources, you have to think about how to use them effectively and efficiently."

Access to healthcare has emerged as a key issue ahead of the May 3 election

The original promise of Medicare has been "undermined by decades of neglect", the Australian Medical Association's Danielle McMullen says, and most Australians now accept they need to contribute to their own care. She says freezes to Medicare rebates – which were overseen by both parties between 2013 and 2017 and meant the payments didn't even keep up with inflation – were the last straw. Since then, many doctors have been dipping into their own pockets to help those in need. Both the Labor Party and the Liberal-National coalition accept there is a crisis, but blame each other for it. Opposition leader Peter Dutton says his government will invest A$9bn in health, including funds for extra subsided mental health appointments and for regional universities training key workers. "Health has become another victim of Labor's cost of living crisis... we know it has literally never been harder or more expensive to see a GP than it is right now," health spokesperson Anne Ruston told the BBC in a statement. On the other side, Albanese - whipping out his Medicare card almost daily - has sought to remind voters that Labor created the beloved system, while pointing out the Coalition's previously mixed support of the universal scheme and the spending cuts Dutton proposed as Health Minister a decade ago. "At this election, this little card here, your Medicare card, is what is at stake," Albanese has said. His government has started fixing things already, he argues, and has pledged an extra A$8.5bn for training more GPs, building additional public clinics, and subsidising more medicines.

ABC News/Billy Cooper The government plans to open more urgent care clinics to help relieve pressure

But the headline of their rescue packages is an increase to Medicare rebates and bigger bonuses for doctors who bulk bill. Proposed by Labor, then matched by the Coalition, the changes will make it possible for 9 out of 10 Australians to see a GP for free, the parties claim. One Tasmanian doctor tells the BBC it is just a "good election sound bite". He and many other clinicians say the extra money is still not enough, particularly for the longer consults more and more patients are seeking for complex issues. Labor has little patience for those criticisms, citing research which they claim shows their proposal will leave the bulk of doctors better off and accusing them of wanting investment "without strings attached". But many of the patients the BBC spoke to are sceptical either parties' proposals will make a huge difference. There's far more they need to be doing, they say, rattling off a wish list: more work on training and retaining rural doctors; effective regulation of private fees and more investment in public specialist clinics; universal bulk billing of children for all medical and dental expenses; more funding for allied health and prevention.

Getty Images In remote towns like Streaky Bay, people wonder if the damage to universal healthcare is already irreparable

"If you had asked Liverpool fans back in August would their team win the Premier League, most would have said no," says former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld.

Jurgen Klopp was always going to be the hardest of acts to follow as manager.

Liverpool supporters were understandably worried about the future when the charismatic German, whose force of personality and success gave him iconic status, announced in January 2024 he was leaving at the end of that season.

Who would undertake the seemingly impossible task of replacing Klopp? Would Liverpool tread water or even go backwards for a season or two while his successor settled into the job?

"Klopp was a sort of god who changed the club - not just on the pitch but the whole atmosphere," says Westerveld.

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who had taken Bayer Leverkusen to the brink of a first Bundesliga title, was strongly linked with an Anfield return before announcing he was staying in Germany and that paved the way for Arne Slot's appointment.

"At that moment I didn't even think about Arne," adds fellow Dutchman Westerveld, who has remained friends with Slot since their playing days together at Sparta Rotterdam in 2007-08.

"Nobody in England knew an awful lot about him. Everybody who knows football said it was going to be a huge task and that this was an unknown coach who comes from the Netherlands."

Yet the transition from Klopp to Slot has been seamless, culminating in Liverpool needing just one more point to win the championship for a record-equalling 20th time.

With 24 wins in 33 games and just two defeats, Slot's Liverpool have made top spot their own after looking down on the rest of the Premier League since 2 November.

And now, if they avoid defeat against Tottenham on Sunday, they will be champions of England - with four games to spare - for just the second time since 1989-90.

Slot, who ruled himself out of the running to become the next Spurs boss while at Feyenoord in May 2023, would join an elite band of bosses in the Premier League era to have delivered the title in their first season in charge.

Jose Mourinho (2004-05) and Carlo Ancelotti (2009-10) both managed it at Chelsea before Manuel Pellegrini (2013-14) accomplished the feat at Manchester City. The last boss to do so before Slot was Antonio Conte - also at Chelsea - in 2016-17.

"Nobody expected this," adds Ian Doyle, chief Liverpool writer for the Liverpool Echo. "In terms of an achievement for a manager in his first season at Liverpool, it has to be right up there."

Neil Atkinson, presenter and CEO of Liverpool fans' podcast and website The Anfield Wrap, adds: "I don't think anyone wanted the new manager to come in and try to be a Jurgen Klopp tribute act.

"All Liverpool fans wanted was Slot to be himself - and that's what he has been."

Chris Eubank Jr narrowly beat bitter foe Conor Benn as one of Britain's most rancorous and long-running boxing rivalries lived up to the hype at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Both fighters showed wild aggression, taking the centre of the ring and letting their hands go in a 12-round edge-of-your-seat firefight.

Neither boxer could land the telling blow but it was the experience of Eubank, 35, which prevailed as all three judges scored it 116-112.

He claims bragging rights in a family feud which began 35 years ago when their legendary fathers first fought.

"I knew I could do that, I just needed someone to bring that out of me and I didn't think that he would be the guy to do that," Eubank said.

In a sensational plot twist, Eubank arrived at the venue alongside his father, Chris Eubank Sr. The pair had supposedly been estranged for years and Eubank Sr had criticised the match-up.

"I'm happy to have this man [Eubank Sr] back with me. We upheld the family name - onwards and upwards," Eubank added.

The heartwarming reconciliation seemingly gave Eubank a boost as he extended his record to 35 wins in 38 fights.

In a result which could have easily gone either way, Benn, 28, loses for the first time in 24 professional fights.

"I felt like it was a close fight. I'm not going to say 'yeah I should have won that' - I've got to watch it back. It was close," he said.

The boxers signed a two-fight deal and, after putting on such a show, could contest a rematch later this year.

As the Palace fans belted out their Dave Clark Five anthem 'Glad All Over' at one end of Wembley draped in red and blue, this high-class performance was not simply justification for Glasner's methods, but also the faith shown in him by chairman Steve Parish and the club's hierarchy.

The barren run in the early weeks of this campaign - their worst start in the Premier League since 1992-93 - came after Palace ended last season with 19 points from their last 21.

It also came, however, after they lost brilliant forward Michael Olise to Bayern Munich and key defender Joachim Andersen to Fulham.

Parish backed Glasner, telling BBC Sport after the semi-final: "I never had any doubt - watching him work, the positivity and the way he is. He loves football, always believes we can win, and he instils that in his players.

"This was superb. I thought they were excellent. All credit to the manager and the players. You can see what it means to them.

"I thought this was a real celebration of fans. Two clubs who haven't won a lot of honours in recent times. For us never. A great occasion at Wembley and we stand at the edge of doing something we've never done before."

The crowning moment of Glasner's career to date has been winning the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022 - claiming the first major honour in this proud, passionate south London club's history may even top that.

It was done under the gaze of three of his predecessors in Roy Hodgson, Alan Smith and Steve Coppell, the latter taking Palace to the 1990 FA Cup final, where they lost after a replay against Manchester United.

When Kasper Schmeichel, a Premier League winner, tells you that what Celtic do year in and year out is "extremely difficult and shouldn't be underestimated", you should probably listen.

The 38-year-old was passed the Celtic gloves by long-time pal Joe Hart last summer when he was reunited with Brendan Rodgers.

At Leicester City, the two won the FA Cup and Community Shield. Before that, Denmark international Schmeichel was part of the team who won the league under Claudio Ranieri, and he has scooped up a bounty of individual awards in his career.

Now he has a Scottish Premiership and League Cup in his cabinet and - although injured for now - hopes to be back in time to add a Scottish Cup medal and help Celtic complete a sixth domestic treble in nine years.

While the first title win of Schmeichel's career couldn't have been more unforeseeable in his Leicester days, the second couldn't have been more expected.

But he does not care for that narrative.

"Much is made of the Scottish league and the competition, but you have to win every single game," Schmeichel told Sky Sports.

"It's extremely difficult and definitely shouldn't be underestimated. Off days don't exist for us."

The clock goes red and France need a score to win the Women's Six Nations Grand Slam at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

That was not in the script.

England had cruised past their competition leading up the Grand Slam decider, scoring 33 tries in four comfortable wins.

Les Bleues came off the back of a scare in Parma against Italy, where they were behind at half-time but were saved by a second-half response.

The general consensus was the Red Roses would cruise to a fourth consecutive Grand Slam.

A thrilling 43-42 win secured four in a row and a seventh straight Six Nations title was achieved.

It may not have been perfect and the "complete performance" England head coach John Mitchell asked of his players.

Before the 25-minute mark, Mitchell's side led 31-7 but their dominance did not remain as their visitors outscored their hosts 21-12 in the second half, scoring six tries across the 80 minutes.

However, Mitchell was happy his side have been tested before a home Rugby World Cup that starts in August.

"I would rather have this sort of feedback any day of the week," Mitchell told BBC Sport.

"We got it done, we completed a goal that hasn't been done in the modern era - four Grand Slams in a row - and now we can have a celebration and get ready for a World Cup.

"The French get energy from success but I knew that we would have to win the game three or four times."

England's last defeat in the Six Nations was against France in 2018 and in any fixture was in the World Cup final by New Zealand in 2022.

The Red Roses are on a 25-game winning run and eyeing their own record 30-Test winning streak, which came to an end in that World Cup final.

A pattern which Mitchell does not want repeated.

"Those [close] games do help us - we get them occasionally," Mitchell added.

"The Red Roses are a unique team in the world but teams are out to perform against us.

"It's going to continue in 2025. We are going to have to raise our game, that is clear."

'Big pressure, but it's great when you have days like this' Video, 00:01:21'Big pressure, but it's great when you have days like this'