Blogs

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND legend Roy Keane had his say on Aston Villa striker last season.

And the former Man Utd skipper’s comments about the striker’s abilty will excite Red Devils’ fans.

Ruben Amorim’s side have been linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon ace Viktor Gyokeres but it looks like his future may lie elsewhere.

Now, Manchester United are keeping tabs on Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as they continue their search for a centre-forward this summer.

While Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo remains a target and Viktor Gyokeres is under consideration.

Watkins is now also being monitored as a potential option, according to The Athletic.

Villa are also facing financial pressure due to Premier League sustainability rules, the England international could become a realistic target.

And England ace Watkins has the endorsement of Manchester United legend Roy Keane, who praised the striker on Sky Sports earlier this year.

Keano was full of praise for the Villa ace: “He could play for one of the top teams, couldn’t he?

“Villa are a top team but you’re talking about bigger clubs in Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City.

“That’s a compliment to him, not that he has to leave Villa. But he’s capable of doing it.”

Speaking about Watkins’ form last season, Keane added: “The kid is so sharp, he has a great shape to him.

“His movement is as good as any striker in the Premier League. He’s having an amazing season.”

Manchester Utd are yet to add to the signing of Mateus Cunha as Ruben Amorim looks to rebuild after an appalling season.

POLICE have arrested two people on suspicion of murder and launched an urgent investigation after a body of a man was discovered.

Cops rushed to a wooded area between Truro and St Austell in Cornwall, after reports of concern for the welfare of a man at around 6pm yesterday.

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Two people have been arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police on suspicion of murder[/caption]

Devon and Cornwall Police sadly found a man’s body, which was already deceased.

A woman in her 30s from Newquay, has today been arrested on suspicion of murder.

A 39-year-old man from Sticker was also arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody at this time.

The same man was earlier arrested on Monday on suspicion of fraud as part of enquiries into a missing man.

Cops had swooped on a property in Sticker, near St Austell before making the initial arrest.

The force have now said: “Further information came to light during a search which resulted in the man also being arrested on suspicion of murder.”

Formal identification of the body has yet to take place but the family of a man has been informed, said cops.

Police are understood to be keeping an open mind, but it is believed the two incidents are linked.

DI Neil Blanchard, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “We appreciate that these events may appear concerning to the public, but we would like to ask people not to speculate while we work to ascertain exactly what has happened.

“Scene guards will remain in place both in the wooded area and in the St Austell area.

“We believe the incidents could be linked but there is nothing to indicate a wider threat to the public.”

If you have any information or footage that could help with enquiries, Devon and Cornwall Police can be contacted online or by calling 101 quoting reference number 50250167097.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling freephone 0800 555111.

BITTER neighbours are in a “ridiculous” seven-year row over a tiny gap between their homes, with a pensioner forking out £280,000 for the court battle.

Christel Naish and her doctor neighbour Jyotibala Patel have been fighting a court war over an inches-wide strip between their houses that is too narrow for someone to comfortably walk down.

Champion News Service

Christel Naish is forking out £280,000 for the court battle[/caption]

Champion News Service

Dr Patel and her lawyer leaving the High Court[/caption]

Ms Naish complained that Dr Patel’s garden tap and pipe were “trespassing” on her property in Ilford, east London, sparking an expensive legal battle.

Last year, after a trial at Mayors and City County Court, Ms Naish was left with more than £200,000 in lawers’ bills for the case when the judge ruled in Dr Patel’s favour.

But Ms Naish fought on – in what High Court judge Sir Anthony Mann branded a “ridiculous” dispute – only to have her case thrown out this week at the High Court.

Rejecting her appeal, Sir Anthony said the disputed strip of land between the houses is “dead space, and one would have thought it was not worth arguing about.”

The court heard Ms Naish first moved in as a teenager with her parents and, although she moved out, frequently returned as she worked from there in the family’s tarmac business.

She eventually moved back permanently after the death of her father in 2001, with Dr Patel and husband Vasos Vassili buying the house next door for £450,000 in 2013.

The couple’s barrister, Paul Wilmshurst, told the judge that the dispute began due to Ms Naish repeatedly complaining that a tap and pipe outside their house trespassed on her land.

Due to her “terrorising” them with her “petty and vindictive” complaints, they felt forced to sue due to the “blight” on the property’s value caused by the unresolved row, he said.

At the county court, they claimed the tiny gap between the houses, created when the previous owners of their home built an extension on a previously much wider gap in 1983, was theirs.

They insisted that the boundary between the two properties was the flank wall of Ms Naish’s house and not the edge of her guttering hanging above, as she claimed.

After hearing the trial, Judge Hellman found for Dr Patel and Mr Vassili, ruling that Ms Naish’s flank wall was the boundary and meaning they own the gap between the houses.

However, he found against them on Ms Naish’s counterclaim, under which she sought damages for damp ingress into her conservatory caused by them having installed decking above the level of her damp proof course.

The judge found that, although the damp problem was already in existence, the installation of the decking screed was a 20% contribution to it, and awarded Ms Naish £1,226 damages.

However, because he had found against her on who owns the gap between the houses, he ordered that she pay 65% of her neighbours’ lawyers’ bills – amounting to about £100,000 of an approximate £150,000 bill – on top of a similar six-figure sum she ran up herself.

Concluding his judgment, he said: “Now that the parties have the benefit of a judgment on the various issues that have been troubling them, I hope that tensions will subside and that they will be able to live together as good neighbours.”

However, Ms Naish continued to fight and took her case to the High Court in May, which Sir Anthony blasted as bringing “litigation into disrepute” since Ms Naish no longer has any problems with the tap and pipe, meaning the row is over “dead space.”

The court heard the legal costs of the appeal process itself would add more than £30,000 to the total cost of the case.

“Hundreds of thousands of pounds about a tap and a pipe that doesn’t matter,” Sir Anthony told Ms Naish’s lawyers during the appeal hearing.

“You don’t care about the pipe and the tap, so why does it matter, for goodness’ sake, where the boundary lies?

“It seems to me to be a ridiculous piece of litigation – on both sides, no doubt.”

Appealing, Ms Naish’s lawyers argued that Judge Hellman had considered the issue of where the boundary lies in the wrong way, without taking notice of the fact that both houses were already built when crucial conveyancing documents were drawn up.

The judge should have looked at the houses and decided that a reasonable buyer would expect the boundary to lie a few inches past Ms Naish’s wall so that her overhanging guttering was over the land.

Giving judgment, Sir Anthony said he disagreed with Judge Hellman’s reasoning, but had come to the same decision – that the boundary ran along the line of Ms Naish’s house and so the land belongs to her neighbours.

“I think that a purchaser standing with the plan in his/her hand and looking at the position on the ground is unlikely to look much beyond the obvious flank wall of the house. That would be an obvious boundary feature which fitted with the plan.

“I do not think the parties would cast their eyes upwards and see the guttering and re-shape their view of the boundary to the plane of the exterior face of the guttering. That does not seem particularly plausible.

“Nor do I think that the purchaser would be aware that foundations protruded beyond the flank wall – if indeed they do, there was no actual evidence of that, only a bit of speculation on the probabilities.

“So the natural view of the boundary at this point would be the flank wall. It is the obvious topographical feature which bears on the question.

“In my view, the judge reached the right conclusion on the position of the boundary, albeit my reasoning differs from his.”

The judge rejected Ms Naish’s appeal and also dismissed her challenge to the decision on the damp issue, under which she was claiming extra damages.

“The judge’s conclusion was that 20% of the damp problem was attributable to the claimants’ decking and he was entitled to reach that view,” he said.

“It is particularly undesirable that this already unfortunate litigation should be cluttered up by such unworthy points taken on this appeal.”

Ms Naish’s appeal against the amount of her neighbours’ costs she must pay will be decided at a later date.

KATIE Price fans spotted some embarrassing blunders as she shared the poster for her upcoming tour with pal Kerry Katona. 

The 46-year-old last week made a U-turn on the upcoming live dates with Kerry, 44 – after initially quitting the shows due to other commitments. 

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Instagram

PA Wire

But, after The Sun told how they’d managed to make it work and former glamour model Katie was back on board, she’s suffered another blow. 

She took to Instagram to share the full dates for An Evening with Katie Price and Kerry Katona. 

But eagle-eyed fans immediately spotted some mistakes in the details provided. 

One wrote: “Dates are wrong. On the left column it says Wednesday 10th October but 10th October is a Friday so assume it’s supposed to be September.” 

They added: “Also two 20th October dates at two different venues, just an fyi.” 

The apparent misprints quickly caused confusion, with one follower asking: “Is Lincoln September or October?”

And someone else said: “You’ve got 20th October listed twice, bound to cause confusion.”

During the tour, Katie and Kerry plan to “share stories of their friendship, marriage and divorce, bankruptcy, ‘I’m A Celebrity’, the importance of family, their constant press attention and turning their lives around”.

It’s the latest social media mum-of-five Katie has suffered recently, after she mixed up the date of eldest daughter Princess Andre’s 18th birthday. 

Katie initially shared a post on Instagram marking Princess’ milestone two days early, before swiftly deleting it. 

She was then forced to post another message on the teen’s actual birthday, writing: “Happy birthday to the most amazing daughter @princess_andre.

“Now you’re 18 so much more adventures we can do. I love you baby girl always and forever.”

A BRAVE young Donegal boy is undergoing a life-saving bone marrow transplant in the Netherlands today.

Zach McCrossan, a native of St Johnston, was recently diagnosed with a rare blood disorder known as Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Family Handout

The syndrome, which affects a person’s bone marrow, progresses into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia if left untreated.

His only chance of survival lies in a bone marrow transplant, which is not available in Ireland.

The devastating health diagnosis came only a year after his mother Patrice was diagnosed with AML.

The mother-of-four, who underwent chemotherapy and a bone transplant for her illness, still receives treatment.

The family have since received a tremendous amount of support from relatives, friends and the local community in the last year and a half.

Zach and his family travelled to the Netherlands last week ahead of his treatment.

And today his grandmother, Kateleen Rodgers posted online asking for support.

She said: “Please pray for my grandson Zach McCrossan today who is having his bone marrow transplant in the Netherlands and for his mammy Patrice as well.”

Zach’s is expected to remain an inpatient at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, Netherlands for at least three months.

Following his awful diagnosis a GoFundMe was set up in April by the family to cover the costs of Zach’s treatment.

FUNDS RAISED

Within 24 hours the campaign raised over €122,500, smashing their target of €3,500.

In response the family posted on social media saying: “Whether you donated, organised a fundraiser, offered a lift, dropped off meals, minded our other children, shared advice, or simply sent a message of encouragement

“We have felt every bit of your love and kindness.

“It’s because of you… our incredible circle of family, friends, neighbours, and strangers with big hearts…

“That we’re able to be by Zach’s side as he begins treatment in the Princess Máxima Center in Utrecht.”

Family Handout

This is why Dustin Yu felt jealous of Will Ashley. Former PBB housemate Dustin Yu confessed in an interview that he felt jealous of Will Ashley for this reason. The last duo to leave the “PBB Celebrity Edition Collab” was DusBi. They almost had it, but fell short in the challenges. Despite what happened, they are ... Read more

The post Dustin Yu Confesses He Was Jealous Of Will Ashley appeared first on PhilNews.

HEATHROW may sue the National Grid after a probe found a fault causing the huge substation fire was identified seven years ago.

The blaze in March halted flights for 24 hours — affecting 270,000 passengers and costing the airport millions.

A probe by the National Energy System Operator found faulty fire safety equipment and moisture in electrical parts flagged in 2018 were not addressed, and maintenance was delayed again in 2022.

The North Hyde substation fire was caused by “catastrophic failure” in a transformer, triggered by moisture entering electrical components.

Heathrow’s network was not designed to recover quickly.

The airport said it was making improvements.

Energy watchdog Ofgem has now launched a probe into the National Grid, which could result in fines.

Heathrow said: “A combination of outdated regulation, inadequate safety mechanisms and National Grid’s failure to maintain infrastructure led to this catastrophic power outage.”

National Grid said it had “taken action”.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called the findings “concerning” and promised action to prevent similar incidents.

Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, handled over 83.9million passengers in 2024.

AP

Heathrow may sue the National Grid after a probe found a fault causing the huge substation fire was identified seven years ago[/caption]

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

THE prison ordeal endured by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family will be featured in a BBC documentary and drama.

The British-Iranian charity worker was accused of spying and jailed in Iran in 2016, before being released three years ago.

AP:Associated Press

Joseph Fiennes is best known for playing William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love[/caption]

A drama chronicling what happened to Nazanin is being made by the Beeb.

Joseph Fiennes plays her husband Richard, who campaigned for her release so she could be reunited with him and their daughter.

The four-parter is based on forthcoming book A Yard Of Sky, written by the couple, and Nazanin will be played by Narges Rashidi.

In the documentary, which will be screened alongside the drama, the couple talk in detail about what happened and how they are rebuilding their lives.

The BBC has yet to confirm when they will be shown.

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A drama chronicling what happened to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being made by the BBC[/caption]

A Grand return by Kevin

GRAND Designs: House Of The Year is back as Kevin McCloud takes us on a tour of more of architectural gems.

He will be joined by experts Damion Burrows and Natasha Huq to scour the Royal Institute of British Architect’s shortlist of projects.

PA

The final episode of the four-part series will then unveil the winner of the RIBA House of the Year 2025.

Kevin said: “This series celebrates a sparkling range of what’s possible in domestic architecture today. It’s a great privilege to be able to help uncover these gems of creative imagination – and of course it’s a complete joy to be back presenting House of the Year alongside Natasha and Damion.”

The series will hit our screens on Channel 4 later this year.

Phyllis clues up with Kev

PHYLLIS LOGAN got to spend more time with her husband than she bargained for – after he was cast as her love interest.

She stars as Cora – aka the Puzzle Lady – in whodunnit detective series Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5 opposite hubby of 14 years

Channel 5

Phyllis Logan stars as Cora – aka the Puzzle Lady – in whodunnit detective series Murder Most Puzzling[/caption]

The role is opposite Kevin McNally, her husband of 14 years.

They had already appeared together as man and wife in BBC One historical drama Miss Austen last year, then got to do it all over again months later.

Phyllis, who will be in the third and final Downton Abbey movie playing housekeeper Mrs Carson this September, said: “I had no idea that he was being offered the part and was surprised and delighted, since I’d been away from home for ages.

“It was lovely to have him visit and to bookend the year by working together again.”

The latest episode of Murder Most Puzzling is on today at 8pm.

Rider’s murder riddle

SKY will delve into the shocking death of showjumper Katie Simpson in a new documentary.

When the promising young rider died unexpectedly aged 21 in 2020, it was believed she had taken her own life.

Then a local journalist in Northern Ireland realised there were similarities between her death and another cold case murder, which led to Jonathan Creswell, the partner of Katie’s sister, standing trial.

He denied charges of rape and murder but was found dead at home shortly after the trial began in 2024.

The three-parter, Death of A Showjumper, which lands on Sky and NOW on July 16, will tell the story through personal accounts from friends and family, and insight from the investigation team.

Sacha a hairy scary

SACHA BARON COHEN is seriously scary after finally being unveiled as evil adversary Mephisto in Disney+ Marvel miniseries Ironheart.

The Ali G and Borat comic is revealed as the soul-manipulating demon in the series finale, complete with long hair and beard.

TNI Press

Sacha Baron Cohen is looking seriously scary in his latest role[/caption]

TNI Press

Sacha has finally been unveiled as evil adversary Mephisto in Disney+ Marvel miniseries Ironheart[/caption]

The show is based around teenage genius Riri Williams, played by Dominique Thorne, who has created her own version of the Iron Man suit made famous by Robert Downey Jr in the movies.

Mephisto appears to tempt Riri to change her troubled past – and make her suit even more powerful with his magic.

TNI Press

The comic is revealed as the soul-manipulating demon in the series finale[/caption]

A TV chef has left fans gutted as he pulled out of a public appearance, just days before hitting the stage.

James Martin took to social media to share the news, as he issued a statement against a black background. 

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A TV chef has left fans gutted as he pulled out of a public appearance, just days before hitting the stage[/caption]

Instagram

James issued a statement to his legion of fans[/caption]

The 53-year-old penned to his 761,000 Instagram followers: “I’m so sorry but unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of my control, I will no longer be appearing at the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival.” 

He continued: “Please contact the organisers if you have any questions.” 

The comments section were flooded with messages of disappointment, from fans hopeful to see James at the event – but his comments have now been switched off.

The event takes place between July 18 and 20 at Aireville Park in Skipton, and TV favourite James was due to be one of the main draws of the festival. 

The popular event didn’t take place last year, after first launching in 2016, and so eager fans are looking forward to attending, with music performances from the likes of The Feeling and Go West. 

Jon Arrowsmith, managing director of The Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival, has since shared a statement with the Yorkshire Post, upon the news that James will not attend. 

He said: “We’re absolutely gutted that James has decided not to join us this year, we know how popular he is and understandably his fans will be disappointed by his decision.

“Running festivals is not for the faint-hearted and it certainly has its ups and downs. We’ve worked hard to rebuild the festival after it collapsed and we knew it would come with its challenges – maybe not as many as we’re facing – but we’re working through them.

“Please bear with us as we finalise our line-up and hire a replacement chef. But let me reassure everyone, we remain as committed as ever in our promise to deliver a festival Yorkshire will be proud of and one everyone will enjoy.”

James has been a popular face on television screens for a long time, due to his culinary prowess. 

Before his popular ITV series, James presented Saturday Kitchen, Home Comforts, James Martin’s Great British Adventure, Islands to Highlands and James Martin’s French Adventure.

He has also published over 20 best-selling cook books.

James has been through a tough time of late as he faced brutal health battles.

He was first diagnosed with cancer six years ago – but kept it secret from fans.

James underwent surgery but it returned on “several occasions”.

In November 2023, James revealed he was taking a break from work after he was diagnosed with facial cancer in 2018. 

At the time, he explained: “I was then diagnosed with cancer on my face, and I had to have surgery, which I couldn’t do until two days before Christmas when we had finished filming.

“Since then, it has returned on several occasions, and I have to have regular treatments.”

Rex

ANTHONY JOSHUA ‘squared up’ to the teenage boxer who’s tipped to be his successor as they came face to face for the first time.

Leo Atang, 18, is being branded “AJ’s heir” after being snapped up by Eddie Hearn ahead of his pro debut this Saturday.

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Anthony Joshua broke the ice with teenage boxer Leo Atang[/caption]

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Atang is making his professional debut on the Eubank vs Catterall undercard[/caption]

Awestruck Atang, who calls Joshua his idol, was taken aback when the two-time heavyweight world champion threw air punches within seconds of meeting.

AJ broke the ice with the gag as he gave the young fighter his seal of approval.

The former world champion told Atang: “The world is yours.”

But the heavyweight isn’t ready to bow out quite yet, despite his knock-out by Daniel Dubois in September.

Speaking at the unveiling of Matchroom Boxing‘s rebranding, AJ said: “For the first time in about 12 to 13 years as a professional, not even including the amateur stuff, I took a year out to get my body right.

“I’m at a different stage in my career where I can look at time a bit differently.

“I’ve not got all these years in front of me like the main man here [Atang], so I’ve got to make really executive decisions about what I do next.

“So the minute I come back, you know I’ll come back with a bang rather than just keep rolling.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

“I just thought, let me take some time out so when I do come back I come back fully active and ready to go and take the division by storm again.”

Meanwhile Atang is preparing for his pro debut on the Jack Catterall vs. Harlem Eubank card in Manchester this Saturday.

Sharing a picture of himself with AJ and Frank Bruno on Instagram, Leo wrote: “The past, present and the future.”

Atang – a former rugby league winger from York – is a five-time national champ.

He won the World Boxing Under-19 world championships last year – stopping Korean Lee Geon Hui inside the first round.

Soon after turning pro under Hearn, the promoter said: “He’s the guy in my opinion to follow in the footsteps of Anthony Joshua.

“And ignite the heavyweight division to all kinds of fanbases across the country.

“Young man, plenty of work to do, we’re going to box him all across the country, all over the world.

“Seven, eight fights a year but remember what I say, everybody in this arena, everyone tuning in on DAZN, follow this young man, remember the name.

“This is the future of British boxing and the future of the heavyweight division.”