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Le gréviste de la faim palestinien Khader Adnan est mort dans une prison israélienne

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Khader Adnan, qui était affilié au groupe militant palestinien Jihad islamique, est mort mardi dans une prison israélienne après une grève de la faim de 87 jours, ont annoncé les autorités pénitentiaires israéliennes.

Israël a déclaré qu’Adnan “avait refusé de subir des tests médicaux et de recevoir des soins médicaux” et “avait été retrouvé inconscient dans sa cellule” tôt mardi matin.

“Notre combat se poursuit et l’ennemi réalisera une fois de plus que ses crimes ne passeront pas sans réponse. La résistance continuera par tous les moyens et avec détermination », a déclaré le Jihad islamique palestinien dans un communiqué.

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Peu de temps après, des sirènes ont retenti dans les communautés israéliennes frontalières de Gaza, obligeant les habitants à fuir pour se mettre à l’abri, et l’armée israélienne a confirmé que trois roquettes tirées de la bande de Gaza vers le territoire israélien étaient tombées dans des zones dégagées.

“Khader Adnan a été exécuté de sang-froid”, a déclaré à Reuters l’association des prisonniers WAED à Gaza.

Adnan, 45 ans, originaire de la ville occupée de Jénine, était une figure connue du Jihad islamique en Cisjordanie, capturée par Israël lors d’une guerre en 1967. Comme le Hamas islamiste, le Jihad islamique s’oppose aux accords de paix entre les Palestiniens et Israël et prône la destruction d’Israël.

Selon l’Association des prisonniers palestiniens, Adnan a été détenu par Israël 12 fois, passant environ huit ans en prison, principalement en détention administrative.

Israël a accusé Adnan de soutenir le terrorisme, d’être affilié à un groupe terroriste et d’incitation. Il a fait au moins cinq grèves de la faim au cours de ses différentes périodes de détention depuis 2004.

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(Reuters)

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Northern Ireland’s DUP leader Donaldson steps down after sex offence charges

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The leader of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist party has stepped down from the top job after being charged with sexual offenses of a historic nature, the party said in a statement on Friday.

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Jeffrey Donaldson left his post with immediate effect pending the outcome of the judicial process, the Democratic Unionist Party said. In accordance with party rules, it has suspended him from membership.

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The announcement came after police in Northern Ireland said a 61-year-old man had been arrested and charged with non-recent sexual offenses. A 57-year-old woman was charged with aiding and abetting additional offenses, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said. Both suspects are due in court on April 24. 

British police generally do not identify suspects by name.

The resignation of Donaldson, who has been party leader since 2021, throws the DUP into disarray ahead of U.K. parliamentary elections expected later this year. As the biggest unionist party, the DUP is the voice of Northern Ireland voters who seek to maintain the region’s historic ties to the United Kingdom. 

Donaldson is a pivotal figure in the DUP, taking the party out of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing administration for more than two years to pressure the U.K. central government into amending post-Brexit trading arrangements. The DUP agreed to return to power-sharing with the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein earlier this year following a series of assurances about Northern Ireland’s constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

Donaldson has been a member of Parliament since 1997. He was initially a member of the Ulster Unionist Party but left the party over its support for the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. He joined the DUP in 2004.

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Gavin Robinson, the member of Parliament for Belfast East, was named interim party leader.

(AP)

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David and Victoria Beckham cosy up on a charter boat as they join their brood in heading to new £16m superyacht in Miami… after upgrading their £5m vessel for new cruiser

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David and Victoria Beckham have swapped their £5million yacht for an incredible £16million superyacht. 

And on Thursday, the famous family were seen taking advantage of the Easter holidays to spend time on their lavish new purchase. 

David and Victoria, aged 48 and 49 respectively, were seen zipping across the waters in Miami on a charterboat headed to their new vessel. 

Joining the famous pair were some of their beloved family – including sons Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 19, and their youngest child, daughter Harper, 12. 

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The footballer, who also shares Romeo, 21, with the former Spice Girls star, opted for a trendy bucket hat and tee while Victoria pulled a baseball cap low on her face while their kids all opted for summer garb.  

David and Victoria Beckham have swapped their £5million yacht for an incredible £16million superyacht and on Thursday were spotted heading to the amazing boat

David and Victoria Beckham have swapped their £5million yacht for an incredible £16million superyacht and on Thursday were spotted heading to the amazing boat

David and Victoria Beckham have swapped their £5million yacht for an incredible £16million superyacht and on Thursday were spotted heading to the amazing boat 

The famous family were seen taking advantage of the Easter holidays to spend time on their lavish new purchase

The famous family were seen taking advantage of the Easter holidays to spend time on their lavish new purchase

The famous family were seen taking advantage of the Easter holidays to spend time on their lavish new purchase

Joining the famous pair were some of their beloved family - including sons Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 19, and their youngest child, daughter Harper, 12

Joining the famous pair were some of their beloved family - including sons Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 19, and their youngest child, daughter Harper, 12

Joining the famous pair were some of their beloved family – including sons Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 19, and their youngest child, daughter Harper, 12

David and Victoria, aged 48 and 49 respectively, were seen zipping across the waters in Miami on a charterboat headed to their new vessel

David and Victoria, aged 48 and 49 respectively, were seen zipping across the waters in Miami on a charterboat headed to their new vessel

David and Victoria, aged 48 and 49 respectively, were seen zipping across the waters in Miami on a charterboat headed to their new vessel

The footballer, who also shares Romeo, 21, with the former Spice Girls star, opted for a trendy bucket hat and tee while Victoria pulled a baseball cap low on her face while their kids all opted for summer garb

The footballer, who also shares Romeo, 21, with the former Spice Girls star, opted for a trendy bucket hat and tee while Victoria pulled a baseball cap low on her face while their kids all opted for summer garb

The footballer, who also shares Romeo, 21, with the former Spice Girls star, opted for a trendy bucket hat and tee while Victoria pulled a baseball cap low on her face while their kids all opted for summer garb

Victoria kept her trademark stony pout in place as the couple headed across the water, while shielding her eyes with sunglasses. 

With David’s arm lovingly draped around the star, they engaged with their kids, who excitedly chatted while heading to their parents’ latest lavish purchase.  

The couple have been spending time on their impressive looking vessel, understood to be worth £16million, and is a significant upgrade on the comparatively modest 100-foot, £5million yacht reportedly purchased by Beckham in 2022. 

Larger and more imposing than its predecessor – thought to be a ’90 Argo, purchased from yacht manufacturer Riva – the new boat boasts three sprawling decks and masses of space to unwind. 

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The vessel is believed to be another Riva design, the 130 Bellissima, complete with its own 20 square-metre garage, upper deck jacuzzi and lower deck swim platform. 

It is unknown if the vessel is owned or chartered, however, both have been personalised with the single word Seven – a reference to Beckham’s Manchester United and England squad number, and daughter Harper’s middle name – emblazoned across the hull. 

Taking advantage of its extra space, Beckham and his fashion designer wife were seen sunbathing as spring temperatures across the Gulf Coast continued to soar. 

The football legend was said to have ‘treated himself’ to his original £5million vessel in 2022 after being inspired by his maritime jaunts with close friends Sir Elton John and David Furnish – who often holiday at sea. 

Victoria kept her trademark stony pout in place as the couple headed across the water, while shielding her eyes with sunglasses

Victoria kept her trademark stony pout in place as the couple headed across the water, while shielding her eyes with sunglasses

Victoria kept her trademark stony pout in place as the couple headed across the water, while shielding her eyes with sunglasses

They caught a charter boat to their lavish location

They caught a charter boat to their lavish location

They caught a charter boat to their lavish location 

Cruz turned to stare out at the waters as they headed to the boat

Cruz turned to stare out at the waters as they headed to the boat

Cruz turned to stare out at the waters as they headed to the boat 

Prior to the boat trip, Brooklyn was seen spinning around the streets in a light blue electric Jaguar XK140

Prior to the boat trip, Brooklyn was seen spinning around the streets in a light blue electric Jaguar XK140

Prior to the boat trip, Brooklyn was seen spinning around the streets in a light blue electric Jaguar XK140

A source told The Sun at the time: ‘David had a look around some yachts in the summer, and decided to treat himself. He helped design the boat himself, and has been incredibly hands-on with everything.

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‘It’s not an oligarch-style super-yacht, but it’s still pretty plush by anyone’s standards. He was inspired after holidaying with Elton and David on their boat – and loves life on the water.

‘There will be an area for the kids to snorkel, and the boat will be a brilliant base for the whole Beckham clan to have magical holidays abroad.’ 

Beckham recently admitted that he didn’t realise how ‘strong’ Victoria was until they exchanged vows in 1999. 

Speaking on This Life of Mine with James Corden, David revealed that he ‘really fancied’ her at the time, even though he ‘didn’t know’ who she really was until their relationship progressed.

He said: ‘I really just fancied her. I did. I just fancied her. 

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‘I didn’t know what she was like as a person. I just actually fancied her like most people did at that time, and I didn’t know who I was marrying [or] who I was going to be with for the rest of my life.

‘I didn’t realise what a strong woman she was, and that is what really attracted me to her more than anything.’

With David's arm lovingly draped around the star, they engaged with their kids, who excitedly chatted while heading to their parents' latest lavish purchase

With David's arm lovingly draped around the star, they engaged with their kids, who excitedly chatted while heading to their parents' latest lavish purchase

With David’s arm lovingly draped around the star, they engaged with their kids, who excitedly chatted while heading to their parents’ latest lavish purchase

Harper chatted lovingly to her father, with whom she shares a famously close relationship

Harper chatted lovingly to her father, with whom she shares a famously close relationship

Harper chatted lovingly to her father, with whom she shares a famously close relationship

Cruz went for a bold look in bright yellow trousers

Cruz went for a bold look in bright yellow trousers

Cruz went for a bold look in bright yellow trousers 

The family made a splash on their way to a day at sea on the boat

The family made a splash on their way to a day at sea on the boat

The family made a splash on their way to a day at sea on the boat

David joined his wife in covering his eyes in dark glasses

David joined his wife in covering his eyes in dark glasses

David joined his wife in covering his eyes in dark glasses 

Beckham was apparently inspired into the purchase of his first boat by his maritime jaunts with close friends Sir Elton John and David Furnish - who often holiday at sea

Beckham was apparently inspired into the purchase of his first boat by his maritime jaunts with close friends Sir Elton John and David Furnish - who often holiday at sea

Beckham was apparently inspired into the purchase of his first boat by his maritime jaunts with close friends Sir Elton John and David Furnish – who often holiday at sea

Victoria shared this photo from the deck of their sprawling £5million yacht in April last year

Victoria shared this photo from the deck of their sprawling £5million yacht in April last year

Victoria shared this photo from the deck of their sprawling £5million yacht in April last year

Riva 130 Bellissima (16M estimate)

Described as ‘a modern superyacht with a classic soul’, the 130 Bellissima features a contemporary exterior  constructed from glass, steel and carbon-fibre. 

A 20 square-metre garage, located on the boat’s port-side, has room for a tender, jet-ski and Seabobs. 

The upper deck includes a jacuzzi, while lower deck features include a swim platform and an alfresco lounge. 

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Riva ’90 Argo (£5M estimate)

With a sporty silhouette and sleek, metallic finish, the Argo is billed by Riva as ‘a sumptuous triumph of elegance and comfort’. 

Key features include sizeable sundecks at stern and aft divided by a large main deck. 

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Interior spaces include elegant Italian design features, among them polished wood and metal surfaces and sweeping panoramic views.   

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Belgium’s forced adoption scandal: Victims on lifelong quest for truth

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REPORTERS © FRANCE 24

From the post-war period until the mid-1980s, thousands of children were forcibly taken from their young Belgian mothers and sold to adoptive families by Catholic institutions. Today, many victims are desperately trying to trace their origins and demanding answers from those responsible for this scandal. Our correspondent Alix Le Bourdon reports from France and Belgium.

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Fraudsters are using AI to churn out fake IDs before selling them to under-18s for as little as £12 – and experts say supermarkets, pubs and airports need to be on ‘red alert’

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Fraudsters are using the latest AI technology to churn out masses of high-quality fake IDs in just minutes, a report has warned.

Yoti, which provides facial estimation systems for British supermarkets and pubs to check users are over-18, said the forgeries were so ‘sophisticated’ they were hard to spot.

The British firm highlighted an underground website called Onlyfake that used the technology behind chatbots to create ‘highly convincing’ AI-generated IDs for just £12.

With a reported 20,000 being produced every day, an investigation found they were good enough to bypass an online trading platform’s strict verification system.

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Security experts said supermarkets, pubs, and airports would also need to be on ‘ red alert’ – warning many were ‘woefully unprepared to deal with this threat’.

Fraudsters are using the latest AI technology to churn out masses of high-quality fake IDs in just minutes, a report has warned

Fraudsters are using the latest AI technology to churn out masses of high-quality fake IDs in just minutes, a report has warned

Fraudsters are using the latest AI technology to churn out masses of high-quality fake IDs in just minutes, a report has warned

It has sparked further fears known-scammers could use them to get past strict checks to work in finance again or convicted offenders to work with children.

Yoti uses cutting-edge facial estimation technology to determine someone’s age within 18 month using just a picture with near 100 per cent accuracy.

Major British supermarkets – including Tesco, Asda and Morrisons – already have it installed in their self-service checkouts to ensure people buying alcohol are over-18.

In its first annual Identity Fraud Report, Yoti said its security centre had recorded a noticeable rise in counterfeit documents and impersonation attempts over the past year.

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They said scammers were increasingly taking advantage of ‘this low hanging fruit’, which ‘for little effort and low cost, someone could create a fake document image in minutes.’

A recent investigation found an underground website called OnlyFake boasting it was producing 20,000 images of counterfeit IDs every day, which could be ready for order ‘near instantly’.

Yoti, which provides facial estimation systems for British supermarkets and pubs to check users are over-18, said the forgeries were so 'sophisticated' they were hard to spot

Yoti, which provides facial estimation systems for British supermarkets and pubs to check users are over-18, said the forgeries were so 'sophisticated' they were hard to spot

Yoti, which provides facial estimation systems for British supermarkets and pubs to check users are over-18, said the forgeries were so ‘sophisticated’ they were hard to spot

For just £12, it provided an AI-generated photo of a US driving license with the name, bio, address, expiration date and signature the reporter had asked for.

To make it look more real, the AI also created a carpet background to make it appear as though it had been taken in the owner’s house.

They then used it to successfully pass a strict verification process on a cryptocurrency exchange, which had appeared in several court records due to its use by criminals.

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On its Telegram account, the site boasted it created up to 20,000 documents a day – fuelling fears the practice could be streamlining bank fraud and money laundry.

Suid Adeyanju, chief executive of cybersecurity firm RiverSafe, said: ‘Generative AI is set to fuel a tidal wave of highly effective scams and the reality is that many organisations are woefully unprepared to deal with this threat.

‘In the wrong hands this technology will equip fraudsters with the tools they need to accelerate criminal activity, falsifying documents, including bank cards and passports.

‘Supermarkets, pubs, and airports all need to be on red alert for highly convincing fake ID and have the tools and training in place to spot it.’

Derek Mackenzie, chief executive of financial and technology recruitment specialists Investigo, said: ‘Fake IDs could also pose substantial risks when it comes to background checks and jobs in sensitive industries which require security clearance’

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He added: ‘Cheap, easy to use and fast; Generative AI is an incredibly dangerous tool in the hands of fraudsters.

‘That’s why it’s vital that businesses of all sizes equip themselves with the latest digital skills, to help recognise potential scams and keep criminals at bay.’

Yoti said it has cutting-edge technology in place to protect against fraudsters, such as a ‘liveness’ feature, which ensures the person verifying themselves with a selfie is really there and not using a printed or digital photo, video or mask.

The company said it also had a 150-strong human team of ‘super recognisers’ to fall back on when its computer systems couldn’t be completely certain, alongside a 24/7 dedicated counter fraud team.

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Interest rate cuts still ‘a long way off’ despite falling inflation, warns top Bank of England official

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Interest rate cuts should still be ‘a long way off’ despite falling inflation, a key Bank of England official has warned.

Jonathan Haskel said the drop to 3.4 per cent was ‘very good news’ but rate-setters are instead focused on ‘the persistent and the underlying inflation’.

‘I think cuts are a long way off,’ he told the Financial Times. The comments will dampen hopes over the timing of a rate cut.

Cautious: Rate-setting committee-member Jonathan Haskel (pictured) said the drop in inflation to 3.4% was ‘very good news’ but ‘not informative about what we really care about’

Cautious: Rate-setting committee-member Jonathan Haskel (pictured) said the drop in inflation to 3.4% was ‘very good news’ but ‘not informative about what we really care about’

Cautious: Rate-setting committee-member Jonathan Haskel (pictured) said the drop in inflation to 3.4% was ‘very good news’ but ‘not informative about what we really care about’

Interest rates have been hiked to 5.25 per cent as the Bank of England battled inflation. 

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But hopes of a cut have been raised as inflation falls and Bank Governor Andrew Bailey said ‘things are moving in the right direction’. 

They have also been stoked by the retreat of the two most hawkish rate-setting committee members – Haskel and Catherine Mann.

This week, Mann said markets were ‘pricing in too many cuts’. By last night, bets on a June rate cut had faded and August was seen as more likely.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics yesterday confirmed that the economy shrank for two successive quarters at the end of last year – meeting the technical definition of recession. 

Over the six-month period, the decline was 0.4 per cent.

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When will interest rates fall?

Economists are divided on exactly when rates will fall and by how much but most expect a series of cuts this year.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said that he was not against cuts arriving in 2024, in an interview with the FT last week. But other MPC members will need convincing and in the last meeting just one vote for a cut. 

Future falls: Capital Economics is forecasting the the bank rate will be cut to 3% in 2025

Future falls: Capital Economics is forecasting the the bank rate will be cut to 3% in 2025

Future falls: Capital Economics is forecasting the the bank rate will be cut to 3% in 2025

The Bank of England will cut the base rate to around 3 per cent by in 2025, according to the latest forecasts from Capital Economics.

Wider market expectations continue to also all point towards the Bank of England cutting the base rate later in 2024, albeit they have been revised up since the start of the year.

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At the start of this year, investors were betting rates could be cut to 3.75 per cent by Christmas.

But it is now thought rates will fall to just 4.5 per cent this year – with the first move expected to come in June.

> Read more: When will interest rates start to fall 

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Thai PM Srettha Thavisin believes in a ‘more democratic’ future for Thailand

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Srettha Thavisin became Thailand’s prime minister in August 2023, putting an end to nine years of the country’s military dominating its politics. In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, the businessman-turned-politician said he “truly believes” the future of Thailand will be more democratic. 

Will the future of Thailand be more democratic than the past? “Yes I truly believe [so],” the Thai premier told FRANCE 24 in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Thavisin is the country’s first civilian prime minister in nine years. The army’s coup in 2014 overthrew the democratically elected government at the time. “I can’t worry for things I have no control [of],” he replied when asked about the risk of another coup. “My goal is clearly to make the lives of the Thai people better.”

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Turning to the conflict in neighbouring Myanmar, Thavisin asserted that “at the moment”, it “hasn’t reached the point where there is a full civil war”.

“The first word we should discuss is humanitarian assistance,” he added. “If there are people who need help, then we will help them.”

The Thai premier also spoke about a “four-eyes meeting” with French President Emmanuel Macron on March 11, in which the two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine. 

“I think he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) wouldn’t dare to invade other nations,” Thavisin said.

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With a wet Easter looming, we round up the 20 best last-minute bargains to sunnier climes – from beach holidays to far-flung adventures – that could save you thousands of pounds

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With the Easter holidays looking like a washout, perhaps it’s time to escape to fairer shores and warmer climes. 

And there are plenty of deals to be had from last-minute skiing breaks to European beach holidays and far-flung adventures. 

Here we round up 20 of the best offers for travel this Easter.

Save £400 when you slope off 

The Chalet Renard in Val Thorens has access to a heated swimming pool

The Chalet Renard in Val Thorens has access to a heated swimming pool

The Chalet Renard in Val Thorens has access to a heated swimming pool

Head for Val Thorens, Europe’s highest skiing resort, for a week full-board, including flights, in Ski Beat’s apartment Chalet Renard from £999pp. The property has access to a heated swimming pool, sauna, hammam and Jacuzzi. (skibeat.co.uk)

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Save £385 on a sea view

The Jumeiran Port Soller Hotel and Spa in Majorca

The Jumeiran Port Soller Hotel and Spa in Majorca

The Jumeiran Port Soller Hotel and Spa in Majorca

Spend four nights B&B at the Jumeiran Port Soller Hotel & Spa in Majorca from £2,220pp, including flights. The offer includes complementary access to the coastal resort’s spa. Book for travel from now until November 4 by April 30. (elegantresorts.co.uk)

Save 30% on bobbing along

Le Boat offers a self-catered trip in Alsace Lorraine

Le Boat offers a self-catered trip in Alsace Lorraine

Le Boat offers a self-catered trip in Alsace Lorraine

Le Boat is currently offering 30 per cent off all holidays departing in March, April and May 2024 if booked by April 2. A seven-night self-catered trip in Alsace Lorraine on board Caprice, which sleeps six, is from £1,479. Flights are excluded. (leboat.co.uk)

Save 50% on a family favourite

Dubai's Jumeirah Zabeel hotel, where kids stay free on breaks between March 31 and April 10

Dubai's Jumeirah Zabeel hotel, where kids stay free on breaks between March 31 and April 10

Dubai’s Jumeirah Zabeel hotel, where kids stay free on breaks between March 31 and April 10

Children stay free at Dubai’s Jumeirah Zabeel on breaks booked by March 31 for stays until April 10. Five nights half-board, with complementary passes to Dubai Parks and Resorts, is from £4,059 per family (two adults and one child under 12), including flights.

Save £600 on an island dream

The Great House hotel in Antigua

The Great House hotel in Antigua

The Great House hotel in Antigua

The Great House hotel is situated in the last stone plantation house in Antigua, which is 350 years old. Seven nights half-board is now from £1,659pp including flights if booked by March 31 for stays from now until December 19.

Save £132 on a Greek treat

The Parthenon dominates the Athens skyline

The Parthenon dominates the Athens skyline

The Parthenon dominates the Athens skyline

Olympic Holidays is offering seven nights B&B at the Athens Key Hotel from £735pp including flights from Manchester on April 11. The city centre boutique hotel is a great base from which to explore the Greek capital’s many attractions. (olympicholidays.com)

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Save £334 when you call in to the Canaries

The Playa Park Zensation in Fuerteventura

The Playa Park Zensation in Fuerteventura

The Playa Park Zensation in Fuerteventura

Flop by the pool for a week all-inclusive at Fuerteventura’s Playa Park Zensation from £529pp, including flights from Luton, Stansted, Birmingham, Leeds Bradford or Newcastle on selected dates between April 12 and May 17. (travelzoo.com)

Save 20% on the Inca Trail

Machu Picchu in Peru

Machu Picchu in Peru

Machu Picchu in Peru

Visit Machu Picchu on foot or a relaxed train ride, explore the Amazon rainforest, stroll the historic streets of Cusco and enjoy a homestay on Lake Titicaca during this 15-day trip around Peru and Bolivia which is from £2,190pp on April 2, flights excluded. (intrepid.com)

Save 30% on tempting Thailand

The Banyan Tree in Phuket has plenty to keep the whole family busy

The Banyan Tree in Phuket has plenty to keep the whole family busy

The Banyan Tree in Phuket has plenty to keep the whole family busy

The Banyan Tree in Phuket has private pool villas and plenty to keep the whole family busy from watersports to bike rides, tennis and a children’s club. Seven nights B&B is now from £2,064pp including flights from Heathrow for travel between April 11 and October 31, if booked by May 12. (inspiringtravel.co.uk)

Save 25% on Maldives magic

The Kuredu Resort in the Maldives

The Kuredu Resort in the Maldives

The Kuredu Resort in the Maldives

Seven nights full-board at the Kuredu Resort in the Maldives is from £3,465 per couple, including flights from Heathrow, if booked by March 31 for travel between now and April 11. Departures from Glasgow for the same dates are from £3,551 per couple. (awayholidays.co.uk)

Save £345 on a Benidorm break

The Terralta Apartments in Benidorm is from £248pp for seven nights self-catering

The Terralta Apartments in Benidorm is from £248pp for seven nights self-catering

The Terralta Apartments in Benidorm is from £248pp for seven nights self-catering

Head to the Costa Blanca for seven nights self-catering at Terralta Apartments in Benidorm is from £248pp including flights from Gatwick on April 9. Poniente Beach is just a 15-minute walk away. (tui.co.uk)

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Save £334 on a Cypriot escape

Kefalos Beach Tourist Village in Paphos overlooks the sea

Kefalos Beach Tourist Village in Paphos overlooks the sea

Kefalos Beach Tourist Village in Paphos overlooks the sea

Seven nights B&B at Kefalos Beach Tourist Village in Paphos, Cyprus, is from £563pp including flights from Cardiff on April 3. The resort overlooks the sea and is a short walk from the Paphos promenade with its bars and restaurants. (firstchoice.co.uk)

Save £427 on Alpine skiing

Base yourself in Chalet Caribou for more skiing in Val Thorens

Base yourself in Chalet Caribou for more skiing in Val Thorens

Base yourself in Chalet Caribou for more skiing in Val Thorens

Depart for the French Alps on April 6 for a week’s skiing in Chalet Caribou, Val Thorens, which is now from £999pp including flights. The price is based on two sharing with chalet hosts preparing breakfasts, afternoon tea and three-course evening meals with wine. (skibeat.co.uk)

Save £243 on a Philippines tour

The island of Palawan in the Philippines offers snorkelling and kayaking

The island of Palawan in the Philippines offers snorkelling and kayaking

The island of Palawan in the Philippines offers snorkelling and kayaking

This eight-day trip, which takes in the island of Palawan in the Philippines, is now from £1,377pp excluding flights on April 11. Activities include snorkelling, relaxing on the beach, kayaking and wandering around the town of El Nido. (responsibletravel.com)

Save 25% in the global sale

The seven-day escorted tour with Gadventures begins Paris and ends in Rome

The seven-day escorted tour with Gadventures begins Paris and ends in Rome

The seven-day escorted tour with Gadventures begins Paris and ends in Rome

Escorted tour company Gadventures is offering up to 25 per cent off trips across the world until the end of April. A seven-day trip from Paris to Rome, via Interlaken in Switzerland, is from £959pp on April 7 excluding flights. (Gadventures.com)

Save £100 on an adults only stay

The picturesque waterfront in Sorrento, Italy

The picturesque waterfront in Sorrento, Italy

The picturesque waterfront in Sorrento, Italy

Seven nights all-inclusive at the Grand Hotel La Pace in Italy’s Sorrento is now from £522pp, including flights from Stansted on April 8. The resort offers complementary shuttle buses into the centre of Sorrento. (jet2holidays.com)

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Save £690 on an oceanfront apartment

The Marina Bayview apartments in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria

The Marina Bayview apartments in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria

The Marina Bayview apartments in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria

Seven nights self-catering in a one-bedroom apartment at Marina Bayview is now from £685pp, including flights from Bristol on April 8. The apartment complex has a pool and is in Gran Canaria’s Puerto Rico. (easyjet.com)

Save £120 on parks and rides

Walt Disney World in Florida

Walt Disney World in Florida

Walt Disney World in Florida

Just three miles from the gates of Walt Disney World, Red Lion Lake Buena Vista is a new resort perfect for exploring Orlando’s theme parks. A whopping 11-nights room-only is now from £1,028pp including flights on April 9. (virginholidays.co.uk)

Save £450 on a twin break

A street market in Hanoi, Vietnam

A street market in Hanoi, Vietnam

A street market in Hanoi, Vietnam

Explore the highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia, including Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An, on this 14-day trip which departs on April 8. Prices from £1,899pp, excluding flights. (exodus.co.uk)

Save 25% in St Lucia

The East Winds all-inclusive resort in St Lucia

The East Winds all-inclusive resort in St Lucia

The East Winds all-inclusive resort in St Lucia

East Winds is an all-inclusive resort in St Lucia, overlooking a private beach, with 26 cottage-style suites and villas. Seven nights all-inclusive is now from £2,516pp including flights if booked for travel any time this year. (simplystluciaholidays.co.uk)

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International

Oscar-winner ‘Oppenheimer’ opens in Japan after months of nuclear theme concerns

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Oscar best picture winner “Oppenheimer” was finally released on Friday in Japan, where its subject — the man who masterminded the creation of the atomic bomb — is a highly sensitive and emotional topic.

Issued on: Modified:

3 min

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The US blockbuster hit screened in the United States and many other countries in July at the same time as “Barbie”, inspiring a viral phenomenon dubbed “Barbenheimer” by moviegoers.

But while “Barbie” was released in Japan in August, “Oppenheimer” was conspicuously absent from cinemas for months.

No official explanation was offered at the time, fuelling speculation the film was too controversial to be shown in Japan — the only country to have ever suffered a wartime nuclear attack.

Around 140,000 people died in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki when the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities in August 1945, days before the end of World War II.

Japan is the only country to have suffered a wartime nuclear attack
Japan is the only country to have suffered a wartime nuclear attack. © Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP

At a large cinema in central Tokyo where “Oppenheimer” was showing on Friday, there was none of the prominent promotional material that might be expected for a global megahit.

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Instead only one small poster advertised the film, which was shot on a $100 million budget and collected nearly $1 billion at box offices worldwide.

“It is a long, three-hour movie, but I watched it attentively, because it was so powerful,” audience member Masayuki Hayashi, 51, told AFP after the film.

Japanese distributors may have chosen to avoid a summer release close to the bombings’ anniversary, said 65-year-old Tatsuhisa Yue.

But “it would have been unthinkable if a movie which describes how the weapon was developed didn’t show here”, he said.

“The movie arrived late, but I think it was good that it finally opened in Japan.”

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‘America-centric’

The film tells the story of US physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who oversaw the bomb’s invention.

It drew rave reviews and was the most decorated title at this month’s Oscars, scooping seven awards including best director for Christopher Nolan and best actor for star Cillian Murphy.

But in Hiroshima, the city devastated by the first nuclear bomb, the biopic’s Academy Awards success met a mixed reaction.

'Oppenheimer' stars Irish actor Cillian Murphy
‘Oppenheimer’ stars Irish actor Cillian Murphy. © Robyn Beck / AFP

Kyoko Heya, president of the city’s international film festival, told AFP after the awards ceremony that she had found Nolan’s movie “very America-centric”.

“Is this really a movie that people in Hiroshima can bear to watch?” she asked.

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Today the city is a thriving metropolis of 1.2 million people, but the ruins of a domed building still stand as a stark reminder of the horrors of the attack, along with a museum and other sombre memorials.

Heya said that after much reflection, “I now want many people to watch the movie.”

“I’d be happy to see Hiroshima, Nagasaki and atomic weapons become the subject of discussions thanks to this movie,” she said.

Last year, viral “Barbenheimer” memes sparked anger online in Japan, where media reports have highlighted critics who say the film does not show the harm caused by the bombs.

Around 140,000 people died in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki when the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities in 1945
Around 140,000 people died in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki when the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities in 1945. © Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP

“There could have been much more description and depiction of the horror of atomic weapons,” bomb survivor and former Hiroshima mayor Takashi Hiraoka, 96, said at a special screening in the city earlier this month.

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“Oppenheimer” was also shown at a preview event in Nagasaki, where survivor Masao Tomonaga, 80, said he had been impressed by the movie.

“I had thought the film’s lack of… images of atomic bomb survivors was a weakness,” said Tomonaga, who was two when the second bomb was dropped and later became a professor studying leukaemia caused by the attacks.

“But in fact, Oppenheimer’s lines in dozens of scenes showed his shock at the reality of the atomic bombing. That was enough for me.”

(AFP)

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International

NHS will probe unprecedented rise in children and adults being told they have ADHD amid fears mental disorder is being overdiagnosed

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The NHS is launching a new taskforce to examine a concerning rise in adults and children being diagnosed with ADHD.

Experts have warned rogue private clinics are over-diagnosing the condition and have questioned the widespread prescribing of powerful stimulant drugs to treat it.

The booming market is thought to have been fuelled by celebrities such as model Katie Price, Love Island star Olivia Attwood and actress Sheridan Smith talking about their ADHD ordeal and waits of up to ten years for an assessment on the NHS.

Social media sites are also full of users telling how medication helped to calm them down, control their fidgeting and boost their concentration.

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Sheridan Smith, 42, has revealed she has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (pictured in 2023)

Sheridan Smith, 42, has revealed she has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (pictured in 2023)

Sheridan Smith, 42, has revealed she has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (pictured in 2023)

Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins last year shared that she had been diagnosed and that 'suddenly everything made sense - to me and those who love me'

Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins last year shared that she had been diagnosed and that 'suddenly everything made sense - to me and those who love me'
Love Island's Olivia Atwood (right) said ADHD made her 'constantly overwhelmed'

Love Island's Olivia Atwood (right) said ADHD made her 'constantly overwhelmed'

Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins (left) last year shared that she had been diagnosed and that ‘suddenly everything made sense – to me and those who love me’. Love Island’s Olivia Atwood (right) said ADHD made her ‘constantly overwhelmed’

The number of patients on medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has doubled in six years, with 230,000 in England taking the drugs last year.

The biggest rise has been in young adults, with treatment increasing five-fold among those aged 25 to 39 since 2015.

The taskforce will bring together leaders from health, education and justice to better understand how many people are affected and how to improve their care.

They will investigate ‘the rate of growth within the independent sector and the potential variation in the service models and thresholds being used’, and collect data to ‘fully understand the size of the challenge’.

Officials say an initial review identified issues with capacity, medication supply shortages, a lack of reliable data and a postcode lottery in services.

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However, critics say the taskforce may lead to even more people coming forward for a diagnosis, heaping further pressure on the NHS and leading them to pop pills that can be dangerous for the heart and raise the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

NHS England announced the launch of the taskforce at a board meeting yesterday, where Professor Sir Simon Wessely, a consultant psychiatrist, described the increase in adult ADHD as ‘remarkable’.

He said: ‘It’s unlikely that a change on that scale is simply due to better recognition or help-seeking, and it suggests that there’s a degree of diagnostic creep going on, or re-evaluation of feelings, symptoms, emotions.

‘The main problem has been waiting lists. To get a diagnosis of ADHD it is absolutely essential you have a multidisciplinary assessment because there are many other issues that could be going on.

Fascinating graphs show how ADHD prescriptions have risen over time, with the patient demographic shifting from children to adults with women in particular now driving the increase

Fascinating graphs show how ADHD prescriptions have risen over time, with the patient demographic shifting from children to adults with women in particular now driving the increase

Fascinating graphs show how ADHD prescriptions have risen over time, with the patient demographic shifting from children to adults with women in particular now driving the increase

‘That’s failing at the moment. A lot of people are waiting too long and are being diverted into private practice and private providers, some of whom do not have the standards that we would expect and seem to make the diagnosis incredibly easy.

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‘People now have a label which may or may not be correct. That’s where some of the problems we’re seeing at the moment are coming from.

‘When you see this remarkable change in a very short period of time, you need to think not just about increased awareness, but also about cultural and social factors.’

Professor Wessely added it was important to remember that ADHD medication can have ‘severe side effects’ and ‘we need to proceed with caution’.

The World Health Organization defines ADHD as being a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has a direct negative impact on academic, occupational, or social functioning.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) estimates one in twenty children (5 per cent) and one in 29 adults (3 to 4 per cent) have the condition.

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But NHS England believes the true figure may be higher.

It says it is unable to say how many people have a diagnosis or are waiting for an assessment because it does not have a consistent and complete dataset.

However, ADHD was the second most viewed health condition on the NHS website in 2023, after Covid-19, with 4.3 million page views during the year.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire integrated care board warned in board papers last July of ‘exceptionally high waiting times’ for ADHD assessment and treatment of ’10 years+’.

And a separate survey the same month showed children in Coventry and Warwickshire are waiting an average of 142 weeks (almost three years) for all neurodiverse first appointments, which covers ADHD and autism.

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Last year, Johnny Vegas (left) admitted he was in the 'early stages' of working through medication, after he was diagnosed with ADHD

Last year, Johnny Vegas (left) admitted he was in the 'early stages' of working through medication, after he was diagnosed with ADHD
Ben Fogle, who has previously spoken about being dyslexic, revealed this week that he was recently diagnosed with ADHD after a 'recent mental health storm'

Ben Fogle, who has previously spoken about being dyslexic, revealed this week that he was recently diagnosed with ADHD after a 'recent mental health storm'

Last year, Johnny Vegas (left) admitted he was in the ‘early stages’ of working through medication, after he was diagnosed with ADHD. Ben Fogle (right), who has previously spoken about being dyslexic, revealed this week that he was recently diagnosed with ADHD after a ‘recent mental health storm’

Professor Joanna Moncrieff, from University College London, said: ‘I worry that a Taskforce will encourage more people to come forward expecting to get an ADHD diagnosis, when the NHS is already struggling to meet demand.

‘This will not be helpful because ADHD doesn’t explain anything.

‘It is not a disease, it is simply a label for a collection of behaviours that we all have to some extent, and therefore the diagnosis is elastic.

‘There is a real danger that we will end up with a significant proportion of the population taking prescription stimulants, which have not been reliably shown to benefit people in the long-run, and which, like cocaine, have dangerous effects on the heart and can increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease.’

Taskforce members and terms of reference will be published in the coming weeks and it is expected to produce a report later this year.

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Diagnosis of ADHD are driving a surge in the number of children and young adults claiming disability benefits.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK. 

Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include:

  • Constant fidgeting 
  • Poor concentration
  • Excessive movement or talking
  • Acting without thinking
  • Inability to deal with stress 
  • Little or no sense of danger 
  • Careless mistakes
  • Mood swings
  • Forgetfulness 
  • Difficulty organising tasks
  •  Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones
  • Inability to listen or carry out instructions 

Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this.

ADHD’s exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person’s brain function and structure.

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Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk. 

ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette’s and epilepsy.  

There is no cure. 

A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier. 

Source: NHS Choices 

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Some 1.6million children are reported as disabled, a figure that has doubled in little more than a decade and jumped by more than a third since Covid. Claims for behavioural disorders such as ADHD make up a fifth of all claims.

Furthermore, more than 52,000 adults who receive personal independence payments from the government list ADHD as their main condition, with most of these being 16 to 29-year-olds who have been transferred from disability allowance when they reached adulthood. This number is up from 38,000 in 2022.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said: ‘NHS staff across the country are working hard to ensure all patients requiring assessments and further support from ADHD services are seen as promptly as possible.

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‘We have recognised that that more needs to be done to ensure people can get a timely diagnosis and importantly, that all of their needs are addressed.

‘This is a hugely complex piece of work and this taskforce will need to consult a wide range of partner and experts, to understand more about the issues impacting those with ADHD and how service provision can be better joined up to meet people’s needs today and in the future.

‘This is a vital first step in helping us achieve real improvements in the ADHD services that the NHS and the independent sector provides.’

Henry Shelford, chief executive of ADHD UK, said he is celebrating the announcement, which he described as a ‘big deal’.

He said there are 2.6 million people with ADHD in the UK, waiting lists for adults range from 12 weeks to 10.5 years and those for children from 5 weeks to 5 years.

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Henry added: ‘We have a hope we didn’t have and it is wonderful.

‘Until very recently NHS England didn’t even have a single individual with responsibility for ADHD so to have them announce a task force is a glorious tectonic change.

‘Entire life trajectories are altered by the waitlists for ADHD care. Lives are being ruined and lost in the current status quo.

‘This taskforce represents the potential for the revolutionary change that is crucially needed.’

Steve Russell, chief delivery officer at NHS England, said: ‘Using the findings from the initial review, we will improve data collection to help us understand the scale of the challenge and work closely with the new cross-sector taskforce to improve pathways for patients with ADHD.’

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Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: ‘It is vital that people with ADHD not only receive a timely assessment and diagnosis, but also the support they need to live fulfilled lives.

‘We’re already exploring options to improve data collection and reporting on assessment waiting times, and this new taskforce is crucial to support this work to ensure they get faster, simpler and fairer care.

‘A better understanding of the issues facing people with ADHD will help us across Government and the NHS to address them, creating solutions over the long term.’

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International

Palestinians fear further isolation as Israeli minister announces vast West Bank settlement plans

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Palestinian land planner Safa Odeh points to a road in the West Bank.

Palestinian land planner Safa Odeh points in the direction of a road in the West Bank that she says only Israeli settlers can use. © France 24 screengrab

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced a plan to seize 800 hectares of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, the largest land seizure since the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israeli and Palestinian authorities according to NGO Peace Now. FRANCE 24’s Catherine Norris Trent and Claire Duhamel explored the roads around Jerusalem, some of which are included in the planned seizure, and spoke with a Palestinian land planning engineer who said Smotrich’s plan is aimed at “increasing control” in the territory.

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