Significant progress made in Iran-US nuclear talks in Geneva

 Iran and the United States made headway in their latest round of negotiations on Tehran's nuclear programme on Thursday as delegations from both countries met in Geneva amid an increased US military build-up in the Middle East.

Although the talks ended without a breakthrough, Washington and Tehran made “significant progress” in their third round of negotiations, according to Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Bussaidi. “We will resume soon after consultation in the respective capitals,” he added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also told reporters afterwards that further progress was made and “technical talks” are planned to begin on Monday.

If these take place, the details of a possible agreement are likely to be negotiated.

“Perhaps the seriousness of reaching an agreement was more visible than before,” the minister said, referring to the third round of talks.

Time is needed for consultations with the governments in the capitals and to prepare some documents. “It was the best and most serious round,” Araghchi added.

The negotiations concern Iran's controversial nuclear program as Washington seeks to prevent the leadership in Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

The Iranian government denies any such intentions, but is willing to limit its nuclear programme, and demands in return that the US lift crippling economic sanctions.

On Wednesday, Iran submitted a first draft of a new agreement, though details were not disclosed.

'Determined' start

The talks were again mediated by the Gulf state of Oman and held at the Omani residence in the Swiss city.

A team led by Araghchi negotiated for Iran, while the US side was represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump.

Earlier, Al-Busaidi described participants as "determined" and the atmosphere as "constructive."

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, was also participating after holding preparatory talks with Araghchi last week.

Tehran has drawn several red lines in the talks, refusing to fully dismantle its uranium enrichment infrastructure and considers its missile programme non-negotiable, viewing it as its main deterrent capability.

Iran also rejects discussions on ending support for regional militant groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In return for nuclear concessions, Tehran is demanding relief from severe economic sanctions that have largely cut the country off from global financial markets, deterred investment and contributed to a deep economic crisis that has eroded the middle class and pushed parts of the population towards poverty.

Risk of regional war

Beyond sanctions relief, Iran's leadership is also seeking to avert the risk of war, after Washington dramatically increased its military presence in the region and Trump repeatedly floating the option of striking Iran if no agreement is reached.

A week ago, Trump issued an ultimatum to Tehran, setting a 10–15 day deadline. "We're either going to get a deal or it's going to be unfortunate for them," he said, warning that otherwise "bad things" could happen.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has threatened a "comprehensive war" if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were targeted. Khamenei himself warned that any US-initiated conflict would turn into a regional war, while insisting Iran does not seek one.

Failure to reach a breakthrough at the negotiating table could increase the likelihood of military confrontation.

In recent weeks, the United States has deployed two aircraft carriers, dozens of fighter jets and support aircraft to the Middle East - reportedly the largest US air force build-up in the region since the 2003 Iraq War.

Switzerland, the host of the talks, is regarded by Tehran as a neutral intermediary and represents US interests in Iran, where Washington has no diplomatic mission.

Iran cites civilian focus

The Iranian government says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only, pointing to a religious decree by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prohibiting the construction and use of weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear bombs.

But critics fear Iran has enriched uranium to a purity of 60% in recent years. Western sources say Iran is the only country in the world without its own nuclear bombs that has such highly enriched uranium.

Further enrichment to around 90% would be necessary for the construction of nuclear weapons.

Grossi has also been critical of Iran's nuclear programme and has called for better access to the country. His concerns include the handling of the highly enriched uranium remaining in the country, the future of the central nuclear facilities bombed last year, and future nuclear activities in Iran, which are to be monitored by the IAEA.

Trump ended 2015 agreement in 2018

Trump ended the previous nuclear agreement with Iran in 2015, when Iran had committed to restricting its nuclear programme and sanctions were to be lifted in return, in what was known as the Vienna agreement.

It was negotiated under Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, and Trump unilaterally terminated the agreement in 2018, during his first term, and imposed new and tougher sanctions on Iran. Tehran then also stopped complying with the terms of the accord.

Usrael's attacks on Iran in summer 2025 further disrupted the situation in the region. Israel bombed targets across Iran, and Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles at Israel. Civilian areas in both countries also came under fire.

The US intervened a week later, targetting Iranian enrichment facilities in Natanz and Fordo and a nuclear facility in Isfahan. Trump said the facilities had been the completely destroyed.

That war began unexpectedly just a day before the sixth round of negotiations was due to begin between Iran and the US - greatly reducing Iranian confidence in the prospect of talks with the administration in Washington.

The bizarre symptom that struck when I drank was a sign of stage 2 lymphoma

 Mike Yewdell received a stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis back in 2017, when he was just 27 years old, completely puzzled by the strange symptoms that had been plaguing him for months.

Now he's taken to social media to warn others about the warning signs he missed along the way, noting: "There were so many signs that I had cancer that I overlooked," he shared with his followers.

Yewdell was in peak physical condition when the symptoms first appeared, making it even harder to imagine anything could be seriously wrong.

He spent roughly four months thinking he simply had a harmless dry cough, but he also experienced strange symptoms, like itchy ankles whenever he came home after having a drink.

"I would come home and start itching my ankles," he recalled. "I'm in the best shape of my life, body fat, muscle, everything. I'm eating like crap, yet I'm losing weight."

Despite following intermittent fasting and eating poorly, the weight kept falling off him – something that should have raised alarm bells.

He also noticed a bizarre cracking sound his chest made every time he stretched, noting: "I had no idea a tumour was growing that would make my chest crack."

His symptoms had begun four to five months before doctors finally diagnosed him, with the night sweats particularly brutal.

"There are night sweats where you wake up sweating, there are night sweats where you're dripping," he explained. "I was changing my sheets every morning, that's how bad it was. It was pools."

Mike recalls waking up in soaking wet sheets each morning, noting that his body was essentially working overtime trying to fight off the cancer, causing it to heat up dramatically.

About six weeks before his diagnosis, a cough appeared that simply wouldn't shift.

"It was a simple cough that wouldn't go away," he said. "Next thing, the cough is getting worse, and I can't finish sentences."

One of the most alarming signs struck when he attended a cocktail party and found himself unable to swallow his food properly.

"I thought I was getting nervous around people or had social anxiety, but it was a tumour starting to grow around my oesophagus," Yewdell revealed.

The uncontrollable itching sent Yewdell on a chase, trying everything from changing his clothes to swapping out his laundry detergent and even covering his furniture with different fabrics.

As a recognised symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma, according to Cancer Research UK, itching can appear or get worse shortly after drinking alcohol, affecting around 5 in 100 people with the condition.

In most cases, however, the most common sign of Hodgkin lymphoma is a painless lump in one or more lymph nodes, typically found in the neck, armpit or groin area.

Mike eventually visited a dermatologist, still none the wiser about what was really going on. But it wasn't until he subsequently saw a doctor that the cancer was discovered,.

BRIN to help low-competitiveness regions through Innovation Houses

 The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said it will intervene in regions with low Regional Competitiveness Index (IDSD) scores through the Regional Innovation House (RID).

“We will soon launch the Indonesia Innovation House (RII) here in Jakarta, and after launching the Indonesia Innovation House as an ecosystem based on national innovation, we will then expand it down to the regional level, namely the Regional Innovation House (RID),” Head of BRIN Arif Satria said

Satria stated that through the Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA), his side is ready to assist regional governments in addressing issues related to regional innovation.

“The Regional Innovation House will become one of the important pillars for the growth of innovation, so that innovation brings impact and contributes to economic progress,” he added.

He revealed that several regional leaders have contacted BRIN and expressed their readiness to establish RID in their respective regions this year.

According to him, this proves that regional awareness of research and innovation has increased.

“I am very proud of the regions that have begun to realize this and are competing to be the first,” Satria remarked.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto emphasized that research, innovation, and collaboration are key to Golden Indonesia 2045.

According to him, regional development must be based on research and collaboration, and should not be driven solely by economic or even political interests.

“Therefore, we welcome the initiative of the Head of BRIN for regions to take the innovation index and competitiveness index very seriously in order to create impact toward regional development targets,” Sugiarto stated.

The Home Ministry, he added, is ready to focus on pilot projects, several regions, whether provinces, cities, or districts, which we will jointly supervise and strengthen to build their innovation ecosystem

Air force to secure Papua airstrips after fatal Smart Air attack

  The Indonesian Air Force is ready to secure airstrips closed after a shooting attack on a Smart Air plane claimed the lives of its pilot and co-pilot in Korowai, South Papua, a senior commander said 

Silas Papare Air Base Commander Air Commodore Mokhamad Mukhson told ANTARA in Jayapura that the military is prepared to safeguard airports shut following the fatal incident in Boven Digoel District.

He stated that the Air Force has recommended reopening 11 airstrips across Papua and pledged security guarantees to ensure flight operations resume safely in areas previously considered vulnerable to armed attacks.

Through its Rapid Action Forces Command (Kopasgat) unit, the Air Force stands ready to secure operations at the 11 airstrips temporarily closed over security concerns, he added.

“We hope that with these recommendations and security guarantees, airport operations can return to normal so communities can once again be properly served,” Mukhson said.

The Transportation Ministry closed 11 airstrips due to security risks: Korowai Batu service unit, Bomakia Airport, Yaniruma, Manggelum, Kapiraya, Iwur, Fawi, Dagai, Aboy, Teraplu, and Beoga.

An armed group led by Elkius Kobak attacked Smart Air flight PK-SNR as it landed at Korowai airstrip on Feb. 11. The assault claimed the lives of pilot Captain Enggo and co-pilot Captain Baskoro, prompting authorities to suspend operations at several remote airstrips in the region.

Earlier, Cartenz Peace Task Force operations chief Brigadier General Faizal Rahmadani said investigators found 20 members of an armed criminal group, known as KKB, carried out the attack.

The attackers emerged from a nearby lodge and opened fire on the aircraft, forcing passengers and crew to flee.

The shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Feb. 11, as flight PK-SNR prepared to depart for Dekai in Yahukimo District.

Authorities identified the perpetrators as members of the Kanibal and Semut Merah KKB factions led by Elkius Kobak.

A crime scene investigation found 13 bullet impacts on the aircraft, with police documenting 23 points of damage.

Witnesses said the shooting began after the plane landed and the pilot restarted the engines. The gunmen then pursued and fatally shot the pilot and co-pilot. Their bodies have since been returned to their hometowns for burial.

Witnesses noted they did not recognize the assailants, who were believed not to be local Korowai residents.

“Cartenz Peace Task Force is currently enforcing the law against the perpetrators,” Faizal said.

Gov't expedites return of citizens linked to online scam in Cambodia

 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed efforts to accelerate the repatriation of thousands of Indonesian citizens affected by the crackdown on an online scam syndicate in Cambodia.

“We have coordinated with related ministries and agencies to explore several options for speeding up the return of Indonesian citizens who are still in Cambodia,” the ministry's Acting Director for Indonesian Citizen Protection, Heni Hamidah, said during a media briefing here 

Hamidah said this step was prompted by Cambodia’s warning to all foreign missions in the country to immediately repatriate nationals suspected of involvement in online fraud.

The warning has urged the Indonesian government to expedite the return of Indonesian citizens, particularly those who already hold travel documents and are eligible for immigration fine reductions.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry confirmed that 2,007 Indonesian citizens, out of 4,254 former online scam syndicate members who registered with the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh between January 16 and February 15, 2026, have received reduced immigration fines.

Nearly one thousand others have independently purchased return flight tickets, with departures scheduled in stages from February 16 to March 4, 2026.

Hamidah stressed that the accelerated repatriation will be followed by legal action in Indonesia.

Based on initial assessments of 3,917 of the 4,254 Indonesian citizens who reported themselves, no victims of human trafficking were found. “Many Indonesian citizens admitted their involvement in illegal activities in Cambodia, including online scams,” she added.

To facilitate travel, including for those without passports, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh issued 1,427 travel documents (SPLP) by February 16. Around 1,200 Indonesian citizens remained in temporary shelters provided through coordination between the embassy and local authorities.

Villages need to strengthen disaster preparedness amid climate risks

 The Ministry of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions is promoting enhanced village capacity in disaster mitigation and preparedness following a rising trend of hydrometeorological disasters that directly affect rural areas.

“What’s notable is that 98.33 percent are hydrometeorological disasters: floods, extreme weather, landslides, forest fires, and droughts. The most vulnerable and at-risk are villages,” said Director General of Acceleration of Disadvantaged Region Development, Samsul Widodo, during the Village Climate Risk Index (IRID) Workshop

He reported that total disaster events reached 3,116 in 2025, a 121 percent increase compared to 2024.

“This is updated data: total disaster events reached 3,116 throughout 2025, up 121 percent from 2024. The damage impact is quite significant,” he said.

According to him, villages are the most affected due to limited alternative livelihoods.

“I always say, if people in Jakarta are affected, they still have savings or other resources. Meanwhile, in villages, they often have only one rice field, one garden, or one livestock herd, no alternatives,” he explained.

Widodo urged that disaster mitigation capacity in villages be enhanced systematically, including through training for village heads and their staff.

He also emphasized the importance of using the Village Climate Risk Index as a policy and budgeting tool, not merely as data.

Through capacity building, integrating the risk index into policy, and mainstreaming climate change issues, the ministry expressed hope that villages can strengthen disaster resilience while ensuring sustainable development.

Previously, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Eddy Soeparno stressed the importance of drafting the Climate Change Management Bill as a comprehensive, cross-sector legal framework.

He explained that the initiative aims to ensure legal certainty, clarify the division of authority, and strengthen funding for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, including disaster risk reduction at the regional level.

Gunmen on motorbikes slit victims' throats as 46 are killed in horror terror attack

 Gunmen launched a horrific terror attack - shooting and slicing the throats of at least 46 people, a humanitarian has revealed.

Numerous people were also abducted during the mass shooting as witnesses revealed gunmen fired shots from the back of motorbikes as they terrorised numerous villages.

The communities targeted are part of the Borgu local government area in Niger State, Nigeria. The villages are on the border with Nigeria's Kwara State – where jihadists killed more than 160 people in an attack earlier this month. The attack on Saturday took place over three villages with the bloodiest happening in Konkoso where at least 38 were killed.

A security report has revealed bandits came on 41 motorcycles, each carrying two or three men. A spokesman for Niger State police told AFP six people had been killed in Tungan Makeri when the gunmen overran the village at around 6am. After attacking the village they descended upon the nearby site of Konkoso.

Speaking to AFP under the condition of anonymity, a humanitarian source revealed the armed men not only shot numerous people dead in the village but also slit the throats of civilians during the horrific massacre.

A source in Konkoso village has revealed most of the homes were burnt down making it difficult for authorities to determine just how many people were abducted during the terrifying raid.

A police spokesperson – and a resident of Konkoso – spoke of the horror left behind from the devastating attack. The spokesperson said: "Some houses were set on fire and an as-yet undetermined number of people were abducted." He added his nephew was among those killed.

"They burned a lot of houses and abducted four women. After Konkoso, they went to Pissa, where they set a police station on fire and killed one person."

The police spokesman said: "At the moment, many people are missing,"

Abdullahi Rofia, a local from the town Agwara – in the same state the horrific attack was launched – has revealed displaced people have taken shelter in his community.

He said: "People are so traumatised, they no longer go to farm nor do they go to market."

"The bandits are not interesting in stealing or looting – they are more interested in killing and terrorising locals."

This recent massacre follows a previous attack launched on another Nigerian village earlier this month. During an attack on Woro in Kwara State, jihadists killed more than 160 people. The border between Nigeria’s Niger and Kwara states is home to an area known as Kainji Forest.

The forest is a haven for bandits and fighters, including from the armed terrorist group Boko Haram. US President Donald Trump has previously claimed Christians in Nigeria are being "persecuted" and facing a "genocide" at the hands of terrorists.

Most experts have rejected these claims and have stated the violence is indiscriminate affecting both Christians and Muslims.

Russian general charged over Kyiv TV tower strike that killed five

 Prosecutors have notified a Russian Major General of suspicion who, according to the investigation, ordered a missile strike on the Kyiv TV tower at the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine, according to theOffice of the Prosecutor General.

Kh-101 missile attack

According to investigators, on March 1, 2022, acting on the suspect’s order, a missile strike on Kyiv was carried out using Kh-101 cruise missiles. As a result of the attack, five civilians were killed, and six others were injured.

The strike damaged the TV tower, residential buildings, the Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, as well as other civilian infrastructure facilities.

Other suspects in the case

Earlier, within the framework of this criminal proceeding, two other Russian generals were notified of suspicion — the commander of Russia’s long-range aviation of the Air Force and the commander of the 121st Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment. They were involved in preparing and carrying out the attack.

Involvement in other strikes

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the suspect is also involved in organizing missile attacks by Russia’s strategic aviation against Ukrainian cities, which caused significant destruction of civilian infrastructure and the deaths of civilians.

These include strikes with Kh-22, Kh-32, Kh-101/102, and Kh-555 cruise missiles targeting Ukraine’s energy and civilian facilities.

Earlier today, the Office of the Prosecutor General also notified the commander and chief of staff of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet of suspicion. Investigators believe they were involved in organizing a missile strike on Lviv on July 6, 2023.

Andy Mitten shares why Ruben Amorim has stayed quiet since being sacked by Man Utd

 It’s now been over a month since Manchester United parted ways with Ruben Amorim.

Amorim was let go after just 14 months in charge, following a string of disappointing results. Darren Fletcher filled in as caretaker for two matches but didn’t manage to pick up a win, and the club soon brought back Michael Carrick on an interim deal lasting through the end of the season.

Carrick has made an impressive start since returning to Old Trafford, picking up four wins from his first five matches without suffering a defeat.

United now look like genuine contenders for Champions League qualification. However, they’ll need to respond quickly following Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw against West Ham in London.

Carrick’s impact has gone beyond just results; performances have also improved noticeably. If he keeps this run going, the 44-year-old could put himself in strong contention to take the job on a permanent basis.

Andy Mitten sheds light on why Ruben Amorim hasn’t spoken publicly since leaving Man Utd

Amorim has stayed out of the spotlight since his exit from Old Trafford.

Before being dismissed, the 40-year-old had no issue voicing his concerns to the media, especially when it came to challenging Ineos. But things have changed since then.

The Portuguese manager is currently out of work, while Carrick has guided United to a notable upturn in form.

It’s still early days under Carrick, but he’s already put together a four-game winning streak – something Amorim never managed during his 14 months in charge.

Amorim never posted a message after leaving United. There wasn’t even a note for the fans who supported him throughout his tenure, regardless of results.

Speaking to Off The Ball, respected journalist Andy Mitten revealed what he learned after speaking to people close to Amorim when he asked about the silence.Mitten also mentioned that Amorim should have reached out to fans, noting how David Moyes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer showed their appreciation for supporters when they left the club.

“I got in contact, not with him, but I know all the people around him,” Mitten said.

“And I’m like, why is he not saying anything? And they’re just like, ‘that’s just Ruben.’

“But he should. People who paid his wages and supported him massively deserve that.“When David Moyes left Manchester United, that day I got a text message – there was no WhatsApp – and it was ‘Andy can you just thank the fans on my behalf?’ There was nothing polished about it. And it was someone who was hurting.”

Ruben Amorim still being linked to Benfica

Despite Jose Mourinho currently being at the helm, Amorim’s name has been floated as a potential candidate for the role ever since his departure from Old Trafford.

Even though Benfica have reached the Champions League play-offs under Mourinho, ESPN have reported that there is still a strong possibility that Amorim will make the move over in the summer.

This would also mean more former Manchester United managers could be on their way out at season’s end.

Nurses’ pay rise could push Labour into raising taxes

 Pay rises for 1.4 million NHS staff could force Labour to raise taxes to cover a funding gap.

The 3.3 per cent uplift for nurses, midwives, and other NHS workers on the Agenda for Change scheme is more than the Government said it could afford. Doctors are not included in the scheme.

In its submission to the NHS pay review body, the Government said it could only budget for a 2.5 per cent increase to wages for 2026-27 “without having to make trade-offs”.

NHS budgets might have to be redirected to make up the difference or Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, might have to find the money elsewhere.

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said the discrepancy would be “managed” by the Department of Health (DoH) but would not involve cuts to front-line services.

Unions have expressed anger at size of the increase, with nurses describing it as an “insult” and midwives saying they had been “let down”.

The DoH’s budget for the next financial year is £211bn and recommendations for doctors’ and dentists’ pay are yet to be published.

Mr Streeting said he had accepted the independent pay review body’s recommendations in full despite it being more than had been deemed affordable.

“The uplift is above the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast inflation of 2.2 per cent for 2026-27, delivering a real-terms pay rise for NHS staff,” he said, adding that it would be in “pay packets from April for the first time in six years”.

“This award is above the Government’s affordability position set out in its evidence,” he said.

Fund within existing settlement

Mr Streeting said the business planning process for 2026-27 was under way and efficiency targets for NHS providers requiring them to “break even” were “foundations of the Government’s ability to fund this within the existing settlement”.

He added that the “additional pressure above affordability will be managed by the Department of Health... but none of the pay increases will be paid for by cutting front-line services”.

Dean Royles, interim chief executive of NHS Employers, said: “NHS trusts are right now in the midst of submitting their medium-term financial, service and workforce plans.

“They will have prepared for the award being less than the 3.3 per cent that has been announced, so it is essential that the funding of the award is clarified as soon as possible.”

The pay review body said it recognised the position of the Government but “in the absence of further detail about what specific transformation projects or workforce developments would lose funding to implement pay awards above affordability, it is difficult for us to understand the implications of this beyond a general contextual point that implementing awards above 2.5 per cent would result in reprioritisation of some kind”.

Prof Nicola Ranger, the Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive, said: “A pay award below the current level of inflation is an insult. 

“Unless inflation falls, the Government is forcing a very real pay cut on its NHS workers. This knife-edge game-playing is no way to treat people who prop up a system in crisis.”

Millionaire lottery winner left '1 hour from death' after jackpot turned life upside down

 A lottery winner who got carried away after scooping a £1million prize said three months of partying left him “one hour away from dying”.

Adam Lopez, 39, won the National Lottery jackpot last July, but has now revealed it almost cost him his life. The construction worker was living paycheck to paycheck and had just £12.40 in his account when his fortunes dramatically changed.

Adam struck gold from a corner shop in Hellesdon, Norfolk, and he offered a staggering admission when asked how much he spent on scratchcards per week. He said: “Loads… I think over my lifetime, you are probably looking at 200 grand.”

He also said he “lost his mojo” before the lottery win and had “no passion for life”. And in another bombshell confession, he said: “About a week before the win, or a couple of weeks before the win, work was completely doing my head in. One of the lads threatened to stab me on site because I didn’t f***ing deliver his tiles within f***ing 10 minutes.”

However, last July, his bank balance went from £12.40 to £1,000,012.40 – and it was a dream come true moment for Adam. He had visualised being rich ever since he was a child where he would blow out his birthday candles and wish to be a millionaire.

But he said: “It’s nothing like I thought it was going to be growing up. Nothing like I thought it was going to be. Because when you’re younger, you are innocent as such towards people, do you know what I mean? And life in general.”

However, Adam was almost brought to tears when he acknowledged that the money “changed everything”, and described paying off his debts, providing for his mum, and buying his dream car, a blacked out Ranger Rover Sport, with his name on it.

Being an online gambler, he also claimed his bank balance skyrocketed further. He told the Anything Goes with James English podcast: “The net worth has more or less doubled, it has over doubled, like the cash net worth.

“And I was so grateful because it went to one point to £3million.”

However, from the moment he won the million, Adam claimed his inner voice stopped talking to him, and his head was filled with a refreshing silence.

He described how everything went quiet and he remembered ordering cocktails and even going into a bar and asking for a pint of the finest champagne.

“So I won the money and I just went out every day,” he said. “Every night after I won the money. I had a thing of just going out and buying bottles of champagne everywhere. We cleared pubs out left, right and centre.”

He added: “You wake up and go out for breakfast, next thing you know, it’s half 11, fancy a cheeky pint or do you know what I mean? And it was sort of that for three months.”

Despite being a self-confessed mummy’s boy, Adam said his relationship with his mum became tense, as she started fearing for his health due to his excessive boozing.

And her fears were justified, as he began to have pains in his hip which soon travelled throughout his body. Adam would wake up at night with severe calf cramps and with each day, walking became more of a struggle.

One morning, while living at his mum’s house, Adam got up and was barely able to breathe.

His mother was at work and he remembered: “I looked up at the sky and thought, ‘this might be it.’”

Adam stood up to go to the toilet and said it felt like the air had been pushed out from him.

He felt dizzy and empty, adding: “Every second that went by, I thought I was going to die. I can’t breathe. As I walked out the bathroom, I looked in the mirror briefly, I could see I was pale, white, yellow.”

Adam was too worried about his mum’s reaction to phone her, and so waited until she got home to alert her to his struggles, and he added: “I didn’t realise until I was about an hour away from hospital that I was about an hour away from dying.”

Speaking about a conversation with a nurse, he said: “She said that when you came to us, we were told you were about an hour, maybe two, from dying, and if you’d have waited any longer, you probably wouldn’t be here.”

Adam ended up being rushed to hospital after a blood clot spread to his lung and he was left fighting for life at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital.

And speaking about what caused his bilateral pulmonary embolism, where he spent eight days in hospital where healthcare workers saved his life, he said: “It came from the lifestyle that I chose after I won the money because they lottery did not push me that way, they looked after me with everything I could ever ask for, it was my own choice.

“It was the selfishness that had come from that untouchable feeling I had growing up as a kid because everyone was nice to me. Everyone got me stuff, I was spoiled, that is where it came from.”

He also said that although he wasn’t satisfied with life before the lottery win, quitting his job straight after becoming a millionaire was ill-advised in hindsight.

Adam, who said the health scare was a much-needed wakeup call, said: “I didn’t necessarily like the life money brought to be honest with you, I lost the structure when I won the money.”

Ukrainian troops hit enemy positions: Drone hub destroyed among other strikes

 Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a Russian logistics depot, a concentration of enemy troops, and a drone command post, according to the Telegram channel of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"As part of measures to reduce the offensive capabilities of the Russian aggressor, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to carry out fire strikes on enemy military facilities in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and on the territory of the Russian Federation," the statement reads.

Specifically, on the night of February 8, a logistics depot of enemy forces was hit in the area of temporarily occupied Rozivka in Zaporizhzhia region.

On February 7, in the area of Krasnohirsk, Zaporizhzhia region (temporarily occupied territory), a concentration of enemy troops was struck.

Additionally, in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region, near Novoekonomichne, a Russian drone command post was destroyed.

Earlier strikes also targeted the Russian Ministry of Defense's Kapustin Yar inter-service central range in Astrakhan region, resulting in confirmed damage to a ballistic missile support facility, an assembly building, and a logistics depot.

Enemy losses and the full extent of damage are still being assessed.

Strikes on Russian facilities

In January, Ukrainian forces carried out aseries of strikes on the Kapustin Yar range in Russia, from which the occupiers launched Oreshnik missiles at Ukraine.

On February 5 and 6, Ukrainian drones struck Uragan multiple launch rocket systems, drone command posts, concentrations of enemy personnel, and an FPV drone production center in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

On the night of February 3, the Defense Forces hit an FPV drone production center, enemy troop concentrations, and a Russian electronic warfare station.

On the night of February 2, Ukrainian forces carried out a series of successful strikes on Russian command posts and logistical facilities.

Nissan Qashqai set to go all-electric

 One of Britain’s best-selling cars, the Nissan Qashqai, is set to go all-electric – according to Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa.

The Qashqai was the third best-selling car in the UK last year, with 41,141 models finding homes, while it also topped the UK sales charts in 2022.

Currently Nissan only sells petrol and hybrid Qashqais – all built in the brand’s giant UK plant in Sunderland. The hybrid Qashqai uses innovative e-Power technology that sees a petrol engine charge a battery, which then powers the wheels to give an EV-like driving experience.

The new all-electric Nissan Leaf, one of 10 new models in the running for a World Car of the Year Award, is also built in Sunderland alongside the Qashqai. Meanwhile, a new all-electric Nissan Juke is set to be built there, too. The new Juke should break cover later this year.

Now Ivan Espinosa, who took over as Nissan CEO last April, has confirmed that the Qashqai – and Nissan’s other models – are in line for full electrification. Asked specifically if Qashqai would be going electric, Espinosa said: “We will be electrifying, gradually, the lineup.”

Espinosa reaffirmed Nissan’s trajectory towards full electrification and the part that EVs will play in a more holistic home energy solution. “We are committed to an electric future and a sustainable future,” he said, adding: “We will continue investing in our EV portfolio and we will continue scaling up technologies for the future, mostly transforming EVs into mobile energy sources and we are committed to creating a full integrated ecosystem that will help the integration of cars to society and help us manage energy through the vehicles.”

However, the pace at which Nissan plans to electrify its model range has changed, with Espinosa saying: “There's some adjustment at the speed at which EVs are coming into the market for a combination of reasons. One of them is customer demand and the other is of course the infrastructure. The other is the support that some governments were putting into this initiative and the last one of them is the regulatory framework which is also evolving.

“We will continue because we think their future in the end will be an EV market. The market will be predominantly EV at some point in time, but we're adjusting the pace.”

Espinosa also confirmed that Nissan could be bringing more plug-in hybrids and range extender technology to its model range – plug-in hybrid sales jumped 35 per cent in the UK last year.

“The good thing about Nissan is we have many technologies available. We have our hybrid signature technology, which is e-Power, and we also have derivatives of this technology that could come in the form of a plug-in hybrid or a range extended EV.

“The market is very dynamic, so it's hard to tell you what will come when because it most likely will change with the direction the world is moving, at the speed at which it is moving. But the good thing is with the combination of the technology that we have on our shelf, plus the speed at which we are capable of developing cars, now we can be much closer in tune with market requirements – and this is what we'll be doing.”

There’s no word yet on what technology might underpin an all-electric Qashqai, but sharing battery and platform tech with Renault is a strong possibility. The new Leaf, upcoming Nissan Micra and current Nissan Ariya all benefit from Nissan’s close relationship with the French company, while an upcoming small electric Nissan – likely to be called Nissan Wave – will be based on the new Renault Twingo.

Ukrainian-made weapons show strong results: Armed Forces creating new drone units

 Last month, domestically produced Ukrainian systems demonstrated strong performance in countering enemy drones, according to a statement by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The general spoke about the results of a report on the effectiveness of destroying Shahed drones using various types of interceptor drones.

"In January, domestically produced Ukrainian systems demonstrated high performance. We are recording positive dynamics in staffing the newly created interceptor drone units," he emphasized.

Syrskyi added that training of additional crews is ongoing — in particular, hundreds of UAV crews under the control of the Air Force are already carrying out missions. In addition, anti-drone protection of key administrative centers in frontline regions is being strengthened.

"Small air defense is one of the most dynamic and technologically advanced areas of modern warfare. Accordingly, the solutions here must be fast, precise, and unconventional," the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stressed.

At the same time, he noted that the decisive factors are the pace of work of Ukrainian and European manufacturers, as well as the supply of equipment from Western partners.

The head of the communications department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Yurii Ihnat, spoke about the specifics of Russia’s use of drones. According to him, Shaheds have evolved and have now become the main aerial threat to Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered the strengthening of anti-drone protection in frontline cities so that Russia can no longer use them to attack civilians.

In addition, Russian forces have begun using Gerbera drones as so-called motherships to deliver strike or reconnaissance drones deep into Ukrainian territory.

Mandelson repeatedly leaked confidential documents to Epstein

 Lord Mandelson repeatedly leaked confidential government emails to Jeffrey Epstein while serving in Gordon Brown’s Cabinet, new files show.

The Labour peer, who was serving as business secretary, shared market-sensitive information with Epstein that the convicted paedophile could have used to make money.

The disclosures included plans for a multibillion-pound EU bailout, Mr Brown’s resignation and the potential sale of government land and property.

Documents released over the weekend suggest that Epstein sent Lord Mandelson $75,000 and £10,000 to his husband, although the peer claims he has no record of the payments.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Monday night that it was reviewing allegations against Lord Mandelson of misconduct in public office, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Mr Brown demanded an investigation into the “disclosure of confidential and market-sensitive information from the then business department during the global financial crisis”.

He said in a statement: “Given the shocking new information that has come to light in the latest tranche of Epstein papers, including information about the transfer to Mr Epstein of at least one highly sensitive government document as well as other highly confidential information, I have now written to ask for a wider and more intensive inquiry to take place into the wholly unacceptable disclosure of government papers and information during the period when the country was battling the global financial crisis.”

Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, suggested Lord Mandelson may have broken the law and demanded he lose his peerage.

Sir Keir Starmer later said Lord Mandelson should lose his title after bringing the House of Lords “into disrepute”.

The Prime Minister is facing growing questions over Lord Mandelson’s vetting in what has become a major embarrassment for Labour. Sir Keir appointed him as Britain’s ambassador to the US but then sacked him last year over his friendship with Epstein.

On Sunday, Lord Mandelson announced he had quit Labour to avoid causing “further embarrassment”.

The latest revelations were among a tranche of three million files containing hundreds of email exchanges between Lord Mandelson and Epstein, released by the US department of justice.

The documents revealed that, as a serving minister, Lord Mandelson stayed in the American financier’s properties while Epstein was serving jail time for child sex offences.

In one email sent by Lord Mandelson to Epstein in 2009, the then business secretary forwarded an economic briefing for Mr Brown with the caption: “Interesting note that’s gone to the PM.”

The memo, which was written by Nick Butler, a special adviser, and began “Dear Gordon”, contained an assessment of the state of the economy in the wake of the financial crisis.

It contained a reference to the government having “saleable assets in hand”, and Epstein asked Lord Mandelson: “What saleable assets?” He replied: “Land, property I guess.”

Mr Butler told The Times he had “absolutely no idea that Peter was sending emails I had written to anyone outside of government”.

He said: “I am disgusted by the breach of trust, presumably intended to give Epstein the chance to make money.”

Another email chain, sent by Jeremy Heywood, the then No 10 chief of staff, to Baroness Vadera, then business secretary, and copied to Lord Mandelson, was also leaked to Epstein. However, the name of the leaker is redacted in files released by the US department of justice.

Other emails from 2010 appear to show Lord Mandelson confirming to Epstein the EU’s €500bn bailout deal – which followed crunch talks with European governments to stave off debt and default fears – on May 9, several hours before it was publicly announced.

Epstein said to Lord Mandelson: “Sources tell me 500 b euro bailout , almost compelte [sic].” The response, from a redacted address, provided confirmation, saying: “Sd be announced tonight.”

Epstein then asked “are you home”, to which he received a reply at 10.14pm saying: “Just leaving No10.. will call”.

Shortly afterwards, a rescue package worth £624bn was announced for the 16 eurozone states struggling to finance their debts.

The following morning, on the eve of Mr Brown’s departure from office, other emails showed Lord Mandelson telling Epstein he “finally got him to go today”. Mr Brown resigned on May 11.

The Labour peer said the decision had come following “secret” talks with the Liberal Democrats following a walk along an underground tunnel connecting No 10 and the Ministry of Defence.

Dan Neidle, a lawyer and tax expert, said the email, sent to Epstein at 9.07am, “implies Mandelson leaked price-sensitive information to a Wall Street insider”. Mr Brown’s resignation became public after 7pm and was formally announced the next day.

On Monday night, the Met said it was reviewing “a number of reports relating to alleged misconduct in public office” after both Reform UK and the SNP referred Lord Mandelson to police.

Commander Ella Marriott said: “The reports will all be reviewed to determine if they meet the criminal threshold for investigation.”

Downing Street later said the Government “stands ready to provide whatever support and assistance the police need”.

Mr Brown said he first raised concerns about Lord Mandelson’s dealings with Epstein on Sept 10 last year, the day after a Telegraph investigation into their friendship.

The Telegraph disclosed on Sept 9 last year how Epstein had brokered a deal with Lord Mandelson over the sale of a UK taxpayer-owned banking business. The deal was discussed months after Epstein was released from jail on child sex offences and while Lord Mandelson was business secretary.

Sempra Commodities, a joint venture between the taxpayer-owned Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Sempra Energy, was sold to JP Morgan in a deal on which Epstein gave advice to both Lord Mandelson and Jes Staley, a senior executive with JP Morgan who has since been banned from the City over his relationship with the paedophile.

Separate emails from January 2010 show that Mr Staley had asked Epstein for help to arrange a meeting with either Lord Mandelson or Alistair Darling, the then chancellor, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Epstein replied: “I’ve set up you and Peter to meet in Davos with Darling.”

Among the millions of Epstein files released over the weekend were images showing Lord Mandelson in his underwear next to a woman in a white dressing gown.

Emails also revealed the peer secretly gave advice to JP Morgan, via Epstein, on how to lobby and “mildly threaten” the government to reduce the firm’s tax bill after Lord Darling unveiled a 50 per cent tax on bankers’ bonuses.

He also appeared to have agreed to arrange a tour of No 10 and Parliament for Epstein’s teenage goddaughter in 2009 while the paedophile was serving a 13-month sentence for the solicitation of a minor.

Lord Mandelson asked: “How old?”, to which Epstein said she was 15. “Fine on all,” Lord Mandelson replied.

Another file appears to show that, during his time as business secretary, Lord Mandelson also forwarded Epstein a note sent to Mr Brown in the final months of his premiership.

On Jan 22, 2010, Nick Butler, one of Mr Brown’s special advisers, forwarded Lord Mandelson and Jeremy Heywood a memo on the Israeli economy that had been shared with the then prime minister.

In 2009, a picture emerged in another email of Lord Mandelson wearing a tracksuit branded with Epstein’s initials JEE. 

Epstein sent a dozen contacts, including Ghislaine Maxwell and JP Morgan banker Jes Staley, links to the picture, saying “interesting outfit” and “front cover of english newspapers”.

The US congressional committee investigating the American government’s handling of the Epstein files is poised to summon Lord Mandelson to give evidence before it. He is likely to be asked about the internal government memos that found their way to Epstein’s inbox.

Senior Tory and Labour politicians called for Lord Mandelson to be stripped of his peerage over the scandal, with their calls backed by Sir Keir.

His official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has asked for this to be urgently looked at, and the Prime Minister believes that Peter Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title.

“However, the Prime Minister does not have the power to remove it. He is calling on those in the Lords to work with the Government to modernise disciplinary measures in the House to allow for the easier removal of Lords who have brought the House into disrepute.”

However, Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, rejected calls to bring a bill to strip Lord Mandelson of his peerage.

He told MPs: “It would be better to update those procedures so that they apply to all members of the House of Lords, instead of having to introduce complex hybrid bills for each individual peer who has brought the other place into disrepute.”

Mrs Badenoch, the Tory leader, said the allegations “appear to show corruption in public office” and backed the calls to remove Lord Mandelson’s peerage.

She said there was “a lot that needs to be looked into, including investigating how he ever came to be appointed”.

The Tory leader also accused the Prime Minister of “consistently looking the other way when it comes to Mandelson’s past”.

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said: “It’s another huge embarrassment for the Prime Minister. It shows just how poor his judgment is.”

Labour claimed that disciplinary action had already begun before Lord Mandelson resigned from the party on Sunday night.

A Labour spokesman said: “It is right that Peter Mandelson is no longer a member of the Labour Party. Disciplinary action was under way prior to his resignation. Jeffrey Epstein’s heinous crimes destroyed the lives of so many women and girls, and our thoughts remain with his victims.”

Lord Mandelson did not respond to a request for comment, but his spokesman previously said that neither he nor his husband had “any record or recollection of receiving payments” from Epstein, and questioned whether documentation in the files was authentic.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s move to AC Milan collapses after Crystal Palace star’s medical

 Jean-Philippe Mateta’s move to AC Milan has collapsed late in the transfer window after concerns emerged during his medical.

The Crystal Palace striker had been close to completing a switch to Serie A, with an agreement already in place between the two clubs.

However, issues raised during the medical process have brought the deal to an abrupt halt.

AC Milan deal breaks down after Mateta medical

AC Milan have pulled out of their move to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta following further medical tests carried out in London.

The clubs had agreed on a fee in excess of 30 million euros, but Milan decided to walk away after reviewing the medical results.

The decision came just a day after reports suggested the transfer was close to being finalised.

Crystal Palace striker attracts late interest

Jean-Philippe Mateta has quickly become the subject of fresh interest after AC Milan withdrew from the deal.

Several clubs are now exploring the possibility of a loan move before the transfer window closes, leaving Crystal Palace to assess their options.

With the permanent move off the table, Mateta’s immediate future remains uncertain as the deadline approaches.