Call the Midwife enthusiasts are gearing up for a storm of drama, thanks to new character Roger Noble, following his blossoming romance with Nurse Nancy Corrigan. As the festive season swept through Poplar, Nancy was battling feelings of isolation until fate led her to cross paths with Roger, a charismatic and quick-witted pharmaceutical salesman, at Dr Turner's practice. Their instant connection grew stronger when Roger made a return visit the next day, leading to an awkward yet charming flirtation that saw him pluck up the courage to ask Nancy out. Despite initially dismissing Roger's overtures, Nancy eventually warmed to the idea, although she harboured concerns about disclosing her single mother status to her beloved daughter Colette. Nancy, who had been preoccupied with her responsibilities as a midwife and raising Colette, found her love life on hold, but that's set to change dramatically. Their delightful date at the funfair concluded with a kiss and a humorous note when Roger injured his ankle, much to Nancy's amusement. The following day saw Roger turning up at Nonnatus House with flowers to thank Nancy, only to be met by Colette, who unexpectedly called out "mummy" towards Nancy, revealing a fact Nancy had yet to share. Witnessing Roger and Colette's cosiness, Nancy was overwhelmed and hastily left for work. Despite the setback, Roger, undaunted, invited her out again. After a bit of persistent charm, he succeeded in persuading them to accept his invitation. Roger's quickness to show deep affection for Nancy, after only a short acquaintance, raised eyebrows among the audience. Given Northern Ireland's rising tensions as the 1970s approach, some speculate that Roger's political ties may pose risks. On social media platform X, fans shared their apprehensions: "Why do I think Roger will be trouble for Nancy #CallTheMidwife." Another posed: "Nancy's beau has something to do with the Troubles, I sense, given we're in 1969. #callthemidwife." Agreement came from another: "I do not trust Nancy's new man #CallTheMidwife". And one more anxiously mentioned: "I hope Nancy's new fella isn't love bombing her #CallTheMidwife". Call the Midwife is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.Confront the common cold with a beloved seasonal staple
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Conor McGregor explains the origins of his meme-worthy strutNew York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate changeWith Ghana’s 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections fast approaching, political campaigns are reaching a fever pitch in the Western Region, as candidates from various parties make a final push to win over voters. Key political figures from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are leaving no stone unturned, staging rallies, commissioning projects, and making bold promises in a last-ditch effort to sway the electorate. In Essikadu-Ketan, NPP Parliamentary candidate Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto has announced a “final rally” scheduled for Wednesday, December 4, with the participation of incumbent Member of Parliament Joe Ghartey. The NDC’s contender, Dr. Grace Ayensu Danquah, recently led a massive walk, with reports of “thousands pouring onto the streets” in a jubilant demonstration of support, declaring, “Essikadu-Ketan is in the bag.” Meanwhile, in the Evalue Gwira Ajomoro Constituency, incumbent NDC MP Kofi Arko Nokoe is set to commission a new maternity ward at Ewoku on Tuesday, December 3, further solidifying his standing. Former MP Catherine Afeku, now seeking a return to Parliament, is taking a more discreet approach, with close associates describing their strategy as “submarine-like,” focusing solely on the ultimate prize. In Sekondi Constituency, political campaigns have intensified like never before, with simultaneous health walks and music festivals adding to the charged atmosphere. NPP’s incumbent MP Andrew Egyapa Mercer has been active, overseeing road rehabilitation in Sekondi Zongo and commissioning a new health facility at Adiembra. He also broke ground for a new Astroturf at Ekuase and promised another one in Nkotompo. His challenger, NDC’s Lawyer Blay Armah, has taken an interactive approach, regularly engaging with constituents and offering interest-free loans to traders, a move that could be pivotal in the race. Several radio stations in Sekondi-Takoradi are also gearing up for interviews with key political figures, including some who rarely grant media appearances, highlighting the high stakes of the upcoming elections. The crown jewel of these last-minute political activities may well be the commissioning of one of the Agenda 111 Hospitals in Bokro, Ahanta West District, by President Akufo-Addo, marking a significant milestone in the region’s development ahead of the polls.
House guest insists on doing wasteful chore as ‘thank you’
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A businessman with no experience in public office is taking over as mayor of Oregon ’s biggest city as it embraces an entirely new system of government — one that’s so different, the City Council chambers had to be completely renovated. Portland voters last month elected Keith Wilson, a trucking company executive and founder of a nonprofit working to increase homeless shelter capacity. He ran on an ambitious pledge to end unsheltered homelessness within a year and was sworn in Thursday alongside a council expanded from five seats to 12. Portland is contending with homelessness , public drug use and a rising cost of living. Wilson, a Portland native, plans to reach his goal of ending unsheltered homelessness by increasing the number of nighttime walk-in emergency shelters in facilities such as churches and community centers. His message appeared to have resonated in a city where surveys conducted over the past few years have shown that residents view homelessness as a top issue. He ran against three outgoing City Council members. “Our city government has been reimagined, embodying the best of our innovation and values,” Wilson said on the stage of the Newmark Theater in downtown Portland after taking the oath of office. “Now it's time for Portland's new leadership to meet the moment we now face and solve the issues that prevent us from reaching our true potential.” Wilson said he will treat homelessness as a crisis. He noted the city's plans, announced earlier in the day, to open 200 overnight winter emergency shelter beds. “Tents, tarps and RVs are not places to sleep, because we will have secure shelters for everyone,” he said. The mayoral race , which featured 19 candidates, was thrown open when Mayor Ted Wheeler decided against seeking reelection after holding the city’s top post since 2017. Wheeler rose to national prominence in 2020 as nightly protests erupted on Portland streets and around the country in response to the police killing of George Floyd . The field of candidates in council races was crowded as well, with nearly 100 running for the new seats that were elected by voters in individual districts rather than citywide. READ: The new city council sworn in Thursday “is more diverse and representative than any that came before,” Wilson said. Women make up half of the new council, which also includes multiple people of color — including the first two Asian-Americans to serve on the body. The 130-year-old City Hall was renovated for $8.3 million to accommodate the increase in members. The new dais can now seat 12 people; floor layouts were changed to create more office space; and technology, seismic and accessibility updates were added throughout the building. “Remodeling council chambers is a once-in-a-generation activity,” Maty Sauter, director of Portland's Bureau of Fleet and Facilities, told the outgoing City Council as it held its last meeting on Wednesday in the new chambers. “We've been able to reuse this 1895 facility and make it modern, contemporary and useful.” It’s going to take time for the new government to figure out which of the many changes are working, said Chris Shortell, associate professor of political science at Portland State University. In another first for City Hall, Wilson and the incoming Council members were elected under Portland's new system of ranked-choice voting . A candidate would win if they were the first choice of more than 50% of voters in the first round. Otherwise, a second round would eliminate the candidate with the fewest votes and their supporters’ votes go to their next choice. The process would repeat until someone emerges with a majority of votes. Some 34% of voters ranked Wilson as their first choice, according to final results. The new City Council will hold its first meeting in January. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.How Labour's new green drive will cost you £32,000: JEFF PRESTRIDGE's guide to protect YOUR cash from the eco-zealots By JEFF PRESTRIDGE Updated: 22:47, 26 November 2024 e-mail View comments The drive to turn us into a nation of heat-pump owners is back in fifth gear. Led by the fervent Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, homeowners are once again being encouraged to rip out their gas boilers and replace them with expensive heat pumps to help save the planet (believe me, heat pumps will make NO difference to the planet’s survival). Although the Tory government of Boris Johnson was the initial flag-waver when it came to heat pumps, Mr Miliband – a heat pump zealot – has taken the flag-waving to a new level. A sea of green flags is now being waved before our very eyes. Earlier this month, he threw more buckets of money at the so-called Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) to ensure that homeowners who want to make the leap from gas boiler to heat pump will have ready access to grants worth up to £7,500. Without the grants, heat pumps would be out of the financial reach of most households (more on this in a minute). Even with them, they remain an option that only a minority of households can afford. He also announced that planning rules would be relaxed to ensure that nearly everybody who wants a heat pump installed on an exterior wall of their home will soon be able to go ahead – irrespective of the fact that the pump’s noise could well keep the neighbours awake for most of the night. Get pumped: Homeowners are once again being encouraged to rip out their gas boilers and replace them with expensive heat pumps to help save the planet Cities could soon be turned into ‘cacophonous’ heat pump farms, according to one respected commentator. Ear plugs at the ready for the heat pump raves. Mr Miliband wasn’t finished. He also said that the boiler tax will return from next April – a fine paid by boiler manufacturers unable to meet unachievable heat pump sales targets – and passed on to buyers of gas boilers in the form of higher prices. It will be a modest fine to begin with, but is likely to be cranked up every year while green Labour (green in so many other ways) remains in power. Mr Miliband has supporters. The grandiose Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit followed the announcements with a ludicrous press release that played the patriotic card. It said heat pumps would help wean the UK off foreign imported gas – without squaring the circle by admitting that most heat pumps are manufactured in Asia and then imported into the UK. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next The ultimate five tricks energy experts use to keep heating... How can I make a foolproof insurance claim for flood damage... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to save money on energy: What you need to know and energy-saving tips that work Even manufacturers here assemble heat pumps primarily from components brought into the country on container ships sailing the seven seas. Yet there are more discerning experts who believe that the Government’s belief in a heat pump future – with its target of 600,000 installations a year by 2028 (more than ten times last year’s installation figure) – will end in failure. Yesterday, Gordon Hughes, a former senior adviser on energy and environmental policy at the World Bank, told Money Mail that the 2028 installation target is not credible, even if larger subsidies were handed out to buyers of heat pumps. He also said that even at an installation rate of 600,000 a year, it would take 45 years to convert all houses to heat pumps – way beyond the country’s legally binding commitment under the Climate Change Act 2008 to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Hughes added: ‘Almost everyone with practical knowledge of the energy sector knows that current heat pump targets are both daft and unachievable. ‘But policies are a matter of religious faith, and few are willing to be cast out for saying the emperor has no clothes.’ Money Mail searches for the answers to the key questions facing households thinking about joining Mr Miliband in his heat pump crusade. How much is it going to cost? It depends on the type of heat pump installed – air pump or ground source. The air source pump sits on the outside wall of a home – and looks like the air conditioning units that you see outside many industrial buildings. This pump is painful on the eyes (an eyesore), ears (it’s noisy and gets noisier as it ages) and wallet, costing an average of £13,200 to install. In basic terms, it sucks air from the outside which then interacts with a refrigerant – a chemical substance – to produce heat which can be used to warm radiators and create hot water. Then there is the grander ground source pump which, through the laying of underground pipes (typically in the back garden), draws upon natural-occurring heat stored in the ground to ultimately heat radiators and water in the home. These can cost anything between £15,000 and £30,000, which makes them the Louis Vuitton of heat pumps. But this government – and Mr Miliband in particular – is desperate for households to wean themselves off gas boilers and buy these expensive pumps. So desperate, in fact, that it offers grants of £7,500 to those who get them installed (properly). These are provided through BUS (gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme) and available to households in England and Wales (other energy-efficiency grants are on offer in Scotland and Northern Ireland). So that takes the price of the respective pumps down to a more reasonable £5,700 (air) and £7,500 to £22,500 (ground). To put these sums into perspective, the cost of replacing a gas boiler is around £2,500. So, should you buy a pump? Mike Foster, chief executive of energy trade association the Energy and Utilities Alliance, says that if people want a heat pump and can afford it, ‘they should go out and get one’. Yet a survey by consumer group Which? indicates that cost remains a big issue – 71 pc of respondents who know about heat pumps say they are out of their financial range. Installation costs are also not necessarily the only financial hit. Heat pumps are not effective in homes where windows are single glazed (as opposed to double glazed), or where walls are not insulated. According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), the cost of fitting A-rated windows (the most energy-efficient double-glazed windows) for a semi-detached house typically cost £15,000, while cavity wall insulation will cost £2,700. Grants: Secretary of State for Energy Security Ed Miliband If you have solid walls and want them insulated, the EST reckons that will set you back £7,500 if fitted internally, or £11,000 externally. In short, fitting a heat pump in a solid-wall, semi-detached house with A-rated windows and external wall insulation will set you back £39,200 – £31,700 net of the £7,500 grant. Running costs will still be more than that of a gas boiler, too. Mr Foster says: ‘You may hear from supporters of heat pump technology that it is three times more efficient than a gas boiler. ‘What they fail to mention is that the average unit price of electricity is four times higher than that for gas. This means a heat pump works out slightly more expensive to run over a full year than a gas boiler.’ For the 50 per cent of homes that use gas for cooking, Mr Foster adds that a conversion to heat pumps will mean the need for electric cooking appliances – yet more cost (typically, £250 for an electric oven, £225 for an electric hob, and £250 for installation) on top of the £39,200. Mr Hughes agrees. He says the differential between gas and electricity prices makes it financially ‘daft’ to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump. He adds: ‘Electricity prices would have to be less than half their current level – with gas prices not changing – to even make a heat pump a consideration.’ Is the boiler tax a game-changer? From April next year, the Government’s Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM) will impose swingeing taxes on boiler manufacturers if heat pumps represent less than 6 per cent of all domestic heating installations. For every heat pump installation short of their target, the manufacturers will be hit with a £500 fine. But Mr Miliband’s zealotry towards heat pumps means the sky is the limit in 12 months’ time. The tax will be passed on by manufacturers to buyers of gas boilers in the form of higher prices. Based on the current demand for gas boilers and heat pumps, Mr Foster estimates that it is likely to add £25 to the average cost of a gas boiler when fines are set at £500. But if Mr Miliband were to impose a more onerous heat pump installation target and bigger fines, the gap between heat pump and gas boiler installation costs would start closing. If the Secretary of State demanded a 24 per cent installation target – similar to the electric vehicle targets imposed on car manufacturers – and a fine of £5,000 per heat pump short of the target, Mr Foster says this would result in a boiler tax for customers of £1,000. Peter Thom, founder of energy efficiency specialist Green Heat, says the financial mathematics for households aren’t changed by CHMM. He says: ‘My advice would still be to replace a failing gas boiler with another gas boiler.’ But he adds: ‘I would ensure that any new installation works effectively at a lower temperature – which may mean putting in higher-output radiators. I’d also make sure that the heating controls are upgraded. ‘This would mean your heating system is heat-pump ready for when the dice is loaded so heavily against gas boilers that heat pumps are the way forward.’ Eyesore: Air source heat pumps sit on the outside wall of a home – and looks like the air conditioning units you see outside many industrial units Could better tech drive down prices? Not according to Mr Foster. He says heat pumps are already sold in their millions worldwide (especially in the Far East) and their basic design has not changed much. Yes, he says, they could become quieter – but that will come at a price. Unless a vicious boiler tax is introduced, a gas boiler will always be cheaper than a heat pump. Is the funding sustainable? No. Mr Thom says the installation target of 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028 will cost the taxpayer £4.5 billion annually (assuming the BUS grant remains at £7,500). If the annual target of 1.6 million new heat pumps is achieved in 2035, it will cost £12 billion a year. He adds: ‘This is like being at the Mad Hatter’s party on Fantasy Island. ‘I also question the moral compass of a government which is providing grants of £7,500 to help essentially wealthy people install heat pumps while, at the same time, taking away the winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners – with some four million people now in fuel poverty.’ A damning comment. Are you a heat pump sceptic or a zealot? Email: jeff.prestridge@dailymail.co.uk Can you save money on energy bills? Check the best fixed deals When energy prices spiked most households slipped energy price cap tariffs, but it is now possible again to switch to fixed rate energy deals that can save you money. This is Money's recommended partner uSwitch lets you compare the best energy deals for you, based on your home and gas and electricity costs. > Compare the best energy deals with uSwitch* By entering your address and energy usage, you can search for energy deals that can cut your costs and suit how you live. Switching energy provider can also help the planet, if you move to one of the a green deals offering electricity from renewable sources and more environmentally-friendly gas. > Check the best fixed rate energy deals with uSwitch and This is Money * *Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. This does not affect our editorial independence. 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We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.FILE PHOTOS OK, I was wrong. The United States is not quite the Philippines yet. Yes, a convicted criminal has been reelected, but we don’t have our country’s leaders threatening to kill each other at news conferences as in the Philippines. At least not yet. That’s what happened Saturday when VP Sara Duterte said in an online news conference that she has contracted an assassin to kill the current president, Bongbong Marcos , his wife and the speaker of the Philippine House of Representative if she herself is killed. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . And VP Duterte said she wasn’t joking. “Don’t worry about my security because I’ve talked with somebody. I said “If I’m killed, you’ll kill BBM, Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez.” She was referring to the president, his wife and the speaker. “No joke, no joke,” the vice president added about her conversation with an assassin. “I’ve given my order, “If I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them all.’” VP Kamala Harris said she owned a gun, but never said anything remotely that vicious about ordering an assassin over the phone. Still, Filipinos in America must be relieved? In America, by comparison, we are still a civil democracy. Or at least, “civil enough.” In the Philippines, where human rights violations and extrajudicial killings have routinely numbered in the thousands for decades – from Marcos’ father to the reign of Duterte’s father – civility is not easy to come by. The talk is hot between the Philippine president and his veep, mostly from disagreements on how to deal with the aggression of China toward Philippine possessions in the West Philippine Sea. But Sara Duterte reportedly has tried to walk back the hot talk, saying it was an expression of concern rather than a real threat. Still, the outburst gives Bongbong the moral upper hand. If that still means anything in the Philippines. “That criminal plot should not be allowed to pass,” Marcos is reported to have said in a televised statement. “ I’ll fight it ,” Marcos said. “As a democratic country, we need to uphold the rule of law.” This is of course super ironic coming from man whose family ruled the Philippines under martial law, were sent into exile by People Power, then allowed to come back in and be rehabilitated by Sara Duterte’s father, then President Rodrigo Duterte. Was Sara D. flexing her muscles? If she was, it’s backfiring. The Philippines is taking the threat seriously and is investigating Sara Duterte. How to kill political opponents the American way Donald Trump wasn’t joking when he famously said he “could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.” It was relevant last January, when the issue of immunity for Donald Trump came before a three judge panel in the DC Court of Appeals, the second highest court in the land. This is where Trump’s attorneys claimed that a former president could not be prosecuted for anything he did as “an official duty.” It took a probing question from federal circuit judge Florence Y. Pan to make it all crystal clear. “Could a president order Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? That’s an official act. An order to Seal Team 6,” said Pan in a hypothetical I can’t believe has ever been asked in such a high- level hearing in US history. Trump lawyer Sauer responded: “He would have to be and would speedily be impeached and convicted before the criminal prosecution.” Pan pressed on that: “But if he weren’t, there would be no criminal prosecution or criminal liability for that?” Sauer hemmed and hawed about the chief justice, the Constitution and the impeachment clause. But Pan wanted to get to the truth and politely but firmly cut to the chase: “I asked you a yes or no question. Could a president who ordered Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival, who was not impeached, could he be subject to criminal prosecution?” Sauer responded: “If he were impeached and convicted first.” “So your answer is a no?” Pan asked. “My answer is a qualified yes,” said Sauer. What is a “qualified yes”? A shameful way of saying no. The case went up to the Supreme Court and Trump won. The presumed immunity for official actions is a part of the reason Special Prosecutor Jack Smith is now withdrawing two federal cases against Trump. Remember, this ruling means the president when engaged in official acts has immunity and can pretty much get away with ANYTHING. So Jan. 6? The Mar-a-Lago documents case? Jack Smith is throwing in the towel. This is in America, land of the free, where in our democracy one man is above the law. Sorry Philippines. You’ll have to give the president, and in this case, maybe the vice president, immunity on all official acts first. And then they can plot away and threaten each other in public at will. Things are changing fast, Philippines. You can’t be left in the colonial dust. Don’t miss out on the Trump Executive upgrade to democracy. Immunity for official acts. Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He writes a column for the Inquirer.net’s US Channel. Next year, he’ll be bringing his one-man show to Winnipeg and Edmonton. Stay tuned. See his Emil Amok’s Takeout on www.patreon.com/emilamok Want stories like this delivered straight to your inbox?Stay informed. Stay ahead. Subscribe to InqMORNINGOlder siblings everywhere could appreciate John Harbaugh’s refusal to concede an inch against his younger brother Jim. Even when his Baltimore Ravens faced fourth down in the second quarter, John wasn’t giving up the ball without a fight. The Ravens converted that fourth down and two others on their way to over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, giving their coach a third victory in three matchups against his brother. It was the first time they’d faced off since Baltimore beat San Francisco — then coached by Jim Harbaugh — in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2012 season. “We grew up in the same room and have always lived our life side by side, but that’s not what the game is about,” John Harbaugh said. “The game really is about the players, and the players are always going to win the game or lose the game or whatever.” On this night, it was Baltimore’s players who shined. Specifically Derrick Henry, who rushed for 140 yards. Lamar Jackson threw a couple of touchdown passes, and the defense was solid, allowing touchdowns on the first and last Los Angeles drives but not much in between. “I’m proud of our guys,” John Harbaugh said. “I’m proud of the way they came out and responded after the first 10 points — we were down 10-0, and our guys stepped up.” After converting fourth-and-1 at their 16 late in the second quarter, the Ravens scored on a 40-yard pass from Jackson to Rashod Bateman, taking the lead for good at 14-10. Baltimore’s other two fourth-and-1 conversions came on a 14-play touchdown drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. “We’re just confident that we’ll end up converting on those fourth downs, and we did a great job blocking,” said Henry, who converted the last two of the fourth downs. “All we had to do was make a play, and we did.” What’s working The Ravens got back to their identity a bit, rushing for 212 yards. And it wasn’t just Henry and Jackson contributing. Justice Hill broke free for a 51-yard touchdown that made it 30-16 in the fourth. “Nobody wants to stand in front of (Derrick Henry) every single play, every single run,” Hill said. “You can do it one time, two times, three times, but when you have to do it 20 to 25 times, it starts to wear down. I’m glad we stuck with the run game this game, and it played out for us.” What needs help There were still too many penalties, with the Ravens flagged nine times for 102 yards. Baltimore played a pretty clean game until the fourth quarter, so several of those flags came after the Ravens had the game reasonably under control, but this is still an area of concern. Stock up With star linebacker Roquan Smith out because of a hamstring injury, Malik Harrison led the Ravens with a dozen tackles. “It’s a lot of people that doubted me coming into this game, so I’m happy I was able to ball out and show them that I can be in this league, and I can play at a high level,” Harrison said. Stock down There was a time when Isaiah Likely seemed as if he might be supplanting Mark Andrews as Baltimore’s top tight end threat, but Likely went without a catch Monday. He did, however, recover the onside kick that effectively ended the game. Injuries Although Smith was out, DT Travis Jones (ankle) and C Tyler Linderbaum (back) were able to start. Key number Jackson has now thrown 22 touchdown passes with no interceptions on Monday nights, with a passer rating of 124.3. Next steps The Ravens have one more game before their open date, and it’s a showdown this weekend against a Philadelphia team that has won seven in a row. Saquon Barkley (1,392) of the Eagles and Henry (1,325) have both surpassed 1,300 yards rushing already. Nobody else in the NFL has more than 1,000. ___ AP NFL:
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A FOOTIE club’s kit man is accused of trying to blackmail the millionaire owner. Former police hostage negotiator Duncan Whitehead, 54, allegedly threatened to release damaging information about Port Vale ’s Carol Shanahan if she did not hand over £15,000. Shanahan, 67, has owned the League Two club with husband Kevin since 2019. The pair turned Whitehead over to cops last October. It is unclear what he was allegedly threatening to reveal about Ms Shanahan, who made £10million founding financial technology giant Synectics Solutions in the 1990s. Whitehead appeared at North Staffordshire magistrates court last month. read more on football He has yet to enter a plea and will appear at Stoke-on-Trent crown court on January 5. Whitehead, of Blackpool , served as a Lancashire Constabulary cop from 1992 to 2014 but resigned to start a mental health charity. He has worked as a kit man for a string of lower league clubs and joined Port Vale two years ago. The part-time writer also works as a private security guard. Most read in Football Take That ’s Robbie Williams , 50, Vale’s most famous fan, was made president earlier this year — but has no role in the club’s operation.Congress Ousts Energy and Mines Minister Amid Miners' Protests
The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.