6 things in the news this weekend that you might want to know about

We had a lively St. Patrick’s Day, and by all accounts, a lively Mother’s Day in Liverpool too. In other news the Home Secretary has been pictured lots in her first visit to potential migrant housing plots in Rwanda, and we’ve been told that our mobile phones are soon to act as emergency alert sirens.

The government is sending a new emergency alert to all mobile phones in April as a test

A siren-like emergency warning message will be sent by the Government to mobile phone users across the UK next month to test a new public alert system.

Phone users will be unable to use other features on their devices unless they acknowledge the alert, due to be sent on Sunday April 23.

The system – modelled after similar schemes in the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan – is intended to be used in life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires.

People who do not wish to receive the alerts will be able to opt out in their device settings, but officials hope the life-saving potential of the messages means that users will keep them on.

Over 2 million tuned in to watch the return of Gary Lineker on MOTD

Two million viewers tuned in to watch Match Of The Day (MOTD) Live after Gary Lineker’s return to the BBC.

The corporation said the coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday, which was hosted by the 62-year-old presenter, saw an average of 2.1 million viewers based on overnight figures.

An audience peak of 2.8 million people also watched the show, which featured analysis from pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

The Home Secretary was given a tour of new migrant accommodation in Rwanda

The Home Secretary was given a tour of potential migrant housing in Rwanda on Saturday as 209 people were confirmed to have made the journey across the Channel on Friday.

Suella Braverman embarked on her first full day in the country as Home Secretary on Saturday as she set out to reaffirm her commitment to the Rwanda deportation policy.

No migrants have been relocated to the country so far as the deal, which was signed last April by Ms Braverman’s predecessor Priti Patel, remains embroiled in legal battles.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper challenged Ms Braverman to answer a string of questions about the policy, including how many people were expected to be sent this year and whether any extra cash had been promised to the Kigali government.

She said: “Suella Braverman has still not come clean on the number of people Rwanda will really take in practice or the full cost to the British taxpayer.

“Already the Home Secretary has written Rwanda cheques for at least £140 million even though she has admitted the scheme is failing and the Home Office says it has a high risk of fraud.

“Instead of expensive PR stunts she should put that money into going after the smuggling gangs to stop dangerous boat crossings.”

More people are going on holiday again following the pandemic

Demand for foreign holidays has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, a new survey suggests.

Travel trade association Abta commissioned the poll to mark the one-year anniversary of the UK removing its remaining coronavirus travel rules.

Since March 18 last year, arrivals have no longer needed to take any tests or complete any Covid forms, regardless of their vaccination status.

Some 62% of respondents to the poll of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by research company Savanta in February, said they have been on a foreign holiday in the previous 12 months.

That is up from 16% when a similar survey was carried out in August 2021 when travel into the UK was restricted.

Many tour operators and travel agents have reported record sales since the start of the year.

Tributes have been paid to The Wire actor Lance Reddick

Lance Reddick, star of The Wire and John Wick franchise, has died at the age of 60, his representatives have confirmed.

The US actor died on Friday morning, with his death attributed to natural causes, according to his publicist.

Reddick played Charon in all four of the John Wick films, starring Keanu Reeves, the last of which is due for UK release next week.

Charon is the impassive hotel concierge at New York’s criminal underground hub, The Continental Hotel, in the high-octane thriller films.

Prior to his death, Reddick had completed a number of press interviews for the film.

In a joint statement shared with US media outlets, Keanu Reeves and John Wick director Chad Stahelski described him as a “consummate professional”.

“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick,” the statement read.

An arrest warrant for Putin has been welcomed by world leaders

US President Joe Biden has joined Britain in welcoming the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine.

Mr Biden said Mr Putin had “clearly committed war crimes” and the warrant, although not recognised in the US, was “justified” and made “a very strong point”.

His remarks came after UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said it was essential that those at the top of the regime in Moscow were held to account for the atrocities which have taken place since the invasion a year ago.

The Hague-based ICC said it was issuing the warrant for the arrest of the Russian leader over the alleged abduction and deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.

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