The Palestinian flag was raised outside what is now Palestine's embassy in central London, marking Britain's formal recognition of a Palestinian state. The ceremony followed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's landmark announcement of the UK's decision to recognize Palestinian statehood, with Canada and Australia taking similar coordinated steps.

Palestine's Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, addressed a crowd gathered outside the building that previously served as the Palestine Mission to the UK. "We are gathered today in front of the Palestinian Mission to the UK here in London to mark a historic moment," said Zomlot, noting that the recognition comes "in the same capital of the Balfour Declaration, after more than a century of ongoing denial, dispossession and erasure."

The ambassador held up a plaque reading 'The Embassy of the State of Palestine' that will soon be mounted on the building pending legal and bureaucratic work. Zomlot described the moment as "not only about Palestine, it is also about Britain and the British government's solemn responsibility" and "an acknowledgement of a historic injustice." The small team at the mission erupted in cheers upon hearing the announcement.

Zomlot, who was born in a refugee camp in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, reflected on the significance of the moment, calling it "a South Africa moment for Palestine" in reference to the end of South Africa's apartheid government. He stated that recognition represents "an act of assurances to the Palestinian people that they hope for a better future and ... peace is possible," emphasizing that "Palestine exists, it has always existed and it always will."

Kilcoo secured their place in Down football history on Sunday, capturing an unprecedented seventh consecutive Senior Football Championship title with a 1-17 to 1-11 victory over Carryduff at Pairc Esler. The Magpies delivered their strongest performance of the championship when it mattered most, with Paul Devlin's first-half penalty goal providing crucial separation in a hard-fought contest that saw the throw-in time pushed back to 5pm following a pitch inspection.

The match, originally scheduled for 3:30pm, saw Kilcoo demonstrate the championship experience that has defined their remarkable 12-title run over 13 seasons. Devlin's 22nd-minute penalty strike down the middle proved decisive, with the player explaining his calculated approach: "It was a big moment in the game and it needed to go in, so I didn't want to put it in the corner and the keeper has a chance if diving. I just thought I wanted to hit it hard."

Carryduff, making their first final appearance since losing to Kilcoo in the 2020 decider, mounted a second-half rally but ultimately fell short of claiming what would have been their inaugural Frank O'Hare Cup. The South Belfast club had powered past Burren in the semi-final with their full contingent available, but couldn't overcome Kilcoo's championship pedigree despite showing improved form from their previous final appearance five years earlier.

Devlin expressed satisfaction with the victory amid external skepticism, noting "it's nice to see that people want Kilcoo to fall" while emphasizing the team's resilience. "This one is sweet with how the game played out and the build-up where we were doubted in this year's championship," he told BBC Sport NI. "It just shows the character of this team. Big teams play well in big games and we have that experience to put in those big performances." The win solidifies Kilcoo's status as the dominant force in Down football, achieving a landmark that had eluded them when Burren denied their seventh consecutive title bid in 2018.