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BRITAIN is withdrawing its air defences from Nato’s eastern frontier – amid warnings we need more at home.

Sky Sabre rockets and radars have been shielding Poland for two and a half years.

It comes amid warnings the UK is “woefully exposed” due to lack of an Israel-style Iron Dome.

Royal Artillery gunners deployed to Poland’s Rzeszow airport – just 40 miles from the Ukraine border – to protect deliveries of troops and weapons in March 2022.

Their radars – known as Giraffes – have a range of 300 miles and tracked thousands of Russian missiles and drones blasting western Ukraine.

They are designed to intercept jets and cruise missiles and can fire up to 24 missiles at 24 separate targets to fend off a so-called “saturation attack”.

But they can’t stop ballistic missiles like the Oreshnik Russia blasted at Ukraine last month.

Gunners deployed their remaining Giraffe radars to protect US Air Force bases last month from a spate of illegal drone flights.

The UK relies on its Royal Navy destroyers to intercept ballistic missiles with devastating Sea Viper missiles.

The MoD said: “Sky Sabre will be reconstituted in the UK, ensuring that the UK Armed Forces has flexibility on operational requirements in future, including training more personnel.”

Norway has deployed its F-35 jets and Nasam air defence missiles to replace the Sky Sabre systems.

And Poland has ordered 1000 air defence missile launchers and more than 100 launchers as part of a £4bn deal with the UK.

Warsaw has ramped up defence spending to 4.7 per cent.

But Labour has failed to say when it will meet its election promise of spending 2.5 per cent on defence.

Times Newspapers Ltd

MASTERCHEF The Professionals viewers were left in floods of tears tonight as Dan Merriman was crowned winner.

The last seven weeks have seen the three chefs invest battle it out in the BBC competition.

Pro chefs Chiara Tomasoni, Dan Merriman and George Birtwell went head-to-head in a bid to secure the title.

The finalists had just three hours to deliver three of their best courses.

First up was Chiara, with Gregg Wallace telling that he “really liked the look of her three dishes”.

Her final menu included an Italian red prawn tartare, confit quail egg yolks and Amalfi lemon emulsion.

Gregg praised her saying it was a “brilliant way to start a menu”.

She then followed this up with barbecue monkfish, brushed with black garlic and sourdough miso and for dessert she made a bay leaf and yoghurt mousse filled.

The judges praised the mousse by struggled to taste the bay leaf – but admitted it was “exquisite”.

Next up was George, who made lobster tail for starter, venison for main and a blackcurrant leaf parfait for dessert.

The judges were equally impressed and branded his dishes “beautiful”, while Monica Galetti praised his dessert as an “absolute joy”.

And last up was Dan, who presented barbecued scallops with fennel ragu and a red curry sauce.

After tasting it, Monica said: “Beautiful scallops, lightly seared on the barbecue. For me, the cooking is spot-on.”

He then made a beef with maitake mushrooms glazed in black garlic.

Monica was full of praise saying the flavour was “wonderful” – while Gregg admitted he had “fallen in love with his truffle ketchup”.

He told him: “I think this is a new ketchup that I’ll be dipping my chips into for a long time to come.”

Dan’s dessert blackcurrant mousse and yuzu curd was also a knock-out.

After the feedback, Monica said: “Dan, I can’t help but smile because that’s just what your food does.

“Really enjoying this.

“You have been one of the most humble chefs I’ve seen walk in here.

“Very reserved, quite unsure where he stood, maybe not just in the kitchen but the world,” to which Dan agreed and said: “Yeah.”

She went on: “I almost feel like this has been a bit of a haven for you to rediscover your love for your craft and for yourself.

“Whatever life goes to throw at you, maybe think back to this moment and the highs that you’ve had and you’ve given us.

“Really take my word for it, we see something great in you.”

Dan emotionally told the judges: “I can’t say enough to you three. You just sparked something back in me what I felt when I was 17 when I first walked into a fine dining restaurant.

“I’ve really fell back in love with food. It’s life-changing, this whole competition is life-changing.”

A tearful Dan told the camera: “I’m feeling elated, they touched my heart, they really did. I’m feeling fantastic.”

After some tough competition, the judges announced that Dan was MasterChef The Professional’s 2024 winner.

Marcus Wareing revealed: “It’s the best final I’ve ever been in. But as we know, there was only ever going to be one winner.

“The professional MasterChef champion 2024 is…Dan.”

Dan broke down in floods of tears, with George telling him: “The most deserved winner ever.”

Viewers were left sobbing as Dan was crowned the winner.

One wrote: I’M NOT CRYING YOU’RE CRYING,” with a crying emoji

A second said: “Tears here – just glad I didn’t have to choose. Well done Dan!”

A third commented: “Congratulations Dan. So pleased for you. Had a few tears flowing! Good luck for the future.”

“Never been as happy for a #MasterChefTheProfessionals winner. I’m in tears here. Such a humble, genuinely lovely lad. His story is incredible,” a fourth echoed.

Another added: “Am I the only one moved to tears by Dan’s story, the soul he put in every one of his dishes.”

Debutant Amir Jangoo and Keacy Carty were the stars of the show as the West Indies beat Bangladesh by four wickets to sweep their one-day international series.

Numerous reported drone sightings on the US east coast are no cause for concern, according to the White House.

Robert Cole — who joined the board in early 2018 and took the helm in April, 2022 — has been on temporary leave since November 13 while he recovers from a health issue.

Passengers shouldn't expect delays due to strikes by hundreds of engineers, Australia's largest airline says.

A state government has fulfilled more of its election promises by scrapping a "patient's tax" and stamp duty for first-home buyers.

St Vincent's Hospital nurses and midwives are beginning rolling strikes to push for better staffing levels as workers face burnout and exhaustion.

The Australian radio star wiped away tears after hearing a familiar voice in an emotional moment during his last day on air.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged Europeans to press their governments to ramp up defence spending.