Former This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby has reportedly sold her £6.4 million London home in an attempt to “move on” from a tricky period in her life
Holly Willoughby has reportedly sold her £6.4 million London home(Image: Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images)
Holly Willoughby has reportedly sold the £6.4 million London home she fled after being the target of a horrifying kidnap plot. The former This Morning host, 44, bought the six-bedroom property in Barnes, South West London more than a decade ago but it’s thought that Holly, along with her husband Dan and their children Harry, 16, Belle, 14, and 11-year-old Chester, have already moved out.
It all comes after Holly was at the centre of a horrific case which saw security guard Gavin Plumb plotted to kidnap, rape and murder the TV star, and was he was eventually jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years.
Holly quit her long-serving role as presenter of This Morning following the ordeal, but her departure also came after another media storm which saw her former co-host Phillip Schofield admit to having an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague, and insiders have said that a change of scene will help her move on from such a tricky time.
A source told The Sun : “This will draw a line under a deeply uncomfortable period of Holly’s life, and ensure they can make a fresh start in their new family home.
“Though it’s bittersweet too as it’s where Holly and Dan raised their children too, so it has many happy memories for the couple as well.”
The Mirror has contacted representatives for Holly for comment.
Following his conviction, Plumb was branded a significant danger to women, who caused fear and shock in the former Dancing On Ice presenter.
He then sought to appeal against his sentence at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Reading out the Court of Appeal’s judgment, Justice Edis said that having considered the case with “anxious care”, along with Mr Justice Martin Spencer and Ms Justice Norton, they rejected the appeal.
Refusing the application, Lord Justice Edis told the court that the offences were “so serious” that a life sentence was justified.
“They were horrifying and contained graphic detail of what the applicant proposed to do to Holly Willoughby. They are distressing, even for seasoned professionals, to read.”
He told the court: “That is to say, a long period of time during which a significant number of people were prevailed upon in the hope that they would prospectively, along with the applicant, kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby Plainly that behaviour arose out of an obsession that he had formed with her.”
He added: “It is important to note that the applicant’s personal circumstances would have made it very difficult for him to carry out these offences He appears to have been substantially immobile, perhaps due to obesity.
“He is not in good health, he cannot drive and does not have a car, he does not have access to the sort of property that might serve as a temporary prison during which a kidnap victim could be held, raped and murdered.”
The news of Holly’s supposed house sale comes just hours after it was claimed that the TV favourite had been in talks to take over a presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing following the recent departure of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, although that is not going to happen now.
A source told The Sun: “There was much talk about Holly joining the show. Many think she is brilliant and more than deserving of the role, but the truth is some execs were also fearful. She may be squeaky clean, but she will always have that association with Phillip.”
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
Forest, meanwhile, have won just two of their past nine Premier League games.
Crucially, one of those was a 2-1 victory at West Ham last month, which kept the Hammers from moving one point behind.
And, even when Nuno Espirito Santo’s side beat Sunderland two weeks ago, Forest reacted with an impressive 2-0 win at Brentford 24 hours later.
Those results were achieved, however, with a first-choice defence – and the absence of Matz Sels with a groin injury has been a huge loss too.
It was a gamble to replace last season’s joint Golden Glove winner with John Victor in December and one which ultimately backfired, with Victor himself now also sidelined for the rest of the campaign.
That prompted Forest to bring in Stefan Ortega from Manchester City during the transfer window – but his debut against Leeds meant a defence which was so consistent last season was only changed further.
Zach Abbott was another debutant at Elland Road, the 19-year-old making his first Premier League appearance in the absence of injured defender Murillo.
Abbott was targeted in the first half as Leeds seized on his inexperience – although Leeds‘ goals were ultimately down to a collective failure.
Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong speaks during a meeting of economy-related ministers at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, 21 January 2026. File. YONHAP / EPA
Feb. 6 (Asia Today) — South Korea could face a shortage of up to 4,800 physicians by 2037, the government said Thursday, as it moves closer to deciding how much to expand medical school enrollment amid mounting opposition from doctors’ groups.
The estimate was presented at the sixth meeting of the Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee, where the Health Ministry selected a supply-based projection model using the so-called inflow-outflow method. The model estimates future physician supply by factoring in new medical licenses and mortality rates.
Under the model, South Korea is projected to have about 135,369 practicing doctors by 2037. Even with that increase, officials estimate a shortfall ranging from 4,262 to 4,800 physicians, depending on assumptions.
Health Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong said strengthening physician training is a prerequisite for rebuilding regional, essential and public healthcare systems. “Appropriate workforce development is the first step toward restoring healthcare delivery outside major urban centers,” she said.
The ministry opted for a license-based supply model that relies on relatively stable indicators, such as new entrants and deaths, rather than more variable demand-side projections. A task force advising the committee said the model has been validated through multiple domestic and international studies.
Only the scale of enrollment expansion remains undecided. The government plans to announce next week the medical school quota for the five-year period starting in the 2027 academic year.
The proposal, however, continues to draw resistance from medical groups, including the Korean Medical Association, which argue the projections are flawed. Critics say the estimates fail to reflect differences by region and specialty, underestimate future productivity gains from artificial intelligence and rely on overly limited variables.
KMA spokesperson Kim Seong-geun warned this week that if the government pushes ahead based on what he called “distorted data,” the association would take action and hold the government fully responsible for the consequences.
Education experts also cautioned that any expansion must be accompanied by measures to protect training quality. One academic noted that overlapping cohorts from recent academic years have already strained teaching capacity and said closer monitoring will be needed to prevent deterioration in medical education and residency training.
At Thursday’s meeting, officials also reviewed discussions from a recent Medical Innovation Committee session and consultations with medical educators. Based on those talks, the ministry said it plans to cap enrollment increases to avoid excessive strain on schools and apply different standards to national universities and smaller medical colleges.
Jeong said the next committee meeting will outline not only physician training numbers but also broader policy measures to support regional healthcare staffing.
The smallest station in the UK only allows one door to open(Image: AlbertPego via Getty Images)
The UK’s tiniest railway station measures just 15 metres in length and can only accommodate one train door opening at a time. Among the hundreds of stations dotted across Britain linking villages, towns and cities, one holds the record for being the smallest.
Beauly Station in the Scottish Highlands claims this unique distinction. Its platform is considerably shorter than a single train carriage, meaning passengers must be given advance notice if they wish to alight there.
An announcement alerts travellers to plan accordingly if Beauly is their destination.
The station boasts a rich heritage, having first opened its doors in 1862. But by 1960, fierce competition from local bus services forced its closure.
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More than four decades later, following determined campaigns by local residents, it reopened. Since 2002, Beauly Station has featured a modest 10-space car park, bicycle storage and shelter facilities, reports the Express.
Whilst there’s no ticket office, the diminutive station remarkably handles approximately 35,000 passenger journeys annually, according to figures from the Carno Station Action Group. Located roughly 10 miles west of Inverness, it serves ScotRail services.
Trains calling at Beauly travel onwards to Wick, Kyle of Lochalsh, Dingwall, Invergordon, Ardgay and Inverness.
The station wasn’t always this compact, having previously boasted two platforms. Originally constructed for the Inverness to Invergordon line in the 1800s, it featured twin platforms, a passing loop and a goods shed.
During the 1960s, Beauly was amongst numerous stations axed. All stations between Inverness and Dingwall were shut down.
The solitary platform at Beauly standing today was constructed in 2002 when the station reopened. The reinstatement scheme came with a £250,000 price tag.
Class 158 trains normally operate on this line, which extend beyond Beauly’s platform length.
Usually, only the front door of the train opens to allow passengers to board and alight.
An array of political parties and alliances will be vying for seats in the Bangladesh Parliament on February 12 in the country’s first election since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. About 127 million registered voters are eligible to cast votes to elect 350 members of the Jatiya Sangsad, the country’s parliament.
The South Asian country has been in the hands of a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus since August 2024, when a student-led uprising ended Hasina’s long rule. Hasina ordered troops to crack down on protesters, killing 1,400 people. She has since been sentenced to death by a special tribunal in Bangladesh for the brutal crackdown, but remains in exile in India, and her Awami League party has been banned from political activity.
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Besides the election on February 12, Bangladesh will also hold a referendum on the July National Charter 2025 – a document drafted following the student protests, setting the foundation for future governance of the country.
The two biggest groups competing for parliamentary seats across the country’s 300 constituencies are the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is leading a coalition of 10 parties, and Jamaat-e-Islami (JIB), which heads an 11-party alliance, including the National Citizen Party, a group formed by students who led the anti-Hasina movement in 2024. The Awami League, which dominated Bangladeshi politics for decades, has been barred from fielding candidates.
Besides the two main blocs, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh, which broke away from the JIB-led alliance, and the Jatiya Party, a longtime ally of Hasina’s Awami League, are contesting independently.
Here is a look at the main political parties and their leaders vying for parliament seats this year, and the key players influencing the election.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Led by Tarique Rahman, the son of the late former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the BNP is seen as one of the main contenders in the upcoming elections.
The party was founded in 1978 by Ziaur Rahman, Tarique’s father and one of the leading military figures of the country’s independence war against Pakistan in 1971, on the principles of Bangladeshi nationalism. According to the BNP website, this is an “ideology that recognises the right of Bangladeshis from all walks of life, irrespective of their ethnicity, gender or race”.
As a centre-right political party, the BNP has been a popular political force in the country for decades and has traditionally exchanged power with the Awami League.
For four decades after Ziaur Rahman’s assassination in 1981, his wife and Tarique’s father, Khaleda Zia, led the party. Khaleda served as the country’s first female prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. In that period, Jamaat was an ally of the BNP as they together fought against Hasina’s Awami League.
After Hasina came back to power in 2009 – she had also ruled between 1996 and 2001 – the BNP faced the wrath of her government over corruption charges, and Khaleda was put under house arrest in 2018 in two related cases. She was acquitted of all charges after Hasina’s departure in 2024.
Since Hasina’s ousting in 2024, the BNP has risen again as a political frontrunner. A December survey by the United States-based International Republican Institute indicated the BNP had the support of 33 percent of respondents. That was also the only month when the BNP — seeking to position itself as a liberal force ahead of the elections — broke its alliance with Jamaat. Polls show Jamaat just marginally behind the BNP in popular support.
Tarique, 60, had been living in London, United Kingdom, since he fled Bangladesh in 2008 over what he called politically motivated persecution. He arrived in Dhaka on December 25, 2025 to take over the BNP leadership ahead of his mother Khaleda’s death on December 30.
“We will build a Bangladesh that a mother dreams of,” he said in December after returning to the country and calling on citizens from the hills and plains – Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians – to join him in creating a secure and inclusive nation.
In election rallies, he has pledged to improve the country’s infrastructure, among other promises.
“If elected, the healthcare system will be improved, a flyover will be constructed in Sherpur, permanent embankments will be built in the river erosion areas of Dhunat, and the youth will be made self-reliant through the establishment of IT education institutions,” he said.
According to Khandakar Tahmid Rejwan, lecturer in global studies and governance at the Independent University, Bangladesh, since Rahman’s return, the BNP has become more organised.
“The party has basically revived with a newfound spirit in both its central and grassroots-level leadership,” he said.
“Typical objections against BNP and affiliated party activists, like [allegations of] extortion … have also significantly declined. Top leaders of the central committee have also been comparatively cautious to avoid any statement that might create popular outrage. Significantly, the people are flocking in thousands to hear from Rahman at his electoral rally, even late at midnight,” he said.
Rejwan added that it is widely believed that Rahman is the only man who can currently unite Bangladesh with an “inclusive vision”, unlike his Jamaat rivals, who have failed to address any clear stance or acknowledge what are seen by many as their restrictive policies towards women and religious minorities.
Jamaat-e-Islami
The party was founded in 1941 by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi during British rule in India.
In 1971, during Bangladesh’s war of independence, Jamaat supported staying with Pakistan, and was banned after the country won its freedom.
But in 1979, four years after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had fought for Bangladesh’s independence and is seen by many as the country’s founding father, BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, who was the country’s president at the time, lifted the ban. Ziaur Rahman was also assassinated in 1981.
Over the next two decades, Jamaat developed into a significant political force. It supported the BNP-led coalition in 1991 and 2001.
But while Hasina was in power from 2009 until she was toppled in student-led protests in 2024 and fled to India, five top Jamaat leaders were executed, while others were jailed for crimes committed during the independence war of 1971. The party was barred in 2013 from running in elections.
In June 2025, the country’s Supreme Court restored the party’s registration, paving the way for its participation in elections.
While Jamaat no longer has an alliance with the BNP, its current leader, 67-year-old Shafiqur Rahman, has also focused on reorganising the party into a strong contender in the election.
Speaking at an election rally in Jamalpur city on Sunday, Shafiqur Rahman said the upcoming election “will be a turning point”.
“It is an election to end the cries of the families of martyrs. It is an election to bury the rotten politics of the past,” he said, according to The Daily Star newspaper.
But his party’s resurgence has also prompted debate over whether Bangladesh is prepared to be led by an Islamist force, which some fear could seek to enforce Islamic law or try to restrict women’s rights and freedoms.
However, Jamaat has rejected such fears and has told reporters it is focusing on expanding its electoral power. Last December, the party announced an alliance with the National Citizen Party, founded by 2024 leaders of the student-led uprising, and with the Liberal Democratic Party, led by 1971 war hero Oli Ahmad.
For the first time in its history, Jamaat is also fielding a Hindu candidate, Krishna Nandi, from Khulna, in a bid to attract non-Muslim voters.
The International Republican Institute survey suggested the Jamaat-led alliance at number two, with 29 percent, closely behind the BNP.
According to Independent University’s Rejwan, Jamaat has an appeal across Bangladesh’s social classes.
“Its student wing has literally outperformed any other political rivals in the university union elections. We are also seeing the Jamaat-affiliated women’s wing reaching out door-to-door in both rural and urban areas to expand their women’s base of voters. Moreover, since the fall of Hasina, we are seeing pro-Jamaat active and retired elites from security forces, university academics, and civil services constantly pushing the pro-Jamaat narratives within their respective capacities,” he said.
“Jamaat’s upper hand and pragmatic postures are now being extended to its allies, like NCP, which is explicitly reaping all the benefits of its senior partner in the alliance,” he added.
National Citizens Party (NCP)
The NCP, one of Jamaat’s allies, was formed in February 2025 by students who led the mass protests in July 2024 over government job quotas, which ultimately toppled Hasina’s government.
Seeking to stand for the 2026 elections, the leaders told a rally in February 2025 that they had formed the party “to uphold the spirit of the July movement among students”.
Led by Nahid Islam, 27, the stated ideals of the NCP are to ensure “governance without corruption” and to unite the country. The party says it aims to uphold freedom of the press, increase women’s representation in parliament and improve Bangladesh’s relations with neighbouring countries, such as India.
But lacking adequate funds to run by itself in an election, the party has allied with Jamaat. However, the move has been received poorly by some in Bangladesh. It also triggered some resignations by some NCP members over ideological differences.
According to local media reports, those members submitted a memorandum stating that Jamaat’s controversial political history and historical views against Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 were contrary to the NCP’s values.
In an interview with ABC News last month, Nahid Islam defended the decision to unite with Jamaat and said, “When we are forming an electoral alliance, we are not abandoning our own political beliefs. It’s just a strategic alliance.”
“It’s unfortunate to see the leader of the political party that arguably claims to own and lead the 2024 mass uprising and depose Hasina, now become a junior partner to a major political party,” Rejwan said.
“As a result, we see defections of many top leaders of NCP, and astonishingly, by allying, it was only able to bargain for 30 seats for its own candidate. To sum up, Nahid has sold his political autonomy and image of an exclusive figure by de facto becoming subservient to Jamaat,” he added.
Who are the other key players in the election?
Besides the main political parties, Muhammad Yunus, who currently leads the interim government, and General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief, are also influential figures in this election.
Yunus, who was selected to run the government after Hasina’s ousting, is facilitating the election in his capacity as the country’s chief adviser.
But while political parties are campaigning for the election, Yunus is focusing on the referendum on the July Charter, which will take place on the same day.
After Hasina’s ousting, Yunus formed the Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) in 2025, seeking to amend the governance of the country. The commission proposed an anticorruption mechanism, electoral reforms and new rules the police must follow, among other issues. The July Charter is the culmination of the CRC’s work and takes its name from the protests which dismantled Hasina’s government in July 2024. Bangladeshis will vote to approve or reject it in the referendum.
Last month, Yunus expressed confidence in the results of the referendum and told the media he expected people and political parties to agree to the charter. But some critics have said holding the referendum and establishing the charter is not constitutional.
Muhammad Yunus addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US [File: AFP]
General Zaman is also a key player in the election.
Following the 1975 assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader and then-president, the country entered a period marked by coups, countercoups and military rule, which reshaped the state.
Currently, the army is not vying for electoral power, but its focus will be on ensuring public order and security during the election, in light of political violence that has spread in the country since the upheaval of 2024.
The military also plays a role with respect to backing the political party in power or deciding how to govern the country during a political crisis.
In September 2024, after the protests against Hasina, Zaman told the Reuters news agency that he would back Yunus’s interim government “come what may”, while also floating a timeline for elections within 18 months, placing him central to the political debate.
A successful election will require goodwill from both Yunus and the army chief, according to Rejwan.
“Executives under the leadership of Yunus are critical to ensure the nationwide voting, while the Chief of Army Staff Waker’s forces, which would be deployed throughout the country, are indispensable to maintain public order and prevent the proliferation of political instability, violence and chaos,” he said.
General Waker-uz-Zaman gestures during an interview with Reuters at his office in the Bangladesh army headquarters in Dhaka [File: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters]
Does Hasina have any power at all?
Hasina, who is currently in exile in India, has denounced the upcoming elections since her party, the Awami League, has not been allowed to take part. However, those who voted for her in the past must now choose how to vote this time.
In a message sent to the media last month, Hasina stated that “a government born of exclusion cannot unite a divided nation”.
“Each time political participation is denied to a significant portion of the population, it deepens resentment, delegitimises institutions and creates the conditions for future instability,” the former leader warned in an email to The Associated Press news agency.
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was “surprised and shocked” that Hasina had been allowed to make a public address in India. Her speeches and statements are banned from the media in Bangladesh.
“Allowing the event to take place in the Indian capital and letting mass murderer Hasina openly deliver her hate speech … constitute a clear affront to the people and the Government of Bangladesh,” the ministry said in a statement.
Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal in Bangladesh last November, and Dhaka has called on New Delhi to extradite her.
But she remains in India, and Rejwan says she will be a key political instigator of unrest as the elections approach.
“If Hasina were a negligible figure, then the interim government wouldn’t have banned all of her speeches and statements from being aired on television or printed in newspapers … the interim government would also not have reacted so firmly against India for allowing her to speak,” he noted.
“This means Hasina is a factor that the interim government implicitly believes has an influence over the Awami League populace, who are yet undecided on whom to cast their vote for, given that AL is banned from the polls,” he said.
“The reality is that AL has its own clear political ideology and a base of loyal cadres, many of whom have declined to change their allegiance despite living a harsh clandestine life in Bangladesh or abroad,” he added.
Newquay in Cornwall offers dog-friendly beaches year-round, with the best time to visit being January to March when beach restrictions are lifted and quieter beaches mean dogs can play without the stress of busy crowds
It’s the ultimate dog-friendly paradise(Image: Western Morning News)
In an emerging trend, increasing numbers of dog owners are opting for pet-friendly breaks, ensuring their cherished canine companions can share in the holiday fun.
The statistics also revealed that 62% of their 2024 bookings consisted of seaside retreats.
Whilst the sunny summer months might appear to be the perfect opportunity for a pet-friendly coastal adventure, this is also when holiday prices peak. Millions of Brits look to capitalise on the fine weather and warm temperatures during this period.
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Famous for its rugged coastline, golden beaches, picture-perfect villages and rich maritime heritage, Cornwall is one of the most-visited corner of the UK. Sykes Cottages has a large number of holiday homes to choose from, with prices from £36 per night.
However, the off-peak season or “secret season” could prove the most suitable and budget-friendly time to travel with your four-legged friends, according to dog-travel specialists, as quieter destinations and relaxed restrictions for dogs are crucial elements in enhancing holidays for both pets and their humans.
Embarking on a seaside break with your dog during the off-peak months – November to April – guarantees quieter locations and lifted restrictions, particularly on beaches, which consequently provides greater freedom for dogs and their owners to fully embrace and enjoy their coastal escape.
Canine Cottages‘ Digital PR Manager Sarah Pring shares: “For pet owners, the best time to take a seaside break is actually at the start of the year, around January to March, once beach restrictions have been lifted.
“The quieter beaches mean dogs can play without the stress of a busy environment, which can be distressing for reactive and anxious pets. The benefits extend to pet owners, with seaside properties being cheaper to rent in the winter months.”
Perfect destination for your next pooch-friendly getaway
A coastal retreat in England is being championed as the ultimate dog-friendly haven, particularly during quieter seasons.
The North Cornwall seaside town of Newquay consistently ranks amongst Britain’s most beautiful locations and is often dubbed the ‘nation’s favourite seaside holiday’, reports Cornwall Live.
Newquay offers a wealth of family entertainment, with multiple beaches in this lively coastal resort accommodating four-legged guests.
The shores are noticeably more peaceful at this time of year, ideal for lengthy walks, unrestricted play, and a well-deserved break without worrying about your beloved pets disappearing into throngs of people.
Outside the peak summer season, restrictions on dogs at popular beaches like Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay – half a mile and two miles from Newquay town centre respectively – are relaxed, before returning to the usual 10am to 6pm ban typically in place from May to September when tourists flock to the area.
During these busier months, dogs must be kept on leads.
Throughout the year, dog-friendly beaches in Newquay include Crantock Beach, Little Fistral, Harbour Beach, Towan Beach, Lusty Glaze, and Whipsiderry Beach.
Pet owners can take a leisurely walk along the River Gannel while their four-legged companions paddle in the shallow waters of the tidal estuary.
The town offers plenty of scenic walks, as well as dog-welcoming pubs, bars and eateries, so your furry family members can join you for meals rather than being left at home.
Notable pet-friendly venues include the Fistral Boardmasters Beach Bar and The Fistral Stable, both conveniently located directly on Fistral Beach.
Cornwall has the longest coastline in the UK, surrounded by sea on three sides, and is rich in Arthurian legend and Celtic folklore, making it a perfect destination for history buffs and lovers of ancient mythology.
Sarah explains: “Arthurian legend is one of the fascinating parts of British folklore, and with so many of the locations in the tales being outdoors, there’s no shortage of dog-friendly walks that allow dog owners to immerse themselves in the legends.”
The picturesque village boasts 1,000 years of rich history, stunning churches and marvellous buildings, as well as a legendary haunted pub.
It’s paradise for history buffs and fans of medieval architecture(Image: Getty Images)
A picturesque Lancashire village renowned for its medieval heritage, stunning landscapes, and a celebrated pub with a spooky history is being praised as essential viewing by visitors.
Nestled between Ribble Valley and the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), this charming hamlet offers the perfect peaceful retreat, particularly for those passionate about history.
With origins stretching back at least 1,000 years, the serene village of Chipping features in the Domesday Book as Chippenden; the name stems from ‘Chepyn’ meaning ‘market place’.
The settlement experienced significant wealth in bygone eras, flourishing throughout the Industrial Revolution, when seven mills operated along Chipping Brook’s banks.
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Lancashire is known for its wide open skies, stunning landscapes and lively coastal resorts. Sykes Cottages has a wide range of self catering accommodation across the county from £42 a night.
Chipping possesses a fascinating and layered past, with its period buildings ranking among the village’s premier attractions.
Wandering through this delightful village feels remarkably like travelling back in time, with the scenic hamlet radiating an unmistakably medieval yet captivating atmosphere, reports Lancs Live.
Indeed, numerous stone cottages throughout the village date back to the 1600s and 1700s, enhancing its historical appeal.
St Bartholomew’s Church
The village of Chipping houses the 13th-century St Bartholomew’s Church, an active Anglican church with Grade II Listed status, positioned at the village centre and partially restored in 1505, 1706, and throughout the 19th Century.
St Bartholomew’s Church boasts an ancient yew tree within its grounds – a magnificent landmark renowned throughout the county – thought to be more than a century old.
A sundial from 1708 can also be discovered in the churchyard on the southern side of the main structure.
Open for private prayer daily between 10am and 3.30pm, this beautiful church has occupied its present site for more than 500 years and forms an integral part of Chipping’s medieval heritage.
St Mary’s Church
After the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, publicly practising Catholicism became unlawful, yet several local landowners who stayed Catholic proceeded to create a handful of worship centres on their properties.
One was in Chipping, founded by the Welds of Leagram Hall.
In 1827, George Weld donated funds and land to build the openly Catholic St Mary’s Church in Chipping village, just before Catholic Emancipation in 1829.
He also constructed an adjoining priest’s house and a school (now serving as a parish hall) around the same period, which remain standing as the buildings we observe in the village today.
Other medieval attractions
Another medieval site in Lancashire’s Chipping is Hesketh End on Judd Holmes Lane – a Grade I Listed Building originating from 1591 and the early 17th century, which underwent restoration in 1907.
The Grade II Listed Woolfen Hall, potentially dating back to the 16th century and nestled at the base of nearby Parlick Hill, is a must-see when visiting Chipping.
The village boasts two incredibly popular pubs: The Sun Inn, a welcoming yet infamously legendary 17th-century pub, sits unassumingly on the corner of Chipping’s main street, proudly displaying its rich history of spectral tales.
Chipping’s other well-loved watering hole is The Tillotson’s Arms on Talbot Street. Constructed around 1836 and historically known as the Buck Inn, it has since been renamed to The Tilly’s.
As it ended, a picture of Jonathan Clough was displayed on screen, along with the words: “In memory of Jonathan Clough” and the dates 1989 to 2025.
The producer had been diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma in 2024, at the age of 35.
A fundraising campaign had been established to support Jonathan, whose TV also credits included Strictly Come Dancing and The Apprentice, in accessing specialist treatment. Actor Sam Swainsbury established the GoFundMe campaign following an appeal launched by the family.
The producer and his partner, Tracy Martin, both had to leave their careers and relocate with their two young children from London to Wigan to stay with her parents following his diagnosis.
Writing on the GoFundMe page, Tracy explained how their lives had changed after Jonathan suddenly collapsed due to a seizure in March 2024.
She wrote: “Two months after that, the results of an MRI brought our world crashing down. Our brilliant Jonathan, at only 35 years old, was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma — an extremely aggressive and incurable brain cancer.”
Jonathan underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but subsequent scans disclosed a regrowth that doctors deemed inoperable.
In January, Sam posted a message on Instagram saying that Jonathan had died on Boxing Day.
“He saw his daughter’s first day at school,” he said. “He then made it to her first play. He then made it to Christmas. He then sadly passed on Boxing Day. He fought for every last second. He exceeded all expectations. He was extraordinary.”
“I don’t have many more words than that,” he said. “I still can’t believe it.”
Former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton was among those to pay tribute to Jonathan, who was a producer on the BBC ballroom show from 2017 to 2019.
Sharing photos of Jonathan on social media, he wrote: “An amazing friend, an amazing man, an amazing father and a heck of a fighter for his amazing family. I will miss you forever [heartbroken emoji].”
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Sean McVay and the Rams schemed against Kliff Kingsbury when he coached the Arizona Cardinals.
Now, after parting ways with the Washington Commanders, Kingsbury will join McVay’s staff, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday. The person requested anonymity because Kingsbury’s role has not been announced.
Kingsbury, 46, coached the Cardinals from 2019 to 2022 and was the Commanders’ offensive coordinator for the last three seasons. The Commanders advanced to the NFC championship game in 2024 but finished 5-12 last season.
With Mike LaFleur now the Cardinals’ head coach, the offensive coordinator position on McVay’s staff is open. Pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase interviewed with several teams for head coaching positions and is regarded as the favorite to become the offensive coordinator. Quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone has experience as offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.
“We’ve got some really good coaches in-house that we’re going to continue to develop,” McVay told reporters on Monday. “I think it is thorough and it’s the right and the reasonable approach to be able to really have a wide-ranging search while full-well knowing that I’ve got more than capable guys that could step up and do a phenomenal job.”
Washington wants Beijing to join a new nuclear weapons treaty after expiration of the New START accord between the US and Russia.
Published On 7 Feb 20267 Feb 2026
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An international monitor said it has seen no evidence to support the claim by a senior United States official who accused China of carrying out a series of clandestine nuclear tests in 2020 and concealing activities that violated nuclear test ban treaties.
US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno made the assertions about China at a United Nations disarmament conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, just days after a nuclear treaty with Russia expired.
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“I can reveal that the US government is aware that China has conducted nuclear explosive tests, including preparing for tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tonnes,” DiNanno said at the conference.
China’s military “sought to conceal testing by obfuscating the nuclear explosions because it recognised these tests violate test ban commitments,” he said.
“China conducted one such yield-producing nuclear test on June 22 of 2020,” he said.
DiNanno also made his allegations on social media in a series of posts, making the case for “new architecture” in nuclear weapons control agreements following the expiration of the New START treaty with Russia this week.
“New START was signed in 2010 and its limits on warheads and launchers are no longer relevant in 2026 when one nuclear power is expanding its arsenal at a scale and pace not seen in over half a century and another continues to maintain and develop a vast range of nuclear systems unconstrained by New START’s terms,” he said.
Robert Floyd, executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, said in a statement on Friday that the body’s monitoring system “did not detect any event consistent with the characteristics of a nuclear weapon test explosion” at the time of the alleged Chinese test, adding that that assessment remains unchanged after further detailed analyses.
China’s ambassador on nuclear disarmament, Shen Jian, did not directly address DiNanno’s charge at the conference but said Beijing had always acted prudently and responsibly on nuclear issues while the US had “continued to distort and smear China’s national defence capabilities in its statements”.
“We firmly oppose this false narrative and reject the US’s unfounded accusations,” Shen said.
“In fact, the US’s series of negative actions in the field of nuclear arms control are the biggest source of risk to international security,” he said.
Later on social media, Shen said, “China has always honored its commitment to the moratorium on nuclear testing”.
Diplomats at the conference said the US allegations were new and concerning.
China, like the US, has signed but not ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans explosive nuclear tests. Russia signed and ratified it, but withdrew its ratification in 2023.
US President Donald Trump has previously instructed the US military to prepare for the resumption of nuclear tests, stating that other countries are conducting them without offering details.
The US president said on October 31 that Washington would start testing nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with Moscow and Beijing, but without elaborating or explaining what kind of nuclear testing he wanted to resume.
He has also said that he would like China to be involved in any future nuclear treaty, but authorities in Beijing have shown little interest in his proposal.
Harassment claims were made against the peer in 2013, but in 2014 a barrister appointed by the party to investigate the allegations concluded that whilst the accounts of the four women were “broadly credible,” they could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
After the huge response from its storehouse experience in Dublin, Guinness has opened its doors to a new brewery in the heart of London, but it has rubbed many people the wrong way
Rory Gannon Showbiz Journalist
04:00, 07 Feb 2026
(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Guinness has thrown the doors open to its newest brewery in the heart of London, but it seems that no one seems to like it.
The Guinness company has been seeing a meteoric rise in popularity as millions of people flock to Dublin for the Guinness Storehouse Experience. And with more and more people learning about the Guinness family thanks to the Netflix smash House of Guinness, the company has decided to expand its operations.
Back in December, Guinness opted to open a new site in central London to cater to the huge market here in the UK. But after King Charles paid a visit to the Open Gate Brewery just days after the business opened, the general public has been less than impressed with what is on offer.
Influencer James Dimitri took to his TikTok account @jamesdimitritieats after he paid a visit to the brewery in London’s Covent Garden. However, he was left unimpressed by the prices for pints. Uploading a review of the tour, James revealed he spent a total of £7.20 for one pint of Guinness. Things only got worse for him when it was revealed there was no heated seating area, meaning he had to drink the drink in the “freezing cold”, an experience he said was “not for him”.
Filming his experience at the bar, James admitted he was a big fan of Guinness but could not think to part with so much money for the sake of a trend. “I’ve been drinking Guinness for 20 years, but I hate what it’s become,” he explained. “All this splitting the G s***, and the merch which is now up there with Superdry as the uniform for beige guys,” he fumed. “No personality? Get some Guinness merch and start splitting the G.”
While he did not enjoy the atmosphere of the brewery — or lack thereof — he did admit that the quality of the pint he had was good. He said there was a good “domage”, and the pint was separated well, with a good level of head for the cost. I don’t want to drink here,” he explained, “Especially at these prices. I’d much rather be in a proper boozer with good atmosphere.”
Viewers were also quick to share their own experiences in the comments section, saying they were not happy with the new brewery now dominating in Covent Garden. “This is sad to see,” one social media user wrote. “Charge £6, get some proper seating, open fires and blankets out there, make it a fun place to hang with a group and off you go. Tourist trap unfortunately.”
A second added: “Also went just for a pint (didn’t get one cause of seating) and honestly disappointed by the tap selection too.” Whilst a third wrote: “I saw what the pints looked like before deciding to go elsewhere.”
However, not everyone was as willing to shout the brewery down, with some explaining this is what was expected for paying for a drink in central London. “£7.20 is reasonable for a Guinness tourist trap,” wrote one user.
“Middle of Covent Garden? How much you paying for a pint?” asked another.
The Guinness Open Gate Brewery has been contacted for comment.
The Coronation Street star will fly back to the UK for further tests this weekend
(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street legend Beverley Callard reveals she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Callard, best known for her role as Liz McDonald, said she is in the “early stages” and will be going ahead with further treatment before returning to the screen.
The actress is soon to join the Irish soap Fair City as a new character named Lily, long-lost mother of existing character Gwen Connolly. She found out the news just 20 minutes before having to film one of her first scenes.
She told RTE’s Late Late Show on Friday: “I’ve had some tests just before I left the UK, and literally, 15, 20 minutes before I was in my dressing room at Fair City, getting ready to go on, and I was quite nervous and thinking, ‘I hope everybody thinks I’m all right’, whatever.
“And my consultant rang me and said, ‘you’ve got to come back to the UK’ I said, ‘Well, I can’t possibly, I’ve just taken a new job’. I said ‘I’m away for a month’, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“But I’m fine, I’m absolutely fine. My head was a bit mashed for the first few days. It’s very early stages, and I’m along with thousands of other women as well.
“It’s early stages, I travel back to the UK tomorrow, just for a couple of weeks, they’re going to test lymph nodes and lymph glands and all that. But then I need an operation and some radiotherapy, and then I’m coming back to Fair City, so I will be back in just a few weeks.”
She added: “I just thought, the world is full of strong, feisty women and I love strong, feisty women, and I just thought, rather than read about it in a newspaper and it all be distorted and everything else, I just said it, so that’s it.”
Callard and her husband are set to move to Co Wicklow as she is filming the soap. After acting in Corrie from 1989 to 2020, Callard said she was looking forward to her first appearance on Irish soap Fair City, which will hit the screen on February 19.
The Olympics are back, wearing their warm Winter Games gear. Although there were will be a couple of weeks of sports competitions to come, none are possible without an opening ceremony, a combination of solemn official protocol with a fantastic representation of the host country’s culture and character, evoking the Olympic spirit itself. There are few opportunities to mount an entertainment of this scale — not even a Super Bowl halftime show can compare.
This year we are in Italy, for the bi-metropolitan Milan-Cortina games, held in the city’s San Siro Stadium and in the north where the mountains are. The ceremonies, too, were split geographically, with Olympic cauldrons in both cities, with the athletes’ parade further shared with Livigno and Predazzo, national delegations divided according to where their events would be held.
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1.Human bobbleheads of Italian composers Rossini, left, Puccini and Verdi.(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)2.Dancers on stage in San Siro Stadium.(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The main business took place in the arena. Directed by Marco Balich, who specializes in big shows, it was elegant, in a sleek, clean-lined Italian way, and over the top, also in an Italian way. Color played a great part, the program beginning in white (a balletic interpretation of Antonio Canova’s sculpture “Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss”), moving to to black and white (a nod to Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” and its paparazzi), and then to a riot of color, as giant floating tubes of paint sent streams of colored fabric stageward.) There were dancing human bobbleheads of opera composers Verdi, Puccini and Rossini, as if they were mascots for Team Rigoletto, Team Tosca and Team William Tell. There were dancing gladiators and moka pots, a phalanx of runway models dressed (in Armani) in green, white and red, to represent the Italian flag.
In white and shiny silver, with an ostrich feather boa and a reported $15 million worth of diamond jewelry, there was a statuesque, statue-still Mariah Carey, who is not Italian, but sang in Italian, the standard “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” known here as “Volare,” which merged into her own “Nothing Is Impossible.” (She must by now be accounted a citizen of the world.) Why did I find this so moving? I am not someone who ordinarily cares anything about Carey, but she was marvelous in this context.
Mariah Carey performed the Italian tune “Volare,” before leading into “Nothing Is Impossible.”
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The parade of nations is also a fashion show; for whatever reason, the cold weather gear is generally better looking than the togs of summer. (As usual, Ralph Lauren designed the American outfits — white puffy jacket with knit caps of a Scandinavian pattern.) As ever, the countries arrived alphabetically (apart from Greece, who always gets to march first; Italy, coming in last as the host country; France, in penultimate position as the host of the next Winter Games; and the U.S., third to last as the host of the games, in 2034, after that). It makes neighbors of Lebanon, Lichtenstein and Lithuania, and so on, equal in standing if not in size. (I have a special fondness for the small delegations from the less imposing nations.) There was an especially big hand for the Ukrainian team, dressed in their national colors.
The second half opened with a cartoon in which an animated Sabrina Impacciatore (of “The White Lotus” and, “The Paper,” which NBC happily did not cross-promote), traveled backward through previous Winter Games before coming to life to lead an energetic production number that traveled back to now. (She should get some sort of athletic medal for this performance.) The Chinese pianist Lang Lang accompanied Cecilia Bartoli singing the Olympic anthem, and the great Andrea Bocelli, flanked by strings, offered a thrilling reading of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma.” Surrounded by dancers, the Italian rapper Ghali read an antiwar poem by Gianni Rodari.
Sabrina Impacciatore leading a group of dancers during the ceremony.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The theme of the evening, and of evenings going forward, it is hoped, was “Armonia,” or harmony, not just between the city and the country (expressed symbolically through dance), but, as a series of speeches made clear, among everybody, everywhere.
“At a time when so much of the world is divided by conflict, your very presence demonstrates that another world is possible. One of unity, respect and harmony,” said Giovanni Malagò, president of the organizing committee, addressing the athletes. Kirsty Coventry, the first female president of the IOC, noted that while Olympic athletes are fierce competitors, they “also respect, support and inspire one another. They remind us that we are all connected, that our strength comes from how we treat each other, and that the best of humanity is found in courage, compassion and kindness.”
And then there was Charlize Theron, of all people, quoting her countryman Nelson Mandela: “Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference,” This is, of course, exactly what some portion of this nation would call “woke,” and though such divisions are not the exclusive province of the United States, it was easy enough to read this as a message delivered to the White House.
Charlize Theron quoted her fellow countryman Nelson Mandela in her speech.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Finally, two Olympic torches were lit two Olympic cauldrons, in Milan and Cortina, their flames at the center of shape-shifting spheres. Almost inevitably, the ceremonies flirted with, or embraced, corniness at times, but even (or especially) when it was corny, it was terrifically affecting. I ran through half a dozen handkerchiefs over the course of the proceedings. Admittedly, I might be unusually susceptible to these things, but I doubt I’m the only one.
Authorities say that steps are being taken to contain the virus and that risk of a global spread of the virus remains low.
Published On 7 Feb 20267 Feb 2026
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that a patient in Bangladesh died after contracting the Nipah virus, adding that it believes the risk of the disease spreading internationally still remains low.
The WHO said on Friday that a patient died after being admitted to hospital on January 28, where a team collected throat swabs and blood samples. Infection with the virus was laboratory-confirmed the following day.
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“On 3 February 2026, the International Health Regulations National Focal Point (IHR NFP) for Bangladesh notified WHO of one confirmed case of Nipah virus (NiV) infection in Rajshahi Division,” the international health organisation said in a statement.
The announcement comes about a week after two cases were confirmed in West Bengal state in eastern India, as authorities work to contain the deadly virus that they say remains largely under control.
An outbreak of the Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal has heightened concerns in China and several Southeast Asian nations, prompting tighter health screening operations at airports, though the WHO said it does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions based on current information.
“WHO assesses the overall public health risk posed by NiV to be low at the national, the regional and global level,” an assessment reads.
“The risk of international disease spread is considered low,” it said.
The WHO said that the patient in Bangladesh, described as a female between the ages of 40 and 50 residing in the Naogaon district, first began experiencing fever and neurological symptoms on January 21. The patient reported no travel history but had recently consumed raw date palm sap.
An additional 35 contact persons have been tested for the virus, with no further cases yet detected.
About 348 Nipah virus cases have been reported in Bangladesh since 2001, about half of which occurred among people with a confirmed history of drinking raw palm sap.
Outbreaks tend to occur on a seasonal basis from the months of December through April, which the WHO says corresponds with the harvest and consumption of date palm sap.
There are currently no licensed medicines or vaccines specific for the infection, and the fatality rate is reported to be high, between 40 percent and 75 percent, among people infected with the virus, according to reports.
In a statement last week, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called Nipah a “rare but serious disease” that authorities are working to counter.
“Authorities have increased disease surveillance and testing, implemented prevention and control measures in health care settings, and are keeping the public informed about how to protect themselves,” Ghebreyesus said.
Saab with Maduro and Rodríguez during a government event in December 2025. (EFE)
Caracas, February 6, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Luigi Giuliano, attorney for former Venezuelan diplomat and Industry Minister Alex Saab, has denied reports that his client was arrested in Caracas on Wednesday.
“It is simply not true that he has been arrested,” Giuliano told Reuters, adding that Saab hoped to meet with Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez “for clarification.”
Colombian outlet Caracol claimed on Wednesday afternoon that Saab and prominent Venezuelan businessman Raúl Gorrín had been detained by Venezuela’s intelligence agency, the SEBIN.
An anonymous US official confirmed the arrest to Reuters, while other sources alleged that Saab and Gorrín were brought in for questioning concerning US money laundering charges as part of law enforcement cooperation between Caracas and Washington.
The two countries have expedited diplomatic rapprochement in the wake of the US’ January 3 bombings and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump White House has sought to coerce the Rodríguez acting administration, including by administering Venezuelan crude exports.
Venezuelan officials have yet to issue any official statement concerning the two high-profile figures, whose whereabouts are presently unknown.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez stated on Wednesday that he had no information about the case. On Thursday, Attorney General Tarek William Saab initially denied the arrest reports before stating instead that he had no knowledge of the matter.
Alex Saab and Gorrín have made no public statements since Wednesday. Saab’s wife, Camilla Fabbri, who heads the government’s “Return to the Homeland” repatriation program, posted on social media about the arrival of a deportation flight from the US on Friday, but offered no comment on her husband’s rumored arrest.
A Colombian-born businessman, Saab became a key ally and diplomatic envoy of the Maduro government for his role in securing imports amid US sanctions. He was arrested in 2020 on US orders during a stop in Cape Verde and was extradited to the US following a long legal battle.
Venezuelan authorities, alongside lawyers and activists, launched a sustained campaign to denounce Saab’s arrest in violation of his diplomatic immunity and demand his release. He spent more than three years in prison, facing money laundering conspiracy charges, before Caracas secured his freedom as part of a prisoner exchange deal with the Biden administration in December 2023.
Saab was appointed industry minister by Maduro in October 2024 and was replaced by Luis Villegas in January under the acting Rodríguez administration.
For his part, Gorrín has been blacklisted by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and charged by the US Justice Department with corruption and money laundering.
Gorrín is the owner of La Vitalicia insurance and the private TV broadcaster Globovisión.
Your annual TV Licence payment generally covers four key factors related to watching, recording, and downloading content
The price of a TV Licence increased last year (stock image)(Image: Newton Daly via Getty Images)
The price of a TV Licence rose for many in 2025, with the Government increasing the price to £174.50 last April. This annual payment is generally mandatory for any households or businesses that watch live TV or access BBCiPlayer.
However, you may be wondering what rules apply to people who exclusively watch DVDs or play games on their TV. Guidance on this matter is summarised on the official TV Licensing website, along with the answers to other frequently asked questions.
“You don’t need a TV Licence if you only use your TV for gaming or DVDs,” the website explains. “That’s as long as you never watch TV channels on any TV service, watch live TV on streaming services, or use BBC iPlayer.”
Two years ago, the Secretary of State announced a 2.9% increase in the licence fee, starting from April 1, 2025, in line with the annual CPI inflation. This resulted in a daily rise of just over 1p, and is only the second fee increase since April 1, 2021.
While standard coloured licences now cost £174.50 annually, black-and-white licences cost £58.50 per year. Future licence fee increases will be tied to CPI inflation over the next four years, ending in 2027. From April 2026, the fee will increase again by £5.50 to £180.
Official TV licensing guidance adds: “You could be prosecuted if we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally. The maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay.”
Certain people are eligible for discounted TV Licences, provided they meet specific criteria. Older adults claiming Pension Credit may also qualify for a completely free TV Licence if they are over 75 and/or living with a partner who receives the benefit.
Pension Credit is different to the State Pension. Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age on a low income, boosting weekly income to £227.10 if you’re single or £346.60 with a partner.
Those claiming Pension Credit can apply for a free TV Licence when they turn 74, but will still need to pay until the end of the month before their 75th birthday. After this point, they will be covered by the free licence.
This covers watching, recording, and downloading on any device.
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Luka Doncic was diagnosed with a strained left hamstring and listed as out for the Lakers’ game against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers have not indicated a timetable for Doncic’s return.
Doncic was injured late in the second quarter of the Lakers’ win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. He threw a pass to Maxi Kleber that was a turnover, turned to run back on defense and immediately grabbed his left hamstring.
Doncic went up and down the court a couple of times but was unable to play any longer. The Lakers called a timeout, and Doncic headed to the locker room and did not return.
After the game, Doncic was limping down the hallway. Coach JJ Redick said Doncic would undergo an MRI exam Friday.
Doncic leads the NBA in scoring (33.4) and is second in assists (8.7). He’s missed eight of the Lakers’ 42 games because of injuries and the birth of his daughter, and they’re 4-4 without him.
“We need him,” guard Austin Reaves said after the game. “He’s our best player and the engine of a lot of the stuff that we do. Yeah, so, hopefully we get good news.”
Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae and Supreme Council member Lee Eon-ju appear serious during a party leadership meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 6. Photo by Asia Today
Feb. 6 (Asia Today) — Jung Cheong-rae, leader of South Korea’s Democratic Party of Korea, said Thursday he has asked for a full caucus meeting to address controversy over a possible merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party, as senior lawmakers warned the debate is fueling internal divisions.
Jung met with third-term lawmakers at the National Assembly and said he requested the party’s floor leader to convene an all-member meeting as soon as possible. He described the talks as a listening process aimed at gauging whether a merger could aid the party ahead of local elections.
“We are at a critical juncture,” Jung said, adding that the proposal was made to explore any potential electoral benefit and to gather views through intensive discussion.
Senior lawmakers pushed back, calling on party leaders to bring the issue to a swift conclusion. Rep. So Byeong-hoon, who heads the group of third-term members, said the merger debate has become a “black hole” consuming the party’s agenda.
“Prolonging this controversy does not help the party,” So said, urging Jung and the party’s supreme council to resolve the matter promptly and ease concerns among voters and party members.
Rep. Wi Seong-gon, the group’s secretary, echoed the call for decisive leadership, saying swift decision-making is needed to prevent further internal strife.
Lawmakers also sought to defuse controversy over a leaked document outlining a potential merger roadmap, describing it as a routine internal working paper rather than a leadership directive. Wi said preparing such documents is part of normal party operations, while So cautioned against linking routine materials to the party leadership.
The Democratic Party leadership is expected to discuss the seniors’ demands at an upcoming supreme council meeting this weekend.
The town’s position in the top spot comes at the expense of the well-heeled Cheltenham down in Gloucestershire, in second place, and Ipswich in Suffolk in third, and Rochdale, Greater Manchester in fourth
Blackpool has a lot to offer(Image: Manchester Evening News)
A North West town has been crowned the best the country has to offer.
It’s fair to say that Liverpool and Manchester steal the bulk of the limelight when it comes to settlements in the 9 to 12 o’clock quadrant of England, and for good reason. But when it comes to the best large towns (crucially, not cities) in not just the North West, but the country at large, there is only one winner.
“The town evolved out of an unplanned sell-off of land by various lords of the manor, and was destined to be chaotic. The Golden Mile and Pleasure Beach are latter-day versions of the free-for-all fête that once took over the strand,” writes Chris Moss on his number one pick.
“As the new Showtown museum reveals, the modern seaside mass-market holiday was invented here, as was much of the light entertainment and comedy that dominated the small screen for decades. You can eat well (the Wok Inn is superb), drink well and party well here but neither the prom in a gale nor the back streets after dark are for the faint-hearted. It’s a UK one-off. An obligatory stop once every decade if you want to know your nation and yourself.”
Do you agree with the rankings? Let us know in the comments below or by emailing webtravel@reachplc.com
Chris’s choice is, of course, Blackpool. He scored the iconic Lancashire seaside resort 9.5/10 in an article that looked at possible contenders for the 2028 UK Town of Culture, following Bradford’s successful run in 2025.
Blackpool’s position in the top spot comes at the expense of the well-heeled Cheltenham down in Gloucestershire, in second place, and Ipswich in Suffolk in third, and Rochdale, Greater Manchester in fourth.
Those who live in and love Blackpool, or who have spent summer days in the seaside resort, will need no reminding why the town of 141,000 deserves the top spot. But for those who have yet to make it to the Las Vegas of North England, here is a brief rundown of its history, what it offers now, and why, arguably, its number one ranking is a bit of a surprise.
The history
Until the mid-eighteenth century, Blackpool was a tiny, largely overlooked hamlet that sat on the Irish Sea. It would only become a fashionable destination later in the 1700s, when visitors began heading there to dip in the sea – something few considered a pleasant pastime prior to this wellness kick.
Several hotels popped up to cater to the increase in visitor numbers by 1781, before the railway reached the town in 1846. Throughout the nineteenth century, Blackpool grew in size from a small town to a major seaside resort as trainloads of sunseekers bused in to enjoy the sea air. Its three piers and many of the current attractions, such as the Blackpool Tower, would open by the end of the century.
By the middle of the twentieth century, the population of Blackpool reached 147,000, considerably higher than it is today.
What to do
Since the coronavirus pandemic, when domestic holidays enjoyed a real boost in the UK, Blackpool has been thriving. The figures for 2023 show the seaside resort attracted 21.5m tourists – a 6% increase compared to 2022 when the total was 20.3m. The annual STEAM report showed the number of full-time tourism and hospitality jobs supported in Blackpool has grown to 23,419 – a 5.3% rise on the previous year.
It’s clear to see why. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Tower, SEALIFE Blackpool and the Blackpool Illuminations remain major attractions that draw in huge numbers each year.
The town is also known for its nightlife and as an increasingly popular hen and stag do destination, thanks to excellent pubs such as the Cask and Tap, Rhythm and Brew Room, and Shickers Tavern, and the fact that it’s still possible to get a decent round for £20, with change to spare.
A bit of a surprise
For all of its charms, Blackpool has some difficulties. Since the rise of the low-cost foreign holidays in the late 20th century, the North West jewel has been shining a little less as it struggles to compete with the sun and sand on offer on the Continent.
Blackpool faces significant, entrenched socioeconomic struggles, and consistently ranks as one of the most deprived local authorities in England. It has high rates of poverty, unemployment, and poor health outcomes. The town also deals with a seasonal, low-wage economy, poor housing, and high crime rates.
Before it was removed, Derrick Johnson, the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP, called the video “disgusting and utterly despicable” and accused Trump of attempting to distract the public from the Epstein case and a “rapidly failing economy.”
Kylie Jenner nearly spilled out of her plunging top while doing her makeup behind the wheel of her car in a new video.
The Kardashians star shared a video of herself applying her “Lip Combo of the Day” with Kylie Cosmetics products in an extremely low-cut tank.
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Kylie Jenner nearly busted out of her plunging top in a new Instagram videoCredit: Instagram/kyliejennerKylie filmed herself applying a lip kit combo in the racy outfitCredit: Instagram/kyliejenner
In the Instagram clip, Kylie, 28, filmed herself in the driver’s seat wearing a skintight, dark gray crop top.
The shirt barely covered the reality star’s enlarged breasts as a result of a boob job she received eight years ago.
She finished the look with straight black hair, full makeup, and diamond stud earrings.
Kylie said she was recording in her driveway because she had just gotten home from an appointment.
During the video, the beauty mogul was visited by her son Aire, who turned 4 on Monday and made funny faces at the camera while sitting on her lap.
After letting Aire run inside for a snack, Kylie continued her makeup demo in the car’s vanity mirror.
At the end, Kylie puckered her pout to show off the shiny pink combo and rosy cheeks after applying her “favorite” pink blush.
Earlier this week, the mom of two showcased her breasts in a see-through, strapless dress with pomegranate seeds covering the bust.
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Kylie wore the ensemble in a photoshoot to promote her new pomegranate lip butter.
Fans couldn’t help but praise the star’s looks in the Instagram post’s comments.
They weren’t the only ones who’ve had something to say about the influencer’s boob size.
Kylie’s ex, Travis Scott, 34, referenced her breasts in his new track, Rosary, from his album Don Toliver, released January 30th.
“Forty-four five C, the way they sit, I need to test,” Travis rapped, which fans linked to Kylie’s implants after she bragged about them in June 2025 on TikTok.
Travis is the father of Kylie’s son, Aire, and older daughter, Stormi, who turned 7 on Monday.
Fans long suspected Kylie had a breast augmentation, but she confirmed it in 2023 while talking to her BFF Stassie Karanikolaou on The Kardashians.
The TV personality admitted that she regretted getting the procedure before having children and wished she’d waited until later.
Kylie and Travis parted ways in January 2023, and she’s now dating Marty Supreme actor Timothée Chalamet, 30.
The couple has been linked since spring 2023, and Kylie has supported him at multiple red carpet events.
Kylie recorded the video while sitting in her car in her drivewayCredit: Instagram/kyliejennerThe reality star confirmed in 2023 that she’d underwent a breast augmentationCredit: Instagram/KylieJennerAt the time, Kylie admitted that she regretted not waiting until after she had kids to get the procedureCredit: Instagram/KylieJenner
