Joe Ely, Texas country-rock legend and collaborator with the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, dead at 78
Joe Ely, a singer-songwriter and foundational figure in Texas’ progressive country-rock scene, has died. He was 78.
According to a statement from his representatives, Ely died Dec. 15 at home in New Mexico, from complications of Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease and pneumonia.
Ely had an expansive vision for country and rock, heard on singles like “All My Love,” “Honky Tonk Masquerade,” “Hard Livin’,” “Dallas” and “Fingernails.” Born in 1947 in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock before moving to Austin and kicking off a new era of country music in the region, one that reflected both punk and the heartland rock of the era back into the roughhousing country scenes they came from.
After founding the influential band the Flatlanders with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock (which dissolved soon after recording its 1972 debut), he began a solo career in 1977. He released several acclaimed albums, including 1978’s ambitiously rambling “Honky Tonk Masquerade,” before finding his popular peak on 1980’s harder-rocking “Live Shots” and 1981’s “Musta Notta Gotta Lotta.”
Ely, beloved for barroom poetry that punctured country music’s mythmaking, was a ready collaborator across genres. He befriended the Clash on a tour of London and sat in on the band’s sessions recording their epochal “London Calling” LP. He later toured extensively with the group, singing backup on “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” and earning a lyrical tribute on “If Music Could Talk” — ”Well there ain’t no better blend than Joe Ely and his Texas men.”
Ely was a favorite opener for veteran rock acts looking to imbue sets with Texas country swagger. He performed with the Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Bruce Springsteen, who later sang with him on “Odds of the Blues” in 2024. Springsteen once said of Ely: “Thank God he wasn’t born in New Jersey. I would have had a lot more of my work cut out for me.”
In the ‘90, Ely joined a supergroup, the Buzzin Cousins, with John Mellencamp, Dwight Yoakam, John Prine and James McMurtry, to record for Mellencamp’s film “Falling From Grace.” Robert Redford later asked Ely to compose material for his film “The Horse Whisperer,” which led to collaborations with his old Flatlanders bandmates and a reunion in the 2000s. He also acted in in the musical “Chippy: Diaries of a West Texas Hooker” at Lincoln Center in New York City and joined the Tex-Mex collective Los Super Seven — he shared in the band’s Grammy for Mexican-American/Tejano Music Performance in 1999, his only such award.
Ely was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022 and released his last album, “Love and Freedom,” in February.
Newsletter: Essential Politics: Serious questions for Brett Kavanaugh; a bold promise by Jerry Brown
Get ready for what could be a consequential week in the effort by President Trump to get Judge Brett Kavanaugh confirmed to the United States Supreme Court.
Simply put: Does an allegation from the jurist’s high school days carry enough weight to sully — or perhaps derail — his nomination? Will the woman who has made the accusation bring her story to Washington?
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FROM CALIFORNIA, AN ACCUSER STEPS FORWARD
On Sunday, a Palo Alto psychologist said she was the one who wrote the letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein alleging sexual assault by Kavanaugh when they were both teenagers.
Christine Blasey Ford came forward in a Washington Post interview published on Sunday, accusing Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a party when they were in high school.
Kavanaugh has denied the accusation. But within hours, the story seemed to sharply change the dynamics of the nomination. A handful of Republicans said they wanted to hear more before the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Kavanaugh, and the topic could spark a major battle less than two months before the midterm elections.
‘OUR OWN DAMN SATELLITE’
Climate change and a devastating storm both made political news over the past few days.
On climate, few dominated last week’s Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco like Gov. Jerry Brown, the event’s co-host.
Brown spent most of the three-day event behind the scenes, and a private meeting with the veteran Democrat was one of the hottest tickets in town.
“He’s very good at drawing people together,” said Nicholas Stern, a climate change professor at the London School of Economics. “People want to talk to him because he’s so interesting to talk to.”
When Brown did emerge on stage on Friday, he made a bold promise about what California would do next in the face of climate inaction by the Trump administration.
“We’re going to launch our own satellite, our own damn satellite, to figure out where the pollution is and how are we going to end it,” Brown roared from the main stage to applause.
(For keen political observers yes, this seems to bring Brown full circle. In the 1970s, he famously pledged to launch a satellite and earned the nickname “Governor Moonbeam” from a Chicago columnist as a result.)
FLORENCE HITS, TRUMP TALKS ABOUT MARIA
As the Carolinas braced for yet more rain from the massive but slow-moving Florence — downgraded from hurricane to tropical depression — the president seemed to rattle many by insisting the death count in Puerto Rico resulting from last year’s Hurricane Maria had been inflated.
The barrage of angry tweets guarantees that his handling of the current storm, which is still battering North and South Carolina, will be under the microscope.
On Sunday, his top emergency management official seemed to fall in line with that assertion — one that stands in sharp contrast to academic reports and those of Puerto Rico’s own officials.
“You might see more deaths indirectly as time goes on,” FEMA Director Brock Long said on “Meet the Press.”
NATIONAL LIGHTNING ROUND
— A landmark law enacted 24 years ago to govern investigations and prosecutions of violent crimes against women is set to expire this month, and Congress has little time to rush to its rescue.
— Immigration. Technology. Trump. A lot has changed in small-town America. One Iowa town drew the line at its movie theater.
DECISION CALIFORNIA
With election day now only about seven weeks away, we’re going to routinely highlight the important role California is playing in this midterm election. In particular, the state is home to a handful of battleground races for the House of Representatives that could affect the outcome of which party is in power come January.
Look for updates in our newsletters and on our Decision California page online.
— Congressional Republicans are launching another tax-cut push this week. And in California, it could further inflame debate about the controversial new $10,000 limit on deductions for state and local tax payments that hits many residents hard.
— If a blue wave of Democrats sweeps across California congressional races this fall, it could be strengthened by what voters did in 2010 — taking the process of drawing districts away from politicians and giving it to an independent commission.
— Columnist Robin Abcarian hits the campaign trail with the Latino Arab American candidate trying to oust Rep. Duncan Hunter.
POLITICAL ROAD MAP: HOW WE GOT PROPOSITION 11
When voters open their ballot pamphlet this fall and see that they’re being asked to decide whether ambulance company workers should get mandatory rest breaks, they may wonder how such a seemingly narrow topic ended up on the statewide ballot.
But the path for Proposition 11 was a familiar one: an industry that fails to get satisfaction from the Legislature decides to take its case to the voters.
TODAY’S ESSENTIALS
— For nearly a year, investigators have been trying to determine what caused the deadly Tubbs fire in Northern California in 2017. The answer will have huge implications for residents, insurers and, perhaps most importantly, Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
— California’s pot czar is being squeezed between lobbyists for the cannabis industry on one side, and cities and law enforcement on the other, who are battling over a proposal to allow marijuana deliveries in municipalities that have banned pot sales.
— With less than two months until election day, California’s two gubernatorial contenders remained locked in a standoff over whether they’ll meet in a formal debate to discuss the issues facing the state.
— Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice endorsed Republican John Cox for California governor on Thursday, saying he has the vision to address the state’s most vexing problems.
— Having fallen short in his recent campaign for governor, conservative state Assemblyman Travis Allen is weighing a run for chairman of the state GOP with the goal of “leading California Republicans back to statewide relevance.”
— A Compton water district that has delivered brown water and therefore could be abolished under legislation on the governor’s desk is waging an eleventh-hour campaign for its survival.
— Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell skipped a reelection debate on Saturday, another awkward episode in a high-powered election that’s left many scratching their heads.
— California housing crisis podcast: What the Legislature did in 2018 and what’s coming next.
LOGISTICS
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USC cancels basketball game against Brown in aftermath of shooting
USC and Brown have mutually agreed to cancel their upcoming men’s basketball game at Galen Center on Sunday, in light of the recent mass shooting on Brown’s campus.
USC announced the cancellation on Tuesday morning while sending its support to Brown and those affected. The school said in a statement that it plans to announce a new nonconference opponent to fill the same slot on Sunday.
The matchup with Brown was slated to be USC’s nonconference finale. The Trojans have yet to lose outside of Big Ten play this season, currently standing at 9-0.
USC was set to be Brown’s first opponent since this past Sunday, when two people were killed and nine were wounded in a deadly shooting on campus.
On Sunday night, USC women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who is a Brown alumnus, got emotional addressing the shooting after her team’s loss to No. 1 Connecticut.
Gottlieb said that a former teammate of hers had a daughter still hiding from the gunman in the basement of a library at the time of Sunday afternoon’s game.
“It doesn’t need to be this way,” she said. “Sending thoughts and prayers to my teammates who have kids there. To the parents that have to worry about their children, I’m just going to end it with that, but just to say we’re the only country that lives this way.”
Hegseth ‘proud’ of Caribbean boat strikes, won’t release full video | Military
Saying the unedited video of a September 2 strike on a boat in the Caribbean is “top secret,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that its viewing will be restricted to select lawmakers, not the general public.
Published On 16 Dec 2025
China’s ‘Y-30’ Turboprop Airlifter Spotted For The First Time
The latest Chinese military aircraft to appear in flight test is a tactical transport aircraft, known, unofficially for now, as the Y-30. Not perhaps as headline-grabbing as China’s string of new crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft designs, the transport is nonetheless highly significant, reflecting the People’s Liberation Army’s growing ambitions to be able to conduct out-of-area operations, including from unprepared airfields.
A product of the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation, the Y-30 (the alternative Y-15 designation has also been proposed) is expected to be a partial replacement for the same company’s Y-9 four-turboprop transport. Video and photos of the new aircraft began to circulate on social media for the first time today. The aircraft is reportedly flying from the Xi’an Aircraft Corporation (XAC) airfield in the city of Xi’an in central China, with XAC having been absorbed by Shaanxi.
While a new Chinese medium/heavy airlifter had been anticipated for some time, there was speculation that it would be powered by a pair of turbofan engines: The result would have been something like a scaled-down Y-20, with a shorter fuselage and a new wing, somewhat similar in concept to the Kawasaki C-2. In the event, the so-called Y-30 is powered by four turboprops, meaning it looks much more like the Airbus A400M, although it would appear to be in a different class to the European transport.
Other features in common with the A400M include the wide fuselage, offering useful internal volume, especially compared to the Y-9, a rear loading ramp, and heavy-duty landing gear, which should make it suitable for operating out of short, poorly prepared landing strips. Like the Airbus transport, the Y-30 has a T-tail empennage, but its high-lift wing is not swept. The wingtips of the Chinese design additionally feature winglets, which improve fuel efficiency by reducing drag and increasing lift. There is a suggestion that the aircraft might also have asymmetric fuselage-side sponsons, a feature of the C-17 that you can read about here; on the other hand, this may just be a feature of the AI-enhanced version of one of the images.
The Y-30 is reportedly powered by either WJ-10 or WJ-16 turboprops, which are said to develop 6,800 horsepower or 5,140 horsepower each, respectively. While the A400M’s engines drive distinctive eight-bladed ‘scimitar’ propellers, the Y-30, at least at this stage, has more conventional six-bladed props.
Both the WJ-10 and WJ-16 are notably less powerful than the 11,000-horsepower Europrop TP400-D6 engines used in the A400M, suggesting an aircraft that is smaller overall and with a more limited load capacity, closer to the C-130J Hercules. This would make sense, since the A400M, as you can read about here, was designed as a gap-filler between the C-130 at the smaller end of the transport segment, and the larger C-17 Globemaster III at the other end.
With China already building the Y-20 as a broad equivalent to the C-17, the Y-30 is likely intended to be more of an equivalent to the C-130/Y-9, probably slightly larger than the Hercules, rather than being a ‘mid-market’ transport like the A400M.
Unconfirmed accounts suggest the Y-30 will have a payload capacity of around 30 metric tonnes (around 66,000 pounds), which compares with around 145,000 pounds for the Y-20, 82,000 pounds for the A400M, 55,000 pounds for the Y-9, and 47,000 pounds for the C-130J-30.
In keeping with its test status, the Y-30 seen in the imagery available so far features a long air-data boom on the nose. This boom is used to obtain data on air pressure, temperature, and airflow direction, etc., vital for flight-testing. There is no sign of an aerial refueling probe, although this may well be added in the future, as was the case with certain variants of the Y-9.
In fact, the Y-30 first appeared in model form at the Zhuhai Airshow, back in 2014, after which the project went quiet.
Currently, according to Western estimates, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) operates around 24 Y-9s in a transport role, together with 80 of the older Y-8 four-turboprop transports.
The PLAAF is rapidly introducing the Y-20, which is expected to eventually replace the roughly 26 Soviet-designed Il-76 Candid transports that remain in use. Indeed, by now, Y-20 numbers already eclipse those of the hard-worked Il-76.
Meanwhile, should the Y-30 prove successful, it will presumably supplant the Y-9 and allow the retirement of the aging Y-8 fleet.
While the Y-20 offers truly strategic range to support PLA operations (and humanitarian missions) around the globe, a modern turboprop-powered transport like the Y-30 would be especially well-suited to operations from more dispersed and even austere bases. For example, the new airlifter could fly troops and equipment in and out of China’s island outposts, as well as conduct airdropping as part of any future effort to retake Taiwan; it would also be of notable value during a conflict involving India.
As well as its core transport role, it might be expected that the Y-30 could eventually be adapted for special missions, as has been the case with the Y-8 and Y-9. Between them, dozens of electronic warfare, maritime patrol, and airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft have been produced for the PLA on these airframes, in numerous different sub-variants. On the other hand, with the Y-9 now well-proven as a special missions platform, it could be the case that continued production of this type will fulfill these niche roles, while the Y-30 production run is dedicated to transports.
It is worth noting that the PLAAF’s ability to conduct airborne assault operations is a relatively recent addition to its core missions. It was only in the 1990s that the Airborne Corps was transformed into a division, and its overall strength was boosted. At the same time, the first Il-76 transports were delivered, but for a long time these remained the extent of the PLAAF’s rapid-reaction transport force. Paratroopers operating as part of a combined-arms force are also a relatively new addition and part of the PLA’s wider modernization.
In terms of airlift capacity, the Y-20 has more recently spearheaded this continued transformation, and the Y-30 looks set to continue the process.
Like other Chinese designs, the Y-30 also has the major advantage of being immune to the tight export restrictions that typically apply to Western designs in the same class. Beijing would be likely to grant export licenses for the transport to countries that might be prohibited from buying a Western design, something that was the case with the Y-9, exported to Myanmar and Namibia, for example. Meanwhile, other markets could also provide an opportunity for the Y-30, as China becomes a more relevant competitor to the West across the military aviation segment.
Overall, the appearance of the Y-30 tops off a remarkable year for China’s military aircraft industries. The last 12 months have also seen the flying debuts, at least in the public realm, of two new combat jets, various collaborative combat aircraft (CCA)-type drones, at least three flying-wing type drones, a ‘drone mothership,’ an advanced jet trainer, a new AEW&C platform, as well as crewed and uncrewed tiltrotors, and coaxial helicopter concepts.
Given the rate at which new Chinese aircraft designs are appearing, it would be wise not to bet against further revelations before this year is out.
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Death in Paradise star says ‘great to come back’ as they return for festive special
Death in Paradise star Don Gilet has opened up on returning to the BBC drama for the Christmas special
Death in Paradise star Don Gilet has expressed his delight at reprising his role, admitting “It was great to come back”.
The actor, 58, joined the BBC drama as DI Mervin Wilson last year, following in the footsteps of previous stars such as Ben Miller and Ralf Little.
Now, he’s eagerly awaiting the 2025 Christmas special and shared his feelings about returning to the role, confessing it was “slightly daunting”.
“It felt good. Slightly daunting, but in a positive sense because you want to do the same again, if not better,” he revealed in a BBC interview ahead of his return. “I jokingly describe it as the second album, the first album went really well, but you can’t rest on your laurels and be complacent, there’s still more audience out there to win over.”
He continued: “So, I went out to Guadeloupe with a renewed appetite. It was great to come back and reconnect with the characters and the actors,” reports the Express.
Discussing what fans can expect from the festive special, Don promised “plenty of humour, but even more heart”.
He elaborated: “It pushes and pulls emotionally and comedically in equal measure. Mervin faces far more antagonism, and things are a lot more challenging for him, especially now he knows there’s a half-brother out there to find.
“But you can still get cosy, sip your Baileys and enjoy another great Death in Paradise Christmas special,” he added.
The forthcoming special presents one of the team’s most perplexing cases yet, as a victim is found dead in a swimming pool on Saint Marie, whilst the murder weapon was locked away in a drawer back in England at the time of the killing, leaving detectives completely stumped.
This comes as Don recently spoke candidly about the “pressure” of filling the boots of previous stars as the latest detective on the show.
During his stint on BBC The One Show on Monday (December 16) evening, he confessed to Alex and co-host Roman Kemp: “I feel the pressure doing this. I’ve said this before, it feels like the second album, you know the first one went well, I was the replacement like a replacement Doctor Who and people have their favourites prior to that.
“So there’s always this sense of ‘well is he going to be as good as…’ are people going to switch off, but luckily no one has switched off yet but you’ve got to come back and do it again and better so I’m not resting on my laurels.
“I do feel a bit pressure but it’s an enjoyable pressure. I love coming back and doing more of the same but with something a bit extra.”
Death In Paradise Christmas special airs on BBC One on Sunday, December 28 at 8.30pm.
Newsom trolls Trump with website of president’s ‘criminal cronies’
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new state-run website Tuesday that tracks what his office calls the “criminal cronies” around President Trump — just the latest trolling tactic by the California governor that directly mirrors Trump’s own use of public resources for political score settling.
Newsom pegged the website’s rollout to recent crime statistics, which were released in early November showing falling rates of homicide and assault in California. The governor’s website catalogs what it calls the top 10 criminal convictions that were followed by pardons offered thus far by Trump — from Jan. 6 rioters to former politicians and business figures convicted of fraud, drug trafficking and financial crimes. The website calls Trump the “criminal in chief.”
The website features AI-generated portraits of such figues as Rod Blagojevich, the only Illinois governor to be impeached and removed from office; former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking; and Ross Ulbricht, the founder of a dark-web drug marketplace who had been serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The images show the men standing in a lineup with the word “felon” stamped in red ink.
“With crime dropping — again — California is proving what real public safety leadership looks like,” read a statement from Newsom. “Meanwhile in D.C., Trump is a felon who surrounds himself with scammers and drug traffickers. We’re providing the public with a resource putting the facts in one place so Californians, and all Americans, can see who he elevates and who he protects.”
The launch is the latest escalation in Newsom’s increasingly aggressive digital campaign against Trump.
In recent months, the governor and his press office have turned social media into a near-daily forum for mocking and trolling the president by firing off all-caps posts, meme-style graphics and sharply worded rebukes aimed at Trump’s brash rhetoric, criminal record, policy proposals and political allies.
The crime data , which was released Nov. 3 by the Major Cities Chiefs Assn., found homicides across California’s major cities fell 18% year over year, robberies dropped 18% and aggravated assaults declined 9%. The association also found that violent crime decreased in every California city reporting data, with the steepest declines in Oakland, where violent crime fell 25%, and San Francisco, where it fell 21%.
Newsom’s new website highlights Trump’s sweeping use of presidential pardons to grant clemency to roughly 1,500 people charged or convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The governor’s office said some of those individuals had prior criminal records and that others went on to be convicted of new crimes after receiving pardons.
The move mirrors tactics Trump and his administration have embraced. Most recently, Trump unveiled a website of “media offenders,” naming journalists and outlets he accuses of bias. Separately, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Kristi Noem has maintained a website highlighting what it calls the “worst of the worst” criminal immigrants arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, framing the page as evidence that the administration is carrying out Trump’s promise of mass deportations.
The state’s website launch comes as Newsom seeks to cast California as a national leader in responsible governance of artificial intelligence.
Earlier Tuesday, the governor announced a slate of initiatives aimed at promoting ethical AI use in state government, including a new advisory council, partnerships with academic and nonprofit groups, and a generative AI assistant for state employees. Among the priorities outlined are strengthening safeguards for children online, countering image-based abuse and improving government operations.
“California is at the forefront of AI technology — and is home to some of the most successful and innovative companies and academic leaders in the world,” Newsom said in a statement. “We’re not going to sit on the sidelines and let others define the future for us. But we’re going to do it responsibly — making sure we capture the benefits, mitigate the harms, and continue to lead with the values that define this state.”
2026 World Cup tickets: Fifa brings in £45 ticket
Fifa has introduced a small number of “more affordable” $60 (£45) tickets for all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup following criticism of its pricing structure for the tournament.
World football’s governing body says the new ticket price will be available to a certain number of “loyal fans” of the countries that have qualified for the World Cup.
The £45 ticket falls in the supporter entry tier and will make up 10% of the allocation for each Football Association whose team is taking part.
“The entry tier tickets will be allocated specifically to supporters of qualified teams, with the selection and distribution process managed individually by the participating member associations (PMAs),” said a Fifa statement.
“Each PMA will define its own eligibility criteria and application process. They are requested to ensure that these tickets are specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams.
“In total, 50% of each PMA allocation will fall within the most affordable range, namely supporter value tier (40%) and the supporter entry tier (10%). The remaining allocation is split evenly between the supporter standard tier and the supporter premier tier.”
U.S. oil prices under $55 a barrel lowest since 2021
Motor oil on display and ready to be sold in Nov. 2021 at a gas station in New York City, N.Y. U.S. crude was down about 23% this year at its steepest annual drop since 2018. Meanwhile, AAA reported that U.S. gasoline fell below $3 a gallon to its lowest in four years. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 16 (UPI) — U.S. crude fell below $55 a barrel Tuesday to its lowest since early 2021 as markets reacted to surplus concerns and potential peace deal in Ukraine.
West Texas Intermediate fell to a low of $54.98 a barrel to its weakest level since early February 2021, and recently traded near 55.16, down about 2.9%.
Brent crude, meanwhile, slipped to $58.88 a barrel in a nearly 3% drop. It slid roughly 21%, marking its weakest year since 2020.
U.S. crude was down about 23% this year at its steepest annual drop since 2018.
The AAA reported that U.S. gasoline had fallen below $3 a gallon, the lowest in four years.
Oil prices were sliding as OPEC boosted output after years of restraint, while investors bet on easing geopolitical tensions as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for some kind of Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
It also arrived as the Trump administration advances drilling licenses on public lands in opposition to environmental groups.
“Oil markets will be watching developments closely, given the significant supply risk from sanctions on Russia. While Russian seaborne oil exports have held up well since the imposition of sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, this oil is still struggling to find buyers,” two ING commodity strategists wrote Tuesday in a note.
The president has stated a deal supposedly could be “closer now than we have been ever.”
“The result is a growing volume of Russian oil at sea. India, a key buyer of Russian oil since the Russia/Ukraine war began, will reportedly see imports of Russian crude fall to around 800k b/d this month, down from around 1.9m b/d in November,” they added.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Congressional Ball in the Grand Foyer of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI | License Photo
Trump files $10 billion defamation suit against BBC over edited speech
President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the BBC for up to $10 billion, claiming that edited clips of his January 6, 2021, speech defamed him. The edited footage made it seem like he told supporters to storm the U. S. Capitol, without showing his call for peaceful protest. Trump argues the BBC’s edits harmed his reputation and violated Florida law against deceptive practices, seeking $5 billion for each of the two counts in his suit.
The BBC acknowledged it made an error in judgment when airing the edited footage, which created a misleading impression of Trump’s words, and it previously apologized to him. However, the BBC plans to defend itself legally, stating there is no valid reason for the lawsuit. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the legal matter is specifically between Trump and the BBC, emphasizing the importance of a strong and independent broadcaster.
Despite the BBC’s apology, Trump criticized the corporation for lacking actual remorse and failing to implement changes to prevent future mistakes. The BBC operates on funds from a compulsory license fee paid by UK viewers, raising concerns about the political implications of any potential payout to Trump. With total revenue of about 5.9 billion pounds in the last financial year, a payment could be controversial.
The lawsuit has posed significant risks for the BBC and already triggered the resignations of its top executives due to the resulting public relations crisis. Trump’s legal representatives argue that the BBC’s actions caused him considerable reputational and financial damage. Though the BBC asserts that the documentary was not broadcast in the U. S., it is available on the BritBox streaming platform in the U. S., and Canadian company Blue Ant Media has rights to distribute it in North America.
The BBC denies the defamation claims, arguing it could prove the documentary was ultimately true and assert that the editing did not create a false impression. Trump has previously sued other media organizations, such as CBS and ABC, successfully reaching settlements. The attack on the U. S. Capitol aimed to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
With information from Reuters
Katherine Ryan reveals she’s had ‘serious cosmetic surgery’ just eight weeks after giving birth
KATHERINE Ryan has revealed that she has had “serious cosmetic surgery” just eight weeks after giving birth to her fourth child.
The comedian and her husband Bobby Kootstra welcomed daughter Holland in October.
And Katherine, 42, says that the little one came along to the surgery, which took place in York – hours away from their London home.
Talking on her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything, Katherine said she is in “no pain” following the procedure.
Katherine explained: “I went to York, it was three and a half hours, I elected to take the baby with me because she just turned eight weeks that day and I’m still breastfeeding her, obviously, I will be for a long time.
“You can’t breastfeed immediately after surgery but I could obviously spend the night with her before and breastfeed her then.
“I was thinking to myself, after I got this surgery – which, wait until you see it, is pretty serious surgery – I was like, ‘Katherine Ryan what is your damage? What the f*** are you doing? Why have you brought a baby to surgery.’
“But then i thought, up and down this country, worldwide, everyday, we are giving women C-sections and then saying, ‘Sweet, go keep these twins alive’.”
Katherine clarified that a C section is “much more serious” than the procedure she had.
She joked: “So, what’s an elective cosmetic procedure with a newborn?”
Continuing that she is in “no pain”, Katherine said that while she’d like to share what procedure she has had done, it’s under wraps.
The comedian was joined by a filming crew who captured the whole thing for an upcoming docuseries.
She says there is more information coming soon on the show.
Katherine’s husband, Bobby, revealed in October that the comedian welcomed their newborn in just 45 minutes.
She appeared to have a speedy bounce back, as Bobby even shared a snap of the star enjoying a flute of prosecco in hospital following he birth,
Alongside baby Holland, Katherine and bobby share children Fenna, two, and three-year-old Fred.
The comedian is also a mum to 15-year-old Violet, who she has from a previous relationship.
Gov. Reagan's Workfare: No 'Gang Busters' in a Short Life
As governor of California, Ronald Reagan presided over a workfare program that was never fully implemented and was abandoned by the state soon after he left office.
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USC quarterback Jayden Maiava is returning for the 2026 season
USC’s starting quarterback is returning for another season in 2026.
Jayden Maiava made it official Tuesday as the school announced that he had re-signed with the program for the upcoming season, his third with the Trojans.
Maiava led USC to a 9-3 record in his first full season as starter after taking over the job during the final month of the 2023 season. He threw for 3,431 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also added six scores on the ground.
That strong performance led to questions of whether Maiava might declare for the NFL draft. Some prognosticators viewed Maiava as one of the better potential quarterback prospects in a draft especially thin on passers.
Instead, Maiava will run it back at USC, where the Trojans are set to return most of their dynamic 2025 offense in 2026 — the exception being their top two wideouts Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, who both declared for the draft. USC announced earlier this week that it had re-signed No. 1 running back Waymond Jordan and receivers Tanook Hines and Zacharyus Williams for the 2026 season.
Maiava’s return now turns the attention to five-star backup Husan Longstreet, who will have a decision to make about his future at USC. It’s unclear if Longstreet would be willing to wait another season behind Maiava.
US unemployment hits highest level since 2021 as labour market cools | Business and Economy News
The US economy gains jobs in healthcare and construction as other sectors stagnate, shrink.
The United States economy lost 41,000 jobs in October and November, and the unemployment rate has ticked up to its highest level since 2021 as the labour market cools amid ongoing economic uncertainty driven by tariffs and immigration policies.
In November, the US economy added 64,000 jobs after shedding 105,000 in October, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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The unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent, up from 4.4 percent in September. Because of the government shutdown in October and November, the US government was unable to gather key data used to gauge the state of the economy, including the unemployment rate for October.
October’s job losses reflected the 162,000 federal workers who lost their posts, a result of deferred buyouts of their contracts, which expired at the end of September.
In November, there was a loss of another 6,000 government jobs. Gains were seen in the healthcare, social assistance and construction sectors. Healthcare added 46,000 jobs – higher than the 39,000 jobs gained in the sector on average each month over the past 12 months.
Construction added 28,000, consistent with average gains over the past year. The social assistance sector added 18,000 jobs.
Transportation and warehousing lost 18,000. Manufacturing jobs are also on the decline. The sector shed 5,000 jobs in November after cutting 9,000 jobs in October following a 5,000-job loss in September.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told reporters on Tuesday to expect to see more manufacturing jobs in the next six months.
His assessment was driven by growth in construction jobs and manufacturing investments, which signal job growth is on the way.
People working part time for economic reasons also rose to 5.5 million, which is up 909,000 from September.
“Today’s long-awaited jobs report confirms what we already suspected: [President Donald] Trump’s economy is stalling out and American workers are paying the price,” Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at the economic think tank Groundwork Collaborative, said in a statement.
“Far from sparking a manufacturing renaissance, Trump’s reckless trade agenda is bleeding working-class jobs, forcing layoffs, and raising prices for businesses and consumers alike.”
The data was released after the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.5-3.75 percent as labour conditions cool.
“The labour market has continued to cool gradually, … a touch more gradually than we thought,” Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said after the rate cut decision last week.
On Wall Street, markets fell slightly after the jobs report. In midday trading, the Nasdaq was down 0.4 percent, the S&P 500 was down 0.5 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.4 percent below its market open.
Iran’s foreign minister says strikes won’t stop nuclear programme | Israel-Iran conflict
Exclusive: Iran’s foreign minister sits down with Fault Lines to discuss the nuclear standoff and diplomatic deadlock.
In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview recorded in October with Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines documentary programme, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tells correspondent Hind Hassan that strikes by Israel and the United States in June caused “serious damage” to Iran’s nuclear facilities but insists its nuclear programme will continue.
“Technology cannot be eliminated by bombing,” he says, arguing that Iran’s scientific knowledge remains intact.
As Iran remains locked in a standoff with the US and refuses to renew negotiations while zero uranium enrichment demands remain in place, Araghchi says European snapback sanctions have undermined future cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Iran would reconsider how it cooperates in the future.
Despite emphasising that “diplomacy is our priority,” the foreign minister insists that Iran is prepared to fight back if it is attacked again. Araghchi maintains that while Tehran has “never trusted the United States as an honest negotiating partner”, Iran remains prepared to engage diplomatically if both sides respect each other’s rights and pursue mutual interests based on equality.
Published On 16 Dec 2025
Netflix and iHeartMedia announce video podcast deal
Netflix and iHeartMedia announced Tuesday they have an exclusive video partnership deal to bring more than 15 original podcasts, including “The Breakfast Club,” true crime podcast “My Favorite Murder” and Chelsea Handler’s “Dear Chelsea” to the subscription streaming service.
The multi-year deal, which launches in early 2026, includes new episodes from the podcasts and some library episodes. The video podcasts will first roll out on Netflix in the U.S. and later to other markets. Netflix declined to disclose the financial terms of the deal.
The announcement comes as Netflix is adding more video podcasts to its lineup to diversify the content on its streaming service and better compete with YouTube. Several of the iHeart podcasts involved in the deal, including “My Favorite Murder,” have posted videos of their podcasts on Google’s video platform prior to the deal’s announcement.
“With this partnership we are incredibly excited to offer our members such unmatched variety, and to deliver highly entertaining podcasts featuring some of the world’s most dynamic personalities,” said Lauren Smith, Netflix’s vice president of content licensing and programming strategy in a statement.
In October, Netflix announced next year it would stream 16 Spotify video podcasts, including sports audio programs like “The Bill Simmons Podcast” and “The Ringer Fantasy Football Show.”
Video podcasts have become more popular among audio listeners. Roughly 70% of podcast listeners prefer their shows with video, according to a Cumulus Media study. Some of the programs also have huge followings — for example, “My Favorite Murder,” with hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, has generated about 2 billion lifetime downloads according to iHeart and Netflix in a press release.
Other video podcasts coming to Netflix include comedy podcast “This is Important,” mental health podcast “The Psychology of your 20s” and history podcast “Behind the Bastards.”
iHeart will keep its audio-only rights and distribution as part of the deal, with its podcasts continuing to be on iHeartRadio and “everywhere podcasts are heard,” the companies said. iHeart did not immediately return a request for comment on the financial terms of the Netflix deal.
“Netflix has a leading video-first service, and this partnership perfectly complements our strong audio foundation,” Bob Pittman, iHeartMedia CEO in a statement. “Working with Netflix—an important leader in entertainment— gives fans one more way to connect with the personalities they love and opens the door to new audiences, including viewers discovering these shows for the first time.”
The historic seaside town home to the first sunlounger
SUNLOUNGERS are a staple of any beach holiday, in fact holidaymakers won’t remember a time before them.
The lounger was first established in the late 1800s and looks a lot different to how we know them – and in fact, were founded in a small town in Germany.
Warnemünde on the Baltic Coast is recognised as being the home of the first sunlounger.
In 1882, basket maker Wilhelm Bartelmann from Warnemünde had an idea to help a woman suffering from rheumatism to enjoy the beach.
Wilhelm created the chair by basket weaving to provide a protective cover from the sun and wind.
Due to the high demand, Wilhelm and his wife founded the first beach chair hire company near the lighthouse in Warnemünde.
With the sunlounger’s success, beach chairs then popped up in seaside towns neighbouring the North and Baltic Seas.
For anyone heading to Warnemünde, you’ll still be able to find the woven-style chairs, called Strandkorb, on its beaches.
Warnemünde sits just outside of Rostock and is known for its marina and being a cruise-ship stop and it’s beach that is almost two miles long.
One recent visitors wrote of the beach on Tripadvisor: “Finest white sandy beach behind a generously laid out, wide promenade. You could fill hourglasses with this sand.”
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Another called it “one of the best beaches in Europe” and a third said: “The beach in Warnemünde is one of the most beautiful beaches on the German Baltic coast.
“Everything here is open and spacious. The sand has a Caribbean feel to me. We always enjoy coming here.”
Other sites include the Warnemünde lighthouse which was used for more than 100 years.
You can visit the area around the lighthouse for free, but going up the lighthouse tower costs a small fee.
Visitors can then climb up 135 steps to the top for panoramic views over the coast.
Other places to explore is the teapot-shaped building called Teepott with restaurants, cafés, and souvenir shops, and Alter Strom, which was the old trade route into Rostock.
Now it’s lined with fishing boats and on the shore are seafood restaurants, and cafes.
While there are no flights to Warnemünde, you can easily get there via water as plenty of cruises make a stop there.
P&O Cruises offers two itineraries around Northern Europe and Scandinavia that makes a stop in the German port town.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines also offers a route to Warnemünde for example on its ‘Enchanting Landmarks of the Baltic’.
It starts from Copenhagen to Warnemünde, Gdansk, Klaipeda, Riga and Tallinn.
For more breaks in Germany, this is a European island Brits won’t have heard of that’s like ‘travelling to the 1970s’ with white sand beaches and beer tours.
And here’s a tiny European holiday island that used to be a spa resort where cars are banned.
Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, criticizes Bondi and opines on Trump in Vanity Fair
WASHINGTON — Susie Wiles, President Trump’s understated but influential chief of staff, criticized Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and broadly defended the president’s aggressive second administration in a series of interviews published Tuesday in Vanity Fair.
Wiles told the magazine in a wide-ranging, revealing series of conversations that she underestimated the scandal involving Epstein, the disgraced financier, but sharply criticized how Bondi managed the case and the public’s expectations.
After the story was published, Wiles disparaged it as a “disingenuously framed hit piece on me and the finest President, White House staff, and Cabinet in history.”
“Significant context was disregarded and much of what I, and others, said about the team and the President was left out of the story,” she wrote in a social media post. “I assume, after reading it, that this was done to paint an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative about the President and our team.”
Wiles did not deny the comments that were attributed to her.
In her rebuttal, Wiles argued that Trump had accomplished more in 11 months than any president had in eight years because of his “unmatched leadership and vision.”
“None of this will stop our relentless pursuit of Making America Great Again!” she said.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt also rose to Wiles’ defense, writing on the X platform that, “President Trump has no greater or more loyal advisor than Susie. The entire Administration is grateful for her steady leadership and united fully behind her.”
In the interview, Wiles said Trump wants to keep bombing alleged drug boats in the waters off the coast of Venezuela until that country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, “cries uncle.”
And at one point said she and Trump had a “loose agreement” that his retribution campaign would end before the first 90 days of his second term — but it continues well beyond the three-month mark.
Trump tapped Wiles after she managed his winning 2024 campaign. She is the first woman to ever serve as White House chief of staff and is known for shunning the spotlight. It is rare for her to speak as extensively and openly as she did about the president to the magazine, which published its lengthy interview with her — and other members of the White House staff and the Cabinet. Wiles has been speaking to Vanity Fair since just before Trump took office last January.
Asked about Epstein, Wiles said hadn’t really paid attention to “whether all these rich, important men went to that nasty island and did unforgivable things to young girls.”
She said she has read the Epstein file and that Trump is “not in the file doing anything awful.” He and Epstein were friends before they had a falling out.
The Justice Department is facing a Friday deadline to release everything it has on Epstein after Trump, after objecting to the release, signed legislation requiring that the papers be made public.
Wiles criticized Bondi’s handling of the case, going back to earlier in the year when she distributed binders to a group of social media influencers that included no new information about Epstein. That led to even more calls from Trump’s base for the files to be released.
“I think she completely whiffed on appreciating that that was the very targeted group that cared about this,” Wiles said of Bondi. “First she gave them binders full of nothingness. And then she said that the witness list, or the client list, was on her desk. There is no client list, and it sure as hell wasn’t on her desk.”
Wiles, over the series of interviews, described the president behind the scenes very much as he presents himself in public: an intense figure who thinks in broad strokes yet is often not concerned with the details of process and policy. She added, though, that he has not been as angry or temperamental as is often suggested, even as she affirmed his ruthlessness and determination to achieve retribution against those he considers his political enemies.
Trump, she said, has “an alcoholic’s personality,” even though the president does not drink. But the personality trait is something she recognizes from her father, the famous sports broadcaster Pat Summerall.
“High-functioning alcoholics or alcoholics in general, their personalities are exaggerated when they drink. And so I’m a little bit of an expert in big personalities,” she said, adding that Trump has “a view that there’s nothing he can’t do. Nothing, zero, nothing.”
On Venezuela, Wiles said Trump wants to keep the pressure on Maduro.
“He wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle. And people way smarter than me on that say that he will.” Her comment, though, seemed to contradict the administration’s position that the strikes are about stopping drugs and saving American lives, not regime change.
She said the administration is “very sure we know who we’re blowing up.”
The continued strikes and mounting death toll have drawn scrutiny from Congress, which has pushed back and opened investigations.
Wiles described much of her job as channeling Trump’s energy, whims and desired policy outcomes — including managing his desire for vengeance against his political opponents, anyone he blames for his 2020 electoral defeat and those who pursued criminal cases against him after his first term.
“We have a loose agreement that the score settling will end before the first 90 days are over,” Wiles said early in his administration, telling Vanity Fair that she does try to tamp down Trump’s penchant for retribution.
Later in 2025, she pushed back. “I don’t think he’s on a retribution tour,” she said, arguing he was operating on a different principle: ”‘I don’t want what happened to me to happen to somebody else.’ And so people that have done bad things need to get out of the government. In some cases, it may look like retribution. And there may be an element of that from time to time. Who would blame him? Not me.”
Asked about the prosecution of New York Attorney General Letitia James for mortgage fraud, Wiles allowed: “Well, that might be the one retribution.”
Superville and Barrow write for the Associated Press. Barrow reported from Atlanta.
World Rally Championship: Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong to drive for M-Sport
McErlean said securing a second season with M-Sport “means everything” after a solid rookie campaign.
After a late deal to drive in the WRC, McErlean finished seventh on his debut in Monte Carlo and equalled that result in Finland and the Central European Rally.
“I’m incredibly grateful to M-Sport and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy for continuing to believe in me and giving me the chance to build properly,” McErlean said.
“To have another season at this level means a lot. I’m in a completely different place mentally compared to this time last year, stronger, clearer, and ready to enjoy the challenge ahead.
“2025 was all about learning, learning the car, the championship, the rhythm of Rally1, and what it really takes, mentally and physically, to operate at this level week in, week out.
“We made real progress across the season, and I could feel things starting to click more and more as the year went on.”
Millener said McErlean’s progression in his first season was “very clear to see”.
“It’s great to be able to give them the opportunity to continue this upward trajectory.
“Away from the events, they have both become much-valued members of the team and I’m really looking forward to working with them again.”
The deals for McErlean and Armstrong strengthen the links between M-Sport and Motorsport Ireland, and the remainder of the Cumbrian’s outfit’s line-up will be announced in due course.
Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.25B in year’s 2nd largest prize
Dec. 16 (UPI) — The Powerball jackpot soared to an estimated $1.25 billion for next drawing now offering players a $572.1 million cash option and a holiday shot at winning the big prize, the multi-state lottery association said Tuesday.
Wednesday’s jackpot will be the second-largest Powerball prize this year. It marks only the second time in Powerball history it generated back-to-back billion-dollar payloads.
“Powerball has only seen back-to-back to billion-dollar jackpots twice, and this one has arrived just in time for the holidays,” according to Matt Strawn, Iowa Lottery CEO and Powerball’s product group chair.
On Monday, the jackpot rolled after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn: white balls 23, 35, 59, 63, 68 and red Powerball 2.
U.S. lottery officials reminded players to check tickets carefully to see if they have won any cash prizes.
Two tickets — one each in Arizona and California — matched all five white balls to win $1 million. The drawing also yielded 43 $50,000 winners and 14 $200,000 winners.
Wednesday marked the 44th drawing in the current Powerball run which was a record for the longest jackpot streak.
The last jackpot hit on Sept. 6 when winning tickets in Missouri and Texas shared a $1.787 billion payout.
Wednesday’s jackpot winner can pick between an annuity worth an estimated $1.25 billion or lump-sum payment of about $572.1 million before taxes.
Powerball, meanwhile, is available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
But the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball.
Powerball drawings take place live from the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. EDT and can also be livestreamed on Powerball.com.
Strawn from the Iowa Lottery reiterated his excitement seeing the jackpot climb to its new level but advised the public to “please remember to play responsibly.”
“A single $2 ticket gives you a chance to win, while also supporting good causes in your community,” he added.
UK announces independent probe into foreign interference in politics | Politics News
Minister says probe in response to case of ex-Reform UK lawmaker Nathan Gill, jailed for taking pro-Russia bribes.
Published On 16 Dec 2025
The United Kingdom is launching an independent investigation into foreign interference in British politics, just weeks after a former Reform UK lawmaker was jailed for more than 10 years for taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements.
Steve Reed, the UK’s secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, said on Tuesday that he had ordered the probe in response to the case of Nathan Gill, a former Member of the European Parliament and ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales.
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“A British politician took bribes to further the interests of the Russian regime,” Reed said in the House of Commons. “This conduct is a stain on our democracy. The independent review will work to remove that stain.”
Gill was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison on November 21.
He pleaded guilty in September to accepting thousands of euros from a pro-Russian politician in Ukraine between 2018 and 2019, and making scripted statements and television appearances at his behest.
The case had spurred widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party – which has been leading most polls – last month describing Gill’s actions as “reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable”.
On Tuesday, Conservative MP Paul Holmes welcomed the independent review into foreign interference as a necessary step.
“Protecting the integrity of our democratic system from foreign interference is not a partisan issue. It goes to the heart of public trust in our elections,” Holmes told the House.
“Interference in our elections from foreign actors is something that we must all be vigilant against.”
Reed, the housing minister, said the independent probe would be led by Philip Rycroft, former UK permanent secretary for the Department for Exiting the European Union.
“The purpose of the review is to provide an in-depth assessment of the current financial rules and safeguards and make recommendations,” said Reed, adding that Rycroft has been asked to report his findings to the government by the end of March.
The minister noted that the British government put forward a strategy “for modern and secure elections” earlier this year in a push to address foreign interference and public distrust in the electoral system, among other issues.
But Reed said on Tuesday that “events have shown that we need to consider whether our firewall is enough”.
“The independent review will look at this,” he said, including by evaluating the UK’s existing political finance laws, systems to identify and mitigate foreign interference, and safeguards against illicit funding streams.
Gogglebox star’s pregnancy update, partner and quirky job outside Channel 4 show
Gogglebox’s Helena Worthington has been a fan favourite since joining the Channel 4 show eight years ago and now her family is expanding
Everything you need to know about pregnant Gogglebox star Helena Worthington
- Helena Worthington joined Channel 4 show Gogglebox back in 2017 for series 10 with the rest of the Worthington family: her mum Alison and Alison’s partner George. And it didn’t take them long to become firm favourites with fans. Over the years, the family – who live in Manchester – have had fans in stitches thanks to their hilarious one-liners and comical takes on the telly highlights.
- Away from the programme, Helena is in a relationship with partner Dan. She is also a proud mum to six-year-old son Erwin. Recently, Helena confirmed she was pregnant as she reflected on welcoming another child into the family. Taking to her Instagram, Helena shared several snaps from a recent day out.
- In the caption she penned: “Pregnant. Tired. Raging indigestion. Still crouching down to explain why we don’t dig up all the bullbs. 33 weeks pregnant at RHS Bridgwater with my first baby, while waiting for my next one. We took Erwin here often when he was a new bean. These in-between moments feel really precious lately — messy, slow, and very real. I’m excited but I feel weird that Erwin will seem so big all of a sudden.”
- While the Worthington family films their segments for Gogglebox at Alison and George’s abode, Helena has made a cosy nest of her own in Salford with Dan and Erwin. Her Instagram is a gallery of domestic bliss, featuring everything from handmade crochet blankets to walls adorned with artwork, all set against a palette of vibrant colours.
- When she’s not on Gogglebox, Helena is an accomplished artist and focuses on sculpting and painting. Her artwork has been displayed in prestigious venues such as The Whitworth Art Gallery and The Manchester Open at Home, and her paintings have found homes in various private collections. In a candid chat with ilovemanchester.com, Helena opened up about her personal life. Reflecting on what sparked her artistic journey, she shared: “When I was very little I used to draw on the walls and in my mum’s cook books and then blame it on my brother… so I guess that was the start of things.”
READ THE FULL STORY: Gogglebox star confirms she’s pregnant as fans rush to congratulate