breaks

Riga, Latvia

Quite why the Latvian capital remains so under the radar is a mystery; the cobbled streets of the Vecrīga (old town) and the elegant art nouveau architecture make it one of the most beautiful cities in eastern Europe. Long summer evenings, with temperatures rarely topping 30C, form the backdrop for rooftop bars thrumming with live DJs, as well as alfresco concerts in leafy parks, while the beautiful sandy beaches of seaside Jūrmala are just a half-hour bus ride away.

Any visit should begin with a wander along the banks of the city canal and down Alberta Street, lined with ornate art nouveau mansions. Stop to refuel at the sprawling Central Market, housed in five former German Zeppelin hangars, offering dozens of local cheeses, smoked meats and classic dark rye breads – perfect sandwich fare.

The streets kick into life in summer, with free weekly concerts on Wednesday nights in Dzegužkalns park and in the Vērmanes gardens on Fridays in August, while jazz and world music fans should visit between 2 and 5 July for the Rīgas Ritmi music festival.

Where to stay Behind an art nouveau frontage, Hotel Neiburgs (from €114 B&B) combines the flexibility of self-catering apartments with hotel add-ons such as an excellent restaurant, fitness room and small spa.

Antwerp, Belgium

Anyone who thinks Belgium is a bit boring has never been to Antwerp – an artsy, quirky city packed with cocktail bars, coffee shops and independent art galleries that sparks into alfresco life in summer. On sunny weekends, Sint-Anneke beach (on the left bank of the River Scheldt) fills up with locals dipping their toes in the water and lunching on mussels at one of the many bistros that line the riverbank. Parks and open spaces become venues for street theatre, circus acts and open-air cinema, particularly during the Zomer van Antwerpen arts festival (19 June to 31 August).

To get an idea of the city’s rich history, visit MAS, an architecturally striking museum on the river, with each floor charting Antwerp’s history as a global trading port, topped with a huge rooftop terrace that gives spectacular 360-degree views.

Antwerp runs on its stomach, with microbreweries, chocolate shops and moules frites on every corner. The latest addition is Wolf, a food market with 10 restaurants. Pick up a picnic to eat in the gardens of Middelheim Museum’s world-class sculpture park. It features six zones exploring the relationship between humans and nature through abstract installations and strikingly innovative pieces, such as Erwin Vurm’s boat curving off a jetty, Misconceivable.

Where to stay In the historic centre, Hotel Matelote (from €115 B&B) features chic, minimalist design within the framework of two 16th-century buildings.

Bolzano, Italy

The capital of the South Tyrol – a fusion of Germanic architecture and history with Italian culture and food, set among the spectacular peaks of the Dolomites – is a gem. Surrounded by vineyards and lush mountain plateaux, it has one of the best summer music scenes in Europe. Jazz fans should visit between 27 June and 6 July, when the Südtyrol jazz festival offers more than 50 concerts across the region, while the Bolzano Festival Bozen (5 August-7 September) is a treat for classical music lovers, with performances held in some of the city’s most beautiful buildings, including Dominican cloisters and the 13th-century Castel Mareccio.

Most visitors to Bolzano head out to explore the spectacular scenery – at its loveliest in the summer months – either on foot along the city’s greenways or by taking a cable car up to the Ritten plateau. The Guncina Promenade is a 2.8-mile (4.5km) walk from the centre of the city out into the hills, with lovely views back across the skyline, while hiking trails unfold from the 1,227-metre high cable station at Oberbozen, along with the South Tyrol’s only surviving narrow-gauge railway. The big historic draw in Bolzano is Ötzi, a 5,300-year-old mummified iceman found by hikers in 1991 and sensitively displayed at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

Where to stay Goldenstern Townhouse (doubles from €149 room-only) is set in the city’s medieval arcades and makes a wonderful base.

Gothenburg, Sweden

As summer temperatures soar in the Med, Scandi cities look increasingly enticing, and nowhere more so than Gothenburg on Sweden’s west coast. Näsetbadet and Askimsbadet beaches are short bus rides away, while a tram to the ferry port opens up the tranquil waters, unspoilt villages and long sandy beaches of the Gothenburg archipelago. Explore by kayak or island-hop by ferry, with the waterside deck at Tullhuset restaurant on Hönö island a great spot for a seafood lunch, before a paddle on the long stretch of sandy shoreline on Rivö island.

Gothenburg is famed for its oysters and seafood, best sampled at Feskekörka, the city’s waterfront fish market hall, which houses a clutch of excellent restaurants and a sunlit outdoor terrace. The city also has a centuries-long history of craft brewing and 40 independent breweries, many with tap rooms and restaurants. Sink a couple at Poppels Citybryggeri, or try the innovative brews at Sad Robot, open on Friday and Saturday nights.

Need to clear a thick head? Dip into the city’s sauna culture, spanning everything from a free public sauna in Jubilee Park to Dyrön electric sauna, a short boat ride from the city, with a spectacular three-mile hiking trail from the door.

Where to stay Hotel Bellora (from 806 krona/£62 B&B) is a slick boutique affair with one of the city’s best rooftop bars.

Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva is far more than a gateway to the Alps, and in summer has a laid-back, beachy feel, with a dollop of Swiss style thrown in. Popular spots for a swim include the artificial beach at Eaux-Vives on Lake Geneva (including a doughnut-shaped overwater deck and central pool), the floating “beach platform” at the Quai de Cologny and the Genève-Plage, where all manner of watersports, from yachting to paddleboarding, are on offer alongside a straightforward dip.

A great choice for vinophiles, the lattice of streets in the Vieille Ville (old town) are dotted with wine bars, from sleekly modern Soul Wines to the more traditional Vino Olio Caffe. Most roads lead to the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, where the imposing vaulted exterior is a precursor to the spectacular lake views from its towers. After sightseeing, there’s plenty more to enjoy; truffle out vintage finds at the Plainpalais flea market (Wednesdays and Saturdays), learn about the city’s watchmaking history at the Patek Philippe museum, or soak up live music at the Genève-Plage with three nights of alfresco performances at the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande festival (21-23 August).

It’s a pleasingly indulgent city, too, filled with fromageries and farmers’ markets (the best are at the Plainpalais on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and Eaux-Vives on Wednesday and Saturday). For the ultimate treat, snag a table at Le Gruyérien for fondue, best worked off with a hike across the green slopes of Mont Salève – just a five-minute cable-car ride from the city.

Where to stay In a city of ruinously pricey hotels, the Tiffany by Fassbind (from 122 Swiss francs/£109 room-only) is a relative steal, tucked away on a quiet street in the Les Bains neighbourhood with a chic terrace restaurant.

Accommodation prices correct at time of going to press. These are the lowest available rates for July/August

Jeremy Vine and Ken Bruce front two new quiz shows this week, promising plenty of mind-bending twists this week. But there are also plenty of dramas for fans of explosive thrills.

Prince William and Princess Anne have shaped modern monarchy in their own way – so it’s no surprise Channel 5 is dedicating two documentaries on the heir to the throne and the Princess Royal this week.

The broadcaster has also promised exciting challenges ahead with Celebrity Puzzling, a brand new puzzle game show in which Jeremy Vine defies household names to the ultimate puzzle game.

Ken Bruce follows a similar theme on Channel 4 with his PopMasterTV heading to the small screen. ITV2, on the other hand, is introducing a ground-breaking comedy with Jordan Gray taking the lead in Transaction. Here are all the shows you need to keep an eye on this week.

READ MORE: Boots’ No7 serum that ‘reverses’ signs of skin damage sold every 7 seconds

Prince William: Passion, Honour…

Saturday, 5

Prince William takes centre stage in this candid and revealing documentary that charts his journey from childhood to the present day. Using rare archival footage and key interviews, it explores his upbringing, relationship with his mother, Princess Diana, and very public fallout with Prince Harry.

Poised to be kind, William is presented not just as a royal, but as a man shaped by loss and duty. It’s a fascinating portrait of a prince on the brink of kingship and a man navigating family, fame and the future.

Capital’s Summertime Ball

Sunday, ITV

Couldn’t make it to Wembley? Rest assured – ITV brings the party to your living room. Hosted by Sian Welby, Chris Stark and Jordan North on Capital Breakfast, this year’s Summertime Ball is packed with performances from the biggest stars around: Mariah Carey, McFly, even rising sensation Lola Young.

With Eurovision favourites Remember Monday also hitting the stage, expect fireworks, sing-alongs and feel-good vibes in one of the UK’s most anticipated music events of the summer.

The Gilded Age

Monday, Sky

Back with its third season, The Gilded Age is a deliciously dramatic look at the clash between old money and new ambition in 1880s America.

Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) has her eyes set on social domination while her husband George (Morgan Spector) risks everything in a financial gamble.

With stunning visuals, iconic returns from Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski, and cutthroat stakes, it’s a lavish, addictive drama about legacy, power and what people will do to keep their place in history.

PopMasterTV

Monday, C4

Ken Bruce brings his beloved music quiz to TV, and it’s as charming as ever. Five music buffs face off in a battle of pop trivia, racing through decades of chart history in a fame where memory is everything.

With singalong classics, retro facts and Ken’s dry wit holding it all together, PopMasterTV is a nostalgic gem. Whether you’re a chart nerd of a casual fan, it’s the kind of feel-good, comforting telly that’ll have you shouting answers from the sofa.

Crime Scene Cleaners

Monday, C4

Behind every crime scene lies a brutal mess – and a clean-up crew willing to face the unthinkable. This ten-part series follows real-life trauma cleaners in the UK and US as they scrub, sanitise and support victims’ families through unimaginable loss.

From robberies to gruesome murders, it’s gritty, graphic and gut-wrenching – but also deeply humane. With 24/7 call-outs and extraordinary compassion, Crime Scene Cleaners shines a light on the unsung heroes helping others start over – one horrific job at a time.

Celebrity Puzzling

Tuesday, 5

It’s brains over brawn in this cosy celebrity competition hosted by Jeremy Vine. Team captains Carol Vorderman and Sally Lindsay star with their celeb squads, going head-to-head in battles of logic, memory, wordplay and wit.

With laugh-out-loud moments, surprisingly tense showdowns and appearances from stars like Gareth Malone and Scarlett Moffatt, Celebrity Puzzling is perfect telly for puzzle lovers. It’s gentle, satisfying and the perfect watch to unwind.

Transaction

Tuesday, ITV2

Jordan Gray is a force of nature in this chaotic comedy about Liv, a trans nightshift worker who makes her supermarket shift anything but ordinary.

Hired as a PR stunt after the manager (Nick Frost) makes an offensive remark, Liv quickly realises she’s unsackable – and uses it to cause glorious havoc.

Transaction is sharp, silly and proudly anarchic, with Jordan’s wild charisma driving every scene. It’s messy, loud and defiant – and one of the boldest new British comedies in ages.

Ironheart

Tuesday, Disney+

After the events of Wakanda Forever, Riri Williams takes the MCU baton in Ironheart, a sleek new Marvel series where tech meets magic.

Dominique Throne shines as Riri, an MIT genius caught in a dangerous game with the mysterious Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos). As tensions rise between science and sorcery, Riri must build more than a super-suit – she has to build her own legacy. Big on action, packed with heart and essential for Phase Five fans, this is Marvel’s next big swing.

The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist

Wednesday, BBC3

In 2016, Kim Kardashian was tied up at gunpoint in a Paris hotel and robbed of millions in jewels – a crime that shocked the world. This gripping BBC doc unpacks the full story, from police investigations and trial footage to interviews with journalists and those close to the US reality TV star.

Revisiting that terrifying night and the global fallout, this documentary uncovers details that were kept quiet – until now. It’s glossy, revealing and surprisingly emotional.

Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges

Wednesday, BBC1

Amol Rajan embarks on a moving and personal journey to India’s Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering. Surrounded by millions of pilgrims and extraordinary rituals, he reflects on faith, family and identity – while reconnecting with his birthplace.

This isn’t just a documentary about spectacle; it’s a deep, soulful exploration of belonging and spirituality. Beautifully shot and quietly profound, this one-off hour captures something few travel shows ever do: the emotional pull of home and the power of belief.

The Bear

Thursday, Disney +

Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) is back in the kitchen for season four, and the heat is on. With the restaurant gaining momentum and the stakes rising, Carmy, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) face new hurdles that threaten to boil over.

A raw, intense exploration of ambition, grief and grit, The Bear mixes chaos and tenderness with razor-sharp precision. Get ready for more kitchen meltdowns and quiet victories in this unmissable drama.

Squid Game

Friday, Netflix

The global hit reaches its final act, and Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is out for justice. Haunted by his past and driven by grief, he sets out to destroy the Game once and for all.

But the elusive Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) has other plans, and the psychological warfare only deepens. Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, this intense, emotional conclusion delivers shocks, heart and explosive tension as Squid Game cements its place in TV history with an unforgettable final chapter.

Princess Anne: Royal Rule Breaker

Friday, 9pm, 5

She’s the monarchy’s steeliest operator and this 90-minute documentary finally gives her her due. Often overlooked but never outdone, Princess Anne has quietly become the Royal Family’s hardest grafter and boldest spirit.

From Olympic glory to diplomatic duty, this film traces her evolution from headstrong teen to pillar of the Crown. Featuring expert insight, archive footage and rare glimpses behind palace doors, it’s a tribute to a woman who plays by her own rules – and rarely puts a foot wrong.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Basketball Hall of Famer and former Lakers fan favorite Vlade Divac broke his hip Thursday when he fell from his motorcycle while riding near the Adriatic Sea coast in Montenegro.

On Friday, a spokesperson for a hospital in Risan said the 57-year-old Serbian basketball legend now has an artificial hip after emergency surgery.

“During the day, a surgical procedure was performed,” hospital spokesperson Ljubica Mitrovic said of Divac. “He is in a stable general and physical condition and is under a careful supervision of the medical staff.”

Divac, a 7-foot-1 center, was drafted by the Lakers in 1989 after leading the Yugoslavia men’s basketball team to an Olympic silver medal the previous year. He became a full-time starter during his second season as a Laker and soon emerged as a fan favorite, with frequent appearances in commercials, sitcoms and late-night talk shows.

After seven seasons with the Lakers, Divac was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for the recently drafted Kobe Bryant on July 1, 1996. (The Lakers would sign another 7-1 center, Shaquille O’Neal, as a free agent later that month.)

Divac played two seasons with the Hornets and signed with the Sacramento Kings as a free agent in 1999. He spent six years there — a stint that included his only All-Star season, in 2000-01 — before returning to the Lakers for the last of his 16 NBA seasons in 2004-05.

After finishing his career with 13,398 points, 9,326 rebounds, 3,541 assists and 1,631 blocked shots, Divac had his No. 21 jersey retired by the Kings in 2009. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Divac was the Kings’ general manager from 2015 to 2020.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Experts say many people are being drawn to the North African region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy

A surge in UK holidaymakers are swapping traditional European destinations for North Africa, according to travel firms.

Experts suggest the region’s appeal lies in its abundance of high-quality hotels that are significantly cheaper than similar properties in Spain, France and Italy. Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all seeing an influx of visitors from the UK.

Data from aviation analysts Cirium reveals that 19,847 flights are expected to serve routes from UK airports to these countries this year, more than double the 8,653 flights in 2019. In contrast, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is predicted to rise by 10% and 9% respectively over the same period.

This indicates that many holidaymakers seeking better quality accommodation without paying more are willing to endure a longer flight, despite airlines like easyJet and Ryanair offering non-reclining seats and no onboard entertainment.

READ MORE: Europe’s most visited museum shuts its doors due to overcrowding fears

Flights from Gatwick airport in West Sussex to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh take approximately five hours and 20 minutes. This means an additional hour and 45 minutes on a plane compared to trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante.

EasyJet commenced flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa, in March, marking its longest route serving England. These flights cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles in six hours and 10 minutes.

Tui, the travel company, has reported a 30% increase in bookings for summer holidays in Egypt compared to last year, from both flight-only and package holiday customers. The firm also noted “double-digit growth” for Tunisia and a strong demand for Morocco.

Chris Logan, Tui’s UK commercial director, stated that these three destinations offer “fantastic value for money”, making it difficult for traditional European destinations to compete. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: “There’s good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season.

“Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel.”

To meet the growing demand, Tui has increased its flights from the UK to North Africa this summer, introducing new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco. Booking.com, the online accommodation marketplace, reported a 68% increase in searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024.

Egypt and Morocco saw increases of 64% and 39% respectively. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at Barrhead Travel, commented that Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer “incredible value for money” which is “proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year”.

She added: “The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe.”

READ MORE: Spain warning for Brits as new holiday rule comes into force from July 1READ MORE: Brits in Benidorm warned of 3 little-known beach rules that can land them hefty fines

According to Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, “Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it’s safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years.”

She observed a “clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning”, attributing this to the ongoing cost of living pressures and reduced disposable incomes.

Lo Bue-Said noted: “This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts.”

This Balkan country has been hailed as an ‘up-and-coming’ holiday destination, and it’s easy to see why

Montenegro, a rather underappreciated jewel in the Balkans, should be on more Brits’ summer holiday shortlists. It’s an ideal spot for both beach holidays and city breaks, with direct flights from the UK to two of its cities – Tivat and Podgorica.

Touted as an ‘up and coming’ destination by Condé Nast Traveller, Montenegro caters to all sorts of holidaymakers, boasting wild beaches and hidden trails, as well as private beaches, beach clubs, and superyachts.

Plus, it’s a breathtakingly beautiful country, so you’ll have plenty of snaps to show off to your mates and social media followers.

The capital city, Podgorica, is just a direct flight away from London Gatwick, taking less than three hours.

Ideal for a city break, there’s loads to do in Podorica, from exploring the Ottoman-era neighbourhood of Stara Varoš, to taking a riverside stroll to Waterfall Niagara (not to be mixed up with the similarly named Niagara Falls on the US-Canada border).

History enthusiasts can take pleasure in wandering through the city’s historic sites, including the stunning Saborni Hram Hristovog Vaskrsenja church, or the ancient Duklja Ruins, which hark back to the Roman era, and are just a few miles from the city centre, reports the Express.

For those seeking a tranquil beach holiday, Budva is the place to be. This stunning city boasts sandy expanses and pebbly coves, bustling tourist hotspots and secluded beaches favoured by locals.

Slovenska Plaža, a popular beach near the old town, offers both public and private sections. For a more serene experience, the picturesque Mogren Beach or the somewhat secluded Ploce Beach are ideal choices.

Many of the city’s hotels and resorts also feature their own private beaches, meaning you won’t have to venture far for some sun-soaked relaxation if you’ve booked a stay in the city.

If a summer getaway isn’t your cup of tea, then consider a winter trip to the mountainous village of Kolašin for some thrilling skiing.

The Kolasin ski centre has received glowing reviews from visitors. One thrilled guest wrote: “It was amazing experience. We went there to snowboard, and it was awesome. Ski tracks were great! We will come again next year!”

Another visitor shared: “Will remember this place because my 5 and 7 y.o, kids learned to ski here. Great ski instructors Ksenija & Ivan – more than grateful for their patient approach and fun we had with them.”

A third reviewer enthused: ” What a great resort to go to. There was plenty of snow and many runs to go down. Exciting and some scary runs but didnt take long to get back into skiing after over 20 years of not doing it.”

The Love Island villa erupts tonight after the girls get to watch the boys unknowingly talk about them and date three new bombshells, with Helena stating she is ‘raging about the disrespect’

Love Island series 12 has already surprised islanders and viewers with twists and turns, including already dumping two islanders, but the villa is about to explode in a new teaser for the upcoming episode. After seeing three new bombshells enter the ‘boys night out’, the girls are fuming and it could be the last bump in the road for some couples.

The boys left the villa earlier in the day for drinks, but what they didn’t know was that the girls would be watching their every move on a giant TV back in the main villa. Shortly after they all established where they stood in their relationship, three new bombshells entered and caused a stir for the girls watching.

The three bombshells include 24-year-old teaching assistant Malisha from Broxbourne, Commercial Banking Executive Yasmin, 24, and Insurance Development Executive Emily, 24, from Aberdeen.

After the girls watched the other half of their couple flirt with the new bombshells, Helena was not best pleased and said: “My man basically saying I’m a massive red flag because of something I’ve done in the past and I’m a big party girl…?” Alima responds: “Double standards”. Helena continues and says, “I’m raging about the disrespect.”

But they don’t have long to debrief about the boys as suddenly their one-on-one dates start playing on the big screen and they rush back to secretly listen in to more chats.

Opening up to the new bombshell on what he is looking for, Harry said: “The main thing is ambition; someone that wants a family, I’m 30 and ready for it, I’ve got my s*** together.” Discussing Shakira, Harry adds: “Potentially there’s unfinished business, I think she knows that as well, it’s just not the right time. She has pride, she’s only 22, but she’s ahead of her years and has a lot of self-respect.”

Yasmin eagerly asks Harry, “Are you open to getting to know other people, or do you like what you’ve got with Helena?

The islanders then get a sneak peek into Conor’s date with bombshell Emily. Conor tells Emily: “Whatever I do, I wanna be respectful, I’m definitely going to get to know you…” Unknowing to Conor, this comment goes down well with the girls watching, with the other half of his couple, Toni, labelling him “My respectful king.”

Later, the boys and bombshells return to the Villa and spot the huge screen and quickly realise what’s been happening. The boys aren’t happy, to say the least, about the girls being a fly on the wall during their chats, as Dejon says, “boys chat stays in the boys chat!”

But it is too late for that as Helena has some beef with Harry about what he said during the boys chat, and Meg tells Dejon exactly how she’s feeling about watching his date, telling him: “You failed the test.”

Harry and Helena head to the terrace and she tells him: “I dunno where we go from here…I don’t know how we can move forward…” Meanwhile, Conor chats to Emily in the snug, as he tells her: “The vibe I’ve got, we’re on the same wavelength, everything you said – I want someone to look after me and listen to me – I feel like that’s me”.

*Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

NEWARK, N.J. — Protesters outside a New Jersey federal immigration detention center locked arms and pushed against barricades as vehicles passed through gates, inmates inside relayed word that meals had been delayed, and Newark’s mayor cited reports of a possible uprising and escape as disorder broke out at the facility.

Much is still unclear about what unfolded at the Delaney Hall facility in Newark, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement opened a 1,000-bed facility this year as part of President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

Photos and video from outside the facility Thursday show protesters pushing against the gates amid word that detainees inside were upset about delayed meals.

Amy Torres, executive director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, said some officers sprayed pepper spray and tackled and dragged protesters away from the facility. She said some protesters had minor injuries, but no one was hit by the vehicles.

An attorney for someone detained at the facility told NJ.com people inside became violent after meals were delayed.

“It’s about the food, and some of the detainees were getting aggressive and it turned violent,” attorney Mustafa Cetin said. “Based on what he told me it was an outer wall, not very strong, and they were able to push it down.”

Attorneys with clients inside Delaney Hall have had calls canceled and have not been able to get inside the facility Friday, according to Araceti Argueta, a spokesperson for the American Friends Service Committee, a nonprofit that represents immigrants.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat who’s been critical of Trump’s immigration crackdown, early Friday called for an end to this “chaos and not allow this operation to continue unchecked.”

“We are concerned about reports of what has transpired at Delaney Hall this evening, ranging from withholding food and poor treatment, to uprising and escaped detainees,” he said.

It’s unclear whether there have been any escapes.

In a statement issued Friday, American Friends Service Committee said people inside the facility reported getting small portions of food, with breakfast at 6 a.m., dinner at 10 p.m. and no lunch.

Messages seeking comment were left with ICE, the Department of Homeland Security and local police.

GEO Group, which owns the facility referred questions to ICE.

ICE housed more than 53,000 people nationwide at the end of May, its latest public figures, which is well above its budgeted capacity of about 41,000 and approaching all-time highs.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff and chief architect of Trump’s immigration policies, said late last month that ICE should make at least 3,000 arrests a day. That would mark a dramatic increase from Jan. 20 to May 19, when the agency made an average of 656 arrests a day.

Delaney Hall has been the cite of clashes this year between Democratic officials who say the facility needs more oversight and the administration and those who run the facility.

Baraka was arrested May 9, handcuffed and charged with trespassing. The charge was later dropped and Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver was later charged with assaulting federal officers stemming from a skirmish that happened outside the facility. She has denied the charges said she was doing her job as a lawmaker conducting oversight.

For years, Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee declined to publicly discuss a fateful Las Vegas trip he took in 2017 with his then-boss Mitch Englander and a trio of businessmen.

That trip led to an FBI investigation of Englander, then a City Council member, who accepted an envelope of cash in a casino bathroom from one of the businessmen and later pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators.

Last week, in court to address allegations from the L.A. Ethics Commission, Lee finally broke his silence, divulging details of the high-rolling trip and insisting that he paid for his share.

There was his comped Aria hotel room — a standard room, not a suite, he said. There was the Hakkasan Nightclub, where he sipped whiskey and danced as hostesses paraded out $8,000 bottles of booze. And there was the casino, where he played blackjack — after losing $1,000 at the baccarat table — because he preferred the lower-stakes game.

Over and over, Lee, who was then Englander’s chief of staff, denied accepting gifts in violation of city ethics laws. Under grilling by a city enforcement officer, Lee described stuffing $300 into the pocket of one of the businessmen, Andy Wang, to cover his share at the nightclub. At dinner earlier that night, he said, he paid for his own drinks.

“I believe I made a good-faith effort to repay what I consumed that night,” Lee testified.

In 2023, the Ethics Commission accused Lee, who occupies Englander’s former seat representing the northwest San Fernando Valley, of accepting “multiple gifts” in violation of ethics laws, including free hotel rooms, poker chips and food, from a businessman and a developer during the Vegas trip.

The businessman and the developer were not named in the complaint, but details indicate that one was Wang and the other was Christopher Pak, both of whom testified as witnesses.

The commission has also accused Lee of helping Englander backdate checks to repay the businessman who comped the hotel rooms.

Federal prosecutors never criminally charged Lee, and he has said he was unaware of any wrongdoing by Englander.

At the time, city officials, including high-ranking council aides, could accept gifts with a value between $50 and $470 from a single source but had to disclose them, according to city and state laws. They were not allowed to accept gifts over $470 from a single source.

The Ethics Commission alleges that Lee violated both provisions.

Attorneys for Lee, who denies the allegations, have repeatedly tried to block the commission’s case, arguing that the statute of limitations had expired.

Witness testimony concluded last week, and Administrative Law Judge Ji-Lan Zang is expected to make a recommendation about what, if any, ethics violations Lee committed.

Then, a panel of ethics commissioners will vote on whether violations occurred and what the financial penalties, if any, should be.

In 2023, Englander agreed to pay $79,830 to settle a similar Ethics Commission case.

At last week’s hearing, city enforcement officer and attorney Marian Thompson sought to cast doubt on Lee’s version of events. She zeroed in on his insistence that he joined the group at an expensive Chinese restaurant, Blossom, but didn’t eat because he arrived late.

She read aloud the bill for the nearly $2,500 dinner — Kobe beef, Maine lobster, Peking duck, sea bass and more. Surely Lee, who had previously described himself as a “meat and potatoes” guy, liked Kobe beef? Thompson asked.

Lee said he tried only the bird’s nest soup. He described taking a spoonful of someone else’s bowl and saying, “Absolutely not” — it was “gelatinous,” he told Thompson.

Lee acknowledged drinking at the restaurant, giving someone — he couldn’t remember whom — $100 to cover the tab.

According to Englander’s 2020 federal indictment, a “City Staffer B” received some of the same perks as Englander during the Vegas trip. That staffer was widely presumed to be Lee, prompting calls for the newly elected council member to resign. Since then, questions about the Vegas trip have dogged Lee, though he easily won reelection in 2024.

Englander was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison. In his plea agreement, he admitted lying repeatedly to federal investigators and receiving a combined $15,000 in cash — $10,000 in a casino bathroom in Las Vegas, plus $5,000 at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa from an unnamed businessman.

That man, Wang, ran companies that sold cabinets and home technology systems, was seeking relationships with real estate developers and others to increase his business opportunities in the city.

During his testimony last week, Lee said he followed city ethics laws during the Vegas trip. At the Aria hotel-casino, Englander showed Lee poker chips that Wang had given him, Lee testified.

“I told him immediately that he needed to give those chips back to Andy,” Lee said.

Lee also said he gave Englander a blank check with the understanding that Englander would reimburse Wang, who had comped Lee’s room.

But in a declaration in the ethics case, Englander wrote that neither he nor Lee reimbursed Wang “for any of the gifts we received at the Aria,” including the room, meals and drinks.

“While in Las Vegas, NV, Lee did not give me a check to reimburse Wang,” Englander added.

Thompson asked Lee about Englander’s statements.

“He’s lied before,” Lee replied.

In addition to Wang, two others — Michael Bai, a lobbyist who formerly worked at City Hall, and Koreatown developer Pak — came on the Vegas trip. Bai also testified as a witness last week.

Lee and Englander gave Wang separate checks for $442 on Sept. 14 that year. The ethics commission has accused Lee and Englander of backdating the checks to Aug. 4 — before they were interviewed by the FBI.

Lee disputed that during the hearing, saying he gave Englander his check on Aug. 4, after he said Englander had lost the earlier one.

At the Hakkasan club, Wang spent $24,000 on bottle service, with Pak spending an additional $10,000.

According to an estimate by the commission, the share Lee drank was worth $5,666.67.

But Lee’s attorney, Brian Hildreth, challenged that assertion. Dozens of revelers streamed through the group’s VIP booth that night, Lee and Pak both testified.

Lee said he had only two to four drinks and suggested that many people drank from the bottles.

Addressing questions about the casino, Lee acknowledged accepting $1,000 in poker chips from Wang, saying he thought he was playing on Wang’s behalf. Lee said he would have given any winnings to Wang.

But Lee testified that he didn’t know how to play baccarat and warned Wang that he wasn’t doing well, ultimately losing all the chips.

During questioning by Hildreth, Lee described withdrawing a total of $1,500 from ATMs in Vegas, with a bank statement listing the three withdrawals over two days.

Lee testified that he wanted “to make sure that I had my own money and paid for everything that I was a part of.”

Thompson pursued a counternarrative, describing the spectacle of nightclub hostesses bringing out bottles.

“You got VIP treatment?” Thompson asked.

“Treatment I’d never received before,” Lee answered.

IT IS probably the cringiest moment from Michael Owen’s long list.

But now he has broken his silence on the infamous “well done, he’s 13” gag from Neville Southall.

6

6

6

Owen featured in a Michael Owen Soccer Skills video in 1999 where he faced a young goalkeeper at an empty Stoke City stadium.

The former England striker did his best to humiliate the 13-year-old Jamie Hutchinson, who was given goalkeeping tips from Southall.

To his credit, Hutchinson did make some saves.

But the video is remembered for Owen chipping, rounding and firing past the helpless child between the sticks – before shamelessly celebrating each finish.

The laughing ex-Liverpool man clenched his fists, ran away with his arms aloft, mocked the goalkeeper for nutmegging him and pointed to his name on the back of his shirt.

But it was his embarrassing shout of “get in there – game, set and match, Owen” that triggered Southall’s brilliant quip.

Southall said: “Well done, he’s 13,” a comment which remains a viral sensation and etched into British football heritage.

But now, 26 years on, Owen has opened up on the clip – and revealed not all was quite as it seemed because he was told to play up for the cameras.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

He told talkSPORT: “I was only a couple of years older than him myself!. It’s probably funny now.

“I got back from the World Cup in 98 and there were loads of commercial opportunities, things like that. 

“I was asked to do a soccer skills video and a soccer skills book. So I had to explain, talk through finishing, volleying, heading, whatever the skill was. Inevitably, you need a goalkeeper there.

“I never picked them and so I turned up to do the show and to talk through how I see scoring a goal and what I think in certain scenarios and whatever. 

“There was a kid in goal that I had to score past and when I scored they’re like, ‘Come on, no, you need to show a bit more animation. Like celebrate when you score, this is going on a video.'”

talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein clarified: “So people don’t know this, right?”

And Owen continued: “People just laugh at you no matter what. Then they take a little extract of anything.

“There’s loads of things like that on the internet on me.”

‘NOT EXACTLY IDEAL’

Hutchinson spoke about the viral video in 2016 and admitted he knew it would not come out too well for him.

He said: “Being the goalkeeper on a programme headlined by a striker wasn’t exactly ideal for me.

“It was made clear that it wouldn’t make good filming if the goalkeeper was saving all the shots taken by the other kids after they had been coached by Michael.”

And even Southall himself did defend Owen’s actions earlier this year.

The 92-cap Wales goalkeeper – who reunited with Hutchinson a few years ago – added: “I think he was being ironic to be fair, but I think he was enjoying himself and being ironic.

“But the poor kid, he scored a squillion goals past him and I was thinking ‘give him a break’.

“On the day, Michael was okay and he’s always okay. 

“People judge him on that and that’s not him.”

6

6

6

Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood – who played Rick Hackett and his Chelsea in The White Lotus – have broken their silence months after their reported feud

Their on-screen chemistry and complicated love story left White Lotus viewers enthralled – but that didn’t help stop rumours of a backstage feud between actors Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood after one particularly awkward social media interaction.

But the pair, who played mysterious Rick Hackett and his girlfriend Chelsea, have finally spoken out – revealing why they’ve only seen each other once since season three’s February premiere.

And Walton, unable to hold back his emotions, declared “I love this woman madly” about Aimee in a bid to set the record straight.

Two months since the show’s dramatic finale, the pair have reunited for Variety magazine as they got up close and personal once again. Speaking of the moment they met for the very first time, Aimee revealed he had texted her to come over for lunch. She said: “I didn’t know what to order. I was like, ‘Can you pick for me?’ I was so nervous.”

Walton added: “The minute she walked around the corner, I felt, ‘This is gonna work. Two minutes into the conversation, it felt like I’ve known this person for 100 years.”

Despite suggestions of a feud, Walton was also very keen to reiterate that Aimee is “so important” to him as he began to choke up.

He told the magazine: “There is no feud. I adore, I love this woman madly, and she is so important to me.” Turning to Aimee, he continued: “This is Goldie Hawn. This is Meg Ryan. She can do anything, and she will. You watch what the next 20 years of her experience will be. I’ll be on an island, I think Greece. But she’s special. There is no feud. She is love and I know that I am that to her. We care about each other very deeply.”

Aimee also responded to the feud rumours and Walton unfollowing her on Instagram, which she doesn’t appear fussed about at all.

“I think it’s such a comment on where we’re at culturally. Why is everyone obsessing over Instagram? That is irrelevant. We don’t give a s***e about Instagram,” she said.

While she had initially wanted to respond to the feud claims over the following, Aimee said that she decided to just “sit back and watch these people making something out of absolutely nothing”.

Explaining further about the unfollowing, Walton – whose first wife tragically died by suicide in 2004 – suggested that he simply wasn’t good with goodbyes and unfollowed anyone who was part of the show after filming wrapped up.

In tears, he said: “I knew what we had gone through, and I knew how close that we had gotten, and I needed to begin to process saying goodbye to Rick and Chelsea.”

Walton went on to say that he had just needed to take a step back from everyone after filming ended and he hasn’t spoken to anyone as he “couldn’t handle it”. He added: “Judge me or don’t. I don’t give a f*** what you think. This is my process. Rick means everything to me, and Chelsea means everything to me.”

As the interview wrapped up, Walton declared that he would follow Aimee on Instagram again, declaring it all “ridiculous” and that he would be friends with her “for f***ing ever”.

Crying again as he hugged his former co-star, Walton added: “I’m emotional because we haven’t been in the same city to ever talk about this. So for me, this is just so wonderful.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Reaction to the news Loose Women will air only 30 weeks of the year from January irked Jane Moore, who said she was “immensely disappointed” to see pundits’ “lazy misogyny”

ITV has insisted it is not planning “radical changes” to the Loose Women line-up after it emerged some panelists were “in a state of panic and up in arms” amid the cuts bombshell.

The popular daytime programme will air for just 30 weeks each year from January, one of several changes ITV is making to “reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.” It reportedly left some Loose Women stars worried for their future, particularly Coleen Nolan, who a source had said was “shocked and blindsided” at the decision.

Her colleague Jane Moore was also furious, albeit more so at the “snooty reaction” by commentators in the media. The journalist said she felt the programme has received unfair criticism, and reminded pundits the panel regularly hold key political figures, such as Nigel Farage, held to account.

ITV has also stressed Loose Women plays an important part in its daytime schedule, and told the Mirror today that wholesale changes to the panel are unlikely. The ITV source said: “We are not planning any radical changes to the panel. All of our Loose Women are hugely valued and we celebrate each and every one and the experience and opinions they bring to the show every day.

“Many of our long standing panellists have appeared on the show for the majority of its 25 year run on screens and those stalwart, Loose legends are at the core of the show’s success and hugely popular with the audience. The show remains a big priority within our daytime slate, having secured a BAFTA nomination, launched a podcast and celebrated a milestone anniversary in the last year alone.”

READ MORE: Loose Women panellist hints at co-star rivalry as both covet role on iconic BBC show

It is thought this stance has been shared with the stars themselves, some of whom “reached out to the production team in a panic” following the announcement of the shake-up last week. Ruth Langsford and Kaye Adams were among those particularly concerned, the Mirror reported in the wake of the bombshell.

Coleen, whose sister Linda died in January, “has always really relied on Loose Women… her main income,” a source had told us. They added: “She was one of the first Loose Women and she’s always thought it would go on forever. The Loose Women ladies are all gutted. They love the show and are really dedicated to it.”

The programme, which first aired in 2000, won a Royal Television Society award earlier this year for its Facing It Together campaign against domestic violence. However, writing for The Sun this week, Jane said: “One male commentator for a broadsheet casually dismissed Loose Women — on air for 25 years — as a ‘gabfest’… The snooty reaction from some quarters was immensely disappointing.”

The journalist, in her second stint on Loose Women, reminded critics Janet Street Porter confronted then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the show, asking him: “Why do you hate pensioners?” The iconic moment in May 2024 led to his fall from power, as Labour thrashed the Conservatives in a landslide election just weeks later.

LEGENDARY racing driver Michael Schumacher’s Monaco-winning Ferrari has sold for a staggering £13.4million.

Schumi raced the F2001 to victory twice in 2001 – including the famous Monaco Grand Prix.

3

3

3

Chassis number 211 made its final appearance at the 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix where the racing legend qualified on pole position and took top step on the podium.

The icon went on to win the title that year – his fourth of seven – with a records points haul ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

The F2001’s dominance also saw Ferrari take its 11th contructors’ title.

The historic motor was sold by RM Sotheby’s for an eye-watering £13.43million.

It marks the most expensive of Schumacher’s Formula One cars to be sold at auction.

The Ferrari F2001 was a cornerstone of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari’s record-setting, multiple Formula 1 World Championship-winning pomp at the turn of the 21st Century,” the car’s listing reads.

“Chassis 211 holds the remarkable distinction of being the only Ferrari aboard which the German won both the Monaco Grand Prix and Drivers’ title in the same season, as the Scuderia clinched the 2001 Constructors’ crown.

“A two-time Grand Prix winner with a brace of World Championships to its name, chassis 211 is among the most significant of modern-day race cars.”

Schumacher’s life changed entirely after a tragic skiing crash that left him with horrific brain injuries.

The F1 legend was given the best possible treatment as he was put into a medically induced coma, had his body temperature lowered and underwent hours of tricky operations on his brain.

Back in 2013, the retired seven-time world champion, and his then 14-year-old son set off on the Combe de Saulire ski run in the exclusive French resort of Meribel.

Footage from his helmet camera revealed he was not travelling at excessive speed when his skis struck a rock hidden beneath the snow.

He catapulted forward 11.5ft and crashed into a boulder head first that split his helmet into two and left him needing to be airlifted to hospital for two life-saving operations.

At one point his family were told to brace themselves for the worst case scenario as the situation was much worse than originally believed.

At the time, medics said Schumacher was likely to stay in an induced coma for at least 48 hours as his body and mind recovered.

But the coma ended up lasting 250 days – more than eight months.

After he woke up in June 2014, he was discharged from hospital and sent to his home in Lake Geneva to get further treatment.

Since then his wife Corinna and his inner circle of friends have expertly avoided almost anything leaking out about his health status.

Only small amounts of information have been released including reports that Schumacher was in a wheelchair but can react to things around him.

In 2019, it was said that Schumacher was set to undergo breakthrough stem cell therapy in a bid to regenerate and rebuild his nervous system.

Renowned France cardiologist Dr Philippe Menasche, who had operated on him previously, was set to carry out the treatment that would see cells from his heart go to his brain.

Following the treatment at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, he was said to be “conscious”, although few other details were given about his state.

A gritty, rock-inflected comedy using the nocturnal peculiarities of Mumbai slum life as a fertile (if at times fetid) palette, British-raised Karan Kandhari’s “Sister Midnight,” about a restless young housewife’s urban malaise, easily holds your attention for long stretches when seemingly little happens, but everything feels charged.

Don’t mistake this stylish feature debut for a misery wallow, however, or some poetic character study. It’s tantalizingly oddball and indelicate: a combined daymare and night odyssey that scratches until a feral hidden strength is revealed in the misfit main character, captivatingly played by Indian star Radhika Apte.

Though the movie ultimately can’t square its episodic unpredictability with the bubbling feminist-outlaw energy at its core — not to mention the comic-book twist that shakes it all up halfway through — that’s less a bug than a feature. Like a movie DJ, Kandhari is flexing a pulpy mood of big-city dislocation, building a trippy, jarring and blackly funny experience out of a city’s stray colors, sounds and personalities.

Arriving at their one-room hovel in the dead of night, arranged-marriage newlyweds and rural transplants Uma (Apte) and Gopal (Ashok Pathak) look more like thrown-together prison cellmates adjusting to a warden’s rules than a romantic couple embracing a future together. We glean that this was a match of undesirables: the timid, sexless guy no girl wanted and the girl too outspoken to be paired.

But here they are, having to make do. Gopal at least has a job to go to, from which he often comes home hammered after drinks with colleagues. Uma, left behind in the solitude of a shack that only allows one shaft of window light, is quick to profanely protest the joyless, intimacy-challenged rut they’ve entered. Alternating between angry and exhausted, she bristles at acclimating to the domesticity that her prickly neighbor wives treat like a club handshake.

Before long, Uma’s taste for cigarettes under the moonlight turns into regular solo walks at all hours. An impulsive journey to a coastal part of town hours away leads to her taking a cleaning job in an office building (and a friendship with a glumly simpatico elevator operator). Suddenly, she’s brandishing a mop and pail everywhere like a rootless knight without a quest or a horse. Then there’s a cryptic street encounter with a goat and things get even weirder. But also, somehow, more validating.

Kandhari, with his hypnotic Wes Anderson-by-way-of-David Lynch widescreen framing and deliberate tracking shots, seems more concerned with capturing something liminal in Uma’s alternative existence, as if the city were just weird and oppressive enough to tease out any transformation that was already lying dormant. (By the time the movie introduces stop-motion creatures roaming the streets, you’ve been primed to think, “Sure, why not?”)

A mischievously off-the-wall exercise like “Sister Midnight” (which eventually embraces some gnarlier elements) needs a certain steam to keep up its deadpan wildness. Kandhari is blessed in that regard with an active visual curiosity about his cracked fable’s punk potential, helped by Sverre Sørdal’s humid cinematography and a game lead in Apte, whose middle-finger energy is sometimes hilariously offset by a wonderful silent-film-star haplessness.

One wishes it all held together a little more, instead of laying seeds that tend to sprout vibes and distractions instead of an illuminating cohesiveness. Kandhari will too often keep Uma in cartoon rebel-goddess mode, needle-dropping another classic rock cut as if daring us to accept Motorhead or Buddy Holly as the only viable soundtrack for what’s going on. But those elements are a kick, too.

Of course, the title “Sister Midnight” is an Iggy Pop staple. “What can I do about my dreams?” it growls, an apt lyric for the singularly inventive and unmanageable fever of a movie that shares its name.

GARY NEVILLE has unleashed a scathing attack on Nottingham Forest after being banned from the City Ground for Sunday’s clash with Chelsea.

Man Utd legend Neville, 50, has been denied accreditation for Sunday’s Champions League decider as his feud with Forest rages on.

2

2

Just two weeks ago, Neville slammed Evangelos Marinakis’ ‘scandalous’ on-pitch row with manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Taking to Instagram on Friday night, Neville said: “I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea match.

“I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I’ve had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.

“I’ve dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action.”

He continued: “Personally, I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision.

“Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it’s symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club.

“I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football.”

Sky chiefs are furious and are standing with Neville following Forest’s decision, and have totally revised their coverage plans for the final game of the season.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

A spokesperson told SunSport: “Sky Sports was subsequently informed by Nottingham Forest that Gary Neville would be denied accreditation to the match.

“This was an unprecedented and unwelcome step.

“As a result, Sky Sports has decided to revise its production plans and has taken the decision to present the game from Sky Studios in west London.”

The ban comes two weeks after Neville labelled Marinakis’ heated discussion with Nuno “absolutely scandalous”.

While co-commentating on the game, Neville fumed: “What the Forest owner has just done on the pitch over at the City Ground is absolutely scandalous.

“If I was Nuno, I’d be going and having a very strong word with him, because that is an absolute scandal.”

Marinakis claims he lost his temper over striker Taiwo Awoniyi being forced to play on while injured.

Awoniyi collided with a post late in the draw with Leicester and was later placed in an induced coma.

Forest later addressed the incident in a statement, writing on X: “Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again – a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion.

“With two more games to go in the Premier League, we must keep believing and keep dreaming, right to the final kick in the final game.

“We are extremely proud and close to Nuno and the team, and we must all celebrate the historic achievements of this season.

“Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgement on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game.

“This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming.”

CHRIS Hughes’ brother Ben has broken his silence on the star’s budding romance with JoJo Siwa after their cosy display.

The pair shared a series of intimate snaps with one another after reuniting in Mexico and Florida to celebrate JoJo turning 22 – three weeks on from their Celebrity Big Brother stint.

5

5

5

They have continued to keep tongues wagging over the status of their VERY close friendship ever since leaving the house.

It appears that Chris’ brother Ben has also given them his seal of approval.

He left a very telling comment under Chris’ Instagram post all about JoJo.

Ben wrote to his brother: “Nice to see a smile on your face.”

He followed it up with two blue love heart emojis as he appeared to throw his full support behind the budding connection.

It comes as JoJo gave Chris a shoutout live on stage in another moment which continues to fuel romance rumours.

During her latest gig, JoJo was singing the famous song Bette Davis Eyes.

In a VERY telling moment, JoJo could be seen looking to the side of the stage where Chris, who had previously been spotted backstage, was believed to be standing.

Instead of singing, “she’s got Betty Davis eyes”, the YouTube star sang; “Chris Hughes‘ eyes”.

The crowd could be then be heard cheering their approval.

The smitten star posted the clip on Instagram, and her fans went wild.

Chris, 32, made the 12-hour trip from the UK on the weekend to support JoJo, 22, as she performed to screaming fans in Mexico City.

JoJo Siwa and Kath Ebbs’ relationship

We look back at JoJo Siwa’s romance with Kath Ebbs:

JoJo Siwa went public with hers and Kath Ebbs’ relationship in January 2025.

The Dance Moms star had been introduced to 27-year-old Australian content creator Kath by a mutual friend called G-Flip six months earlier.

JoJo had split with her girlfriend Dakayla Wilson in November 2024 and it is believed she hooked up romantically with Kath soon after.

Speaking in March at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, JoJo said of her relationship: “I am so happy. I am in a very mature relationship, and it’s beautiful. It’s taught me so much about life.

“It’s taught me so much about love and respect, and it’s a beautiful thing.

“It’s different in more ways than I can count. I wouldn’t even know what to say the biggest is ‘cause just everything is so different and special.”

Kath even claimed they had talked about marriage together.

However, JoJo’s romance with Kath abruptly hit the skids on April 25, 2025, at the Celebrity Big Brother wrap party.

JoJo dumped Kath at the bash after spending 19 days in the CBB house – where she had grown close to Love Island star Chris Hughes.

5

5

Matthew Wolfenden has spoken for the first time about being suspended from his role on ITV’s Emmerdale after appearing to mimic a Chinese accent on the set

Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden has revealed why he was suspended from the ITV soap opera and how it saw him suffer a nervous breakdown. The actor who plays local businessman David Metcalfe vanished from screens in 2021 alongside his co-star, Isabel Hodgins, who plays Victoria Sugden, leaving fans baffled.

At the time, it was reported that the pair had been embroiled in a heated row while filming scenes for Super Soap Week in the same year. Reports claimed that the pair came to blows while filming a scene which involved a waterfall, which aired on October 19, 2021. However, it later emerged that the soap had launched an investigation following claims of a race row.

But until now, Matthew, 45, has remained tight-lipped about his exit from the soap and has confirmed it came after they were accused of mimicking a Chinese accent around the workplace. “We were falsely accused of doing an accent on set,” he said.

Matthew went on to explain: “Whenever the word race is used, they have to take it seriously.” He explained that a young cast member had mistakenly thought they’d heard the pair putting on a Chinese accent and later complained to a producer about the incident.

He stated that the younger cast member told a producer they were “not very happy” about what they had heard on the set of the Yorkshire-based soap opera. “So, because of this, we did have to get suspended because as soon as that’s an issue, they have to go down the correct routes while they investigate what happens,” Matthew said.

Speaking on Lewis Nicholls Life Stories, he went on to say: “Unfortunately when you get suspended from a continuing drama, you have to get written out of storylines and that is not an easy process because the storylines are written six weeks in advance, you film six weeks in advance and then it’s on screen.

“So even if you’re off for two weeks that could be three months of not being on screen.” He said that he and Isabel had worked together a lot in the lead up to the suspension due to their characters being in a relationship and the pair loved watching comedies.

“So we were sat one day talking about what comedies we loved to watch and we were doing scenes, mimicking the scenes, doing the lines from the scenes,” he said. He went on to add: “And I said to her, ‘Have you ever seen the League of Gentlemen?’

“And there’s a scene in the League of Gentlemen where Reece Shearsmith dresses up as a lady called Pam Doove and it’s called the Orange Juice Scene if anyone wants to Google it and see what I mean. And he’s playing an actress who comes into an audition room and is very eloquent – it’s an old acting joke – and then the director says, ‘Go out of the room and come back in and say ‘Has anyone got a bottle of orange juice?’ for an audition. [She returns and does it in a different accent]. “

He stated that the younger star had overheard the conversation and assumed that Matthew was mimicking the Chinese accent, which led to him being suspended over the alleged “race row”. Matthew claims that bosses behind the soap urged him not to speak out publicly about the reason behind his suspension.

He told the podcast he “didn’t have a leg to stand on” as the Emmerdale press team had instructed him to “stay quiet.” Despite this, Matthew stated he was desperate to tell the truth and found it “difficult” not to speak out over an accusation of something he hadn’t done.

He later explained he became unwell due to the mounting stress and suffered a nervous breakdown. “I ended up in The Priory for a month,” he said. Matthew feared he’d lose his job and ended up hitting a “big spiral down” following the rumours. Despite his suspension, Matthew returned to the programme, but fortunately for him, the cast member who made the claim left while he was absent.

Matthew’s character eventually left Emmerdale in 2023 after two decades on the soap. It was initially suggested that David could be killed off after Matthew expressed an interest in taking on other roles. However, David didn’t die and he instead left to be with his ex Priya and their daughter Amba after learning that his son Jacob had fallen for his former partner Victoria. He couldn’t cope with the new romance and decided he had no choice but to make his departure from the Dales, leaving both Jacob and Pollard devastated.

If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email [email protected]

The Mirror approached Emmerdale for comment.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

A small town in western France has set a new world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Smurfs, organisers say, with more than 3,000 participants counted over the weekend.

Landerneau, a town of 16,000 in Brittany’s far west, had twice previously attempted to claim the record from Lauchringen, a German town that brought together 2,762 Smurfs in 2019.

But on Saturday, the French enthusiasts finally broke through, assembling 3,076 people clad in blue outfits, faces painted, donning white hats and singing “smurfy songs”.

The Smurfs – created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958 and known as “Schtroumpfs” in French – are tiny, human-like beings who live in the forest.

The beloved characters have since become a global franchise, spawning films, television series, advertising, video games, theme parks and toys.

“A friend encouraged me to join and I thought: ‘Why not?’” said Simone Pronost, 82, dressed as a Smurfette.

Albane Delariviere, a 20-year-old student, made the journey from Rennes, more than 200km (125 miles) away, to join the festivities.

“We thought it was a cool idea to help Landerneau out,” she said.

Landerneau’s mayor, Patrick Leclerc, also in full Smurf attire, said the event “brings people together and gives them something else to think about than the times we’re living in”.

Pascal Soun, head of the association behind the gathering, said the event “allows people to have fun and enter an imaginary world for a few hours”.

Participants were relieved to have good weather, after last year’s attempt was hampered by heavy rain that deterred many from attending.

JUSTIN Bieber has broken his silence on explosive rumours that he was abused by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

Hip-hop star Diddy, 55, whose sex trafficking trial kicked off this week, infamously hosted a teenage Justin at his home in 2009.

5

5

And since the rap mogul’s arrest last year, unfounded gossip online has linked the Canadian singer reported mental health problems with his former mentor’s alleged crimes.

Sean Combs – who is charged with sex trafficking and prostitution – strongly denies all allegations of misconduct.

Now, Justin, 31, has released a statement refuting claims he was targeted by the rapper.

A spokesperson told TMZ: “Although Justin is not among Sean Combs’ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him.

“Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve.”

Last year, video emerged of Diddy and Justin spending “48 hours” together.

Fans online branded the clip “disturbing” considering the 24-year age gap between the pair.

Justin also sang on Combs’ 2023 record The Love Album: Off The Grid which sources now say the pop superstar deeply regrets.

A source told the Mail Online: “He was featured on Diddy’s most recent album, and had he known any of this, there is no way he would have done it.”

This comes as Combs’s ex Cassie Ventura claims she had sex for up to four days with male escorts while living in fear that he would beat her.

The pregnant 38-year-old told a court: “You make the wrong face . . . then I was getting hit in the face.”’

Singer Cassie said she was a sexual novice when she fell in love with Diddy having been won over by his huge wealth and charm.

Within a year, she said she agreed to marathon “freak off” sex sessions with strangers to prove her love and keep him happy.

But Cassie told the court in New York how she began to experience a different side of Diddy — what she called “his abusive side”.

She added: “Very controlling over my life, the things I wanted to do . . . but there’s still love there.

“Control was everything from the way I looked, what I was working on that day, who I was speaking to.

“You make the wrong face and the next thing I knew I was getting hit in the face.”

Cassie testified despite being eight-and-a-half months pregnant with her third child with husband, Alex Fine, a personal trainer hired by Combs to work with her.

She said she was 19 when the rapper signed her on a ten-record deal to his Bad Boy Records label in 2006.

P Diddy, who denies all the charges, faces life imprisonment if convicted.

5

5

5