White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood will no longer front the Marks & Spencer Christmas advert despite being involved in the promotional clip in August
12:09, 07 Nov 2025Updated 12:09, 07 Nov 2025
Aimee Lou Wood (Image: Getty Images)
Aimee Lou Wood has been ‘dropped by M&S’, according to reports. The White Lotus star was set to be the face of the new Marks and Spencer Christmas advert, but appears to have been cut from the production.
The claim comes after the retail giants are said to have initially wooed the 31-year-old actress with a huge fee. Any appearance would have seen her follow the likes of Hannah Waddingham and Sophie Ellis-Bextor in featuring in the festive fun.
However, despite appearing in the promo clip in August, Aimee is thought to have been removed by the brand who have reportedly chosen to go in a different direction.
A spokesperson for M&S told Mail Online: “We really enjoyed working with Aimee Lou Wood during the early stages of this year’s Christmas campaign – she brought great energy and creativity to the process.
“As the campaign evolved, we started to embed a new product-focused strategy under new leadership. So, rather than a single-hero advert, the campaign was reshaped around a series of festive films and influencer content-drops aligned to key seasonal shopping moments – from gifting and hosting to partywear – delivered through a social-first, multi-channel approach across social media, digital, out-of-home and print.”
It could be seen as a blow for the Stockport-born actress. However, after finding fame in Netflix’s comedy drama Sex Education, she has continued to go from strength to strength before the M&S dropping.
She also portrayed Chelsea in the third series of the Sky Atlantic drama last year. It’s thought she had signed a deal to lead the M&S ad in the summer. But with a change in direction, comes new faces.
It comes as the eagerly anticipated John Lewis advert received a mixed response. It was attempting to pull at the heartstrings with its latest offering that focuses on a father and son struggling to find the words to say how much they care about each other.
That all changes when Dad finds a present addressed to him while packing away the wrapping paper for another year on Christmas morning. This year the famous advert is soundtracked by 90s dance icon Alison Limerick’s hit Where Love Lives, with a newly reimagined version by globally acclaimed artist and producer Labrinth also featuring.
However, while some shed a tear, others blasted the production as “Depressing, boring and not very Christmassy!”
“Just seen the John Lewis Christmas advert,” one user wrote on Twitter/X. “Thought it was dull, depressing, boring and not very Christmassy,”
Another posted on the platform: “The John Lewis Christmas Advert is TERRIBLE!!! What a bunch of nonsense. Unimaginative, unfestive, rubbish. Bring back Moz the Monster or Edgar the Dragon!! #JohnLewisChristmasAdvert #JohnLewis #Rubbish.”
A third was left conflicted, writing: “John Lewis ad 2025 – I’m not sure, it’s underlying message of father son communication is great, but it’s portrayed in such a dark way, you don’t know what’s happening, it’s very vague, and not very festive at all, bordering on depressing even!”
It was one of the most dramatic protests in Los Angeles by activists who opposed Israel’s war in Gaza: a shutdown of the southbound lanes of the 110 Freeway as it passes through downtown.
In a chaotic scene captured by news helicopters, protesters sat down on the freeway in December 2013, halting traffic just south of the four-level interchange. On live television, enraged motorists responded by getting into physical altercations with demonstrators.
Los Angeles City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto’s office later charged many of the protesters with unlawful assembly, failure to disperse, failure to comply with a lawful order and obstruction of a street, sidewalk or other public corridor — all misdemeanors.
On Monday, after a lengthy legal battle, a judge agreed to put 29 protesters into a 12-month diversion program, which requires that each performs 20 hours of community service.
If they complete that service and obey the law, the charges will be dismissed in October 2026, said Colleen Flynn, the protesters’ attorney.
In court Monday, Flynn praised her clients for taking a stand, motivated by a moral duty to “bring attention to the loss of life and humanitarian crisis going on in Gaza.”
“These are people who were, out of conscience, making a decision to engage in an act of civil disobedience,” she told the judge.
Two others charged in connection with the protest were granted judicial diversion earlier this year and have already completed their community service. The charges against them have been dismissed, Flynn said.
Flynn initially asked for the 29 protesters to each receive eight hours of community service. City prosecutors successfully pushed for 20 hours, saying the political reason for the protest had no bearing on the case. Deputy City Atty. Brad Rothenberg told the judge that the freeway closure lasted about four hours.
“That affected thousands of people who come to the second largest city in the United States to work,” he said.
The hearing brought a quiet end to a furious legal battle.
Flynn spent several months pushing for the case to be dismissed, arguing that Feldstein Soto’s decision to charge the protesters was rooted in “impermissible bias” — religious or ethnic prejudice against Palestinians and their supporters.
At multiple hearings, Flynn said her clients experienced disparate treatment compared to other protesters who also disrupted traffic but were highlighting different political issues, such as higher wages for hotel workers. Flynn also pointed to social media posts by Feldstein Soto on Oct. 7, 2023, the day Hamas-led militants invaded Israel, murdering more than 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250 others.
“Every nation and every moral person must support Israel in defending her people,” Feldstein Soto wrote on her @ElectHydee page.
Last month, a judge denied Flynn’s request to dismiss the case. At that hearing, prosecutors said the protesters were charged because they shut down a freeway, creating a particular threat to public safety.
Prosecutors argued that a motorcycle traveling between traffic lanes at a high rate of speed easily could have plowed into freeway protesters who were sitting cross-legged on the pavement.
Prosecutors also defended Feldstein Soto’s social media posts, saying they were written on the day of the invasion, before Israel had launched its counterattack. At that point, Feldstein Soto was expressing outrage over a horrific day of violence, the prosecutors said.
Since then, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, a majority of whom were women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.
BBC Radio 2 listeners have been left convinced a radio host accidentally dropped the C-bomb live on air.
An unfortunate slip of the tongue appeared to hit the radio airwaves this morning – but did you hear it?
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BBC Radio 2’s Gary Davies appeared to drop the C Bomb on airCredit: Not known, clear with picture deskHe had a slip of the tongue live on airCredit: WARNING: Use of this image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures’ Digital Picture
Gary Davies was live on air sitting in for Vernon Kay on his mid-morning show when the moment occurred.
The host appeared to trip over his words which left many to question if he accidentally dropped the C-word on air.
In the moment, Gary could be heard talking about the lyrics of one of the songs from band, The Divine Comedy.
The radio host said: “Check this one out, which has one of the best lines from a song ever.”
1 of 2 | Christopher Berry arrived at the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, in London, in May 2024. He and Christpher Cash were charged with spying for China, but their charges have been dropped. File Photo by Andy Rain/EPA
Oct. 8 (UPI) — A British spying case against two men collapsed just before going to trial for lack of evidence because the United Kingdom hadn’t labeled China as an “enemy,” the country’s top prosecutor said.
Stephen Parkinson, U.K. director of public prosecutions, said that while there was evidence to prosecute at the time charges were filed, there was a precedent set by another spying case earlier this year that changed the rules of evidence under the Official Secrets Act.
He said that China would have to be labeled a “threat to national security” at the time of the crimes. During that time, the government labeled China an “epoch-defining challenge.”
Christopher Berry, 33, of Oxfordshire, and Christopher Cash, 30, of Whitechapel and London, were charged with official secrets act offenses in April 2024. Cash is a former parliamentary researcher and Berry is a teacher.
Officials alleged that from Dec. 28, 2021, through Feb. 3, 2023, Berry was involved in spying activities for China, including obtaining, collecting, recording and other activities. Cash was accused of spying from Jan. 20, 2022, through Feb. 3, 2023. They both have denied wrongdoing.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government’s description of China could not change retrospectively and had to be based on the position of the government when the crimes happened.
“Now that’s not a political to and fro, that’s a matter of law. You have to prosecute people on the basis of the circumstances at the time of the alleged offense,” Starmer told reporters. “So all the focus needs to be on the policy of the Tory government in place then.”
At a Conservative party conference, leader Kemi Badenoch said that the Labour party “deliberately collapsed the trial” because “the prime minister wants to suck up to Beijing.”
Starmer’s government has strongly denied these allegations.
“It is extremely disappointing that these individuals will not face trial,” it said. “Any attempt by a foreign power to infiltrate our parliament or democracy is unacceptable.”
The Chinese Embassy in London has called the allegations fabricated and dismissed them as “malicious slander.”
WHEN Shirley Bartram began suffering severe pain in her left side, coupled with vomiting, a raised heart rate and the inability to pass urine for 12 hours, she rushed to hospital where she was diagnosed with a suspected kidney infection.
But an “antibiotics mistake” led to the gran and mum-of-four’s fingers and toes turning black and suddenly “dropping off”.
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Shirley Bartram with daughter KellyCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
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The gran was placed in an induced coma for four weeks – her health deteriorated after a kidney infection and she developed life-threatening sepsisCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
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When she woke up from the coma her hands and feet had started to dieCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
While at hospital, the 69-year-old, from Gravesend, was prescribed intravenous antibiotics to treat her UTI, but was discharged just a few hours later and sent home with oral antibiotics instead.
Shirley’s condition then deteriorated quickly and the gran ended up being placed into an induced coma for four weeks.
It was when she woke up that the tissue in her hands and feet had started to die – as she had developed life-threatening sepsis.
“Before all this happened, I was independent and active,” Shirley, a former carer, said.
“Now I struggle with the simplest things that many people take for granted.
“Holding a pen is impossible and I need help with things I used to do without thinking – buttoning clothes, washing my hair, preparing meals.
“I can’t manage stairs without help.
“Walking is painful and exhausting.
“I wear a brace on my left foot to try and stop it catching, but I still fall over.
“I can just about walk to the local shop aided with a walking stick and also some trips out to the cinema – but I am sometimes limited.”
I thought I had a winter cold then I woke from a coma about to lose my legs
After Shirley had been discharged from hospital, she was sick through the night
She was then re-admitted the next afternoon in September 2022.
It was then she was diagnosed with sepsis, which is believed to have been caused by her kidney infection.
Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection.
The infection-fighting processes turn on the body, causing the organs to work poorly.
Sepsis may then lead to septic shock, which is a dramatic drop in blood pressure than can dam,age the lungs, kidneys, liver and other organs.
If the damage is severe, it can lead to death.
In total, Shirley spent four weeks in intensive care and nine weeks in hospital.
Now, she only has her fourth and little finger remaining on her right hand, with her index finger and little finger lost on her left.
Her toes are gradually self-amputating and bones in the feet have also changed shape.
‘It’s not just the physical toll, it’s the emotional one too’
Shirley, who lives with her daughter, Kelly, 47, is suffering from repeated swelling in her right hip because of infections and has experienced leaking from a wound in her top right leg.
Metalwork from a previous hip displacement has loosened as a result and it’s a waiting game while doctors try to find a solution.
She said: “It’s not just the physical toll, it’s the emotional one too.
“[…] I feel very self-conscious about my hands.
“I can’t thank Kelly enough for everything she does for me, but it’s upsetting to think about what has happened and how much independence I’ve lost.
“It’s hard to accept.
I just hope that by sharing my story, I can raise awareness of how dangerous sepsis is so others don’t have to go [and] endure what I have
Shirley Bartram
“I’m still concerned whether everything possible was done to prevent what happened to me and the least I feel I deserve is answers.
“However, I just hope that by sharing my story, I can raise awareness of how dangerous sepsis is so others don’t have to go [and] endure what I have.”
Shirley has instructed medical negligence lawyers, Irwin Mitchell, to investigate her care at Darent Valley Hospital.
Josh Beszant, a specialist medical negligence lawyer representing Shirley, said: “The last few years and coming to terms with her life-changing injuries has been incredibly difficult for Shirley.
“She was previously very independent but has now lost this and is more reliant on her family.
“While the Trust has admitted that intravenous antibiotics should have been given, but were not, Shirley firmly believes more should have been done to help and monitor her during her first hospital visit.
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Shirley only has her fourth and little finger remaining on her right hand, with her index finger and little finger lost on her leftCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
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Her toes are gradually self-amputating and bones in the feet have also changed shapeCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
“Nothing can make up for what she’s been through, but we’re determined to secure Shirley with access to the specialist support and therapies she requires.
“We call on the Trust to resolve the remaining issues in this case, allowing Shirley to focus on her rehabilitation.
“In the meantime, we join her in warning of the dangers of sepsis and the need for everyone to be aware of the signs.
“Sepsis is a medical emergency with early detection and appropriate treatment vital to preventing serious injury and even death.”
A spokesperson for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said: “Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is very sorry for the distress and complications experienced by Ms. Bartram and her family.
“We recognise how deeply personal and difficult this is for everyone involved.
What causes sepsis?
Any type of infection can lead to sepsis, this includes bacterial, viral or fungal infections.
Those that more commonly cause sepsis include infections of:
Lungs, such as pneumonia.
Kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system.
Digestive system.
Bloodstream.
Catheter sites.
Wounds or burns.
Some factors may increase the risk infection will lead to sepsis. These include:
People over age 65.
Infancy.
People with lower immune response, such as those being treated for cancer or people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Admission to intensive care unit or longer hospital stays.
Devices that go in the body, such as catheters in the vein, called intravenous, or breathing tubes.
Treatment with antibiotics in the last 90 days.
A condition that requires treatment with corticosteroids, which can lower immune response.
Sepsis needs treatment in hospital straight away because it can get worse quickly.
You should get antibiotics within one to six hours of arriving at hospital.
If sepsis isn’t treated early, it can turn into septic shock and cause your organs to fail, which is life-threatening.
Source: Mayo Clinic
“While legal proceedings are ongoing, and to respect patient confidentiality, we cannot comment on individual clinical details.
“However, we have acknowledged shortcomings in certain aspects of the care provided, and we are fully cooperating with the legal process that will determine cause and effect.
“We remain committed to learning and strengthening our procedures to ensure the highest standards of safety and care for all our patients.
“We actively support national initiatives to raise awareness of the signs of sepsis.
“Early recognition and prompt treatment are vital, and we remain dedicated to working with our staff and the wider community to promote greater understanding of this serious condition.”
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
MP Materials had better check its rearview mirror: A new threat has just appeared.
MP Materials (MP -10.99%) stock tumbled 9% through 3 p.m. ET Friday after London’s Financial Times reported on a potential competitive threat to MP’s vast investments (already made) in reviving the American rare earth mining industry, and capacity to produce rare earth magnets domestically.
Image source: Getty Images.
Could Niron replace MP?
Automotive giants Stellantis and General Motors, along with Volvo and Samsung, are investing $150 million in a start-up called Niron Magnetics, which aims to make magnets from common elements such as iron and nitrogen — rather than rare earth elements (which aren’t exactly rare, but can be hard to refine). Various U.S. government agencies have granted the company nearly $70 million more in tax credits and other subsidies.
Niron is building an iron nitride magnetics factory in Minnesota, capable of producing 1,500 tons of magnets annually, and says its magnets will be 18% more powerful than certain — much more expensive — rare earth magnets.
Is MP Materials stock a sell?
I wouldn’t panic just yet, however. While Niron’s magnets have been reported to be better than some of the best rare earth magnets, this appears based on lab reports at present, and the company hasn’t yet proven it can produce magnets of the reported superiority, at scale, and at affordable prices.
It’s also worth noting that while Niron has attracted substantial support from government and industry, so too has MP Materials — up to and including the U.S. government taking an equity stake in the company. And MP Materials has a huge lead in building out mining and manufacturing operations to support production of its own magnets.
True, if all of Niron’s claims prove out, there could be risk to MP here. But it’s a big “if,” and too soon to tell just how big of a risk.
Rich Smith has positions in Stellantis. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors, MP Materials, and Stellantis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Shares of BigBear.ai (BBAI -4.94%), which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help crunch large piles of data for its customers, tumbled in afternoon trading Thursday — on no obvious news.
As of 1:55 p.m. ET, the stock is down 7.1%.
Image source: Getty Images.
BigBear’s big news
BigBear.ai calls itself “a leading provider of mission-ready AI solutions and services for defense, national security, and critical infrastructure,” delivering “predictive analytics” to help users make decisions about complex data sets. As an example of its work, BigBear confirmed earlier this week that it’s playing a role in the Navy’s ongoing UNITAS 2025 maritime exercises, using AI tools to “improve coordination, decision-making, and threat detection in vast maritime operation zones where counter-narcotics, human trafficking, and arms smuggling are key concerns.”
That news helped propel BigBear to its highest stock price since mid-July, nearly $8 per share. However, while good PR for BigBear, the company’s press release didn’t mention any particular revenue benefit from its role — or make any promises that cooperation with the Navy will grow its business significantly.
Is BigBear.ai stock a buy?
This could be a problem for BigBear, which isn’t living up to its billing as a growth stock. Over the past five years BigBear’s grown revenue barely 1% per year, even as losses mount and cash burns down.
The good news for investors is that, with $390 million in the bank and only $113 million in debt, BigBear can continue consuming cash for more than a decade at its current burn rate (less than $28 million per year).
The bad news is that most analysts expect BigBear’s cash-burn rate to accelerate rather than holding steady, and indeed nearly double over the next two years. If this is how things play out, it’s probably best to be bearish on BigBear stock.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Micron’s headline numbers looked strong last night, but be careful to read the fine print.
Micron Technology (MU -2.83%) stock fell 2.8% through 3:15 p.m. ET Wednesday despite beating earnings and giving strong guidance last night.
Heading into its fiscal fourth-quarter 2025 report, analysts forecast Micron would earn $2.86 per share on $11.2 billion in revenue. In fact, Micron earned $3.03 per share (adjusted for one-time items) in the period ended Aug. 28, and sales were $11.3 billion. Management forecast strong sequential growth in both sales and profits in fiscal Q1 2026.
Image source: Getty Images.
Micron Q4 earnings
Despite investors giving Micron stock the cold shoulder today, Micron’s numbers looked red-hot. Quarterly sales grew 45% year over year. Gross profit margin gained nearly 10 full percentage points, rising to 44.7%, and operating margin gained 12 points to 32.3%.
On the bottom line, earnings as calculated according to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) rose to $2.83 — not quite as good as the adjusted earnings, but still more than triple what Micron earned a year ago.
For the full year fiscal 2025, Micron booked $37.4 billion in revenue (49% sales growth), and earned $7.59 per share.
Is Micron stock a buy?
So why are investors upset with the results? Here’s one possibility: Although not highlighted in the report, buried deep within the cash-flow statement it appears that while Micron delivered powerful operating cash flow in fiscal 2025 — $17.5 billion, or more than twice the cash generated in fiscal 2024 — Micron then had to turn around and spend almost all its cash on capital expenditures.
The company still ended up with positive free cash flow for the year, but only $1.7 billion. Turns out, for every $1 in GAAP profit the company earned, it generated only $0.20 in real cash profit.
With numbers like those, I might be tempted to sell Micron stock myself.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Momentum traders love D-Wave Quantum Computing — and so does Wall Street. But are they both wrong?
Point — counterpoint.
Last week, I highlighted the astounding share price rise of quantum computing company D-Wave Quantum (QBTS -5.84%), which gained a terrific 52% over the course of the week, ending with a nearly 12% rise on Friday alone. Unimpressed, I argued that in the absence of real revenue and profits, D-Wave Quantum looked like a “speculative” investment good only for “momentum traders” — and warned that “serious investors should probably stay away.”
On Monday, D-Wave stock is tumbling — down 6.7% through 10 a.m. ET — and it kind of looks like I was right to warn investors to steer clear of the profitless quantum computing stock.
But what if I was wrong?
Image source: Getty Images.
B. Riley loves D-Wave Quantum stock
That’s the question we need to consider after investment bank B. Riley raised its price target on D-Wave Quantum stock by an aggressive 50%, to $33 per share.
According to the bank’s analyst, quantum “technology and commercial progress is outpacing B. Riley’s prior positive views.” As TheFly.com reports, the Department of Energy’s National Labs in particular are pushing companies to develop commercial quantum computing products, and as a result, the “former frontier technology is rapidly advancing toward integrated capability and commerciality.”
Is D-Wave stock a sell?
So the government wants commercial quantum computing. Great. That does not mean it will get it. What’s (still) missing from B. Riley’s positive write-up are hard numbers suggesting D-Wave Quantum will enjoy significant revenue or any profits in the near future.
D-Wave stock now trades at an insane 412 times trailing revenue. And even valued on optimistic analyst estimates from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the stock trades at 28 times the revenue it might (or might not) collect way out in 2030 — and 1,701 times its projected 2030 earnings.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suggested that he is open to talks with the US if Washington stops insisting that his country give up its nuclear weapons.
“If the United States drops the absurd obsession with denuclearising us and accepts reality, and wants genuine peaceful coexistence, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the United States,” Kim said in a speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang on Sunday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
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The North Korean leader also commented on US President Donald Trump, whom he met three times during Trump’s first presidency, saying: “Personally, I still have fond memories of US President Trump.”
Kim’s comments come after both Trump and South Korean leader Lee Jae-myung expressed their willingness to meet with their North Korean counterpart at a meeting at the White House last month.
“Someday, I’ll see him. I look forward to seeing him. He was very good with me,” Trump said at the time, adding that he knew Kim, whose family has ruled North Korea for three generations, “better than anybody, almost, other than his sister”.
Lee, who has been vocally supportive of thawing relations with his country’s northern neighbour since taking office in June, said at the same meeting that he hoped the US president would “build a Trump Tower” in North Korea “so that I can play golf there”.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump inside the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating South and North Korea on June 30, 2019, in Panmunjom, South Korea [Handout: Dong-A Ilbo via Getty Images]
Despite overtures from Lee and Trump, North Korea has been critical of joint military drills between the US and South Korea, with Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, describing them as a “reckless” invasion rehearsal.
A more realistic goal
In recent interviews with the BBC and the Reuters news agency, Lee has also expressed an openness to negotiating his country’s stance on North Korea’s nuclear weapons.
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Lee said he would be open to a more “realistic” goal of North Korea agreeing to stop acquiring more nuclear weapons, rather than continuing with “fruitless attempts” at making it give up its existing arsenal.
“So long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearisation, I believe there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development,” Lee said.
In an interview with Reuters, also published on Sunday, Lee acknowledged that sanctions had ultimately failed to deter Pyongyang, which today is adding an estimated 15 to 20 nuclear weapons to its arsenal every year.
“The reality is that the previous approach of sanctions and pressure has not solved the problem; it has worsened it,” Lee said.
Addressing the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang on Sunday, Kim also said that sanctions had only made his country stronger and more resilient, despite reports that the nation of some 26 million people has long suffered from a food crisis.
“There will never be, and will never ever be for eternity, any negotiations with enemies of exchanging some things out of some obsession with lifting sanctions,” Kim said.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Beijing, China, on September 3, 2025 [Rao Aimin/Xinhua/EPA]
The United Nations imposed sanctions on North Korea for pursuing its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes close to 20 years ago.
But Kim Jong Un last year promised to “exponentially” boost his nation’s nuclear arsenal to defend itself against “hostile” forces.
The push comes as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) Yearbook warned in its latest annual report that the world is at risk of a new arms race among the nine nuclear-armed states: China, France, Israel, India, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US.
Meanwhile, Kim’s signalling of an openness to meeting with Washington comes after he met with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, and Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, in Beijing earlier this month for a military parade marking 80 years since the end of World War II.
In comments apparently addressed to Xi regarding the Beijing celebrations, Trump said on his Truth Social platform: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America.”
Sept. 10 (UPI) — Wholesale prices dropped just a bit in August, potentially allowing the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates at its September meeting.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Producer Price Index on Wednesday, which measures input costs of goods and services. It reported wholesale prices dropped 0.1% for the month, below Dow Jones estimates of a 0.3% gain, while on a 12-month basis, the headline PPI saw a 2.6% gain.
The core PPI, which excludes food and energy prices, was also off 0.1% after being expected to climb 0.3%. Excluding food, energy and trade, the PPI posted a 0.3% gain and was up 2.8% from a year ago.
Stock market futures gained after the release while Treasury yields were slightly negative.
The central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee is expected to release its decision on its key overnight borrowing rate when it meets on Sept. 16-17.
Odds for a larger half percentage point reduction rose slightly after the PPI release to about 10%, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch gauge.
The index for final demand services fell 0.2% in August, the largest decline since moving down 0.3 % in April. The August decrease can be traced to a 1.7% drop in margins for final demand trade services. Conversely, the indexes for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing and for final demand transportation and warehousing services increased, 0.3% and 0.9%, respectively, the BLS said.
Three-quarters of the August decrease in prices for final demand services can be attributed to a 3.9% decline in margins for machinery and vehicle wholesaling. The indexes for professional and commercial equipment wholesaling, chemicals and allied products wholesaling, furniture retailing, food and alcohol retailing, and data processing and related services also moved lower. In contrast, prices for portfolio management advanced 2%. The indexes for truck transportation of freight and for apparel wholesaling also increased.
Prices for final demand goods rose 0.1% in August, the fourth consecutive advance. Leading the August increase in the index for final demand goods, prices for final demand goods less foods and energy rose 0.3%. The index for final demand foods moved up 0.1%. Conversely, prices for final demand energy declined 0.4%.
A major factor in the August increase in the index for final demand goods was a 2.3% advance in prices for tobacco products. The indexes for beef and veal; processed poultry; printed circuit assemblies, boards, modules and modems; and electric power also rose. In contrast, prices for utility natural gas decreased 1.8%. The indexes for fresh and dry vegetables, chicken eggs, and copper base scrap also fell.
The interim CEO bought 30,000 shares of Opendoor stock last month.
Opendoor Technologies(OPEN -6.69%) stock popped by as much as 10% Monday morning. The stock remains highly volatile, and its next move showed investors why it’s a risky bet. Shares lost all of those gains and more in heavy midday trading.
As of 1:22 p.m. ET, Opendoor stock was lower by 3.8% on the day.
Image source: Getty Images.
Meme stocks aren’t for investors
Traders who frequent the forums on social media platforms like Reddithave turned Opendoor into a meme stock. That has led to retail traders and some investors following it closely. Shares popped early Monday after reports were published highlighting a 30,000-share purchase by Opendoor’s interim CEO.
Those reports triggered some heavy trading in the name; it surpassed its 65-day average trading volume only halfway through the session. The problem is that Shrisha Radhakrishna’s 30,000-share purchase occurred on Aug. 28 — after he was named as temporary CEO when Carrie Wheeler stepped down from the top job.
Another catalyst driving Monday’s early move higher was a push on social media over the weekend to bring back co-founder Keith Rabois. There has been no indication from Rabois that he would be returning to Opendoor.
Another factor that may be contributing to jumps by Opendoor is the stock’s high short interest. As of mid-August, more than 24% of Opendoor’s stock was held by short-sellers. That means any move higher may get enhanced by a short squeeze.
All of those things are really just short-term noise for long-term investors, though. Opendoor’s business has been struggling amid a sluggish housing market. With the Federal Reserve expected to begin lowering its benchmark interest rates soon, the housing market could get some relief. However, with retail traders driving the action for Opendoor stock, investing in it remains a risky proposition.
Howard Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Snap’s August earnings report sent shares tumbling despite decent quarterly results. Here’s what spooked investors.
Shares of Snap(SNAP 2.61%) fell 24.3% in August 2025, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The company behind the popular social media platform Snapchat posted decent second-quarter results on Aug. 5, but modest management comments and soft next-period guidance left Snap investors underwhelmed. The stock fell 17% the next day.
Image source: Getty Images.
Snap’s user growth is hitting the brakes
Snap targets 476 million daily active users (DAU) in the third quarter, a 7.4% increase from the year-ago period. That’s a healthy increase, but also below the 9% year-over-year increase seen in the second quarter. And the DAU growth rate used to be reported in double-digit percentages, as recently as 2023. So it’s a growing user community, but the growth rate is slowing down.
At the same time, Snapchat experienced a glitch in its advertising system last quarter. Ad-spot auctions sometimes resulted in very low prices, which Snap had to honor. This issue has been fixed, but not before reducing Snap’s ad revenue.
That’s not a long-term problem, but it’s never fun to see technical glitches making a significant difference to a tech company’s business results.
The silver lining in Snap’s cloudy quarter
On the upside, Snap reported robust demand for its ad inventory. Despite an unstable macroeconomic backdrop, advertisers are still buying ad space.
At the same time, the company must fight to keep those Snapchat users coming. The slowing user growth may not look like a big issue at the moment, since Snap’s revenue and profits still largely met management’s guidance and Wall Street’s estimates. But I understand why Snap investors take this trend seriously, as the long-term health of social media systems depends very directly on this metric.
The company is doing what it can to light a new spark under its user growth and content engagement numbers. Recent product launches include an interactive app for the Apple Watch and the Spotlight content-discovery algorithm. Artificial intelligence (AI) is featured in most of these tools, including generative AI features in the augmented reality Lens filters.
Will the AI stuff make a difference? I don’t know, but Snap deserves some credit for pulling every available growth-boosting lever. Meanwhile, the stock looks fragile due to stalling top-line growth and consistently negative earnings. It’s a turnaround story with more question marks than clear solutions.
So your mileage may vary, but I’m ghosting Snap’s stock for now.
Anders Bylund has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
About 10 million YouTube TV subscribers could lose access to Fox News and Fox Corp. channels that broadcast sports in a fee dispute that comes just days before the start of college football.
The Google-owned television service notified customers that Fox-owned channels, including Fox Business and local stations such as KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles, may be dropped from their program line-ups as soon as Wednesday afternoon if the two sides fail to reach a new distribution pact.
YouTube TV viewers would be without “The Five” and other Fox News programs. Sports fans could miss out on Friday night’s Auburn-Baylor football game and Saturday’s high-profile contest between Texas and Ohio State, along with three regional Major League Baseball games.
A prolonged blackout could interrupt the start of Fox’s NFL season that begins on Sept. 7.
“Fox is asking for payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive,” YouTube said late Monday in a blog post. “Our priority is to reach a deal that reflects the value of their content and is fair for both sides without passing on additional costs to our subscribers.”
The dust-up comes as YouTube TV has become one of the most formidable television providers.
Earlier this year, Nielsen ranked YouTube, including its video service, as the largest television distributor in the U.S. by share of viewership. YouTube’s popular bundle — it also offers the NFL Sunday Ticket package of out-of-market games — has dramatically cut into the business of legacy pay-TV providers, including Charter Spectrum, DirecTV and Dish Networks.
“While Fox remains committed to reaching a fair agreement with Google’s YouTube TV, we are disappointed that Google continually exploits its outsized influence by proposing terms that are out of step with the marketplace,” Fox said in a statement, adding the dispute could force its channels to go dark “unless Google engages in a meaningful way soon.”
Last year, YouTube generated $54.2 billion in revenue, second only to the Walt Disney Co., according to the MoffettNathanson research firm. The analysts estimated that fast-growing YouTube TV would reach 10 million subscribers this year. That slightly trails Charter, which operates the Spectrum service, and Comcast. YouTube TV has eclipsed the once powerhouse satellite TV service providers.
Disputes between programmers and pay-TV providers have become increasingly common in recent years amid a weakening of television economics. The high cost of sports rights has become a major rub for pay-TV distributors who have been asked to pay higher fees to mitigate the loss of subscribers.
Last year, DirecTV customers lost access to Walt Disney Co. channels, including ESPN, for nearly two weeks.
The battle was costly. DirecTV acknowledged that thousands of subscribers fled — many to YouTube TV — during the blackout. Viewers who wanted to watch the U.S. Open tennis tournament, college football, “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” were upset by the outage.
In 2023, a separate dispute led to Disney channels going dark on Spectrum.
YouTube said Monday that it was “working diligently with the team at Fox to reach an agreement.”
Should the channels go dark, the company will provide customers with a $10 credit. YouTube said customers could also sign up for Rupert Murdoch’s television company’s new streaming service, Fox One, which costs $20 a month.
In making a decision that has surprised many in world football, Luis Enrique believes Chevalier will improve PSG even more, especially with his team’s playing style.
The French keeper has been likened to a five-a-side player due to the quality of his touch, vision and ability to break lines with his passing from the back.
Chevalier can effectively turn into an outfield player for PSG when in possession as they look to build an attack from their own defensive line.
Replacing Donnarumma will be tough, but he stepped up successfully as Lille’s first choice in the 2022-23 season after just a season in Ligue 2 with Valenciennes. Pressure should not be an issue.
Chevalier was named Ligue 1’s best goalkeeper last term with 11 clean sheets as his side finished fifth, while earning a call-up to France’s senior squad.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The goalkeeper situation is a huge decision from Luis Enrique. Gianluigi Donnarumma is the best shot stopper and he is the best version of the older-style goalkeeper, but they have been replaced by the modern-day keeper who play in the defensive third.
“Luis Enrique is leaning into the way that modern teams want to play and build from the back. PSG are looking for that ninth degree, that tiny little bit of percentage of advantage and with Lucas Chevalier they feel they can further refine their style.”
Signs of what Chevalier will bring were seen during his debut against Spurs, with PSG opting to go short on goal-kicks and showing no fear when using him in general play.
He should have done better with Cristian Romero’s header that put the Premier League side 2-0 ahead, but showed great reflexes in a stunning save to push Joao Palhinha’s effort on to the bar, although Micky van de Ven netted the rebound for Spurs’ opener.
Chevalier then stopped Van de Ven’s penalty in the shootout as PSG won after a superb comeback from 2-0 down.
It was a bold move by Luis Enrique to drop Donnarumma and turn to the Frenchman, but one that could prove a masterstroke in the future if Chevalier lives up to great expectations.
A new report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has found that crime in the United States decreased in 2024, continuing a trend of improved public safety after a spike in murders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report, released on Tuesday, estimates that 1,221,345 incidents of violent crime – including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault offences – took place in the US last year, down by 4.5 percent from 2023.
Intentional homicides decreased by 14.9 percent. But at a rate of 5 for every 100,000 people, the murder rate in the US remains significantly higher than throughout most of the world.
For example, according to United Nations data, the murder rate in Japan in 2023 was 0.23 per 100,000 people. In Oman, the rate was 0.14. In Norway, it was 0.72. And in the US’s northern neighbour, Canada, the rate was 1.98.
Nonetheless, the 2024 murder rate in the US represents a nine-year low and a major decline from a recent peak of 6.7 per 100,000 in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.
Rape offences also went down by 5.2 percent in 2024, the report said, while reports of hate crimes decreased by 1.5 percent.
Data submitted to the FBI shows a violent crime occurred on average every 26 seconds in 2024 and law enforcement made more than 419,000 violent crime arrests.
Overall, a violent crime occurred in the US every 26 seconds, a murder every 31 minutes and a rape offence every four minutes.
Property crime also decreased in 2024, according to the FBI report. The bureau recorded 5,986,400 such offences, an 8.1 percent decrease from 2023.
The data is based on the reporting of thousands of law enforcement agencies that cover 95.6 percent of US residents, the FBI said.
According to the report, 64 police officers were criminally killed last year, and 43 others died in accidents. More than 85,700 officers were assaulted, a slight uptick from 2023 and a 10-year high.
Gun violence has been a leading driver of crime in the US. According to the database Gun Violence Archives, there have been 8,878 gun-related deaths and 261 mass shootings so far in 2025.
Last week, an attacker armed with a rifle killed four people, including a police officer, near the headquarters of the National Football League (NFL) in New York City.
Last year, US President Donald Trump made public safety a major theme in his election campaign, portraying his Democratic rivals as weak on crime and anti-police.
Although the initial uptick in crime rates happened during the last year of Trump’s first term, the Republican leader repeatedly promised to restore “law and order”. It is largely the states and local authorities that oversee policing.
On Tuesday, Trump renewed his criticism of local policing and prosecution in Washington, DC, threatening to have federal authorities take over the US capital city.
He claimed that teenage “thugs” are randomly attacking people in the capital city and called for any youth suspects to be prosecuted and tried as adults.
“Washington, DC, must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
“If DC doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore.”
However, official data shows that crime has been on a downward trend in Washington, DC, contradicting Trump’s claim that the capital “is totally out of control”.
For example, violent crime went down by 35 percent in 2024 compared with the previous year, and homicide dropped by 32 percent.
Tuesday’s data does not reflect the state of public safety under Trump, who returned to the White House in January this year.
The One Show has been dropped from BBC schedules after it was announced that Alex Jones and Roman Kemp are taking a long break from the hit BBC programme
The One Show is set for a hiatus from BBC schedules due to a significant TV revamp – and it won’t be back for a while.
Presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp are stepping away from their usual weekday slot at 7pm on BBC One as Wimbledon takes centre stage.
From Monday, June 30, the prestigious tennis event will dominate the main BBC channels, running daily for a fortnight.
Wimbledon coverage will alternate between BBC One and BBC Two, with evening broadcasts on the primary channel at 7pm, usurping The One Show’s regular timeslot.
Alex Jones hosting BBC’s The One Show(Image: BBC)
Alex concluded last Friday’s episode by announcing: “We are taking a bit of a break for the next four weeks and we’ll be back on Monday, 28th July but there’s plenty to enjoy like Wimbledon and the Euros,” reports Wales Online.
In other changes, EastEnders will temporarily move to BBC Two on June 30 and July 1, featuring consecutive episodes at 7pm and 7.30pm.
Daytime TV is also affected, with Escape To The Country being ousted from its familiar 3pm weekday spot on BBC One to make room for tennis.
On Wednesday, July 2, Wimbledon’s evening matches will air on BBC Two, while BBC One airs Match of the Day for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 Group A match between Switzerland and Norway.
This programming overhaul follows closely behind another announcement made on The One Show.
During the June 25 broadcast, Alex Jones, alongside Clara Amfo, welcomed Matt Allwright and Nikki Fox to commemorate Watchdog’s 40th anniversary.
Escape to the Country will also be missing(Image: BBC / Naked West / Fremantle)
In honour of the significant milestone, Matt and Nikki dedicated the show to the programme, reflecting on some of their recent triumphs, which ranged from undercover investigations to major business policy changes and substantial refunds.
As the show concluded, Matt expressed: “Happy birthday Watchdog and everybody who has worked on the show, amazing people. Thank you to everyone who has contacted us over the last 40 years because without you it would not mean a thing.”
Nikki chimed in: “We can not do it without your stories.”
The television presenter then revealed that the show will be taking a ‘break’, announcing: “Watch Dog is going to be taking a break over summer and we are back in September so please keep them coming.”
PROSECUTORS in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal case have pulled key testimony during the trial that was critical to the racketeering charge the disgraced music executive is facing.
The stunning move by federal prosecutors comes a day before closing arguments in Combs’ trial are set to begin on Thursday following six weeks of graphic testimony.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs watches as his defense lawyer argues a Rule 29 motion after the government announced they had rested their case on TuesdayCredit: REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
England’s Zak Crawley survives a scare on the opening morning of the final day at Headingley after being dropped by India’s Jasprit Bumrah on 42, with England 112-0, chasing 371 to win the first Test.
