drops

Dubois vs Harper: Caroline Dubois drops and stops Terri Harper to become unified lightweight champion

World championship boxing returned to the historic Kensington venue for the first time in decades. The Olympia had previously staged headline fights involving stars such as Chris Eubank Jr and Prince Naseem Hamed.

Harper strode towards the centre of the 19th-Century grand hall, buoyed by her travelling Yorkshire faithful.

Dubois, who once pretended to be a boy named Colin so she could be allowed to box, also received a warm reception as she entered to “I’m Every Woman” by Whitney Houston.

The fight had been a long time coming, and the rivalry had grown increasingly tense in the build-up. Dubois repeatedly questioned Harper’s achievements and credentials, while Harper shoved Dubois during a fiery media face-off earlier in the week.

By the halfway stage, however, the contest had not quite lived up to the hype, with Dubois edging the rounds through steady work to the body.

Then, suddenly, the fight came alive. Dubois set up a knockdown with a sharp double jab followed by a left hook, sending Harper to the canvas.

Harper rose to her feet as Dubois leapt in celebration, prompting the referee to warn her for failing to return to her corner.

Dubois increased the pressure. She landed thudding southpaw left hands in the seventh and eighth as blood began to drip from a cut on the inside of ‘Belter’ Harper’s left eye.

Watching from ringside was pound-for-pound star Claressa Shields, shouting encouragement for Dubois.

A strong combination from Dubois in the ninth suggested a stoppage might be imminent, but Harper rallied to land shots to Dubois’ head in the 10th and final round.

“Terri is very tricky; she navigated herself very well and it was up to me to push the pace,” Dubois told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“She is a champion and she doesn’t like to lose, but neither do I.

“The better woman won tonight and I hope she can give me my respect.”

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Millions of eye drops sold across U.S. recalled because they may not be sterile

April 3 (UPI) — More than three million bottles of eye drops sold at stores across the United States have been recalled by their manufacturer because they may not be sterile.

K.C. Pharmaceuticals earlier this month issued a nationwide U.S. recall of roughly 3.1 million bottles of eight different eye drop products because of a “lack of assurance of sterility,” an FDA notice about the recall said.

The drops have been sold at some of the nation’s largest drug and grocery retailers, including CVS, H-E-B, Publix, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Kroger, Good Neighbor and several pharmaceutical supply companies.

K.C. Pharmaceuticals bills itself as the largest private label eye care supplier in North America, servicing 26 of the top 30 U.S. retailers and more than 90,000 stores across the country.

The voluntary recall, issued on March 3, has been categorized as a Class II recall, which the Federal Drug Administration told USA Today indicates that “the probability of a serious health issue is remote.”

People who have the drops also can continue to use them unless otherwise directed by K.C. Pharmaceuticals or the FDA, the agency said.

NBC News also reported that the FDA has not received reports of injuries linked to the recalled drops.

The eight types of drops included in the recall are Sterile EYE DROPS AC, EYE DROPS Advanced Relief, Dry Eye Relief Eye Drops, Ultra Lubricating Eye Drops, Sterile Eye Drops ORIGINAL FORMULA, Sterile EYE DROPS REDNESS LUBRICANT, STERILE EYE DROPS SOOTHING TEARS, and Artificial Tears Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops.

A complete list of the products, lot numbers and expiration dates, and what company or retailer sold the recalled drops can be found at the FDA’s website.

President Donald Trump delivers a prime-time address to the nation from the Cross Hall in the White House on Wednesday. President Trump used the address to update the public on the month-long war in Iran. Pool photo by Alex Brandon/UPI | License Photo

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Taylor Swift drops ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ video, is hit with ‘Showgirl’ lawsuit

The life of a showgirl wouldn’t be complete without a few lawsuits, and who knows that better than Taylor Swift and Elizabeth Taylor?

On Monday, the “Bad Blood” singer was hit with a trademark infringement lawsuit regarding her most recent album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Real-life Las Vegas showgirl and writer Maren Wade, born Maren Flagg, alleges that Swift knowingly disregarded her claim to a similar name.

According to the lawsuit, Wade launched the column “Confessions of a Showgirl” in the Las Vegas Weekly in 2014. The column eventually became a live show, which became a touring production. “Over the course of a decade, Confessions of a Showgirl grew into a brand encompassing performances, writing, and digital media — built by one person, city by city and show by show,” reads the lawsuit, which adds that Wade took the show across the country, and used the brand when appearing on television and podcasts.

Wade as a performer herself respects Swift’s right to creative expression, according to the suit, “and nothing in this action challenges it.” The filing argues that “whatever [legal] protection might attach to creative expression, it does not immunize Swift’s separate decision to adopt a confusingly similar designation as a trademark, affix it to goods, and deploy it as a source identifier in commerce.”

In 2015, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registered “Confessions of a Showgirl” and named Maren Flagg as the owner. And according to the suit, in November 2025, the office refused an attempt by Swift’s team to register “The Life of a Showgirl” based on a likelihood of confusion with Wade’s established brand.

Patent attorney JD Harriman told The Times in a statement that although the trademark office did reject Swift’s mark, she voluntarily suspended the “Life of a Showgirl” application while a separate trademark application for “Showgirl” moved forward.

“This case isn’t about the music, and it may not even be about confusion,” Harriman said. “Wade’s own complaint concedes she’s not challenging the album itself — only merchandise. And before filing, she was publicly hashtagging Swift’s album and calling herself a fan.”

Jaymie Parkkinen, an attorney for Wade, told The Times in an emailed statement that Maren spent more than a decade building Confessions of a Showgirl.

“She registered it. She earned it. When Taylor Swift’s team applied to register The Life of a Showgirl, the Trademark Office refused, finding Swift’s mark confusingly similar,” Parkkinen said. “We have great respect for Swift’s talent and success, but trademark law exists to ensure that creators at all levels can protect what they’ve built. That’s what this case is about.”

Wade’s team argues that since Swift’s 12th album dropped last year, search results are dominated by Swift, and even though Wade established her own showgirl brand a decade ago, her brand is now seen as affiliated with Swift’s.

“The Life of a Showgirl is one designation among more than 170 active or pending trademark registrations managed by Defendant TAS on behalf of Swift, spanning names, phrases, and commercial designations across one of the most extensive trademark portfolios in the entertainment industry,” reads the suit.

Swift’s broader enterprise “does not depend on the continued use of any single designation,” the suit continues. “By contrast, Confessions of a Showgirl is the sole trademark under which [Wade] has built her professional identity for more than a decade. It is not one mark among hundreds. It is the only one she has. The continued erosion of that mark threatens the entirety of Wade’s brand.”

In other Swift news, the Grammy winner dropped the music video for “Elizabeth Taylor” on Tuesday.

The video features archival film clips of the latter starlet — also known for high-profile legal battles, media scrutiny aimed at her love life and larger-than-life fame — rather than the songstress herself, who does not appear in the video.

The video, which has been exclusively released via Spotify Premium and Apple Music, includes scenes from “Father of the Bride,” “Rhapsody,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Cleopatra,” and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” among other classic films starring Taylor. The homage also has old press footage of the Oscar winner.

Back in October, Swift told BBC radio that if she mentions a real person in her songs, she warns them ahead of time, and in the case of someone like the late movie star, she asked the Taylor estate for permission to pay homage with the song.

“If it’s Elizabeth Taylor,” she said, “we go to their family and her estate and let them know, and they were lovely about it.”

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Stocks jump and oil drops as Trump renews hopes of Iran war ending

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Renewed optimism over a possible de-escalation in the Iran war, now in its fifth week, gave a strong boost to stock markets in Europe and Asia on Wednesday.


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At the time of writing, the Euro Stoxx 50 is up over 1%, while the broader pan-European Stoxx 600 is around 2.5% higher.

In London, the FTSE 100 has risen roughly 0.8% with Germany’s DAX 30 and France’s CAC 40 making equal moves to the upside. Italy’s FTSE MIB has jumped the most and is 1.7% higher.

During a press gaggle at the White House on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump stated that the country would “probably” stop attacks on Iran within two to three weeks “‘whether we have a deal or not”.

Following Trump’s comments, the front month future contracts for oil also saw a sharp decline, with Brent crude and WTI both trading around 4% lower and below $100 a barrel.

Trump also stressed that the US would “not have anything to do with” what happens next in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the relief, markets are eagerly anticipating Trump’s address to the nation about the conflict, which will occur overnight on Wednesday, according to the White House Press Secretary.

Asian markets, US futures and precious metals

Asian shares also rose sharply on Wednesday after Trump’s statement.

At the time of writing, South Korea’s Kospi has recovered losses from earlier this week, surging over 8%, while Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose more than 2%.

A survey by Japan’s central bank released on Wednesday showed that business sentiment among major manufacturers had improved despite concerns over the Iran war.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is also over 2% higher, while the Shanghai Composite has jumped around 1.5%. Additionally, India’s Sensex rose roughly 2%, Australia’s ASX 200 is up 1% and Taiwan’s Taiex climbed more than 4%.

“De-escalation hopes have given markets a lift, but we think the effects of the war would, in many cases, persist even if it were to end soon,” said Thomas Mathews, head of markets for Asia Pacific at Capital Economics, in a research note on Wednesday.

US futures are also all trading between 0.7% and 1.2% higher.

The move comes after US stocks recorded their strongest day in almost a year on Tuesday, when the S&P 500 rose 2.9%, its largest gain since May.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 2.5%, while the Nasdaq jumped 3.8%.

“It’s worth considering how markets might respond if the war were to end very soon. Do markets have further to recover if sentiment continues to improve? The answer is almost certainly yes,” Mathews added.

In other trading, gold rose is up 1.4% trading at around $4,730 while silver is down roughly 1% to $74.3 an ounce.

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ITV quietly drops new series of ‘offensive’ comedy fans ‘can’t recommend enough’

The second season of a controversial comedy is now available to binge in its entirety on ITVX

ITV has quietly dropped another season of a comedy that’s been branded “highly offensive”.

Piglets is a British comedy that’s set in a police training college. The first series aired on ITV1 in July 2024, shortly before getting renewed for a follow-up instalment.

The series follows a newly-recruited group of six very different would-be cops, and the handful of key staff whose task it is to knock them into shape.

Sarah Parish and Mark Heap lead the cast as no-nonsense Superintendent Julie Spry and Superintendent Bob Weekes, whose job it is to oversee the training of the next batch of new recruits.

The new recruits include Steph (Callie Cooke), Leggo (Sam Pote), Geeta (Sukh Kaur Ojla), Afia (Halema Hussain), Dev (Abdul Sessay) and Paul (Jamie Bisping). The cast also features Rebecca Humphries as Head of Admin Melanie, as well as Ukweli Roach and Ricky Champ as police trainers Mike and Daz.

Despite pulling in 5.6 million views for its first six episodes, the show was at the centre of huge controversy shortly after its premiere.

The Police Federation of England and Wales described the comedy’s title – which is based on the slang term “pig” for police – as being “highly offensive” and “insulting”. Piglets also received several Ofcom complaints from frustrated viewers when it was broadcast.

Now, the show’s second season has landed on ITVX, with The Traitors favourite Maddy Smedley joining the cast.

Maddy took to her Instagram earlier this week to promote the new series, saying: “So apparently, ITV aren’t really promoting Piglets series two, so this is the advert for it.”

After explaining how fans can find the show on ITVX, the star added: “I worked my butt off on that show, so this is the advert now, like it or lump it. Let me know what you think of the show, and thanks for your time.”

Despite the controversy surrounding the programme, there are lots of viewers who have shared their praise since its release.

One person wrote on IMDb: “This show is an absolute riot. While it may not be for everyone, the hate this show gets is completely unjustified… It’s a simple comedy with funny characters that mesh together perfectly, combining to create one of my favourite shows from this year. I can’t recommend this show enough. I’d love to have more of this show to watch.”

Another added: “I thought this was absolutely brilliant, well written, funny and such a mixed bunch of characters who gel well together for this type of show. A much needed comedy show in today’s TV world!”

A third said: “Piglets has a lot of laughs and is a lot of fun. Yes, it’s silly, which is why it’s so good. Who doesn’t like laughing at silly jokes and puns and references??? It’s a classic comedy and we need more of this on TV.”

Piglets is available to stream on ITVX

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‘Brilliant’ thriller fans ‘binged in one night’ drops first-look at new series

Sky has just dropped the chilling first-look at the return of one of its best new thrillers coming back to screens very soon

A critically acclaimed comedy-thriller series that entranced countless fans back in 2024 is finally coming back for a second season.

Sweetpea starred Fallout’s Ella Purnell as shy wallflower Rhiannon Lewis, an unassuming newspaper assistant who has been either bullied or ignored her entire life.

After the sudden death of her father and reuniting with her school bully, Julia (played by Nicôle Lecky), something snaps in Rhiannon and she goes on a murderous rampage.

A synopsis for the second season reveals: “Navigating a new promotion, an irresistible rebound, and a copycat killer threatening to expose her, the kill list is mounting.

“And Rhiannon is forced to question whether her perfect ex AJ, was right: is she a monster?”

This week, Sky has dropped a tantalising new image from the second season of Sweetpea, which reveals Purnell back as Rhiannon.

In the snap, she’s donned a dark raincoat and emblazoned a wall with the word “monster” in what seems to be tomato ketchup.

Several new names are joining the main cast this time round, including Rish Shah (Overcompensating) as Rhiannon’s new love interest Gabriel, along with Tamsin Greig (Riot Women) as AJ’s mother, Liv.

Greig’s Riot Women co-star Taj Atwal will also feature as Freya, Rhiannon’s new boss, with Heartstopper’s Jenny Walser added as a new friend named Daisy.

Jon Pointing (Big Boys), Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso), Leah Harvey (Foundation), Ingrid Oliver (Thursday Murder Club), Nitin Ganatra (Mr Bigstuff) and Alexandra Dowling (Game of Thrones) will all be reprising their roles from the first season.

Sweetpea season two is shaping up to be a must-watch thriller when it arrives at an unconfirmed date in 2026 after the first outing received rave reviews from fans and critics.

One IMDb user wrote: “I’ve waited a long time for this to come out on Sky, and it did not disappoint! Brilliant dark comedy, it’s right up my street. No spoilers here, just a basic review to say I loved it!

“I binged the whole series in one night, I just couldn’t turn off, the end of each episode leaving me wanting more, and to know ‘what next!?’ It may be a little slow to get started initially but it had me hooked straight away.”

Someone else gave it a strong recommendation: “If you like shows that dig deep into the dark corners of the human mind while still managing to throw in some wicked humour, Sweetpea is going to be right up your alley.

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“It’s fresh, it’s disturbing, and it’s a story you won’t easily forget. I absolutely love it!”

And a final fan called it “an intriguing and captivating series that keeps you hooked from start to finish”, adding Purnell’s “amazing” lead performance is “impossible to look away” from.

Sweetpea season 2 will premiere in 2026 on Sky and NOW.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new ** Everything Gossip ** website.

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BBC drops first look at ‘violent’ thriller by Baby Reindeer creator

Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd is back for his first drama since the multi-award winning Netflix series.

BBC is set to release an “intense” drama that explores “brotherhood, violence and the fragility of male relationships”.

In 2024, Netflix subscribers went mad for Richard Gadd ’s gripping drama Baby Reindeer revolving around a comedian dealing with his obsessive female stalker.

Now, two years on, Richard Gadd is back for the first time since the Netflix hit’s release with the BBC revealing details for its upcoming drama Half Man.

Filming for the original six-part drama wrapped up last year in and around Glasgow with the series set to launch in April on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and on HBO Max in the US.

Gadd will star in Half Man alongside BAFTA winning actor Jamie Bell, famed for All of Us Strangers and Rocket Man, with the pair portraying Ruben and Niall, respectively.

The official synopsis reads: “Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth.

“Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other…

“But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different.

“He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself. And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day.”

Half Man, which has been created and written by Gadd, will follow Ruben and Niall throughout the past 30 years of their lives, exploring “brotherhood, violence and the intense fragility of male relationships”.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

The synopsis concludes: “After all, when things fall apart… it is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest.”

Gadd and Bell aren’t the only familiar faces starring in Half Man either with an abundance of other familiar faces joining the cast.

These include SAS Rogue Heroes actor Stuart Campbell, Rivals’ Charlie De Melo, The Nevers star Amy Manson, Outlander actor Tim Downie and T2 Trainspotting’s Scot Greenan, to name just a few.

Half Man will debut in April on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Olivia Attwood drops cryptic hint on her ex Bradley Dack’s ‘breach of trust’

OLIVIA Attwood has dropped a cryptic hint about her ex Bradley Dack’s “breach of trust” following their split.

The TV and podcast star, 34, appeared to suggest her next relationship won’t have the same pitfalls in her Instagram story.

Olivia Attwood shared this cryptic post on InstagramCredit: Instagram
Olivia’s choice of music for the post was also tellingCredit: Splash

She shared a post that read: “No more learning experiences please god I am smart enough,” while Tame Impala’s aptly titled ‘New Person, Same Old Mistakes’ played over the top.

Yesterday, Olivia revealed that she will speak about her split from footballer Bradley, 32, a week after she was spotted leaving the same Manchester hotel as close pal Pete Wicks, 37.

The Sun reported how he was seen carrying two pizzas up to his room at 3am.

Yesterday, Olivia joined This Morning hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley in the studio to discuss her new ITV show The Heat.

READ MORE ON OLIVIA ATTWOOD

BACK TOGETHER

Pete Wicks & Olivia Attwood all smiles as they reunite after ex blocked Pete


ATTA GIRL

Olivia Attwood opens up on ‘good distraction’ from Bradley Dack split

But the presenters couldn’t help but turn the spotlight onto Olivia’s personal life as they asked her how she was coping following her split.

Ben said: “It’s been a very busy start to the year for you professionally and personally, how you doing?” to which Olivia began to laugh.

She replied: “My feet haven’t touched the ground, I’m grateful forever for this wonderful thing that I get to call work and I can throw myself into it.

“I think when you are in entertainment and you have to show up as the person you’re booked to be, almost when you’re doing that you kind of trick your brain – it’s a distraction isn’t it, you can just get into it, that’s been my anchor since Jan.

“I feel like I haven’t breathed.”

Olivia then spoke about her house move, which saw her leave her shared home with Brad last month.

The TV presenter said she’ll reveal all about her marriage breakdown on her podcastCredit: Getty

“I am now getting there with the apartment, I am very lucky that I’m in the position where I’m on my own two feet and I can do that. But moving is hell, no matter how much help you have,” she said.

Olivia acknowledged there is an expectation for her to share her private life due to her rise to fame on reality show Love Island.

But she said she’s taking her time to process everything before speaking about her split on her podcast.

“The reason I’m sat here with you guys today is from being on Love Island, so people are used to a level of access to me which I have no issue with providing still but I have to do it when I’m ready and I know what I’m wanting to share,” she said.

“I’m trying to do that a little bit more as I get older ‘think before you speak’, because once you’ve said it, it’s hard to take it back.

“I’m still digesting things and working things out. We’ll get to it, we’ll have a podcast chat, it’s coming but I just need to process it.”

The Sun revealed in January that Olivia had split from Gillingham footballer Bradley following a “breach of trust” on his part.

In 2017, she went on Love Island and emerged in a relationship with Chris Hughes, later saying it was revenge on Bradley for cheating.

They eventually reunited after having a heart to heart while she was still with Chris, and she joined Towie in 2019, on which Pete was already a regular.

Last summer, Olivia and Pete were seen in an intimate embrace on a yacht off Ibiza.

Olivia’s close pal Pete Wicks has been blocked by Bradley on InstagramCredit: Splash

We revealed Bradley has now blocked Pete on Instagram — just a few weeks after the couple’s split.

Speaking ahead of the Brit Awards on their Sunday Roast podcast, Pete said: “What always happens at these events is Liv and I gravitate towards each other and basically just stick together, don’t we?”

Olivia replied: “Because I feel like we both have the same objective. And talk to as few people . . .”

Pete then added: “As possible.”

Pete then said: “Although we are not going big this year, are we?” – to which Olivia countered: “What do you mean?”

Pete continued: “You have a flight the next day.”

Olivia replied: “I know – you need to keep me lucid enough that I don’t get stopped at immigration.”

Pete said: “The danger being that I jump on the flight with you in what I am wearing from the Brits.”

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Netflix flooded with same complaint as it drops Inside Season 3 trailer

The Sidemen’s reality series is returning to Netflix in a matter of days

A third season of The Sidemen’s hit reality show Inside is now just days away from release, with a first trailer arriving today (March 9).

The reality series established by the YouTube collective brings together 12 internet personalities who must compete in high-stakes challenges for an eye-watering sum of money. The group will all live under one roof over the course of a week as they compete for the prize pot stands at a whopping £1m.

The group must buy everything from basic necessities through to luxuries, all offered at an inflated price. However, in a brutal twist the cost of any of the goods are deducted straight from the prize pot. During one scene in the trailer, one of the cast is shown ordering “15 prosecco”, totalling £45,000.

Among the stars of the upcoming season are Geordie Shore star Chloe Ferry, lifestyle creator Saffron Barker, streamer Marlon Lundgren Garcia and even the former World’s Strongest Man, Eddie Hall. Rounding out the cast are Ben Azelart, Lydia Violet, Alhan Gençay, Chian Reynolds, Anna Malygon, Expressions Oozing and Alfie Buttle.

Netflix’s official synopsis for the show states: “One house. One million pounds. A whole lot of influencers. Content creators take on a series of jaw-dropping challenges for the potential to win a huge prize fund in this reality series from viral YouTubers, the Sidemen.”

While many fans are circling their diaries for the March 23 release date, the trailer was flooded by angry Netflix subscribers who all made the same demand: the release of the XO, Kitty Season 3 trailer. The streaming giant announced the romcom’s latest season trailer would be released today, but so far it hasn’t been made available.

“YOUU YOU CAN POST THIS BUT NOT XO KITTY???!!!” one fan fumed in the comments. “XO KITTY SEASON 3 WHERE IS IT?” penned a second.

“THEY’RE DROPPING EVERYTHING BESIDES THE XO KITTY SEASON 3 TRAILER” another remarked, accompanied by a crying emoji and a wilting rose. “WE ARE WAITING FOR XO KITTY COME ON,” demanded someone else. “I literally thought after seeing notification XO KITTY i was so excited,” said another fan.

Meanwhile genuine Inside fans expressed their excitement for what was to come. “Expressions doing this is going to be so hilarious,” one remarked. “It is going to be entertaining, ik that,” another added.

Season 3 of The Sidemen’s Inside reality series will land on Netflix on March 23. For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new ** Everything Gossip ** website.

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