launch

Strictly Come Dancing have released the first look images of the 2025 cast as the 15 celebrities prepare to take to the dance floor for the first live show in just two weeks time

It’s almost time for the 2025 cast of Strictly Come Dancing to take to the dancefloor, as the BBC has released a first look picture of the cast in their glitzy ballroom outfits.

The cast certainly look the part – but will they be able to dance the part? Viewers will find out when the launch show airs next Saturday, with the live shows kicking off the week after.

The 15 new contestants, who will be joined alongside hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, dressed to the nines for their first looks, with pink being the colour of choice for most…

READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing pro says ‘we can all tell’ who will make the final from week oneREAD MORE: Strictly Come Dancing’s Toyah Willcox turned down partners over ‘inappropriate’ fears

In the glitzy image, Love Island winner Dani Dyer wore a tassled pink number with a plunging V-neck to her waist, while ER actress Alex Kingston and model and actress Ellie Goldstein also joined in with the pink tassled theme.

They weren’t the only ones, as former England footballer Karen Carney wore a hot pink dress, with Olympian and Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeete opted for bright pink trousers.

Drag Race finalist La Voix stood out in a bright red number, with an eye-catching thigh slit. .

Vicky Pattinson and Balvinder Sopal stunned in bright colours, with the former Geordie Shore star wearing bright yellow, while the EastEnders star opted for a a turquoise dress.

Former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope matched in electric blue, with Cope showing off his arms with a sheer sleeveless top and tailored trousers.

Stefan Dennis, broadcaster Ross King and former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw stood out in patterned suits, whereas Thomas Skinner wore a pale blue suit.

The first look picture comes after a huge win for Strictly at the NTAs, picking up the National Television Award for Talent Show after the last scandal-filled 18 months.

Last year’s celebrity cast took to the stage to accept the award, with Pete Wicks and JB Gill giving a speech. The current cast were unfortunately able to attend the award ceremony as they were off filming the launch show which will air next Saturday.

“It gives me a little bit of PTSD that theme tune,” Pete said while accepting the award. “But look, Strictly is one of the best things that I have done and as much as us guys are the ones dancing, it’s all about the crew and the people who work behind it.”

JB Gill then went onto thank the judges as well as Chris McCausland and Diane Buswell who “made history” as last year’s winners. “Last but not least, thank you to all the viewers, all the people who voted for this incredible award. We absolutely love you.”

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Fox News is launching a new Sunday program with its senior White House correspondents Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich, the network announced Wednesday.

The new Washington-based program called “The Sunday Briefing” will replace “MediaBuzz,” the long-running media criticism show hosted by Howie Kurtz that airs at 11 a.m. Eastern.

Heinrich and Doocy will rotate as solo hosts of the “The Sunday Briefing.” Both have covered the White House for Fox News since 2021.

In a statement, Fox News said the new program, which debuts Sept. 21, “will tackle all facets of the White House beat, including the President of the United States’ national and international moves as well as the key issues impacting the administration.”

The son of “Fox & Friends” host Steve Doocy, Peter Doocy, 38, gained notoriety for his combative questions in the White House briefing room during the Biden administration.

Fox News senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy.

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Heinrich, 36, is a highly respected Washington correspondent known for straight reporting on the conservative-leaning network. Her fact-driven approach has occasionally annoyed the Trump administration and opinion hosts at the network who ardently support the president.

Kurtz has anchored “MediaBuzz” since 2013. He will remain at the network as a political media analyst and continue to host a podcast. His final TV program is Sunday.

Kurtz came to Fox from CNN, where he was the original host of “Reliable Sources.” The media criticism program was canceled in 2022 when it was hosted by Brian Stelter.

Fox News is also adding a new weekend program with former Trump White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. “Saturday in America with Kayleigh McEnany” will air for two hours at 10 a.m. Eastern.

McEnany joined Fox News in March 2021 as a commentator and was later named as a co-host on the daily daytime talk show “Outnumbered.” She will continue in that role.

Fox News also named Griff Jenkins as the new co-host of the weekend edition of “Fox & Friends.” The program has used rotating co-hosts since Pete Hegseth departed to join the Trump administration as Secretary of Defense.

Jenkins, a Fox News correspondent since 2003, will sit alongside current “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-hosts Rachel Campos-Duffy and Charlie Hurt.

Fox News also named conservative commentator Tomi Lahren and Iraq war veteran Johnny Jones as permanent co-hosts for its weekend panel program “The Big Weekend Show.”

PRET A Manger is set to launch meal deals in a bid to take on major supermarkets, which have been offering them for years.

The high street sandwich chain’s move comes after Tesco and Sainsbury’s hiked their prices on lunchtime meal deals.

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Pret plans to trial the meal deal format in the final three months of the year.

Boss Pano Christou said the chain’s focus is on “offering great value for money” as part of its medium-term strategy to grow and return to sustainable profits.

Details on pricing and locations for the trial have yet to be revealed.

While major supermarkets have long offered meal deals – typically including a sandwich, snack and drink – Tesco recently hiked its price by 25p, blaming ongoing food inflation.

Pret’s latest accounts showed a pre-tax loss of £525.2 million for the year to January 2 – largely due to a £552.9 million write-down after a reassessment by owner JAB, which bought the chain in 2018.

This followed a £61.7 million loss the year before.

Despite the losses, Pret said its earnings before adjustments rose 36 per cent to £98 million for the year.

Meanwhile, total revenue dipped 4.2 per cent to £868.4 million compared to the previous year.

Like-for-like sales grew by 2.8 per cent, helped by an 11 per cent expansion to 717 shops as the business continued to grow internationally.

Pret said it is keen to expand further in the US, especially around city centres and travel hubs.

Christou, Pret’s CEO, said: “2024 was another year of growth for Pret, where we took disciplined decisions to protect sales, despite intense strains on the hospitality industry.

“Going forward our priority will be to drive transactions and sustainable growth by offering great value for money for Pret customers.

“Our focus will be on growing Pret’s market share in the UK and internationally, prioritising city centres and travel hubs, backed by the experience and expertise of additional world-class board members and a strengthened management team.”

Pret opened its first shop in London in 1986 and now employs 12,500 staff across over 700 locations in 21 countries.

Christou, who has been the chain’s CEO since 2019, started out as an assistant manager at a central London branch aged 22.

The minicab driver’s son, now 45, grew up in Tooting, South London – and earns over £400,000 a year.

The Luxembourg-based firm JAB Holding – which also owns Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Keurig Dr Pepper – bought Pret for £1.5 billion in 2018.

But the pandemic hit hard, with the chain posting a £343 million loss in 2020 as its key customers – office workers and commuters – stayed home.

To win them back, Pret launched cut-priced food and coffee subscription services, which helped sales jump 20 per cent in 2023.

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Authorities in Argentina have opened a criminal investigation into the daughter of a former Nazi official and her spouse after an 18th-century painting stolen from a late Jewish art dealer was recovered from one of their properties.

Prosecutors announced the probe on Thursday, which will focus on Juan Carlos Cortegoso and his wife Patricia Kadgien, whose father was the fugitive Nazi officer Friedrich Kadgien.

The elder Kadgien died in the late 1970s. He spent the final decades of his life in Argentina, having fled Germany at the end of World War II.

He is believed to have brought with him priceless artworks looted from the collections of Jewish families and businesses, including that of the Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker.

Goudstikker had amassed a collection of nearly 1,400 pieces, according to the meticulous records he kept.

But that made his collection a target for Nazi officials like Hermann Goring, who sought to seize the artwork for himself. The elder Kadgien was Goring’s financial adviser.

It is unclear how Kadgien came to own Portrait of a Lady by Giuseppe Ghislandi, an Italian portraitist prolific during the Baroque and Rococo periods.

The painting, a large portrait of the Contessa Colleoni holding gloves and a book, had not been seen in decades. As far as researchers knew, only black-and-white photographs of the artwork survived.

Goudstikker had been forced to sell many of his artworks to Nazi officials as the Holocaust unfolded in Europe.

In May 1940, the art dealer would ultimately die from a fall on board the SS Bodegraven, as he fled a genocide that would claim at least six million Jewish lives, as well as millions of prisoners-of-war, dissidents, LGBTQ people and those with disabilities.

Goudstikker’s heirs have been seeking to recover his collection ever since.

Thought lost, Portrait of a Lady reappeared suddenly last month, as the result of internet sleuthing.

Dutch journalists with the publication Algemeen Dagblad had been investigating the late Kadgien’s dealings with the Nazis, and they stumbled across a real estate listing from February for a house belonging to his daughter, Patricia Kadgien.

A picture in the listing showed Portrait of a Lady hanging above a green velvet couch.

The journalists published their findings on August 25, and soon after, police in Argentina raided the residence, which was located in the coastal city of Mar del Plata.

But the painting was nowhere to be found. Instead, authorities reported they had recovered other paintings, this time from the 19th century, that they suspected may also be Nazi-looted artwork.

A tapestry was found hanging where Portrait of a Lady was once photographed. The real estate listing, meanwhile, appeared to have been removed.

Police have since raided several properties belonging to Patricia Kadgien and her sister. On Wednesday, it was announced that the painting had finally been recovered.

But in Thursday’s hearing, federal authorities revealed they were charging Kadgien, 59, and her husband, Cortegoso, 62, with attempting a cover-up.

Prosecutor Carlos Martinez accused the couple of hiding the painting, despite being “aware that the artwork was being sought by the criminal justice system and international authorities”. That, he said, amounted to obstruction of justice and concealment.

“It was only after several police raids that they turned it in,” Martinez explained.

Patricia Kadgien and Cortegoso were briefly put under house arrest on Monday, though that was lifted in favour of a 180-day travel ban and a requirement that they seek court approval before leaving the house.

A lawyer for the couple reportedly asked a civil court this week to allow them to sell the painting, but that request was denied.

Martinez, meanwhile, told journalists on Thursday that Marei von Saher, one of Goudstikker’s heirs, had already reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States to ensure the painting’s restitution.

He explained that prosecutors had requested Portrait of a Lady be held at the Buenos Aires Holocaust Museum for now.

A MAN in his 30s was stabbed eight times in a park attack with police still urgently hunting the knifeman.

The victim was assaulted at Leigh Park in Havant around midday on Tuesday, September 2.

His attacker is still at large as police are yet to arrest anyone in relation to the attack.

An air ambulance attended the scene to provide emergency treatment, and the man was taken to hospital.

He is said to be in a serious but stable condition despite injuries, according to police.

The man’s sister shared on social media that he was stabbed “eight times” and suffered a punctured lung, but was “currently stable”.

In a week that saw the S&P 500 lose value, one stock in particular, space rocket operator Rocket Lab (RKLB 1.42%), glowed a bright shade of green as it rocketed to close the week 9.5% higher on Friday.

And I know why.

Because I was there to see it.

Image source: Rocket Lab.

Welcome to Virginia, LC-3

On Thursday morning, Aug. 28, Rocket Lab officially opened its third “launch complex” in the world, LC-3, at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, just off the Virginian eastern seaboard.

LC-3 will be home to Rocket Lab’s newest and biggest rocket, the 141-foot-tall, methane-and-liquid oxygen-fueled Neutron. Capable of lifting 13 metric tons to low Earth orbit, Neutron will be 43 times more powerful than its little brother (and Rocket Lab’s current only rocket), the Electron. Neutron is scheduled to make its inaugural test flight from LC-3 later this year.

Of course, all of this we already knew about Neutron. We’ve know this since Rocket Lab CEO Sir Peter Beck promised the rocket was coming, four years ago. But here are three things you probably didn’t know about Rocket Lab stock and Neutron., things I only learned myself by attending the LC-3 ribbon-cutting last week.

From MARS to Mars

As Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin pointed out in his opening speech before assisting with the ribbon-cutting, Neutron will be launching from a site at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport — “MARS,” the spaceport. And as CEO Beck observed, bigger rockets can send bigger payloads farther distances — including to Mars, the planet.

Rocket Lab actually already has two satellites built and ready to go to Mars, as part of the ESCAPADE science mission for the University of California Berkeley’s Space Science Laboratory and NASA. What it hasn’t had is a rocket big enough to get them there, and delays caused by trying to hitch rides on other companies’ rockets — SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy and Blue Origin’s New Glenn — have delayed the mission.

Neutron, when it’s ready, could solve that problem by giving Rocket Lab a way to get to Mars under its own power.

Targeting SpaceX

With 43 times the payload capacity of Electron, which can itself often carry multiple small satellites at a time to orbit, Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket is often described as ideal for the deployment of Earth orbit satellite constellations. Rocket Lab’s most recent descriptions of the medium-lift rocket, however, suggest the company is preparing to compete with rivals such as SpaceX and Northrop Grumman (NOC 0.36%) in the “cargo resupply” market as well.

Resupply whom, you may ask? Well, the International Space Station is the party most obviously in need of regular resupply runs, and currently, SpaceX and Northrop Grumman are fulfilling that function. NASA has indicated openness to allowing other companies to bid on Commercial Resupply Services contracts, however, awarding one to Sierra Nevada Corporation in 2016, for example. Nearly a decade later, Sierra Nevada has yet to actually perform a resupply mission.

Seems to me that opens up a gap that Rocket Lab may soon be able to fill.

Uncle Sam is looking for a few good astronauts

Arguably the biggest reveal of last week’s LC-3 opening, though, was a heavy hint Rocket Lab dropped as to a previously unexpected aspiration: putting astronauts in orbit.

Describing the missions it hopes Neutron to perform once it starts launching, Rocket Lab named all the things we’ve already discussed — launching constellations, visiting other planets, “and eventually human spaceflight,” too.

This revives an early hope that Neutron might give NASA and other space-users a third way to send astronauts to space, in addition to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Boeing‘s (BA -0.54%) ill-starred Starliner.

Admittedly, Rocket Lab stopped short of giving any real detail on its plans to develop a human-rated spacecraft for Neutron to carry. Just the hint it did drop at the LC-3 opening, though, already has investors talking about what Rocket Lab’s plans might be along these lines, which could run the gamut from helping to keep space stations crewed, to sending astronauts to the moon or Mars, or even conducting space tourism around Earth.

Stay tuned. As soon as I know more, so will you.

Millions of dollars worth of political TV ads are expected to start airing Tuesday in an effort to sway Californians on a November ballot measure seeking to send more Democrats to Congress and counter President Trump and the GOP agenda, according to television airtime purchases.

The special-election ballot measure — Prop. 50 — will likely shape control of the U.S. House of Representatives and determine the fate of many of Trump’s far-right policies.

The opposition to the rare California mid-decade redistricting has booked more than $10 million of airtime for ads between Tuesday and Sept. 23 in media markets across the state, according to media buyers who are not affiliated with either campaign. Supporters of the effort have bought at least $2 million in ads starting on Tuesday, a number expected to grow exponentially as they are aggressively trying to secure time in coming weeks on broadcast and cable television.

“This early start is a bit stealthy on the part of the no side, but has been used as a ploy in past campaigns to try to show strength early and gain advantage by forcing the opposing side to play catch up,” said Sheri Sadler, a veteran Democratic political media operative who is not working for either campaign. “This promises to be an expensive campaign for a special election, especially starting so early.”

Millions of dollars have already flowed into the nascent campaigns sparring over the Nov. 4 special-election ballot measure that asks voters to set aside the congressional boundaries drawn in 2021 by California’s independent redistricting commission. The panel was created by the state’s voters in 2010 to stop gerrymandering and incumbent protection by both major political parties.

The campaign will be a sprint — glossy multi-page mailers arrived in Californians’ mailboxes before the state Legislature voted in late August to call the special election. Voters will begin receiving mail ballots in early October.

Redistricting, typically an esoteric process that takes place once a decade following the U.S. Census, is receiving an unusual level of attention because of partisan efforts to tilt control of Congress in next year’s midterm election. Republicans have a narrow edge in the U.S. House of Representatives, but the party that wins control of the White House often loses congressional seats in the following election.

Earlier this summer, Trump asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to redraw his state’s congressional districts to add five GOP members to the House, setting off a redistricting arms race across the nation. California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a campaign to redraw the state’s congressional districts in an effort to boost the number of Democrats in Congress, negating the Texas gains for Republicans, but it must be approved by voters.

The coalition opposing the effort is an intriguing mix: former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, wealthy Republican donor Charles Munger Jr., former GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, Assemblyman Alex Lee (D-San Jose), the chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, and Gloria Chun Hoo, president of the League of Women Voters of California.

Many partisans — in both political parties — opposed independent redistricting when it was championed by Schwarzenegger and Munger in 2010.

Jessica Millan Patterson, the former state GOP chairwoman who is leading McCarthy’s effort to oppose new congressional boundaries, demurred when asked about the dissonance. Voters, she said, made their choice clear at the ballot box about their preference to have an independent commission draw congressional districts rather than Sacramento politicians.

“The people of California have spoken,” she said, adding that most voters agree that an independent commission is preferable to partisan politicians drawing districts.

The “Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab” committee that Patterson leads plans to focus on conservative and right-of-center voters, and will be well-funded, she said.

McCarthy was a prodigious fundraiser while in Congress and his long-time friend, major GOP fundraiser Jeff Miller, is raising money to oppose the ballot measure.

Schwarzenegger is not part of the McCarthy effort, instead backing the good-government message of the Munger team. Patterson argues that anything the former governor does only brings more attention to their shared goal, even if he isn’t part of their effort.

“Gov. Schwarzenegger is Gov. Schwarzenegger,” Patterson said, pointing to an X post of the global celebrity wearing a T-shirt that said “Terminate Gerrymandering” while working out on Aug. 15. “He is a celebrity, a box-office guy. He’s going to make sure reasonable people know that we don’t want to put this power back in Sacramento. He will bring the glitz and glamour, like he always does.”

Schwarzenegger has long championed political reform. During his final year as governor, he prioritized the ballot measure that created independent congressional redistricting. Since leaving office, he made good governance a priority at his institute at the University of Southern California and campaigned for independent redistricting across the nation.

“Here are some of the things that are more popular than Congress: hemorrhoids, Nickelback, traffic jams, cockroaches, root canals, colonoscopies, herpes,” Schwarzenegger said in a 2017 Facebook video. “Even herpes, they couldn’t beat herpes in the polls.”

The former governor is reportedly backing the effort by Munger, the son of a billionaire, who bankrolled the ballot measure that created independent congressional redistricting in 2010. Munger has donated more than $10 million to an effort opposing the November ballot measure; the organization he funded has booked more than $10 million in television spots through Sept. 23.

“These ads are the start of our campaign’s effort to communicate directly with voters about the dangers of allowing politicians to choose their voters and abandoning our gold standard citizen-led redistricting process,” said Amy Thoma, a spokesperson for the Munger-backed Voters First Coalition.

Supporters of the effort to redraw the districts argued that Republicans are trying to cement GOP control of the nation’s policies.

“Trump cronies … are spending big to defeat [Prop.] 50 and help Trump rig the 2026 election before a single person [has] voted,” said Hannah Milgrom, a spokesperson for the campaign. “They are spending big — and early — to trick California voters into allowing Trump to keep total control over the federal government for two more years.“

Rocket company postpones 10th test-flight to troubleshoot issue at Texas launch site.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has called off a planned test flight of its Starship megarocket following an issue at the launch site.

About 30 minutes before the planned liftoff at its Texas launch facility on Sunday, SpaceX said that it was abandoning its 10th test flight to “allow time to troubleshoot an issue with ground systems”.

SpaceX said it would attempt the launch again on Monday.

The launch failure is the latest in a series of botched missions by SpaceX.

Test flights of the rocket’s upper stage in January, March and May ended in mid-flight explosions, while a “static fire” test in June resulted in the vehicle exploding on the launchpad.

Starship is designed to eventually be fully reusable, but SpaceX has so far been unable to get the vehicle’s upper stage to deliver a payload to space or return to the launch site.

The 403-feet (123-metre) spacecraft is key to Musk’s goal of colonising Mars, while NASA plans to use a customised version of the vehicle for its planned crewed missions to the Moon.

If SpaceX’s latest launch went ahead as planned, the Starship upper stage would have separated from the Super Heavy booster dozens of miles in altitude.

Super Heavy, which has returned for a landing at its launchpad in giant mechanical arms in past tests, would have targeted the Gulf of Mexico for a soft water landing to test a backup engine configuration.

Starship was to briefly ignite its own engines to blast further into space, where it would have attempted to release its first batch of mock Starlink satellites and reignite an engine while on a suborbital path around the planet.

If Starship’s 10th test flight eventually succeeds, SpaceX will still face formidable technical hurdles, from making the system fully and rapidly reusable at low cost to proving it can refuel super-cooled propellant in orbit.

SEOUL, Aug. 21 (UPI) — Nongshim, South Korea’s largest instant noodle maker, will release a line of products featuring characters from the Netflix hit animated movie KPop Demon Hunters later this month.

Packaging for the company’s popular Shin Ramyun instant noodles and Shrimp Crackers snacks will showcase images of characters from the film, including Rumi, Zoey, Saja Boys and Derpy the tiger, the company said Wednesday.

Nongshim will also launch a new Shin Toomba Sauce and special cup noodles modeled after the snacks eaten by the fictional K-pop group Huntrix in the movie. The company will promote the collaboration through a series of global events, including social media campaigns, digital content and offline pop-ups.

“KPop Demon Hunters’ realistic depiction of various Korean cultures, including K-Pop and K-Food, went viral and is creating a global fandom,” the company said in a statement. “The frequent appearance of ramyun, a quintessentially Korean food, naturally drew attention to Nongshim.”

The animated film, which centers on a K-pop trio who secretly battle demons, has been a massive hit for Netflix since its release in June. As of last week, it has become the second-most-watched film of all time on the streaming service, with more than 210 million views.

The Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack has also crossed over onto the global music charts, with the single “Golden” by Huntrix topping the Billboard Hot 100 list for the week of Aug. 16.

Nongshim said that the partnership was sparked by the film’s realistic depiction of Korean ramyun and snacks, which many fans said resembled the company’s products.

“This collaboration was possible thanks to fans who identified our products in Kpop Demon Hunters and shared their excitement,” a spokesperson said. “Just as KPop Demon Hunters introduced K-culture to the world, we will also work to genuinely inform global consumers of the taste and value of K-snacks.”

The limited-edition products will be available in South Korea and major markets across North America, Europe, Oceania and Southeast Asia.

THREE people have been arrested after a car was driven into a man following a violent altercation.

The horror smash happened in Bethesda, North Wales, yesterday afternoon.

After an altercation between four people broke out a car was ploughed into one of the men involved.

Emergency services raced to the scene and the injured man was rushed to hospital.

Three others were arrested in connection with the incident and remain in police custody.

Police said a 19-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman and a 35-year-old woman were all arrested.

The injured man was treated in hospital and has since been released.

Cops said they were aware of footage of the incident circulating online and asked that the video not be shared.

Detective Inspector Chris Burrow of North Wales Police said: “We are aware of distressing footage of this incident circulating online and I would urge members of the public not to share these videos further.

“There has been an increased police presence in the area today whilst we located the remaining suspect who has now been arrested.

“Officers will remain in the area for reassurance purposes.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist our enquiries should contact police if they haven’t already done so.”

North Wales Police are asking anyone with information to contact police via the North Wales Police website, by calling 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers quoting reference C128574.

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ITV have reportedly launched a formal investigation into an incident that sparked outrage on Good Morning Britain earlier this year on Holocaust Memorial Day

ITV have reportedly launched a formal probe into Good Morning Britain after one ‘humiliating blunder too big to ignore’ left viewers outraged. The broadcaster’s long-running early morning programme aired a tribute to the victims of one of history’s biggest atrocities on Holocaust Memorial Day earlier this year.

On that day, presenter Ranvir Singh was reporting and while she mentioned that the six million people killed in the death camps were ‘disabled, gay or belonged to another ethnic group’, but did not make it clear that that figure applied to solely the Jewish victims, and didn’t appear to realise that there were 11 million victims in total. The episode in question aired on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in January, and it is now thought that the incident has become the subject of a formal investigation.

A source told The Sun : “Good Morning Britain is a flagship programme for ITV and to allow a blunder like this was too big to simply ignore. They are now investigating how this happened and the top brass want answers. ITV pride themselves on their news coverage but this was lower than sub par.”

READ MORE: Kate Middleton has emotional reunion with Holocaust survivors at poignant eventREAD MORE: Full list of ITV hosts KEEPING their job amid major cuts ‘revealed’

The insider also claimed that ‘the probe will uncover who allowed it to happen and there will be consequences’ for those involved, adding that it ‘has been hugely humiliating and is a headache the bosses over at ITV really could do without.’

The Mirror has approached ITV for comment on the probe they have launched. At the time, the blunder sparked outrage and Ranvir, who also regularly covers for Lorraine Kelly on her eponymous daytime show, was quick to apologise for her error.

She said: “In yesterday’s news when we reported on the memorial events in Auschwitz, we said six million people were killed in the Holocaust, but crucially failed to say they were Jewish. That was our mistake, for which we apologise.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the show said: “In our studio introduction to the report on the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz we failed to acknowledge the Jewish community which we have since apologised for live on air in today’s programme.

“This failure was done in error, however clear reference to Jewish people in the correspondent news report from Auschwitz immediately followed, as well as a further extended programme report referencing the six million Jewish victims. Yesterday’s programme also included a live studio interview with a survivor of Auschwitz, Rachel Levy alongside Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Trust, both of whom talked candidly about their own experiences as Jewish people.”

The clip came under fire on social media, with one person writing: “Disgusting shameful!” A second added: “This can’t be for real?” “This coverage is utterly disgraceful! This history must not be forgotten, nor must it be distorted. The Jews were the victims then – we must make sure that they will never be the victims again,” said another.

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“Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan and Paramount are going big in Texas, joining forces to open a 450,000-square-foot production campus in Fort Worth, in a boost to the Lone Star State’s growing entertainment economy.

The venture, announced Wednesday, comes on the heels of Skydance’s $8.4-billion takeover of Paramount and just as Texas has taken major initiatives to encourage more film production, having recently passed legislation increasing its film incentives program to $1.5 billion over the next 10 years.

The massive production hub will be situated on the Alliance Texas campus, a 27,000-acre development owned by billionaire Ross Perot Jr.’s Hillwood, a commercial and residential real estate developer and a partner in the project along with Sheridan’s and Paramount Television.

It will be the largest studio facility in the state, according to officials, and marks another step toward Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s goal “to make Texas the Film Capital of the World.”

“We are at a pivotal moment where Texas can become a global force in the film industry, and North Texas offers the location and resources to play a central role in this development,” said Hillwood President Mike Berry in a statement.

The film campus is composed of two buildings with six sound stages that can support four large-scale productions simultaneously. It is expected to be the home base for such Sheridan-produced shows as “Landman” and “Lioness,” which currently film in Texas.

The second season of “Landman” has been filming at the facility since March.

Taylor Sheridan at the premiere of Paramount+’s “1883” at Wynn Las Vegas in 2021.

(Greg Doherty / Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas)

The move also marks a turning point for Sheridan’s productions.

In recent years, Sheridan, who grew up in Fort Worth, has filmed many of his hit television shows — including “1883” — across the state.

His productions have brought in hundreds of millions of dollars to local businesses and a stream of tourists in what some in the industry began calling “the Sheridan Effect.”

“SGS Studios isn’t just about sound stages or incentives — it’s about reclaiming the independence and grit that built this industry in the first place,” said Taylor Sheridan in statement about the new project.

THE Government has confirmed when it’s planning to bring in controversial new powers aimed at cracking down on benefits fraudsters.

Banks will be drafted in to help identify benefits cheats and convicted fraudsters could be stripped of their driving licences under the new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plans.

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New Government documents have revealed it’s planning to bring the measures under the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill in April 2026.

The DWP has said it will be the “biggest fraud crackdown in a generation”.

It’s estimated the new powers could save taxpayers £1.5billion over five years.

Last year, an estimated £7.4billion was lost to benefits fraud – around 2.8% of total welfare spending.

A further £1.6bn (0.6%) was overpaid due to unintentional errors by claimants, while £0.8bn (0.3%) was overpaid because of errors by the DWP.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been trying to boost the public purse after it was revealed she needs to plug a £50billion hole in public finances.

The new measures mean banks will help to identify customers who might have breached benefit eligibility rules, such as exceeding the £16,000 savings limit for Universal Credit.

They will share limited data with the DWP but can’t provide transaction details, so officials won’t be able to see how benefit claimants spend their money.

The DWP also won’t gain direct access to claimants’ bank accounts, but it will receive cases flagged for investigation.

Financial institutions face penalties if they overshare information beyond what’s permitted.

Airlines and other third-party organisations might also have to provide information to help detect benefit claims made from abroad that could violate eligibility rules.

According to the Government documents, any information “will not be shared on the presumption or suspicion that anyone is guilty of any offence”.

However officials will gain authority to recover money directly from fraudsters’ bank accounts.

As well as this, persistent benefit fraudsters who fail to repay their debts could face driving bans lasting up to two years.

DWP minister Liz Kendall has pledged to clamp down on benefit cheats, saying back in March: “The social security system that we inherited from the Conservatives is failing the very people that it is supposed to help and is holding our country back.

“The facts speak for themselves. One in 10 people of working age are now claiming a sickness or disability benefit. Almost one million young people are not in education, employment or training – one in eight of all our young people.”

The DWP has said it will have strong safeguards in place, including new inspection and reporting mechanisms.

DWP staff will also receive comprehensive training before using the new powers.

However campaign groups have warned the powers could invade claimants’ rights to financial privacy and it could also lead to legitimate claimants being wrongly investigated.

In a letter to Kendall last year, the directors of Big Brother Watch and Age UK described the plans as “mass financial surveillance powers” which they said would “represent a severe and disproportionate intrusion into the nation’s privacy”.

The weekly service will start from May 26, 2026 and will run every Tuesday until October 20, 2026 giving travellers the opportunity to enjoy the sun-soaked hotspot

Scots and those living in the north of England dreaming of a Greek escape can fly directly to an island famed for its sandy beaches and rich history. From next summer, Jet2.com will operate flights from Glasgow Airport to Kos.

The weekly service will commence on May 26 2026 and will run every Tuesday until October 20 2026. This gives travellers the chance to soak up the sun in this hotspot, which is the birthplace of Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician considered the father of modern medicine.

Greece has seen a boom in tourism after nearly going bankrupt a decade ago following the 2009 global recession. In fact, the country was recently ranked as the world’s second top destination in a poll by TrovaTrip, a group travel platform, losing out only to Italy. It comes as news emerges that UK beachgoers risk £2,500 fine for causing common problem.

READ MORE: Easyjet, Ryanair and Jet2 passengers urged to ‘pack a roll of cling film’ in luggageREAD MORE: UK gardeners told to stop cutting the grass on their lawn this week

Now Scots have a direct route to the island of Kos, making it Jet2.com’s sixth Greek destination from Glasgow, which also includes Corfu, Heraklion (Crete), Kefalonia, Rhodes and Zante.

Holidaymakers can seize the opportunity to explore Kos’s diverse range of historical sights, stunning scenery and golden beaches, reports the Daily Record.

Part of the breathtaking Dodecanese Islands, Kos has long been a favourite for sunshine holidays. Holidaymakers can choose from lively party towns, relaxed seaside resorts and traditional fishing villages – all boasting beautiful beaches and serving up traditional cuisine.

Kos, with its rich culture and history, is an island where ancient relics sit side by side with vibrant bars and bustling promenades. Passengers can also benefit from the airline’s generous 22kg baggage allowance.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, has said that the popularity of Greek getaways shows no signs of waning. He stated: “Demand from customers and independent travel agents in Scotland is telling us that flights and holidays to Greece are very popular for Summer 26.

“As the largest airline and tour operator to Greece from Scotland, we have responded quickly to that demand to give customers even more choice from Glasgow Airport.

“Kos is a magical destination, and we know its appeal, coupled with our award-winning customer experience, will make it an extremely popular option for holidaymakers looking to book a welcome escape to Greece.”

Matt Hazelwood, chief commercial officer at AGS Airports, also expressed his delight at the announcement, saying: “We are delighted to see Jet2.com announce its sixth Greek destination from Glasgow to the sun-soaked island of Kos next summer.

“Expanded flight options to Greece have been sought after by Glasgow passengers for some time and the market dynamics clearly show the increasing trend of people in West Scotland searching for travel to this part of Europe.

“We are delighted to see Jet2.com respond to this demand with an expanded Greek programme for Summer 2026. Glasgow Airport looks forward to welcoming even more Greek-bound passengers from the city and the wider West Scotland region travelling from their local airport next year.”

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Aug. 12 (UPI) — United Launch Alliance successfully launched one of its Vulcan Centaur rockets into orbit Tuesday, demonstrating the viability of a newly developed technology for the U.S. military’s space capabilities.

The rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 8:56 p.m. EDT Tuesday. It’s the third launch ever of the company’s Vulcan rockets and the first time it was used for a national security mission, referred to as United States Space Force (USSF)-106, reported Spaceflight Now.

“This is literally the mission that drove the design of the vulcan,” Tori Bruno, president and CEO of ULA, said during the company’s livestream leading up to the launch.

The video showed the rocket lifting off and its bright glare cutting through the Florida night sky.

The mission centers on the Vulcan delivering classified payloads as well as a Navigation Technology Satellite-3 system into orbit. The NTS-3 is operated by Air Force Research Laboratory and will be used to shield GPS technology and critical infrastructure from jamming, the deliberate jamming of signals.

ULA said in an X post earlier that it would deploy its mission at geosynchronous orbit, which is more than 22,000 miles above the Earth’s surface and more closely aligns with its rotation.

The Vulcan’s launch means an end to the U.S.’s reliance on Russian-made rockets as mandated by Congress as well as additional capabilities for Space Force, according to a press release. The launch is the first integrated navigation satellite experiment in nearly 50 years.

Col. Jim Horne, US Space Force mission director, during a media call Monday called the launch “a historic point in our program history,” reported Signal, a publication of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.

SAINSBURY’S shoppers are going wild after spotting a “gorgeous” new autumn pyjama collection.

The supermarket’s in-house fashion label Tu is one of the best-loved brands on the high street, and is constantly wowing us with its stylish but affordable fashion.

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TikToker Jasmine Poppy sent fashion lovers into a frenzy when she posted a clip of her latest TU Clothing purchases.

The TikToker showed off Sainsbury’s new range of cosy sets perfect for snuggling up as the nights draw in.

Among the finds was the Mini Me Women’s Halloween Pink Pumpkin Print Slinky Pyjama set, priced at £16, with the rest of the line retailing at £20.

And while Halloween PJs usually mean garish orange and purple prints, Sainsbury’s has gone for something a little different this year with pretty designs in soft pinks and cute patterns that shoppers say are “perfect for autumn”.

The line includes a pink jersey pasta printed set, cosy pin-striped pumpkin set and a fun cherry cake printed set, with plenty of other cute designs for shoppers to pick from.

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The playful pumpkin prints, soft fabrics, and matching sets have quickly earned a spot on people’s must-buy lists.

“I LOVE TU pjs, they’re so comfy,” raved one fan in the comments.

Another wrote: “Never have I run to order something so quickly.”

A third added: “These are gorgeous, I want all of them.”

One shopper had their eyes on a particular set, gushing: “I need the cherry pumpkin ones.”

While another insisted: “Sainsbury’s pjs top all others, honestly.”

It’s clear Sainsbury’s is coming into the colder months well prepared, with styles that feel seasonal without being over-the-top spooky, perfect for anyone who wants to nod to Halloween without going full fancy dress.

So, if you’re already dreaming of hot chocolate, candles, and a fresh pair of matching PJs, you might want to make your next supermarket trip a pyjama haul.

It comes after a Sainsbury’s fashion boss sent shoppers into a frenzy after giving them a sneak peek of their new autumn arrivals.

Hannah Pountain, Director of Merchandising at Tu Clothing, revealed her top five picks from the new range in an Instagram video over the weekend.

And she rounded up her five top picks from the new range – including a staple buy which proves a classic 1920s trend is returning.

The autumn drop follows a wave of excitement over other high street nightwear launches.

Just last week, Primark had shoppers swooning with a Clueless-themed pyjama line, inspired by the iconic 90s rom-com.

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Katie Price has failed to speak out upon the release of her daughter Princess’ reality show and not publicly reacted to the premiere or shown any support for the new venture

Katie Price has publicly ignored her daughter Princess Andre’s reality show upon its premiere. The Page 3 legend, 47, is mother to Junior, 20, and Princess, 18, with ex-husband Peter Andre and her second child has launched a media career in her own right with her brand new ITV2 show.

In the build-up to the launch of the programme, which aired its first episode on Sunday night, Katie is thought to have missed a planned morning meet-up with Princess Andre on her 18th birthday to party abroad instead and has reportedly been accused of ‘inserting herself’ into Princess’s success as her daughter embarks on a fledgling showbiz career. It’s also been claimed that she has tried to ‘overshadow the launch’ of the show, and all of this has prompted rumours of a rift between the mother and daughter duo.

And as the show hit screens towards the end of the weekend, Katie did not take to social media at all to acknowledge the airing of the programme in any way. It comes after Katie Price worries fans with appearance in family photo after explaining weight loss.

READ MORE: Katie Price accused of ‘last act of desperation’ hours before Princess Andre’s showREAD MORE: Katie Price unveils brand new face after MORE surgery hours before Princess’ show airs

Katie’s last posts in the hours before the show went out featured her showing fans a new jacket from her collection with JYY London and encouraging them to buy it by inserting a link. Meanwhile, Princess’ dad Peter, who shot to fame in the 1990s with the release of his hit single Mysterious Girl and was married to Katie for four years following their appearance on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, appeared heavily in the first episode.

Despite her apparent silence, Katie did actually make a surprise appearance in the episode as a voice note that she had sent Princess was heard playing. Princess had to asked her mother about what she was like as a child and Katie replied: “Who was the naughtiest child? Well, you was a mummy’s girl so you used to push me more and probably get away with things so I’d say you was more naughty actually. You are still very much like me but different if that makes sense, you are more sensible. So yeah, the answer to your question is that I think you were naughty. You naughty girl! before Princess admitted in a confessional: “Me and my mum are so close. We’re more like best friends, we’ll tell each other anything.”

Just days ago, Katie confirmed on her eponymous podcast that she would not be watching the show, as she said: “I won’t be watching the show. And I won’t be promoting the show because I don’t need it rubbed in my face of everyone playing happy families but disregarding me as the other parent.

“I support Princess in everything she does, but I think it’s really wrong for her at her age to be put in this situation because she’s going to have to do press and they will ask… they are going to be asked what’s all this about your mum and why isn’t your mum and why isn’t your mum in it.”

The mum-of-five previously said she was banned from her daughter’s 18th birthday party and that her former management team – who look after ex-husband Peter Andre and Princess – did not want her on the show as they considered her “trash”.

Speaking on her podcast, Katie claimed: “Princess was like ‘I’m having a party’. And I wasn’t invited because it was for ‘filming’.” She added: “The fact is there’s stuff my daughter is doing and I’m not allowed to be seen at any of it.” But insiders claimed her version of events was far from the truth.

They said the 18-year-old had arranged to see her mum on the morning of her birthday in June in London – but Katie failed to appear. A source said: “It was all in the diary but then Katie claimed she couldn’t make it as she was abroad. It was disappointing. “For Katie to then say she was banned from the afternoon’s filmed party when she was the no-show in the morning is just beyond belief.”

Insiders are perplexed by Katie’s attempts to “repeatedly insert herself into her daughter’s career”. The model herself claimed: “I have not been allowed to go on any photoshoots, signings or Superdrug openings or anything like that. I’m not welcome.”

But the source said: “Why is she making this all about her? What sort of person on the eve of her daughter’s show, starts throwing all these grenades and believes she knows what’s best, and should be given equal billing? Pete keeps quiet about the whole situation with Katie and just wants to support his children.”

Some question whether Katie could be jealous of her daughter’s success. The source said: “Princess’s career is flourishing.”

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Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure has reportedly been axed by ITV after just one series, despite the show marking the TV presenter’s big comeback to British televisions

ITV has reportedly axed Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure after just one series. The show was the presenter’s first proper return to TV since he took part in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2018.

The three-part series, which aired on ITV1 earlier this year, followed Noel, 76, and his wife Elizabeth Davies as they showed off their new life in New Zealand. Viewers watched the couple as they spoke about their interest in crystal healing and living a sustainable lifestyle.

Despite the big comeback, ITV has reportedly decided to shelve Noel’s show after just one series. It comes after Noel Edmonds breaks down as he makes emotional confession about his marriage.

A spokesperson for ITV confirmed to the Daily Mail on Thursday: “There are no current plans for more new episodes but audiences can enjoy the show on ITVX.” Meanwhile, a TV insider told The Sun that the cancellation is “a blow” to Noel, who thought that he was “on to a winning idea”.

They added: “There was a great buzz around the series and it was well received by both viewers and critics alike.” The Mirror has reached out to ITV for comment.

On the series, Noel opened up about the “dark times” he’s faced in the past, explaining that his home features a sculpture called Guardian which is a permanent reminder of his production company unexpectedly going bankrupt. “There’s a description of my story here, for guests to understand why I had Guardian created. My Unique group of companies was deliberately collapsed by some corrupt bankers,” he said.

“And I’m safe in saying that because my bank manager went to prison, along with four others, for 50. What they were doing was pushing businesses over the edge and then taking assets—that’s basically what it was about. When the companies went into administration in 2006, I thought I was a crap businessman. I thought it was my fault. 70 people lost their jobs.”

Noel then revealed: “And I said to Liz, who was a fantastic support, ‘When,’ not if, When I win my battle to get my losses back, I’m gonna get the great Weta Studios, Lord of the Rings, Avatar, the real creative powerhouses here in New Zealand, I’m gonna ask them to build me a statue.”

The series also saw Noel propose to wife Liz for the fifth time, asking her: “Deal or no deal?” He said: “We’ve been married a lot. We got married in a civil ceremony in the Cotswolds, then we went to our home in France and an Anglican minister who I knew very well came over and he was going to bless us and he did the whole thing again.

“So this became a bit of a joke with our friends. Oh yeah, we were filming on a cruise ship and the captain married us again. We’ve done four. But we want a Kiwi one. And there’s a compelling reason why we should get married again, in New Zealand. We own a chapel. So why wouldn’t we?”

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