A NEW railway line linking two major cities in the UK is set to be announced tomorrow.
Train travel across the north of England could be smoother and faster in the future if the plans go ahead.
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The new rail link is part of plans for the Northern Powerhouse Rail projectCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
Ministers are expected to confirm proposals linking Manchester and Birmingham as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project, which is aimed at slashing travelling times and boosting local economies.
A plan to link the two cities as part of high-speed rail network HS2 was scrapped by the then prime minister Rishi Sunak in 2023 after costs ballooned.
Mr Sunak’s predecessor, Boris Johnson, had already scrapped plans for HS2 to extend to Leeds.
The original cost of the network was expected to be just more than £30bn but a leaked report later stated this could rise to more than £100bn.
EAGLE-EYED Kylie Jenner fans have noted a huge new diamond on her finger – and are certain it’s an engagement ring.
According to fans, beauty mogul Kylie is engaged to her actor boyfriend Timothee Chalamet after spotting the dazzling sparkler in a new video.
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Kylie Jenner fans are certain she is wearing an engagement ring in a new videoCredit: Instagram / kyliejennerThe star flashed a huge diamond ring on her little finger – which was far too bigCredit: Instagram / kyliejenner
She captioned it: “Got a fresh haircut don’t talk to meeeee.”
Fans took to TikTok to comment on the sassy video in which she’s swishing her long dark wavy hair.
Wearing a figure-hugging white vest top with a plunging neckline, the billionaire can be seen flicking her voluminous locks and giggling into the camera.
Applying lip gloss to her perfectly-preened face, the TV star rocked the ill-fitting giant diamond on her little finger.
The smitten pair, who have been dating since 2023, attended the 70th David di Donatello Awards in Rome, Italy together.
The U.S. Sun previously revealed thatTimothee andKyliehave yet to committo living under the same roof, preferring instead to split their time betweenNYCandLos Angeles.
TheOscar-nominated starhas a place in his native NYC as well as a $11 million house in Beverly Hills, while his billionaire Kardashiangirlfriendhas a$48 million mansion in nearby Holmby Hills.
But things are stepping up a gear and he has made room for his long-term girlfriend at his NY pad.
An insider says she has ‘so many clothes and shoes’ there that Timothee has had to move some of his own stuff into storage to make some ‘extra room’.
According to the source, Kylie has been buying furniture, art and vases to make his city apartment feel more like a ‘love nest’ in her style.
The screen star has just scooped the Best Actor gong for his role as Marty Mauser in the recent Marty Supreme flick, beating the likes of Leonardo Di Caprio and Ethan Hawke to the accolade.
He directly addressed the Hulu star in his acceptance speech and said: “Thank you to my partner for three years.
“I love you. I couldn’t do this without you.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Kylie stunned in a body-fitting white vest top and newly-preened hairCredit: Instagram / kyliejennerThe happy couple have been dating since 2023Credit: GettyThe loved-up duo have been seen on the red carpet in matching outfitsCredit: GettyTimothee and Kylie split their time between New York and LACredit: Reuters
A HUGE festival that is completely free to visit will land in the UK next month.
Bristol Light Festival will return to Bristol for 10 nights next month, between February 19 and 28.
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Bristol Light Festival returns for 10 days in FebruaryCredit: Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
One of the headline events recently announced will be an installation called The Lite Series.
Visitors will be able to see a number of illuminated hot air balloons gathered by Cameron Balloons, which when fired will create a burst of colour in the balloon.
The more people who fire the hot air balloons, the brighter they get and more sound plays from them.
Jess Siggers, marketing manager at Cameron Balloons, said: “Bristol’s skyline has been shaped by our balloons for generations, so we’re thrilled to bring that heritage back down to earth in an entirely new way for Bristol Light Festival.
It isn’t just about families though, as there are plenty of adult activities on as well such as paint in the dark, dine in the dark and run club events.
It is the stuff of dreams for the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Cup to take on the holders in the third round. When Macclesfield host Crystal Palace on Saturday it will be one of the biggest days in their recent history, but one also tinged with sadness.
On 16 December, Silkmen forward Ethan McLeod died in a car accident while travelling back from Macclesfield’s National League North match at Bedford Town.
Rather than travel on the team bus back to Cheshire, McLeod was driving himself back to the Midlands after the 2-1 victory in which he was an unused substitute.
The rest of the squad were held up in gridlocked traffic after the crash on the M1, but it wasn’t until the next day they learned their team-mate was involved.
Macclesfield’s first game after McLeod’s death was postponed, but the club have played three league matches since.
Saturday’s FA Cup tie is a huge occasion for a club that reformed in 2020 after Macclesfield Town were wound up in the high court. But manager John Rooney said recent events have put things into perspective.
Rooney took it upon himself to contact every member of the squad when the news was confirmed.
“Nothing can prepare you for that,” Rooney told BBC Sport. “When you have to ring every player individually and tell them, I can’t explain what it felt like.
“I wanted to take that on. I didn’t want people ringing different players. I wanted to be the one to tell that news. I thought that was the right thing to do at the time.
“I don’t think many managers will ever have to speak to the lads and let them know what happened with their friend. It is the hardest thing I have ever done and will ever have to do.”
A flag with a photo of McLeod hangs between the dugouts where Rooney and his Palace counterpart Oliver Glasner will stand on Saturday, alongside the words ‘Forever a Silkman’, while there is a book of condolence to sign in the club bar.
IBIZA Final Boss Jack Kay is a millionaire after he became a sudden viral international superstar and he is now planning his own festival.
The former Newcastle construction worker became an internet sensation after footage of him dancing on the party island, sporting a chunky gold chain, designer sunglasses, a black vest, and his distinctive, sharp bowl haircut went viral.
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Ibiza Final Boss Jack Kay is a millionaire after he became a sudden viral international superstar and he is now planning his own festivalCredit: TikTok / @zerosixwestibizaJack last year secured a five-figure contract with fashion chain Boohoo ManCredit: instagram/@jack.kayy1
Dad-of-one Jack later came forward to tell the world: “I am the Ibiza Final Boss. Jack Kay. Get to know.”
Jack missed out on trademarking his brand Ibiza Final Boss after someone grabbed the name while he was raking in the cash last summer.
But he revealed how he’d earned £800,000 in just six weeks after the footage went global and since then, he’s added another £200,000 to his ever-expanding bank balance.
He confessed in a hastily made documentary about his rise to fame just how much cash he’d made in the summer.
Jack admitted: “I’m trying to keep myself on a level head with it because I’ve got a little daughter back home
“I had nothing growing up so to give her the life when she’s older, she can have anything she wants, is just unbelievable.”
In one scene, a friend asked him directly, “What’s the dough like?”, leading the star to hint at the substantial amount of money he had made in the six weeks since his viral moment.
He told his friend to “pick a number”, before revealing it’s a “little tidge more” than £800,000.
And since then he’s been enjoying the fruits of his celebrity.
Jack now drives a £55,000 Range Rover SVR with the private plate BOSS BZA after inking a string of money-spinning deals.
He secured a five-figure contract with fashion chain Boohoo Man.
Following his overnight fame, he went on a club appearance tour, returning to Ibiza by private jet and earning £60,000 a day.
He returned to Wayne Lineker’s O Beach Club, the venue where the original video was filmed, to wow fans.
Lionheart Entertainment, a Scottish nightclub events promotions firm booked Jack for a string of events in the UK, and he teamed up with London musician Carnao Beats and they released a techno tune on Spotify.
He also appeared on stage at rave festival Creamfields in Cheshire.
Jack also commands £2,000 a post plugging goods and services on Instagram.
He sells his own merchandise, with the person who recorded the original video also profiting from selling their own line of Ibiza Final Boss gear.
Jack has also appeared in various media, including the Channel 4 documentary that tracked his rise.
He has also cashed in with numerous freebies, including a yacht trip valued at over £10,000.
And he has just filed documents with the UK’s Intellectual Property Office to trademark the slogan Be Your Own under the “presentation of music concerts; music festival services”.
The application also gives him the scope to open his nightclub and to use the name exclusively as a recording artist, DJ, and producer.
His papers were filed just days ago and will stay in place for 10 years once passed to protect Jack from bootleggers who have already begun to prey on his name.
Following his overnight fame, the former construction worker went on a club appearance tour, returning to Ibiza by private jet and earning £60,000 a dayCredit: instagram/jack.kayy1
IT’S shaping up to be a very exciting year for Alesha Dixon, Sabrina Washington and Su-Elise Nash.
I’m told the singers, who you will know better as Noughties girl band Mis-Teeq, have been discussing how they can celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Lickin’ On Both Sides.
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Girl group Mis-Teeq are plotting a comeback for a special show to mark 25 years since their first albumCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
The record, which came out in October 2001, peaked at No3 in the Official Album Charts and bagged them five Top Ten singles including All I Want, One Night Stand and B With Me.
And now the trio are considering reuniting for a special show to mark the milestone.
A source said: “Alesha has been excitedly talking about this for a while and would love a Mis-Teeq reunion with Sabrina and Su-Elise happen.
“Fans shouldn’t expect a Girls Aloud-style comeback tour, though.
“At the minute, lots of things are being discussed and one thing that has come up is the idea of a one-off show. It could be an intimate gig for their die-hard fans or a performance on a big TV programme such as Britain’s Got Talent — which Alesha is a judge on.
“Nothing has formally been offered but nothing is off the table.
“Lickin’ On Both Sides launched Alesha, Sabrina and Su-Elise’s music careers and that record holds a really special place in their hearts.
“They want to celebrate that album with their fans.”
Alesha and Sabrina now appear to be back on good terms after the latter threatened to sue over unpaid royalties in 2020.
Sabrina, who was the group’s lead singer, started legal proceedings against Alesha over royalties going back 15 years as well as action against former label Universal.
She alleged Alesha had “wrongfully claimed” song-writing cash for their first two singles Why and All I Want.
A pal said at the time: “Alesha received five per cent royalties for the girls’ first two songs whereas Sabrina received nothing.
“They both should have got 2.5 per cent. Sabrina wasn’t listed as a writer for the tracks but it was written in her contract that she would get pay parity.
“She feels she is owed thousands.”
At the time, a spokesman for Alesha said: “Alesha wrote the raps on both Why? and All I Want and that is why she gets a split.
“The rest of the song was written by a production team. Sabrina has no reason to sue Alesha.”
Earlier this summer Alesha admitted a reunion could be on the cards but added: “Thinking doesn’t mean we are doing, but we’re thinking.
“Which is more than we’ve done.”
Dua toasts a top year
Dua Lipa opened 2026 in style alongside fiance Callum Turner, celebrating the most lucrative year of her careerCredit: instagram/dualipa
DUA LIPA has been knocking back the cocktails to celebrate a stellar 2025.
I can reveal the Training Season singer raked in £70million in the year to March 2025, making it the most lucrative of her career.
Dua kept it real, though – despite earning the mammoth amount, she only paid herself a paltry £500.
New documents show her live gigs company, Radical22 Live, banked £45.6million, while Dua made a further £45.6million from her management, publishing and production company.
Pop star’s sister Rina poses on quirky wicker chairCredit: instagram/dualipaDua wrote that she is excited to make 2026 her most exciting year yetCredit: instagram/dualipa
It’s almost double the earnings of other big British pop acts, including Ed Sheeran, over the past year – so I’m not surprised she’s busting open the booze.
Sharing snaps of her end-of-year celebrations, with her family and actor fiance Callum Turner, Dua wrote online: “Thank you for making my last year so special.
“I’m excited to make this the best one yet.”
It certainly will be if 2026 is the year she and Callum get married . . .
No more Fab secrets
THE BEATLES’ vaults have been slammed shut after 63 years, with super producer Giles Martin admitting fans will never hear any more secret tracks from the Fab Four.
Giles has spent a number of years scouring through the band’s audio recordings, studio archives and even individual projects penned for them over their history.
His efforts have helped produce the current Disney Plus revived Beatles’ Anthology series and remixed albums and tracks.
Asked how much untouched Beatles content exists now, Martin said: “I don’t think there’s anything. I always say that then something turns up.
“But I don’t think there’s anything. It’s incredible how much interest there still is over Beatles stuff.
“You do [hear new] things on this Anthology box set. There’s that first round of Helter Skelter, which for me is great because it’s really raw.
“It’s proper in your face music.
“And then people go, ‘Well, how come we haven’t released the 20-minute long version of Helter Skelter?’ I think we’re done.” Giles curated the new
Anthology 4 album and remastered the entire collection for the 2025 re-release of The Beatles’ Anthology series.
He believes that collaborating with his late father George Martin, also known as the fifth Beatle, on these projects has been spiritually and professionally fulfilling.
He added: “The Beatles are so powerful that it’s what people want to know about.
“It’s really nice. I love my dad. We were incredibly close.
“Their music and what they did really makes people feel better about themselves. So it’s a complete honour to work on this material and to be close to my dad is a great thing.”
Giles is currently working with director Sam Mendes on the four upcoming Beatles movies, with each focussing on a different member of the band.
On radio in the US, Giles added: “I’m working on these films. They come out in three years.
“What’s amazing about The Beatles is that new generations hear stuff and go back and unearth this catalogue.”
Mel’s bid to mark big hit
THE SPICE GIRLS’ smash hit Wannabe, the song that soundtracked my childhood, turns 30 this year and Mel C has confirmed the group will be celebrating the milestone.
Incredibly, she is still convinced that she can somehow persuade Posh and Ginger to join her, Scary and Baby for a reunion.
Mel C has confirmed The Spice Girls will be celebrating the milestone of 30 years since hit single Wannabe was releasedCredit: Alamy
Spilling the beans herself on Australian radio, Mel joked: “We’ve decided not to tell Mel B anything because she can’t keep her mouth shut – and also she doesn’t know any more because we’re not telling her.”
Speaking of Wannabe’s 30th anniversary Mel added: “We have to acknowledge it in some way.”
And she explained how plans for that are progressing.
“We are talking about what that looks like and for me, myself, Melanie and Emma. We’re going back on stage . . . but sometimes the others may need some convincing.
She said: “Getting the five of us together, it would be the best thing ever. Sometimes I feel like it’s my duty to the world.”
“There’s so much negativity, there’s so much mad s**t going on – let’s just spice up our lives.”
Of her relationships with her bandmates, Mel said: “We have a newfound respect for each other.
“We know when to leave it, we know each other’s irritations and insecurities and we respect that now as adults and mothers.
Recalling their 2019 reunion tour, she added: “The love we had last time that was beamed back from these stadiums was like nothing I’ve experienced as a Spice Girl before.”
Twigs bold and brave
FKA Twigs says she feels she is at the perfect cross point of growth and youthCredit: Courtesy of ELLE UK/Louie Banks
FKA TWIGS has admitted that she’s finally found the courage to speak up for herself.
Speaking in the February edition of Elle UK, which is on sale now, the British singer said: “I’m reaching that age where I can really look back at my life and I can see so many things that have been beautiful and amazing, and other things that have been really brutal and violent.”
Twigs added: “I’m realising that I can hold my love of life and my artistry and the beauty of my life, and I can also hold the brutality and the sadness and the violence.
“I can hold things at the same time, and that feels really good.
“I’ve always wanted to be at this perfect cross point of growth and youth – to be able to be young and sexy and healthy – and also not be an idiot like I was in my 20s.”
Don’t be too hard on yourself, Twigs, no one is that proud of what they did in their 20s.
Ashley is boiling hot
Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts is making everybody jealous with her trip to MauritiusCredit: instagram/iamashleyroberts
ASHLEY ROBERTS is making me green with envy after sharing even more of her holiday snaps.
The Pussycat Dolls singer quit the freezing wind and snow we’re having in Blighty for the boiling hot sunshine of Mauritius.
Ash told her Instagram followers she’d had the “best time”.
I’m thrilled for you, Ashley. Just thrilled.
Harry Styles has been spotted with girlfriend Zoe Kravitz in the Bahamas, it is claimedCredit: Getty
HARRY STYLES and Zoe Kravitz have added another destination to their extensive list of travel hotspots.
Since they started dating, the pair have been seen all over the world – including New York, Paris, Rome and London.
Now it’s claimed they spent the last few days holed up inside a luxury resort in the Bahamas.
This sure is a long honeymoon period.
One fan claimed they spotted the former One Direction singer jogging on a beach over the New Year.
Nick Jonas has been reflecting on whether he is the best possible version of himselfCredit: Getty
NICK JONAS has dropped his reflective new single Gut Punch, before the release of his fifth album, Sunday Best.
On it Nick sings: “Hit me like a gut punch. I hurt my own feelings. How did I get so good at being mean to myself?”
The US star, who is married to Priyanka Chopra, said: “I do wonder if I’m being the best version of myself.
“Am I a present husband and father? Life weighs on you.
“It’s important to remember there was once a carefree version of you loved the world.”
Bangladesh bade farewell to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering political figure whose leadership shaped the nation for decades.
Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, died on Tuesday aged 80. Flags flew at half-mast across the country on Wednesday as thousands of security personnel lined Dhaka’s streets while her flag-draped coffin travelled through the capital.
Massive crowds gathered outside Bangladesh’s parliament building for the funeral prayers. People from Dhaka and beyond streamed towards Manik Mia Avenue, where the parliament building is located, since early morning to pay their last respects.
Retired government official Minhaz Uddin, 70, came despite never having voted for her. “I came here with my grandson, just to say goodbye to a veteran politician whose contributions will always be remembered,” he said, watching from behind a barbed wire barricade.
Zia entered politics following her husband’s death and rose to prominence opposing a military ruler who was ultimately ousted in a 1990 mass uprising. She first became prime minister in 1991 after a landslide victory when parliamentary democracy was introduced, and remained leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party until her death.
Known for her calm demeanour, Zia maintained a strong political rivalry with her archrival Sheikh Hasina, who led the Bangladesh Awami League party and ruled for 15 years before being ousted in a 2024 mass uprising.
Security was extensive, with authorities deploying approximately 10,000 personnel, including soldiers, to maintain order. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus’s interim government announced three days of mourning and declared Wednesday a public holiday to honour the three-time prime minister’s legacy.
Shinhan Card headquarters in Seoul. The company has reported massive data leaks. Photo by Yonhap
SEOUL, Dec. 26 (UPI) — Shinhan Card, one of the country’s top credit card issuers, reported a massive data leak Tuesday.
The Seoul-based company said more than 190,000 cases of potential data exposure have been identified that involve merchant partners’ personal and business information.
The incident seems to stem from employee actions rather than an external cyberattack. Against this backdrop, Shinhan Card CEO Park Chang-hun issued a formal apology.
“We would like to express our deepest apologies,” he said. “Upon discovering the incident, we immediately took measures to block any further leaks and completed a thorough review of our internal processes.”
“To ensure the protection of personal information in the future, we will conduct a full investigation into the cause and circumstances of the leak and strictly discipline the employees involved,” he said.
Despite the steps, criticism intensified as a series of security failures have taken place throughout this year.
In late November, the country’s leading online retailer, Coupang, acknowledged that the names, email addresses, phone numbers and delivery addresses of 33.7 million customers had been leaked.
The New York Stock Exchange-listed corporation could face fines amounting to a maximum of 3% of its related revenue, which is levied by the state-run Personal Information Protection Commission.
Since Coupang logged sales of some $28 billion in 2024, potential fines could surpass $800 million.
Earlier this year, SK Telecom admitted that a cyberattack had breached its network, exposing sensitive data and compromising critical information of about 23 million subscribers.
As a result, the top mobile operator was fined $92 million and ordered to suspend adding new customers for nearly two months, in accordance with government guidelines.
Criticizing companies that failed to protect customer information, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok vowed to more than triple the fines for similar violations.
“Urgent legislative tasks, such as the introduction of punitive administrative fines, will be swiftly advanced so that they can be passed as soon as possible,” Kim said at a government meeting Wednesday.
“For repeated and serious violations, we will introduce punitive fines of up to 10% of a company’s total revenue and strengthen the obligation to notify individuals of personal data breaches,” he said.
When corporate data leaks are reported, the South Korean government is quick to lash out at companies. However, critics argue that the government and state-operated organizations have failed to adequately protect their own data.
In 2021, the Atomic Energy Research Institute, the state-run outfit responsible for nuclear power research, was breached by a suspected North Korean state-backed group through a virtual private network server.
Last year, police found that North Korean hackers had stolen data from the National Court Administration during June 2021 and January 2023. The compromised data exceeded 1 terabyte, equivalent to more than 1.5 billion pages of documents, including personal information.
Despite these threats, the government is reluctant to spend more money to mitigate cybersecurity risks.
For example, the Seoul administration cut the 2026 budget for the operation and maintenance of integrated security control centers run by local governments by almost 30% compared with this year.
It also reduced the 2026 budget for reinforcing security and protection facilities at government complexes by more than 40%.
This contrasts with the 8.1% year-on-year increase in the national budget for 2026.
“When hacking incidents occur, harsh penalties are imposed on private enterprises. For government agencies, however, it seemingly ends up with only a slap on the wrist. Such asymmetric punishments are not difficult to understand,” economic commentator Kim Kyeong-joon, formerly vice chairman at Deloitte Consulting Korea, told UPI.
“Moreover, the government is required to strengthen the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure. And leaks of public data or documents are even more dangerous when they are related to national defense. I wonder whether our government is doing enough in these areas,” he said.
Park Tae-hwan, head of the AhnLab CyberSecurity Center, called for stronger efforts to counter online threats and data breaches. AhnLab is the country’s leading cybersecurity vendor.
“Following a series of cyber intrusion incidents of late, regulations centered on bigger fines and punitive measures have come to the forefront, raising the burden on companies,” Park told UPI.
“To enable a meaningful shift in perception, a parallel policy approach is needed, like one that provides incentives to companies with strong security practices, thus encouraging greater voluntary investment in cybersecurity by the private sector,” he said.
