members

THE Pussycat Dolls have seemingly “confirmed” their reunion by signing with a new talent agent.

The news comes despite feuds and legal battles in the band, formed of Nicole Scherzinger,  Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton.

CAA music division head Rob Light  and Paul Franklin – a specialist in reunion tours – are now set to manage the band in a telling move.

While Nicole teased the reunion this week by talking about “what’s to come” for the band.

Sharing a clip from their hit song Buttons, Nicole wrote: “From then to now… seeing this video hit 1 billion views on YouTube fills my heart with so much gratitude.

“For the PCD fans. For the memories. For what’s to come.”

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Last month, The Sun revealed that the band were “in talks” for a reunion, with the idea spearheaded by Kimberly.

At the time, a source said: “Kimberly has been open about the fact the girls have sorted out their issues.

“She also told pals they’ve been discussing a tour.

“The Pussycat Dolls certainly had their differences over the years, but a comeback would send fans wild.”

The Dolls started off as a burlesque troupe but in 2003 Nicole , Melody and Kaya joined Carmit, Ashley , Jessica and Kimberly to form the group.

They split in 2010.

This is not the first time a reunion has been on the cards, with multiple members of the band reuniting in 2019 before planning a 2020 tour, which was halted due to Covid-19.

It was later cancelled due to the pandemic and legal issues.

Nicole had a bitter row with the band’s founder, Robin Antin, 60, who sued singer for “extortion”.

Robin claimed that Nicole was refusing to take part in the tour unless she received a larger share of the group’s joint firm.

She allegedly demanded her 49 per cent holding in the firm is increased to 75 per cent, giving her creative control of the group and “final decision-making authority”.

According to the lawsuit filed by Robin, Nicole said the “growth of her personal brand” and the “opportunities she would have to forego to engage in the partnership” was why she deserved an increased share.

However, in a fiery retaliation, former X Factor judge Nicole issued a statement through her lawyer, Howard King, in which she branded Robin’s claims as “ludicrous and false”.

Melody wasn’t involved in the last planned reunion after clashing with Nicole over singing the band’s lead vocals.

Dec. 16 (UPI) — President Donald Trump has awarded 13 soldiers and Marines the newly established Mexican Border Defense Medal for their contributions to safeguarding the U.S. southern border.

The service members are the first to receive the commendation, created Aug. 13 in a memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to honor those deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The commander-in-chief awarded the medals to the service members at the White House.

“On day one of my administration, I signed an executive order making it [the] core mission of the United States military to protect and defend the homeland. And today, we’re here to honor our military men and women for their central role in the protection of our border,” Trump said during the ceremony.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has overseen crackdowns on immigration and crime that have included the deployment of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.

More than 10,000 U.S. military service members attached to Joint Task Force Southern Border have been deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border in support of the Department of Homeland Security, with the missions to secure the border, disrupt transnational criminal organizations and respond to national security threats.

Trump said Monday that more than 25,000 service members have served in this “incredible and historic operation,” which has overseen 13,000 patrols along the border.

“They’ve spent night and day enduring scorching hot and bitter cold, and they’ve given up their holidays and their weekends, working with the offices of Customs and Border Protection,” Trump said.

“And today, we give these great warriors the recognition that they have earned — and they have really earned it.”

The medal, according to the Department of Defense, is identical to the Mexican Border Service Medal awarded for service in 1916 and 1917 in the Mexican state of Chihuahua as well as the U.S.-Mexico border regions in New Mexico and Texas.

It is bronze with a sheathed Roman sword hanging on a tablet on the front, which bears an inscription that reads: “For Service on the Mexican Border.”

Those eligible for the award must have been permanently assigned to a designated Department of Defense military operation supporting CBP within the area of eligibility for at least 30 consecutive or non-consecutive days from Jan. 20 of this year.

“We’re proud of this mission,” Hegseth said during the White House event. “We’re proud to defend the American people and pinning these medals on is an example of how important it is to us.”

The Trump administration states that its crackdown has resulted in more than 2.5 million undocumented migrants removed from the United States and the lowest level of illegal border crossings since 1970.

A HUGE Noughties boyband has sparked speculation of a 2026 tour after all ten members recently reunited.

The unexpected get-together has sent fans into a frenzy begging the question of whether a full-scale comeback could finally be on the cards.

Blazin’ Squad shot to fame in 2002 and are best known for their top three hits Crossroads, We Just Be Dreamin’ and Flip Reverse.

Blazin’ Squad was made up of James MacKenzie (Kenzie), Ollie Georgiou (Freek), Marcel Somerville (Rocky B), Chris McKeckney (Melo-D), Stuart Baker (Reepa), Lee Bailey (Krazy), Sam Foulkes (Spike-E), James Murray (Flava), Tom Beasley (Tommy-B), and Mustafa Omer (Strider) when they shot to fame.

The group officially split in 2005 and over the years the band members have gone in different directions.

Marcel Somerville enjoyed success on Love Island, having been on the show in 2017, before having another go in January on the All Stars spin-off.

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All ten members have since reunited for the festive season, it being the first time since Marcel’s first stint on the ITV2 dating show.

Rapper James Kenzie, who’s had his own reality stint appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2005, took to Instagram to share brand new snaps of the band.

The photos show the group beaming ear to ear as they came together at the bar Flight Club in London.

James uploaded a series of pics of the band alongside a nostalgic throwback from the 2000’s, showing the group decked out head-to-toe in red.

He captioned the post: “The Original Squad,” adding a number one medal emoji.

Fans flooded the comments, gushing over the pics and speculating about whether this could hint at a future tour.

One user said: “Please tell me talks of a tour was in conversation? (side eye emoji).”

Another added: “Aged like a fine wine (heart eye emoji)”

“Blazin’ squad reunion incoming plz,” penned a third, whilst a fourth commented: “Need a new Blazin’ Squad Album.”

“So good to see Blazin’ Squad as a 10 piece again now that is the Blazin’ Squad I grew up with,” chimed another.

The group’s various attempts to get all members back together have been stalled.

Marcel Somerville, Stuart Baker, Sam Foulkes and Chris McKeckney reunited in 2006, but later split again.

Three years later a slim-lined Blazin’ Squad returned as a five-piece featuring Mustafa Omer, James Murray, James McKenzie, Lee Bailey and Marcel.

And now the band consists of Sam, Marcel, Chris and Ollie Georgiou.

But, what fans really want to see is all ten members come back together on stage again.

Previously speaking to The Sun about a potential reunion and tour, Marcel said: “Obviously there are ten of us, it makes it a little bit harder, because that’s more people we have to bring back to the camp.

“Do you know what? I feel like if we could get all ten of us back together, I reckon we could definitely do the O2.

“Back in the day, before we split, we’d played Wembley, and had two nights in Manchester, two nights in Newcastle, and two nights in Birmingham.

“We were playing all the arenas, so it’s like, if we could get everyone back.

“Last year was the 22nd anniversary, so I think the 25th anniversary is probably the sweet spot. So maybe in three years’ time, 25th anniversary, I might start a whole campaign for it now, to bring the Squad back together.”

Dec. 10 (UPI) — The House of Representatives will vote on Wednesday on the bipartisan $900 billion defense policy bill, though some lawmakers take issue with some of its provisions.

The 3,086-page bill authorizes $8 billion more in spending than President Donald Trump had asked for.

“This year’s National Defense Authorization Act helps advance President Trump and Republicans’ Peace Through Strength Agenda by codifying 15 of President Trump’s executive orders, ending woke ideology at the Pentagon, securing the border, revitalizing the defense industrial base, and restoring the warrior ethos,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement.

The bill would codify the use of active-duty troops at the U.S.-Mexico border, create a “Golden Dome” to protect the U.S. from aerial attacks and ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the Department of Defense. The bill would also create a 3.8% raise for all service members.

It includes a ban on transgender women competing in sports at military academies.

The annual legislation has normally been approved with bipartisan support. But several Republicans have voiced dissent.

“I think that it’s in trouble because it’s not the version we sent over,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., told The Hill. She said she was disappointed with the bill because it authorizes funds for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. It includes $400 million for military help to Ukraine in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Last week, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., criticized Johnson for blocking a provision requiring the FBI to tell Congress when it begins counterintelligence investigations on candidates running for federal office. It was later added.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said on X that the bill will “fund foreign aid and foreign country’s wars.” She also accused Republican leadership of breaking a promise to include a ban on creating a central bank digital currency. Hardline conservatives have argued that the digital currency could be used to spy on Americans.

“Conservatives were promised that an anti-Central Bank Digital Currency language, authored by Tom Emmer, the whip, would be in the NDAA,” Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, said on Fox Business Monday. “There are red lines that we need to put in here.”

Emmer, R-Minn., said about leaving the anti-CBDC segment out, “they’ll understand what is going on, and they’ll be fine,” The Hill reported.

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., said he doesn’t like that the bill allows “8 billion more than we should have.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will see his travel budget cut under the bill until the Pentagon releases the footage of strikes against alleged drug boats near Venezuela. His travel budget would be reduced by 25% until he shares “unedited video of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations in the area of responsibility of the United States Southern Command.”

It also requires him to submit some overdue reports before getting his travel budget back.

“That was a bipartisan shot across the bow to Donald Trump to hand over the tapes, done by Republicans. I salute them for their courage for bucking Trump and bucking Hegseth,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor Tuesday.