Open

MARK Labbett has hinted that he could quit The Chase after revealing he’s open to new job offers.

The star has become one of the most popular faces from the ITV quiz show and has even starred on both the American and Australian versions.

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But The Beast has now cast doubt on if he will remain with the show by confirming he would quit the “part-time” gig for something more permanent.

The quizzer and TV personality made the confession as he attended the National Television Awards.

Mark said: “I take great pride in being, as I modestly put it, the best Chaser in the world…

“I love my job.”

But he then quickly added to the Daily Express: “At the same time – it’s a part-time gig.

“I won’t deny it if I’m lucky enough to get a good offer somewhere else for a full-time gig.

“But until that time, I’ll keep working.”

He further hinted that he would be open to taking on more opportunities on international versions of the show.

Mark added: “I love doing The Chase in Australia and America – and who knows – maybe New Zealand, maybe.

“They keep sending me, as I’m good at my job.”

Mark recently spread his wings away from The Chase after signing up to find love on E4 reality show, Celebs Go Dating.

However, his mission was unsuccessful as Mark left the programme single.

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Iraq is advancing several solar power projects as part of a plan to meet its electricity needs.

Iraq is set to open its first industrial-scale solar plant in a vast desert area in Karbala as the government attempts to tackle an electricity crisis that has led to widespread blackouts.

Authorities said the plant, the largest of its kind in Iraq, will be inaugurated on Sunday to eventually produce up to 300 megawatts of electricity at its peak, according to Iraqi media reports.

Tens of thousands of black panels are set out in rows in a huge desert area, spanning some 4,000 dunams (1,000 acres or 400 hectares) in the al-Hur area of Karbala, located southwest of capital Baghdad.

Nasser Karim al-Sudani, head of the national team for solar energy projects in the Iraqi prime minister’s office, said another project under construction in Babil province will have a capacity of 225 megawatts, and work will also begin soon on a 1,000-megawatt project in the southern province of Basra.

قطاع الطاقة 🇮🇶 | الاول في العراق.. صحراء محافظة كربلاء المقدسة تكتسي بالألواح الشمسية مع تواصل مشروع انشاء محطة كهرباء للطاقة الشمسية ستولد 300 ميغاواط من الطاقة الكهربائية pic.twitter.com/ZTn9MwArat

— مشاريع العراق – Iraq projects (@IraqProjects) July 29, 2025

Translation: The first in Iraq. The desert of the holy Karbala Governorate is covered with solar panels as the project to establish a solar power plant continues, which will generate 300 megawatts of electrical energy.

The projects are part of a larger vision to account for a portion of Iraq’s electricity needs using large-scale solar power plants that could help ease the electricity crisis while also reducing the negative environmental impact of gas emissions.

Deputy Minister of Electricity Adel Karim said Iraq has solar projects with a combined capacity of 12,500 megawatts either being implemented, in the approval process, or under negotiation. Barring the semi-autonomous northern Kurdistan region of Iraq, the projects could potentially supply up to 20 percent of Iraq’s total electricity demand, according to the official.

But despite its massive oil and gas resources, Iraq continues to face – as it has for decades – electricity shortages rooted in war, corruption and mismanagement.

Nationwide electricity consumption peaked at about 55,000 megawatts this summer as scorching temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas.

This is while deputy minister Karim said the country is now producing up to 28,000 megawatts of electricity, including about 8,000 megawatts fuelled by natural gas imported from neighbouring Iran and fed to power plants in Iraq.

The critical supplies from Iran have faced many challenges over the years as well, particularly from unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States in an effort to pressure Tehran and squeeze its revenue streams amid a standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme and military capabilities.

In March, Washington announced it was ending a sanctions waiver that allowed Iraq to directly purchase electricity from Iran, which needed to be renewed every 120 days. The US has, for now, left another waiver in place that lets Iraq buy Iranian natural gas to feed its power plants.

Iran is also facing multiple crises, including massive energy shortages, an issue that has affected its exports to Iraq.

Mark Selby made a superb 131 break in the deciding frame of his 5-4 win over Jackson Page to move into the semi-finals of the English Open.

The four-time world champion trailed 2-1 and 3-2 against Welshman Page before levelling the match with a run of 111.

Selby, who is aiming to capture his 25th ranking title, took frame seven only for Page to knock in his fourth half century of the match to ensure it went the distance before the Englishman sealed his success.

China’s Zhou Yuelong awaits Selby in the last four after he battled back from 4-2 down to beat 2023 world champion Luca Brecel 5-4.

Breaks of 94 and 113 enabled Zhou to get back to 4-4 before he edged a tense 52-minute ninth frame after Brecel left him a routine black to the yellow pocket.

Meanwhile, former Crucible finalist Jak Jones completed a 5-2 triumph over Aaron Hill, while Elliot Slessor established a 4-0 lead over Mark Allen, before the Northern Irishman rallied.

England’s Slessor looked on course to complete a 5-0 whitewash but missed a difficult black off its spot as Allen got a frame on the board with a 55.

Another missed black to the same corner pocket cost Slessor the sixth frame in a match that went on late into Friday evening.

THE world’s best snooker players are in Essex for the English Open.

It is the fourth ranking event of the season and defending champion Neil Robertson is OUT after a shock defeat to Jackson Page in round four.

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The Aussie potter beat Wu Yize 9-7 to take home the Steve Davis Trophy in last year’s Home Nations showpiece.

Robertson was seeded No1 for this event after his stunning win over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters final last month.

The Rocket decided to sit out of this tournament and will also miss the upcoming British Open.

That is despite a £100,000 cheque being handed to the winner and all the action being played just a few miles up the road from where he grew up.

When is the English Open Snooker 2025?

• The English Open got underway on Thursday, September 11, with the seeds entering on Monday, September 15.
• It concludes with the final on Sunday, September 21.
• The Brentwood Centre in Essex is the venue for this competition.

What TV channel is the English Open Snooker 2025 on and can it be live streamed?

• The English Open Snooker 2025 is being broadcast LIVE on TNT Sports in the UK.
• Fans can also live stream the action on Discovery+.
• Alternatively, you won’t miss a frame or any match reaction by following SunSport’s LIVE blog.

English Open Snooker 2025 schedule & results

Thursday, September 11
Round One

• Cheung Ka Wai 3-4 Jimmy White
• Sunny Akani 4-2 Oliver Brown
• Zhao Hanyang 4-2 Connor Benzey
• Huang Jiahao 4-0 Oliver Sykes
• Liam Highfield 4-2 Onyee Ng
• Wang Yuchen 4-3 Florian Nuessle
• Marco Fu 4-0 Gao Yang
• Antoni Kowalski 1-4 Liam Graham
• Amir Sarkhosh 4-2 Sahil Nayyar
• Louis Heathcote 4-1 Mahmoud El Hareedy
• Duane Jones 4-1 Patrick Whelan
• David Grace 4-0 Jonas Luz
• Harris Tahir 4-0 Michal Szubarczyk
• Sam Craigie 4-0 Chatchapong Nasa
• Julien Leclercq 4-0 Aidan Murphy
• Reanne Evans 2-4 Jiang Jun

Friday, September 12
Round One

• Artemijs Zizins 3-4 Yao Pengcheng
• Chang Bingyu 4-0 Leone Crowley
• Lan Yuhao 1-4 Liam Pullen
• Bai Yulu 4-3 Liu Wenwei
• Iulian Boiko 4-0 Xu Yichen
• Robbie McGuigan 2-4 Mink Nutcharut
• Chris Totten 1-4 Ross Muir
• Farakh Ajaib 4-1 Kreishh Gurbaxani
• Haydon Pinhey 4-1 Ryan Davies
• Bulcsu Revesz 3-4 Alexander Ursenbacher
• Steven Hallworth vs Mateusz Baranowski
• Mitchell Mann vs Ian Burns
• Dylan Emery vs Fergal Quinn
• Ben Mertens vs Ashley Hugill
• Liam Davies vs Hatem Yassem
• Allan Taylor vs Umut Dikme

Saturday, September 13
Round Two

• Fan Zhengyi 4-2 Julien Leclercq
• Long Zehuang 2-4 Amir Sarkhosh
• Luca Brecel 4-1 Jimmy White
• Xu Si 4-2 David Grace
• Noppon Saengkham 2-4 Zhao Hanyang
• Liu Hongyu 4-0 Sam Craigie
• Mark Davis 0-4 Marco Fu
• Jimmy Robertson 4-3 Wang Yuchen
• David Lilley 3-4 Sunny Akani
• Zak Surety 4-3 Haris Tahir
• Oliver Lines 3-4 Liam Highfield
• Ryan Day 4-0 Liam Graham
• Jordan Brown 3-4 Louis Heathcote
• Martin O’Donnell 4-0 Duane Jones
• Robbie Williams 4-1 Huang Jiahao
• Daniel Wells 4-2 Jiang Jun

Sunday, September 14
Round Two

• Lyu Haotian 2-4 Liam Davies
• Gong Chenzhi 4-2 Chang Bingyu
• He Guoqiang 4-3 Farakh Ajaib
• Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-1 Haydon Pinhey
• Matthew Stevens 3-4 Dylan Emery
• Stan Moody 1-4 Liam Pullen
• Sanderson Lam 4-3 Mitchell Mann
• Robert Milkins 1-4 Ross Muir
• Ricky Walden 4-1 Bai Yulu
• Michael Holt 4-0 Mink Nutcharut
• Ben Woollaston 4-2 Alexander Ursenbacher
• Anthony McGill 4-1 Mateusz Baranowski
• Ishpreet Singh Chadha 4-1 Ben Mertens
• Jamie Jones 4-3 Iulian Boiko
• Aaron Hill 4-2 Yao Pengcheng
• Scott Donaldson 4-3 Allan Taylor

Monday, September 15
Round Three

• Ding Junhui 4-1 Liam Pullen
• Si Jiahui 4-2 Liu Hongyu
• Kyren Wilson 2-4 Robbie Williams
• David Gilbert 2-4 Fan Zhengyi
• Barry Hawkins 4-2 Louis Heathcote
• Matthew Selt 4-2 Liam Davies
• Mark Selby 4-1 Liam Highfield
• Lei Peifan 4-1 Ryan Day
• Wu Yize 4-1 He Guoqiang
• Junxu Pang 4-3 Daniel Wells
• Mark Williams 4-0 Amir Sarkhosh
• Tom Ford 4-3 Martin O’Donnell
• Hossein Vafaei 3-4 Luca Brecel
• Zhou Yuelong 4-1 Xu Si
• Chris Wakelin 4-1 Ross Muir
• Shaun Murphy 4-0 Zak Surety

Tuesday, September 16
Round Three

• Zhang Anda 4-0 Anthony McGill
• Xiao Guodong 4-1 Gong Chenzhi
• Joe O’Connor 1-4 Ricky Walden
• Judd Trump 4-0 Michael Holt
• Gary Wilson 4-2 Sanderson Lam
• Yuan Sijun 4-3 Ben Woollaston
• Mark Allen 4-1 Scott Donaldson
• Elliot Slessor 4-2 Jimmy Robertson
• Jak Jones 4-3 Jamie Jones
• Stuart Bingham 4-0 Dylan Emery
• Neil Robertson 4-1 Sunny Akani
• Jack Lisowski 4-2 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
• Ali Carter 4-2 Marco Fu
• Jackson Page 4-1 Zhao Hanyang
• Stephen Maguire 2-4 Aaron Hill
• Zhao Xintong 4-0 Ishpreet Singh Chadha

Wednesday, September 17
Round Four

• Matthew Selt 1-4 Ding Junhui
• Wu Yize 4-2 Chris Wakelin
• Junxu Pang 0-4 Robbie Williams
• Lei Peifan 1-4 Mark Selby
• Judd Trump 4-1 Yuan Sijun
• Gary Wilson 0-4 Elliot Slessor
• Mark Williams 1-4 Zhou Yuelong
• Xiao Guodong 3-4 Ricky Walden
• Zhang Anda 1-4 Jamie Jones
• Barry Hawkins 4-0 Tom Ford
• Luca Brecel 4-2 Si Jiahui
• Aaron Hill 4-3 Ali Carter
• Shaun Murphy 4-1 Fan Zhengyi
• Neil Robertson 1-4 Jackson Page
• Stuart Bingham 3-4 Mark Allen
• Jack Lisowski 4-1 Zhao Xintong

Thursday, September 18
Round Five

• Zhou Yuelong 4-2 Barry Hawkins
• Judd Trump 3-4 Elliot Slessor
• Luca Brecel 4-3 Robbie Williams
• Jackson Page 4-3 Shaun Murphy
• Mark Allen 4-3 Ding Junhui
• Wu Yize 2-4 Mark Selby
• Ricky Walden 3-4 Jak Jones
• Aaron Hill 4-1 Jack Lisowski

Friday, September 19
Quarter-finals

• Zhou Yuelong 5-4 Luca Brecel
• Jackson Page 4-5 Mark Selby
• Elliot Slessor vs Mark Allen
• Jak Jones vs Aaron Hill

Saturday, September 20
Semi-finals

1pm:

• Mark Selby vs Zhou Yuelong

7pm:

Sunday, September 21: Final 

World number one Judd Trump slipped to a 4-3 defeat against Elliot Slessor, while Shaun Murphy lost by the same score to Jackson Page in the fifth round of the English Open.

Slessor, ranked 23rd in the world, opened up a 2-0 lead in Thursday’s afternoon session at the Brentwood Centre, helped by a break of 67.

Trump, who is yet to reach a semi-final this season, responded with two half-centuries as he reeled off the next three frames.

However, Slessor compiled a break of 79 to force a decider and booked his quarter-final place against either Mark Allen or Ding Junhui with a run of 64.

Meanwhile, reigning Masters champion Murphy knocked in breaks of 93 and 102 as he fought back from 3-1 down to 3-3 against Page.

While both players had opportunities in the seventh frame, Welshman Page held his nerve to seal victory and will now face Wu Yize or Mark Selby.

China’s Zhou Yuelong also made it into the last eight after breaks of 84 and 71 helped him see off Barry Hawkins 4-2.

Sept. 17 (UPI) — Tropical Storm Gabrielle formed Wednesday morning over the open Atlantic Ocean and is forecast to strengthen to hurricane force over the weekend, the National Hurricane Center said.

The eye of the storm was about 990 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, the NHC said in its 5 p.m. EST update. Gabrielle had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving northwest at 14 mph.

“A northwest or west-northwest motion is expected to continue over the next few days,” the update said.

The NHC said there will be little strengthening of Gabrielle over the next 48 hours, but it may gradually intensify into a hurricane by Sunday afternoon.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle is the Atlantic hurricane season’s seventh named storm after Tropical Storms Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter and Ferdinand, and Hurricane Erin.

Shares of Opendoor Technologies (OPEN 13.23%) are soaring on Wednesday, up 6.5% as of 2:58 p.m. ET. The jump comes as the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.11%) lost 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC -0.17%) lost 0.9%.

A regulatory filing from the company, as well as the Federal Reserve’s rate cut confirmation, is sending Opendoor stock flying.

Opendoor is expanding its reach

The company filed an 8-K disclosure with the SEC, revealing that it “intends to expand its product offerings to allow [Opendoor] to provide services through the entire continental United States in the coming weeks, through one or more of its direct cash offer, cash plus, or working with its partner agents to provide listing services.”

The revelation that the company is officially expanding to the entire U.S. market is fueling investor enthusiasm.

Image source: Getty Images

Powell confirms rate cut is here

Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell confirmed today that the central bank will cut the federal funds rate by 0.25%. Rate cuts generally boost equities across the board, but as a real estate company, Opendoor’s bottom line is directly impacted by interest rates. Lowered rates will help improve the company’s margins.

Opendoor still has to prove its business model can work

While the digital real estate disruptor operates in a market with genuine potential for innovation, the economics of its model remain unproven. The company is operating at a loss and relies heavily on debt, making it sensitive to interest rates, and the real estate market doesn’t look particularly strong. I would avoid Opendoor stock.

More than a dozen names are on the ballot, but analysts say the race is between President Lazarus Chakwera and his predecessor Peter Mutharika.

Polls have opened in Malawi with the incumbent president and his predecessor vying for a second chance to govern the largely poor southern African nation, battered by soaring costs and severe fuel shortages, in a closely and fiercely contested election where a run-off is widely expected.

Polls opened at 6:00am (04:00 GMT) on Tuesday with 17 names on the ballot.

Analysts say the race is between President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, and his predecessor, law professor Peter Mutharika, 85, both of whom have campaigned on improving the agriculture-dependent economy battered by a series of climate shocks, with inflation topping 27 percent.

Tuesday’s elections mark Malawi’s first national elections since the 2019 presidential vote was nullified and ordered to be redone in 2020 because of widespread irregularities.

However, both of the men have been accused of cronyism, corruption and economic mismanagement during their first presidential terms, leaving voters a choice between “two disappointments”, political commentator Chris Nhlane told the AFP news agency.

Though both drew large crowds to colourful final rallies at the weekend, many younger Malawians were reportedly uninspired.

With about 60 percent of the 7.2 million registered voters aged less than 35, activists have been mobilising to overcome apathy and get young voters to the polls.

“We are frustrated,” said youth activist Charles Chisambo, 34. “If people vote for Mutharika, it is just to have a change,” told AFP.

“We don’t need a leader, we need someone who can fix the economy.”

The cost of living in one of the world’s poorest countries has surged 75 percent in 12 months, according to reports citing the Centre for Social Concern, a nongovernmental organisation.

Two seasons of drought and a devastating cyclone in 2023 have compounded hardships in a country where about 70 percent of the 21 million population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank.

Chakwera, from the Malawi Congress Party that led the nation to independence from Britain in 1964, has pleaded for continuity to “finish what we started”, flaunting several infrastructure projects under way.

Days earlier, he announced a huge drop in the high cost of fertiliser, a major complaint across the largely agricultural country.

Lydia Sibale, 48, a hospital administrator who had been in a petrol queue in Lilongwe for an hour, told AFP she still had confidence in Chakwera. “The only challenge is the economic crisis, which is worldwide,” she said.

Chakwera was elected with about 59 percent of the vote in the 2020 rerun, but, five years later, there is some nostalgia for Mutharika’s “relatively better administration”, said analyst Mavuto Bamusi.

“Chakwera’s incumbency advantage has significantly been messed up by poor economic performance,” he said.

“I want to rescue this country,” Mutharika told a cheering rally of his Democratic Progressive Party in the second city of Blantyre, the heartland of the party that has promised a “return to proven leadership” and economic reform.

“I will vote for APM (Mutharika) because he knows how to manage the economy and has Malawians’ welfare at heart,” 31-year-old student Thula Jere told AFP.

With a winner requiring more than 50 percent of votes, a run-off within 60 days is likely.

Arango, who was dealing with illness, battled hard in the opening set but faded in the second as the match was wrapped up in 95 minutes.

“You showed so much fight and gave the people a show,” Jovic said.

“It’s not easy to start out on tour when you’re young… but people like Emiliana make it easier and always have a smile on their face.”

Jovic featured in all four Grand Slams this year – reaching the second round of the Australian Open, French Open and US Open, while she exited Wimbledon in round one.

England’s Alice Hewson retained her Swiss Open title with a convincing five-shot victory at Golfpark Holzhausern.

The 28-year-old led by two strokes heading into the third and final round, where she carded a four-under 67 to seal her third Ladies European Tour title, finishing 13 under overall.

Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini and Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall finished in a tie for second on eight under.

“It’s an absolute dream come true,” Hewson told LET.com.

Open All Hours was one of the BBC’s most enduring and fondly remembered comedies of its era – and now Sir David Jason is returning to play Granville one last time

Sir David Jason is returning to play Granville for a final time in an Open All Hours TV Special. The new U&GOLD programme sees him closing the shop for the night while offering a touching glimpse into how his life has moved on since we last saw the BBC sitcom character.

Open All Hours: Inside Out will be a 90 minute feature-length retrospective that celebrates one of Britain’s most beloved sitcoms and also includes a brand-new short scene, penned by original writer Roy Clarke. Sir David, 85, said: “It’s so good to be back! I played Granville for over half my life and so this show holds a very special place in my heart.

“There are countless memories and stories about this show, and I am thrilled to be able to share those with everyone.”

Corner-shop comedy Open All Hours first hit TV screens back in 1973 on the BBC with a one-off pilot, before it became a full series in 1976. The sitcom went on to run for four series until 1985, becoming one of the BBC’s most enduring and fondly remembered comedies of its era.

The comedy starred the legendary Ronnie Barker as Arkwright, a penny-pinching, stammering shopkeeper who’d do almost anything to save money.

At his side was a then-rising star in David Jason, who played his long-suffering nephew and assistant Granville. Together, the pair brought to life the quirks, chaos and cheekiness of running a small shop, with regular customers and neighbours popping in to add to the storylines.

The heart of the comedy lay in Arkwright’s obsession with Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, played by Lynda Baron, whose sharp wit and warmth provided a perfect foil to his penny-pinching schemes.

Although the sitcom only produced 26 episodes in total, its popularity never faded. Reruns on the BBC and later UKTV Gold introduced it to new generations.

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the classic comedy, with Sir David Jason being the only actor to have starred in every episode of the original series, and the re-boot, Still Open All Hours. Sir David will discuss his personal journey on the show, revealing exclusive behind-the-scenes moments as well as some of his fondest memories from his time playing grocer, Granville.

Sir David will also be joined by some of his fellow cast who lift the lid on their experiences and celebrate one of the most iconic comedies of all time.

Senior Commissioning Editor, Mark Iddon said: “I can’t wait for U&Gold audiences to see what we have cooked up for them. Open All Hours is one of those rare beasts that even after 50 years is still as timeless and relevant as ever.”

Director of Programming Gerald Casey said: “Open All Hours is a classic, and part of our DNA here at U&Gold. We are thrilled to be able to give viewers more of what they love with Sir David Jason lifting the lid on some of his fondest memories on set alongside fellow cast members.”

The sitcom was so popular that the BBC revived it in 2013 with Still Open All Hours , once again fronted by David Jason, this time taking over the shop himself.

That spin-off ran for six series and speaking last year Jason admitted he would like the chance to revisit the show as a final series remains unmade and the storyline unfinished.

Asked if it is ever going to be finished, David said in 2024: “That would be wonderful, but you’d have to get in touch with Mr. BBC about that. The script is written by Roy Clark. It’s there and all it needs is the BBC to commission it and everybody that was in the original in the series was up for doing the last series because everybody thought it would be nice to the sew up the parcel, the one that Granville gets married to Wavy Mavy(Mavis), which we haven’t done, but that is what it’s about. Finally he makes an honest woman of her.”

Asked if it will happen, he added: “I’d like to think so, yes, but because the gap is getting longer without a commission… You can’t commission it and do it next week. You have to put all the bits together. That takes a lot of time putting that together. So the longer you don’t commission something, the more you get in trouble pushing it away.”

The new special and extra scene may be his way of saying goodbye to the show now instead.

Sir David credits Open All Hours co-star Ronnie Barker for some of his success on screen.

He said: “Ronnie wasn’t aware of the influence that he was having on me and I kept it quiet, as you do. But was an amazing influence and one of the big things that I tried to emphasise in the book was he was one of the kindest, nicest actors to work with. Most of them are, to be honest, but Ronnie was special.” The original Open All Hours was set in a grocer’s shop in South Yorkshire. The owner, Albert Arkwright was played by Ronnie Barker and was a middle-aged man who was tight with his money but also had a knack for selling. His nephew Granville was played by David Jason) and was a put-upon errand boy lacking a social life because of the amount of work his uncle gave him.

* Open All Hours: Inside Out is in production now and will air on U&GOLD in 2026.

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WETHERSPOONS is opening 15 new pubs in a tie-up with a firm known for its chain of fish and chip shops. 

The budget boozer will launch the venues across the UK as part of a new franchise working with The Papas Group. 

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The first will open on October 1 in Gateway Park, Lincoln, and will be called The Hykeham Manor. 

A further three will open in October and November at sites in Annitsford, Northumberland, Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham, and Emersons Green in Bristol. 

The pub chain’s commercial director, Michael Barron, said: “We are delighted to have signed agreements with The Papas Group.

“We are looking at further opportunities and are confident that more franchise agreements will be signed.”

The Papas Group is a family-owned business which runs casual dining restaurants such as Papa’s Fish and Chips and Wendy’s, mostly in the north of England. 

Wetherspoons already has several franchise agreements. They include tie-ups with the holiday park operator Haven and the universities of Newcastle and Hull — running a pub at each campus. 

These arrangements are common in the hospitality sector and allow an independent operator to run an established chain using their brand and products. 

Wetherspoons has opened pubs at several locations this year, including in Fulham, West London, and Kenilworth, Warwickshire. 

LOW-DEPOSIT DEALS RISE 

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THE number of low-deposit mortgages has hit the highest level in 17 years, according to Moneyfactscompare. 

There are currently 1,360 90 and 95 per cent deals available, representing 19 per cent of the residential mortgage market. 

The news comes after Homes England, the Government’s housing agency, and Countryside Properties signed a long-term deal to build more homes. 

The partnership will be backed by £150million of investment and will focus on building houses as part of the Government’s housebuilding target. 

SUNNY SALES 

RETAIL sales were up 3.1 per cent in August driven by good weather and an interest rate cut, official figures show. 

The year-on-year uptick beat last August’s 1 per cent. Tech items did well but school uniforms and shoes disappointed as families tried second-hand, said the British Retail Consortium-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. 

Home appliances, DIY and garden goods all saw sales growth last month. 

OIL PRICE HIKE 

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OIL prices rose by more than a dollar a barrel yesterday as increases in supply looked set to stall and Russia braced itself for the impact of new EU sanctions. 

OPEC countries have voted to lift production by 137,000 barrels per day in October — far less than previous monthly increases. 

Experts have warned of a glut of oil next year as demand falls. Nevertheless Brent crude rose to $66.70 per barrel. 

Forget Malibu or the North Shore. Next summer, you can catch a wave in Palm Desert, 100 miles from the nearest ocean.

After years of delays, DSRT Surf, the Coachella Valley’s second surf destination, is expected to open to the public in the summer of 2026. The new complex will offer inland surfers a steady stream of machine-powered waves in a 5.5 acre surf pool embedded in the sprawling Desert Willow Golf Resort.

The complex, which will eventually include a 139-key hotel and 57 luxury villas, is the latest addition to a growing number of surf resorts opening across the country and the world that don’t require proximity to a coastline. Surf pools may not have the romance and drama of the open ocean, but fans say they can provide beginners and experienced surfers alike consistent waves for working on skills as well as introduce the sport to people who lack easy access to natural waves.

A rendering shows visitors riding machine-powered waves in a 5.5 acre surf pool.

(Beach Street Development)

And at least in Palm Desert, it also helps that the weather is significantly more predictable than at a seaside resort where a surf trip might be ruined by a week of rain.

“We often say if you could pick a place in the world to do this, this is absolutely the best place in the world,” said Doug Sheres, a partner at Beach Street Development, the company behind DSRT Surf at a ground-breaking ceremony in 2024. “Literally right here in Desert Willow, surrounded by the greens, surrounded by the lake, surrounded by the mountains, and 350 days of sunshine a year.”

The project, which was delayed by COVID and a complex permitting process, has been in the works since 2018 and was approved by the Palm Desert City Council in 2019 despite some residents’ concerns about water usage and questions about the wisdom of building a surf park in the middle of the desert.

The wave pool holds 7 million gallons of water and, because of evaporation, filtration and maintenance, it is expected to go through roughly 25 million gallons of water a year. However, as part of its agreement with Palm Desert, Beach Street Development has committed to replacing 1 million square feet of existing turf in the Desert Willow Golf Resort with native plantings, a move that is projected to save 35 million gallons of water a year while not impacting game play on the courses.

“Through this initiative, our surf pool will not use any incremental water above or beyond what is currently already being used today at Desert Willow,” the developers wrote on DSRT Surf’s website.

In addition to the wave pool, DSRT Surf will also offer pickleball courts, a swimming pool, jacuzzi, yoga classes, a restaurant and a skate bowl.

The opening of DSRT Surf comes just two years after the reopening of Palm Springs Surf Club 10 miles down the road. That club is built on the site of a former water park and features a 1.5 acre wave pool, a lazy river and water slides. It hasn’t always been popular with guests and neighbors — its wave pool was plagued with mechanical issues in its early months, and its machines and events have generated dozens of noise complaints, though management has said noise-reducing solutions are in the works.

DSRT Surf’s massive surf lagoon will be larger than four football fields and will accommodate 70 surfers at once. Although prices for hour-long surf sessions have not yet been set, Sheres said they are committed to making surfing in the desert affordable for the local community.

“We consider this very much available to all income levels and demographics, ” he said in an interview. “It’s wide open to everyone.”

A MUM has been praised after sharing the genius hack she swears by to give her kids a toy room without making her house look messy.

As a home schooling mum, Paige has devoted a whole room in her abode to her kids’ learning – which also contains some toys.

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But as any parent knows, toys eventually make their way into different rooms, and can end up making the house look untidy.

So Paige came up with a clever idea to let her kids play in the lounge – one of the main family areas of the home – without it turning into another toy room.

In a video on her TikTok page, the mum-of-three showed the kitchen, toy room and lounge, all of which looked perfectly neat and tidy.

She then took the camera to behind the sofa, where she had set aside a large area for toys to go.

“Having a little mini toy room behind the couch was the best decision!” she wrote over the top of the video.

Thanks to the positioning of the sofa, the area is entirely invisible until you’re right on top of it.

And it also means that Paige doesn’t have to deal with tidying it up until she wants to.

“Really has help the house look a bit cleaner haha!” she added in the video caption.

People were quick to praise Paige in the comments section for the clever hack.

“This is so smart!” one wrote.

To which Paige replied: “It really works well!”

“So cute! Great idea!” another added.

“Your house is literally a dream – it’s beautiful,” a third gushed.

“Aww thank you!” Paige responded.

“We love it so much but we are growing and will need more room eventually.

“This space is huge, but tiny rooms is the down fall!”

How to baby-proof your house

IF you’ve got a baby coming very soon, here’s our top tips on how to get your home ready for their arrival…

Secure Furniture and Appliances: Use brackets or straps to anchor heavy furniture and TVs to the wall. Ensure that large appliances like fridges and ovens are stable and cannot tip over.

Install Safety Gates: Place gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Use gates to block off rooms that are not baby-proofed.

Cover Electrical Outlets: Use outlet covers or plates to prevent little fingers from poking into sockets. Ensure that electrical cords are out of reach or secured.

Lock Cabinets and Drawers: Install child-proof locks on cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Store hazardous substances, sharp objects, and small items that can be swallowed out of reach.

Use Corner and Edge Protectors: Attach soft corner and edge protectors to furniture with sharp edges. Consider using them on low tables, countertops, and fireplace hearths.

Secure Windows and Doors: Install window guards or locks to prevent windows from opening more than a few inches. Use door knob covers and door stoppers to prevent pinched fingers.

Maintain a Safe Sleep Environment: Use a firm mattress and avoid placing pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals in the cot. Ensure the cot meets current safety standards.

Keep Small Items Out of Reach: Regularly check the floor for small objects that could be choking hazards. Be mindful of items like coins, buttons, and small toys.

Adjust Water Heater Temperature: Set your water heater to a maximum of 49°C (120°F) to prevent scalding. Always test bath water temperature before placing your baby in.

Use Baby Monitors: Place baby monitors in the nursery to keep an eye on your little one. Ensure the monitor cords are out of reach to avoid strangulation hazards.

By taking these steps, you can create a safer environment for your baby.

“With all that wood accenting going on in there you could easily turn this into a hobbit house,” someone else pointed out.

Paige’s family home is located in Northern California, and is nestled within 10 acres of woodland.

She lives there with her other half and their three children – River Wildfox, Cedar Moon and Sequoia Rain.

World number one Luke Humphries defended his Czech Open title as he beat Josh Rock 8-5 in the final.

Rock, who had beaten Michael van Gerwen en route to the final, got an early break of throw to go 2-0 up but England’s Humphries broke back and then reeled off a 12-dart leg to level at 3-3.

The pair then traded legs to reach 5-5 before Humphries won the next three legs on the spin against the Northern Irishman.

Humphries sealed victory with a clinical final leg at the PVA Expo in Prague to retain the title he won a year ago and claim the £30,000 top prize.

The 30-year-old’s three-dart average of 93.89 was marginally less than Rock’s 94.1 but his checkout percentage (34.8% versus 26.3%) was superior.

Humphries has now won the tournament three times in four years following his victories in 2022 and 2024 as he earned the eighth PDC European Tour title of his career.

“If it were up to me, I’d have all 14 European Tours held here. You don’t win three times in the same place by accident and it’s clearly special to me,” Humphries said.

“Since winning the Premier League, the past three months have been tough. I’ve struggled at times, and I felt like I dragged Josh down at the start of the game. But I never give in – I always try to find a way.”

World champion Luke Littler was earlier knocked out in the third round, suffering a surprise 6-4 defeat by Dutchman Gian van Veen.

Alcaraz returns to number one spot after winning his sixth Grand Slam title and second of 2025 in four sets in New York.

Carlos Alcaraz pulled off a calm yet ferocious performance to end his great rival Jannik Sinner’s reign and win the US Open men’s singles final in four sets in front of a sellout crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City.

Alcaraz claimed his second US Open title with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win on Sunday as United States President Donald Trump watched along with his entourage. Trump’s presence delayed the match start time due to the extensive security checks for the spectators.

In a perfect echo of the triumph that first propelled him to the number one spot in 2022, Alcaraz’s second New York title lifted him back to the top of the world rankings, as the 22-year-old Spaniard displaced Sinner and took his Grand Slam trophy haul to six.

“I want to start with Jannik. It’s unbelievable what you’re doing the whole season; great level during every tournament that you’re playing… I’m seeing you more than my family,” said Alcaraz, who took his win-loss record with Sinner to 10-5.

“It’s great to share a court, to share the locker room, to share everything with you.

“I’m just really proud about the people I have around. Every achievement I’m having is because of you, thanks to you… This one is yours.”

As grey clouds hovered over the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alcaraz continued to deliver the sunshine tennis that has lit up Flushing Meadows over the last two weeks, consolidating an early break by faking a drop to hit a winner that wrong-footed Sinner.

He beamed after pulling off an outrageous half-volley at the net, and wrapped up the opening set shortly afterwards, finishing it off with a big serve, which Sinner crashed into the net as the Italian’s metronomic precision briefly deserted him. But Sinner hit back to take the next set after saving an early break point.

It was the third straight Grand Slam final between the duo this year.

After missing a few steps to drop his first set of the championship, Alcaraz blasted his way to a 5-0 advantage in the third set before Sinner got on the board, and the Spaniard closed it out with a monster serve.

Sinner conjured up two breathtaking volleys in the opening game of the fourth set to roaring applause and held serve after being pushed to the limit again. But he cracked under the pressure and handed the crucial break to Alcaraz in the fifth game.

Resembling a flamingo in full flight in his bright pink vest, Alcaraz soared ahead to secure the victory on his third match point, and celebrated by raising his fists before a warm embrace with his rival and wild celebrations with his team.

A dejected Sinner was left to contemplate another Grand Slam final loss to Alcaraz this season after coming up short in their French Open epic in June. Although, he beat the Spaniard to take his Wimbledon crown the following month.

“A lot of big stages and matches we played this season,” Sinner said, after quickly composing himself.

“I tried my best today. I couldn’t do more.”

NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz reasserted his superiority over Jannik Sinner with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory Sunday in the U.S. Open final — the third Grand Slam tournament in a row where these elite, young rivals met to decide the champion — for his second trophy at Flushing Meadows and sixth overall at a major.

President Trump sat in a sponsor’s suite in Arthur Ashe Stadium and received a mix of cheers and boos when he offered a wave beforehand and again when he was shown on videoboards after the first set. The match’s start was delayed by about a half-hour because thousands of fans were still outside in line, trying to get through the extra security measures in place because of the presence of a sitting president at the tournament for the first time since Bill Clinton in 2000.

Jannik Sinner reacts while losing to Carlos Alcaraz during the U.S. Open men’s singles final Sunday in New York.

(Seth Wenig / Associated Press)

Perhaps the extra wait got to the No. 1-seeded Sinner, who was the defending champion. Right from the beginning, under a closed roof because of rain earlier in the day, No. 2 Alcaraz was better as he sought to reverse the result from when they met at the All England Club less than two months ago.

He did just that, putting his leads over Sinner at 10-5 in their head-to-head series, 6-4 in major trophies, and 2-1 in U.S. Open championships. Plus, this win allowed Alcaraz, a 22-year-old from Spain, to take away the No. 1 ranking from Sinner, a 24-year-old from Italy.

These two guys are so, so much better than the rest of men’s tennis at the moment.

They have combined to collect the past eight Slam trophies in a row, and 10 of 13. Novak Djokovic, whom Alcaraz eliminated in Friday’s semifinals, took the other three in that span.

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates after defeating Jannik Sinner, of Italy, in the U.S. Open men’s singles final Sunday in New York.

(Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press)

Sunday’s showdown represented the first time in tennis history that the same two men played each other in three consecutive Slam finals within a single season.

This hard-court matchup followed Alcaraz’s victory over Sinner after erasing a trio of match points on the French Open’s red clay in June, and Sinner’s victory over Alcaraz on Wimbledon’s grass in July.

Both Sinner, who had won his past 27 hard-court matches at majors, and Alcaraz offered glimpses of why they are so good, although it was rare that both were at their best simultaneously on this occasion.

Alcaraz was elite in the first, third and fourth sets, Sinner’s top efforts arrived in the second.

In sum, Alcaraz was better and for longer, ending up with twice as many winners, 42-21.

Since the start of the 2024 U.S. Open, Sinner had won 33 of 34 matches at the majors and Sunday was his fifth straight final at those events. The loss? To Alcaraz at Roland-Garros.

Indeed, over the last two seasons, Sinner is now 1-7 against Alcaraz and 109-4 against everyone else.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, has won 37 of 38 contests since May. The loss? To Sinner at the All England Club — also Alcaraz’s lone defeat in a Slam final.

In 2025, Alcaraz now has more tournament titles (a tour-leading seven) than losses (his record is 61-6, also the best in men’s tennis).

During his defeat in Wimbledon’s final, Alcaraz was caught by a camera telling his team about Sinner in Spanish: “From the back of the court, he’s much better than me.”

So perhaps that’s why Alcaraz was aggressive Sunday with his sledgehammer of a forehand — and on-target too. Whenever even the smallest opening presented itself, Alcaraz tried to barge on through with that shot, going big early in points, which worked, either for an outright winner or forcing mistakes from Sinner.

Sinner had dropped a total of just one service game in his three matches leading into the final, but he did deal with an abdominal muscle issue in his semifinal Friday. Sinner and his coach said it was nothing serious, which might be right, but Alcaraz broke right away Sunday and five times in all.

To counteract the forehand effectiveness, Sinner made a tactical switch, going increasingly after Alcaraz’s backhand when possible. That both limited Alcaraz’s opportunities to strike a point-ending forehand and drew additional mistakes off the other wing.

Paid off for Sinner. Briefly.

In the first set and third, Alcaraz’s ratios were 11 winners to two unforced errors. Truly remarkable. In the second, those numbers swung the other way: five winners, 11 unforced errors.

An hour and 20 minutes in, it was a set apiece, after Alcaraz ceded one for the first time all tournament, allowing Neale Fraser to retain his distinction as the most recent man to win every set he played at the event — all the way back in 1960.

As Sinner worked his way into things, he would celebrate just about every point he gathered by looking at the corner of the stands where his two coaches and others, including Olympic champion ski racer Lindsey Vonn, were seated and pumped his right fist.

Ah, but it was Alcaraz who seemed to have more of the ticket-buyers on his side.

Fendrich writes for the Associated Press.