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President Donald Trump’s razing of the White House’s East Wing to build a ballroom has put some news organizations following the story in an awkward position, with corporate owners among the contributors to the project — and their reporters covering it vigorously.

Comcast, which owns NBC News and MSNBC, has faced on-air criticism from some of the liberal cable channel’s personalities for its donation. Amazon, whose founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, is another donor. The newspaper editorialized in favor of Trump’s project, pointing out the Bezos connection a day later after critics noted its omission.

It’s not the first time since Trump regained the presidency that interests of journalists at outlets that are a small part of a corporate titan’s portfolio have clashed with owners. Both the Walt Disney Co. and Paramount have settled lawsuits with Trump rather than defend ABC News and CBS News in court.

“This is Trump’s Washington,” said Chuck Todd, former NBC “Meet the Press” host. “None of this helps the reputations of the news organizations that these companies own, because it compromises everybody.”

Companies haven’t said how much they donated, or why

None of the individuals and corporations identified by the White House as donors has publicly said how much was given, although a $22 million Google donation was revealed in a court filing. Comcast would not say Friday why it gave, although some MSNBC commentators have sought to fill in the blanks.

MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle said the donations should be a concern to Americans, “because there ain’t no company out there writing a check just for good will.”

“Those public-facing companies should know that there’s a cost in terms of their reputations with the American people,” Rachel Maddow said on her show this week, specifically citing Comcast. “There may be a cost to their bottom line when they do things against American values, against the public interest because they want to please Trump or buy him off or profit somehow from his authoritarian overthrow of our democracy.”

NBC’s “Nightly News” led its Oct. 22 broadcast with a story on the East Wing demolition, which reporter Gabe Gutierrez said was paid for by private donors, “among them Comcast, NBC’s parent company.”

“Nightly News” spent a total of five minutes on the story that week, half the time of ABC’s “World News Tonight,” though NBC pre-empted its Tuesday newscast for NBA coverage, said Andrew Tyndall, head of ADT Research. There’s no evidence that Comcast tried to influence NBC’s coverage in any way; Todd said the corporation’s leaders have no history of doing that. A Comcast spokeswoman had no comment.

Todd spoke out against his bosses at NBC News in the past, but said he doubted he would have done so in this case, in part because Comcast hasn’t said why the contribution was made. “You could make the defense that it is contributing to the United States” by renovating the White House, he said.

More troubling, he said, is the perception that Comcast CEO Brian Roberts had to do it to curry favor with the Trump administration. Trump, in a Truth Social post in April, called Comcast and Roberts “a disgrace to the integrity of Broadcasting!!!” The president cited the company’s ownership of MSNBC and NBC News.

Roberts may need their help. Stories this week suggested Comcast might be interested in buying all or part of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that would require government approval.

White House cannot be ‘a museum to the past’

The Post’s editorial last weekend was eye-opening, even for a section that has taken a conservative turn following Bezos’ direction that it concentrate on defending personal liberties and the free market. The Oct. 25 editorial was unsigned, which indicates that it is the newspaper’s official position, and was titled “In Defense of the White House ballroom.”

The Post said the ballroom is a necessary addition and although Trump is pursuing it “in the most jarring manner possible,” it would not have gotten done in his term if he went through a traditional approval process.

“The White House cannot simply be a museum to the past,” the Post wrote. “Like America, it must evolve with the times to maintain its greatness. Strong leaders reject calcification. In that way, Trump’s undertaking is a shot across the bow at NIMBYs everywhere.”

In sharing a copy of the editorial on social media, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote that it was the “first dose of common sense I’ve seen from the legacy media on this story.”

The New York Times, by contrast, has not taken an editorial stand either for or against the project. It has run a handful of opinion columns: Ross Douthat called Trump’s move necessary considering potential red tape, while Maureen Dowd said it was an “unsanctioned, ahistoric, abominable destruction of the East Wing.”

In a social media post later Saturday, Columbia University journalism professor Bill Grueskin noted the absence of any mention of Bezos in the Post editorial” and said he wrote to a Post spokeswoman about it. In a “stealth edit” that Grueskin said didn’t include any explanation, a paragraph was added the next day about the private donors, including Amazon. “Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Post,” the newspaper said.

The Post had no comment on the issue, spokeswoman Olivia Petersen said on Sunday.

In a story this past week, NPR reported that the ballroom editorial was one of three that the Post had written in the previous two weeks on a matter in which Bezos had a financial or corporate interest without noting his personal stakes.

In a public appearance last December, Bezos acknowledged that he was a “terrible owner” for the Post from the point of view of appearances of conflict. “A pure newspaper owner who only owned a newspaper and did nothing else would probably be, from that point of view, a much better owner,” the Amazon founder said.

Grueskin, in an interview, said Bezos had every right as an owner to influence the Post’s editorial policy. But he said it was important for readers to know his involvement in the East Wing story. They may reject the editorial because of the conflict, he said, or conclude that “the editorial is so well-argued, I put a lot of credibility into what I just read.”

Bauder writes for the Associated Press.

The pooch went missing during a journey from Buenos Aires to Barcelona, prompting a claim for losses from the owner. Now the European Court of Justice has handed down its ruling

Pets on flights can be classified as baggage, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

In a blow for pet owners, the ruling means that airlines are not required to pay higher compensation if the animal is lost.

The ruling was handed down by Europe’s highest court, the ECJ, after it was asked to intervene in the case of a lost dog. The pooch went missing during a journey from Buenos Aires to Barcelona, prompting a claim for losses from the owner.

Mona, the dog, had been put in a special pet crate, only to escape on the way to the plane. Mona was never found, prompting a claim of €5,000 (£4,340) for “non-material damage” by the passenger, and a six-year court case.

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The airline involved, Iberia, accepted liability for the loss of the pet but not the size of the claim.

The Spanish court that heard the case then referred it to the ECJ, asking whether the concept of “baggage” in the Montreal Convention governing air travel incorporated or excluded pets traveling with passengers.

“According to the Montreal Convention, other than carriage of cargo, aircraft perform international carriage of persons and baggage,” the ECJ wrote, summarising its judgment.

“The concept of ‘persons’ corresponds to that of ‘passengers,’ with the result that a pet cannot be considered to be a ‘passenger,'” it said. “Consequently, for the purposes of air travel, a pet falls within the concept of ‘baggage’ and the compensation for the damage resulting from the loss of a pet is subject to the liability rules for baggage.”

A key point was that the passenger had not submitted a special declaration of interest in delivery. That is a formal step that involves paying an additional fee, which would have allowed them to increase the liability limit for the precious cargo.

The Spanish airline argued it exceeded the liability for lost luggage without any special declarations as to the crate’s contents.

“The dog got out of the carrier, started running near the plane and could not be recovered,” the ECJ papers say.

It was heard at the earlier court hearing in Spain that despite an intense campaign on social media launched by Mona’s owner, the dog has never been recovered.

The dog owner’s lawyer in Madrid, Carlos Villa Corta, said he disagreed with the arguments made in the Luxembourg court. “I believe that a great opportunity has been missed to continue raising awareness of the rights of animals and the people who care for them. Ultimately, the ECJ considers that pets do not deserve special or enhanced legal protection compared to a simple suitcase,” he said, the Guardian reported.

According to Spanish reports on the first court case, it was ruled that because a special declaration about the animal was not made before the flight, the pet owner was entitled to only €1,578.82.

In a statement, the ECJ said: “The fact that the protection of animal welfare is an objective of general interest recognised by the European Union does not prevent animals from being transported as ‘baggage’ and from being regarded as such for the purposes of the liability resulting from the loss of an animal.”

A POPULAR dog food has been urgently recalled over fears it contains traces of salmonella.

Pet owners have been advised to avoid feeding the frozen product to their pooches and return it to stores immediately.

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Rhondda Raw’s Beef 80-10-10 has been withdrawn from shelves and the firm is recalling the packages.

The raw frozen dog food is unsafe because salmonella has been found in the product, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.

The agency urged customers who brought the meat not to feed it to dogs and instead return it to a store for a full refund.

Affected products have batch codes 040825/BM and 050825/BM.

The packs, which include 454g of meat, are also marked with a best before of August 4, 2026.

The FSA said: “Rhondda Raw Ltd are recalling Beef 80/10/10 raw frozen dog food because Salmonella has been found in the product.

“Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause illness in humans and animals. The product could therefore carry a potential risk.

“Rhondda Raw Ltd is recalling the product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product.

“This notice explains to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.”

Salmonella is a food bug that can cause illness in both humans and animals.

Owners could be put at risk while handling the pet food or bowls, as well as from animal poo.

Annual data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals there has been a significant rise in salmonella infections in England.

Cases hit a record decade high in 2024, soaring by almost a fifth in a single year to over 10,000 cases.

But separate data last month revealed cases in the first quarter of 2025 were even higher than 2024.

Some 1,588 cases were logged between January and March 2025, up on the 1,541 reported over the same period in 2024.

Children under 10 years old were particularly affected, accounting for 21.5 per cent of cases. 

Salmonella can cause a sudden bout of fever, vomiting and explosive diarrhoea, often striking within hours of eating tainted food.

The bacteria attacks the gut lining, damaging cells and stopping the body from soaking up water.

This is what leads to the painful cramps and nonstop diarrhoea as the body flushes out the water it couldn’t absorb.

Most people recover without treatment, but in rare cases it can turn deadly.

Around one in 50 sufferers go on to develop a serious blood infection, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk of complications.

Salmonella lives in the guts of animals and humans and spreads through contaminated poo.

Food can get tainted if it’s grown in dirty water, handled with grubby hands, or touches surfaces exposed to animal waste.

Last month, an urgent warning was issued over “contaminated tomatoes” which could be the cause of a major salmonella outbreak.

The nasty outbreak has been linked to tomatoes and the UK Heath Security Agency has issued a new warning.

Experts revealed new, rare, strains of salmonella called as Salmonella Strathcona sparked the particularly severe bouts of sickness.

According to the ECDC and the EFSA, nine European countries have reported 29 cases of Salmonella Strathcona since January 2025.

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WASHINGTON  — The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide if licensed guns owners have a right to carry their weapons at public places, including parks, beaches and stores.

At issue are laws in California, Hawaii and three other states that generally prohibit carrying guns on private or public property.

Three years ago, Supreme Court ruled that law-abiding gun owners had a 2nd Amendment right to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon when they leave home.

But the justices left open the question of whether states and cities could prohibit the carrying of guns in “sensitive locations,” and if so, where.

In response, California enacted a strict law that forbids gun owners from carrying their firearm in most public or private places that are open to the public unless the owner posted a sign permitting such weapons.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down that provision last year as going too far, but it upheld most of a Hawaii law that restricted the carrying of guns at public places and most private businesses that are open to the public.

Gun-rights advocates appealed to the Supreme Court and urged the justices to rule that such restrictions on carrying concealed weapons violate the 2nd Amendment.

The court agreed to hear the case early next year.

Trump administration lawyers urged the justices to strike down the Hawaii law.

It “functions as a near-complete ban on public carry. A person carrying a handgun for self-defense commits a crime by entering a mall, a gas station, a convenience store, a supermarket, a restaurant, a coffee shop, or even a parking lot,” said Solicitor General D. John Sauer.

Gun-control advocates said Hawaii had enacted a “common sense law that prohibits carrying firearms on others’ private property open to the public.”

“The 9th Circuit was absolutely right to say it’s constitutional to prohibit guns on private property unless the owner says they want guns there,” said Janet Carter, managing director of Second Amendment Litigation, at Everytown Law. “This law respects people’s right to be safe on their own property, and we urge the Supreme Court to uphold it.”

NEW YORK — Two ABC affiliate owners spoke out against late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel ahead of ABC’s decision to suspend the presenter over comments he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Their comments highlight the influence that local TV station owners have on national broadcasters such as Disney-owned ABC.

Here are key facts about the two companies.

Nexstar Media Group, based in Irving, Texas, operates 28 ABC affiliates. It said it would pull Kimmel’s show starting Wednesday. Kimmel’s comments about Kirk’s death were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.

The company owns or partners with more than 200 stations in 116 U.S. markets, and owns broadcast networks the CW and NewsNation, as well as the political website the Hill and nearly a third of the Food Network.

It hopes to get even bigger. Last month, it announced a $6.2-billion deal to buy TEGNA Inc., which owns 64 other TV stations.

The deal would require the Federal Communications Commission to change rules limiting the number of stations a single company can own. The FCC’s chair, Brendan Carr, has expressed openness to changing the rule.

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Sinclair Broadcast Group, based in Hunt Valley, Md., operates 38 local ABC affiliates. On Wednesday the company, which has a reputation for a conservative viewpoint in its broadcasts, called on Kimmel to apologize to Kirk’s family and make a “meaningful personal donation” to the activist’s political organization, Turning Point USA. Sinclair said its ABC stations will air a tribute to Kirk on Friday in Kimmel’s time slot.

Sinclair owns, operates or provides services to 178 TV stations in 81 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks and owns Tennis Channel.

Controversies

Sinclair made headlines in 2018 when a video that stitched together dozens of news anchors for Sinclair-owned local stations reading identical statements decrying “the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing the country” went viral. Sinclair didn’t disclose that it ordered the anchors to read the statement.

Nexstar operates similarly.

Danilo Yanich, professor of public policy at the University of Delaware, said the company is the “biggest duplicator” of news content today His research showed Nexstar stations duplicated broadcasts more than other affiliate owners.

Affiliate influence

Lauren Herold, an editor of the forthcoming book “Local TV,” said the web of companies involved in getting Americans their television shows is “relatively unknown” to most viewers, though their influence has been made known for decades.

Often, Herold said, that’s been when local affiliates have balked at airing something they viewed as controversial, such as the episode of the 1990s comedy “Ellen” in which Ellen DeGeneres’ character came out as gay.

“It’s not a complete oddity,” Herold said. “I think what’s more alarming about this particular incident to me is the top-down nature of it.”

Whereas past flare-ups between affiliates and their parent networks have often involved individual local TV executives, Herold pointed to the powerful voices at play in Kimmel’s suspension: Disney CEO Bob Iger, the FCC’s chair Carr, as well as Sinclair and Nexstar.

“The FCC kind of pinpointing particular programs to cancel is concerning to people who advocate for television to be a forum for free discussion and debate,” Herold said.

Jasmine Bloemhof, a media strategist who has worked with local stations, including ones owned by Sinclair and Nexstar, said consolidation has given such companies “enormous influence.” Controversies like the latest involving Kimmel, she said, “reveal the tension between Hollywood-driven programming and the values of everyday Americans.”

“Networks may push one agenda, but affiliates owned by companies like Sinclair and Nexstar understand they serve conservative-leaning communities across the country,” Bloemhof said. “And that friction is bound to surface.”

Anderson and Sedensky write for the Associated Press.

SALFORD’S owners are today facing questions over trying to buy their stadium using a FAKE bank statement.

Isiosaia Kailahi and Curtiz Brown have dragged the club through the mire — and High Court — since taking charge in February.

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Now SunSport can reveal how they tried to convince the city’s council they had the money to purchase the Salford Community Stadium  — valued at £14million —  by using contested documents.

The bank that received the statement as proof of funds has claimed the documents are not genuine.

Concerns were raised after the discovery that the transactions on it are dated months in the future.

Kailahi and Brown’s deal was originally meant to be one for the club and the ground combined — with a plan to develop the land around it later on.

Yet the financial state of the club — which would have gone under in February had this not happened — meant the club purchase had to  be brought forward.

An email from Kailahi to Salford City Council dated January 21, on which the statement was attached, raised questions as he criticised the authority for ‘going ghost’.

Kailahi wrote: “We understand there is  scepticism by members  about us and how this deal is being handled, which may not meet with council’s standards.

“I would remind those in doubt,  we started discussions about the potential acquisition of AJ Bell Stadium in early 2023 with the council going ghost on us without any correspondence after a few weeks.

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“I ask members to note the time I have spent in Manchester — which is months on end — working on this acquisition and the Red Devils deal, away from my family, this should at least give me some benefit towards our intentions.”

But a statement from Emirates NBD bank, in the name of Brown’s Built UAE company, raises more questions than answers.

Claims of a closing balance worth almost £22.3m could convince many they are the real deal.

Yet transactions dated December 2-11 2025 raised red flags — and, when SunSport contacted Emirates NBD, it confirmed our suspicions.

They said: “The Bank is prohibited by federal UAE law from disclosing any information about customers.

“But, the Bank can confirm none of the documents enclosed with your email, which purport to originate from the Bank, are genuine.”

When SunSport approached the businessmen for comment, Brown insisted: “Every document we have supplied has been true and accurate when provided, including any financial statement.

“If a statement you have been shown is false, we know nothing about this and have not been nor cannot be responsible for any document provided outside of our oversight.”

Salford City Council walked away from talks over the stadium in May —  three months after they requested names, addresses and bank details of all consortium members.

Seven months on, they are still waiting.

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Brown told SunSport: “We have yet to reach this point in the negotiations.

“As soon as we reach the point involving the transaction that requires the supply of this information, it will be duly and fully provided in the usual way.”

When the takeover that ‘saved’ the club first went through, a statement quoting Swiss financier Dario Berta was issued on February 7.

It said: “The new owners have cleared all club debt and will deliver  significant investment for the club’s future growth. This is the start of a very bright future.”

Yet debts have grown, including the £626,000 that forced HMRC to bring the winding-up petition that is now adjourned until October 29.

A £5m bridging loan, first mentioned in June — believed to be coming from Ben Doweck and Eli Cohen — secured the second delay but it is understood there will be no more.

Some 18 players, the kitman and even the man under the mascot’s costume have all walked away.

So did the man meant to coach Salford next season, assistant Kurt Haggerty.

Wage issues, when they have come, have been largely sourced from  firm WeDo Finance, and concerns over pension payments forced their hand.

Chris Irwin, employed by them as chief exec, was sacked — after it was first claimed he resigned.

This casts even more doubt on the duo,  working under the Sydney-based Jacobsen Venture Group title.

Fans protested at their home match with Catalans last Thursday.

It followed marches to the stadium after they forfeited a Super League fixture against Wakefield, and to their game at Warrington, which many feared would be their last.

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And the mess raises questions of the Rugby Football League, chiefly: how did they even get the club?

SunSport was handed a certified bank statement of an account at Australia’s Commonwealth Bank, checked and signed by an independent accountant.

Because of the need to save Salford, that was considered enough to get the club.

Yet their wider aims stalled after the production of the Emirates NBD statement.

And it is believed Salford City Council did not get as far as checking its validity as it had not received the information regarding the consortium it had asked for.

Kailahi, also known as Sire, and Brown faced controversy before.

In April, SunSport reported on a California court case in which Kailahi  was involved after ticket firm Eventbrite claimed it paid him £500,000 for a contract his Stadium Salford Group had not entered into properly.

In response, Brown fired a message.

It said: “You made everyone at the club unemployed with your  article. Sire is shutting the club down and will name you as the reason.”

According to documents, Kailahi lost the case but is appealing.
Brown spoke to SunSport again in February, as fathers sent their young children to hug him and thank him for saving the club.

He said, with words that may now appear hollow: “We just love rugby league and Salford fans are passionate about rugby league.

“We’ve seen the trouble they’ve been in, and we’ve always lightly followed Salford because of the connections we’ve had here.

“You’ve seen what we plan going forward. It’s not about rugby league, it’s about the community.

“It’s about getting the fans involved.

“It’s basically just for the fans of Salford. We’re in it to win it now.

“We’re coming here to include ourselves in what could be a better Salford.”

The statement also said that they received positive assurances about an upcoming winding-up petition from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which was adjourned earlier this year and is set to take place at the High Court on 3 September.

It has been a tumultuous 12 months for Salford, who have been plagued with financial issues despite a takeover by a consortium led by Dario Berta going through on the eve of the season.

In the past month the situation at the club has worsened, with a mass player exodus, problems with wage payments and their chief operating officer, Claire Bradbury, quitting her role, alleging the club’s ownership suggested she “sleep with someone at the Rugby Football League” to ease their situation.

Salford said they would be “conducting a thorough internal investigation”.

“The club owners also informed us that they’re in the process of arranging a bridging loan to assist in seeing the club through to the end of the season and to enable the club to make progress in clearing debts,” the mayors’ statement continued.

“In light of the bridging loan being pursued, we agreed to work together in hopefully securing an outcome that maintains the club as a going concern.

“We understand how difficult this time is for the club’s fans and loyal supporters and want to assure you, we are doing everything within our power to safeguard the club’s future.”

KEYLESS cars are becoming increasingly vulnerable to theft as criminals turn to sophisticated tools like Game Boy-style emulators, experts warn.

Alarmingly, most mechanics now consider traditional car alarms ineffective as deterrents.

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The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) says vehicle theft in the UK has surged by 75% over the past decade, with 130,000 cars stolen annually.

This trend has sparked calls for smarter, tech-based solutions to deter car thieves.

According to Fix My Car, car owners should adopt multiple layered security strategies and modern tools to help protect their motors – including engine immobilisers and GPS trackers.

Indeed, only 5% of mechanics trust traditional car alarms as effective deterrents, although everyday precautions, such as keeping keys hidden, parking in well-lit areas and checking on vehicles regularly remain essential habits.

Matt Wrankmore, Head of Garage Network at FixMyCar, said: “Car theft is no longer just about smashing windows or hot-wiring ignitions.

“Criminals are more cyber-savvy than ever, so drivers need to respond with a balanced approach using both smart technology and visible deterrents.”

And he added: “There are definite benefits to using traditional deterrents in your car, and many manufacturers still recommend steering wheel locks despite advances in vehicle security tech.

“I believe drivers returning to these methods are on the right track but we need to use all the tools available.

“That means combining mechanical immobilisers and telematics trackers with visual deterrents like steering wheel locks and alarm stickers.

“And let’s not forget the cheapest and most overlooked measure of common sense.

“Keeping your keys hidden, parking in well-lit areas with CCTV, and checking on your car regularly are all simple habits that still go a long way.”

The rise in car thefts has also exposed vulnerabilities in high-end vehicles, such as Hyundai’s electric Ioniq 5.

A furious driver, Adam Metselaar, threatened to sue the firm last year after his £47,000 keyless car was stolen in just 31 seconds using a gadget disguised as a Nintendo Game Boy.

Despite keeping his car keys in a protective box to prevent cloning, the thieves bypassed the system using a hi-tech “emulator” hidden inside the casing of the gaming device.

The grey Ioniq 5 was traced four miles away using an Apple AirTag, but it had sustained £10,000 worth of damage.

Hyundai admitted that similar thefts have affected at least 26 cars in London, as per September last year.

They later updated their Bluelink software to introduce additional anti-theft features.

As summer holidays prompt many motorists to leave their cars unattended, FixMyCar is encouraging drivers to take proactive measures to protect their vehicles.

A combination of modern tracking devices, visible deterrents and simple precautions can go a long way in safeguarding cars from increasingly sophisticated thieves.

Motorists are flocking to Amazon to get their hands on a smart bit of car kit that’s seen a dramatic tumble in price.

The gadget is the second-generation Echo Auto, and it’s been picking up some proper rave reviews from blokes and lasses who have snapped it up.

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Amazon Echo Auto (2nd gen), £19.99 (was £59.99)

Originally fetching a hefty £59.99, the nifty Echo Auto is currently on sale for just £19.99 on Amazon.

That’s a cracking deal and a perfect time for anyone looking to introduce some smart tech into their motor – and crucially, without splashing out a fortune.

This price drop is part of a wider Amazon promotion, with savings as high as 45% across the retailer’s smart devices.

It’s the best deal we’ve seen on a piece of car tech since we covered a slashed cheap CarPlay alternative on Amazon back in April (which is on sale again).

What does the Echo Auto do?

This little gizmo is designed to be your co-pilot, letting you command Alexa while you’re busy at the wheel.

• Hands-free control: You can talk to Alexa to play music, make calls, or set reminders without ever touching your phone.
• Navigation: Get directions from apps like Google Maps just by asking Alexa where you want to go.
• Play music: Listen to your favourite songs and podcasts from services like Spotify or Amazon Music.
• Smart home control: You can ask Alexa to turn on your house lights or adjust the heat while you are driving home.
• Hear your voice: It has special microphones that can hear you clearly over car noise, like the radio or air conditioner.

The 2nd-gen Echo Auto is a small and discreet piece of kit that slots right into your car.

It hooks up to your phone and your car’s speakers to bring a whole new level of voice control to your ride.

Getting it all set up is a doddle too. You just plug it into a spare USB slot, link it to your phone’s Alexa app, and you’re sorted.

This brilliant bit of kit has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with thousands of happy drivers raving about how it’s transformed their motors.

One buzzing punter, who slapped a 5-star rating on it, wrote: “Highly recommend this. Works in my 23-year-old Nissan Micra.

“Voice activated, can listen to a music playlist or podcasts, can make hands-free calls, listen to LBC, etc. Works brilliantly.”

Another shopper commented: “Works seamlessly… very useful as just a Bluetooth pass through to car speakers.”

Another chuffed buyer said: “Great piece of tech, [I] love Alexa at home.

“Now she comes on the road with us and, unlike my phone, she hears very well and plays whatever I want. Terrific.”

A proper ringing endorsement came from a verified customer who simply put: “This is an amazing piece of kit, highly recommend.”

Whether you want to listen to tunes, get directions, or just stay connected on the go, the Auto is a simple and cheap way to do it.

At that sale price, it’s a bit of a no-brainer.

Amazon Echo Auto (2nd gen), £19.99 (was £59.99)

For more savings on other smart gadgets, head to our Amazon device deals round-up.

Earlier this week, we also spotted a great deal on some bargain earbuds on Amazon, which have been slashed from £130 to £22.

PLAYSTATION Plus fans who want to get their hands on a free Xbox game have only one day left to do so.

The gaming giant is offering three major Xbox games completely free to subscribers of its PS Plus service.

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PlayStation Plus members receive three to four new games each month as part of their subscription and the July offers will soon be expiring.

Gaming Giants

The games up for grabs were RPG Diablo 4, The King of Fighters 15 and Jusant, but will be unavailable from August 5.

PlayStation offered those three games to mark its 15th anniversary last month.

Action/climbing game Jusant depicts a journey to the top of a tall tower.

Players are able to uncover secrets of bygone community and hone their skills, at their own pace.

Also included was The King of Fighters XV, which, as the title suggests, is an instalment in a long-running series.

The game features 39 characters, as well as a new combat system and a variety of battle options.

Rounding out the trio is Diablo IV, an RPG game – where players can tackle a campaign either solo or with friends.

The narrative combines a gripping story with memorable characters for users to meet along the way.

The free games are available forever once claimed, so long as their PlayStation Plus subscription remains active.

More Freebies to Come

The good news for fans is that even more games will be up for grabs from August 5.

The games for PS4 are DayZ and My Hero One’s Justice 2, and Lies of P will be free for those who have a PS4 or PS5.

Lies of P is an action role-playing game, which reimagines The Adventures of Pinocchio – an 1883 children’s fantasy novel by Italian author Carlo Collodi.

The game follows the life of a puppet in a fictional city plagued by an epidemic and a puppet uprising.

My Hero One’s Justice 2 is a fast-paced 3D arena fighter based on the hit anime My Hero Academia, featuring intense battles where gamers control their heroes and villains with special moves.

DayZ is a survival game where up to 60 players fight to survive in a zombie-infested wasteland.

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AN ‘unbelievable’ horse and serial Cheltenham winner has made a shock stable switch from Paul Nicholls to Nicky Henderson.

Ginny’s Destiny, owned by Gordan and Su Hall, was second in the 2024 Turners Novices’ Chase won by Grey Dawning.

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Prior to that he had won three times in a row at the home of jumps, rocketing up the ratings from 133 to 155.

With more than £150,000 in career earnings, the nine-year-old has more than paid his way for his popular owners.

But the Halls have decided now is the time to move on and have sent him to Henderson instead.

The horse’s updated page on the BHA showed he moved to the Seven Barrows handler earlier this week.

Ginny’s Destiny had been with 14-time champion trainer Nicholls since July 2023, having previously been with Tom Lacey for just shy of three years before that.

Promising bumper winner Act Of Innocence is another of the Hall horses on his way to Henderson.

The five-year-old gelding looks like he could be set for a season novice hurdling after winning at Taunton when last seen in March.

Don’t Tell Su, a 118-rated hurdler and novice chaser has also gone to Henderson.

While £100,000 Old Park Star, who Nicholls bought alongside Tom Malone in June 2023, will now be trained by Henderson too.

Gordon, who runs a construction company, and Su have been labelled the ‘luckiest owners in racing’.

Their first horse together was Truckers Lodge, an eight-time winner who finished second in the 2019 Grand National and won the 2023 London National under Nicholls’ expert care.

Owners Neil and Alfie Smith have moved Scottish Champion Hurdle runner-up Kabral Du Mathan to Dan Skelton from Nicholls.

While the Ditcheat boss has been busy stocking up his squad with some eyecatching purchases, including the hugely promising £260,000 Gold Cast.

Henderson is starting to welcome some of his horses back from their summer break.

He recently posted a photo of Constitution Hill alongside Sir Gino.

Both stars will be on recovery missions in the new season.

Constitution Hill looked nothing like the breathtaking Champion Hurdle winner when falling twice last season.

While Sir Gino was forced to miss Cheltenham after one of his legs suffered a nasty infection.

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Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

ATLANTA — In 2021, Times columnist Bill Plaschke incurred the wrath of Atlanta by blaspheming the entertainment district surrounding the Braves’ ballpark as a “sterile shopping mall.” The district, called The Battery, prefers the grand descriptor of “the South’s preeminent lifestyle destination.”

Let’s take a walk around The Battery, so you can understand why it could become one of the flash points in the coming holy war between owners and players.

If you leave the ballpark through the right-field gates, you are in The Battery. You’ll see a plaza in front of you, and around you places to ride a mechanical bull, go bowling, navigate an escape room or take in a concert.

You can eat, drink, shop, dance, stay in a hotel. You can live here, in apartments above the storefronts. You can work here, in office towers housing corporate giants.

“To create an environment where you can spend eight, nine hours at The Battery and the field, and still feel like you have all the time in the world, I think they’ve done a wonderful job building this place,” Dodgers and former Braves All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman said.

The Braves built all this, not only to lure fans to come early and stay late on game days but to make money from the property 365 days a year rather than 81. On that front, it is a spectacular success: Nine million people come here each year, and the Braves generated $67 million in revenue from The Battery last year.

This, according to major league officials, is the template for the modern team. The Angels had planned a ballpark village twice as large as The Battery. Imagine what the Dodgers could build, and how much revenue they could generate, on property twice as large as the Angel Stadium site.

And, speaking of revenue, Rob Manfred has something he likes to say to players about it. The MLB commissioner spoke at the Braves’ Investor Day last month and said he tells players that their share of the sport’s revenue has dropped from 63% in 2002 to 47% today.

Baseball is the only major sport in America without a salary cap system, in which owners agree to spend a designated percentage of revenue on player salaries.

“If we had made a deal 10 years ago to share 50-50, you would’ve made $2.5 billion more than you made,” Manfred said he has told players, in comments first reported by Sports Business Journal.

The players and their union rolled their collective eyes at those comments. It is no secret that many owners want a salary cap, and the cost certainty that comes with it.

“It’s all tactics,” Dodgers All-Star catcher Will Smith said. “It’s all early negotiating stuff.”

Said Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star outfielder Corbin Carroll: “Owners don’t want to put money in our pockets. For them to emphasize how we need this so much, there’s a reason for that.”

Tony Clark, the union’s executive director, said the revenue numbers the league shares with the union are not consistent with Manfred’s statements. And, when you consider a percentage of revenue, you have to define what counts as revenue: What goes into the pool to be shared with players?

Tony Clark, executive director of the MLB players’ union.

(Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)

So let’s go back to The Battery, and to the revenue opportunities that such ballpark villages create for teams.

A report released in April by Klutch Sports, the Los Angeles-based agency, called such villages “the sports industry’s $100+ billion growth engine,” particularly as media revenue wanes. Within the pitch to team owners: Those villages “generate attractive financial returns that stand outside of league revenue sharing requirements.”

Translation: You can make all these millions without sharing any of it with the players.

The Braves are building here because the team plays here. That is the new issue looming over the next round of collective bargaining: If a team builds around its ballpark, should that revenue be shared with players?

“Oh yeah,” Athletics All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker said. “Revenue is just any dollar that teams bring in that ultimately could be turned around and used to put a better product on the field. It’s got to include tickets, TV, concessions, all the things around the stadium. It’s got to include all of it.”

Is the money a team makes from renting office space outside the ballpark really relevant to the team?

Here’s what Braves president and chief executive Derek Schiller told ESPN about The Battery: “You’ve got a whole other set of revenues from the real estate development that can then be deployed for the baseball team.”

I asked Clark whether, if negotiations turn to the possibility of revenue sharing along the lines Manfred discussed, the money from ballpark villages needs to be part of the conversation.

“Yes,” Clark said.

He declined to elaborate. Understand this about Clark: He can filibuster a yes or no question into a 45-second monologue without actually answering yes or no. That he would say a clear “yes” and nothing else leaves no doubt about his position.

If the players do ask that owners share revenue from such ballpark villages, the response would be predictable: First, we share baseball revenue from baseball operations, and real estate developments are not baseball operations. Second, if you want to share in the revenue, you can share in the risk too, by helping to fund construction of the ballpark village, say, or by assuming some of the losses when a tenant drops its lease and leaves storefronts or office buildings unoccupied.

Said Carroll: “I think that’s a conversation that won’t need to happen, because it won’t get to that point. A salary cap is a nonstarter from the union’s perspective.”

Enjoy the All-Star Game Tuesday, because this summer is one of relative peace. The collective bargaining agreement expires after next season, which means the rhetoric between players and owners ought to be flying this time next year. If the owners insist on pushing a salary cap, a lockout almost certainly would follow.

And, if the owners push revenue sharing, The Battery could provide the push for the players’ pushback.

The winter wails of “Are the Dodgers ruining baseball?” pretty much established the Dodgers as the team other major league owners love to hate. If there is one thing most owners love more than winning, it is cost control. That is why they covet a salary cap.

The team other owners love? It might just be the Angels.

For owners, costs go beyond the salaries of major league players. In 2021, Major League Baseball eliminated 43 minor league teams affiliated with MLB organizations. Why, owners wondered, should we continue to pay two dozen entry-level players to fill out a roster when only two of them might be legitimate prospects?

And what could be more efficient than turning over player development to colleges? The NFL has no minor league. The NBA has one. Even after those 2021 cuts, MLB teams remain affiliated with 14 minor leagues.

That brings us to the Angels. In football and basketball, a first-round draft pick almost always goes from college one year to the NFL and the NBA the next. In baseball, even a first-round draft pick can spend several years in the minor leagues.

The Angels just called up second baseman Christian Moore, who could make his major league debut Friday in Baltimore, and pitcher Sam Bachman. That means the Angels’ roster now includes eight of their first-round picks — including each of their past five, all 25 or younger.

None of them spent even 100 games in the minor leagues, and almost all of that limited time was spent at the highest levels of the minors. This time last year, Moore was preparing for the College World Series with eventual national champion Tennessee. The Angels gave him 20 games at triple-A Salt Lake, in which he hit .350 with a .999 OPS, and summoned him to the majors.

Of the nine players likely to take the field for the Angels on Friday, the team drafted six in the first round: Moore (2024), first baseman Nolan Schanuel (2023), shortstop Zach Neto (2022), and outfielders Jo Adell (2017), Taylor Ward (2015) and Mike Trout (2009). The bullpen would include Bachman (2021) and Reid Detmers (2020).

Angels shortstop Zach Neto walks through the dugout during a game against the Miami Marlins on May 24.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

This is not the only way to win. None of the Dodgers’ past five top draft picks are even in the major leagues, and the team’s current roster includes only two Dodgers’ first-round draft picks: catcher Will Smith (2016) and pitcher Clayton Kershaw (2006).

No matter, of course, because the team’s current roster also includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Total cost for that quartet: $1.6 billion. Total signing bonuses for the eight Angels first-round picks: $30 million.

And there is no evidence to show what we might call the Angels Way — drafting polished college stars capable of getting to the majors in a hurry — is a way to win. The Angels are trying to rebuild without investing heavily in scouting and player development. They have not posted a winning season in 10 years.

As the Angels open play Friday, they are one game under .500. They played .360 ball in April and .500 ball in May, and they have played .700 ball so far in June. They are 4 ½ games out of first place in what appears to be baseball’s weakest division, the American League West.

What the Angels are trying means you absolutely cannot miss on your top draft picks. Although each of their first-rounders this decade now has made the majors, to this point only Neto has displayed star potential. It’s still early, of course, and a team that learned that Ohtani and Trout alone cannot deliver October is hoping to develop a broader base of talent.

The Angels will try again in a few weeks. They have the second overall pick in the July draft. They could aim to fill their Anthony Rendon-sized third-base hole with Oregon State’s Aiva Arquette. On Thursday, prospect analyst Keith Law of The Athletic projected the Angels would take Tennessee left-hander Liam Doyle.

“Everyone expects the Angels to take Doyle or (LSU left-hander) Kade Anderson,” Law wrote, “and then put whoever they select in the majors before the ink is dry on the contract.”

That would make nine first-rounders on the major league roster. That, certainly, would be efficient. Negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement start next year, and the Angels Way could embolden owners to eliminate even more minor league teams.

The fans might be rooting for the star-studded Dodgers. The cost-conscious owners are rooting for the Angels.

Several Vietnamese American-owned nail salons in Orange County have sued California, alleging the state’s labor code is discriminating against their businesses.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana on Friday, alleges that the state’s labor code violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law by forcing nail technicians to be classified as employees.

The suit argues that professionals in the beauty industry for years have operated as independent contractors, renting space in a salon and bringing in their own clients. That changed at the beginning of 2025, when nail technicians under the labor code became required to be classified as employees, the lawsuit said.

State Assemblyman Tri Ta (R-Westminster), who represents Little Saigon and surrounding communities, said his office has fielded much concern from Vietnamese American nail salon owners.

“Their lives have turned upside down overnight,” Ta said at a news conference Monday morning. “It is not just unfair, it is discrimination.”

The switch in labor law came in 2019 when Assembly Bill 5, a sweeping law governing worker classification rules across various industries, was approved. It codified a California Supreme Court decision creating a stricter test to judge whether a worker should be considered an employee rather than an independent contractor.

AB 5 sought to crack down on industries in which many workers are misclassified as independent contractors, who are not afforded protections including minimum wage, overtime pay and workers’ compensation that employees have access to. But various industries have said AB 5 targets them unfairly, creating an uneven playing field for businesses.

Some professions received carve-outs, including doctors, accountants, real estate agents and hairdressers. Others such as truckers, commercial janitors and physical therapists must abide by the tighter classification rules.

Some implementation of the law was staggered to give industries, including nail technicians, time to adapt.

But Ân Tran, who owns two franchisee locations of Happy Nails & Spa that are among the businesses suing the state, said the law remains burdensome. Hiring employees is more costly, and it’s unfair that businesses hiring hairdressers, aestheticians and other beauty workers aren’t subject to the requirement, he said.

“We don’t have customers all the time. That’s going to cost us a lot more to pay them for the downtime when they don’t have any customers,” Tran said in an interview.

The requirement also defies the flexible work culture and control over their clients that many manicurists prefer, Tran said.

Emily Micelle was among several manicurists who spoke in support of the salon owners’ lawsuit at the Monday news conference.

“No one forced me to be here today. I chose to be here because I want to express my side of the story,” Micelle said. “Being [an independent contractor] means I can work for myself, I can be my own boss, I can create my own branding within the business, I choose my own hours, I choose my own clients. … The law means to protect us workers, but [being an employee] doesn’t work for everyone.”

The lawsuit describes how the nail salon industry in California became dominated by Vietnamese workers in recent decades, when Vietnamese refugees began fleeing to the U.S. in large numbers in 1975 after the fall of Saigon in America’s failed military intervention in Southeast Asia.

The industry “has become synonymous with the Vietnamese community,” the lawsuit said, with more than 82% of nail technicians in California being Vietnamese American and some 85% women.

The legal action highlights the tension between how small businesses can serve as a pathway for immigrants and others to build wealth, and how workers at times might have little formal recourse for low wages or unsafe work conditions, experts have said.

Researchers with the UCLA Labor Center last year analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data and released a report estimating that the hourly median wage for nail salon workers in 2021 was $10.94, below the then-$13 minimum wage for small businesses.

In 2017, four women sued a salon in Tustin, alleging that the owners had created bogus time records and paychecks to create an illusion that manicurists were paid lawfully by the hour, but instead workers were compensated based on a 60% commission system where their pay was further deducted for using business supplies, such as spa chairs.

Businesses that filed suit include multiple locations of Blue Nail Bar, Happy Nails & Spa and Holly & Hudson Nail Lounge.

Amazon shoppers are snapping up the Flymo lawnmower as the summer months begin.

The popular garden gadget has been reduced from £134.99 to £102.75, saving 24% off.

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Flymo Speedi-Mo 360C Electric
Wheeled Lawn Mower, £102.75 (was £134.99)

Amazon is often one of the cheaper places to buy home and gardening tools, essentials and branded appliances, and this deal is a prime example.

With the start of June just a day away, summer is almost here and the Flymo lawnmower has taken the top spot on Amazon’s bestselling lawnmowers list.

The garden essential is being snapped up by those with a garden lawn, especially if overgrown grass is in need of some TLC after winter.

The online deal has come at a time when Brits are starting to prioritise keeping on top of their outdoor space as the weather starts warming up this weekend.

Although I haven’t personally tested it out, given the positive feedback and that the brand is sold at some of the top home and garden retailers, it should be a reliable choice.

The lawnmower has a powerful 1500W motor which is suitable for small, medium or large-sized gardens.

Designed to be easy to use, the controls are operated on the main handle, and include a choice of five grass cutting heights between 20-60mm, so you can choose which length to opt for and ensure an even trim.

The easy set-up is mentioned often by customers, who praise how quick it is to assemble, so it’s ideal if you’re looking to put your new lawnmower to use as soon as possible.

Emptying out the grass should be straightforward too, as you simply need to 

If you’re looking for a lightweight lawnmower, this could suit you, and it’s also easy to manoeuvre using the handy foldable handle.

The lawnmower has amassed over 8,000 reviews, earning it a 4.6 star rating on Amazon, with plenty of shoppers buying it in the past month.

One shopper was full of praise for their Amazon purchase, saying: ‘’Easily put together and has the ability to cut at different lengths. Great machine and lightweight. Managed to get the perfect lines when mowing the lawn!’

Another shopper continued the positive feedback, adding: ‘’So to save money paying a gardener I bought this mower…. cheap as chips.

“Always been put off before as my old mower was so heavy. This one is a dream and I am quids in already doing it myself!

“Can’t fault it and my lawn looks great already because I do it more often and it is so easy to do.’’

While a third described it as ‘’amazing’’, adding that it was ‘’easy to put together’’, ‘’sturdy’’ and ‘’has a large collection grass box which is easy to empty’’.

Flymo Speedi-Mo 360C Electric Wheeled
Lawn Mower, £102.75 (was £134.99)

Argos also has an affordable £60 lawnmower that’s ideal for smaller gardens.

Or, if you’re looking to revamp your outdoor space in other ways, Amazon’s popular paint sprayer is great for freshening up garden fences and decking.

Still shopping around? Head to our pick of the best lawnmowers, all tried and tested by our team.

DYSON fans are rushing to QVC to get their hands on one of the brand’s coveted vacuums for a bargain price.

The cost of the V12 Detect Slim Absolute has been slashed by £150 and it’s now just £399.

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Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute, £399 (was £549)

This Dyson deal at QVC sees a neat 27% hoovered off the usual price of £549.

What’s more, you can get an extra £5 off your first order if you enter the promo code FIVE4U.

Dyson discounts aren’t that frequent, so this is definitely a deal to look at if you’re in the market for a new vacuum – especially if you’ve got pets.

The V12 is designed for homes with animals, so it makes short work of that pesky, ever-present dog and cat hair.

You can use the Motorbar head to deep-clean debris and hair from carpets (it detangles as it goes, so the brush doesn’t end up clogged).

Alternately, there’s the Fluffy Optic head for hard floors and a handy (if strange-looking) hair screw tool for ground-in pet hair and debris.

This cordless wonder gives up to 60 minutes of cleaning on a full charge, and offers spin speeds up to 125,000rpm.

What’s more, the vacuum automatically adjusts suction depending on what it’s picking up, and increases power where it’s needed.

And the filtration system seals in up to 99.99% of allergens and microscopic particles: perfect if you’re suffering from hay fever this summer.

The Sun Shopping’s Aaron Dowler put this big-brand vac to the test, and in his Dyson V12 Detect Absolute Slim review, gave it an 8-out-of-10 verdict.

“The Dyson V12 Detect Slim impressed me with its performance, especially its lightweight design,” Aaron says.

“The laser detection technology worked beautifully on hard floors, and the attachments were versatile enough to tackle pet hair and upholstery.”

QVC shoppers are smitten too, with one customer writing: “It is incredible what it collects.

“We have two short-haired dachshunds, two adults, wool carpets and rugs in our house.

“[It’s] so easy and lightweight to hoover stairs compared to [the] Dyson Ball Upright we also have, which now never gets used.”

Another says: “I absolutely love, love, love it! It’s so easy to use, easy to empty and clean, and I can do the whole house so quickly.

“I use it every day and am gobsmacked at what it picks up… Even my husband said the house smells clean. It really is wonderful.”

All reasons this handy household tool made it into our pick of the best cordless vacuum cleaners.

If you’re keen, just be sure to jump on this deal before it comes to an end.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute, £399 (was £549)

Owner of a hungry kitty? Shoppers are rushing to Amazon to pick up a multipack of Whiskas wet pouches that’s now 44% cheaper.

For more options from the likes of Shark, Halo and Gtech, head to our best vacuum cleaners article.

A “CRUEL” Royal Mail postie has been caught on camera KICKING a customer’s “attention-loving” puppy in the face.

Nikki Walker, 49, was working from home last month when cockapoo Bella heard the garden gate open and jumped out of a ground floor window.

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Moments later Nicki heard the one-year-old pup yelp in pain and rushed to the front door to question a Royal Mail postman who had just delivered some letters.

She says the rude worker denied kicking Bella and told her to “do what the f**k she wants” when she threatened to check her doorcam footage.

Nikki was appalled to discover footage on the doorcam of the Royal Mail postie booting her pooch in the face.

The shocking video shows Bella run over to the postman who turns around and kicks the rescue dog in the face with his right boot.

Squealing, Bella is launched backwards in mid-air and runs off a couple of seconds before Nikki appears at the front door.

Nikki claims the postie told her he simply “put my leg up to stop Bella from jumping” but she believes he was lying.

The mum-of-four says she was “absolutely fuming” while reviewing the footage and has complained to Royal Mail.

She says they offered her £100 and a home visit from a staff member to apologise, but she rejected the latter as she wanted all correspondence in writing.

Nikki claims Royal Mail have since threatened to suspend deliveries to her address unless she ensures the dog is kept away from staff.

She describes Bella as a “faithful, cuddle-loving” puppy who has never bitten anyone and posted the video to Facebook where users branded the postie a “scumbag” and called for him to be sacked.

Royal Mail claim two other posties have reported Bella growling at them and insisted their “first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety” of staff.

The postman has now been removed from the round and won’t be delivering to the address on Nikki’s request.

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Nikki, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, said: “When I heard yelping I quickly ran outside the front door.

“When I asked what she’s yelping at he said he didn’t know. I asked if he’d kicked the dog and he said ‘no, I put my leg up to stop her from jumping’.

“That won’t be the case because he put his leg back and kicked. I knew he was lying to me.

“I told him I’d check the camera then he said ‘do what the f**k you want.

“Bella ran into the house, curled and cowered on the sofa and that’s not like her. I knew something had happened.

“I sat next to her to watch the video and when I did I was absolutely fuming.

“She was wagging her tail. She wasn’t aggressive or barking.

“She’s a faithful puppy. She loves cuddles, attention and she’d sit on your knee for hours.

“If he’d have done that to my last dog he’d have killed her.

“My daughter watched the video and she was absolutely mortified.”

Nikki says it will cost her around £80 to build new fencing so Royal Mail will agree to deliver to her address.

She feels the delivery giants are treating her puppy like a “dangerous” dog despite her claiming she’s never bitten anyone.

Nikki said: “They sent this via a letter, which is quite ironic. You couldn’t make it up.

“We’ve had to go out, buy some wood and build and new fence and gate so she can be secured in the back garden

“It’s as if my dog is dangerous. It’s really annoyed me. She’s not a rottweiler or a big alsatian and she’s never bit anybody.”

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Nikki’s Facebook post has more than 200 comments, shares and reactions.

The post said: “This is absolutely disgusting behaviour kicking my one-year-old puppy in the face. She’s wagging her tail.

“The yelps coming out of her are distressing so be mindful if watching, please.”

One commented: “Disgusting behaviour. Report him and push for an outcome.”

A second said: “I hope he gets sacked, he wouldn’t be kicking a rottweiler.”

A third agreed and said: “Sack the scumbag.”

However one said: “Should keep your dog under control at all times.”

Nikki hit back: “She was in her own garden not running wild in the streets. it’s the postman who was out of control.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident involving one of our postmen and a dog in Leeds.

“Our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers.

The vast majority of dog owners are very responsible and keep their pets under control, However, last year, there were over 2,200 dog attacks on postmen and women in the UK – some resulting in life-changing injuries.

“We continue to appeal to dog owners to secure their pets when the postie arrives to help reduce the number of attacks, particularly at the door and in the garden.”

Syrians are hoping sanctions relief will help boost investment, reconstruction after more than a decade of civil war.

Business owners in Syria have welcomed the European Union’s decision this week to lift sanctions on the country, in what observers say is the most significant easing of Western pressure on Damascus in more than a decade.

The EU’s move, which followed a similar announcement by the United States in mid-May, was praised by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani as one that would bolster Syria’s security and stability.

For many Syrian entrepreneurs, it also brings the hope of rebuilding their livelihoods after years of economic isolation.

“Companies that were ousted from Syria and stopped dealing with us because of the sanctions are now in contact with us,” Hassan Bandakji, a local business owner, told Al Jazeera.

“Many companies and producers are telling us they are coming back and that they want to reserve a spot in our market.”

The EU and US sanctions had levied wide-ranging sanctions against the government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was removed from power in a rebel offensive in December of last year.

The economic curbs had severely limited trade, investment, and financial transactions in Syria, cutting businesses off from supplies and international banking.

“The main obstacle we faced was getting raw materials and automated lines,” said Ali Sheikh Kweider, who manages a factory in the countryside of the Syrian capital, Damascus.

“As for bank accounts, we weren’t able to send or receive any transactions,” Kweider told Al Jazeera.

Syria’s new government, led by ex-rebel leader and interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, had called for the sanctions to be lifted as it seeks to rebuild the country.

US President Donald Trump said after a meeting with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia last week that he planned to order the lifting of American sanctions on Syria.

Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdelwahed said the government is hoping the sanctions relief will help Syria reintegrate into the international community.

It also views the EU’s announcement as additional “recognition of the new political leadership” in the country, Abdelwahed added.

NFL owners have decided to keep the “Tush Push,” the signature short-yardage play of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, after a vote Wednesday at their spring meeting in Minneapolis.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that the vote was 22-10 in favor of the ban, falling short of the 24 votes it needed to go into effect.

The “Tush Push” is a version of a quarterback sneak in which two or three players line up behind the signal caller and help drive him forward in short-yardage situations.

The Eagles — who also call the play the “Brotherly Shove” — have been nearly flawless in executing the push since 2022, with two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jalen Hurts carrying the ball. During that span, ESPN reports, the Eagles and Buffalo Bills have run the play more than the rest of the NFL combined, with a far greater success rate (87% for Philadelphia and Buffalo compared to 71% for the rest of the league).

Also during the past three seasons, the Eagles have scored 27 touchdowns and recorded 92 first downs using the play, according to ESPN.

“Push on,” the Eagles said in a graphic posted on X after the vote results came out. The team also posted a 26-minute video of “Tush Push” highlights on YouTube.

A proposal by the Green Bay Packers to ban the play was tabled at the NFL’s annual league meeting in April. The Packers submitted a revision this week to prohibit “an offensive player from pushing, pulling, lifting or assisting the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him.”

The initial proposal had called for those restrictions only to be in effect “immediately at the snap.”

The proposal cited “player safety” and “pace of play” as reasons for the ban, although many opponents of the play seem to focus on the former argument. Others have questioned the play’s place in football, suggesting it is more of a rugby move, and that its perceived automatic nature, at least when the Eagles run it, is bad for the game.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni defended his team’s use of the play while speaking with reporters in February.

“We work really, really hard, and our guys are talented at this play. And so it’s a little insulting to say just because we’re good at it, it’s automatic,” he said.

“The fact that it’s a successful play for the Eagles and people want to take that away, I think it’s a little unfair.”

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and retired Philadelphia center Jason Kelce addressed the team owners Wednesday before the vote. Kelce had explained on the most recent episode on his and brother Travis Kelce‘s “New Heights” podcast that he was going to Minneapolis “to answer any questions people have” about the safety of the play.

“I’m just going to offer, if anybody has any questions about the tush push, or whether I retired because of the tush push, I’ll tell you, I’ll come out of retirement today if you tell me, ‘All you gotta do is run 80 tush pushes to play in the NFL,’” Kelce said. “I’ll do that gladly. It’ll be the easiest job in the world.”

The Chargers welcomed Arctos as a limited partner Tuesday as NFL owners approved a sale that transferred some the team’s shares to the Dallas-based private equity firm that already has ties to the Dodgers.

“Arctos’ track record in major professional sports speaks for itself,” Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a statement, “and we are grateful for their alignment moving forward during this time of tremendous growth for our organization.”

According to a league memo The Times obtained last week, Arctos acquired 8% of the team’s shares. Spanos and his family will retain control of the Chargers organization with approximately 61% of the franchise.

Arctos now has stakes in two NFL teams less than a year after the league approved private equity ownership. The company acquired a 10% stake in the Buffalo Bills in January, adding to its portfolio that already included MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS teams. Arctos has ownership stakes in six MLB teams: the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox.

“We’re honored to join the Los Angeles Chargers ownership group and are grateful to Dean and the rest of the management team for their partnership,” Arctos cofounder and co-managing partner Doc O’Connor said in a statement. “We’re excited to get to work and help the team achieve their vision however we can.”

Approaching a decade since their move to L.A., the Chargers have added two major ownership groups in the last year. Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores bought a 27% stake in the team in September, resolving a long-running dispute between Dea Spanos Berberian and her siblings as Gores and his wife bought Spanos Berberian’s share of the franchise.