Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesperson, made the unexpected announcement about Ford, which is currently on a scheduled deployment in the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea on a scheduled deployment.
“In support of the President’s [Donald Trump] directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War [Pete Hegseth] has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR),” Parnell said in a statement. “The enhanced U.S. force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere. These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs.”
STATEMENT:
In support of the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S.…
Ford, the Navy’s newest carrier, currently has a full air wing embarked, which includes F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets, E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning and control planes, C-2A Greyhound Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, and MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters. The rest of its strike group includes fourArleigh Burke class destroyers – USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, and USS Forrest Sherman – and likely at least one attack submarine.
USNI News has reported that it is currently unclear which of Ford’s escorts may accompany it to the SOUTHCOM AOR, citing an unnamed source. The outlet noted that, at least as of Monday, the USS Forrest Sherman and USS Mitscher were operating independently in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, respectively
It is likely to take Ford at least a week to get back across the Mediterranean and then the Atlantic Ocean. Where exactly within the SOUTHCOM AOR the carrier and elements of its strike group might take up station remains to be seen.
Regardless, just pulling Ford from a scheduled deployment is a major development and follows an already substantial build-up of U.S. naval, air, and other assets in and around the Caribbean. As of last week, approximately 10,000 U.S. personnel, in total, were forward deployed in the region. Fox News has reported that the Navy is now set to see roughly 14 percent of its combat fleets operating within SOUTHCOM’s AOR.
🚨 Today, the U.S. announced its 7th strike in SOUTHCOM, destroying a boat affiliated with a Colombian cartel. The U.S. has massed 10,000+ troops in the region, with most in Puerto Rico and on 12 U.S. Navy ships. Also:
The Navy’s aircraft carrier strike groups, in general, are at the very top of the U.S. military’s power-projection assets, offering immense capability to exercise control over surrounding sea and airspace, as well as to launch strikes on targets on the water and ashore hundreds of miles away in any direction. They also provide huge floating bases that can be utilized in other ways, including as launch points for major special operations forces missions.
Even if only a portion of the Ford Carrier Strike Group ultimately deploys to the SOUTHCOM AOR, it would still represent a major boost in capabilities and operational capacity in the theater. There are already multiple Arleigh Burke class destroyers, as well as a Ticonderoga class cruiser, in the region that could also join with Ford and its escorts, including to help provide protection for the carrier. The overall threat picture is not high, though one still does exist. It is worth noting that carrier strike groups also train heavily before deployments to be a deeply integrated, singular fighting force, something that would not exist with warships already in the Caribbean. Still, this combination of naval forces would likely be more than enough to suffice in this scenario.
Altogether, Ford‘s impending arrival can only signal a new and substantial escalation in U.S. operations in the region. As noted, American forces are now regularly striking small boats alleged to be involved in drug smuggling. Just earlier today, Secretary of War Hegseth announced the ninth such strike known to have occured since the start of September. To date, seven of the strikes have targeted boats in the Caribbean, while two more have occured in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Overnight, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO), trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean Sea.
All of this also comes amid U.S. government efforts to put particular pressure on Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. Just yesterday, Air Force B-1 bombers conducted a show of force close to Venezuela’s coast. Last week, Air Force B-52 bombers, accompanied by U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, conducted a similar mission that officials later described as a “bomber attack demonstration.”
A B-52 and two F-35Bs seen flying together during the “bomber attack demonstration mission” last week. USAF
There has been a steady drumbeat of reports in recent weeks pointing to the growing possibility of direct action of some kind against Maduro’s regime. President Trump said on Wednesday that his administration was moving to target drug cartels on land, though he did not elaborate on what that might entail or where such operations might occur. He also confirmed last week that he had authorized the CIA to engage in covert operations against the Venezuelan government. Maduro has been under indictment in the United States since 2020 for drug trafficking and other charges, and American authorities currently have a $50 million bounty out for his capture.
While it will take some time for the elements of the Ford Carrier Strike Group to arrive in Latin American waters, that they are on their way already signals U.S. operations in the region are entering a new phase.
Emergency workers in Indonesia have rescued five people from the rubble of an Islamic school that collapsed during prayers. At least six people have been killed, 60 are still missing, and dozens more were injured at the Al Khoziny school in East Java.
DANI Dyer has quit Strictly Come Dancing days before the live shows after injuring her ankle in training.
Dani’s exit dropped just as the cast was putting the final polish on their first live dances.
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She had taken part in the launch show — filmed ahead of transmission — where her partnership with Nikita was revealed to viewers.
The plan was to hit the floor this weekend, but the fracture means she won’t make it to that first Saturday night.
It’s a tough blow for Dani and for Nikita, who was ready to kick off the series with a crowd-pleasing ballroom number.
Here’s what happened and where things stand with a replacement.
Why has Dani Dyer pulled out of Strictly 2025?
Dani suffered a nasty ankle injury during rehearsals and has been forced to withdraw on medical advice.
She fell during a Friday training session, her foot ballooned over the weekend, and a hospital scan confirmed a fracture, leaving doctors with no choice but to bench her for the series.
The timing is brutal, coming just days before the first live show after she’d already filmed the pre-recorded launch where her pro partner was revealed.
Dani Dyer chokes back tears and says ‘I’m so heartbroken’ as she quits social media after pulling out of Strictly
In an emotional update to fans, Dani explained that continuing would risk exacerbating the injury.
She’d been gearing up for a fast ballroom routine in week one, but admitted taking to the floor with a fracture simply wasn’t possible.
The Love Island winner said she was gutted to walk away so close to the live shows after throwing herself into training.
What did Dani say about quitting?
The TV favourite struggled to hold back tears as she confirmed her exit, calling it “heartbreaking” to bow out before she’d had the chance to perform live.
She also thanked viewers for their support and said she’d be cheering the remaining couples on from the sofa while she focused on healing up.
Dani was particularly disappointed not to get her shot with pro partner Nikita Kuzmin after their pairing was unveiled on the launch show, saying she’d hoped to make her mark on the ballroom this year.
What has Nikita Kuzmin said — and could Dani return?
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Nikita broke his silence with a heartfelt message to fans and to Dani, praising her effort in the training room and saying he was proud of how hard she’d worked before the injury struck.
He admitted he was “gutted” to lose his celebrity partner so close to week one, and hinted he’d love the chance to dance with Dani in the future when she’s fit again.
In a further update, Nikita suggested the door isn’t closed on Dani appearing down the line in some capacity — whether that’s a studio visit later in the run or even a comeback in a future series once she’s fully recovered.
Is Dani Dyer being replaced?
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Love Island winner Amber Davies is replacing Dani DyerCredit: Splash
The BBChas confirmed Amber Davies is stepping into the Strictly 2025 line-up after Dani Dyer’s shock withdrawal with a fractured ankle.
Amber won Love Island in 2017 and has since established a successful stage career, starring in West End hits such as 9 to 5: The Musical and Pretty Woman: The Musical.
Thrown straight in at the deep end, Amber will make her Strictly debut in the first live show on Saturday, September 27.
She and Nikita are set to perform a Waltz as they bid to get their scores on the board and settle those first-night nerves.
What this means for week one
The live show will go ahead with a new name slotted into the line-up if producers can finalise the replacement in time.
The incoming celebrity will need to fast-track rehearsals to match the rest of the cast, and their debut dance is likely to be a classic ballroom routine that can be polished quickly in the studio.
Expect a supportive welcome from the judges and some leeway from viewers as the new pairing finds its footing under pressure.
When is Strictly 2025 on?
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The pre-recorded launch has already aired, revealing the celebrity-pro pairings and giving fans a first look at the glamour.
The live shows start this Saturday night on BBC One, with catch-up available on BBC iPlayer shortly after transmission.
Week one traditionally has no elimination, so viewers will get to see every couple — including the late replacement — take to the floor before the first vote opens the following week.
MARK Wright was left red faced when pal Olly Murs pulled his shorts down while he was broadcasting live on the radio.
In the hilarious clip, which was caught on cameras and shared on Heart FM’s social media page, Olly decided to cause mischief during the pair’s Saturday morning breakfast show.
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Mark Wright appeared confused as co-host and pal Olly Murs ran behind him during their radio showCredit: Instagram
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After Olly yanked his shorts down, Mark finished his link in just his pantsCredit: Instagram
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He quickly pulled them back up and turned his mic offCredit: Instagram
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Olly couldn’t stop laughing after the prankCredit: Instagram
Mark was stood up presenting a link, when Olly decided to run around the desk and yank his mate’s shorts, leaving him standing there in his black briefs.
Trying not to break his composure, Mark continued with the segment, telling viewers how they could get tickets to watch Lewis Capaldi as Olly laughed in the background.
As soon as he could, he then hastily pulled his shorts back up and turned off his mic so viewers couldn’t hear him scolding his friend.
“What you doing?” Mark fumed. “What are you doing? I’m live on the radio, you dope!”
Olly still couldn’t contain his laughter, but held his arms up in the air and said: “I’m sorry!”
Olly then shared the video of the funny moment to his instagram page, with the caption: pulled “Wrighty’s pants down live on air. Sorry mate… couldn’t resist…”
Mark also shared the footage to his account too, proving he eventually saw the funny side.
And a host of the pair’s fans loved it too, sharing their enthusiasm in the comments.
“Now this is just too funny and no one’s saying they haven’t watched this more than once,” one wrote.
“Honestly, you two he needs to get you back. I love how unfazed he is,” another said.
“How he aint murdered you yet I don’t know,” laughed a third, while another commented that it was “lucky Mark wasn’t going commando.”
Even Billie Faiers, who starred with Mark on Towie, commented with a string of crying laughing emojis.
Mark and Olly have been firm friends for years and launched their own show together on Heart back in March.
They have enjoyed ribbing each other throughout their friendship.
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The pair have been pals for yearsCredit: Getty
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They began hosting together in March this yearCredit: Supplied
Olly said: “[Mark] was getting really jealous. He said: ‘Oh my God, Olly, you gotta stop looking good because I ain’t in the gym as much as I used to be!”
Disney-owned ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air indefinitely after the host caused controversy with remarks about Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live will be preempted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson said, declining to share any further details.
Prosecutors have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with Kirk’s murder. Robinson is accused of having shot and killed Kirk while the conservative activist was speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10. Robinson surrendered after a two-day manhunt.
Here’s what Kimmel said that led to outrage among conservatives, and what the ABC and others have said since:
What happened?
In his opening monologue on Monday, Kimmel, a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, accused “the MAGA gang” of trying to “score political points” from Kirk’s murder, saying they were quick to blame the left before much was known about the shooter’s motives. MAGA, or “Make America Great Again”, is the right-wing political movement that forms Trump’s base.
“The MAGA gang (is) desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said on his show. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving,” he added.
He continued to criticise Trump’s reaction to the shooting.
“This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish,” Kimmel added.
The remarks angered conservatives and triggered pushback from the Trump administration.
Brian Kilmeade can keep his job after saying we should kill the homeless, but Jimmy Kimmel gets suspended for this? pic.twitter.com/now6OJqQ8r
“What he said on Monday was he suggested the suspected shooter of Charlie Kirk was a pro-Trump Republican,” Al Jazeera’s Heidi Zhou-Castro noted, adding that Kimmel spoke before authorities released text messages showing the suspected killer was actually politically opposed to Kirk.
The next day, Robinson appeared in court, charged with aggravated murder. A precise motive remains unclear, but in court documents, prosecutors have cited his relatives telling them that he had veered to the left politically in recent years, and thought Kirk was full of hate.
In text messages to his flatmate and romantic partner after Kirk’s assassination, Robinson said: “I had enough of his hatred.” Then, in a separate message, he added: “Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Yet Kimmel returned to the topic on Tuesday night, where he accused Trump of “fanning the flames” by attacking people on the left. The Trump administration has said it will crack down on left-wing groups, whom it accuses of ratcheting up hate against conservatives. On Wednesday, Trump also said that he planned to designate the Antifa left-wing political movement a “terrorist” organisation.
Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), told right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson on Wednesday that he had a strong case for taking action against Kimmel, ABC and Disney. The FCC is responsible for granting licences to broadcasters such as the ABC and its affiliates.
“This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney,” Carr said. “They have a licence granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest.”
According to a Bloomberg report, quoting sources, Kimmel had planned to address the backlash on his show on Wednesday and rehearsed it that morning.
Carr also urged media companies that own local television stations to “push back”.
Signs read Jimmy Kimmel Live at the El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where the show is recorded for broadcast, on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles [Daniel Cole/Reuters]
What was the fallout?
Nexstar, which owns several ABC affiliates, appeared to follow that call, announcing it would drop Jimmy Kimmel Live from its affiliates even before ABC itself confirmed the suspension.
The company said on Wednesday it would not air the show “for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonight’s show”.
Kimmel’s remarks about Kirk were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse,” Nexstar added.
Carr expressed approval for Nexstar’s decision, thanking them “for doing the right thing”.
Nexstar, which describes itself as the country’s largest local television and media company, needs FCC approval for its $6.2bn deal to acquire smaller rival Tegna.
I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing.
Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community… https://t.co/Px5boYbqNR
Trump described it as “great news for America” shortly after ABC revealed Kimmel had been suspended.
“The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” Trump said.
He then criticised two other late-night hosts, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, who he described as “two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible.”
JD Vance, the US vice president, earlier this week urged Americans to turn in fellow citizens who mocked the assassination.
In July, after CBS cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Trump said: “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!”
CBS said the ‘Late Show’ was dropped for financial reasons but its timing, three days after Colbert blasted a settlement between Trump and CBS parent company Paramount, led two senators to question whether politics were at play.
“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to @ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/Vhj6DQSssu
Jimmy Kimmel is among the most recognisable figures in US late-night television. He has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC since 2003, making him one of the longest-serving talk-show hosts still on air.
Before breaking into television, Kimmel built his career in radio, working as a host in Seattle, Tampa, and Tucson before eventually moving to Los Angeles, where he transitioned into TV.
Over the years, Kimmel has become known for his monologues, celebrity interviews and viral comedy segments. He has also taken on a more political edge in recent years, frequently criticising Trump and weighing in on social debates.
Kimmel has also hosted Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, which won him an Emmy, and big live events like the Oscars.
In recent years, according to reports, Kimmel has scaled back his workload, often taking summers off from the show. His current contract with ABC is set to expire in less than a year, raising questions about whether he will extend his run or step away after two decades on air.
When his contract extension was announced, he joked, “After two decades at ABC, I am now looking forward to three years of what they call ‘quiet quitting.’”
Jimmy Kimmel poses in the press room with the award for host of a game show for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire [File: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP]
How popular was his show?
Late-night viewership, like much of traditional television, has been declining as audiences migrate to streaming platforms and social media.
According to Nielsen, a United States media audience measurement firm, Jimmy Kimmel Live drew an average of 1.57 million viewers per episode during the broadcast season that ended in May.
During the same period, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert led the field, averaging 1.9 million viewers.
The US Television Database showed Jimmy Kimmel Live attracting about 1.1 million viewers per episode – a 0.35 percent rating, down 11 percent from the previous month – based on audience measurements for the period ending August 31, 2025.
US President Joe Biden speaks with host Jimmy Kimmel during the taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live, as Biden visits the city for the ninth Summit of the Americas, in Los Angeles [File: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]
Mum Billie Van Der Walt and her husband Selwyn have given up their home in Manchester to see the world with their two young sons, Bligh, four, and two-year-old Rothko
Gemma Strong Lifestyle Writer, Almara Abgarian and Paige Oldfield
09:00, 14 Sep 2025
Billie Van Der Walt, 36, and her husband Selwyn, 35, quit the UK with their two sons, Bligh, four, and Rothko, two(Image: Jam Press/@WanderingVanDerWalts)
A mum has ditched life in the UK to “give her boys the world” instead of sticking them in a classroom.
Last year, Billie Van Der Walt and her husband Selwyn, 35, gave up their home to hit the road with their two sons, Bligh, four, and Rothko, two.
The couple, who hail from Atherton, Greater Manchester, are currently in Vietnam – and have already made trips to Abu Dhabi, South Korea and Thailand.
It has meant that there were no ‘back to school’ photos from Billie and Selwyn; instead the proud mum took a snap of her little lad Bligh casually posing in his sunglasses with a huge travelling backpack.
Bligh marking his ‘first day (not) at school’ (Image: Jam Press/@WanderingVanDerWalts)
Billie, 36, said: “There’s a little bit of guilt at him not having the milestone of the ‘picture in uniform behind the door’ and occasionally we worry that he’s missing out but we know we’re doing the right thing – giving him the world!
“Bligh is actually a year or two ahead of where a school would expect him to be – which is amazing for us because all of the learning we do is child-led.
“We’ve [also] saved hundreds on uniform, equipment etc – that’s a couple of weeks’ living costs here in Vietnam! We get to spend time together, not worrying about all the stresses of back to school.”
The family have already visited Vietnam, Abu Dhabi, South Korea and Thailand(Image: Jam Press/@WanderingVanDerWalts)
Taking to social media to share the reality behind her decision, the mum wrote: “Sad isn’t the right word, but I’m definitely in my feels today.
“We know we made the right decision and we’re SO lucky to be living this life… BUT there’s a small part of me that’s missed getting him his own little uniform, packing him a lunch he’ll love and giving him the biggest squeezes at the school gates.
“We know he’d smash it but he’s doing SO well and as someone pointed out to us last week, we LITERALLY are giving our boys the world, still, today’s a difficult one.”
Billie continued: “Sending so much love to everyone waving their whole hearts away this morning as they trot through the school gates and I can’t WAIT to see all of their beautiful first day of school pics all over my feed in a couple of hours time.”
According to Billie and Selwyn, before they left Manchester they were often struggling to pay bills and found it hard to fit “precious family time” into one weekend. And while they were happy and coping, they lived “paycheque-to-paycheque” and relied on credit cards for unexpected expenses.
Billie says she and her husband are ‘literally giving our boys the world’(Image: Jam Press/@WanderingVanDerWalts)
Selwyn worked long hours at a kitchen showroom while Billie stayed at home with the boys. Meanwhile, expensive nursery fees and the idea of being fined for taking their children out of school were all factors that pushed them to think differently.
Billie said: “In terms of the kids’ education, there are a few ways to describe it, but we definitely fall under worldschooling and unschooling.
“Unschooling sometimes gets a bad rap – people think it means doing nothing. But really, it’s just learning through life.”
The mum-of-two describes their approach to learning as a mix of museum visits and local experiences. While some days involve reading and workbooks, others are more spontaneous – like stopping to learn how sewer pipes are repaired or talking about history while visiting a landmark.
She said: “People have said, ‘You’re being selfish, the kids won’t even remember it,’ or ‘You’re ruining their education and future.’
Bligh and Rothko in South Korea(Image: Jam Press/@WanderingVanDerWalts)
“To the ones who say they won’t remember it, we always reply, ‘They won’t remember their first birthdays or Christmases either – but those moments still matter. These experiences are shaping who they are.
“I was truly happy before but now it’s as if my soul feels a little lighter. I didn’t even realise how much the weather in the UK affected my mood until we left and had more sunshine.”
The family say they have no plans to return to their old lives in the UK but hope to eventually settle somewhere with more sunshine and a slower pace. In the meantime, they have their next destination decided – China.
Shares of Constellation Brands (STZ -7.17%), the diversified alcohol company best known for selling Corona and Modelo beer in the U.S., were moving lower today after management slashed its full-year guidance in an early update.
As a result, the stock was down 6.7% as of 1:28 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Image source: Getty Images.
Constellation feels the immigration crackdown
In a press release this morning, the company slashed its adjusted earnings-per-share (EPS) forecast for the year from a range of $12.60 to $12.90, to a range of $11.30 to $11.60. It now sees organic net sales down anywhere from 4% to 6%, compared to a forecast of a 2% decline to a 1% gain, due to weakness in the beer category, which makes up the bulk of the business. The company’s fiscal year ends on Feb. 28, 2026.
CEO Bill Newlands said, “We continue to navigate a challenging macroeconomic environment that has dampened consumer demand and led to more volatile consumer purchasing behavior since our first quarter of fiscal 2026.”
He also noted that “high-end beer buy rates decelerated sequentially,” especially for Hispanic consumers, which seemed to be a consequence of the immigration crackdown.
Nonetheless, the company said it continued to gain market share, showing it’s outperforming its peers.
What’s next for Constellation Brands
Constellation and its peers are already struggling with a number of headwinds in the alcohol sector as young people are drinking less, tariffs are weighing on global sales, and craft brewers continue to challenge the major brewers.
The stock surged over a multiyear period a decade ago after it secured the rights to sell the Mexican brands Corona and Modelo (the latter being the top-selling beer in the U.S.) from what was then Anheuser-Busch, but it’s struggled since then. The guidance cut and challenges in the beer industry show investors shouldn’t expect a quick turnaround, even if the stock has attracted backing from Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, possibly a sign Buffett believes it offers good value.
Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Brands. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We were called at about 10am today, August 25, following reports a woman had been pulled from the sea opposite the Belvedere Hotel at Blackpool.
“Despite the best efforts of emergency services at the scene and at the hospital, the woman sadly later died.
“Following enquiries, the woman, in her thirties, has now been identified and her next of kin has been informed.
“Our thoughts are with her loved ones.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be prepared for HM Coroner.”
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Locals noted a massive emergency services presence on the Promenade
A SUSPECT has been arrested in connection with four bodies which were found mysteriously floating in the River Seine in Paris last week.
It comes after a horrified train passenger spotted a corpse in the water before police rushed to the scene and found another three bodies.
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The Seine in Choisy-le-Roi, on the outskirts of Paris (stock)
A 24-year-old Algerian man has now been taken into custody and accused of committing several murders.
The bodies were found in the French capital on August 13 in Choisy-le-Roi.
One of the victims died from strangulation while another had suffered “violent injuries”, the local prosecutor said on Saturday.
It is currently unclear how many of the four victims the man is accused of killing.
The first body which was reportedly submerged for a shorter time than the others was identified as a man aged around 40 who lived in the local area.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
The Chase is the latest ITV show to fall victim to scheduling changes as the UEFA Women’s Euros take priority on air. Viewers have already been left fuming over the soaps being pulled from screens
08:14, 08 Jul 2025Updated 08:14, 08 Jul 2025
Fans will not be able to watch The Chase tonight
Fans of The Chase are facing disappointment this week as the hit quiz show has been pulled from ITV’s schedule in yet another shake-up triggered by live sporting events.
Viewers who usually tune in to see Bradley Walsh put contestants through their paces at 5pm on ITV One will find their routine interrupted as the broadcaster clears space for coverage of the UEFA Women’s Euros.
On Monday, July 7, The Chase will be bumped from its regular slot to make way for live coverage of the Spain vs Belgium match, with the build-up starting at 4.15pm ahead of the 5pm kick-off.
The ITV quiz show has been bumped off for coverage of the UEFA Women’s Euros(Image: ITV)
However, fans won’t have to go completely without their fix of Chasers and cash-build rounds. A second celebrity special of the quiz will air on Sunday, July 12, at 5.30pm instead. The show is then expected to return to its usual 5pm weekday slot from Tuesday, July 8.
This isn’t the first time recently that The Chase has been booted off air. Just last month, the popular quiz was cancelled for the entire week to make way for coverage of Royal Ascot, leaving viewers frustrated.
And it’s not just quiz fans feeling the pinch. Soap lovers are also grappling with significant disruption as both Coronation Street and Emmerdale are hit by further schedule changes this week.
Coronation Street, which is typically on screens Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8pm and 9pm, will be absent from ITV on both Monday and Wednesday. Instead, fans will have to wait until 9pm on Thursday for their next visit to Weatherfield, while Friday’s episode will air as usual.
Meanwhile, Emmerdale will also be missing from the Monday and Wednesday line-up to make way for the Portugal vs Italy and France vs Wales games.
Over on the BBC, EastEnders fans are no strangers to disruption either, having endured an eight-day absence from screens between July 1 and July 9 thanks to Wimbledon coverage.
This comes after soap fans hit out at the disruption to their usual fix of Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and EastEnders. One angry viewer fumed: “Why have we no Emmerdale or Corrie, cause women’s football on ITV? Why can’t the football move to ITV2 or ITVX? Stupid planning. The soaps must have much higher viewers than women’s football, a lot of people unhappy.”
Another ranted: “This is actually a full-on joke. It’s about time ITV came up with a solution to suit all!! Some of us rely on soaps for routine and they are the only happy part of our day! YOU HAVE ITVX AND SEVERAL OTHER CHANNELS! Sort it out ITV!!”
A third fan added: “This annoys me so much. I hate soap schedule changes due to football. Watching soaps at night makes my nights better as it gives me escapism from my daily life.”
I used to find airports stressful. I mean, I still do – I’m the sort of person who glides mindlessly through security only to be swiftly apprehended (“Er, madam, why is there a litre of water and four bottles of sun cream in your bag?”). But I find them a little less stressful these days. I put it down to the fact that I mostly travel alone. I can arrive as early or as late as I want, drink as many overpriced coffees as I fancy and not go into total unadulterated panic mode when I grossly underestimate the distance to the gate. Because this is my holiday – and my holiday only!
Travelling solo is a pleasure, a tonic, and occasionally a character-building experience (more on that later …). I started doing it by accident. I was 29 when a friend couldn’t make a trip to Paris at the last minute. I went anyway, and also decided to make my life 500% harder by only speaking French, which I hadn’t done since I’d left university several years earlier. Having this goal also distracted me from the fact that I was visiting museums, galleries and restaurants alone, something that can seem almost taboo in a world set up for couples, pairs and groups.
A snap from Hannah’s solo trip to Marseille. Photograph: Hannah J Davies
Luckily, people definitely care less in Europe. I have floated around bars by myself in Barcelona; sampled the best Korean food for onethat Toulouse had to offer; gone to the beach solo in Marseille; and almost caused security incidents on various European trains by trailing an illegally large suitcase behind me.
Over the past few years, it has become my thing. The people I used to go on holiday with were getting married, having kids or moving away. I didn’t want to wait for anyone to be free, so I started booking more solo jaunts, figuring that long-term financial stability was overrated anyway, and maybe a little incompatible with the freelance life I had chosen. It felt like a good mix of joyful and nihilistic.
There are challenges, of course, like the time that I had a heinous bout of food poisoning in Montreal, and found myself alternating between throwing up and sobbing (the French did at least help with the cleanup operation). But, travelling by myself is ultimately very freeing. I get to decide my timetable (read: start my days after noon), or maybe even extend my trip.
If I fancy some social time I might book into an art class or go to a language exchange (usually free, if you buy a drink at the bar it’s hosted in). But other than that, I quite like drifting – and starting one of the many books I carry around at home but never read.
I love a group trip, but travelling solo makes me pause, think, and stop nattering for a minute. I’m grateful for the peace – and for Duolingo.
The two men were both due to take part in Soccer Aid tomorrow, but it was revealed exclusively by The Sun yesterday that the I’m A Celeb champ had pull out due to injury.
However, before Sam was forced to quit, he was he was pictured training with Louis this week at Soccer Aid HQ in Tring, Herts, where the England and Rest of the World teams have been preparing for the match.
read more on Sam Thompson
After looking at the pictures in detail, a body language expert believes that Louis displayed a “playground mentality” towards Sam on the pitch.
Expert Judi James said that while Sam was smiling and happy, and get along with the other players, One Direction star Louis seemed “glum” and “separate”.
She told The Mail: ‘There seems to be more of a playground dynamic growing from the body language here.
“Sam seems to be very much part of the core group, sitting central and being the center of their attention while Louis walks by looking glum at times and rather peripheral to the social interaction.
“As the guys club around Sam, who looks deep in the discussion, Louis seems to glance over with a rather hard-looking stare.
“His eye direction might not be exclusively aimed at Sam, but he does seem to be checking the group out with an unsmiling facial expression.”
Louis Tomlinson admits feeling nervous ahead of Soccer Aid as Zara’s ex Sam Thompson awkwardly hovers behind him
Continuing she said: “When the two men meet on the pitch there is an unsmiling, reflective-looking gaze from Louis.
“This shouldn’t be over-dramatized into any form of specifically directed ‘hard stare’ as his eye direction does not seem to be aimed directly at Sam, but there could be seen to be a hint of some kind of ‘atmosphere’ brewing here.
“With his hands on his hips, Louis does look really down and perhaps rather uncomfortable.”
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The expert said that Louis appeared to ‘distance’ himself from his other team matesCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
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Sam pulled out of Soccer Aid yesterdayCredit: PA
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Sam completed his Match Ball Mission for Soccer Aid Unicef, running and cycling from Stamford Bridge in London to Old Trafford in ManchesterCredit: Splash
A phalanx of police officers on horseback surround a person who has been knocked to the ground and repeatedly pummeled with batons.
An Australian TV news reporter winces in pain as she’s shot by a rubber bullet while wrapping up a live broadcast.
A crowd milling above the 101 Freeway lobs rocks and chunks of concrete down on California Highway Patrol officers detaining protesters, prompting a volley of flash-bang grenades.
Those incidents and others captured on video have gone viral in recent days as immigration protests reached a boiling point in Los Angeles.
Leaders at the LAPD and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have long maintained that they have no role in civil immigration enforcement. And yet the region’s two largest police agencies are suddenly on the front lines of the Trump administration’s crackdown, clashing in the street with demonstrators — most peaceful and some seemingly intent on causing mayhem.
Waymo taxis burn on Los Angeles Street as thousands protest ICE immigration raids throughout the city.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell condemned the actions of those carrying out the “disgusting” violence.
“This thing has gotten out of control,” McDonnell said at a news conference Sunday when asked whether he supported President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops. After news broke Monday that the president was sending hundreds of Marines to the city, McDonnell said that without “clear coordination,” adding more soldiers to the mix creates “a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city.”
Sheriff Robert Luna told The Times that deputies are prepared to support federal agents in certain circumstances — even as the department maintains its official policy of not assisting with immigration operations.
“They start getting attacked and they call and ask us for help, we’re going to respond,” Luna said.
Both publicly and behind the scenes, the situation has led to tensions with Los Angeles officials who have questioned whether local law enforcement is crossing the line with aggressive crowd control tactics — or being put in a lose-lose situation by Trump, who has cast blame on the LAPD chief and others for not doing enough.
“The federal government has put everybody in the city, and law enforcement in particular, in a really messed up situation,” said City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “They started a riot, and then they said, ‘Well, you can’t handle the riot, so we’re sending in the military.’”
Los Angeles police officers push back protesters near a federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Monday.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
The LAPD said in a statement that officers made a combined 50 arrests on Saturday and Sunday, mostly for failure to obey a dispersal order. They also arrested a man who allegedly rammed a motorcycle into a skirmish line of officers, and another for attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail.
Five officers were injured while policing the protests, the department said, while five police horses also suffered minor injuries. The department said officers fired more than 600 so-called less lethal rounds to quell hostile crowds.
Although the LAPD has changed the way it handles protests in recent years — moving away from some of the heavy-handed tactics that drew widespread criticism in the past — the city still pays out millions for crowd control-related lawsuits every year.
As of Monday, Internal Affairs had opened investigations into seven complaints of officer misconduct, including the shooting of the Australian TV news reporter, said LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Rimkunas, who runs the department’s professional standards bureau.
Additionally, he said, the department’s Force Investigations Division, which reviews all serious uses of force, was investigating two incidents “because of possible significant injury,” including one incident in which a protester was struck in the head with a rubber bullet.
“We’re continuing to review video and monitor the situation,” he said.
The high-profile incidents caught on video — combined with mixed messaging by L.A. officials — have created opportunities for the White House to control the narrative.
On Saturday, Mayor Karen Bass told reporters that the protests were under control, while the LAPD chief publicly lamented that his department was overwhelmed by the outbursts of violence. Trump seized on those comments, writing in a post on Truth Social that the situation in Los Angeles was “looking really bad.”
“Jim McDonnell, the highly respected LAPD Chief, just stated that the protesters are getting very much more aggressive, and that he would ‘have to reassess the situation,’ as it pertains to bringing in the troops,” Trump wrote on the right-wing social media platform shortly after midnight on Monday. “He should, RIGHT NOW!!! Don’t let these thugs get away with this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
Protesters clash with police downtown near the VA Outpatient Clinic on Sunday in Los Angeles.
(Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
On the streets over the weekend, local cops often found themselves playing defense while confronting unruly crowds.
Cmdr. Oscar Barragan in the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Operations Division described the scene Sunday when his unit responded to a protest near a Home Depot in Panorama. While rumors of a raid targeting migrant workers at the store spread on social media, Barragan said the real issue was a federal immigration office nearby that was being used as a staging area.
“Social media took over and a false narrative started growing and it just grew out of control,” he said.
Barragan said there were “people launching mortars at us and rocks and things” as the scrum moved west toward the 710 Freeway and the Compton border. He said some people put nails and cinder blocks in the street trying to block the police response.
“It got pretty hairy,” Barragan said. “They just kept launching every type of firework you can imagine and it was consistent.”
He said local law enforcement tolerates protests — but has to step up to restore order when things start to get out of hand.
“The sheriff has made it clear that we allow the peaceful protests to occur, but once violence occurs we’re not gonna tolerate it,” he said.
On Sunday outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, a group of roughly 100 protesters spent hours chiding California National Guard members and Department of Homeland Security officers near the entrance to the immigration jail, calling them “Nazis” and urging them to defy orders and defend the public instead of a building.
At one point, a Homeland Security officer approached one of the more vocal demonstrators and said he “didn’t want a repeat” of Saturday’s violence, urging protesters to stay off federal property and clear a path for any vehicles that needed to enter. But around 1 p.m. on Sunday, guardsmen with riot shields moved to the front of the law enforcement phalanx on Alameda and charged into the protest crowd, screaming “push” as they rammed into people. They launched tear gas canisters and smoke grenades into the street, leaving a toxic cloud in the air.
A protester is hurt near the 101 Freeway in clashes with law enforcement in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
It left an enraged crowd of protesters, who had otherwise been peaceful all morning, for the LAPD to contend with.
After National Guard troops and Homeland Security officers retreated to the loading dock, LAPD officers found themselves in an hours-long back and forth with protesters on Alameda. Officers used batons, less lethal launchers and tear gas to slowly force the crowd of hundreds back toward Temple Street, with limited success.
The LAPD repeatedly issued dispersal orders from a helicopter and a patrol car loudspeaker. Some members of the crowd hurled water bottles and glass bottles at officers, and the windshield of a department vehicle shattered after it was struck by a projectile.
One officer grabbed a sign from a protester who was standing near a skirmish line, broke it in half and then swung a baton into the demonstrator’s legs. Another officer was seen by a Times reporter repeatedly raising his launcher and aiming at the heads of demonstrators.
In one particularly wild moment, two people riding motorcycles inched their way to the front of the protest crowd, revving their engines and drawing cheers. At some point, they got close to the LAPD’s skirmish line and skidded out.
Both were handcuffed and led away, their feet dragging across asphalt covered in shattered glass and spent rubber bullets. LAPD later alleged at least one of the motorcyclists rammed officers.
The tensions spilled into Monday.
City workers repair broken windows on Spring Street at Police Headquarters.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
At police headquarters, where city workers were spotted boarding up the ground-level windows, a row of officers in riot gear began assembling outside. With some government offices urging their employees to work from home, the surrounding streets were emptier than usual. Those who came downtown kept their heads down as they hustled past the now-ubiquitous “F— ICE” graffiti.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday afternoon that Trump had ordered another 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, doubling the previous total. In response, the governor said, he had worked with other law enforcement agencies on a “surge” of an additional 800 state and local law enforcement officers “to ensure the safety of our LA communities.”
McDonnell said at a news conference that the department was seeking to strike a balance between “dealing with civil unrest on the streets, [while] at the same time trying to protect peaceful protests.”
Some community leaders were left deeply unsatisfied with the police response.
Eddie Anderson, a pastor at McCarty Memorial Christian Church in Jefferson Park, argued that the LAPD was effectively doing the work of protecting Trump’s immigration agents.
“We asked them to pick a side: Are they going to pick the side of the federal government, which is trying to rip apart families?” Anderson said. “Donald Trump would like nothing more than for Angelenos to resort to violence to try to fight the federal government, because his whole scheme is to try to show L.A. is a lawless place.”
Times staff writers David Zahniser and Matthew Ormseth contributed to this report.
THERE was heartbreak for King Charles as his star filly was among a huge number of horses removed from the Epsom Oaks.
Top trainer William Haggas scratched Charles and Camilla’s Purple Rainbow from the year’s biggest race.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla won’t have a runner to cheer home in the Epsom Oaks – after their star filly was among a huge number pulled from the iconic raceCredit: PA
Bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, Purple Rainbow had one win from three runs in the famous Royal silks.
But it looks like she is destined for handicaps rather than the elite level after finishing fourth on her return at Ascot last month.
Haggas pulled the plug on her Oaks chances during Tuesday morning’s scratching stage.
A mass of runners – 34 in all – were axed from the June 6 Group 1 over 1m4f, worth just shy of £120,000 to the winner.
Aidan O’Brien, who has won three of the past five Oaks, was among the big names removing a number of his entries.
Among the more notable of his was 14-1 chance Ballet Slippers.
The daughter of Dubawi, who finished third to current Oaks favourite Desert Flower when last seen in October, is yet to run this season.
Group 3 winner Exactly, who had been as short as 20-1, was another pulled, along with fellow 20-1 chance Dreamy.
O’Brien had previously said after her Group 3 win over a mile at the Curragh last August that he hoped she was an Oaks filly.
While Smoken, who was sent off 5-2 favourite for the Musidora at York last week before finishing a tailed-off last, was axed by Ralph Beckett.
The winner of that race, Whirl, kept her place in O’Brien’s squad.
His Cheshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk looks the best chance of victory being as short as 7-2.
While O’Brien’s other big Coolmore chance Giselle is into 5s.
Charlie Appleby’s 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower kept her place in the race, with bookies cutting her to as short as 2-1 favourite.
While Owen Burrows’ Listed Newmarket winner Falakeyah – one of just 14 left in the race – was cut to 5s.
Epsom Oaks runners
Desert Flower Falakeyah Giselle Go Go Boots Island Hopping Janey Mackers January Lake Victoria Minnie Hauk Qilin Queen Revoir Trad Jazz Wemightakedlongway Whirl
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