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A deadly Coronation Street blaze will reportedly tear through Roy’s Rolls soon, causing the iconic set to burn down with the stunt apparently leaving a beloved character in danger

There could be a shocking blaze on Coronation Street very soon, with a famous part of the set thought to be destroyed.

Reports claim Roy’s Rolls, the iconic café owned by Roy Cropper, will be burned down in a cruel arson attack in upcoming scenes. Not only that but as the blaze spreads, it could leave poor Roy in serious danger.

It’s claimed Roy will be left fighting for his life in the incident. with the building said to be be burnt down. As the battle to save Roy commences, the legend will apparently be rushed to hospital.

But who would want to target Roy or his business, and will Roy be okay? According to sources, Roy will be seen trapped in the blaze in scenes that will air onscreen in April.

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According to The Sun, it sparks questions about whether Roy was targeted and why the café was set alight. A source told the publication: “Roy’s Rolls is targeted by a mystery fires tarter who breaks in and douses the cafe with petrol whilst Roy sleeps upstairs in his flat.

“When residents spot smoke coming out of the windows, emergency services are called. As the fire rages and people realise Roy is trapped inside the race is on to get him out alive.

“Will Roy be rescued in time, and what about his precious collection of railway memorabilia and memories of Hayley? Is this the end of Roy’s Rolls as we know it, and who wanted to burn down the iconic cafe?”

The Mirror has reached out to an ITV spokesperson for comment. It comes ahead of a murder plot taking place in April that sees one of five villains killed off. Jodie Ramsey, Megan Walsh, Carl Webster, Theo Silverton and Maggie Driscoll are all at risk.

The death plot will then spark a whodunnit before fans find out who has killed them and why. Some fans already think they have worked out who the killer is and who the victim will be.

It’s left fans fearing a popular character is about to depart the show in the plot. They think Eva Price, who only came back to the show in October last year, could bow out in a killer twist.

With teacher Megan exposed for grooming young student Will for sex, Will’s stepmother Eva Price vowed she would pay for her crimes. Now, fans have wondered if Eva will kill Megan as she takes revenge, but would Eva really turn killer?

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

From early next week, a change in wind direction will bring lower temperatures.

A north-westerly wind will drag in some colder air with temperatures on Monday actually falling below average in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It will also temporarily turn more unsettled with an area of low pressure tracking across Scotland into Tuesday.

This will bring some showers which could turn a little wintry over the higher ground of Scotland, northern England and Wales.

Feeling chilly early next week too with temperatures ranging from 6C in northern Scotland to 13C in south-east England.

Looking further ahead, there are signs that high pressure will return to bring the settled weather back for the start of the Easter school holidays.

You can stay up to date with the details of that on our monthly outlook.

Lavenham in Suffolk is home to over 300 preserved Tudor houses and charming timber-framed buildings – and was used as the filming location for Godric’s Hollow in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Tucked away in Suffolk lies a remarkably well-preserved village, famed for its collection of over 300 Tudor houses, instantly recognisable by their timber-framed design.

During England’s Tudor period, this very village was among the country’s most affluent areas, but today it serves as a living museum for history enthusiasts and tourists seeking a glimpse into the past.

Lavenham is the quintessential ‘higgledy-piggledy village’, boasting a variety of architectural styles, but it’s the Tudor buildings that truly set it apart.

So much so, that hundreds of its structures are listed and thus protected to maintain their original appearance, whilst the National Trust owns some of its most significant sites, renowned for their historical importance within the village.

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The area’s grandiose atmosphere is rooted in the village’s wool trade history, as it gained fame for producing high-quality lavender blue broadcloth.

However, when the trade declined in the 17th century, there were no attempts to rebuild; instead, efforts were focused on preserving what already existed.

Historic Buildings

Among these stunning structures stands a 15th-century Tudor building located on Main Street, known as the Crooked House.

This particular spot inspired the well-known nursery rhyme There Was A Crooked Man, and much like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, its upper section exhibits a noticeable tilt.

Dating back to 1395, this stunning edifice, now adorned in a vibrant orange hue, is owned by two ‘crooked men’, husbands Alex and Oli.

Visitors are invited to explore the interior and receive a warm greeting from its owners, complete with a guided tour of its captivating rooms.

In addition, the village is home to the Lavenham Guildhall, currently under the stewardship of the National Trust, and serves as a showcase for local history.

This bewitching structure sits at the very heart of the village and has functioned as a community hub throughout its 500-year existence, assuming new roles and changing hands over time.

A recent guest shared on TripAdvisor: “Was very impressed with our visit to this NT property. Instead of being stuffed with display cases full of historic relics, the approach here is to set up the Guildhall how it would have been used through its history and have minimal information boards and artefacts that support and demonstrate that approach.

“But the real stars here are the volunteer guides, and all three who were working the different rooms at the time we visited had fantastic knowledge that could bring the building to life.”

Harry Potter

Already famous in its own right, Lavenham elevated its status when it featured on the silver screen as the filming location for Godric’s Hollow in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.

The idyllic setting portrayed the location of Harry’s parents’ graves in the film. In a poignant and memorable scene in the movie, he and Hermione visit the village on Christmas Eve.

De Vere House served as the exterior of the Potters’ ruined home, which was later modified for the screen using computer-generated imagery. The Guildhall was also utilised, depicted as the abandoned house sitting in the backdrop of the village.

The already serene village gained an added sense of tranquillity when it was blanketed by a thin layer of snow as the two characters strolled down its Main Street.

However, it is widely understood that the Hollywood actors themselves did not actually set foot in Lavenham and were instead superimposed onto the village’s backdrop after filming in a studio.

Just like regular consumers at the gas station, airlines refueling in Los Angeles are being forced to adjust to higher prices at the pump.

Jet fuel prices have shot up, and experts say airfares are following suit.

With a busy summer travel season approaching, airlines are starting to pass the costs on to passengers through higher fares and fees.

“Whenever there’s a surge in oil prices, the airlines end up passing that to the consumers immediately,” said Diego Bufquin, director of hospitality management and entrepreneurship at Tulane University. “It doesn’t take a long time.”

Airlines have been struggling around the world since the U.S. and Israel began bombing Iran late last month. Flights have to take longer paths around war zones, and higher fuel costs eat into their already razor-thin profit margins.

Jet fuel prices account for about a third of airlines’ operating costs, so they “cannot afford to wait to upcharge their customers,” Bufquin said.

United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby told CNBC that the spike in fuel prices will have a “meaningful” impact on the airline’s financial results.

Some airlines outside the U.S. have already added fuel surcharges to their ticket fees. Air India announced a phased increase in fuel surcharges on domestic and international routes last week. Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific announced it would charge extra on all fares to cover fuel costs starting Wednesday.

Airlines topping up at LAX and other regional airports are already being hit. Jet fuel prices in Los Angeles have jumped more than 40% since the conflict in the Middle East started.

Just like the price of gas for cars, jet fuel often costs considerably more in California than in other states.

California is largely detached from the rest of the fuel distribution system. With limited pipeline connectivity, it relies more on sea delivery from other states and countries. California also has higher taxes on jet fuel than many other states.

National average gas prices reached $3.71 per gallon on Tuesday, according to AAA. In California, the average Tuesday was $5.52 per gallon.

Still, spring and summer demand is likely to remain strong even if prices rise, said Alan Fyall, an associate dean of the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

“Fares are going up, but the demand is still there domestically,” Fyall said. “The only thing that really dampens demand is economic recession.”

Indeed, consumers have been booking earlier than usual to lock in lower prices for their summer travel, airlines said. Delta and American Airlines had some of their strongest-ever single-day sales in March.

“When prices did spike, we saw a spike in demand,” Alaska Airlines Inc. Chief Executive Ben Minicucci said this week, according to Bloomberg. “I think people got this initial, ‘Wow, if this thing is going to go crazy, I better book my fare now before fares go up.’”

Airlines and other industries will face tougher conditions if fuel prices remain high for a prolonged period, he added.

Airfares were already on the rise, according to the Consumer Price Index, which found that the airline fares index rose 1.4% in February compared to last year.

The impact will vary by airline, said Fyall. Many airlines hedge their fuel to negotiate a fixed price, and stock up on fuel while it’s less expensive.

“The airlines that manage their fuel-buying process very well, that hedge very well, tend to be able to offset the price charges quite well,” Fyall said.

Jet fuel prices are even more sensitive to economic forces than auto fuel prices, experts said.

It’s not yet clear if Californians will have to pay significantly higher airfares than their neighbors, but some in-state flight routes could become temporarily unavailable, according to Bufquin. As airlines look to save money, they could cut certain shorter, less profitable routes.

“Budget airlines like Spirit and flights from smaller California hubs like Burbank, San José and Fresno are at risk of being canceled,” Bufquin said.

MORGAN Freeman will become the voice of the London Underground this week.  

The Hollywood legend’s famous tones will ring out at Baker Street tube today and tomorrow.

The event is part of his big money advertising deal with Warburtons bread.

Instead of the announcer’s usual warning to “mind the gap”, Freeman will urge them to “mind the bap”.  

The bakery firm’s CEO, Jonathan Warburton said: “We wanted to share a bit of that fun with Londoners on their daily commute and hopefully raise a few smiles.  

“As you can probably tell, we also love a good bread pun, so Baker Street was a match made in heaven, and hearing a voice as legendary as Morgan Freeman’s booming to travellers on the platform is certainly a recipe for a memorable day.” 

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Freeman joined the likes of Robert De Niro, Olivia Colman and George Clooney when he signed up as the face of Warburtons last month.  

He admitted at the time he had never tried a crumpet before.  

New research by Warburtons reveals that 71 per cent of Brits consider the holey bun a cornerstone of UK culture.  

The firm will also transform signage at Baker Street tube into giant crumpets to celebrate Freeman’s turn on the tannoy. 

THE UK isn’t short of coastal paths but a new 2,700-mile path will become the longest of its kind in the country and even the world.

The King Charles III England Coast Path will give Brits and tourists access to the country’s entire coastline for the first time.

Natural England will celebrate the path’s official opening next week, which has been in the works for 16 years.

Around 80 per cent of the path is already open, with the final sections due to open by spring next year.

When the path is completed, it will be the longest managed coastal path in the world and eventually link with the 870-mile Wales Coast Path and 3,260 miles of the Scottish coast.

The path was named to commemorate King Charles III’s Coronation.

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The new path means that walkers and tourists will be able to see and access hidden coves that were not previously accessible.

For example, new bridges and steps have been introduced in parts of the path.

On the Isle of Wight, new steps to a ‘secret beach’ have been built.

The steps are part of a 2.8-mile route that starts at Gurnard Luck before heading through Lynda’s Woods and reaching the beach dubbed locally as a secret spot.

On the National Trails’ website, you can see which parts of the path are open near you and also if there are any current issues that mean the path is temporarily inaccessible, for example, due to storm damage.

The site has different pages for different parts of the route, and once you go into a page, you will be able to see a map with the route on it.

You can also use filters to find nearby hotels and B&Bs as well as attractions and places to grab a bite to eat.

For example, looking at the South East coast page and map, you can walk directly along the coast through Dover, and if you want to explore more of the area, then head to Western Heights – an English Heritage fortification site that dates back to the Napoleonic Wars, which is free to visit.

Alternatively, in the South West, head on to part of the South West Coastal Path through Outer Hope, which is near Salcombe.

You could stay at The Cottage Hotel and Restaurant with sea-view rooms and cream teas out on the terrace.

The hotel sits on the cliffs just above the harbour beach in Hope Cove, so you can get to the sand and sea within a few minutes.

The map of the coastal path also highlights holiday parks, ideal for summer camping trips.

For example, in Devon near Exmouth, you can head to Cofton Holidays which has lodges, cottages, caravans and a campsite.

The holiday park runs a number of events and shows and has a high ropes course, an indoor pool and an arcade and games room.

The path ventures through popular seaside towns too, such as St Ives in Cornwall.

Other highlights on the 2,700-mile path include the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent and the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.

If you are looking for a day walk that is already fully open, you could venture from Shoreham-by-Sea to Brighton.

Setting off from Shoreham-by-Sea, you will walk next to the River Adur estuary where you can spot birds before heading past the old lighthouse in Shoreham Harbour.

The trail then follows on to Hove Esplanade to Brighton, where you can see the remains of West Pier.

Finally, in Brighton, you can enjoy the beach, pier and bustling town.

Or you could travel up north, to walk to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, which was once a vital port for shipping grain.

You can learn more about the town in the Newbiggin Maritime Centre, and in the town, there are a number of shops and places to grab a bite to eat.

And if you happen to be there in April, make sure to catch the Kite Festival with live music gigs, film showings and of course, lots of colourful kites taking to the skies.

In other UK travel news, these are the beautiful UK hiking trails that have delicious tea rooms and beautiful castles along the way.

Plus, these are the most beautiful walks in the UK.

The 68-team bracket for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is set. Matchup starting times and broadcast information will be announced later on Sunday.

The men’s First Four begins Tuesday and first-round games begin on Thursday.

First Four

Tuesday-Wednesday (at Dayton, Ohio)
No. 11 Texas (18-14) vs. No. 11 North Carolina State (20-13)
No. 11 Miami (Ohio) (31-1) vs. No. 11 Southern Methodist (20-13)
No. 16 Maryland Baltimore County (24-8) vs. Howard (23-10)
No. 16 Prairie View A&M (18-17) vs. No. 16 Lehigh (18-16)

East Region

FIRST ROUND
Thursday (at Greenville, S.C.)
No. 1 Duke (32-2) vs. No. 16 Siena (23-11)
No. 8, Ohio State (21-12) vs. No. 9 Texas Christian (22-11)
Friday (at San Diego)
No. 5 St. John’s (28-6) vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa (23-12)
No. 4 Kansas (23-10) vs. No. 13 California Baptist (25-8)
Thursday (at Buffalo)
No. 6 Louisville (23-10) vs. No. 11 South Florida (25-8)
No. 3 Michigan State (25-7) vs. No. 14 North Dakota State (27-7)
Friday (at Philadelphia)
No. 7 UCLA (23-11) vs. No. 10 Central Florida (21-11)
No. 2 Connecticut (29-5) vs. No. 15 Furman (22-12)

West Region

FIRST ROUND
Friday (at San Diego)
No. 1 Arizona (32-2) vs. Long Island University (24-10)
No. 8 Villanova (24-8) vs. No. 9 Utah State (25-8)
Thursday (at Portland)
No. 5 Wisconsin (24-10) vs. No. 12 High Point (30-4)
No. 4 Arkansas (26-8) vs. No. 13 Hawaii (24-8)
No. 6 Brigham Young (23-11) No. 11 Texas / North Carolina State
No. 3 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (21-13)
Friday (at St. Louis)
No. 7 Miami (25-8) vs. No. 10 Missouri (20-12)
No. 2 Purdue (27-8) vs. No. 15 Queens (21-13)

Midwest Region

FIRST ROUND
Thursday (at Buffalo)
No. 1 Michigan (31-3) vs. No. 16 Maryland Baltimore County / Howard
No. 8 Georgia (22-10) vs. No. 9 Saint Louis (28-5)
Friday (at Tampa)
No. 5 Texas Tech (22-10) vs. No 12 Akron (29-5)
No. 4 Alabama (23-9) vs. No. 13 Hofstra (24-10)
Friday (at Philadelphia)
No. 6 Tennessee (22-11) vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio) / Southern Methodist
No. 3 Virginia (29-5) vs. No. 14 Wright State (23-11)
Friday (at St. Louis)
No. 7 Kentucky (21-13) vs. No. 10 Santa Clara (26-8)
No. 2 Iowa State (27-7) vs. No. 15 Tennessee State (23-9)

South Region

FIRST ROUND
Friday (at Tampa)
No. 1 Florida (26-7) vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M / Lehigh
No. 8 Clemson (24-10) vs. Iowa (21-12)
Thursday (at Oklahoma City)
No. 5 Vanderbilt (26-8) vs. No. 12 McNeese (28-5)
No. 4 Nebraska (26-6) vs. No. 13 Troy (22-11)
Thursday (at Greenville, S.C.)
No. 6 North Carolina (24-8) vs. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth (27-7)
No. 3 Illinois (24-8) vs. No. 14 Pennsylvania (18-11)
Thursday (at Oklahoma City)
No. 7 Saint Mary’s (27-5) No. 10 Texas A&M (21-11)
No. 2 Houston (28-6) vs. Idaho (21-14)

BBC Sport has contacted the Argentine FA for comment.

Uefa said: “Argentina made a counter suggestion to play the game after the World Cup but, as Spain has no available dates, that option had to be ruled out.”

The Spanish FA said, external it had “worked intensively” to get the game on in any format possible, whether in Spain or at a neutral venue.

It said: “Spain was prepared to play as it has always been stated. They set no conditions.

“Spain, together with Uefa, has offered all possibilities.”

On Saturday the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grands Prix due to be held in April were cancelled.

Formula 1 said it is not safe to stage the races because of the conflict across the region.

The Finalissima, which is staged every four years and is organised by Uefa and the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), was last won by Argentina at Wembley in 2022.

Despite morale-sapping staff layoffs, bizarre executive orders and a 43-day federal government shutdown last fall, the grandeur and serenity of national parks in California remain irresistible to outdoors lovers looking to unwind.

The nine national parks in the Golden State — including Yosemite, Death Valley and Joshua Tree — attracted nearly 12 million recreational visits in 2025, according to statistics from the National Park Service.

That’s up more than 800,000 visits from 2024 and up more than 300,000 from the previous record set in 2019, according to the data, which stretches back to 1979.

Nationally, visits were high, at 323 million, but down a couple of percentage points from the record set in 2024, according to a park service press release.

“America’s national parks continue to be places where people come to experience our country’s history, landscapes and shared heritage,” said Jessica Bowron, acting director of the NPS.

“We are committed to keeping parks open, accessible and well-managed so visitors can safely enjoy these extraordinary places today and for generations to come,” Bowron added.

President Trump’s critics beg to differ.

Since Trump resumed office in January 2025, his administration has slashed the NPS workforce by nearly a quarter, buying out or laying off hundreds of rangers, maintenance workers, scientists and administrative staff across the country.

And last year, as part of his war on “woke,” Trump instructed the park service to scrub all signs and presentations of language he would deem negative, unpatriotic or smacking of “improper partisan ideology.”

He also ordered administrators to remove any content that “inappropriately disparages Americans” living or dead, and replace it with language that celebrates the nation’s greatness.

That gets tricky at places such as Manzanar National Historic Site in the high desert of eastern California — one of 10 camps where the U.S. government imprisoned more than 120,000 Japanese American civilians during World War II.

It’s also hard to dance around disparaging details at Fort Sumter National Monument, where Confederates fired the first shots of the Civil War; Ford’s Theater National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated; and Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park, which commemorates the assassination of the country’s best known civil rights leader.

“This administration is actively erasing the history, science and culture that our national parks protect,” said Emily Douce, deputy vice president for government affairs for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Assn.

Douce argued that morale among staff at the parks — a string of 63 federally protected natural wonders often described as “America’s best idea” — has never been lower.

But the fact that employees still showed up, including without pay during last year’s federal government shutdown, demonstrates their commitment to keeping the beloved parks flourishing.

“The enduring popularity of America’s national parks is not surprising,” Douce added. “What’s shocking is this administration’s relentless attacks on these places and their caretakers, which threatens their future.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The National Park Service is routinely ranked among the most admired branches of the large and sprawling federal government. Even Americans who have never watched a minute of C-SPAN, or get a little lost in the alphabet soup of other agencies, will probably never forget standing in Yosemite Valley and admiring a towering waterfall.

There were 4.3 million visits to Yosemite in 2025, 2.9 million to Joshua Tree and 1.3 million to Death Valley, according to the data.

The 323 million visits to America’s national parks in 2025 are more than twice the attendance — 135 million — at professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey games combined.

Of course, it’s a lot cheaper to get into a park. U.S. residents pay between $20 and $35 per vehicle for a day pass, or $80 for an annual pass. The Trump administration recently raised the annual fee to $250 for foreign visitors.

National Park Service officials did not respond to emails requesting comment on California’s 2025 attendance.

A travel expert claims he has saved money by looking for flights at a specific time, and early risers could bag a bargain, but there are also other ways to cut the cost of your flight

A travel expert has claimed that the time you book a flight can be just as important as the day you choose to travel, and that setting your alarm at a very specific time could help you land the best deals.

Jamie Fraser, owner of Wild Packs, claims that the cheapest time to book flights is exactly 2:48am in what could be good news for night owls and insomniacs. He also claims that evening searches between 8pm and 2pm can also be around 5% cheaper than searching during peak morning hours.

Airlines will often raise prices when they see heavy demand for a destination, so if lots of other people are up at the same time looking for the same route and dates, this could potentially put prices up. Jamie says: “Most people search for flights first thing in the morning while they’re having coffee, but that’s exactly when everyone else is doing the same thing.

“When airline systems see that spike in demand, prices can rise quickly. It’s one of the easiest ways travellers overpay. The cheapest time to book is usually in the early hours of the morning, around 2:48 am, when far fewer people are searching, and airline pricing systems have reset overnight.”

He added: “If you’re not willing to set a 2 am alarm, the next best option is late evening. Booking between 8 pm and 10 pm can still save around 5% compared to that busy morning window.”

So does this hack work? In the early years of internet travel booking, airlines and other sites would update their fares manually overnight. This meant that savvy travellers could sometimes pick up middle of the night bargains. However, nowadays, it’s more complex because systems have evolved, so you may still need a bit of luck on your side.

You could also potentially save money by using Jamie’s other suggested hack, which is to set up price alerts rather than checking fares repeatedly. Jamie also reiterated the often given advice that travellers should be flexible with travel plans, looking out for different airlines, dates, or nearby airports.

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If you use sites such as Skyscanner, you can often tick a ‘nearby airports’ box, as an airport a short drive away could end up being cheaper. If you’re flexible on destination, for example you simply want to go somewhere sunny with a beach, then choosing ‘everywhere’ as a destination will show you the cheapest options for your dates.

It’s also worth signing up for emails from specific airlines and looking out for deals such as flash sales or kids fly for free offers, which often have limited availability and need to be snapped up quickly.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

The National People’s Congress signals firm stance against corruption as China’s 15th five-year plan is approved.

China’s annual legislative meeting is wrapping up after setting the country’s lowest economic growth target in nearly 30 years, excluding during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Nearly 3,000 delegates participating in the National People’s Congress (NPC) were due on Thursday to formally approve an economic growth target of “4.5 to 5 percent”, as set out in China’s latest five-year plan.

The 15th iteration of the five-year plan, an economic roadmap for 2026 to 2030, also set targets for inflation, the fiscal deficit ratio and urban unemployment.

China has set the longterm goal of becoming a “moderately developed” country by 2035 and raising gross domestic product (GDP) per capita to $20,000. The figure was $13,303 in 2024, according to the World Bank.

Planners in Beijing also continue to grapple with deep economic problems driven by the collapse of the property sector, low consumer confidence and a prolonged period of deflation.

China’s targets for the next five years include industrial self-reliance and increased state support for industries such as AI, aerospace, aviation, biomedicine and integrated circuits, as well as the development of “future energy, quantum technology, embodied artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G technology”, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.

Beijing also aims to expand the use of the digital yuan, known as the e-CNY, to improve cross-border payments, according to the Reuters news agency. The digital currency is currently under development by the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank.

Among the most closely watched elements of the NPC over the past week has been the release of government “work reports” from China’s many government ministries, which give insight into China’s progress in meeting its goals and the direction of its future policy.

The NPC’s Standing Committee released a work report indicating that China will soon pass a law on combatting cross-border corruption, Xinhua said.

The measure is seen as an extension of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s long-running anticorruption drive across the Chinese state, military and private sector.

The campaign appears to be gaining momentum as the Supreme People’s Court, China’s highest court, reported a 22.4 percent increase in corruption cases last year involving 36,000 individuals, according to Xinhua.

The state also recovered 18.14 billion yuan ($2.63bn) as part of its anticorruption crackdown in 2025, Xinhua said.

China’s military also identified combatting corruption as an important target in its annual work report, as well as ensuring political loyalty to Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.

The NPC typically runs for a week, and it is held alongside the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body.

The meetings are known as the “Two Sessions”, and they bring thousands of delegates to Beijing to approve short- and mid-term policy measures.

WHEN you look at the London skyline, you probably think of the London Eye, Big Ben, the Shard and the Gherkin – but for decades another iconic landmark as been part of that set.

While the BT Tower has been closed to the public for decades it could be turned into a hotel by as soon as 2030.

The Grade-II listed building opened in 1965, measuring 177metres tall and was originally known as the Post Office Tower.

Inside, the building was used to carry phone and TV signals, but also had a revolving restaurant – Top of the Tower – and viewing platforms.

The viewing platform closed to the public in 1971 after a bomb exploded but the restaurant remained open until the end of its lease in 1980.

To date, American hotel chain MCR – who bought the concrete structure clad in glass from BT for £275million – has revealed little plans about what the hotel will look like.

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However, recent reports have revealed that a Shoreditch-based architecture firm and the same team behind the immersive attraction Outernet on Tottenham Court Road, Orms, have been appointed to transform the landmark into a boutique hotel.

The initial ideas and plans for the needle-like building are expected to be revealed at the first public consultation, which is due to be held in May.

But to get a taste of Orms’ style, other projects the firm has worked on include the transformation of Camden Council’s brutalist headquarters into the famous Standard hotel back in 2019.

They are also the firm behind The Ribbon, which is a new nine-storey venue on Oxford Street, recently announced as the location of London’s flagship Harry Potter store – which will be one of five across the planet.

Previous reports also suggest that the rotating restaurant will reopen for the first time since 1980.

The restaurant, that was run by Butlin’s with Sir Billy Butlin himself opening the site, used to seat about 120 diners on an three metre-wide track, with the restaurant rotating a full 360 degrees once every 22 minutes.

Famous diners included The Beatles and Muhammed Ali.

Thanks to the building’s height and nothing in the surrounding area obstructing it (this was to not interrupt communication signals from the tower) it has amazing panoramic views of London.

It is hoped when MCR reopen the building, the viewing platforms will feature as a major part of the hotel, with potentially the best views of the city.

In 2024, tycoon Tyler Morse – the man behind the purchase of the landmark – spoke to The Times about what the hotel will be like and said: “It’s about telephony. It’s about the telegraph era. But with all the modern amenities.”

He added that the “billions of miles of telephone wire” would be woven into the hotel wallpaper and an infinity pool would be built to look over the city.

Originally, when MCR bought the tower, Heatherwick Studio in Camden were going to oversee the redevelopment – the same firm behind Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross.

However, this week a spokesperson told Architect’s Journal: “Heatherwick Studio and MCR had been working together on the development of the BT Tower.

“We are no longer involved and wish MCR every success for the future of the project.”

Architect’s Journal added that Historic England are happy with the initial plans for the 177metre-tall building, with Tom Foxall, region director at Historic England commenting: “The emerging scheme will reinforce the significance of the Grade II-listed tower’s extraordinary architecture, ensuring its iconic presence remains on the London skyline, while also reconfiguring its internal spaces in ways that will bring both public enjoyment and economic growth.”

In other landmark news, an iconic London landmark is set to undergo a major change next month with an incredible upgrade.

Plus, here are Britain’s most iconic seaside landmarks mapped from historic theme park rollercoasters to Art Deco lidos.

Coronation Street’s Megan Walsh will finally be exposed in upcoming scenes on the ITV soap, leaving Eva Price and her entire family shaken when they discover what she has been doing

Coronation Street‘s Megan Walsh will finally be exposed in upcoming scenes on the ITV soap. The teacher, played by Beth Nixon, has been carrying out an illicit affair with her student Will Driscoll as part of a controversial storyline on the ITV soap.

Will arrived with his family last October to move into the Rovers Return, and it was quickly established that Megan was his athletics coach but there was a lot more to it than just that. Megan eventually moved to Weatherfield, got a job at the local secondary school and has even started up a relationship with Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) as a cover-up.

But spoilers have now revealed that Megan’s “past will come back to haunt her,” leaving Will’s stepmum Eva Price (Cathertine Tyldesley) to discover the truth about what she has been doing.

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Megan’s flatmate Leanne also looks set to weigh in on the harrowing situation, as her own stespon Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) has worked out what his going on between Will and Megan, and has received multiple threats from the villainous teacher. After the bombshell scenes, this will also leave Daniel wondering where he stands as he potentially comes to realise that his entire relationship was a lie.

Just weeks ago, Corrie aired a flashforward episode that revealed that Megan is one of five potential murder victims, along with fellow villains Jodie Ramsey, Carl Webster, Maggie Driscoll, and Theo Silverton. So will this all lead to the ultimate downfall for Megan or will the teacher actually face prison time for her crimes?

Coronation Street boss Kate Brookes recently explained that she the story was a “very important” one to tell. She said: “It’s a very important story to tell and we want to be as truthful as possible. As part of that story Sam will end up getting embroiled in it all.

“Sam is semi-related to the pub family and he potentially gets wind that something’s amiss. We will see the lengths that Megan will go to manipulate Sam into keeping quiet. It’ll be massively detrimental to Sam’s wellbeing.”

Meanwhile, for actress Beth Nixon, Coronation Street marks her television debut but she had actually auditioned for other parts on the soap before landing the role of Megan. Speaking to York College, Beth shared that the casting team had seen Beth in several shows at her drama school: the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester, so she was “kind of on their radar.”

Revealing her past audition history, Beth explained: “But I’d auditioned for Corrie twice before – as a baddie both times of course – including for the role of Lauren.” Actress Cait Fitton ended up being cast as Lauren, making her debut in 2022, and has remained on the show since.

Beth added: “Then, earlier this year, my agent sent me a casting brief and explained it was for a paedophile, which is a bit crazy to play because they’re obviously not a redeemable character, so they can push it pretty far.” After sending a self-tape Beth attended a chemistry test with other actors who were being considered to play Will. She then performed a scene on the set at The Bistro – and it turned out the bosses were rather impressed with her.

Beth – who was working as a skin clinic manager before joining Corrie – said: “I was at work when my agent called me. I was upstairs as my colleague watched the desk and, when he told me I’d got it, everybody in the clinic could hear me screaming my head off and then I cried, because it’s been four years since I graduated and this is my first TV role.

“It’s been a hard time and I was really close to quitting, having a normal job and pursuing a different career, so this just came at exactly the right time and when I needed it.”

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

March 8 (UPI) — Former rapper Balendra Shah appears poised to be Nepal’s next prime minister, after his party won the general election by a landslide.

Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party, or RSP, captured 117 out of the 165 directly-voted seats in the Federal Parliament of Nepal and is currently leading in eight more contested seats. Final results, including seats appointed by proportional representation, are expected to be announced in the coming days.

Shah, 35, transitioned from a rapper to a politician in 2022, when he was elected mayor of Kathmandu.

The former musician became a figurehead of the September 2025 movement that saw young people take to the streets to protest Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma KP Oli’s law banning social media use. The protests expanded into criticism of government corruption and the country’s political system as a whole.

A government crackdown on the protests resulted in the deaths of 19 protesters, and led to public unrest resulting in 70 deaths and the resignation of Oli’s government.

Shah’s party has pledged to create 1.2 million jobs, reduce forced migration, raise the per capital income from $1,447 to $3,000 and provide social safety nets including health insurance.

Caitlin Clark is excited to make her U.S. national team debut next week when the Americans play in an FIBA World Cup qualifier in Puerto Rico.

It will be Clark’s first game in about eight months since a multitude of injuries derailed her WNBA season with the Indiana Fever in July.

“It’ll probably take me a second to knock a little bit of the rust off,” Clark said Saturday. “I’ll probably be a little bit nervous, which I usually don’t get nervous but that probably comes from I haven’t really played basketball in a while. I’m sure after the first minute of running around on the court, I’ll be just fine. But more than anything, just really excited. I know how much work and how much time I put in to make sure my body’s as healthy as it can be and to get back.”

It’s been quite a journey for Clark, who played in 13 games last season. She had groin injuries and then a bone bruise in her left ankle. She’s been in the gym getting ready, working with the Fever medical team and player developmental staff over the last few months.

“I’ve always been a person that’s going to just rely on my work. I feel like it’s certainly made me work harder,” Clark said of the injuries. “But that’s also probably the part that kind of stunk about it, is I felt like I put in so much time and so much energy going into last season, and then obviously, only appeared in about 13 games.”

Clark has fond memories of playing with younger USA Basketball teams. She recalled being in Colorado Springs in her teens and going into a room filled with jerseys of past American greats.

“My eyes were so wide, thought it was the coolest thing in the world of all,” she said. “[To see] the senior national jerseys of great men’s players and women’s players. It’s a 15- or 16-year-old’s dream of doing that one day.”

Clark knows this is just her first step with the national team. There was an uproar when she didn’t make the 2024 Paris Olympic team. She eyes playing on the World Cup team next fall and then in Los Angeles on the 2028 Olympic squad.

“There’s a lot to get to that point,” she said. “Obviously that’s my goal, the World Cup before that. There’s a lot for me to learn.”

Feinberg writes for the Associated Press.

IN northern Portugal is a beautiful city that was once the home of the country’s very first king.

This year it’s set to become even more popular on the map this year thanks to it being awarded the title of European Green Capital for 2026.

Guimarães is well-known for being the home of the country’s first king who was born there around the year 1109.

Dom Afonso I was the first King of Portugal, he reigned from 1139 until his death in 1185 – and secured Portugal’s independence from the Kingdom of León.

Visitors to the city can to this day see Guimarães Castle, the 10th-century fortress is said to be the actual birthplace of the first Portuguese king.

Tourists are allowed to enter the castle, although it is unfurnished, for around £5.

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When it comes to food and drink, one visitor on Tripadvisor wrote that you could pick up wine between €3.75 and €4 (£3.49).

In Northern Portugal, most restaurants and bars will serve ‘fino’, a small draft beer that you can usually pick up for around €2 (£1.74).

Something else to try is Guimarães’ take on Doces conventuais – which are traditional Portuguese desserts.

A Torta de Guimarães is a crescent moon-shaped pastry with a thin, flaky, and crispy puff pastry shell.

It’s filled with a sweet and creamy mixture of egg yolks, sugar, ground almonds, and chila (gila) squash jam.

Any bakery in the city is likely to sell Tortas de Guimarães which you can usually pick up for around €3 (£2.62).

Guimarães is Largo do Toural is at the the heart of the city. The central square was once used as a market and now has vibrant cafes.

For some incredible views, head up to the cable car which connects the city centre to the summit of the nearby Monte da Penha.

It travels up 1700 meters so you can get incredible views across the whole region.

At the very top is the Penha Sanctuary, a modern, art-deco-style church.

The Guimarães Cable Car typically costs €10 (£8.72) for a return.

This year, Guimarães has been named European Green Capital for 2026.

Part of the reason Guimarães was selected for this was its green spaces – between 2012 and 2023, the city added 95.7 hectares of natural spaces.

This includes along the main rivers and in its forests.

If you want to see it for yourself, Guimarães has a Green Map which takes visitors from Penha Mountain into the city.

Along with it, events are being held all year – Guimarães will host its spring festival in late March where there’s a 10km race through the city.

In April it will hold a three-day contemporary dance festival and the city will take part in Green Week in June as well as Mobility Week in September.

For Brits, the best way to get to Guimarães is by flying to Porto – which is around 25 miles away.

From there, you can hop on a direct bus which takes just 35 minutes and costs £5.

Here’s another quaint Portuguese canal city with white-sand beaches and cheap wine…

For striped houses that look like giant beach huts and beautiful stretches of coastline – head to Aveiro.

The city in Portugal sits on the west coast and is much less known than its neighbour – Porto – and is considered to be the country’s ‘Venice‘.

Along with its waterways, Aveiro is known for its beautiful waterfront houses, bars and boat tours.

The city is built around water including the Ria de Aveiro which is a shallow coastal lagoon – and throughout Aveiro are lots of canals.

The largest is Canal Central de Aveiro, right in the city centre and it’s here where tourists can hop onto a boat and take a river cruise.

Dotted along the water are the brightly coloured Moliceiro boats which were historically used to collect seaweed.

Now, these are used for leisure tours which you can book from €13 (£11.22).

A local pint will set you back just €2.75 (£2.38).

Just a short trip from Aveiro is the Bairrada Region Proximity, which produces plenty of sparkling and red wine, so the city is also perfect for wine lovers.

It is an excellent hub for exploring vineyards on reasonably priced tours, and bars and restaurants in the city centre offer glasses from as little as €2.30 (£2).

Aveiro is known for a local delicacy called ‘ovos moles’ – these traditional Portuguese pastries are essentially a sweet, creamy egg yolk and sugar mixture inside a thin wafer shell.

You can pick these up in local cafes or bakeries for around €1.60 (£1.38) each – and if you treat yourself to a coffee, it will cost as little as €2.16 (£1.87).

Plus, here’s the secret side to Portugal crowned one of the best places in Europe to visit this year.

And here’s a definitive guide on where to eat, sleep, drink and sunbathe in Portugal’s Algarve by the locals.

St Totteringham’s Day might not be that well known nationally – but for Arsenal fans it is an opportunity for more north London bragging rights.

It is the name given to the day on which it becomes mathematically impossible for Tottenham Hotspur to finish above Arsenal in the Premier League.

And, look away Spurs fans, because that day looks set to arrive earlier than ever.

If relegation-threatened Tottenham fail to win at Fulham on Sunday (14:00 GMT), Gunners fans can celebrate St Totteringham’s Day once more. Whatever the Spurs result, Arsenal would guarantee it with a win against Chelsea later in the day (16:30).

A play on the words ‘Tottenham‘ and ‘tottering’, the phrase was introduced by Arsenal fans website ‘Arseweb’ in the early 2000s but gained more national prominence about 2010.

Gunners fans are still celebrating their emphatic win in the north London derby a week ago and will revel in the idea of some early St Totteringham’s Day celebrations – the previous earliest was on 9 March in 2008.

The moment – if it happens – just highlights the current gap between the bitter rivals.

Arsenal top the Premier League, while Tottenham are fighting for their top-flight lives with interim boss Igor Tudor having replaced Thomas Frank this month.

TOMMY Fury is set to take on a second triathlon after facing a 100km World Championship race last August.

The boxer, 26, took on the race in the French Riviera but came under fire after it was revealed he didn’t actually complete the full course.

Now, his brother-in-law Danny Rae says Tommy is set to take on another three-fold endurance race.

“Tommy’s triathlon – he’s gonna do another one I believe,” athlete Danny told The Sun, who is married to Molly-Mae Hague’s sister Zoe.

Speaking at a pop-up event by drinks brand Celsius, Danny continued: “So, yeah, he just likes to be busy. He loves training.”

Tommy took on his first triathlon in August, but faced controversy after a marathon Investigation found that he did not actually finish the event, pointing to his bike splits, which showed he was not logged beyond the 48km point.

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A search for his official time on the Sportstats website will reveal a large DID NOT FINISH next to his name.

But, it made him one of 93 athletes not to have completed the route – and there was a valid reason why they didn’t have a chance to go the distance.

Due to road closures and traffic, the group of athletes were told by organisers that they could not finish the route.

With Tommy set to go again, it seems that the whole family could be getting involved, said Danny.

The sportsman, who married Zoe Rae in 2024 and is a Hyrox world champion, continued: “I’m going to do a triathlon.

“So, the Hyrox season ends in June and then I’m just gonna sort of dabble in triathlons.”

Revealing that he and Tommy have been preparing together, Danny added: “We train together quite a lot.

“He obviously is a professional boxer who’s in camp quite a lot, and he’s, again, he’s very regimented with his training.

“But where we can share sessions, if it aligns with both of our individual training programs, we’ll do that. 

“So we trained together last night, we had a nice easy 90 minute 90 minutes of aerobic work.”

WASHINGTON — As President Trump prepares to deliver his annual State of the Union address Tuesday night, the event will unfold against the backdrop of a widening Democratic protest and mounting resistance from lawmakers who are standing by to balk at the president’s remarks.

More than 30 congressional Democrats have pledged to boycott the address altogether, while others plan to attend alternative events designed to compete with the president’s messaging.

“I think we are going to hear two different States of the Union: One from the president that is going to be full of lies and then you are going to hear the truth,” California Sen. Alex Padilla, who will deliver the Democrats’ Spanish-language response, said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Democrats who plan to skip the president’s formal address to Congress have said their doing so because they do not want to give credence to Trump. Others plan to voice their opposition to Trump by inviting guests who have been affected by his agenda.

California Democrats Rep. Robert Garcia and Rep. Ro Khanna will attend alongside Annie Farmer and Haley Robson, two of the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose trafficking crimes have dogged the Trump since he returned to office a year ago.

“I’ve invited Annie to the State of the Union so she can join other survivors and remind the President of his refusal to release all of the Epstein files,” Garcia wrote Monday in a post on X.

The Democratic opposition highlights the tense political moment that Trump is facing early in his second term, when the stakes are high for Republican as they seek to keep control of Congress ahead of the midterm elections.

Trump, who is set to begin speaking at 6 p.m. Pacific time, is expected to frame the moment as one defined by economic successes and fulfilled campaign promises particularly as it related to his administration carrying out an immigration crackdown.

Trump is expected to make an appeal to his religious base as well. He has invited Erika Kirk, the widow of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and intends to use her presence to bring attention to the “tremendous revival of faith” that has taken place since Kirk’s assassination, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.

“The president will call on Congress to ‘firmly reject political violence against our fellow citizens’ with Charlie Kirk’s widow in the chamber,” Leavitt said.

The president’s remarks could also shed light on the president’s thinking regarding international conflicts brewing in the Middle East and in Mexico as Trump pressures its southern neighbor to curb drug trafficking.

Another potential issue that could come up in the address is the topic of tariffs, more so after the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Trup’s preferred tariffs policy was illegal and could not stand without the approval of Congress.

Trump has been adamant that he intends to impose new tariffs in different ways, and has suggested he should not need congressional approval to do so. If Trump insists on imposing new tariffs, his push will be at odds with Republican leaders.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Monday that it would be a “challenge to find consensus on any path forward on the tariffs, on the legislative side.”

However Trump handled the issue of tariffs would underscore the existential moment that Congress is in as it navigates the Trump administration’s second term.

In recent months, Trump’s willingness to sideline Congress in major policy decisions — whether it is trade or national security — have exposed fractures within his own party and deepened partisan divisions.

Tuesday night’s even could highlight those tensions.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has been critical of the Trump’s use of military force without congressional approval since his administration began blowing up alleged drug boats on the Caribbean Sea late last year.

As Trump says he is considering a military attack on Iran, Schiff is once again raising concerns that Trump is stoking broader conflicts abroad.

“Our allies don’t trust us. Our adversaries don’t fear us,” Schiff said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “When the next crisis comes — and it will come, and it may even be caused by this president — we will find ourselves isolated.”

Trump’s push to have the federal government assert more control over elections could also expose some fractures.

In May, at the behest of Trump, the Justice Department began demanding voter registration data from states across the country. Democrats see the move as a pretext for bogus voter fraud claims down the line, as congressional Republicans tee up new barriers to voter registration through the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.

“The Trump administration is not being shy about threatening to undermine and steal this November election,” Padilla said. “They know that their record is not just unpopular but has been so harmful to working families that their only hope to stay in power is to initiate a voter purge.”

Democrats’ concerns have been heightened by comments made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week in which she outlined plans to station federal immigration agents at polling stations “to make sure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders”

WASHINGTON — President Trump will deliver his annual State of the Union address Tuesday night at a moment of unusual upheaval, confronting a cascade of crises that have left Washington unsettled and his own political standing diminished early in his second term.

When lawmakers gather to hear the president’s agenda for the year ahead, the scene is expected to reflect an undeterred president under increasing political strain.

The president is facing a partial government shutdown triggered by his administration’s aggressive deportation campaign, rising tensions over the United States’ involvement in foreign conflicts and growing domestic dissent that is fracturing the president’s political alliances and aggravating his rivals.

Adding to the turbulent atmosphere is the economic unease in an election year. The president, who a year ago promised to bring down prices for consumers, insisted Monday that America has “the greatest economy we’ve ever had” even though public polling shows economic pressures are worrying a majority of Americans.

Trump said he plans to talk about the country’s economic successes in his speech, saying “it is going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about.”

Republicans have recently pushed Trump to focus on the push to lower costs, a message they see as crucial to help them keep control of Congress. What remains to be seen is how much of Trump’s economic message will be colored by a Supreme Court decision last week that struck down his use of tariffs, a key portion of his economic agenda. In recent days, the president has remained defiant on the issue, lashing out at the justices for delivering a legal setback on his tariffs, and looking to impose new global tariffs in a different way.

Trump said Monday he does not need to seek congressional approval to impose new levies, even though the nation’s highest court ruled his tariffs cannot stand without the approval of Congress.

“As president, I do not have to go back to Congress to get approval of Tariffs,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It has already been gotten, in many forms, a long time ago!”

Trump’s rebuke underscores the president’s increasingly combative posture toward both the judiciary and Congress, at a time when he is heavily relying on his executive authority to advance sweeping policies on immigration, trade and national security.

His willingness to wield executive authority has been seen in the last year as the president led U.S. forces to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, threatened to seize Greenland, considered an attack on Iran and eyed an armed conflict with drug cartels in Mexico.

At home, Trump has said he thinks the federal government should assert control over state elections as he continues to push false claims of a stolen 2020 election.

Whether that will happen remains to be seen as Republican leaders, and other conservative lawmakers, voice opposition to some of the president’s legislative pitches.

In recent months, Congress has tried to reassert its authority over the executive branch — in some cases led by small Republican defections by lawmakers who have grown concerned about the president’s involvement in foreign wars and his economic policies.

One of the most notable rebukes to Trump’s authority occurred late last year, when a bipartisan group of lawmakers secured legislation that forced the Trump administration to release investigative files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

While Trump maintains the release of those files cleared him of wrongdoing, the findings have so far ensnared key figures in Trump’s political orbit and reinforced a sense of scandal that continues to loom over his administration. Anger over the administration’s handling of the Epstein case has led to bipartisan backlash, even prompting some conservatives to call for U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi to resign.

Another sign of the polarized moment Trump will face Tuesday night will be led by Democrats.

About a dozen Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives plan to boycott the president’s speech and participate in what they have dubbed the “People’s State of the Union.”

“I will not be attending the State of the Union,” U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a social media video over the weekend. “We cannot treat this as normal. This is not business as usual. I will not give him the audience he craves for the lies that he tells.”

In recent years, lawmakers who wished to disavow the president’s address would typically stand and shout in protest, disrupt the remarks or coordinate outfits to signal their opposition.

In 2020, for example, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) stood behind Trump at the podium as he delivered his remarks and then shredded a copy of his script. She later called it a “manifesto of mistruths.”

This year, even the president’s allies appear to be on notice.

While it is a long-standing custom for the Supreme Court justices to attend the president’s annual address, Trump told reporters on Friday that the six justices who voted against his tariffs policy were “barely” invited to the event.

“Three of them are invited,” he said.

Trump’s State of the Union remarks will be dissected to see how he intends to advance his agenda and to deal with a divided Congress that remains at a standstill over how to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

The partial government shutdown was triggered by partisan tensions over Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by federal agents.

At a White House event Monday, Trump lamented that public polling shows waning support for federal immigration agents.

“It just amazes me that there is not more support out there,” Trump said. “We actually have a silent support, I think it is silent.”

JOJO Siwa’s bank balance is set for a major boost as she relaunches a business venture that once raked in an estimated £336million.

The Celebrity Big Brother star, 22, struck a licensing deal with JennZ and Thomas Global Media to release more JoJo’s Bows, the popular hair accessory.

And there’s a new twist for the latest version of the popular brand; the introduction of Joelle Bows, a host of new shapes and designs named after JoJo’s birth name.

“JoJo’s Bows were never just about what you wore, they were about how you felt,” said JoJo. 

“Coming back as creative director means I get to personally shape every detail, making sure the heart, energy, and message behind the bows evolve with me and with the fans. This relaunch is for the fans who grew up with me, and for the next generation discovering their voice and confidence.”

JennZ founder and creative director Jennifer Saad added: “The JoJo Bow isn’t just an accessory it’s a symbol of confidence, creativity, and style. 

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“Reintroducing it for a new generation is about celebrating the magic that made it iconic and evolving it for who those fans have grown to be.”

Some 80 million JoJo Bows have been sold to date as fans flocked to replicate the dancer star’s iconic look.

The bows previously retailed between $5 to $16.

Since shooting to fame on Dance Moms as a young girl, through to a lucrative partnership with Nickelodeon as a teen, JoJo has released a huge assortment of merch.

Most of which has flown off the shelves from T-shirts and toys to shoes and accessories.

She previously told Forbes: “Early on, Nickelodeon wanted to have a meeting, where they discussed big business, and they wanted to do it without me. My Mom and I said, ‘That’s not how it works. We’ve been in this together since day one.’

“And in that meeting Pam, who is the head of consumer products, said, ‘Just so you know, if this t shirt doesn’t sell then it’s all over. That was why I didn’t want you here.’

“Now, every time I see her I laugh and say, ‘How’d that t-shirt sell?’”

Both JoJo’s business and personal life are thriving.

After meeting Chris Hughes, 33, on CBB last year, she already has one eye on marriage and kids.

But their transatlantic romance isn’t entirely smooth sailing.

She recently told fans online: “The hard part for me is like the hours that we do communicate we’re at very very different phases of our day.

“Just as I’m getting up excited to talk to him you know text him or call him he’s in the middle of his day and he’s working or he’s doing something and he’s occupied. So I find that part difficult.”

She continued: “And then the same thing like when he’s going to bed I’m in the middle of my day now occupied… so it’s a little more difficult.”

However, the pair will soon be back together to celebrate their first anniversary.