Social Media

SHOCKINGLY seven in ten singletons say they’ve given up on dating. Why? Because half of them say they’re put off by constantly meeting liars.

But are the signs there from the very first date? The Sun takes a look at the red flags that could mean your new love interest is out to break your heart.

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As many as 74 per cent singletons have either given up or have chosen to take ‘a lengthy break’ from finding love, according to a poll by dating site Seeking.

And an incredible 51 per cent said they have been fibbed to about their date’s age, while a third have turned up to find the person was shorter or taller than they were told.

Relationship therapist Rhian Kivits told The Sun: “Sadly, lots of people do lie, especially on dating profiles or when they are messaging before a date. Often they do this through insecurity.

“They want to get a date, but they have no confidence, so they post fake photos or tell lies about their age or height.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean they are abusive or dangerous, but if you spot this, it’s fair to ask, ‘Is this right for me?’

“Most of us probably don’t want to date someone who is presenting themselves as someone they are not.”

But that’s not the only white lie your date could dupe you with – there are seven red flags, according to Rhian, which might indicate a potential partner is telling porkies.

1. ‘Too good to be true’ dating profiles

If someone’s profile looks highly managed with model-like photos, and it all feels just a bit too good to be true, then it probably is.

People have been known to use AI photos or internet pictures that aren’t even them. Trust your intuition and if something in your gut gives you the impression it isn’t right, then it might be fake.

Look for photos of them doing a genuine hobby, such as playing golf.

But they should be on a course really playing, not just posing up nearby.

I like it when other people are in their photos, at a family barbecue, for example. This shows someone is a genuine person.

2. Question dodging

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Sometimes you might get chatting to someone and find they are dodging your questions.

You ask where they work, and they just say ‘all over the place’ or ‘I travel a lot’. That’s a red flag.

You might ask where and they say ‘the south west’, but that’s a big place.

Whilst I’d never expect someone to be specific, it’s reasonable to have some idea of what someone does and which town they live in before you meet up.

The same goes for relationship status. If they are being cagey or say ‘it’s complicated’, that’s not a promising sign.

3. Refuses a video call

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You can rule out a lot of fibs by meeting on a video call before a real date.

If they weren’t the age they told you, or the height, you’d know instantly.

If they say no to the call, what is it they don’t want you to see? Maybe they are sitting on the couch with their partner.

Liars can be very clever, so whilst you can never 100 per cent protect yourself, a video call beforehand is a great way of weeding out fibbers.

4. You share the same loves and hobbies

What some liars will do is ask an awful lot of questions about you.

Then they’ll say, ‘Oh, I love that too. ‘ It might be what you like to eat, where you like to hang out, whether you like swimming or going to the cinema.

What they are doing is painting themselves as your ideal partner and setting up a web of lies so you almost fall in love before you meet them.

This is a very negative trait, often used by narcissists, and they are very likely disingenuous.

If whatever you love, they love, it’s not always a good sign.

5. Overly rehearsed anecdotes

If they are telling stories or anecdotes that feel a little too polished rather than spontaneously shared, maybe they are not telling the whole truth.

When every detail is just so, you should be wondering what they have left out.

Look out for inconsistencies in their tales.

Perhaps in one version of the story, they were with a friend, then their brother.

Maybe it was last week the first time they told you, then last year.

And if they always paint themselves as the hero of the story, the one always in the right, perhaps they are not being 100 per cent honest.

6. Little or no digital footprint

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Most of us have a very big digital footprint these days. If there is nothing about them online, ask about it.

If they deleted a profile, why? If they have profiles under different names, why?

We can all look someone up before going on a date, and it’s healthy to do so. You might see they used to have a different job and switched careers, or their hair colour is different.

Just say ‘I did a sneaky Google of you’. If they are a genuine person, they won’t mind.

They’ll laugh and say, ‘Yes, I used to have red hair’. If they are cagey, something is up.

7. Suspicious smartphone activity

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Perhaps they are unusually protective of their phone when you meet up.

They might turn it face down or step away to reply.

They might not want you to see notifications pop up if it’s from a partner or someone else they are dating.

If you are on a date, they shouldn’t be on their phone too much anyway.

If they are, they might be texting their partner to say they are going to be late home from work.

Of course, this is not always the case but if they are on their phone a lot – ask why – and see how they react.

Why do people catfish others on dating apps?

Speaking to Techopedia, professional dating coach Jacob Lucas reveals how to see if someone is a catfish on dating apps.

A lot of people are insecure about themselves. They may not be very confident about dating or making friends, or about the way they look, so they create this fake persona. When they get attention and receive compliments, they then feel validated.

Very often, catfishes are in that person’s life already, so they already know them. Sometimes, it can be started off as a joke and then it spirals out of control. People can become addicted to it and it becomes a habit.

The third reason is that as weird as it sounds, they think they’re doing the right thing. If it’s a friend who has a lot of bad luck in their love life, they want to give them confidence. But they often get stuck in the habit and can’t stop doing it.

And finally, its could be that the person is trying to extort money from the other person. They may ask for a small amount of money to pay for their electricity bill for example to start off with, but if they do, it can spiral into a large amount of money. They use romance to get people to send them money.

Law to take effect on January 1 has support of social media companies, but Apple and Google oppose it.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed into law a bill requiring Apple and Alphabet’s Google to verify the age of users of their app stores, putting the second most populous state in the United States at the centre of a debate over whether and how to regulate smartphone use by children and teenagers.

The bill was signed into law on Tuesday.

The law, which goes into effect on January 1, requires parental consent to download apps or make in-app purchases for users aged below 18. Utah was the first US state to pass a similar law this year, and US lawmakers have also introduced a federal bill.

Another Texas bill, passed in the state’s House of Representatives and awaiting a Senate vote, would restrict social media apps to users over the age of 18.

Wide support

Age limits and parental consent for social media apps are among the few areas of wide US consensus. A Pew Research poll in 2023 indicated that 81 percent of Americans support requiring parental consent for children to create social media accounts and 71 percent supported age verification before using social media.

The effect of social media on children’s mental health has become a growing global concern. Dozens of US states have sued Meta Platforms, and the US surgeon general has issued an advisory on safeguards for children. Australia last year banned social media for children under 16, with other countries such as Norway also considering new rules.

How to implement age restrictions has caused a conflict between Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, and Apple and Google, which own the two dominant US app stores.

Meta and the social media companies Snap and X applauded the passage of the bill.

“Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child’s age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it, and more than one-third of US states have introduced bills recognising the central role app stores play,” the companies said.

Kathleen Farley, vice president of litigation for the Chamber of Progress, a group backed by Apple and Alphabet, said the Texas law is likely to face legal challenges on First Amendment grounds.

“A big path for challenge is that it burdens adult speech in attempting to regulate children’s speech,” Farley told the Reuters news agency in an interview on Tuesday. “I would say there are arguments that this is a content-based regulation singling out digital communication.”

Child online safety groups that backed the Texas bill have also long argued for app store age verification, saying it is the only way to give parents effective control over children’s use of technology.

“The problem is that self-regulation in the digital marketplace has failed, where app stores have just prioritised the profit over safety and rights of children and families,” Casey Stefanski, executive director for the Digital Childhood Alliance, told Reuters.

Apple and Google opposed the Texas bill, saying it imposes blanket requirements to share age data with all apps, even when those apps are uncontroversial.

“If enacted, app marketplaces will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identifying information for every Texan who wants to download an app, even if it’s an app that simply provides weather updates or sports scores,” Apple said in a statement.

Google and Apple each have their own proposal that involves sharing age range data only with apps that require it, rather than all apps.

“We see a role for legislation here,” Kareem Ghanem, senior director of government affairs and public policy at Google, told Reuters.

“It’s just got to be done in the right way, and it’s got to hold the feet of [Meta CEO Mark] Zuckerberg and the social media companies to the fire because it’s the harm to kids and teens on those sites that’s really inspired people to take a closer look here and see how we can all do better.”

THIS is the shocking moment a massive explosion shook a chemical plant in eastern China’s Shandong province.

Terrifying footage shows the moment of the eruption at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical plant in the city of Weifang at around midday local time.

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Images show the roaring inferno followed by billows of black smoke rising high into the sky.

Emergency Services sent more than 230 firefighters and 55 vehicles to the scene to try and bring the blaze caused by the explosion under control.

The explosion killed at least five people while 19 are reportedly injured, according to local emergency management authorities.

A further six people are currently missing.

A local resident told the The Associated Press news agency that his home – located than 7km (4.3 miles) from the plant – shook from the impact of the explosion.

The plant manufactures pesticides as well as chemicals for medical use, and has more than 500 employees, according to corporate registration records.

Local fire officials sent more than 230 personnel to the scene, according to state broadcaster China Central Television.

Workplace safety has improved over the years in China but remains a stubborn problem.

The National Ministry of Emergency Management recorded 21,800 incidents and 19,600 deaths in 2024.

A recent spate of such accidents has prompted calls from President Xi Jinping for “deep reflection” and greater efforts to stop them.

Last month, at least 15 people were killed and 44 injured in a fire at a residential building in the eastern city of Nanjing.

In January, dozens died after a fire broke out at a store in the central city of Xinyu, with state news agency Xinhua reporting the blaze had been caused by the “illegal” use of fire by workers in the store’s basement.

That fire came just days after a late-evening blaze at a school in central Henan province killed 13 schoolchildren as they slept in a dormitory.

Domestic media reports suggested the fire was caused by an electric heating device.

Meanwhile, a deadly explosion ripped through a fried chicken shop in northern China, killing two people and injuring 26 more last year.

Shops, homes, and cars were completely destroyed in the horror blast, which is believed to have been caused by a gas leak, according to state reported at the time.

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Trump Media says the money will be used to create a ‘Bitcoin treasury’.

The Trump Media and Technology Group will raise about $2.5bn to invest in Bitcoin, United States President Donald Trump’s social media firm says, as it looks to diversify its revenue streams with a push into the financial sector.

The company is raising the funds by selling $1.5bn in stock at its last closing price and $1bn in convertible notes priced at a 35 percent premium, it said in a statement on Tuesday. The money will be used to build a “Bitcoin treasury”, the company said.

The Bitcoin will be held on Trump Media’s balance sheet alongside existing cash and short-term investments totalling $759m at the end of the first quarter. Crypto platforms Anchorage Digital and Crypto.com are to provide custody for the Bitcoin holdings.

“We view Bitcoin as an apex instrument of financial freedom,” Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes said, hailing the move as a “big step forward” in the company’s plan to acquire “crown jewel assets consistent with America First principles”.

Shares of the company behind Truth Social, a streaming and social media platform, were down 6 percent in early trading.

Trump Media has been exploring potential mergers and acquisitions as it aims to diversify into financial services.

Last month, it reached a binding agreement to launch retail investment products, including cryptocurrency and exchange-traded funds aligned with Trump’s policies.

Embracing cryptocurrencies

The Trump family, long rooted in skyscrapers and golf clubs, has opened multiple beachheads in cryptocurrencies, quickly gaining hundreds of millions of dollars. Its other crypto forays include Trump nonfungible tokens (NFTs), a meme coin, a stake in a newly formed Bitcoin producer called American Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency exchange World Liberty Financial.

But the crypto push has attracted scrutiny from lawmakers, including Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who last month asked the US securities regulator about its plans to supervise exchange-traded funds (ETFs) due to be launched by Trump Media.

Trump, who referred to cryptocurrencies in his first term as “not money”, citing their volatility and a value “based on thin air”, has shifted his views on the technology.

During an event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida during his presidential campaign in May 2024, Trump received assurances that crypto industry backers would spend lavishly to get him re-elected.

Last week, Trump rewarded 220 of the top investors in one of his other cryptocurrency projects, the $Trump meme coin, with a swanky dinner with him at his luxury golf club in northern Virginia, spurring accusations that the president was mixing his duties in the White House with personal profit.

A POPULAR burger branch has finally reopened its doors after nearly two years – and locals couldn’t be happier to see it back.

Wimpy has returned to Tufton Street in Ashford, Kent, after shutting in late 2023 when the previous franchisee stepped down following 30 years in charge.

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The iconic burger spot was originally expected to reopen at the start of 2024, but a series of delays, including unforeseen issues before Christmas, left customers fearing the restaurant might never return.

Now, to the delight of fans, the branch is back in business, with customers already queuing up for their fix of Wimpy classics.

The company, famous for menu staples like the Bender in a Bun and thick shakes, confirmed: “Wimpy Ashford is now open under new ownership with a fresh team and great vibe.

“We will still be serving your favourite Wimpy burgers, chips and thick shakes.”

News of the reopening has spread quickly among locals, with many taking to social media to share their excitement and memories of the eatery.

Several residents said the restaurant had been a regular haunt in their youth, and they were eager to return with their own children.

One customer wrote: “So glad Wimpy is back! Nothing beats a proper burger and chips with that classic taste. We’ve really missed it.”

Another added: “Ashford just hasn’t been the same without it. It’s not just the food, it’s the memories that come with it.”

Wimpy, once a major player on the UK’s fast-food scene, has been undergoing a gradual revival in recent years, with several branches refurbished or reopened under new management.

The Ashford branch’s relaunch is seen as a positive step for the town centre, which has faced a number of retail closures in recent years.

The new owners say they’re committed to maintaining the traditional feel of the restaurant while bringing in modern touches to enhance the customer experience.

Early visitors have already praised the updated décor and friendly atmosphere, saying it retains the charm of the old Wimpy while feeling fresh and inviting.

Staff say they’ve been overwhelmed by the warm welcome and steady flow of diners since opening, and hope to build on that momentum in the months ahead.

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Science and technology ministry accuses messaging app of not cooperating in combating alleged crimes committed by users in Vietnam.

Vietnam has ordered the country’s telecommunication service providers to block the messaging app Telegram for not cooperating in combating alleged crimes committed by users of the platform, in a move that Telegram said was surprising.

A report on the government’s news portal on Friday said Vietnam’s telecommunications department at the Ministry of Science and Technology sent letters to internet service providers warning that there were “signs of law violation” on Telegram.

The ministry said internet service providers should “deploy solutions and measures to prevent Telegram’s activities in Vietnam”.

The letter dated May 21 ordered the providers to take measures against Telegram and report back to the ministry by June 2.

Almost 70 percent of 9,600 channels on Telegram in Vietnam contain “poisonous and bad information”, the government said in its report on the app, quoting police. Groups and associations on Telegram, involving tens of thousands of people, had disseminated “antistate documents” and were involved in “reactionary activities”, the government added.

The government also claimed that some groups on Telegram also used the app to sell users’ data, and were involved in drug trafficking or had “terrorist” links.

Vietnam’s hardline administration generally moves swiftly to stamp out dissent and arrest critics, especially those who find an audience on social media.

New rules came into force in Vietnam last year that required platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to verify user identities and hand over data to authorities, in what critics described as the latest attack on freedom of expression in the communist-ruled country.

In a statement to the Reuters news agency, a representative of Telegram said the company was “surprised” by the Vietnamese government’s move.

“We have responded to legal requests from Vietnam on time. The deadline for the response is May 27, and we are processing the request,” the Telegram representative said.

An official at Vietnam’s Science and Technology Ministry told the Reuters news agency that the decision followed Telegram’s failure to share user data with the government as part of criminal investigations.

Telegram was still available in Vietnam as of Friday.

According to the Data Report website, there were 79.8 million individuals using the internet in Vietnam at the start of 2025, and according to the data extraction company SOAX, there were 11.8 million Telegram users.

With close to one billion users worldwide, Telegram has been involved in controversies across the world related to security and data breach concerns.

Telegram’s Russian-born founder and chief executive, Pavel Durov, was detained at a Paris airport and later charged with several counts of failing to curb extremist and “terrorist” content on the app. He reportedly remains in France and is unable to leave without authorisation from authorities.

A POPULAR high street name is set to make a dramatic return 13 years after vanishing from UK towns and cities.

Comet, once a go-to store for electrical goods, is being brought back by online marketplace OnBuy – but this time, it’s going digital.

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The retailer, which closed all 236 of its UK branches in 2012, including popular outlets in Essex, will relaunch as an online-only platform in time for the festive season.

Founded in Hull in 1933, Comet grew from selling batteries and radios into a nationwide electrical giant.

It was a household name for decades, known for its deals on TVs, washing machines, and home appliances, before financial trouble forced it into administration in 2012.

Its collapse was one of the biggest retail failures of the time, with thousands of staff losing their jobs and many shoppers left disappointed.

Now, more than a decade later, there’s fresh hope for fans of the iconic brand.

OnBuy’s boss, Cas Paton, said he’s determined to restore Comet’s former glory.

“I am so excited, so thrilled. Growing up, I went to Comet to get what I needed.

“It was a brand that was close to me personally,” he said.

The relaunch won’t see the return of physical shops, but the digital revival promises a wide range of electronics, from big names to emerging tech brands.

OnBuy plans to use its marketplace model to connect shoppers directly with manufacturers, offering better prices and more variety.

Paton added: “We will be ultra competitive and undercut Currys and Amazon.”

He believes OnBuy’s modern approach and Comet’s strong heritage will help win over UK customers.

A significant portion of the £10 million investment will go towards building the Comet website and boosting its technology.

Around 50 new jobs are expected to be created as part of the relaunch effort.

Paton, who started his first business with just £80 after serving in the Royal Navy, said the brand’s revival is about more than nostalgia.

“We’re not just reviving a name; we’re reimagining what trusted electronics retail looks like in a digital-first economy,” he said.

OnBuy, which launched in 2016 and is now worth around £200 million, hopes to turn Comet into a major online player.

The relaunch comes at a time when more consumers are shopping online and seeking alternatives to big-name retailers.

Shoppers can expect a mix of old and new when Comet returns, with the website promising:

“We’re reviving the brand you love to bring you the best tech, brands, and deals worth waiting for.”

Although the high street stores won’t reopen, many still have fond memories of browsing the aisles at their local Comet.

For those in Essex and beyond, the return of the name, even online, is sure to stir a sense of retail nostalgia.

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A PUB dubbed the “cheapest” in Britain has suddenly shut up shop after 500 years.

Locals have been left shocked after the owners revealed a bizarre reason with a notice on the door.

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The Abbey, Derby, posted the handwritten note on the door saying they were unhappy about photos of it being shared online.

The 22-word notice reads: “Closed!!

“Due to someone posting pictures of the Abbey on social media.

Sam Smith has taken the alcohol and closed these premises.”

Samuel Smith’s Brewery owns the pub and it has been suggested the current landlords had broken policies and were dismissed as a result.

The brewery operates 200 pubs across the UK and is known for it’s strict rules from owner Humphrey Smith.

Such rules include a no-swearing policy, no televisions or jukeboxes and a ban on the use of mobile phones or laptops in its public houses.

Just days prior to the closure, a Facebook account with more than 125,000 followers posted 18 pictures of the pub, inside and out.

The Great British Pub Crawl account, a page run by Dale Harvey and his wife, Holly, follows the couple as they attempt to visit every boozer in the UK.

They posted the photos on Saturday, May 17 alongside the caption: “Not every day you are asked to grab photos or a video in a Sam Smith’s pub.”

It’s not clear whether the post was the reason behind the closure.

The pub is one of the last surviving buildings from an extensive monastery, dating back to the 15th century.

The sudden closure has left locals stunned, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment and confusion.

While the brewery has offered no official explanation, insiders suggest the landlords were dismissed for allowing, or failing to prevent, photos of the pub being shared online, a clear breach of company policy.

The closure marks yet another abrupt ending for a Samuel Smith’s venue, following similar shutdowns in Bradford and London, and raises fresh questions about the brewery’s management style and the long-term viability of its rule-heavy model in the digital age.

The Abbey is far from the only British boozer pulling its last pint.

A string of beloved pubs are closing their doors, with punters and landlords alike left heartbroken as pressures in the hospitality industry hit boiling point.

In East London, the historic Gun pub in Homerton has shut down after 160 years of service.

Once a bustling local favourite, the venue was brought back to life in 2014 following a major revamp by landlords Nick Stephens and his partner Hanna-Sinclair Stephens.

Despite surviving the Covid crunch thanks to a heroic crowdfunding campaign that raised over £30,000 in a single day, the couple say the pub has now become “unsustainable”.

“It was hugely popular, but we just couldn’t keep going,” Nick said.

“The capacity was only 90 — the numbers just didn’t add up anymore.”

Meanwhile, in Nottingham, The Emerald, a vibrant Indian pub and sports bar, has also called time, just two years after opening.

Dubbed a “labour of love” by its owners, The Emerald quickly became a community favourite for curry lovers and cricket fans alike.

But behind the scenes, soaring costs and the departure of a key business partner created what they described as “emotional, financial and operational strain”.

In a heartfelt post, they thanked loyal customers:

“The Emerald was always more than just a pub—it was a cultural space… Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”

Social media lit up with tributes from heartbroken regulars. One wrote: “It was more like home to us.

Watching India win the World Cup there was unforgettable.”

And even award-winners haven’t been spared, a Midlands pub, hailed as the region’s best and a finalist for Desi Grill of the Year 2024, has also gone under, despite its short-lived success.

The wave of closures paints a grim picture for the UK pub scene, already battered by the pandemic and now facing soaring prices for rent, business rates and barrels.

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A FORMER Met detective who investigated Jay Slater’s disappearance has said his drug dealer “pal” has to come forward and answer key questions from the inquest.

Mark Williams-Thomas – who worked on the Madeleine McCann case – conducted his “own investigation” after the 19-year-old went missing on the island of Tenerife in June last year.

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The inquest into Jay’s death was suddenly adjourned yesterday after his grieving mum Debbie pleased the coroner to summon crucial witnesses – including convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim.

Detective turned TV-sleuth Mr Williams-Thomas said he had been in close contact during the investigation with a number of witnesses – including Jay’s family and friends.

Now he has urged Qassim to come forward and answer questions from the “disappointing” inquest.

Qassim took the 19-year-old Brit back to an Airbnb in Masca the night before he went missing on June 17.

Mr Williams-Thomas called Qassim “the most important witness” who he says gave him “crucial evidence” that “hasn’t been made public” yet.

The ex-detective added that the evidence he received from Qassim in his own investigation provides “greater context” as to why Jay left the villa.

Qassim was previously jailed for nine years in 2015 as the ringleader of a London-based gang dealing heroin and crack cocaine in Cardiff.

He and another Brit previously known only as “Rocky” had rented the Airbnb in the remote Tenerife mountains that they took Jay back to after the festival.

Jay posted a final Snapchat picture of himself smoking on the doorstep of the apartment at 7.30am on June 17 before leaving shortly after.

Qassim has always denied any involvement in Jay’s death.

Jay’s disappearance sparked widespread media interest – as well as a slew of social media conspiracy theories.

One of those theories claimed Jay had stolen a £12,000 watch – which his mum Debbie dismissed as vile rumours.

Josh Forshaw, who met Jay as they boarded a plane from Manchester to Tenerife, said he received a message from the teen before he disappeared.

It read: “Ended up getting thrown out with two Mali kids, just took an AP [luxury watch strap] off somebody and was on the way to sell it.”

Josh told the hearing via video link that Jay said he was planning to sell the strap for “10 quid”, slang for £10,000.

Josh told the hearing he received a Snapchat from Jay later in the night that claimed he “ended up getting thrown out” of the venue with two other people.

He also claimed Jay sent him a photo showing “knives down his trousers” that was captioned “in case it kicks off”.

Josh said he didn’t mention the image to Spanish police before leaving Tenerife, but did inform cops in Lancashire on his return.

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Speaking of Josh’s claim of receiving the knives image, Mr Williams-Thomas says he was told that they weren’t found with him and were left in the apartment.

Apprentice bricklayer Jay travelled to the Spanish island in June to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas with two friends, Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves.

The teen travelled to an Airbnb apartment in Masca with two men including Qassim in the early hours of June 17, before leaving at around 8am.

Jay, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, made a heartbreaking final call to his friend Law saying he had cut his leg, was lost, dehydrated and had just one per cent battery on his phone after he left the Airbnb.

On Wednesday night, Law’s family revealed she was simply on holiday on the very same island where Jay died.

They claimed she was also unaware that she had been called to give evidence at the inquest.

Speaking at the family home in Burnley, Lucy’s stepfather Andy Davis said: “We had no idea Jay’s inquest was even being held today.

“The police have only just been round today to say that she was due to give evidence. But it’s the first time we knew of it.”

He added: “They asked if Lucy was home and I said she was abroad and they asked me if I was aware that she should have been in court, and I said I wasn’t.”

“The police said they had sent Lucy paperwork with the dates on it, but the first I knew about it was when the police turned up earlier today.”

Sources in the Slater family later said they were aware where the other missing witnesses were, and had also been able to find them easily, according to the MailOnline.

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The family source said: “Lucy is in Tenerife. Another supposedly untraceable witness is on holiday in Greece.

“If we can find this out so quickly why can’t the police?”

The court also heard a suggestion that witnesses may be reluctant to appear because drugs may have been involved.

After Jay’s body was found, officials said there were traces of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine in his body.

Dr Adeley said: “When drugs are involved in a death, the witnesses are less than forthcoming and do not wish to speak to the authorities.”

Jay‘s disappearance and death remain largely cloaked in mystery and it is hoped that glaring gaps in his final movements will be filled after the inquest.

The inquest heard from three construction workers who said, via video link, they saw Jay on the main road through the remote village of Masca and he asked them about bus times.

He was attempting the treacherous 10-hour walk back to his apartment in Los Cristianos when he called Lucy to say he was lost.

DCI Rachel Higson, head of digital media investigations at Lancashire Police, told the hearing today that Jay’s phone recorded “a lot of steps and inclines” between 7.59am and 8.49am.

His mobile last pinged in the mountainous Rural de Teno Park after Jay walked the wrong way from the Airbnb, and DCI Higson said there was “no data recorded” after 8.49:51am.

After a month-long search, Jay’s body was found in a ravine on July 15 last year – near to where his phone last pinged.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height.

Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd today told the inquest Jay suffered a “heavy fall from height” and the “devastating” effects would have been “immediate”.

Why the inquest farce is more pain for Jay’s family

By Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital)

AS I stood in the sweltering, remote mountains of Masca I was told the news Jay Slater’s loved ones dreaded – his body had been found.

But for his devastated family, it didn’t bring the closure they so desperately needed.

Now almost a year on, his grief-stricken mum, dad and brother have been subjected to yet more torment as an inquest into his death dredged up painful details of his disappearance – while lacking any actual answers.

Jay’s courageous mum Debbie Duncan opened up to me just weeks after his body was found about how she was tortured by not knowing what happened to her beloved son before he fell to his death.

I was humbled by the bravery she showed in the face of living every parent’s worst nightmare on the world stage – relentlessly hounded by mindless trolls.

Spineless witnesses failing to turn up to the hearing to provide crucial information is a kick in the teeth for Debbie and his already suffering family.

The 19-year-old went missing 11 months ago, and his body tragically discovered 29 days later.

So why after all these months has the court failed to bring together vital witnesses – including the two friends he was on holiday with?

After months and months of battling through their grief, the last thing Jay’s family needed was to face a farce of a hearing without the necessary witnesses.

Read more here…

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Videos show the moment a Mexican Navy training ship crashed into New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and injuring dozens more. Eyewitnesses describe seeing people dangling from the snapped masts of the sailing vessel, the ARM Cuauhtémoc.

SHE was “really upset” when she thought she’d stained her brand new blender.

Then Hannah remembered a spray she’d bought, and thought there was no harm in giving it a try.

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And when she sprayed the orange-coloured blender bottle with the Fairy buy, she was stunned to watch the stain literally disappear.

“I actually couldn’t believe my eyes,” Hannah said in a video on her TikTok page.

“I can literally see the stain dissolving!

“Are you seeing this?”

She added that she’d tried to wash up the bottle “six times” before coming to the conclusion that it would be “stained forever” after she’d used it for turmeric.

As one last ditch attempt, she decided to try Fairy’s new Skip the Soak spray, which she’d picked up for just £1 thanks to a Tesco Clubcard voucher.

“In all honesty, I just forgot that I had it,” she said.

“Then thought I’d just give it a try seeing as nothing else was working.”

She then showed the spray in action, before rinsing the foam off to reveal a completely clear and clean bottle.

“If you’ve ever had anything come out the dishwasher and it comes out a bit orangey… I’ve never been able to get those kind of stains out before,” Hannah continued.

She also said that, as the name suggests, the spray can be used in place of leaving something to soak to get it clean.

“It says you can use it on surfaces as well,” Hannah said.

“Someone even said you can use it on clothes if you’ve got a stain in clothes.

“I think it’s quite new.

“Wanted to share because I feel like this is such a huge hack!

“I can’t believe it.”

“What is this witchcraft?” Hannah wrote over the top of her video, adding in the caption: “I can’t believe I’ve had this just sitting in my cupboard for weeks!”

And the comments section was almost immediately filled with other chuffed users raving about the budget buy.

“It got bacon grease off my daughters dancing leotard, it’s SO good,” one wrote.

“No, that is incredible!! Saw the ad for it but didn’t think it’d be that good!!” another added.

“It makes cleaning the air fryer so much easier too,” a third commented.

“Can’t wait to try this on the tupperwares that never look clean,” someone else wrote.

As another joked: “You know you’re old when you send this to your mum asking for one on your birthday!”

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A SAVVY chocolate lover has revealed a hack to get a Hotel Chocolate gift reduced to just 95p, with shoppers claiming they’re “already on it”.

Joseph Stutter took to Facebook to share his bargain trick, which impressed many sweet treat fans.

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In the post, he shared a photo of a box of chocolates from the popular Hotel Chocolat brand, writing: “If you sign up to the Hotel Chocolat VIP scheme online, you get a £5 voucher near your birthday.

“There’s a £5.50 minimum spend, but the Everything Mini Selection is £5.95 — so these only cost me 95p.”

The Facebook post quickly racked up hundreds of likes and comments from shoppers keen to grab the discounted treat.

One user wrote: “Ooh lovely.”

“Thank you so much for this! It was my birthday last Monday, so this was handy,” commented another.

This savvy shopper added: “Sign up to Lindt as well, they send you a voucher for a box of chocolates on your birthday.”

“I’m already on it,” a fourth said.

It comes after chocolate fans scrambled to their major retailer after it dropped the price of Toblerone bags to just 50p – down from £4.

B&M is behind the deal, with the Toblerone Tiny Bags (280g) spotted on sale at a branch in Bordon, Hampshire.

One eagle-eyed shopper posted the bargain to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group and said it was in B&M Bordon, Hampshire.

The post quickly caused a stir on social media, with shoppers eager to grab the deal.

One replied: “What a bargain!”

Another, tagging a sibling, wrote: “Dad would be wanting them.”

A third added: “Oh that’s good. My sister lives there lol.”

Remember to compare prices

It is important to always shop around as you might find a cheaper alternative.

Websites like Trolley and Price Spy let you compare thousands of products across different retailers to find the best price.

Price Spy even lets you see how much an item has cost over time, so you can see if the current price is a good deal.

A quick scan on the Google Shopping/Product tab will also bring up how much retailers are selling a certain item for too.

How to save money on chocolate

We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…

Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.

Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.

Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.

Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.

They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.

Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.

So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.

CHOCOLATE lovers are convinced that an iconic treat, last discounted 11 years ago, could be making a comeback on the shelves.

TikToker Minstrel Munches has sparked a buzz on social media, claiming a much-loved snack launched in 2003 might be returning to stores.

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White chocolate Maltesers were originally launched as a seasonal product, but became so popular that they began being sold all year round.

However, due to low sales, they were discontinued, leaving many chocolate fans devastated.

Yet in a recent TikTok, the social media foodie claimed the beloved sweet treat is set to make a comeback this summer.

She said: “They are coming back. They are expected to be released in the middle of June or the start of July.”

Minstrel Munches wasn’t the only social media account to share the news.

The popular Food Finds UK Official Facebook group also claimed that white chocolate Maltesers are set to make a comeback.

The post received hundreds of likes and comments from chocolate fans expressing excitement about the potential return.

One user wrote: “OMG this better be true.”

“Yum can’t wait”, another commented.

While a third said: “Oh my god, our prayers have been answered.”

Why and when were White Maltesers discontinued?

White Maltesers were discontinued in 2014.

They were pulled from shelves 11 years after they first launched in 2003.

White Maltesers were originally launched as a seasonal product but became so popular that they began being sold all year round.

It has been reported that they were discontinued due low sales but many chocolate lovers were devastated to see the end of their run.

In 2017 a petition was started to bring the sweet treat back.

The petition’s creator had hoped to garner 2,500 signatures of support but as of March 2024 only 1,637 had signed the campaign.

Where can you buy discontinued chocolate bars?

Here’s where you can pick up the Breakaway, Caramac, Milky Way Crispy Rolls and Yorkie biscuit bars.

Breakaway bars are still going for packs of eight in some stores, check out:

• Iceland – £1
• Sainsbury’s – £1.25
• Tesco – £1.25

Caramac bars will be tough to find as they go viral as soon as they are spotted, try:

• Iceland – £1.25 (packs of three)
• Sainsbury’s – 75p single bar
• B&M – £1.25 (packs of three)

Yorkie biscuit bars are still stocked in quite a few supermarkets, check out:

• Ocado – £1.25 single bar
• Tesco – £1.25 single bar
• Asda – £1.25 single bar

Fan favourite Milky Way Crispy Rolls have been spotted in stores despite being discontinued back in 2022. Head to:

• Poundland – price varies
• Home Bargains – 79p single ba

LANDO NORRIS has boycotted social media after falling behind McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri in the F1 title race.

Despite Norris’ pre-season billing as the Championship favourite, the McLaren star has been outdone by the Aussie’s momentum in the opening six races of the season.

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And Norris has been subject to fresh hate and abuse since falling 16 points behind Piastri, who – despite playing second fiddle to the Brit last year – is the new bookie’s favourite.

Speaking to reporters including SunSport in the McLaren motorhome at Imola, Norris opened up about his online detox ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this Sunday.

The 25-year-old admitted: “I’ve not been on social media for a few weeks now.It’s not something I enjoy. I don’t need to be on it. It’s my life and I can do what I like.

“I enjoy not going on my phone as much as I used to. I still text my friends.

“But I see social media as a waste of my time and energy. I don’t need it or want it. I don’t find it interesting.

“I’ve got more time to do things that I want to do, I play golf and train and want to be productive.”

Of course, it’s still too early to write any driver off with 16 more races up for grabs, but the feeling in the Norris camp seems somewhat bleak going into the European triple header.

Despite sitting second in the standings, Norris also revealed he feels “unhappy” with how his MCL39 feels and isn’t bothered about winning the title.

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Asked if he was thinking about the title standings, Norris said: “No, is the answer.

“I don’t care about it and won’t think about it. It is easy for things to change.

“Oscar has done a good job. But a lot of it is just focusing on myself.
“He’s just another competitor. Another guy, he’s just dressed in the same colours.

“It’s been clear that there have been differences from last year in how the car works, how it acts, and how I’m able to get lap time out of it and perform.

“I’m obviously not happy at the moment, but we will see with the upgrades this week.”

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, 40, unfollowed everyone on Instagram, including all of his Ferrari team, in the days after his played-down radio spat with team strategists in Miami last time out.

On this, Norris added: “Lewis can do what he wants, good for him.”

The Brit’s first season since leaving Mercedes has been a big let down so far, as the Scuderia were meant to be challenging for the title after finishing second in the Constructors race last season.

Instead, Andrea Stella’s team linger a staggering 152 points behind leaders McLaren in the, while Hamilton sits 90 points adrift of Piastri and behind both Silver Arrow drivers in seventh.

FORGET Game of Thrones, nobody understands the art of forming alliances better than Meghan Markle – but her latest friendship might just be her most fruitful yet. 

As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend… and having been blacklisted by David and Victoria Beckham, she and Harry have now made their allegiances very clear, while also bolstering their own “cool” social standing in the process. 

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And it’s all thanks to their new friendship with Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz.

After all, it’s no secret that Meghan is making every concerted effort right now to re-establish herself as a lifestyle guru and online influencer. 

Since launching her lifestyle brand, As Ever, last month, she’s upped her output on social media in a bid to cement herself as the ultimate domestic goddess and yummy mummy.

Having the endorsement of the Beckham-Peltzes – who have a massive social media following between them and are hot property right now, thanks to all the whispers circulating about tensions with Brooklyn’s family – would only help her cause.

What’s more, having seen their friendships with the likes of George and Amal Clooney, Oprah Winfrey and Brooklyn’s parents, David and Victoria Beckham, fall flat, Meghan and Harry can use all the star power they can get right now. 

As the Sun exclusively revealed this week, the Sussexes and the Peltz-Beckhams came together last week at a dinner at the Sussexes’ mansion in Montecito, California.

The VIP event, which included 18 other guests, had been planned for weeks – but its timing, just days after Brooklyn and Nicola skipped his dad David’s 50th birthday celebrations amid a very public fall-out, was significant. 

According to insiders, the two couples “found a lot of common ground” – as Harry and Meghan lent an empathetic ear, and shared their own tales of battle with Harry’s family. 

As far as they are concerned, they’ve both been treated unfairly, prompting their estrangements. 

And in the aftermath, the two couples have potentially formed a powerful alliance.

This may be an unlikely quartet, but it might just be a friendship that pays dividends. 

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Speaking exclusively to The Sun, brand and culture expert Nick Ede believes Meghan is well aware of the benefits that come from this new foursome. 

“Meghan is a very strategic player,” he tells us. “She knows how to maximise her influence by associating herself with those who have more than her.

“This move is positioning her away from old Hollywood stars who have already established themselves, like Oprah and the Clooneys, and it’s bringing new blood into the Montecito establishment.”

He adds: “No one saw this friendship coming, but Meghan really looks like she’s creating a new ‘Fab Four’ with Harry, Brooklyn and Nicola.”

Fab Four

Let’s not forget, this isn’t the first time the Sussexes have attempted to form a solid quartet. 

Back in 2018, months before they got married, Harry and Meghan teamed up with Prince William and Kate Middleton to launch a charity partnership. 

The two couples were dubbed “the Fab Four” – representing a new and exciting era for the royal family.

But, as we all know by now, alliances change and – having once been tied by brotherly bonds – the two couples fell out amid Harry and Meghan’s acrimonious departure from royal life.

Since then the Sussexes haven’t held back in airing their grievances against the Waleses, most notably in Harry’s memoir Spare. 

In it, the former senior royal alleged that his brother had physically attacked him amid their Megxit negotiations, and claimed that Kate had made Meghan cry before their wedding over a disagreement about Princess Charlotte’s flower girl dress. 

These days the warring couples have reportedly cut all communication, and that ‘Fab Four’ alliance is splintered beyond repair. 

‘Blacklisted’

Meanwhile, other A-list friendships have also fallen by the wayside.

Take George and Amal Clooney, who were proudly in attendance at Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding, and hosted them at their mansion in Lake Como soon after. 

The two couples don’t seem to have spoken for years, and the Clooneys have made their indifference to the Sussexes known by snubbing them from several high-profile events they’ve hosted. 

Likewise, fellow wedding attendees David and Victoria Beckham have also blacklisted their former friends. 

No one saw this friendship coming, but Meghan really looks like she’s creating a new ‘Fab Four’ with Harry, Brooklyn and Nicola

Nick EdeBrand and culture expert

As we’ve reported, the two couples were historically close, and Meghan even wore a Victoria Beckham dress in her first post-Megxit appearance as a mark of respect to her famous friend. 

But – after the couple accused Victoria of selling stories about them to the press – the lines of communication went dead. 

The Beckhams duly switched their own allegiances to the royals, and have since been getting closer than ever to Harry’s estranged father and brother. 

They’ve further demonstrated their antipathy by failing to invite the Sussexes to either one of their big 50th birthday celebrations – which, as we’ve seen, included a long list of A-list attendees including Tom Cruise, Eva Longoria and Gordon Ramsay.

So, having been declared personae non gratae by the Beckhams, it seems as if all bets are off.

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Raft of opportunities

With relations between David and Victoria and their eldest son Brooklyn reportedly at an all-time low, this Montecito dinner has made a very public statement indeed. 

Yet this isn’t simply a case of trying to get back at the Beckhams.

For all intents and purposes, Brooklyn and Nicola’s friendship could hold the key to a raft of opportunities for Harry and Meghan at this critical juncture in their own lives.

As she strives to promote her brand As Ever – in tandem with her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, and her recent Netflix series With Love, Meghan – Meghan’s been relying on her A-list connections. 

To that end, she’s been sending out her homemade jams, and other products including shortbread biscuits and herbal teas, to friends including Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen, in the hope that they might plug them on their Instagram pages. 

But so far, her connections haven’t quite paid off when it comes to promoting her business.

Indeed, one of the biggest complaints when it came to her Netflix series was that, while we know she’s enjoyed friendships with the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams in the past, she didn’t deliver on serving up A-list cameos on camera. 

Her biggest signing was Mindy Kaling, but even that interaction seemed awkward and not representative of a genuine friendship. 

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So, having Brooklyn, 26, and Nicola , 30 – who both have a massive social media standing – on side could be highly advantageous to Meghan’s brand and online popularity. 

While Brooklyn, in particular, may be the butt of several jokes when it comes to his career as an online “chef”, there’s no denying that his fans love watching him cook up a storm on his social media. 

The nepo baby now has a whopping 16.3million followers on his Instagram account – which eclipses Meghan’s following of 2.9million.

With that kind of popularity, Brooklyn’s endorsement of Meghan’s jam, and her brand in general, would be a big win for As Ever. 

It’s time to build on her credibility and build an audience who are authentic and buy into her brand.

Nick Ede

What’s more, Brooklyn and Nicola bring a hip and fresh factor to this new dynamic. 

The Clooneys and the Beckhams may be established and dynastic couples, but the Peltz-Beckhams represent the next gen of showbiz influencers.

This potential leverage among younger followers will not have escaped Meghan’s attention. 

It’s worth noting that the Duchess of Sussex has already made attempts to broaden her showbiz squad. 

Earlier this year, she gave an online shoutout to Billie Eilish, the ultimate Gen Z cool girl, after the latter helped her with a charitable endeavour.

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She and Harry also recently stepped out at Beyonce’s LA concert – packing on the PDA and later thanking the singer online for a very fun “date night”.

This new Meghan is one who wants to be perceived as laid back, personable and fun – countering claims made in the past year that she’s a “bully” and difficult to work with. 

Having the endorsement of a young, cool couple like Brooklyn and Nicola at this time could be beneficial – and Meghan knows it.

Meanwhile for Harry, having Brooklyn on side, who – as a Brit abroad – represents a piece of home at a time when he remains largely estranged from his family, might just be the source of comfort he needs. 

Building a business should be Meghan’s priority

Nick Ede

But, as Nick tells us, she shouldn’t rely on her A-list friendships to guarantee her brand’s future.

She may be hoping to garner attention, but – ultimately – consumers want high quality products, regardless of who’s endorsing them.

“Whether this is a good move for Meghan is something we will have to wait and see,” Nick says. “The As Ever brand is still in its early days, and so is her TV career as a lifestyle expert.

“It’s time to build on her credibility and build an audience who are authentic and buy into her brand. 

“Building a business should be her priority – this relationship may just serve as a distraction, rather than a positive step for both parties.”

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A COUPLE has caused controversy after sharing the very unique name they’ve chosen for their newborn son.

Morgan and boyfriend Lou welcomed their first child into the world a week ago, and decided to unveil his moniker in a video on their TikTok page.

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In the clip, they admitted it was “really easy” for them to settle on a name for a little girl, and had chosen Birdie Lou for if they’d had a daughter.

“But it was really hard for us to find a boy name that was like equally as exciting,” Morgan admitted.

So, instead of going the traditional route of going through a baby name book, Morgan and Lou decided to go through their record collection, looking for one that “spoke to us the most” and “had sentimental meaning”.

“And that’s how we ended up landing on Pony Ramone Presley,” they said.

They went on to explain where the inspiration for the name had come from, as they said that on their first date, they had danced to an Orville Peck song called Pony.

“So when we saw this record, it felt right,” Morgan added.

“Beautiful name!” Lou chimed in.

The tot’s middle name was inspired by the rock band Ramones.

“When we first found out she was pregnant, we were actually heavily, heavily listening to the Ramones,” Lou said.

“So it just felt right, and it just sounds nice.”

“Welcome to the world Pony Ramone,” they wrote over the top of the video as it came to an end, with Lou holding up a onesie that had the name ‘Pony’ emblazoned on the front.

The video quickly attracted comments, with the majority coming from people who insisted they’d assigned their son to a “lifetime of bullying” by giving him that name.

“That’s so terrible I’m sorry lol,” one wrote.

“You’re naming a future adult. You’re being selfish,” another raged.

“Pony???? Jesus Christ!”

“The bullying he’s going to get for his name though…” a third said.

“Parents caring more about appearing original and trendy than caring about how their name choice will affect the baby through their life is always wild to me,” someone else sighed.

“Feels selfish.”

“People choose names for their children as if they were choosing a name for a pet,” another commented.

“Oh my gosh that poor boy when he starts school,” someone else said, while another called him “that poor kid”.

“I swear some people just name their children anything these days,” someone else wrote.

“Might as well name mine Chair, Zebra, Door knob, and butter dish!”

“That’s a baby, not a puppy,” another said.

However, there were those in the comments section who approved of the baby’s unusual name.

“Stay true to your uniqueness guys, that little man is going to live a blessed life,” one wrote.

“I’m actually so obsessed with Pony as a first name!” another admitted.

“Oh I am absolutely in love with his beautiful name,” a third commented.

It’s a baby, not a puppy

TikTok commenter

“Having a unique name is really fun! Two of the coolest parents ever!”

“Pony has the most badass parents,” someone else agreed.

“Love his name!”

“I LOVE Pony because its a reflection of your love onto your sweet baby. Don’t listen to anyone else,” another urged.

“People act like we don’t already live in a world full of Forests, Diamonds, Bartholomews, and Cinnamons,” someone else wrote.

“Pony is actually so sweet and meaningful. They actually picked a cool name instead of a normal name spelled ENTIRELY WRONG in order to be ‘unique’.”

A social media post has dragged former FBI director James Comey into a maelstrom of accusations from critics that he called for the assassination of United States President Donald Trump.

Comey, a fierce Trump critic, denied in a statement that the photo he took and shared on Instagram was a call for violence, adding that “I oppose violence of any kind.” He has since taken down the photo in question.

His rebuttal has, however, done little to calm Trump’s supporters, with the country’s Homeland Security Department and the Secret Service announcing on Thursday that they were investigating the incident.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened:

What did Comey Post?

Comey shared an Instagram photo on Thursday showing seashells on a beach arranged in the numbers “86 47”.

“Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” his caption read.

Critics were quick to point out that the number “86” refers to old US slang that refers to “getting rid of” something, or “removing something”. The slang was highly in use in restaurants back in the 1930s, and usually signalled to waiters and customers that an item on a menu was sold out and could not be provided.

The “47”, they claim, refers to Trump’s current term in office as the 47th president of the US.

Comey, on the same day, took the photo down. In a separate Instagram post, the former intelligence boss explained that he took the photo while “on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message”.

“I didn’t realise some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down,” he said.

The hashtag #8647 has previously, and as early as March, appeared on social media sites like TikTok among posters criticising Trump and calling for his removal. It has come to represent a silent code for opposing the president.

What have Trump’s allies said?

Trump’s supporters on social media channels have denounced Comey’s post, calling it a call for the president’s “assassination”.

Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered.

This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!! pic.twitter.com/4LUK6crHAT

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 15, 2025

President Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr on Thursday said in an X post that Comey had “casually called for my dad to be murdered”, adding that the post was “demented”.

Grok, a conversational AI assistant on the Elon Musk-owned social media site, responding to comments from X users asking for clarification on the meaning of the numbers, said it was “basically a sneaky way of saying “get rid of Trump”. However, the assistant also added that the numbers do not “inherently mean assassinate Trump” but rather they imply “political removal”.

Speaking on Fox News, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said she did not accept that Comey was unaware of the violent interpretation of “86 47”. Gabbard said Comey “should be held accountable and put behind bars for this”.

Republican Congressman Andy Ogles said he sent a letter to US intelligence agencies calling for an investigation into Comey’s “disturbing” post to see if the former intelligence boss had violated two federal laws – threatening the president and interstate sharing of threatening communication.

Ogles also demanded confirmation on whether Comey still has access to classified material because of his previous role as FBI director.

“If Comey broke the law, he shouldn’t get a pass. He should be in handcuffs,” Ogles wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in an X post said the matter was already being investigated by US intelligence authorities.

“Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” she posted.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on X that his agency will aid the investigation and “provide all necessary support”.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair said Comey’s post was a call to “terrorists & hostile regimes to kill the President of the United States as he travels in the Middle East”.

“Any Democrat or Media Outlet who fails to condemn this clear Incitement of Violence is complicit and must be described as such.”

What is Comey and Trump’s past relationship?

Comey was appointed by former President Barack Obama. Before the 2016 election, Comey investigated Hillary Clinton’s use of private email servers during her time as secretary of state. Many Democrats argue that this investigation, on the eve of the vote, cost her the election, in which Clinton was the party’s nominee against Trump.

But Comey also led the FBI’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections, and was fired in 2017 by Trump early in his first term in office.

Comey had testified to Congress that Russia did interfere in the 2016 elections. The administration’s official reason for firing him was that Comey was “ineffective”, referring to dissatisfaction with the Clinton investigation, which eventually ended without the politician being charged.

The major sticking point between Trump and Comey, according to analysts, was Comey’s focus on the Russia issue and his refusal to state in public that Trump and his Trump Organisation were not personally being investigated.

Comey began vocally criticising Trump following his dismissal, calling him “morally unfit” to be president and a threat to the norms of democracy in his 2018 memoir, A Higher Loyalty.

IT’S an invasive, extremely high-risk procedure that could leave patients with a lung puncture, nerve damage and chronic pain.

But despite the eye-watering risks, more women than ever are opting for ‘Barbie rib’ surgery – that’s having one or more ribs taken out – to achieve a tiny waist.

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In the 1950s, stars of the silver screen such as Marilyn Monroe wowed with their tiny hourglass figures.

But in 2025, women are going one step further by opting for the latest surgery trend.

When Kim Kardashian graced the Met Gala’s red carpet last March wearing a tightly cinched silver corset, it sparked rumours that the A-lister may have gone under the knife.

While getting ready for the event, she told Vogue: “I’ll feel so snatched I won’t even be able to communicate to you how snatched I feel.”

She fiercely denied rumours of rib removal, later saying: “I don’t even know if that’s possible.”

Well, the shocking surgery IS possible, with many women now going under the knife to achieve the same look as their favourite red carpet celebs.

The surgery, performed under general anaesthesia, involves the surgeon detaching the rib bone and removing it or partially removing to give the appearance of a slimmer waistline.

The ribs can also be repositioned, and a rib brace is then worn to compress the midsection.

It’s an incredibly dangerous procedure that could cause the lungs to collapse or damage other internal organs, with few experienced surgeons willing to carry out the op.

Hazim Sadideen, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the Cadogan Clinic, told The Sun: “There’s been a lot of noise around the ‘Barbie rib’ procedure, and I think it’s important to separate fact from fiction.

“First off, rib modification and rib removal are very different things.

“True rib removal, where one or more of the floating ribs are completely taken out, is an invasive and high-risk procedure. I would never recommend it purely for cosmetic reasons.

“The risks include lung puncture, nerve damage and chronic pain. There are long-term asymmetry risks too.”

Other celebs have also been rumoured to have had the surgery, including Cher and singer Prince, while other A-listers have donned corsets and tight dresses on the red carpet to achieve a cinched look – a body ideal that has seeped onto social media.

Under the knife

Despite the controversy, Essex Mum Kerry Miles, 41, still planned to spend £15,000 on the procedure after using a corset to shrink her waist to just 21 inches.

Belgian performer Jada Sparks spent over £14,000 having ribs removed. The former nurse said: “I’ve done it for the cosmetic reason, but also the thrill of it to be honest.

“I went down about 2.5 inches from the start until now.

“I think I have reached my ultimate result now. In the beginning, it felt weird, but your body is an odd thing, it can adapt really quick.

“So, I like the feeling right now of having something ‘missing’.”

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Emily James, an influencer from Kansas City, Missouri, spent £13,000 having six of her ribs removed last year – and claims it is no different to a Brazilian Butt Lift.

Emily told The Sun she’d researched her procedure thoroughly and defended her decision. 

She says: “I absolutely think that it’s important to make informed, well-thought-out decisions before you get plastic surgery.

“People should not just be going into random like garages, getting oil pumped into their bodies for like a BBL or getting veneered by some girl that you found on Instagram.

“It’s important to make well-informed decisions, and if you’re going into it with the mindset knowing the risks and the benefits, then you absolutely should do what you want to do.

“But just keep in mind that it is plastic surgery, and there are dangers involved, and there are risks and complications that can arise from getting these kinds of surgeries.”

‘Barbie waist’

The iconic Barbie doll has impossible proportions – which in real life would be 39″ bust, 18″ waist and 33″ hips.

Her terrifyingly tiny waist measurement would in reality be smaller than that of the average three-year-old.

A Google search of “Barbie rib procedure” yields over 135,000 results.

But while Mr Sadideen believes filtered images don’t reveal the truth about invasive procedures, Emily, who had post-surgery complications with a catheter, was able to get the surgery without any psychological evaluation or counselling.

“There was nothing like that,” she says. “But it was a really hard process to find someone that I felt comfortable going to.

“There were lots that were certified to do the surgery, but I didn’t feel they were qualified. I wanted someone who really understood me.” 

Emily flew almost 800 miles for the surgery in Cleveland, Ohio.

But with the trend taking off on social media and celebrities in the US, Germany and UK reportedly having it done, increasing numbers of women are attending clinics asking for their ribs to be removed.

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While Towie’s Abigail Clarke is also rumoured to have had the procedure, Emily says the invasive and risky surgery, which she’s still recovering from, was more painful than she imagined.

“I got there about 6.30 in the morning and honestly, I was really scared,” she says. “I knew my rib removal was going to be painful because I’d done a lot of research.

“I had my boobs done at the same time, but coming out of surgery, I was super swollen, and I couldn’t sit up or lay down by myself.

“I had to have someone help me stand up, lay down, pretty much do everything.

“It was a really intense surgery, and I had a lot of numbness and pain for a long time.”

‘Emotional toll’

While Emily has documented her journey online, Mr Sadideen says social media could be to blame for the increase in requests for these types of invasive procedures.

“What really worries me is how social media glamorises extreme body transformations without showing the full story – the recovery, the risks, or the emotional toll,” he says.

“The rise of these trends is often driven by filtered images and unattainable ideals, which can feed into body dysmorphia and lead people to believe something drastic is the only solution.”

While Emily had no psychological evaluation at all prior to the procedure which altered her skeleton, he believes the mental capacity of a patient should factor into every surgical evaluation.

Just because something is technically possible doesn’t mean it’s the right choice

Mr Hazim Sadideen

“Any patient considering a procedure like this should undergo a thorough psychological assessment to ensure they’re making this choice for the right reasons, not due to pressure or distorted self-image,” he says.

“As surgeons, we have a duty to protect our patients.

“Just because something is technically possible doesn’t mean it’s the right choice.”

Despite having the support of her loved ones, Emily is aware that she entered into the procedure without any long-term idea of how her rib removal might affect her body in the future.

“I knew going into surgery, the ribs I was having removed do serve some protection of my kidneys and my liver,” she says.

“I don’t think that I regret any of my surgeries, but who knows when I’m 60 if I’ll have complications from my rib removal.

“I’ve noticed already there has been one weird complication that whenever I get sick or cough, my muscles separate. So yeah, there might be complications later down the road.”

Mr Sadideen says there is a less invasive option that can be considered without needing to go to the dangerous extremes Emily has.

“There is a more conservative alternative sometimes referred to as rib reshaping or rib modification,” he says.

“In very carefully selected cases, surgeons may use a controlled mini-fracture technique to slightly bend a rib inward.

“It’s a method already used in nose reshaping – known as rhinoplasty – and orthopaedic surgery.

“But it must be done with the utmost precision, using detailed scans, ultrasound guidance during surgery, and specific tools to reduce risk and avoid complications.

“Even so, the data is still emerging, and we don’t yet have a full picture of long-term safety or outcomes.”

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While Emily – who plans to make a crown out of the ribs she’s had removed – has received a barrage of online hate for her surgery choices, she says it doesn’t bother her.

“I’ve had a lot of people say that I worship the devil, or that I’m like, controlled by Satan because I am making a crown out of my rib bones, which is really silly,” she says.

While there are plenty of celebrities who are rumoured to have had the procedure done – from Cher to Prince to Kim Kardashian and Demi Moore, Mr Sadideen says society’s obsession with filters could be resulting in the dangerous trend growing in popularity.

“Extreme procedures like rib removal should be a last resort, not a trend,” he says.

“And we should all be asking: are we doing this to feel better, or just to look better on a screen?”

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Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassouna was killed the day after she learned a film about her life in Gaza would be shown at the Cannes Film Festival. Al Jazeera’s Hind Toussiate spoke with the director of the film, Sepideh Farsi.

BARGAIN-hunting Brits are rushing to a major supermarket to grab a limited-edition ‘mystery’ flavour of Pringles for just 98p.

The curious crisps have been spotted at Sainsbury’s stores across the UK, where eagle-eyed shoppers have clocked the Super Mario-themed “Mystery Flavour” 165g cans being cleared from shelves in a flash.

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A photo of the discounted snack was shared on Facebook, sparking a flurry of comments from snack fans desperate to uncover the flavour.

One user wrote: “I would love to know the flavour please, thanks.”

Speculation has run wild online, with people offering their best guesses.

“My partner had them, said they tasted like salt and vinegar,” one person commented.

Another added: “Bit spicy – should’ve read the ingredients on the box.

“Nothing to go wild about.”

Others reckoned the crisps were meant to mimic classic Italian flavours, with one writing: “They’re supposed to be like a pepperoni pizza flavour but they weren’t nice,” while another suggested: “I think they are spicy meatball flavour.”

One fan said: “They mostly taste pickled onion flavour,” and another chimed in: “I believe they’re random flavours – hence the mystery.”

The Mario-themed cans are part of a special Pringles line featuring multiple mystery flavours – and Pringles isn’t spilling the beans just yet.

Fans have been left to rely on their own taste buds, with theories ranging from ketchup and spaghetti to “Magic Mushroom” flavour, a cheeky nod to the iconic Nintendo game.

The mystery surrounding these crisps has sparked plenty of debate online, with many fans expressing their excitement over the flavour hunt.

One Facebook user even joked: “I can’t wait to open one and see if it tastes like the power-ups Mario collects!”

It’s not the first time Pringles has teased taste buds with a mystery range.

Previous surprise flavours have included carbonara, Southern Fried Chicken, and Pickle – each of which garnered mixed reactions from shoppers.

This latest release seems to have struck a chord with fans, though, who are eager to get their hands on the elusive taste.

For those intrigued by the Mario connection, it’s clear that the theme has added an extra layer of excitement to this mystery.

With Super Mario’s popularity ever-growing, it’s no wonder that fans are flocking to the supermarket to get their hands on the latest Pringles craze.

In the midst of this snack craze, Pringles continues to dominate the crisp world with their bold experiments and limited-edition offerings.

Whether it’s a mysterious flavour or a nod to a beloved gaming character, the brand knows how to keep fans guessing.

And with Doritos also hinting at a major shake-up – possibly ditching their iconic triangle shape for a square – it seems the crisp aisle is full of surprises this month.

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