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OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

SCORPIO

OCT 24 – NOV 22

🔵 Read our horoscopes live blog for the latest readings

Your social self is in the chart spotlight and you ask yourself some key questions. 

Could you be a better friend, and are you using your ability to influence others in the best way? 

There is an audience out there waiting for your skills, if you are prepared to share.

In love? Partners are both learning, just in different ways. Single?  You could face a choice of fire signs. 

DESTINY DAYS: Let yourself be less selfless, more selfish, on Tuesday.  

Thursday is prime time for smart work moves and you can meet a fate mate on some stairs on Saturday. Look out for bright colours.

LUCKY LINKS: A recipe of six ingredients.  The same song played in 
two versions. A family who are all extremely competitive.

NEW MOON NEW START: It’s all about friendships and social contacts for you this week – as the new moon helps you shift away from needing approval or “permission” and start mapping out your own future. 

And yes, this can mean letting some names, who may be toxic, or just too casual with your feelings, go from your life. 

When you clear old obstacles from your friendship radar, you can see straight through to some great new possibilities.

Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.

You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it’s like to live your life totally by your horoscope.

Victims not immediately identified after deadly attack at popular store in the state capital, Austin.

A gunman has opened fire in the parking lot of a Target store in Texas, United States, killing three people, according to authorities.

The attack occurred on Monday in the state’s capital, Austin, with Chief of Police Lisa Davis describing the attacker as a man in his 30s with “a mental health history”.

After the shooting, the man fled the scene in a stolen car, which he later crashed. He then stole another car from a nearby dealership before he was captured.

Emergency responders found the three victims, who were not immediately identified, when they arrived at the scene. Two were pronounced dead immediately, with a third pronounced dead at a hospital.

“This is a very sad day for Austin. It’s a very sad day for us all, and my condolences go out to the families,” Davis said.

The attack occurred shortly before schools restart in the country, in what is commonly a popular time for shopping.

In a post on X, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the attack a “devastating situation”.

“My heart is with the victims and their families,” he said. “While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I’ll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence.”

The Target attack comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan.

A man stabbed 11 people at the store in Traverse City on July 26, and has been charged with “terrorism” and multiple counts of attempted murder.

In late July, a 27-year-old man fatally shot five people in Midtown Manhattan, in the deadliest shooting in the city in more than two decades.

Gun violence has been a leading driver of crime in the US. According to the database Gun Violence Archives, there have been 9,143 gun-related deaths and 269 mass shootings so far in 2025.

IKEA fans won’t have to wait much longer — the Swedish giant’s long-awaited new store will open its doors in just 48 hours.

The brand-new branch, located in Brighton’s Churchill Square Shopping Centre, takes over the former Debenhams site which has been empty since 2021.

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Shoppers will be able to step inside from 10am on Thursday, August 14 , to explore thousands of affordable homeware items, and tuck into the famous meatballs.

Spread across two floors and 6,695 square metres, the store will offer 2,600 products for immediate takeaway and access to the full 12,000-strong range via delivery or collection.

It’s the first full IKEA store in the city, meaning Brighton locals will no longer need to trek to Croydon or Southampton for the full shopping experience.

Bosses say the new shop has been created with the “city at its heart”, with displays inspired by local homes and Brighton’s seaside style.

Six roomsets have been co-created with residents, including ceramicists Adam Johnson and Dan Mackey, to show off colourful, space-saving ideas and a nod to the city’s famous beach huts.

Adam said: “We’ve always loved IKEA because it’s like an interiors disco – and what’s life without a little sparkle?”

The first floor houses a 100-seat Swedish Deli serving meatballs, plantballs and sweet treats, all with sweeping sea views.

The Swedish Food Market will sell ingredients and snacks to enjoy at home.

On the ground floor, bargain hunters can snap up pre-loved and discontinued items in the Re-shop & Re-use area.

There’s also a home planning hub where shoppers can get one-to-one help designing kitchens or bedroom storage.

Quick bites and drinks will be available at the Swedish Bite kiosk.

Market Manager Karina Gilpin said: “Our city centre location in Churchill Square means customers can conveniently drop in while out and about, to seek inspiration for their homes, browse our range, access our expert planning advice, or enjoy our delicious meatballs or plantballs.”

To celebrate the launch, the first 100 IKEA Family Members through the doors will get a blue FRAKTA bag with a mystery gift card worth between £1 and £1,000.

Brighton will be IKEA’s third city-centre store in the UK, following Oxford Street and Hammersmith in London.

The opening is part of the retailer’s push for smaller, high street-friendly locations, moving away from giant out-of-town warehouses.

The Churchill Square store will open 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

Where is my closest Ikea?

A quick way of figuring out if you have an Ikea store near you is by using the retailer’s locator tool on its website.

You just have to enter the town or city where you live, or your postcode and it will pull up the nearest site.

The same page has a helpful map showing where all of the 21 current stores are located.

Below we reveal the full list of Ikea stores in the UK:

• Croydon
• Hammersmith
• Greenwich
• Lakeside
• Wembley
• Birmingham (Wednesbury)
• Nottingham
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• Exeter
• Belfast
• Manchester
• Warrington
• Edinburgh
• Gateshead
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Sheffield
• Milton Keynes
• Reading
• Southampton

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“Thank you so much for showing up this morning,” Sharon Nicholls said into a megaphone at 8 a.m. Wednesday outside a Home Depot in Pasadena.

As of Friday afternoon, no federal agents had raided the store on East Walnut Street. But the citizen brigade that stands watch outside and patrols the parking lot in search of ICE agents has not let down its guard—especially not after raids at three other Home Depots in recent days despite federal court rulings limiting sweeps.

Steve Lopez

Steve Lopez is a California native who has been a Los Angeles Times columnist since 2001. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards and is a four-time Pulitzer finalist.

About two dozen people gathered near the tent that serves as headquarters of the East Pasadena Community Defense Center. Another dozen or so would be arriving over the next half hour, some carrying signs.

“Silence is Violence”

“Migrants Don’t Party With Epstein”

Cynthia Lunine, 70, carried a large sign that read “Break His Dark Spell” and included a sinister image of President Trump. She said she was new to political activism, but added: “You can’t not be an activist. If you’re an American, it’s the only option. The immigration issue is absolutely inhumane, it’s un-Christian, and it’s intolerable.”

Anit-ICE activists march through the Home Depot in Pasadena on Aug. 6.

(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

There are local supporters, for sure, of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Activists told me there aren’t many days in which they don’t field shouted profanities or pro-Trump cheers from Home Depot shoppers.

But the administration’s blather about a focus on violent offenders led to huge demonstrations in greater Los Angeles beginning in June, and the cause continues to draw people into the streets.

Dayena Campbell, 35, is a volunteer at Community Defense Corner operations in other parts of Pasadena, a movement that followed high-profile raids and was covered in the Colorado Boulevard newspaper and, later, in the New York Times. A fulltime student who works in sales, Campbell was also cruising the parking lot at the Home Depot on the east side of Pasadena in search of federal agents.

She thought this Home Depot needed its own Community Defense Corner, so she started one about a month ago. She and her cohort have more than once spotted agents in the area and alerted day laborers. About half have scattered, she said, and half have held firm despite the risk.

When I asked what motivated Campbell, she said:

“Inhumane, illegal kidnappings. Lack of due process. Actions taken without anyone being held accountable. Seeing people’s lives ripped apart. Seeing families being destroyed in the blink of an eye.”

Anywhere from a handful to a dozen volunteers show up daily to to hand out literature, patrol the parking lot and check in on day laborers, sometimes bringing them food. Once a week, Nicholls helps organize a rally that includes a march through the parking lot and into the store, where the protesters present a letter asking Home Depot management to “say no to ICE in their parking lot and in their store.”

Nicholls is an LAUSD teacher-librarian, and when she asks for support each week, working and retired teachers answer the call.

“I’m yelling my lungs out,” said retired teacher Mary Rose O’Leary, who joined in the chants of “ICE out of Home Depot” and “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.”

Sharon Nicholls gets a hug of support from another protester outside the Home Depot in Pasadena.

(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

“Immigrants are what make this city what it is … and the path to legal immigration is closed to everybody who doesn’t have what, $5 million or something?” O’Leary said, adding that she was motivated by “the Christian ideal of welcoming the stranger.”

Retired teacher Dan Murphy speaks Spanish and regularly checks in with day laborers.

“One guy said to me, ‘We’re just here to work.’ Some of the guys were like, ‘We’re not criminals … we’re just here … to make money and get by,’” Murphy said. He called the raids a flexing of “the violent arm of what autocracy can bring,” and he resents Trump’s focus on Southern California.

“I take it personally. I’m white, but these are my people. California is my people. And it bothers me what might happen in this country if people don’t stand firm … I just said, ‘I gotta do something.’ I’m doing this now so I don’t hate myself later.”

Nicholls told me she was an activist many years ago, and then turned her focus to work and raising a family. But the combination of wildfires, the cleanup and rebuilding, and the raids, brought her out of activism retirement.

“The first people to come out after the firefighters—the second-responders—were day laborers cleaning the streets,” Nicholls said. “You’d see them in orange shirts all over the city, cleaning up.”

The East Pasadena Home Depot is “an important store,” because it’s a supply center for the rebuilding of Altadena, “and we’re going out there to show our love and solidarity for our neighbors,” Nicholls said. To strike the fear of deportation in the hearts of workers, she said, is “inhumane, and to me, it’s morally wrong.”

Nicholls had a quick response when I asked what she thinks of those who say illegal is illegal, so what’s left to discuss?

“That blocks the complexity of the conversation,” she said, and doesn’t take into account the hunger and violence that drive migration. Her husband, she said, left El Salvador 35 years ago during a war funded in part by the U.S.

Pablo Alvarado, right, co-director of National Day Laborer Organizing Network, speaks to Anti-ICE protesters on Aug. 6.

(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

They have family members with legal status and some who are undocumented and afraid to leave their homes, Nicholls said. I mentioned that I had written about Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, who was undocumented as a child, and has kept his passport handy since the raids began. In that column, I quoted Gordo’s friend, immigrant-rights leader Pablo Alvarado, director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

“Full disclosure,” Nicholls said, “[Alvarado] is my husband.”

It was news to me.

When the raids began, Nicholls said, she told her husband, “I have the summer off, sweetie, but I want to help, and I’m going to call my friends.”

On Wednesday, after Nicholls welcomed demonstrators, Alvarado showed up for a pep talk.

“I have lived in this country since 1990 … and I love it as much as I love the small village where I came from in El Salvador,” Alvarado said. “Some people may say that we are going into fascism, into authoritarianism, and I would say that we are already there.”

He offered details of a raid that morning at a Home Depot in Westlake and said the question is not whether the Pasadena store will be raided, but when. This country readily accepts the labor of immigrants but it does not respect their humanity, Alvarado said.

“When humble people are attacked,” he said, “we are here to bear witness.”

Nicholls led demonstrators through the parking lot and into the store, where she read aloud the letter asking Home Depot to take a stand against raids.

Outside, where it was hot and steamy by mid-morning, several sun-blasted day laborers said they appreciated the support. But they were still fearful, and desperate for work.

Jorge, just shy of 70, practically begged me to take his phone number.

Whatever work I might have, he said, please call.

[email protected]

Aug. 8 (UPI) — Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, beloved home goods store Bed Bath & Beyond opened its first new store in Nashville Friday with a new name.

The owners of the bankrupt chain’s intellectual property resurrected the brand with a new name — Bed Bath & Beyond Home.

“We’re proud to reintroduce one of retail’s most iconic names with the launch of Bed Bath & Beyond Home, beautifully reimagined for how families gather at home today,” said Amy Sullivan, CEO of parent company Brand Collective, in a news release.

“With Bed Bath & Beyond Home we’re delivering on our mission to offer great brands, for any budget, in every room. It’s a powerful addition to our portfolio and a meaningful step forward in our transformation.”

If shoppers have kept their old Bed Bath & Beyond coupons, they can use them in the new store.

“We encourage guests to bring in their legacy Bed Bath & Beyond coupons which we will gladly honor,” the company said in a news release. “The coupon we all know and love is back and for those who need one, a fresh version will be waiting at the door.”

When the company went bankrupt in 2023, it struggled to find a buyer and liquidated. It sold off the business in parts. Overstock.com bought the intellectual property and rebranded itself as Beyond Inc. It launched an online-only Bed Bath & Beyond.

Beyond bought an ownership stake in Kirkland’s, a home decor chain, and licensed it to develop and create Bed Bath & Beyond Home stores and Buy Buy Baby stores. Kirkland’s became the Brand House Collective and will convert some Kirkland’s stores to Bed Bath & Beyond stores.

Not all Bed Bath & Beyond products were available on the online store. In 2024, the brand secured a partnership with The Container Store to sell its goods. Beyond Inc. also committed to a $40 million investment in The Container Store, The Tennessean reported.

The Nashville opening is one of six planned for the market. Beyond said if the stores do well, it intends to convert 75 stores in 2026.

THIS August, prepare for a cosmic reset and a surge of personal growth!

From Aries stepping into power and clarity to Taurus locking in love, each sign is poised for significant shifts…

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Aries

Cross the threshold, Aries – august opens a portal to power, clarity and cosmic rewards.

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Love & Relationships – The Emperor

Power dynamics are important, they shape our interactions and sense of identity.

The Emperor suggests you’re struggling with a power dynamic in your inner circle, someone has an upper hand and is wielding it wrongly.

It’s time to correct this by changing the mood, activity, and frequency of contact.

This person is likely to be very similar to you, almost a cosmic twin.

Re-set the energy by behaving differently this August.

This will work. Be consistent.

Work & Purpose – The Sun

You are entering your most powerful and successful era!

The Sun is a bringer of success, prosperity, joy, and ambition, almost inviting you to enter a realm of reward by making a confident step through a portal.

You need to apply, pitch, ask, challenge, or create something- almost like a sacrifice or ritual.

If you do it boldly, led by hope not fear, you will be met with great success.

International opportunities are also possible.

Omen to look out for – Nine of Cups

Look for the number 9 or repeats of it.

Look for symbols of wish making and dream fulfilment i.e. stars, magic lamps, genies, fairies etc.

Look out for a situation where you need a dash of luck to succeed.

If you notice one of these omens then you’re in the right place at the right time to get what you most want.

Take a step right THERE AND THEN.

About Kerry King

Kerry King, the tarot queen, uses tarot and star sign wisdom to create inspiring forecasts and insights, with nearly 30 years fortune telling experience, and many happy clients all over the world.

Join Kerry’s secret tarot club for exclusive forecasts, predictions, lessons, readings and 1-1 access to Kerry.

Sun readers get a WHOLE MONTH for FREE with this link https://www.patreon.com/thetarotclub/redeem/A2D66

Book your own tarot reading with Kerry here.

Find Kerry’s Good Karma Tarot deck here.

Taurus

Love locks in, but big decisions linger – Taurus, August is all about knowing what (and who) you want.

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Love & Relationships – Ten of Coins

All Taureans crave stability, certainty, and control- it’s hardwired into their nature.

The Ten of Coins delivers these much-sought things into your love life this August via proposals, commitments, declarations, intimate connections, legal agreements, and shared goals.

If you’re single, then a solid, loving fellow Earth sign (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) could enter your realm and become your ‘everything’.

A happy ever after in love awaits.

Work & Purpose – The Lovers

You feel a bit confused about your direction this August- maybe a head vs heart schism about your path or next step.

Take your time, don’t be pressured into a snap judgement.

Do the mental gymnastics and research to understand your situation, options, and potential fully, and wait until you feel clear and calm about a certain option.

And then, and only then, take decisive action.

Omen to look out for – Queen of Wands

Look out for women who inspire, excite, or wildly entertain you.

Listen to them carefully.

Look out for Fire sign folk (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) who invite you someplace.

Look out for course, books, shows or podcasts about leadership.

If you notice one of these omens then you’re being advice, opportunity or insight that will help you to rise, take ownership, and fulfil a leadership role you’re destined for.

Gemini

Step back, learn more, and let the universe show its hand – Gemini, this month is a masterclass.

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Love & Relationships – Three of Wands

Step back from the pressure or expectation that it’s YOU who has to do all of the organising, fun-creation, and effort.

Let things swing as they would without your 24/7 influence, and see what’s really there.

Sometimes you do too much for others, and it’s taken for granted.

The Three of Wands shows that August will bring plenty of openings for folk to show you their true feelings and intentions towards you.

Work & Purpose – Page of Pentacles

Education is your BFF.

All Geminis love learning and studying- you never really left that school mentality.

The Page of Coins wants you back in the classroom, potentially for career (re)training, or even personal development.

Whether it’s formal or informal will depend on your circumstance and opportunity, but however you do it, seek education and stimulate your mind with new knowledge and skill.

What you learn could take you places!

Omen to look out for – The High Priestess

Look for the number 2 or repeats of it.

Look for couples who catch your eye, and ask yourself why.

Look out for psychic experiences or interludes, uncanny or strange occurrences, and notice where you were / what you were doing.

If you notice one of these omens then you’re receiving instruction from a higher being about what is important for you in relationships vs what you need to do / own / work on solo.

Cancer

See the truth, honour your intuition, and glow up – Cancer, August is a mirror and a map.

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Love & Relationships – Seven of Cups

Avoid the temptation to retreat into your Cancerian exoskeleton shell and spend more time thinking, vs doing anything, about your love life and key relationships.

You can project, assume, overthink. It doesn’t do any good. Instead, verify, discuss, ask, challenge, check.

Get clarity on where you stand and take steps from that point (not what you imagine to be the case).

Work & Purpose – Three of Wands

Luck, karma and fate are conspiring to bring you new news and ideas this August, so let them do their thing and don’t get in the way!

Tune into your intuition and gut instinct (which is very powerful for you).

Notice random events or acts, coincidence, omens and signs. Pay attention to your dreams.

Decipher messages and nudges and signposting from the psychic intel you receive!

Use it and new doors will open!

Omen to look out for – Judgement

Look out the number 20 or repeats of it (maybe in year format i.e. 2025).

Look out for mirrors, reflective surfaces that show you clearly or in a flattering light.

Look out for descriptions of you, your star sign maybe, or personality type that really resonate.

If you notice one of these omens then you are being told to update and upgrade your self image.

You are more powerful, beautiful, smart, and talented than you currently think.

Get up to speed on your magnificence!

Leo

Step into your power, Leo – this month, your creativity and confidence light the way to exciting new beginnings.

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Love & Relationships – Two of Wands

You are always popular and in demand, both in friendships, family circles, and romance.

It’s time for you to know and act on the relationship priorities that you most value and wish to serve or build.

Know your inner circle, your key folk, and treat them as such.

Don’t get distracted or taken offline by new projects or faces.

Show loyalty and commitment and it will be returned tenfold, because you ARE loved.

Work & Purpose – Knight of Coins

August, despite being holiday season, might feel like hard work for you but the rewards will all be worthwhile so keep your nose to the grindstone… and then celebrate when the job is done, you’ll feel all the better for it.

Be determined and diligent in your efforts, whether this is related to career tasks, education or personal projects.

It will be demanding, but it will also be rewarding, and that’s a happy balance.

Omen to look out for – King of Cups

Look for dreams about love and romance, and notice WHO you’re dreaming about and how you feel.

Look for instant sparks and attractions with strangers.

Look out for chance encounters with someone you’re immediately fascinated by.

If you notice one of these omens you could be meeting or about to (re)connect with your future soul mate!

If you’re single (even if you’re not…) this could be IT!

Virgo

Justice, closure, and a second chance you didn’t see coming – Virgo, it’s time to reset.

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Love & Relationships – Justice

Play fair, be nice, stay on the straight and narrow, but don’t sacrifice yourself or your desires and needs to keep the peace either.

Balance is what is needed.

Maybe you’ve been ridden over too many times, maybe you’ve crossed lines you shouldn’t have.

Be honest and admit where there have been injustices in your close relationships recently.

What can you learn here? What could you change?

If you’re single, a beautiful Libran soul will enter your realm and perfectly suite in with your lifestyle.

Work & Purpose – Four of Cups

I think you feel a little complacent, maybe even bored or tired of your role or projects.

This happens.

We get a bit burnt out, we hit a wall, we need a change.

Use August as a refresher month.

See things with new eyes, get a fresh take on stuff, take a break and return with clear vision and a rested mindset.

If you can get away and take a complete break, then do.

You are renewing and restoring your energies.

Omen to look out for – Eight of Cups

Look for the number 8, or repeats of it.

Look for second chances, repeats, reruns, reinventions of old ideas in new guises.

Look out for memories or echoes of situations where you missed out on something but, maybe just maybe, it was for the best in hindsight.

If you notice any of these omens then you’re being given a chance.

Libra

Solitude, strategy, and a smart plan forward – Libra, this is your long game era.

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Love & Relationships – The Hemit

Solitude is a great healer and restorer. A little absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Giving someone the gift of missing you is often enough to reset the dynamic and return that loving feeling.

Don’t be scared to withdraw and get some peace and quiet, don’t be nervous of creating a boundary.

The Hermit hints you need space.

You need solitude so you can think (and so can they…).

Work & Purpose – King of Swords

It’s a good month to make a 10 (or 5) year plan!

What’s the goal, the key objective? What’s the strategy to achieve it? What are the tactics and timescale?

The King of Swords brings precise thought, clarity, inspiration, and innovation to your realm, helping you future proof and create shrewd plans of attack to get where you want to be- wherever that is!

This is a planning and research month.

Omen to look out for – Five of wands

Look for the number 5 or repeats of it.

Look for the feeling of frustration and resentment, sit with it, and notice who or what it sticks to.

Look out for situations where you feel stuck / overwhelmed / done to / stagnated.

If you see any of these signs, then you’re being shown first things first, the places you’ve outgrown and can immediately withdraw from.

Act on this insight.

Scorpio

Challenge accepted – Scorpio, this month you win, lead, and love on your own terms.

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Love & Relationships – Seven of Wands

There is competitive energy in your relationship realm, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Sometimes it serves to be tested or tempted or offered a challenge which helps you rise to the occasion!

Look out for people who inspire new ideas or energy in your love life or friendships.

Look out for sparky Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) who motivate you to BE different.

Maybe this August’s love life move is to set your own goal or target and MAKE it happen!

Work & Purpose – Ten of Coins

If I said it would ALL be alright in the end and you’re destined for riches no matter what, then what power move would you confidently make?

Perhaps THAT is the step you’re destined to take this August.

The Ten of Coins promises a career and wealth happy ever after, as long as you stick to the plan and deliver consistently against it.

Be measured, well paced, and keep showing up, and people will believe in you, invest in you, and help you get where you want to go.

Respect is earned over time.

Omen to look out for – Ten of Wands

Look for the number 10 or combinations of it.

Look out for thins which have deflated, wilted, melted, or withered.

Notice places which look invitingly relaxing and comforting. Notice safe sanctuaries and rest zones.

If you notice one of these omens then you’re being invited to activate a phase of deep rest and hibernation- maybe for a hour, maybe for a weekend- you decide.

Rest is restorative right now.

Sagittarius 

This is your month, Sagittarius – new people, powerful insights, and journey.

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Love & Relationships – Ace of Wands

It’s all new on the relationship front! New friends, admirers, family members, colleague, allies, and acquaintances.

These folk are being drawn into your life for a reason: to help you initiate new projects, roles, and growth.

It’s a time to travel with friends, plan a major life change with a loved one, embark on a new hobby in a group setting.

Look out for inspiring and charismatic Fire sign folk (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) that you feel an immediate attraction towards.

Work & Purpose – Judgement

Judgement brings a deep and lasting sense of clarity to your realm.

You feel like you really understand your unique blend of experience, talent, skill, interest, and proven ability.

You know the niche for you!

When this is so blindingly clear, it’s so much easier to embrace that identity wholly, and to feel every inch of yourself authentically.

And this identity fit leads you to new opportunities because you’re vibrating NEXT LEVEL, attracting the opportunities meant ONLY for you.

A powerful August.

Omen to look out for – The Chariot

Look out for the number 7, or repeats of it.

Look out for unusual, outlandish, antique, or eye-catching vehicles.

Look out for trips, holidays, outings, excursions, and events that feel aligned to your emerging sense of identity and purpose.

If you notice one of these omens then you’re given a golden opportunity to travel or visit someplace that will UNLOCK vast new areas of potential for you.

Capricorn

Solo focus, big joy, and a lucky break – Capricorn, August helps you get ahead.

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Love & Relationships – Queen of Swords

The Queen of Swords is all about solo and independent power and fortitude.

Sometimes you just so better flying solo, right?

Sometimes your own company is the best fuel and energy to help you get done what needs doing!

That’s not to say you shut off from family, love or friendship, but you MUST make time for your own projects and goals, by yourself, this August.

Your relationships will benefit from you being the best version of you!

Work & Purpose – Three of Cups

Wouldn’t it be great if work felt like play?

That’s kind of the ultimate goal, because then time becomes precious.

Time crawls when you have a job whereas it flies when you have a vocation.

Is it time to find that vocation for yourself?

The Three of Cups simply asks you to focus on, as much asp possible, what you love and enjoy doing in work or education.

Amplify the interests.

Excel in the areas you’re already talented and proficient.

Build on success and joy, and create an awesome career.

Omen to look out for – Three of Wands

Look for the number 3, or repeats of it.

Look for coincidence and de ja vu.

Look out for invitations that come from weird or totally unexpected sources.

If you notice one of these omens then you’re being gifted a golden opportunity to do something new that will lead to a new upwards trajectory in career, education, or both.

It’s time to get lucky and get ahead.

Aquarius

Truth, talent, and total alignment – Aquarius, it’s time to create something real.

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Love & Relationships – Seven of Cups

Overthinking rarely leads you anywhere good, useful, or worthwhile, in fact it often leads you in circles.

Your sign is famed for purity and honesty, so just get clarity on whatever feels murky.

Ask questions. Seek truth.

Understand the situation vs assuming or projecting.

Look out for creative Water signs (Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio) this August, a true alliance could be forged.

Work & Purpose – The Magician

The Magician is a wonderful card evoking entrepreneurship, creativity, invention and innovation.

You are going to create something magnificent that plays to a strength or talent and it’s going to activate a new chapter of success and growth.

This is also a manifesting card so you’re being given ideas and good fortune to help your ambitions and dreams come true.

This August is a game changer. Go create!

Omen to look out for – Three of Swords

Look out for the number 3 or repeats of it.

Look out for gut feelings of disquiet or distrust about someone or something.

Look out for people whose actions do not align with their words or promises.

If you notice one of these omens then you being shown a situation that is not what it seems and carries negative potential. Remove yourself.

Act on your hunch. Protect your interests.

Pisces

Grow stronger, think bigger, and expand your realm – Pisces, August brings new purpose.

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Love & Relationships – Page of Coins

There’s a real earnestness and desire to do better emerging in your relationship realm, on all levels, with family, friends and in love.

If we all tried a bit harder and repaired past damage and did better in future, how amazing could our alliances and support network become?

What if we all took that vow together?

Pisces, make this happen in your world. It could create the strongest relationship network EVER, with you in the middle of it, beautifully supported and loved.

Work & Purpose – Eight of Swords

Stop worrying about what others might think or say.

That is their business, not your business.

And your assumptions and projections really reveal more about your own insecurity or fear than the truth or reality of things.

So, stop, press pause on that kind of thinking.

Refocus on what you know, on what is happening, on the events and outcomes you’re managing.

And craft steps and actions that serve those realities directly, clearly, and positively.

A bit of focus will change everything.

Omen to look out for – The World

Look out for the number 21 or repeats of it.

Look out for trips, outings, vacation ideas, and journey inspirations that speak directly to a passion or goal in your realm.

Look out for stories, shows, and podcasts about something overseas that fascinates you.

If you notice one of these omens then you’re being asked to broaden your horizons, consider going someplace to do something stretching, or even moving location!

The world is your oyster, Pisces.

POUNDLAND has confirmed the full list of 12 more store closures amid a massive restructuing.

Sites across Canterbury, Coventry and Brigg have been named as destinations due to shut.

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Poundland’s retail director Darren MacDonald said:“While our anticipated network of around 650-700 stores remains sizeable, it is of course, sincerely that we’re closing a number of stores to allow us to get us back on track.

“We entirely understand how disappointing it will be for customers when a store nearby, closes but we look forward to continuing to welcome them to one of our other locations.

“Work is underway to with colleagues through a formal consultation process in stores scheduled to close, exploring any suitable alternative roles.”

You can check out the full list of closures here:

• Brigg: Cary Lane, Brigg, DN20 8EY
• Canterbury: Unit 2A, Marshwood Close Retail Park, Canterbury, CT1 1DX
• Coventry: 63 Hertford Street, Coventry, CV1 1LB
• Newcastle: Unit 15-18, Killingworth Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE12 6YT
• Kings Heath: 74-76 High Street, Kings Heath, B14 7JZ
• Peterborough: Unit 19, Orton Gate Shopping Centre, PE2 5TD
• Peterlee: 32 Yoden Way, Castle Dene Shopping Centre, Peterlee, SR8 1AL
• Rainham: 12 Rainham Shopping Centre, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 7HW
• Salford: Unit C Regent Retail Park, Ordsall Lane, Salford, M5 3TP
• Sheldon: 2192 Coventry Road, Sheldon, Birmingham, B26 3JE
• Wells: 27-29 High Street, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2AA
• Whitechapel: Units 2-5, 75 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1DU

AFTER nearly three decades of trading, a popular House of Fraser store is set to close.

The department store in Victoria Centre, Nottingham, which first opened in 1997, will roll down the shutters in October this year.

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It’s bittersweet news for shoppers, who have been treated to a 20 percent off sale inside the store.

The once-thriving shopping hub was nearly shut in 2022 after Fraser Group chief exec Michael Murray described the brand as a “broken business”.

At the time, he said: “House of Fraser was a broken business when we bought it.

“We’ve completely changed the operating model. It was mostly concession, the stores were way too big, they were under‑invested.

“Our future vision is that House of Fraser will diminish and Frasers will grow.”

Once boasting more than 60 stores across the UK, the department store has steadily shuttered locations since its 2018 acquisition by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group.

Between 2022 and 2025 alone, over a dozen sites—including flagship locations like Oxford Street and regional mainstays in Cardiff, Cheltenham, and Nottingham—have closed their doors.

The closures reflect a deeper failure to adapt to a rapidly evolving retail landscape.

Many of its stores were oversized and heavily reliant on concessions—third-party brands renting space—which offered little control over stock or customer experience.

Frasers Group is now repositioning itself around a new retail vision, investing in smaller-format “Frasers” stores and upmarket lifestyle hubs, with sport and luxury offerings as its focus.

The Sun has approached House of Fraser representatives for comment.

House of Fraser is just one brand struggling against recent economic pressures and changes in consumer habits.

A combination of rising inflation, energy costs, and interest rates has squeezed both household spending and business margins, creating a perfect storm for retail operators.

For many consumers, essentials have taken priority over discretionary purchases, leading to a noticeable decline in footfall and in-store spending.

Even major players with established reputations have found themselves forced to close stores, reduce staff, or pivot entirely toward e-commerce.

This comes as Poundland bosses implemented a series of closures this year after the business was hit by spiraling operating costs and weakening footfall.

In Cornwall, one Poundland was evicted from one of its locations – leaving staff locked out of work overnight.

The budget chain was kicked out of its store on Fore Street in St Austell, CornwallLive reported.

A bizarre notice was also posted in the window of the popular store.

It read: “We as authorised agents acting on behalf of the above-named landlord have today re-entered these premises and any lease or licence is hereby determined.

“Any attempt to enter these premises without the written authority of the above-named landlord will result in criminal/civil proceedings being taken.”

A Poundland spokesperson confirmed that the locks were changed overnight without notice.

When William Rath mapped out his post-law school trip to Los Angeles in May, his itinerary included the city’s quintessential landmarks: gazing up at the Hollywood sign from Beachwood Canyon, taking a celebrity homes tour, scanning the Pacific Ocean for whales off the coast of Long Beach. But amid these classic stops, one destination rose above the rest. Erewhon, the luxury grocer, was a nonnegotiable — not for its groceries, but for the clout, the curiosity and the spectacle.

Rath, a freshly minted graduate from the University of Oregon and influencer, made his pilgrimage to the Beverly Hills location, the gleaming wellness emporium nestled just steps from Rodeo Drive, where Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie routinely draws queues 20-people deep. Unable to find a seat outside, he retreated to his rental car in the shade of a nearby parking garage, and filmed a TikTok review.

“TikTok was the main reason I went. It’s always been on my ‘For You’ page,” says 25-year-old Rath. “I always see a lot of influencers going there and trying different things. It’s a big trend, and it hasn’t stopped.”

Once the domain of wellness devotees and Hollywood insiders, Erewhon has transformed into something more universal: for some, it’s their local grocery store, but it’s also now a bucket list tourist destination. Like the Hollywood Walk of Fame or the Getty Museum, the upscale grocer draws out-of-town visitors in search of not just sustenance, but status — a smoothie, a snapshot and social media proof they were there.

Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie ($20) attracts tourists to Erewhon.

(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

Aspiration defines much of Erewhon’s appeal. In an era when tourists seek experiences as much as landmarks, the store offers something singular: a way to sample a certain kind of shiny L.A. life. It’s wellness as entertainment, grocery shopping as status symbol. Some tourists are just people on vacation there to gawk, while others are influencers there for content.

“It’s a cultural moment,” says Christina Basias, 36, who has checked out Erewhon’s Santa Monica, Venice and Silver Lake locations when traveling from New Jersey with wife Alexis Androulakis, 38. When they go, the beauty product educators and entrepreneurs scope out new product trends and wellness ingredients that haven’t yet hit mass retailers. “At least 40% of what I see at Erewhon, I can’t find anywhere else,” Androulakis adds.

Founded in 1966 by macrobiotic pioneers Michio and Aveline Kushi, Erewhon began as a natural foods stall in a Boston market before opening a location in L.A. in 1969. The pair borrowed the store’s name, an anagram of “nowhere,” from Samuel Butler’s 1872 satirical novel of the same name, which centered on a utopia where illness is considered a crime. After Tony Antoci and his wife Josephine acquired the brand in 2011, the stores became sleeker and more light-filled; valet parking became the norm. Perhaps most significantly, Erewhon began partnering with celebrities on exclusive smoothie collaborations with none more iconic than Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie.

The exterior of Erewhon is seen in Culver City in 2024.

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

By mastering the intersection of curated wellness and celebrity cachet, the brand has turned everyday shopping into a kind of luxury theater.

For many first-time visitors, going to the store is driven by seeing the phenomenon for themselves. That was the appeal for Chloe Forero, an influencer from Chicago, who visited L.A. in May. “It was very much a Whole Foods on steroids,” she says. “It just seemed more like a social experiment than a place people shop day to day.”

Forero, 22, walked away with a sushi roll, two juices and a cookie totaling $65. “The cookie was great,” she admits. “But I ate that sushi thinking maybe this will change my life. Perhaps this sushi will be so good it’ll be worth the price tag that comes with it. It was not.”

Some longtime Erewhon shoppers — yes, some of whom are influencers themselves — grumble on social media about the Erewhon tourists. Meredith Lynch, a Los Angeles native, writer and influencer who frequently dissects influencer culture online, says the Beverly Hills location, in particular, has become a stage. “So much about L.A., for better or worse, is about being seen,” she says. “Erewhon is a place where people go, and they get seen.”

Inside the Culver City Erewhon in 2024.

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

The performative aspect resonates with young out-of-towners. Kiara Dewrance, a chef from Cape Town, South Africa, had hoped to try the Bieber smoothie when she visited L.A. last September. But after seeing the price ($20), she opted for two less expensive drinks and still walked away thrilled.

“It kind of feels like when you’re watching a movie. It kind of felt like a movie moment seeing it in real life,” says Dewrance, 27.

Gibson Ardoline, a 19-year-old influencer and business administration major at the University of Florida, spent $91 on lunch when he first toured L.A. last November, which included sushi, juice and one of the store’s hot bar meals. He offset the costs by filming two TikTok reels chronicling his experience, which received more than 1 million views combined and earned him more than what he spent at Erewhon thanks to payments from TikTok as part of the platform’s Creator Rewards Program.

“It was worth going one time, just to have the laugh and say I spent $90 on lunch,” he says, although he wouldn’t disclose how much he made. “It might not be a laugh for everybody, but to me, it was profitable.”

Not everyone leaves ambivalent. Patrick Oatman, a model and economics major at the University of Connecticut, was genuinely impressed when he dropped by Erewhon last June.

“It seemed to be miles away from a regular grocery store, so it was entertaining in that perspective. It felt like this out-of-reach L.A. thing,” says Oatman, 21.

Erewhon carries several branded wellness products, like this Neptune Blue Sea Moss gel.

(Juno Carmel / Los Angeles Times)

For Rath, who hopes to move to L.A. and practice entertainment law one day, his $100 tab was less a trip expense than a rite of passage.

“This couldn’t be my weekly place for groceries, but If I had a job in L.A., maybe I would go, although it would have to be like once every two weeks,” he explains.

When asked to rank Erewhon among the other iconic spots he visited, he didn’t skip a beat.

“Honestly?” he says. “In-N-Out was fine, but I preferred Erewhon.”

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today.

VIRGO

AUG 24 – SEPT 22

🔵 Read our horoscopes live blog for the latest readings

You and Mars make an unlikely couple – but one that really gets great results.

You may need to pause your usual personal rules, and allow yourself to be a little wilder this week.

But this can be a revelation! Old friends with a new look can be a luck-link, and you should seriously consider taking that
step towards talking on camera.

Love is a learning curve of shared curiosity.

DESTINY DAYS: Set a more ambitious schedule for yourself on Tuesday – an stick to it. Wear colours that make you feel joyful on Thursday. Share some special news on Sunday.

LUCKY LINKS: A TV show with an all- female cast. Names that start with your initial. A picture taken in a mountainous
setting.

JUPITER SQUARE SATURN: You are experiencing the third square of these two planet giants in less than a year – and you should tap into the special powers this affords you.

One is endurance, to keep going even when others seem less able, or willing, to keep up with you.

And another is the ability to
read between the lines of friendship and family conversations or messages, and understand what’s really meant.

This helps you adapt, and grow, in ways that help you shine — in groups and solo.

Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.

You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it’s like to live your life totally by your horoscope.

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

LIBRA

SEPT 23 – OCT 23

🔵 Read our horoscopes live blog for the latest readings

Think twice about hiding anything this week, from feelings to facts, as Mars is so strong in the deepest part of your chart.

Honesty is your best policy, and you have the strength to say
even difficult things.

With the sun now at the top of your chart, it’s a week to
celebrate who you are and where you are going, so set some shining goals in love and life.

DESTINY DAYS: You can make a difference on Monday, especially to someone 10 years away in age. Tweak a cash plan on Thursday, but don’t give it up all together. Fill in forms with care on Friday.

LUCKY LINKS: A room painted in rainbow colours. Items sold in sets of six. Competitions with a mystery-solving
element.

JUPITER SQUARE SATURN: This is the third Jupiter-Saturn square in less than a year, and is your moment to stop making
excuses and start getting deals signed and sealed.

You may have waited for others to get on the same page, but it’s better to push on alone than keep on delaying in search of a “yes” that is elusive.

There’s a mix of ambition and understanding in you that’s unique – but it must be used while it is hot.

Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.

You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it’s like to live your life totally by your horoscope.

THE Original Factory Shop has launched a closing down sale at yet another store.

A branch in Heswall is the latest store to announce its closure, leaving shoppers heartbroken.

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The Merseyside branch has launched closing down sale to help shift stock before it shutters for good.

Shoppers have a chance to grab up to 70% off selected lines, and 50% off electrical products.

The Henswell store opened two years ago in June 2023.

The exact date the store is closing has not yet been confirmed but The Sun will update this piece when we hear more.

Up to 11 TOFS stores are already to set to close this month, including sites across Worcestershire, Durham and Cumbria .

Meanwhile, another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been placed up for sale.

The Original Factory Shop has told The Sun that negotiations are ongoing with landlords – making it unclear whether these shops will remain open.

It comes as part of a major restructuring carried out by new owner Modella Capital with a number of loss making stores having to close as result.

Over June nine of these stores will close, including sites in Dorest and Durham.

Another site in Middlewich is also set to close however a date is yet to be confirmed.

You can see the full list of store closures here:

• Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire – June 26
• Perth – June 28
• Chester Le Street, County Durham – June 28
• Arbroath, Angus – June 28
• Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire – June 28
• Pershore, Worcestershire – June 28
• Normanton, West Yorkshire – June 28
• Peterhead, Aberdeenshire – June 28
• Shaftesbury, Dorset – June 28
• Staveley, Cumbria – July 12
• Middlewich – TBC
• Heswall – TBC

The following stores are also up for sale:

• Nairn
• Market Drayton
• Troon
• Blairgowrie
• Castle Douglas

What’s been happening with The Original Factory Shop?

Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores.

Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, having also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith‘s high street shops.

It is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones, and has brought in advisers to look at potential options for Hobbycraft.

At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS.

Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business.

They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords.

TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a “number of loss-making stores will have to close” as part of the restructuring.

It said at the time: “Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible.

And it is not only TOFS that is facing hard times. Hobbycraft is set to close nine stores come June 21.

A MAJOR fashion chain is preparing to close another store ahead of a restructuring which has placed up to 230 stores at risk.

River Island will shutter a branch in Banbury on June 28, giving customers just a few days to say their goodbyes.

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A social media post revealed the tragic news, with locals in the area branding the move as “depressing”.

One resident of the area said: “Soon won’t be any big shops open in Banbury, getting like a ghost town.”

Another shopper added: “If people stopped buying online it wouldn’t happen.”

While a third added: “Gutted…..love River Island.”

The fashion brand, which has been sported by Paris Fury and Cat Deeley, has quietly closed a number of stores in the past few months.

A branch in Willows Place, Corby closed in April and a separate site in Vicar Lane Shopping Centre in Chesterfield closed in the same month.

The Sun has contacted River Island for a comment.

News of the closure comes days after it was revealed that up to 230 of the retailer’s stores are at risk.

The retailer is set to undergo a restructuring due to tough trading conditions.

The owners of River Island have brought in advisers from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to come up with money-saving solutions, reports Sky News.

The proposals are expected to be finalised in a matter of weeks, though sources have reportedly claimed no decisions have been approved on the retailer’s future.

Accounts for River Island Clothing Co for the year ending December 30 2023 showed the firm made a £33.2million pre-tax loss.

Then the turnover during the following 12 months fell by more than 19% to £578.1million.

In January, River Island hired consulting firm, AlixPartners, to undertake work on cost reductions and profit improvement.

However it is now understood PwC has now taken over.

TROUBLE FOR BRITISH FASHION BRANDS

A rise in online shopping coupled with Brits having less money to spend at the till has created problems for fashion brands.

New Look has closed a number of stores in the UK and it’s entire estate in the Republic of Ireland.

Bosses at the women’s fashion brand have blamed hikes to National Insurance for the move.

Earlier this year, Select Fashion closed 35 branches across the UK after it entered into liquidation.

Ted Baker was also forced to close over 30 stores last year after it went bust.

A HOST of stores are shutting for good this weekend including a historic department store.

Retailers have struggled over recent years as shoppers’ wallets and purses take a hit from high inflation.

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An increase in employer National Insurance contributions and wage costs since April has added to the pressure.

Combined with soaring business rates, energy and rental costs, some retailers have been forced to hike prices and even shut stores.

It’s worth bearing in mind of course that retailers close shops for a host of reasons and not always because of a poor economic backdrop.

Sometimes chains will shut a poorly-performing branch in one area and open another further afield where they think they’ll see better footfall.

Plenty of retailers are moving away from high streets and towards out-of-town retail parks too.

In any case, five shops will shut this weekend including a more than 120-year-old department store.

Here is the full list of shops we know are closing down permanently.

Ginger

Norwich-based Ginger will pull down its shutters for the final time on Saturday.

The shop was founded by David and Rodger Kingsley in 1978 following the success of their sister company Jonathan Trumbull in 1971.

But current store manager Beckie Kingsley said the store will close due to the economic climate and aftermath of Covid-19.

She said: “It’s with truly heavy hearts that, after 46 unforgettable years, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close the doors at our beautiful, beloved and historic Timber Hill home.

“We’ve weathered many storms over the decades, but there’s been ongoing challenges of today’s financial climate – coupled with the lasting impact and huge shifts within the retail landscape since Covid.

“This led us to ask – does it still work for us? After deep reflection, the answer, sadly, is no.”

Daniel of Ealing

Historic department store Daniel of Ealing, in London, will shut for good on Sunday, after opening 124 years ago.

Prices have been slashed across homeware, fashion, toys, sportswear and shoes, with up to 50% off.

Shoppers finding out the iconic shop will close have shared their dismay online.

One posted saying: “Loved this shop and it’s top floor restaurant.”

While another added: “Ealing has lost its heart, soul and uniqueness!”

The Works

Stationer The Works is shutting its Margate store on Sunday, with shoppers’ next nearest branches in Westwood Cross Shopping Centre or Ramsgate Garden Centre.

A spokesperson for the chain said the decision to shut the branch had been made “as part of ongoing plans to optimise our store portfolio”.

The move has been met with sadness by shoppers, with one online stating: “No I love The Works.”

Another dejectedly added: “Be nothing left in the town soon.”

Emporium Worthing

Independent bar and shop Emporium Worthing is closing to the public on Sunday “with a heavy heart”.

The owners posted a lengthy statement on Facebook announcing the closure.

It said: “We share the challenging decision to close Emporium Worthing after five memorable years of serving you.

“This has been a tough choice for us, but after careful reflection, we believe it is the best path forward and the right choice for us at this time.”

A huge closing down sale has been launched to clear stock, even including fixtures and fittings from inside.

It’s not all bad news though as the Emporium will be moving online and selling hardwares.

New Look

New Look is closing its branch in the Northfield Shopping Centre, Birmingham, on June 8.

A picture recently posted on Facebook of the shop window advertised the closure and signposted customers to the retailer’s website.

Customers finding out about the closure have been left gutted.

One posted on Facebook: “Will soon be a ghost town, absolutely nothing left.”

Another commented: “Online (retail) is killing shops.”

A New Look spokesperson said: “We would like to thank all of our colleagues and the local community for their support over the years.

“We hope customers continue to shop with us online at newlook.com, where our full product ranges can be found.”

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today.

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ARIES

MARCH 21 – APRIL 20

🔵 Read our horoscopes live blog for the latest readings

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Letting Saturn settle into your sign is a wise decision, so hold off on any major personal moves this week to ensure all your plans are firmly in place.

This will make success a more certain outcome.

Your love life is transitioning from “me” to “we” as Venus moves forward, bringing together moments that will soon be on your calendar.

Above all, believe in better, regardless of what has happened over the past weeks.

SUMMER STARS: WHAT’S AHEAD FOR ARIES IN SUMMER 2025?

Love: Your summer of passion revolves around values such as trust, respect, and loyalty, and how you incorporate these into your love life.

If any of these are lacking, you’ll have the opportunity to fill the gap.

Late July is particularly significant for discovering or rediscovering a special home for your heart.

Horoscope traits

What does your star sign mean for you?

Aries – The best and worst characteristics of the head of the zodiac
Aquarius – The traits you need to know for the air sign
Capricorn – What does this star sign mean for your personality?
Cancer – The key traits for the sign include a keen love of food
Gemini – The traits to be aware of for the sign with a symbol of twins
Leo – The best and worst characteristics of the fire sign
Libra – What does the seventh star sign mean for your personality?
Pisces – The key traits for the sign include an interest in the arts
Sagittarius – The traits you need to know for the fire sign
Scorpio – What does this star sign mean for your personality?
Taurus – The best and worst characteristics of the earth sign
Virgo – The key traits for the sign include loyalty and kindness

Life: Saturn and Neptune will be in Aries throughout the summer, offering you a unique combination of personal magnetism and resilience.

Goals that you may have abandoned previously could now feel right and come to fruition.

The new moon on 23 August is an ideal time for role or title changes.

Luck: Travel tickets, especially those shared within a group, the letter “S,” and friends with strong shared histories can all bring luck.

Additionally, numbers that hold meaning for your oldest living relative might also be auspicious.

Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.

You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it’s like to live your life totally by your horoscope.

SHOPPERS find there’s an elephant in the room — as a peckish pachyderm helps ­himself to grub at a grocery store.

The 25-year-old male munched on sweet rice cakes and chicken’s eggs after barging into the shop in Thailand on Monday.

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Even getting wedged under the low ceiling did not stop him as he searched the aisles for treats — without a shopping list, as elephants never forget.

Shopkeeper Khamploy Gakaew eventually took him to tusk, ushering the wild animal out of her store.

She said: “This was the first time an elephant had visited the store. I hope he doesn’t come back.

“I was worried about the damage he could cause.

“He ate sweet, crispy rice cakes and chicken eggs before walking out.

“I was surprised to see it eating sweet food, as elephants usually search for something salty.”

She added: “We see elephants occasionally, and they will bother street food vendors for food. But this was unusual.”

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A SERIAL thief has been barred from every Greggs in England and Wales after repeatedly targeting the same bakery in a shameless crime spree.

Patrick Verry, 33, is now forbidden from entering any of the high street baker’s hundreds of branches following a court order brought by the Met Police.

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He was caught in the act last week by officers inside a Greggs shop in Wood Green, North London, after striking the location seven times.

Verry was arrested on the spot and brought before Highbury Magistrates’ Court the following day, where he admitted to six counts of theft from the same Greggs store.

Police described him as one of the capital’s “most prolific shoplifters” — and now he’s banned from every Greggs outlet across the country in a move to protect staff and customers.

The order comes as part of a new Met Police blitz on retail crime amid soaring shoplifting rates nationwide.

Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Met’s retail crime lead, said: “The Met is focused on tackling the most prolific shoplifters like Verry.

“They cause fear to retail workers and their offending has a negative impact on communities.”

He continued: “We continue to work with local business owners to investigate reports of shoplifting, understand concerns and use different tactics to crackdown, including targeted operations and regular patrols.”

The ban on Verry comes as The Sun lifts the lid on the true scale of the shoplifting crisis crippling British high streets.

Our undercover investigation found Greggs shops across the country being stripped of stock in broad daylight, with some stores experiencing a theft every 20 minutes.

At one busy location in South London, a thief was seen stuffing doughnuts and drinks into his pockets before barging past staff and walking out unfazed.

In another shocking clip filmed in Tooting, a brave female Greggs manager tried to stop a thief who was carrying several bottles of Coca-Cola.

She shouted: “You’re not having all of that,” as the crook tried to leave.

He coolly replied: “Yeah I’m walking out with them, watch me.”

Customers looked on in silence, too scared to step in. A witness said: “There were two grown men just stood by the tills.

“Everyone was just silent.

“No one said a word. People are just afraid now.”

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The Met later confirmed it was not alerted to the Tooting incident, which happened in August, highlighting just how many shoplifting cases go unreported.

Our reporters saw similar scenes play out in branches from Newcastle to Brighton, with thieves helping themselves to hot food, drinks and sandwiches without even trying to hide it.

In Stockwell, South London, one man was caught on camera filling his coat with products before grabbing two boxes of jam doughnuts worth £3 each and fleeing during the lunchtime rush.

In Worthing, West Sussex, two men repeatedly walked in and out of Greggs helping themselves to hot food from the display cabinets.

On Brighton’s Queen’s Road, one crook walked off with two trays of wedges in front of a stunned staff member. “Average day,” the employee said when asked about it.

Minutes later, another thief ran out with two trays of wedges and a sandwich, while yet another masked man sprinted off carrying food as helpless staff shouted after him.

In Southampton, a man entered just after midday, grabbed four hot food items and said: “Sorry guys, I’m homeless, I need to eat,” before walking straight out the door.

In many cases, Greggs staff are told not to intervene directly with thieves for safety reasons.

One insider told us: “They’ve been told not to chase anyone, not to engage. It’s heartbreaking for the team.”

Astonishingly, just 350 people have been prosecuted for stealing from Greggs in the last six months.

Of those, only 111 received immediate or suspended jail time — and most had long criminal records.

Greggs has started introducing extra security measures in stores hit hardest by crime.

That includes removing self-serve fridges, placing chilled food behind the till, and trialling bouncers in some branches.

One staff member said: “It’s like we’re on the front line. You’re trying to sell sausage rolls but you’re looking over your shoulder constantly.”

Greggs boss Roisin Currie confirmed the company is now using facial recognition technology to catch thieves and pass images to police.

“We’ve now got a system where we can take photos of people committing theft on the shop floor and that then instantly goes to the police,” she told The Sun.

The bakery chain is also investing in body cameras for workers and running trials with a 24-hour shoplifting helpline.

A Greggs spokeswoman said: “Shoplifting is an industry-wide issue and we take it extremely seriously.

The safety of our colleagues and customers remains our absolute priority.”

Politicians have backed The Sun’s investigation.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “This is an important and timely investigation from The Sun, exposing just how bad the shoplifting epidemic has become.

“There has to be consequences for this appalling criminality.”

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson added: “Retail workers should never feel unsafe at work. That is why we’re taking robust action to tackle shop theft and protect workers.”

She confirmed new laws are coming under the government’s Crime and Policing Bill, which will create a specific offence for assaulting shop staff and scrap the £200 threshold that previously gave low-level shoplifters “effective immunity.”

Meanwhile, the Met has released dramatic new footage showing suspects sprinting from stores clutching bottles, sandwiches and snacks as part of a wider crackdown on repeat retail offenders.

And police chiefs say they’re not stopping with Verry, more bans could be coming for other prolific shoplifters as efforts ramp up to restore order on Britain’s battered high streets.

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ANOTHER WHSmith store will shut its doors for the final time this weekend as the retailer continues its slow retreat from Britain’s high streets.

Shoppers in Stockton, County Durham, will say goodbye to their local branch on Saturday, May 17, as it becomes the latest casualty in the chain’s ongoing wave of closures.

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The move follows a string of recent shutdowns across the country, with WHSmith axing high street locations after being snapped up by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital earlier this year in a £76million deal.

The dramatic shake-up means the WHSmith name will vanish from town centres altogether, although its stores in airports, train stations and hospitals will stay open.

Locals in Stockton have been left gutted, with many now forced to travel to travel hubs or shop online for books, stationery, and gifts.

The high street giant has a number of stores in recent months – and more are set to follow.

Branches in Halstead and Woolwich shut on April 12, while Halesowen and Diss followed on April 19.

Just a week later, stores in Newport and Haverhill also pulled down the shutters.

And there’s no sign of the cuts slowing.

Two more sites are due to close by the end of July:

• West Mall, Frenchgate Centre, Doncaster – May 31
• Bedford, Bedfordshire – July 5

Many of the shutting stores are currently holding closing-down sales, with shoppers able to grab big bargains before they go.

Already gone

At least ten WHSmith branches have already vanished from high streets this year, including:

• Bournemouth (Old Christchurch Road), Dorset
• Luton, Bedfordshire
• March, Cambridgeshire
• Basingstoke, Hampshire
• Long Eaton
• Newtown, Powys
• Winton (Bournemouth), Dorset
• Rhyl, Denbighshire
• Bolton, Greater Manchester
• Accrington, Lancashire

The retailer, which first opened in 1792, has faced growing pressure from rising costs, online rivals and changing shopper habits.

The end of WHSmith on the high street

The closures mark the beginning of the end of a 233-year stint on the high street for WHSmith.

Earlier this year, it put its entire high street estate up for sale as it focuses instead on its more profitable travel arm.

As previously mentioned, its remaining 480 high street stores were snapped up by Modella Capital last month, and the move saved the jobs of roughly 5,000 employees.

However, the famous WHSmith name is set to be lost to the high street as the shops will be gradually rebranded to TGJones.

The brand opened its first shop in 1792 in Little Grosvenor Street, London, later becoming the UK’s main newspaper distributor.

High street struggles

WHSmith’s departure from the high street comes just a few years after rival Wilko collapsed, with the brand partially rescued by The Range.

Retailers that had once seemed resilient now appear to be buckling under recent pressures.

They have had to deal with rising inflation and costs, a move to online shopping, and customers having less money to spend amid the cost of living crisis.

Epic Games on Friday said that its popular game “Fortnite” will be offline on Apple devices because the iPhone maker blocked its recent app update.

The dispute comes just weeks after Epic Games and other app developers cheered a judge’s ruling that limited the commissions that Apple makes through third party apps distributed through its app store.

Apple received a scathing rebuke from U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who sided with Epic Games, which alleged that the Cupertino, Calif., tech giant ran afoul of an order she issued in 2021 after finding the company engaged in anticompetitive behavior.

Under the ruling, Apple can’t collect commissions on purchases U.S. customers make through links inside iPhone apps that direct them to outside websites. Developers, which make money by selling digital goods and services via their apps and games, want to avoid giving Apple a cut of their revenue by sending customers to other websites.

“That [Apple] thought this court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation,” the judge wrote in her ruling.

Many developers applauded the court’s ruling, which limits what they call the Apple tax, and said they would pass on the savings to customers.

Epic Games’ Chief Executive Tim Sweeney earlier this month said “Fornite” would return to the App Store in the U.S. and possibly worldwide if Apple extends “the court’s friction free, Apple tax-free framework” globally. But on Friday, the “Fortnite” X account said that Apple blocked its submission.

“Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it,” the account posted. Epic Games did not return requests for further comment.

Apple said on Friday that it asked that “Epic Sweden resubmit the app update without including the U.S. storefront of the App Store so as not to impact Fortnite in other geographies.”

“We did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces,” Apple said in a statement.

Rob Enderle, principal analyst with advisory services firm Enderle Group, said the recent ruling applies to the U.S. and Apple wants to retain the rest of its control worldwide. Apple makes significant money through apps.

“Apple is using their monopoly strength to prevent ‘Fortnite’ from benefiting globally from their core win,” Enderle said.

Epic Games filed its lawsuit against Apple in 2020. “Fornite” generates revenue by letting people buy digital goods, such as “skins,” in the game, and Epic wanted to let users buy items outside the Apple system to avoid the company’s commission.

The court ordered Apple to let app developers put links in its apps so customers could make outside purchases and bypass the company’s commission fee. Apple, however, defied the order, the court said.

Apple limited the ways that developers could communicate with its customers about out-of-app purchases and used wording that discouraged users from clicking on those links, the judge wrote. Apple would charge a commission fee for any goods or services purchased within seven days of a consumer clicking on a link that took them out of the app, the ruling said.

Apple is appealing the ruling and has said it strongly disagreed with the judge’s decision.

A BELOVED department chain is preparing to shut its final store this month as it launches a “Rachel Reeves closing down sale.”

The famous shop will be shuttering forever after serving customers on the high street for 140 years.

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Beales in the Dolphin Centre in Poole will close on May 31 and is slashing the price of stock by 80 per cent in the meantime.

The historic chain was founded in Bournemouth in 1881 and offers a range of iconic products, including clothing, home goods, and more.

This particular Poole Beales branch was the last one standing when the company collapsed into administration in January 2020, leading to the closure of its 22 other stores.

Despite the stores resilience, the brutal budget introduced last year saw the hike of National Insurance which has forced countless shops to close.

To mark the occasions, the store’s Facebook page is advertising a “Rachel Reeves‘ Closing Down Sale,” featuring discounts of up to 80% and a caption cheekily thanking the Chancellor for “the help.”

It wrote in the caption: “Our closing sale is almost over (cheers for the help, Chancellor) – and we’ve just dropped hundreds of lines to 80% OFF or more!

“Grab a bargain before we vanish into the budget black hole. #FinalSale #80Off #LastChance #WhenItsGoneItsGone.”

Despite weathering the storm for the past five years, it seems the Chancellor’s latest Budget changes have delivered the final blow to the struggling chain.

Beales chief executive Tony Brown previously told The Telegraph the business had become “unviable” following the Chancellor’s announcement of increases to the minimum wage and national insurance contributions in the October Budget.

Announcing the closure, Mr Brown said: “This, combined with the risks and uncertainty of further tax increases in the coming years, has left us with no alternative.

“We have been working with the Dolphin Centre, who have been supportive, along with our investors to ensure an orderly exit.

“Our team has been informed, as have our suppliers.

“We will ensure the exit is managed and no one will be left with a financial loss.”

Shoppers were left heartbroken by the news of the store’s impending closure, with one commenting on the latest post: “I’ve loved shopping here over the years.”

Another wrote: “Sadly this is happening to many shops.”

Like many businesses, Beales now faces higher employer national insurance contributions, which have risen from 13.8% to 15%.

Additionally, the threshold at which these contributions must be paid has been lowered from £9,100 to £5,000.

These changes to the tax system were confirmed by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget last October and came into effect on 1 April.

At the same time, the national minimum wage saw a notable increase, rising to £12.21 per hour. For workers aged 18-20, the minimum wage increased by £1.40 to £10 per hour.

Founded in 1881, Beales once boasted a proud portfolio of 41 department stores in market towns across the UK, offering everything from furniture and fashion to toys and cosmetics.

The retailer’s decline has been gradual but unrelenting.

Its Southport store was shuttered last September, just three years after the site had reopened.

With the closure of the Poole branch, the last remaining link to the Beales name, a once-iconic fixture of the British high street, will vanish forever.

DEATH OF THE HIGH STREET

Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.

High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.

However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.

The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.

At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.

Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.

Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.

“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”