People have been left in stitches after American readers revealed what confused them in the Harry Potter books
Some readers mistook British references for magical inventions (Image: Getty)
Americans have revealed what confused them about the Harry Potter books, and it turns out lots of readers mistook British references for magical inventions. The “hilarious” mistakes were highlighted in a video shared by TikTok user @kelley_morgan.
Kelley Morgan told followers: “Here’s some things that I used to think were magic but it turns out they’re just British. It’s pretty common for like a ten or an eleven-year-old American, like, first time they’re learning about British culture, is through the Harry Potter books, so a lot of times they’ll think certain things that are normal for British people are like magical and like Harry Potter.”
She explained: “The first one is true for me, but also the one that people joke about the most, and it’s the one where they’re punting students. There’s a part in Harry Potter where there’s a swamp in the hallways, and then the janitor has to punt students across to get to their classes.
“In American English a punt is like a drop kick and because the world is like magical anyway we think oh he’s kicking students really hard across the swamp, but it turns out in British English punting is like a boat with a stick, like a marsh boat. So it turns out he was just boating them across, he was not kicking them.”
Kelley was also confused by British schools. “Another one is school houses. We don’t have those at all, and I know not everywhere in England has them but apparently a lot of schools do have different school houses and you actually get sorted into the houses and then you earn points for your house. It’s kind of weird to me. It sounds fun, but we don’t do that like at all.”
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She added: “Along the same lines, prefects, which are like the authority figures within the houses is apparently a real thing. We don’t have that at all. I think the closest thing that we might have is a hall monitor, but nobody really likes the hall monitor kids. Also, hall monitor is not a common thing. I don’t think we ever had home monitors in my school, but it’s just something you see on TV. Next, the American content creator revealed she was confused to read about Christmas crackers.
“They always talk about having Christmas crackers and to us a cracker is a snack. I don’t even know what you call it like a cracker, like a chip, not your kind of chip. Then I just assumed fun presents and confetti and stuff fell out of the cracker because they have candy with toys in them in the book.
“So I’m like oh it must fall out of the cracker, but apparently it’s a really common thing like in a lot of European countries where you pull both ends of a thing and it pops.”
The popular book series confused some American readers(Image: Getty)
Finally, she turned her attention to pudding. “I thought they just really liked pudding cause they always say like oh I’m gonna go eat some pudding, like I can’t wait for pudding. They always have pudding after dinner cause over there pudding just means dessert and over here it’s a very specific dessert.”
The video received over 400,000 views and lots of comments from American readers who had a similar experience. Someone commented: “What’s most hilarious about the punting is not that it was a different word, but that we all collectively accepted that Filch drop kicked kids across a pond. No questions asked.”
A different response read: “I legitimately love pudding and was a little bit disappointed when I found out that it just means any dessert. I thought they were always having my favourite dessert!”
Another comment said: “I had the reverse issue — thinking things that were unique to Harry Potter were actually just normal British things. I thought for way too long that all British kids wrote with quills.”
Dhaka, Bangladesh — On July 16, 2024, as security forces launched a brutal crackdown on student protesters campaigning against then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s increasingly authoritarian government, Bangladeshi rapper Muhammad Shezan released a song.
Titled Kotha Ko (speak up in Bangla), the song asked: “The country says it’s free, then where’s your roar?”
It was the day that Abu Sayed, a protester, was killed, becoming the face of the campaign to depose Hasina after 15 years in power. Sayed’s death fuelled the public anger that led to intensified protests. And Shezan’s Kotha Ko, along with a song by another rapper, Hannan Hossain Shimul, became anthems for that movement, culminating in Hasina fleeing Bangladesh for India in August.
Fast forward a year, and Shezan recently released another hit rap track. In Huddai Hutashe, he raps about how “thieves” are being garlanded with flowers – a reference, he said, to unqualified individuals seizing important positions in post-Hasina Bangladesh.
As the country marks the anniversary of the uprising against Hasina, protest tools that played a key role in galvanising support against the former leader have become part of mainstream Bangladeshi politics.
Rap, social media memes and graffiti are now also a part of the arsenal of young Bangladeshis looking to hold their new rulers accountable, just as they once helped uproot Hasina.
A social media meme mocking the Bangladesh government logo, by showing a mob beating a person, highlighting the law and order chaos that followed Hasina’s ouster [Masum Billah/Al Jazeera]
‘Do less drama, dear’
As mob violence surged in Bangladesh last autumn in the aftermath of Hasina’s ouster, a Facebook meme went viral.
It showed the familiar red and green seal of the Bangladesh government. But instead of the golden map of the nation inside the red circle, it depicted stick-wielding men beating a fallen victim.
The text around the emblem had been tweaked – in Bangla, it no longer read “People’s Republic of Bangladesh Government,” but “Mob’s Republic of Bangladesh Government”.
The satire was biting and pointed, revealing an uncomfortable side of post-Hasina Bangladesh. “It was out of this frustration that I created the illustration, as a critique on the ‘rule of mobs’ and the government’s apparent inaction,” said Imran Hossain, a journalist and activist who created the meme. “Many people shared it on social media, and some even used it as their profile picture as a quiet form of protest.”
After the student-led revolution, the newly appointed interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus embarked on a sweeping reform agenda – covering the constitution, elections, judiciary and police.
But mob violence emerged as a challenge that the government struggled to contain. This period saw mobs attacking Sufi shrines and Hindu minorities, storming women’s football pitches, and even killing alleged drug dealers – many of these incidents filmed, shared and fiercely debated online.
“After the July uprising, some groups in Bangladesh – many of whom had been oppressed under the previous regime – suddenly found themselves with a lot of power. But instead of using that newfound power responsibly, some began taking the law into their own hands,” Hossain said.
As with rap songs, such memes had also played a vital role in capturing the public mood during the anti-Hasina protests.
After security officials killed hundreds of protesters on July 18 and 19, Sheikh Hasina was seen crying over damage to a metro station allegedly caused by demonstrators. That moment fuelled a wave of memes.
One viral meme said “Natok Kom Koro Prio” (Do less drama, dear), and was viral throughout the latter half of July. It mocked Hasina’s sentimental display – whether over the damaged metro station or her claim to “understand the pain of losing loved ones” after law enforcement agencies had killed hundreds.
Until then, ridiculing Sheikh Hasina had been a “difficult” act, said Punny Kabir, a prominent social media activist known for her witty political memes over the years, and a PhD student at the University of Cologne.
While newspaper cartoonists previously used to lampoon political leaders, that stopped during Hasina’s rule since 2009, which was marked by arrests of critics and forced disappearances, she said.
“To face off an authoritarian regime, it’s [ridiculing] an important and powerful tool to overcome fear and surveillance,” Kabir said. “We made it possible, and it broke the fear.”
Protesters on Dhaka streets on August 2, 2024 [Masum Billah/Al Jazeera]
‘If you resist, you are Bangladesh’
As fear of Sheikh Hasina faded from social media, more people found their voice – a reflection that soon spread onto the streets. Thousands of walls were covered with paintings, graffiti, and slogans of courage such as “Killer Hasina”, “Stop Genocide” and “Time’s Up Hasina”.
“These artworks played a big role in the protests,” said political analyst and researcher Altaf Parvez. “Slogans like ‘If you are scared, you’re finished; but if you resist, you are Bangladesh’ – one slogan can make all the difference, and that’s exactly what happened.
“People were searching for something courageous. When someone created something that defied fear – creative slogans, graffiti, cartoons – these became sources of inspiration, spreading like wildfire. People found their voice through them,” he added.
That voice did not go silent with Hasina’s departure.
Today, memes targeting various political parties, not just the government, are widespread.
One of Imran’s works uses a Simpsons cartoon to illustrate how sycophants used to eulogise Hasina’s family for its role in Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war when she was in power. Now, the cartoon points out, loyalists of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)’s leader Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman are trying to flatter their family for their contribution to the country’s independence movement. Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, led the freedom struggle, while Zia’s husband Ziaur Rahman was a senior army officer who announced the country’s independence on March 27, 1971.
Another meme from a popular Gen-Z Facebook page called WittiGenZ recently highlighted allegations of sexual misconduct by a leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP) – a party formed by Bangladesh’s students.
Protesters draw graffiti and write slogans against Sheikh Hasina on the walls of Dhaka [Masum Billah/Al Jazeera]
What comes next for political art in Bangladesh?
Political analysts in Bangladesh believe the tools that contributed to toppling Sheikh Hasina will continue to be relevant in the country’s future.
“Memes and photo cards in Bangladesh essentially do what X does in the West. They provide the most effective short-form political commentary to maximise virality,” said US-based Bangladeshi geopolitical columnist Shafquat Rabbee.
Bangladesh’s central bank unveiled new banknote designs inspired by the graffiti created by students during last July’s monsoon uprising, a nod to the art form’s widespread popularity as a means of political communication.
And rap, Rabbee said, found a natural entry in Bangladeshi politics in 2024. In Bangladesh’s context, back in July 2024, political street fighting became a dominant and fitting instrument of protest against Hasina’s repressive forces, he said.
The artists behind the songs say they never expected their work to echo across Bangladesh.
“I wrote these lyrics myself,” Shezan said, about Kotha Ko. “I didn’t think about how people would respond – we simply acted out of a sense of responsibility to what was happening.”
As with Shezan’s song, fellow rapper Hannan’s Awaaz Utha also went viral online, especially on Facebook, the same day – July 18 – that it was released. “You hit one, 10 more will come back,” a line said. As Hasina found it, they did.
The rappers themselves also joined the protests. Hannan was arrested a week after his song’s release and was only freed after Hasina resigned and fled to India.
But now, said Shezan, rap was there to stay in Bangladesh’s public life, from advertising jingles to lifestyle. “Many people are consciously or subconsciously embracing hip-hop culture,” he said.
Amazon Prime Day 2025 is now in full swing, saving you huge amounts on thousands of products. Here are the very best deals with the biggest savings to shop today
16:52, 20 Jun 2025Updated 16:32, 09 Jul 2025
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Amazon Prime Day day two’s deals have dropped(Image: Amazon)
Get set to save some serious money, as it’s day two of Amazon’s popular annualPrime Day sale, and it’s the perfect time to shop for all your summer essentials, from beauty and tech to homeware and gardening gear.
Whether you need a new fan, garden furniture, plants or beauty product top-up, you’ll find thousands of products slashed in price during this mega-sale, which is running until Friday 11 July.
And if you need some help filtering out the offers, The Mirror’s team of shopping experts – who have been covering Prime Day sales for years – have rounded up the very best deals worth buying, with many items at the cheapest price they’ve been all year.
This compact but powerful fan is proving to be super popular this summer(Image: Amazon)
This is the fan that we’re all talking about this summer, and even considering ditching our Dysons for it – and this is the cheapest price we’ve seen it since the hot weather began. And we’re not the only ones – celebs have also been singing the praises of this Shark model. Hailing it “the best” during the UK’s recent heatwave, Louise Thompson pointed fans in the direction of her new favourite fan, which she’s even touted as better than built-in air conditioning.
This SMILOVII 24V Cordless Strimmer set is currently on sale(Image: Amazon)
As the nice weather continues for much of the UK, now is the perfect time to invest in some must-have equipment for keeping your outdoor space neat and tidy. Whether you’re looking for an easy and cost-effective way to keep grass trimmed on a small lawn or battling overgrown weeds, this strimmer set has the solution to it all – plus, you can save nearly £50 thanks to this Amazon sale, where, again, it’s currently the cheapest we’ve seen it.
Perhaps not the most exciting purchase, but certainly a useful one for your garden this summer – and at a great price.
This highly rated, kink-free expanding hose promises to make watering your plants less of a chore and has hundreds of five-star reviews, and right now, you can get it with a huge discount.
Apple products are rarely on sale, so they’re worth snapping up when they are. AirTags are a must for frequent travellers, and an excellent way to keep track of items, misplaced or otherwise.
Packs of one, two, three and four AirTags are all reduced on Amazon at the moment, making it an excellent time to snap them up.
We’re so impressed with the saving on this smartwatch: over £70, and a huge 76% discount. If you’re looking for a high-end quality model such as the Apple Watch then this won’t be for you, but if you have a small budget and need something basic, this is it. The 1.96-inch device has fitness tracking, a step counter, a sleep monitor, and more than 100 sports listed in its activity tracker. There’s also a Bluetooth calling feature, so if your phone is in your pocket you’ll be able to call through the watch – similar to how you would use a pair of wireless headphones.
Looking for a one-and-done skincare solution? Olay’s best-selling Super Serum is the answer. It contains five potent ingredients to deliver five skin benefits: better texture, more even tone, firmer skin, smoother lines, and long-lasting hydration – and it’s now half price.
Fancy free takeaway delivery? Access to Deliveroo Plus is one of a host of advantages of Amazon Prime membership, including exclusive Prime Day discounts and perks on Hello Fresh, music, books and Prime Video. Usually £8.99 a month, you can now get a 30-day free trial to get access to the latest deals.
If you’re not fussy about owning ones from a big-name brand, you’ll often find plenty of affordable earbud headphones on sale during Amazon Prime Day – including this nifty pair, now with almost 50% off and tens of thousands of five-star reviews.
If you do want the big brand, you’ll won’t want to miss out on…
…which, with £50 off, are the cheapest price they’ve been all year, according to Amazon.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are the best-in-class noise-cancelling earbuds on the market — perfect for busy commutes, travelling or just zoning out all the background noise (we can confirm that this noise-cancelling technology is worth every penny).
Now’s a great time to snap up a reduced-price air fryer(Image: Amazon)
Because it wouldn’t be an Amazon sale without an air fryer slashed in price, and here’s your chance to grab the cute, compact and portable Ninja CRISPi with almost a third off. Amazon shoppers are calling it “great for single portions” and “very easy to use”.
Yankony for Ryanair 40x20x25 Underseat Cabin Bag(Image: Amazon)
Even though Ryanair has just announced measures to increase the size of cabin bags allowed on board, you can still potentially save money on your flight booking by travelling with an under-seat bag instead; this one’s an excellent price, and guaranteed to fit under seats on Ryanair flights.
Now’s a great time to buy big-ticket items too, including tech such as laptops, especially if you – or someone you know – will be heading to collage or university after summer. Again, this is the cheapest price we’ve seen it in ages (it was £159.99 last week).
Don’t forget to shop around for the best deals at other retailers such as Currys and Argos.
If you’re in need of a new pair of hair straighteners, these are a shopper favourite. They’re now under £20, and with a whopping 75% off – even cheaper than yesterday, when they were selling for £23 – and shoppers are even calling them “just as good as ghds”. Snap them up now before the price rises or they sell out, as they’re a popular buy every Prime Day.
Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely would usually cost over £90 for a hug 200ml bottle – but has dropped down to £20.50 for Prime Week.
One shopper has sworn by it for almost two decades, writing: “An absolute gem of a fragrance! I wear as my work perfume and also everyday fragrance. It’s light and flowery but not overpowering which is ideal when working in the NHS. People comment in this all the time, and because it is EDP it lasts all day! I have been buying this for 17+ years and it never fails to make me feel fab!”
At home laser hair remover from Braun gets 51% off in Amazon sale (Image: Amazon)
If you’ve always wanted to try an at-home hair removal IPL device, now’s the time to shop, as this popular Braun device has a whopping £300 off – and the top-of-the-range model, the Braun Smart IPL Skin i·Expert, has an even bigger discount, down from £899.99 to £399.99.
Shoppers are calling the Silk-Expert Pro a “total game-changer”, reporting that they’ll “never going back any other hair removal”.
Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee machine with milk frother
“I’ve tested a number of different Nespresso machines and the Vertuo makes the best tasing coffee by far,” says our beauty editor (and former barista) Laura Mulley.
This bundle is a complete all-in-one, enabling you to make milky coffees such as lattes and cappuccinos – and it’s now better than half price.
If you’re looking for ways to keep the kids entertained when travelling this summer, now’s the time to snap up one of these Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablets, now with60% off their usual price.
Shoppers are calling it “great for planes and holidays” and the “best kids tablet on the market”.
Shoppers have hailed Wet & Forget as ‘so easy and super effective’ (Image: Amazon)
Perhaps not the most exciting purchase, but this product caused such a stir when we discovered it earlier this year and flew off the shelves, so it’s a must-buy for anyone looking for an effortless way to clean their outdoor space this summer – simply mix, apply and leave to work, no scrubbing required.
Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker
The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker with App Control is available from Amazon for £399(Image: Amazon)
It’s not cheap (although it is does currently have £140 off), but if you love cooking and eating outdoors in summer, you’ll get so much use out of this multi-way cooker, which can grill, smoker, air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate and reheat, all in one.
This Foreo Bear Smart Microcurrent Face Device was £319 but is now £167(Image: Foreo)
The Foreo Bear Smart Microcurrent Face Device claims to give “facelift-like” results with consistent use. Utilising two microcurrent spheres that channel energy deep beneath the skin to tone, this gadget works to improve sagging, puffiness, and jawline contours.
This is one of my all-time favourite self-tans – and popular with other members of our beauty team too – so I’ll be stocking up this Prime Day now that it’s on sale. It blends in well and leaves a very natural colour, giving me the confidence to get my normally pasty legs out in shorts over summer.
Vera Wang Women’s Flower Princess Eau de Toilette 30ml
Vera Wang Princess is a ‘bargain price’ in the Amazon sale(Image: Amazon)
Another popular classic perfume, and now at an incredible price: just over £16. Top notes of water lily, golden apricot and mandarin meringue are blended with base notes of vanilla chiffon, amber and forbidden woods, delivering the ultimate fruity, floral fragrance.
This bestselling water bottle keeps flying off the shelves, but it’s back in stock and on sale this Prime Day – although we can’t say how long it’ll stay in stock.
The Ninja Thirsti leak-proof travel bottle is designed to hold any drink but a feature that sets it apart from other vessels is a clever smooth interior, retaining bubbles for lasting fizzy beverages. It also claims to keep cold drinks fizzy and chilled for up to 24 hours, hot for up to 12 hours and iced for up to two whole days.
The Russell Hobbs handheld steamer now has 45% off(Image: Amazon)
Perfect for travelling, or when you just can’t be bothered to spend hours slaving over a heavy iron, this lightweight steamer is the solution – especially now that it’s almost half price. It can be used horizontally or upright, and kills 99.9% of bacteria in clothes.
Now’s the time to save on a new iPhone(Image: Amazon)
In recent years I’ve found that it works out cheapest to buy a SIM-only phone contract and a separate handset rather than sign up for a pay-monthly contract, and so this Prime Day I’m seriously tempted by the deal on this iPhone 16e, now with a rarely-seen £100+ off its usual price.
Here’s an unmissable chance to nab an absolute wardrobe staple at an amazing price: authentic Levi’s jeans, which usually cost £99, now less than £40. At the time of writing they were still available in a huge array of sizes and lengths, with the price varying slightly depending on which colour of denim you select.
You’ll get everything you need to make delicious pizzas(Image: Amazon)
If you’ve always fancied an outdoor pizza oven, now’s a great time to shop, as the bestselling Gozney Roccbox now has £80 off on Amazon today. This portable pizza oven fits conveniently on a countertop or table, or can even be placed on the ground if you’re using it whilst camping. It has foldable legs and a compact design which make it easy to transport, so you can set it up in minutes and take it anywhere from the beach to the campsite.
The Radley tote bag is the perfect size for work(Image: Radley)
I’ve been on the lookout for a new work bag for ages – one that fits in the many things I need throughout the working day – and I’m seriously tempted by this chic and spacious Radley bag.
This oversized tote bag is usually priced at £259, but now thanks to the Prime Day sale you can get your hands on it for £79 – saving you a huge £180. The bag is made from real leather and touted as being big enough to fit your laptop in, making it the perfect pick for a work bag.
This 2-in-1 styling tool uses hot air to achieve professional-looking blow-dries at home(Image: Amazon)
Getting a professional blow-dry can soon start to add up, but beauty fans have found a way to get a ‘professional finish’ at home for under £30. Revlon’s One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumiser has been a viral hit, racking up more than 40,000 reviews on Amazon. At £49.99 full price it’s still a lot cheaper than getting hair blown out in a salon, however thanks to this Amazon Prime Day deal, it’s currently even more of a bargain, on sale for £27.99.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Replumping Water Cream
Shoppers have raved about how well this cream works(Image: Amazon)
Zara McDermott recently shared her two-product trick to instantly glowing skin, and this plumping face cream is one of them – and it’s currently better than half price. Shoppers are calling it a “brilliant cream” that “really does plump and hydrate”.
Shark’s popular LED mask is in the sale(Image: Shark)
Give your skin a boost with this clever LED mask – it tackles fine lines, blemishes and puffiness in just a few minutes. With red, blue and infrared light plus cooling under-eye tech, it’s like a mini facial from the comfort of your sofa. Our head of shopping Zoe uses hers just about every night, and says it has really helped calm her reactive skin.
Amazon has slashed the Kindle Scribe by 30%(Image: Amazon)
Of course, you’d probably expect one of Amazon’s own inventions, the Kindle, to be included in the Prime Day sale, and you’re not wrong. The latest generation Amazon Kindle Scribe is now available for £267.99, £112 off its usual price of £379.99. According to price comparison site Camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest price the Scribe has ever been listed for on Amazon.
For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, Amazon is also offering discounts of up to 31% on several other models, including the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, which is touted as the fastest ever Kindle, now reduced to £118.74 from £159.99.
Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Peel Off Masque
This unusual transfer-proof, waterproof lip stain gives your lips a bold, smudge-free pop of colour that stays put all day. It feels lightweight and comfortable, so you can go about your day without worrying about touch-ups. Our tester wore the Charming shade to a wedding last week and it didn’t budge for six hours, and you can read our shopping writer Meghan’s full review of it here.
When is Amazon Prime Day 2025?
Amazon’s annual Prime Day 2025 began at 00:01 yesterday on Tuesday 8 July and will run until 23:59 on Friday 11 July – running over four days for the first time ever. This gives shoppers even longer to shop for a bargain – although be aware that prices may change, or deals may end early, over this period.
What is included in the Amazon Prime Day 2025 sale?
We’re already seeing thousands of top products reduced across pretty much every category: homeware, tech, beauty, gardening, fashion and more. As we’re reaching the height of summer, there are loads of offers on warm weather essentials, such as fans, sun creams and gardening tools (see above for our top picks).
How do I access these deals?
To shop these deals when they launch you’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member. Membership costs £8.99 a month and gets your loads of perks, including next day delivery on thousands of items plus access to Prime Video, where you can watch hit TV shows such as Clarkson’s Farm and Molly-Mae: Behind It All.
Don’t forget that Amazon isn’t the only place where you’ll find a great deal this summer. Lookfantastic and Boots always run plenty of offers on beauty (including the super-popular Boots £10 Tuesday on today), Boden is currently running a huge sale, and Yimbly, the shopping platform owned by The Mirror’s parent company Reach Plc, has lots of garden furniture at excellent prices.
A WOMAN has revealed her must-have camping buys for the summer.
And her advice comes just in time for those heading to Glastonbury tomorrow for a fun-filled week.
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Stella, a camping enthusiast has shared her top buys to make it more comfortableCredit: Tiktok/@stellasoloadventures
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she was a big fan of these hand warmers even in the summerCredit: Tiktok/@stellasoloadventures
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It comes just in time for Glastonbury goersCredit: Getty
If you still have some last minute camping shopping to do, then you’ll want to keep reading.
Stella revealed the products you may have never thought you would need but will become essential.
In the clip, she said: “If you’re going to be camping at any festivals or just camping in general, these things might help.
“First of all, heat patches. Put them on your bum.
“Trust me, they are a lifesaver in the cold night.”
Stella headed to Home Bargains to pick up the HotHands hand warmers which come in a pack of five pairs for £3.45.
Not only are these buys super cheap and easy to travel with, they can help keep you toasty all night long with ten hours of use.
The camping whizz also recommended picking up the hard ground tent pegs from the store which cost just 99p a pack to make sure your tent stays where you put it.
Last but not least, she urged everyone to buy some single se coffee filters.
Stella added: “The next thing is my absolute camping godsender and it’s these coffee filters.
Recently reunited noughties pop band accidentally reveal secret Glastonbury set
“I’m a bit of a coffee snob and let me tell you, these in the morning, absolutely stunning. It’s about as going to get to grinding the beans yourself on a campsite.”
You can buy the Cup Filters Italian Style Coffee from M&S, it includes 10 single use filters filled with coffee for just £4.25.
The video went viral on her TikTok account @stellasoloadventures with over 73k views and 4,200 likes.
People were quick to thank her in the comments for her tips.
Glastonbury 2025 – confirmed acts so far
TICKETS to the 2025 festival sold out in just minutes before some of the acts were even confirmed. Here is who has been confirmed so far.
Confirmed headliners:
The 1975 will take to the Pyramid Stage on Friday.
Neil Young will headline the festival for the second time after his last set in 2009 on Saturday after RAYE makes her return.
Charli xcx will headline the Other Stage on Saturday night.
On Sunday, Olivia Rodrigo is due to belt out her hits for her first appearance while Rod Stewart will perform in the legends slot.
More acts to appear on the Other Stage include Loyle Carner and The Prodigy.
Doechii will make her Glastonbury debut on the West Holts Stage on Saturday night.
Other names confirmed include Noah Kahan, Alanis Morissette, Gracie Abrams, Busta Rhymes, Lola Young, Brandi Carlile, Myles Smith, En Vogue, Amaarae, Cymande, Shaboozey, Osees and Gary Numan.
One person wrote: “The heat pads on the bum thing I got to try out!
“I always stuff them in my bra (not direct skin contact) because I feel like that way it warms my entire body.”
Another commented: “You influenced me on to those coffee filters.”
“Those 99p Home Bargains pegs are really good!! We were so impressed with them for the price,” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “I use the coffee bags, they’re pretty good too.”
Someone else added: “Check out Areopress for coffee. Best single cup coffee brewer I’ve ever used.”
CADBURY has unveiled a brand new range of limited-edition Dairy Milk chocolate bars that change colour when chilled – and they’re ideal for summer snacking.
The new Cadbury Dairy Milk Summer Edition bars and the Iced Latte flavour are hitting shelves across the UK from June 2025, wrapped in cold-activated packaging that transforms in the fridge.
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According to Cadbury’s research, more than half the nation stores their bars in the fridge, especially during the warmer monthsCredit: Alamy
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Chocoholics can expect a limited run, so fans might want to snap them up quickly once they appear in shopsCredit: Alamy
Based in Birmingham, the chocolate giant confirmed that the special packs use thermochromic technology to reveal vibrant designs – including deck chairs, umbrellas, kites, and inflatables – when cooled. It’s the first time Cadbury has launched a product like this.
“This summer, Cadbury Dairy Milk is reigniting the debate around storing chocolate in the fridge,” said Mara Popa, junior brand manager at Cadbury Dairy Milk.
“Our new Cadbury Dairy Milk Summer Editions range features cold-activated packs, reminding consumers that chocolate is a great snacking option in the warmer weather.
“Additionally, our limited-edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Iced Latte tablet is designed to excite consumers with a brand new flavour crafted for summer.
This NPD also features colour changing packaging, highlighting the chilled chocolate trend in a playful way and tapping into the debate.”
The cold-reactive wrappers aren’t just eye-catching – they’re a clever nod to how Brits really eat chocolate.
According to Cadbury’s research, more than half the nation stores their bars in the fridge, especially during the warmer months.
Despite this trend, the brand has advised fans to think twice before chilling their choc. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), a spokesperson warned that the fridge might not always be the best place.
“Chocolate should always be stored in a slightly cool, dry, dark place such as a cupboard or pantry at temperatures less than 21°C to ensure the quality isn’t compromised,” they explained.
Still, curiosity is high.
Shoppers beg Cadbury’s to bring back 2005 recipe on iconic bar – as they moan current one ‘tastes like candle wax’
A whopping 67 per cent of Brits said they’re open to trying chilled chocolate, and Cadbury is leaning into that interest with a playful summer twist.
All five bars in the Edition range will be available in major retailers nationwide and have a recommended price of £2.
However, prices may vary depending on the store.
Chocoholics can expect a limited run, so fans might want to snap them up quickly once they appear in shops.
The packaging not only changes colour, but also ties in with the look and feel of a traditional British summer – perfect for picnics, beach days, or just a cool treat at home.
The launch of the iced latte-flavoured Dairy Milk also adds to Cadbury’s growing line-up of coffee-infused treats.
The bar combines smooth milk chocolate with a creamy coffee centre and crunchy biscuit bits, designed to satisfy both choc and coffee lovers.
Cadbury has already seen success with coffee-flavoured chocolate.
The Twirl Iced Latte has popped up in B&M stores in recent weeks, earning rave reviews from fans.
Meanwhile, a collab with coffee brand Kenco gave us the chocolate-flavoured mocha – another hit among sweet-toothed sippers.
And it’s not stopping there.
From 2 June, the brand will also roll out a limited-edition Twirl White Dipped bar, combining its famous flaky layers with a coating of smooth white chocolate.
A post on Facebook teased the launch, calling it “unreal, indulgent, smooth, swirly, creamy, melty, new, and mouthwatering.”
Earlier this month, fans also spotted a new Cadbury Dairy Milk Balls pack in shops, drawing comparisons to the nostalgic Cadbury Tasters – small, round chocolate treats first launched in 1996.
With so many launches lined up and a summer full of colourful, cold-friendly packaging, Cadbury is clearly out to make this season a choc-filled celebration.
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 reporterSam Walkerreveals 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.
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Cadbury has already seen success with coffee-flavoured chocolateCredit: Alamy
For decades, Pixar could hardly miss with its original animated films.
Whether the subject was toys, fish or a cantankerous old man, the Emeryville-based computer animation studio churned out hit after hit.
But since the COVID-19 pandemic, Pixar and other animation studios have struggled to break through at the box office with the same kinds of original movies that defined the industry. Instead, sequels such as “Inside Out 2” have ruled the genre.
This weekend, Walt Disney Co.-owned Pixar will face its latest test with the release of “Elio,” an original film about a young boy who seeks connection with aliens to make up for his loneliness on Earth.
The movie is tracking to bring in $18 million to $25 million in ticket sales from the U.S. and Canada during its opening weekend, according to box office analysis. (The film’s reported budget is in the range of $150 million to $200 million.)
That would be considered a soft debut by Pixar standards, indicating the dilemma the animation business — and the movie industry writ large — faces with original content. While audiences often say they want to see new stories, box office ticket sales show they gravitate toward sequels, reboots and other familiar fare.
“You need to be launching new franchises to keep the pipeline fresh,” said Doug Creutz, senior media and entertainment analyst at TD Cowen. “Since the pandemic ended, original animated films have just been getting killed at the box office … no matter how good they are.”
Pixar executives, nonetheless, say they’re committed to telling original stories, which are key to the future health of the industry.
“You wouldn’t have Pixar without ‘Toy Story,’ our first original film 30 years ago!” Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter wrote in an emailed statement. “And while we also love digging into new layers of familiar worlds and characters through our sequels, I’d say there’s a unique thrill in unearthing a new story.”
Disney and Pixar’s previous original movie “Elemental” made just $29.6 million in its opening weekend in 2023, causing many in the industry to write it off as a flop, before strong word-of-mouth reviews propelled the film to a solid worldwide gross of $496 million.
Sister studio Walt Disney Animation Studios has also recently struggled with originals, including 2022’s “Strange World” and 2023’s “Wish.”
The pandemic had a major effect on theatrical attendance for animated films. At the onset, studios including Pixar put their new animated movies on streaming services to give families something to watch during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and keep people from spreading the disease.
Movies such as 2020’s “Soul,” 2021’s “Luca” and 2022’s “Turning Red” were all sent straight to the Disney+ streaming service. Despite critical acclaim — winning an Academy Award for animated feature — “Soul” grossed just $121.9 million in worldwide theatrical revenue.
Even when movie theaters started reopening, families were slow to return due to health concerns and familiarity with watching movies at home, which dented animated films’ box office potential. Pixar’s 2022 “Toy Story” spinoff “Lightyear” did poorly at the box office partially due to this timing, as well as quality issues, marketing challenges and right-wing backlash to an on-screen kiss between a same-sex couple.
Other studios, too, face challenges with originals.
Universal Pictures’ 2023 original animated movie “Migration” also saw a soft box office total. The same year, Universal grossed more than $1 billion from “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” based on the Nintendo game franchise.
Last year, Universal’s “The Wild Robot,” which is adapted from a 2016 children’s book, debuted to strong reviews, but grossed $333 million in box office revenue, compared with the $492 million reaped by Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.”
So far this summer, many of the films that have propelled the box office are family-friendly — Warner Bros. Pictures’ “A Minecraft Movie,” and live-action remakes “Lilo & Stitch” from Disney and “How to Train Your Dragon” from Universal.
Last year, Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” hauled in nearly $1.7 billion in global box office revenue last year, while Universal and Illumination Entertainment’s “Despicable Me 4” grossed $969.6 million worldwide and Disney’s “Moana 2” made $1 billion.
The common denominator among these films? They’re all sequels, reboots or rely on known intellectual property.
But industry insiders and analysts say that simply focusing on new chapters of existing stories risks making the animation space stale.
“If you’re trying to grow the business, you need new content, you need new franchises, you need new things for people to be excited about,” said Creutz of TD Cowen.
But beyond the box office, Pixar original films can get exposure — and drive business — through other parts of the Disney empire. Movies eventually debut on Disney+ and characters will show up on merchandise or in the theme parks, which can expand a film’s reach.
“Pixar is in the long-term business,” said David A. Gross, who writes a movie industry newsletter. “They want to create stories that last, and if that works in bringing back a sequel, great, but there is enormous value for streaming for these pictures, whatever they do in theatrical. There are a lot of revenue streams.”
Pixar intends to release three movies every two years, and the company’s strategy is to make one original for every sequel, company sources said. For instance, “Elio” was intended for release in 2024, but was delayed by the dual writers’ and actors’ strikes of 2023. Instead, it swapped with “Inside Out 2” since sequels can be easier to move through the production process due to existing assets.
“Pixar was really instrumental in defining the look and the feel and the tone of computer-animated films,” said Christopher Holliday, a senior lecturer in liberal arts and visual cultures education at King’s College London, who wrote a book about computer-animated films.
The company “is now at one of those crossroads where they are trying to balance films that have an audience built into them,” Holliday said. “And then they’re also balancing their identity as a studio of innovation that is pushing the boundaries and the limits of computer animation.”
Next year, Pixar plans to release “Toy Story 5” as well as an original film called “Hoppers” about a new technology that allows humans and animals to communicate. In 2027, Pixar said it will debut “Gatto,” an original movie about a cat with multiple lives.
“We think audiences love originals too,” Docter said. “Sure, it might be a bit harder nowadays to break through all the noise out there, but if we do our jobs, and create something that people will love, we trust that audiences will show up.”
WASHINGTON — The day after immigration raids began in Los Angeles, Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) and three other members of Congress were denied entry to the immigrant detention facility inside the Roybal Federal Building.
The lawmakers were attempting an unannounced inspection, a common and long-standing practice under congressional oversight powers.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said too many protesters were present on June 7 and officers deployed chemical agents multiple times. In a letter later to acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Torres said she ended up in the emergency room for respiratory treatment. She also said the protest had been small and peaceful.
Torres is one of many Democratic members of Congress, from states including California, New York and Illinois, who have been denied entry to immigrant detention facilities in recent weeks.
Jim Townsend, director of the Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State University in Michigan, said the denials mark a profound — and illegal — shift from past practice.
“Denying members of Congress access to facilities is a direct assault on our system of checks and balances,” he said. “What members of Congress are trying to do now is to be part of a proud bipartisan tradition of what we like to call oversight by showing up.”
Subsequent attempts by lawmakers to inspect the facility inside the Roybal Building have also been unsuccessful.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), who was with Torres the day she was hospitalized, went back twice more — on June 9 and on Tuesday — and was rebuffed. Torres and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) tried at separate times Wednesday and were both denied.
Gomez and other Democrats have pointed to a federal statute, detailed in yearly appropriations packages since 2020, which states that funds may not be used to prevent a member of Congress “from entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security used to detain or otherwise house aliens …”
The statute also states that nothing in that section “may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility” for the purpose of conducting oversight. Under the statute, federal officials may require at least 24 hours notice for a visit by congressional staff — but not members themselves.
Under ICE guidelines published this month for members of Congress and their staff, the agency requests at least 72 hours notice from lawmakers and requires at least 24 hours notice from staff.
The agency says it has discretion to deny or reschedule a visit if an emergency arises or the safety of the facility is jeopardized, though such contingencies are not mentioned in the law.
Gomez said an ICE official called him Tuesday to say that oversight law doesn’t apply to the downtown L.A. facility because it is a field office, not a detention facility.
“Well it does say Metropolitan Detention Center right here in big, bold letters,” he says in a video posted afterward on social media, gesturing toward a sign outside the building. “But they say this is a processing center. So I smell bull—.”
Department of Homeland Security police patrol the street after detaining a protester at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown L.A. on June 12.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
If no one is technically being detained, Gomez said he rhetorically asked the official during their call, are they free to leave?
Torres visited the facility in February by setting up an appointment, her staff said. She got another appointment for last Saturday, but ICE canceled it because of the protests. When members emailed ICE to set up a new appointment, they got no response.
Gomez said he believes ICE doesn’t want lawmakers to see field offices because of poor conditions and lack of attorney access because of ramped-up arrests that have reportedly left some detainees there overnight without beds and limited food.
In some cases, lawmakers have had success showing up unannounced. On Friday, Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) toured the Adelanto ICE Processing Facility, north of San Bernardino. After being denied entry to the Adelanto Facility on June 8, Chu and four other California Democrats were allowed in on Tuesday.
“Just because ICE has opened their doors to a few members of Congress does not excuse their inflammatory tactics to meet deportation quotas,” said Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside), who visited Adelanto with Chu. “Accountability means showing a consistent pattern of accessibility, not just a one-off event.”
The representatives learned the facility is now at full capacity with 1,100 detainees, up from 300 a month ago. Chu said they spoke to detainees from the L.A. raids, who she said were not criminals and who are now living in inhumane conditions — without enough food, unable to change their underwear for 10 days or to call their families and lawyers.
Chu said the group arrived early and stood in the lobby to avoid a repeat of their previous attempt, when facility guards kept them off the property by locking a fence.
Tom Homan, President Trump’s border policy advisor, departs a meeting with Republican senators who are working to cancel $9.4 billion in spending already approved by Congress at the Capitol in Washington on June 11.
(J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)
In an interview with The Times this month, Trump’s chief border policy advisor Tom Homan said members of Congress are welcome to conduct oversight, but that they must contact the facility first to make arrangements. The agency has to look after the safety and security of the facility, officers and detainees, he said.
“Please go in and look at them,” he said. “They’re the best facilities that money can buy, the highest detention standards in the industry. But there’s a right way and wrong way to do it.”
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for Homeland Security, said in a statement to The Times that requests for visits are needed because “ICE law enforcement have seen a surge in assaults, disruptions and obstructions to enforcement, including by politicians themselves.”
She added that requests for visits should be made with enough time — “a week is sufficient” — to not interfere with the president’s authority under Article II of the Constitution to oversee executive branch functions.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin, flanked by Deputy Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Madison Sheahan, left, and acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons, speaks during a news conference in Washington on May 21.
“This unlawful policy is a smokescreen to deny Member visits to ICE offices across the country, which are holding migrants — and sometimes even U.S. citizens — for days at a time,” he wrote. “They are therefore facilities and are subject to oversight and inspection at any time. DHS pretending otherwise is simply their latest lie.”
Townsend, the congressional oversight expert, said the practice goes back to when President Truman was a senator and established a committee to investigate problems among contractors who were supplying the World War II effort.
“That committee conducted hundreds of field visits, and they would show up unannounced in many instances,” Townsend said.
More recently, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) drove to the Pentagon in 1983 and demanded access to ask questions about overspending after being stonewalled, he said, by Department of Defense officials.
The Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution to mean that Congress has wide authority to conduct oversight to show up unannounced in order to secure accurate information, Townsend said.
National Guard members stand at post at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles on June 10.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said the Trump administration is trying to hide the truth from the public. Last week, Padilla was shoved out of a news conference, forced to the ground and handcuffed after attempting to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“The Trump administration has done everything in their power but to provide transparency to the American people about their mission in Los Angeles,” he said during an impassioned floor speech Wednesday in which he cried recounting the ordeal.
In an interview Wednesday with Newsmax, McLaughlin accused Democratic lawmakers of using oversight as an excuse to stage publicity stunts.
“The Democrats are reeling,” she said. “They have no actual message and so they’re doing this to get more attention and to manufacture viral moments.”
On Tuesday, Gomez wore a suit jacket with his congressional lapel pin and carried his congressional ID card and business card in his hand — “so there would be no mistake” as to who he was. He said he was concerned that what happened to Padilla could also happen to him. He was denied access anyway.
Gomez said federal officials should be fined each time they deny oversight access to members of Congress. He said he and other members are also discussing whether to file a lawsuit to compel access.
“When you have an administration that is operating outside the bounds of the law, they’re basically saying, ‘What recourse do you have? Can you force us? You don’t have an army. We don’t need to listen to you,’” Gomez said. “Then you have to put some real teeth into it.”
Times staff writer Nathan Solis in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lee Saunders, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, resigned from their positions on the Democratic National Committee. This could be great news.
I don’t really know, because the actual reasons remain murky.
“While I am proud to be a Democrat,” Weingarten told DNC Chair Ken Martin in her resignation letter, “I appear to be out of step with the leadership you are forging, and I do not want to be the one who keeps questioning why we are not enlarging our tent and actively trying to engage more and more of our communities.”
Color me skeptical this is the real reason. I doubt Martin’s stated policy is to shrink the Democratic tent or refrain from engaging with “more and more of our communities” — whatever that means. Much of the reporting on the resignations revolves around old-fashioned Democratic disarray and internal power struggles. Weingarten and Saunders had supported Martin’s opponent in the recent election of a new DNC chair. That may be all there is to it, which would be a shame.
That’s because the Democratic Party is a mess. Don’t get me wrong, so is the Republican Party, but for different reasons. The GOP is also in charge, controlling the White House and both branches of Congress. Moreover, for all the problems the Republican Party has, it has the wind at its back and remains more popular than the Democrats. In 2024, it made impressive strides with many core Democratic demographic constituencies, including Black, Latino and young voters.
The GOP has a story to tell voters. You may not like the story. You may think it’s not actually following through on the vision it’s selling, but Republicans know how to articulate what they’re for. Democrats not so much.
Historically, the Democratic Party is the party of government. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “It is the purpose of government to see that not only the legitimate interests of the few are protected but that the welfare and rights of the many are conserved.”
The Democratic Party has gotten itself into a mess because it has evolved — or devolved — into a party fairly perceived as more concerned with the interests of the few and less concerned with the welfare and rights of the many. That was the underlying message of that ad the Trump campaign played more than any other (30,000 times!). It showed a clip of Kamala Harris explaining her support for government-funded sex-change surgeries for illegal immigrants. It closed with: “She’s for they/them. He’s for you.” The anti-transgender message was obvious (and broadly popular), but the subtext was more important: Harris is for niche issues that excite activists while Trump is for the meat-and-potatoes concerns of the common American.
Few groups represent the Democrats’ broader problem better than groups such as Weingarten’s AFT (teachers unions typically make up about 1 in 10 of the delegates at Democratic conventions). During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Weingarten consistently put the needs of union members over the general welfare, while insisting she was putting children first. She opposed reopening schools long after it was remotely necessary to operate remotely and successfully badgered Joe Biden to violate his pledge to reopen them quickly.
AFT and other public-sector unions, such as AFSCME, are an ATM for the Democratic Party. And the Democratic Party is responsive to donors. For instance, one of the first things President Biden did when he took office was issue an executive order repealing a Trump administration policy that restricted government employees from spending more than 25% of their time doing union business while on the job. He put the number back up to 100%.
There’s a reason FDR disliked the idea of unionizing government employees. The government shouldn’t be captured by special interests that use state power to further their ends over the general welfare. Democrats instinctively understand this when it comes to corporate interests but seem blind to it for members of their own coalition. Biden’s effort to lawlessly cancel student debt wasn’t just terrible policy; it also sent the signal that the party put the interests of the few above the many.
As a conservative, I don’t typically root for the Democratic Party. But I’ve come to realize that our system depends on two healthy, sane parties competing over best policies. When one party goes off the rails, it gives permission for the other party to do likewise. If the departure of Weingarten and Saunders is a sign the party is coming to realize that, that’s good news indeed.
The following AI-generated content is powered by Perplexity. The Los Angeles Times editorial staff does not create or edit the content.
Ideas expressed in the piece
Jonah Goldberg argues that Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders’ departures from the DNC signal potential Democratic introspection, suggesting the party may be reevaluating its alignment with special interests over broader public welfare[1][4].
He critiques the Democratic Party’s perceived focus on “niche issues” like government-funded transgender surgeries for undocumented immigrants and student debt cancellation, which he claims prioritize activist demands over mainstream voter concerns[4].
Goldberg highlights the GOP’s recent electoral gains with Black, Latino, and young voters as evidence of Democratic disconnect, contrasting Republican policy clarity with Democratic “messaging incoherence”[4].
He accuses public-sector unions like AFT and AFSCME of wielding disproportionate influence over Democratic priorities, citing Biden’s reversal of Trump-era union work limits as an example of donor-driven policymaking[1][4].
Different views on the topic
Internal DNC conflicts, including the resignations, reflect debates over strategy rather than moral failings, with Weingarten advocating for a more inclusive “big tent” approach to engage diverse communities[1][2].
Critics argue Goldberg misrepresents Democratic priorities, noting the party’s continued focus on worker rights through initiatives like “No Kings Day” protests against authoritarianism and for public education funding[3].
Defenders of union influence contend collective bargaining remains vital for protecting public-sector workers, with Saunders framing his resignation as a push for “new strategies” to advance progressive values in changing political landscapes[1][2].
Some analysts view the departures as fallout from leadership disputes rather than ideological shifts, noting Martin’s recent DNC chair election victory over Weingarten and Saunders’ preferred candidate[2][4].
WASHINGTON — President Trump has long bet that he can scare allies into submission — a gamble that is increasingly being tested ahead of the Group of Seven summit beginning Monday in Canada.
He’s threatened stiff tariffs in the belief that other nations would crumple. He’s mused about taking over Canada and Greenland. He’s suggested he will not honor NATO’s obligations to defend partners under attack. And he’s used Oval Office meetings to try to intimidate the leaders of Ukraine and South Africa.
But many world leaders see fewer reasons to be cowed by Trump, even as they recognize the risks if he followed through on his threats. They believe he will ultimately back down — since many of his plans could inflict harm on the U.S. — or that he can simply be charmed and flattered into cooperating.
“Many leaders still seem intimidated by Trump, but increasingly they are catching on to his pattern of bullying,” said Jeremy Shapiro, research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations. “In places as diverse as Canada, Iran, China and the EU, we are seeing increasing signs that leaders now recognize that Trump is afraid of anything resembling a fair fight. And so they are increasingly willing to stand up to him.”
In the 22 instances in which Trump has publicly threatened military action since his first term, the U.S. only used force twice, according to a May analysis by Shapiro.
World leaders feel comfortable standing up to Trump
Ahead of the G-7 summit, there are already signs of subtle pushback against Trump from fellow leaders in the group. French President Emanuel Macron planned to visit Greenland over the weekend in a show of European solidarity. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the U.S. is no longer the “predominant” force in the world after Trump’s tariffs created fissures in a decades-long partnership between the U.S. and its northern neighbor.
“We stood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold War and in the decades that followed, as the United States played a predominant role on the world stage,” Carney said this past week in French. “Today, that predominance is a thing of the past.”
The new prime minister added that with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the U.S. became the global hegemon, a position of authority undermined by Trump’s transactional nature that puts little emphasis on defending democratic values or the rule of law.
“Now the United States is beginning to monetize its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its relative contributions to our collective security,” Carney said.
Israel’s attack on Iran has added a new wrinkle to the global picture as the summit leaders gather to tackle some of the world’s thorniest problems.
A senior Canadian official said it was decided early on that the G-7 won’t be issuing a joint communiqué as it has at past summits — an indication of how hard it can be to get Trump on the same page with other world leaders. The White House said individual leader statements will be issued on the issues being discussed.
Speaking last month at a conference in Singapore, Macron called France a “friend and an ally of the United States” but pushed back against Trump’s desire to dominate what other countries do. Macron said efforts to force other nations to choose between the U.S. and China would lead to the breakdown of the global order put in place after World War II.
“We want to cooperate, but we do not want to be instructed on a daily basis what is allowed, what is not allowed, and how our life will change because of the decision of a single person,” Macron said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pushed back against Trump’s agenda of levying higher tariffs on imported goods, arguing it would hurt economic growth. The Japanese leader specifically called Trump ahead of the summit to confirm their plans to talk on the sidelines, which is a greater focus for Japan than the summit itself.
“I called him as I also wanted to congratulate his birthday, though one day earlier,” Ishiba said.
Trump cares about being tough, but G-7 is a chance to reset relations
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the summit was an opportunity for Trump to “mend” relationships with other countries so China would be unable to exploit differences among the G-7.
She said other foreign leaders are “not intimidated” by Trump’s actions, which could be driving them away from tighter commitments with the U.S.
“The conversations that I’ve had with those leaders suggest that they think that the partnership with the United States has been really important, but they also understand that there are other opportunities,” Shaheen said.
The White House did not respond to emailed questions for this story.
Many leaders feel more confident that they can sidestep Trump’s threats
Having originally made his reputation in real estate and hospitality, Trump has taken kindly to certain foreign visitors, such as U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Starmer has sought to keep Trump in line with Europe in supporting Ukraine and NATO instead of brokering any truces that would favor Russia. He has echoed the president’s language about NATO members spending more on defense. But in his Oval Office visit, Starmer also pleased Trump by delivering an invite for a state visit from King Charles III.
The German government said it, too, wanted to send a public signal of unity, saying that while Trump’s recent meeting with Merz at the White House went harmoniously, the next test is how the relationship plays out in a team setting.
There will also be other world leaders outside of the G-7 nations attending the summit in mountainous Kananaskis, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom Trump dressed down in the Oval Office.
Italy’s Meloni has positioned herself as a “bridge” between the Trump administration and the rest of Europe. But Italy’s strong support of Ukraine and Trump’s threatened tariffs on European goods have put Meloni, the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration, in a difficult position.
Mark Sobel, U.S. chair of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, an independent think tank, said Trump’s “trade policies, backing for right wing European movements, seeming preference for dealing with authoritarians and many of his other actions are alienating our G-7 allies,” even if the U.S. president is correct that Europe needs to do more on defense.
But even as other G-7 leaders defuse any public disputes with Trump, the U.S. president’s vision for the world remains largely incompatible with they want.
“In short, behind the curtains, and notwithstanding whatever theater, the Kananaskis summit will highlight a more fragmented G-7 and an adrift global economy,” Sobel said.
Boak writes for the Associated Press. AP reporters Rob Gillies in Toronto, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Jill Lawless in London, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
A WOMAN has threatened to “uninvite” two family members from her wedding after they complained about the menu choices.
Stef explained that her sister had contacted their relatives to ask why they hadn’t received an RSVP back from them for the nuptials.
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Stef was left stunned when she discovered the reason two of her relatives hadn’t RSVP-ed to her weddingCredit: Tiktok/@stefjbaker
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They’d complained about the fact there was no fish option on the menuCredit: Getty
And when she did so, she found out the bizarre reason they’d delayed their response to the invite – despite the fact they insisted they were coming.
“I know they’ll be there, but I need to know their food options,” she said in a TikTok video.
“And the reason they gave for not RSVPing was there’s no fish on the menu!”
She said that she and her husband-to-be had given their guests a meat choice or a vegetarian choice for both the starter and the main course.
Read more Wedding stories
“If you don’t like the meat, then you can have a really lovely Parmigiana aubergine gnocchi,” she added.
“It’s amazing!”
Not only that, but the two family members actually eat meat.
“So my sister was like, ‘Right, okay, so you’re not gonna come to the wedding because there’s no fish on the menu?'” Stef continued.
“And they were like, ‘No, no, no, of course we’re gonna come, we just don’t really know what to say’.”
And when her sister asked the relatives whether or not they could eat either the vegetarian or meat option, they said they could, but “just really wanted fish”.
Watch the moment wedding guest couple get slammed as ‘tacky’ as he gets down to propose right in front of the bride who has no idea is was going to happen
“Are you f**king joking?” Stef raged.
“I’m sorry, but my wedding is not a restaurant.
“You don’t get a full menu, you don’t get to choose from 10 different options.”
In addition, it would cost Stef an extra £10 per person to provide a meat, vegetarian AND fish option, as she noted: “It’s a 160 person wedding.
“I don’t f**king think so.
“My wedding is a two day event. You’re getting two lots of breakfast from me.
Average cost of a wedding in 2025
Recent research byHodgereveals the dream of getting married can come with a hefty price tag, reachingmore than£20,000.
Food – £6,000
Honeymoon – £4,329
Wedding outfits – £3,500
Entertainment – £2,000
Engagement ring – £1,948
Flowers – £1,110
Wedding ring – £1,000
Wedding transport – £700
Total = £20,587
“You’re getting a rehearsal dinner. You’re getting your wedding breakfast.
“You’re getting a pizza from the night of the wedding. I think you’re doing all right.
“It’s a free bar. Sit back and enjoy yourself.”
When the pair admitted the reason they hadn’t wanted to RSVP was because of the menu, Stef’s sister told them: “If you don’t like the food choices, then go f**k yourself”.
“Couldn’t agree more,” she added.
Sharing the tale on TikTok, Stef wrote: “Please tell me I’m not the only other person experiencing this level of crazy around their wedding?!”
People quickly obliged by sharing their own shocking stories in the comments section.
“Literally lost family members who threatened to not attend so I told them not to,” one said.
“Then a ‘friend’ said she’s not coming to my hen now because she had a disagreement over money with my maid of honour!”
“What is up with people and fish?!” another exclaimed.
“I was told I HAD to give a fish option. Excuse me. I hate fish so I give a fish option that means I the bride don’t have a choice on the day?”
“People are unhinged!” a third sighed
“We got married in Feb and some of the comments we got! The worst were from immediate family!!
“One moaned about the FREE wine choices on the table… don’t drink it!!”
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Stef’s sister had an epic response when she learned of the reason they’d delayed their responseCredit: Tiktok/@stefjbaker
WE’RE about to jump head first into another long hot summer, brimming with bikinis, fire pit chats and cringe new slogans, with the sultry tones of Iain Stirling’s “tonight… on Love Island” wafting through our living rooms.
And while that might spark excitement for diehard fans like me, there’s also a creeping sense of deja vu – because once again, despite vocal feedback from viewers, we’re getting the same recycled formula: a villa full of 20-somethings and influencers.
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We’re about to jump head first into another long hot summer, brimming with bikinis, fire pit chats and cringe new slogansCredit: Instagram
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Many of this year’s Islanders have sizeable social followingsCredit: instagram/sophirelee
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Olivia and Alex were a success story – but an Insta following wasn’t a guarantee on their seriesCredit: Rex
This year’s summerLove Island cast is a who’s who of social media stars. There’s from Sophie Lee’s popular Instagram account, Helena Ford’s travel diaries, and TikTok personalities Megan Forte Clarke and Aaron Buckett.
Megan Moore and Rose Selway also boast impressive followings – the latter rubbing shoulders with Love Island alum, thanks to her celeb-favourite tweakment clinic. And then there are the 20-year-old’s among the cast, who are apparently “looking for love,” on the show.
Now I’m not saying you can’t fall in love and meet ‘the one’ at 20 – Olivia Bowen was just 22 when she met her now-husband Alex Bowen, and Love Island superstars Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury were only 21 when their jacuzzi date turned into one of the show’s most iconic love stories.
But things were different then. Love Island wasn’t a guaranteed career launchpad. A deal with PLT was a bonus, not a certainty.
Now, those going on the show have seen the roadmap to fame paved before them, and enter the villa with eyes on the prize – and the prize is not love.
Frankly, there really aren’t enough success stories to say that casting 20-year-olds on the show is a winning formula. In fact, Love Island is more likely to move to Canvey Island at this rate, than it is to find a couple of 20-year-olds who put all their eggs in each other’s baskets.
So doesn’t it feel a bit odd that we’re all sat, every night from 9-10pm, investing all our time into people who, let’s face it, are on the show to further their followings, and not to recreate a storyline out of a Nicholas Sparks novel?
Would it not be more rewarding to watch people in their 30s, – those who may be genuinely starting to question if love is still out there- given a real shot at finding their someone? It would surely make the show a lot more relatable for a lot of people, instead of seeing influencers sling one-liners at each other on a Balinese bed, before heading into the outside world to land a situationship and a podcast deal.
And nostalgia for the old Love Island is running high on social media. Viewers seem keen to bring it back to the days of construction workers and fishmongers walking onto our screens, not people who are friends of a friend with an Islander, or have famous football star dads and brand deals lined up.
Love Island 2025 cast revealed as footballer, actress and beauty influencer who cheated death sign up
But let’s be honest, you can hardly blame the 20-year-olds and influencers for going on to the show.
Of course, given half the chance, they’re going to want to further their careers on the UK’s biggest dating output. You’d take one look at Molly-Mae’s business empire and flashy mansion, Olivia Attwood fronting huge TV shows, and Tasha Ghouri strutting her stuff on Strictly and think, I want a slice of that. And if you’re presented with a stepping stone to pop you closer to fortune and fame, wouldn’t you jump onto it?
Still, it’s starting to undermine what Love Island was originally about. It’s less of a search for soulmates, and more a talent pipeline for the nextPrettyLittleThing ambassador or social media star, as opposed to sourcing the UK’s most enviable romance story.
But then you could also argue, if it’s not broken don’t fix it?
Love Island winners – where they are now
EVERY year Love Island opens its doors to more sexy Islanders who are hoping for a holiday romance that could turn into more.
I just worry that it will become broken, that people are starting to fall out of love with the island of love.
As a huge fan of the show, I’m not ready to switch off just yet.
But I no longer watch with rose tinted glasses, I watch with a lot more scepticism than I once did, which is a shame. I find myself trying to decipher between showmance and serious, instead of sitting back and enjoying the chaos of it all.
And I guess the big question is, can Love Island ever get back to how it once was? Can people still find true love over fame? Well we could at least give it the best chance to prevail by choosing age and career wisely when casting.
Maybe then we could rekindle that magic of the earlier seasons, you know, the ones that made Love Island iconic in the first place.
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Are people starting to fall out of love with the show?
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Contestants aren’t wrong for wanting to find success on the showCredit: Instagram
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Can people still find true love over fame? Well we could at least give it the best chance to prevail by choosing age and career wisely when casting
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Molly and Tommy were a rare love story on the show, in their early twentiesCredit: Rex Features
EVERYONE’S talking about fat jabs – the ‘miracle’ injections trimming inches off waistlines, and helping turn the tide on the obesity epidemic.
But what if there was an even easier – and cheaper – way than Ozempic-like injections, Wegovy and Mounjaro?
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Slimming tablets have been around for decades – but now scientists want to harness the new momentum in obesity medicine to bring them back with a bangCredit: Getty
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Rival company Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro (tirzepatide) announced the results of its pill orforglipron in AprilCredit: Getty
Science sits still for no slimmer and already, the next big thing is looming large on the horizon – and it could be as simple as popping a pill.
Slimming tablets have been around for decades, but now scientists want to harness the new momentum in obesitymedicine – and use the billions being made from the jabs – to bring pills back with a bang.
Professor Jason Halford, of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, tells Sun Health: “I think pills will eventually replace injections.
“People don’t particularly like them and they’re a bit afraid of injecting themselves.
“You’ve got to have the device, the needle, the sharps bin, it’s got to be refrigerated, there are all sorts of challenges.
“If you can move it all to a tablet you can increase acceptance and hopefully it will be cheaper and become more widely available.”
Professor Richard Donnelly, editor of the medical journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, and clinical adviser at online weight loss clinic Juniper, agrees.
“Thirty years ago weight loss tablets had a terrible reputation and nobody really wanted to prescribe them,” he adds.
“They had rare but severe side effects and weren’t particularly effective.
“Now there is a whole flood of development and a lot to be optimistic about.
Weight Loss Jabs – Pros vs Cons
“There is a big hope that developing pills will improve accessibility and cost less.”
There are several pills in development – some stimulate the same hormones as jabs to make us feel full, while others mimic bariatric surgery.
The end goal is the same – to do what willpower alone fails to achieve and stop us eating so much.
While some are yet to even be trialled in humans, one has already been submitted for approval in the US, meaning they could be available before the end of the year.
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There’s even a weight loss pill in development that will emulate a gastric bypassCredit: Getty
The most advanced pills being made are by the same companies behind the fat jabs.
Novo Nordisk, creator of Wegovy and Ozempic, has developed a tablet version of semaglutide, the active drug in those injections.
It applied for approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration last month.
Trials showed patients lost an average of 15 per cent of their bodyweight over 17 months on a 50mg daily dose, compared with eight per cent over 12 months on Wegovy.
Participants were three times more likely to achieve “meaningful” weight loss when they were taking the pill, compared to those not taking the tablet.
Rival company Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro (tirzepatide) announced the results of its pill orforglipron in April.
The two drugs both work by stimulating GLP-1 hormones that make you feel full.
What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs?
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include:
Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Serious side effects can also include:
Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
Patients taking 36mg of orforglipron lost eight per cent of their bodyweight in 10 months, equating to 1st 2lbs from an average starting weight of 14st 3lbs – while participants taking a placebo lost just 3lbs.
It compares with 15 per cent weight loss in a year on Mounjaro.
Lilly said their pill “could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use around the world”.
But injections and pills have not been compared head-to-head yet. Studies are ongoing and taking the science behind these game-changing jabs and applying it to tablets, does not guarantee success.
Pfizer abandoned the development of its drug lotiglipron in 2023 when a trial indicated potential liver damage as a side effect.
Drugs tend to be more easily absorbed by the body when they are injected directly into the bloodstream, compared to being digested through the gut.
And that’s another key consideration – what the potential side effects of these new pills could be.
Unpleasant side effects were the downfall of the old generation of slimming pills.
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Novo Nordisk, creator of Wegovy and Ozempic, has developed a tablet version of semaglutide, the active drug in those injectionsCredit: Getty
The NHS has prescribed a pill called orlistat for years, dishing out £12million worth of it in England last year.
It works by preventing the gut from absorbing fat from food – but it means fat must be passed out in poo instead of digested.
This can lead to flatulence, more regular bowel movements and diarrhoea.
It can also cause bladder pains and breathing troubles – and weight loss doesn’t match up to the jabs.
About eight in 10 patients suffer at least one side effect when using injections, most commonly tummy upset, according to trials.
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients’ sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients’ mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Early data suggests pills might have similar rates.
Around six per cent of people taking any of Lilly or Novo Nordisk’s pills or injections quit the medicines because of side effects.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, of the Independent Pharmacies Association, says: “The old generation drugs tended to be uncomfortable for a lot of people whereas these new ones are much more effective.
“All medicines will have side effects but the fact that the results are much better now means people are more willing to endure them.” Prof Donnelly said he still does not expect new tablets to be as strong as jabs, adding: “I don’t think anybody believes these will cause the same level of weight loss that you might be reporting with Mounjaro.
“The flipside of that is that major weight loss might not all be good.
“Some of that might be muscle and if you lose 30 per cent of your body weight that is a fairly major transformation.
“Having an oral agent that reduces your weight by, say, 10 or 15 per cent, might actually be more sustainable, better tolerated and medically safer in some respects.”
While the GLP-1 tablets are likely to be first to market, inventors are also working on a daily pill that mimics the effects of gastric bypass surgery.
‘GASTRIC BYPASS’ PILL
US company Syntis Bio’s offering, named Synt-101 creates a 24-hour lining in the gut that means food cannot be absorbed in the top six inches of the small intestine.
Rather, digestion is redirected to the lower areas of the gut, where hormones that tell the brain we are full, are triggered faster.
Working in a similar vein to surgery, it means patients feel fuller faster – and the lining is passed when the patient goes to the loo the next day.
Synt-101 has passed its first human safety tests and is expected to enter a full-scale clinical trial next year.
Another pill in development, Sirona, is made by UK-based Oxford Medical Products, and contains a “dual polymer hydrogel” that expands in the stomach when it comes into contact with water.
It works like a gastric balloon, filling the patient’s tummy making them feel full for hours, but is passed in their stools “several days” later.
Early data from an NHS trial found patients lost 10 to 12 per cent in a year of treatment and there were no serious side effects.
Experts believe weight loss pills will serve a variety of purposes – as a follow-on treatment after stopping fat jabs, as an option for those who can’t or don’t want to use jabs and for people with less severe obesity, and less weight to lose.
There are hopes they will be less toxic than injections, which often cause side effects like stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhoea.
Weight regain after treatment is also an emerging issue with the jabs, which can currently only be prescribed for up to two years in the UK.
Rahul Dhanda, chief executive of Syntis Bio, said: “Patients don’t want to be stuck on a revolving door of injections and their side effects; they want to be on a manageable and sustainable weight loss path.
“Oral drugs that are simple, tolerable and safe will be the rational choice for maintenance therapy.”
WHEN you are a parent it can be expensive buying clothes for your ever-growing kids.
Thankfully shoppers have been raving about spotting George at Asda currently has a bumper sale on with numerous items down to just £1.50.
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A mum shared the bargains she had picked up, with some items down to £1.50Credit: Facebook/Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Group
One mum took to the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK and showed how she filled her basket on the George app with discount clothes.
She wrote: “Lots of clothes reduced on the George app.”
Including in her shopping haul were some gamer-themed boys pjs for £1.50, which were for aged seven to eight.
The woman also bought a five-pack of cotton socks for £2 and some Pokemon-themed socks for £2.50.
Other shoppers commented saying they had also stocked up for their kids’ summer wardrobes.
One mum got a £1.50 girls T-shirt, a two-pack of long-sleeve tops for £3 and some £4 swim shorts.
She also got a £2 tennis-themed pink sweatshirt, and a £2 mint green sweatshirt which said ‘Happy Moments.’
Meanwhile, a third Asda fan wrote: “Just got grandkids some bits too.”
One bargain hunter also pointed out that you can save on delivery by getting it sent to an Asda store, which waivers the usual £4 shipping fee.
George store launch
We recently shared how Asda has launched its first-ever stand-alone George store, and it could be rolled out across the UK if it’s a hit.
Kat Farmers new George at Asda Collection
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George at Asda currently has a bumper sale on for kids’ clothesCredit: Alamy
The debut site opened on Saturday, May 10 in Leeds, taking over the old Asda Living at Crown Point Retail Park.
The slick new store is packed with head-turning fashion, stylish homeware, must-have toys and baby bits – plus a fresh café to fuel your spree.
There are 30 Asda Living stores across the UK, and bosses will decide later this year whether to roll out more George stores after another trial run.
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Another Asda shopper shared the bargains they had found on the app
Fashionistas can bag the Spring/Summer 2025 collection fronted by supermodel Yasmin Le Bon, plus new celeb collabs – including a chic kidswear range by Erica Davies and a sunshine-filled drop from Billie Faiers.
And it’s not just the clothes getting a makeover – the whole experience is sleeker, quicker and easier, with speedy self-checkouts, faster queues and slick Click & Collect.
Shoppers will also be able to pop into the brand-new Kitchen café, where staffers are dishing up hot meals, cold bites and stone-baked pizzas.
Liz Evans, Asda’s Chief Commercial Officer for George and Retail, said: “Our Asda Living stores have been a huge success – but as shopping habits change, we want to make it even easier for customers to enjoy quality, style and value with George at the heart of it.”
The George label launched in 1989 when fashion guru George Davies teamed up with Asda to make the UK’s first-ever supermarket clothing brand.
By 2004, it was the nation’s biggest clothing retailer, and Asda launched its first Living store to expand into homeware.
The supermarkets have really upped their game when it comes to their fashion lines. These days, as you head in to do your weekly food shop you can also pick up a selection of purse-friendly, stylish pieces for all the family.
Tesco has just announced a 0.7 per cent increase in the quarter thanks to a ‘strong growth in clothing’ and M&S has earnt the title of the number one destination for womenswear on the high street.
Asda’s clothing line George has made £1.5 million for the supermarket in 2023, 80 per cent of Sainsbury’s clothes sold at full price rather than discounted and Nutmeg at Morrisons sales are also up 2 per cent in the past year.
So what is it about supermarket fashion that is becoming so successful?
Apart from the clothing actually being affordable, it’s good quality too – with many being part of schemes such as the Better Cotton Initiative.
A lot of the time they keep to classic pieces that they know will last the customer year after year.
Plus because they buy so much stock they can turn around pieces quickly and buy for cheaper because of the volumes.
The Loose Women panellists are said to be in fear over their future on the show after ITV announced a major shake-up, which has been branded a ‘time-bomb’ by some
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
10:40, 22 May 2025Updated 10:43, 22 May 2025
There is believed to be tension behind the scenes between the older Loose Women stars and the younger panellists
Loose Women stars are said to have been left shaken following ITV’s dramatic shake-up. Earlier this week, the network announced a major overhaul of their daytime schedules, which affects both Loose and Lorraine Kelly’s self-titled morning programme.
However, despite being hit with a mass loss of viewers, the magazine show This Morning remains unaffected. While all shows air throughout the year, the new schedule means that both Loose and Lorraine will only be on screens for 30 weeks of the year. Meanwhile, Good Morning Britain has been extended until 9.30, axing part of Lorraine’s show.
It’s claimed that some of the older members of the panel who have been part of the show since its launch 25 years ago, are worried that they will be fighting for appearances on the panel, while “PR friendly” younger members of the team including GK Barry, Olivia Attwood and former singer Frankie Bridge will be favoured.
Sources claim that the younger members of Loose Women are being favoured by the top dogs(Image: ITV)
ITV sources have criticised This Morning for being “favoured” despite its dwindling viewing figures. The tension behind the scenes at the network is believed to be “unbearable,” with This Morning being hit with “rage.” Sources claim that the shake-up has sparked a ” time bomb,” with executives allegedly doing everything to defuse the situation amongst talent.
“ITV Daytime could combust from the inside out at this rate,” a source said. They went to tell The Sun that older panellists on Loose Women have seen shake-ups in the past but “weathered” them. Now, this news has come out of nowhere, leaving them shaken.
The older members of the panel are believed to think that the negative criticism surrounding the programme has been directed towards them with “out of touch” comments, whereas the new and younger panellists have a hype around them due to having different viewers than their older colleagues.
Cast on the show are now feeling they have to ‘sing for their supper’(Image: (Credit: Amy Brammall / ITV) )
Older members of the panel believe that the younger stars are “shiny teachers’ pets,” after top bosses have praised them for bringing in a younger audience. “It’s now five months or so for them to prove their worth and sing for their supper,” the source added. They went on to say: “The older panellists feel like until January they’re on probation and pragmatic bosses will be scrutinising their every tweet, every rating and audience polling — everything like that.”
There is also believed to be tension around the pay from the show, with some on a staff PAYE contract, and some panellists working on a freelance basis. But while the take-home fee is different, every panellist is believed to be on around £3,000 per episode. The Mirror previously revealed that Loose Women had become embroiled in a pay row behind the scenes.
Three big stars had told their bosses that they would walk out if the issues were not resolved. It came after the network was hit with a change by HMRC on tax legislation. ITV were made to decide whether a role was self-employed or employed for tax purposes from April 2021.
Some stars had been told to take a PAYE contract, meaning that instead of paying corporation tax at 19 per cent, they would have had to pay 40 per cent on earnings between £50,271 and £150,000, plus National Insurance. A source behind the scenes told us: “They have all been self-employed for decades. Their accountants are saying no, they are self-employed… and are not going to go on PAYE.”
Our mole added: “They’re so strict about it, and we’re talking about the big players.” ITV sources said the broadcaster had communicated the change to all those concerned across the channel and that assessments are done on a “case-by-case basis”.
On Monday, she released an emotional statement on her retirement.
In it, she said: “My days of being a jockey have come to an end.
“I feel the time is right. I’m sad but I’m also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years.
Emotional Rachael Blackmore reveals family tragedy days before Cheltenham Fesival as she dedicates win to cousin
“I just feel so lucky, to have been legged up on the horses I have, and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible.
“It is daunting, not being able to say that I am a jockey anymore… who even am I now! But I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the career I’ve had.
“To have been in the right place at the right time with the right people, and to have gotten on the right horses – because it doesn’t matter how good you are without them.
“They have given me the best days of my life and to them I am most grateful.”
All your Strictly Come Dancing winners
Strictly first kicked off back in 2004, and over the years has crowned 21 winners.
Rachael would follow in the footsteps of fellow jockey Richard Dunwoody if she scooped the Strictly gig, after his stint in sequins in 2009.
He previously told how he earned £9K in nine minutes when winning the Grand National – yet bagged a bigger pay cheque on the BBC One series.
Recently, The Sun reported how the Queen Camilla Parker Bowles’ son,Tom, is said to be in talks to compete on theBBC dancing competition.
Tom, 50, is a food writer and restaurant critic and has made regular appearances on MasterChef as a judge.
A source said: “Top of their wishlist is MasterChef star Tom. His name was also sounded-out last year but never materialised. Bosses hope they’ll have better luck this year.
“It would be a coup to sign someone with such a strong royal link. Maybe we could see Camilla and Charles in the audience?”
Made In Chelsea star and I’m A Celebrity winner Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo is also on the dance show’s radar.
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The Grand National winner would follow in the footsteps of fellow jockey Richard Dunwoody if she signed upCredit: AP
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The Queen’s son Tom Parker Bowles is also a name in the frameCredit: PA
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Comedian Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell scooped the trophy in 2024Credit: PA
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