Three of the leading candidates for Los Angeles mayor — incumbent Karen Bass, Councilmember Nithya Raman and reality television personality Spencer Pratt — will share the stage for a debate Wednesday evening.
The hour-long forum, broadcast on NBC4 and Telemundo 52, will be held at the Skirball Cultural Center in Brentwood starting at 5 p.m.
The debate will also air online at nbcla.com and telemundo52.com and be available via streaming channels on platforms like Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Samsung TV Plus.
Voters have already been mailed their ballots for the June 2 primary election, which can be returned by mail or at designated drop box locations. In-person voting is already open at the county’s Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office in Norwalk, and will expand to county Vote Centers starting May 23.
Wednesday’s debate will be moderated by anchor Colleen Williams and political reporter Conan Nolan of KNBC-TV, and anchor Enrique Chiabra of Telemundo 52. The debate is held in partnership with Loyola Marymount University and the Skirball Cultural Center.
WASHINGTON — A federal magistrate judge on Monday pressed a jail official to explain why a man charged with trying to storm the White House Correspondents’ Assn. dinner and attempting to kill President Trump was placed on restrictive suicide watch after his arrest.
Officials at the city jail in Washington removed Cole Tomas Allen from its designated “suicide status” over the weekend after his attorneys complained that he had been unnecessarily confined in a padded room with constant lighting, repeatedly strip-searched and placed in restraints outside his cell.
But the relaxed conditions didn’t satisfy U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui’s concerns that Allen may have received disparate, punitive treatment in violation of his due process rights. Faruqui noted that the D.C. jail routinely houses convicted killers and others charged with violent crimes without placing them on 24-hour lockdown.
“It could drive a person crazy to be in that situation,” he said.
Faruqui apologized to Allen over his confinement conditions. In response to a news report on that apology, U.S. Atty. Jeanine Pirro criticized him in a social media post that said Faruqui “believes a defendant armed to the teeth and attempting to assassinate the president is entitled to preferential treatment in his confinement compared to every other defendant.”
Allen’s lawyers said he wasn’t showing any suicidal risk factors after his arrest. But a jail psychiatrist evaluated him and initially concluded that he posed a suicide risk, according to Tony Towns, acting general counsel for the city’s corrections department.
“Every case is different, your honor,” Towns said.
Allen was moved into protective custody after the jail lifted the suicide prevention measures. His attorneys didn’t object to his new confinement status. They had asked the magistrate to cancel Monday’s hearing, but Faruqui forged ahead with it due to his “grave concerns” about Allen’s treatment in jail.
Allen was injured but was not shot during the April 25 attack at the Washington Hilton, which disrupted one of the highest-profile annual events in the nation’s capital.
Allen was armed with guns and knives when he ran through a security checkpoint and pointed his weapon at a Secret Service agent, who fired back five times, authorities said. Pirro has said that Allen fired a shot that struck the agent’s bullet-resistant vest.
Allen later told FBI agents that he didn’t expect to survive the attack, which could help explain why he was deemed to be a possible suicide risk, said Justice Department prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine.
Allen, 31, of Torrance, is charged with attempted assassination of the president and two additional firearms counts. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the assassination count alone.
Defense attorney Eugene Ohm said Allen was prohibited from having anything in his cell. He asked for a Bible and a visit from a chaplain but hasn’t received either, according to Ohm.
True crime series on teen’s viral lockdown hoax and where to watch it – The Mirror
Need to know
A new true crime documentary will revisit the case of Ellie Williams, a UK teenager whose post went viral during the COVID-19 lockdown
Ellie Williams’ case is being revisited in a three-part documentary(Image: PA)
Everything to know about new documentary exploring teen’s lockdown lie
A shocking new documentary will revisit the extraordinary case of teenager Ellie Williams who falsely claimed she was trafficked by a grooming gang. The three-part series ‘The Lie That Exposed the Truth’ revisits her viral Facebook post during the 2020 lockdown that sparked a flurry of hate-related crimes against Barrow’s Asian community.
She was jailed for eight-and-a-half years in January 2023 for perverting the course of justice after a jury found she had lied and inflicted injuries on herself to frame five men.
The documentary will feature interviews with Ellie’s family and survivor testimony, seeking to explore whether there was any “truth beneath the lies.” It also examines whether the focus on proving Ellie had lied led to denial of a wider grooming problem in the town.
Executive producer Henry Singer said: “We’d previously made a film on the Rochdale grooming scandal so when the Ellie Williams story broke, something didn’t sit right with us with how the press was telling it. The abuse of young girls has been ignored and dismissed for far too long.”
The series will also uncover accounts from other women in Barrow whose allegations of abuse were dismissed or ignored. It explores how far-right groups have weaponised such cases to fuel outrage while agencies have avoided confronting perpetrators’ ethnicity.
The documentary arrives on Sky and NOW later this year. A release date is yet to be announced.
KATIE Price was left screaming in terror as she took a trip to a haunted house in Belgium for a ghosthunting experience this week.
The mum-of-five documented her spooky trip by filming the whole thing, with fans watching as she spoke to ‘ghosts’.
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Katie Price was left terrified as she took a trip to a haunted house this weekend in BelgiumCredit: Katie Price/YouTube/BackgridThe former glamour model filmed herself as she spoke to ‘ghosts’ at the secluded cabinCredit: Katie Price/YouTube/Backgrid
Katie drove from her home in the UK to Brussels with pal and cameraman Ben Algar as she headed to the European city to undergo more surgical procedures on her boobs and filler in her lips.
Filming herself as they arrived for a new YouTube vlog, a terrified Katie is seen checking the cabin for ghosts.
Staring over at a lightbulb, she says: “If there’s any ghosts in here and you want us to go, that light I’m pointing at now, turn it off if you don’t want us to stay.”
She was seen screaming as a flickering light seemingly confirmed her suspicions about paranormal activityCredit: Instagram/Katie Price/BackGridKatie was joined by close pal and cameraman Ben for the trip
As nothing happened, she said: “Well, at least it didn’t turn off.”
But just seconds later, the light seemingly flickered off, with Katie then screaming.
“What is going on?” said the worried star.
With her hands on her face, she said: “Noo. What are we doing?”
Whilst Katie was convinced the light was proof that ghosts were present, fans in the comment section of the video had other theories.
“I think its a motion sensor bulb lol,” laughed one.
Another agreed: “Katie is a sensor light, when you step forward it came on then went off when ye stepped back”.
Sources credit Ben as a ‘stable influence’ in the ex-glamour model’s life, in what has been another whirlwind few months for the star, following her driving suspension and surprise Dubai wedding to Lee Andrews in late January.
“The second man in Katie’s life is Ben, who has been by her side for years,” a source tells The Sun. “But he’s really stepped up recently amid her latest drama.
“He is probably the only stable man she’s ever had in her life outside of her family.
“They’re incredibly close friends and Ben has always quietly guided Katie, not only in her career but in her private life
“The whole family love him- he’s a really great friend to Katie and the entire Price gang. They all think he’s a legend.”
How to watch Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid: TV channel, live stream and kick-off time – The Mirror
Everything you need to know about Arsenal’s most important game of the season so far
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Bukayo Saka could be back from injury to help Arsenal during their crunch match with Atletico Madrid(Image: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
Kick-off time: Arsenal vs Atletico is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time tonight, April 29. It’s the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, giving Mikel Arteta’s side their first chance to secure a place in the final, against either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich, depending on how their matches end. The French and German sides faced off for their first leg last night in a barn storming match which Paris won 5-4.
Match location: Arsenal vs Atletico will take place at the Spanish club’s home ground, the state-of-the-art Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid.
Why is the game important? Despite a packed trophy cabinet, Arsenal has never won the Champions League. Ensuring a good showing away from home will put them in a good position for the second leg, which will be held at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday, May 5 at 8pm.
UK TV channel: Live coverage of the game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max. The official broadcast coverage begins at 7pm, with an hour of pre-match analysis and team news before kick off.
Live stream information: TNT Sports is no longer streamed on the Discovery+ app. Instead, viewers who want to stream the game must download the HBO Max app and sign in.
UK radio coverage: Live commentary will be provided by BBC Radio 5 Live on national radio across the UK. Meanwhile, local coverage and fan-focused audio commentary can also be accessed through the official Arsenal app and the club’s website.
Team news is largely based around injuries: Both teams have their own injury worries after intense home league seasons and some full-on games earlier in the tournament. There is a glimmer of hope for the Gunners, with Bukayo Saka potentially fit enough to stage a return, having come off the bench for the team’s recent Newcastle game.Meanwhile Diego Simeone’s men, who knocked out Barcelona to take their place in the semi-finals are no longer in contention for the La Liga title so are expected to be going all out for the trophy here. The side could be without midfield star Pablo Barrios who was injured during a match at the weekend against Athletic Bilbao.
Head-to-head record: On previous form, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid seem fairly evenly matched. In five games played since 2009, Atletico has won one, Arsenal won two and two were draws.
What happens if Arsenal and Atletico tie? Because it’s the first leg there’s no need for extra time if the match ends with one team ahead of the other.
Do away goals count for more? The away goals rule for Champions League games is no longer in effect, meaning there’s no difference when calculating the aggregate depending on where the goal was scored. If at the end of the ninety minutes of the second the teams are equal, this will send the tie directly into extra time. If the aggregate score remains level after thirty minutes of extra time, a penalty shootout will be the final decider on which team advances to the final.
Last week’s meet-up in San Francisco didn’t provide the fireworks or memorable moments the candidates, and many voters, were hoping for — but it did manage to remind us all that ballots will hit mailboxes in coming days and decisions must be made.
Ahead of the forum at Pomona College in Claremont, a trio of our Times columnists — Gustavo Arellano, Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria — weigh in with a cheat sheet on what to look for, what to expect and why it matters.
Chabria: I’ll start us off with the obvious — let’s hope Tuesday gives us at least one breakout candidate who comes with some fire and vision.
After last week’s debate, there was lots of social media posturing about who won and who trolled whom the best. But as one of the six people who actually watched, I can tell you it was mostly bland with no clear winner.
That’s in large part because many of the Democrats have only slivers of daylight between their policies, and ditto for the two Republicans.
So my hope is that at least a single candidate ups their game and comes to voters with not just attacks, but something that inspires, something that sets them apart. This far into the race, that hope is slim, but I’m keeping it alive.
What are your hopes and dreams — and maybe fears — going into this?
Barabak: I know I sound like a broken record. (Google it, kids.) Anita, you and I, in particular, have gone round and round on this one. But I don’t feel a particular need for inspiration from the guys and gal that are running for governor. If I want inspiration, I’ll go back and reread the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” Or listen to a Grateful Dead show from May of ’77.
Give me someone who can work with the Legislature, and as difficult as it may be, President Trump, to get stuff done.
Pursue a “California First” agenda, to borrow a phrase. Put voters and their interests ahead of ego, careerism and personal ambition. Start by pledging, if elected, to serve a full four-year term and not run for president so long as they’re serving as governor.
Of course, that kind of promise can be broken. (See then-Gov. Pete Wilson, who made that vow when he sought reelection in 1994, then turned around and — unsuccessfully — sought the White House in 1995.)
At least we’d have them on the record.
Arellano: I’m all for this morass of democracy. A small part of me wants two Republicans to make it into the general election because the California Democratic Party deserves a meteor-like extinction event. No GOP statewide elected official since Schwarzenegger. Supermajority in Sacramento for most of a decade.
And what do they have to show for their one-party rule? This.
But then I hear Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton mewl, and I’m suddenly hoping alongside Anita that someone vanquishes their foes with an unassailable vision. Problem is, I think all the candidates have reached their ceiling. The only one who has any chance of showing us something new is Xavier Becerra, who needs to drop his Dudley Do-Right shtick for a second and channel the inner cholo we all know is in him.
Instead, he was at a fundraiser in Fullerton over the weekend with professional Latinos — you should’ve been kicking it with my cousins in Anaheim who were watching their Dodgers slaughter the Cubs, loco, because they’re the ones who’ll make or break you.
Chabria: How the first potential Latino governor is failing to excite Latino voters is exactly what I’m talking about. If you don’t give voters something to be excited about, they don’t vote, and our fragile democracy needs every voter it can get.
But if we are forced to vote on nuance, let’s do it informed. Here are some questions I hope these candidates have to answer:
For San José Mayor Matt Mahan, funded in the mega-millions by tech bros, it’s not enough to promise to regulate artificial intelligence, or billionaire influence, for that matter. Tell us what those regulations look like and tell us how you reconcile your own politics with those of big donors such as Joe Lonsdale, co-founder of Palantir, who has called Gen Z the “loser generation.”
For billionaire investor Tom Steyer, who has said he will reform Proposition 13 (which limits property taxes) for corporate land owners: What assurances do homeowners have that they won’t be next?
And I agree with you, Gustavo, Becerra is coming across as resolutely bland, but to Mark’s point, he’s using that to position himself as drama-free and experienced. So in an era when fraud and abuse are the words of the day, how does Becerra explain not catching fraud in his own office?
Mark and Gustavo, what are the topics you hope candidates will be grilled on?
Arellano: Slight correction, Anita — California already had a Latino governor: Romualdo Pacheco, the lieutenant governor who replaced Newton Booth in 1875 when the latter became a U.S. senator. Pacheco — a Latino Republican! — served all of 10 months before becoming a Congress member.
Issues? Immigration, of course. I want each one to address the state’s undocumented immigrants for 90 seconds in whatever matter they choose. Water: Believe in climate change or not, but our supply is shrinking faster than the gubernatorial chances of Thurmond. And since I believe that the more random the question, the more you learn about who a candidate truly is: What’s the best song about California, and why? Anyone who says “California Girls” or “California Gurls” deserves disqualification, even if both songs rock.
Barabak: Not an issue, per se. What I’d like to see is a bit of backbone.
The next governor is going to have to make some tough decisions, especially around spending priorities and/or cuts to the state budget. Inevitably, the next governor is going to make some people unhappy. And I’m not talking about just those members of the opposite party, or folks who didn’t vote for them.
So I’d like each of them to name an issue where, for the good of the state, they’re willing to take on their friends and allies, knowing they’ll be displeased. If you’re a Democrat, name something you would do that would, say, tick off organized labor. And for Republicans Bianco and Hilton, what’s an area where you’re willing to say to Trump, “Sir” — the president imagines everyone bowing and calling him sir — “you’re dead wrong about this and California needs to go its own way, whether you like it or not.”
Arellano: Good luck seeing any candidate buck their masters. I think we need to lower our expectations way, way, well, lower. So a simple question to conclude: Who needs to do the most tonight besides Mahan’s beard? I think it’s my fellow Orange Countian, Katie Porter. She’s now to the right of Steyer and left of Becerra, which means she needs to peel off supporters from both of them and grab undecideds if she wants to advance. Not sure how she can pull that off — but if anyone can bring necessary fire, it’s her.
Chabria: Porter definitely has a lot on the line.
One standout moment for her, Steyer or Becerra — good or bad — could tilt this very-much-undecided race — not so much because people will be watching, but because it will fuel the social media and advertising sure to follow. These next two debates are high-stakes, not just to avoid a Biden performance, but to do something, anything, that fires up momentum.
Politics ain’t beanbag, as the old saying goes, and it’s time to bring the heat. So in the spirit of Gustavo’s song request, I’ll leave it with these lyrics from the Rivieras (or the Ramones, if you prefer): We’re out there having fun, in the warm California sun.
Barabak: Not to be the pooper at the party but I think we shouldn’t overstate the import of tonight’s debate. For one thing, as Anita suggested, the audience will be exceedingly small — minuscule, even, relative to the state’s 23 million registered voters.
We know, from experience, that most folks will take away what they do based not on the debate itself but rather the coverage of it and whatever soundbites, memes, chatter and advertising it produces — and that’s only to the extent people are paying attention.
So, yes, what’s said and done in Pomona, will matter some. But we’re still five weeks away from election day, and I suspect many folks will be waiting at least another week or three to start focusing on the race and finally make up their minds.
I’ll end with something that Jerry Garcia sang: All good things in all good time.
ON August 12, a total solar eclipse will sweep across northern Spain and the Balearics – the first to cross mainland Europe since 1999, and the first visible in Spain since 1905.
For UK holidaymakers, it’s a rare chance to pair a week in the sun with a once-in-a-lifetime moment – totality arriving with the sun just degrees above the horizon, creating what astronomers are calling a “sunset eclipse”.
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On August 12, a total solar eclipse will sweep across northern Spain and the Balearics – the first to cross mainland Europe since 1999Credit: Getty
Astro-tourism is tipped to be big for this year off the back of this — but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
TravelSupermarket has done some digging to discover the perfect holidays to pair fun in the sun with a chance to view the eclipse.
Head of Holidays Chris Webber says: “What makes August 12 special is the timing.
“Because the eclipse arrives just before sunset, anyone on the Balearics will see totality with the sun sitting just above the horizon.
“Our advice is simple — if you want to be there, book now.
“The eclipse falls in the peak of the school holidays, and west-facing hotels on Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca are already getting snapped up.”
Here, LISA MINOT, Head of Travel, shines a light on six great places to see the phenomenon.
NOJA, CANTABRIA
Noja is a proper Atlantic surf town and an under-the-radar shout for eclipse watchersCredit: Qarlos Qastilla
TUCKED on Cantabria’s north coast, Noja is a proper Atlantic surf town and an under-the-radar shout for eclipse watchers.
Playa de Ris faces north-west, picking up clean swell off the Bay of Biscay and giving a clear, unbroken sightline as the sun drops — so you could even be out catching waves when it happens.
It’s not a polished resort town, more of a wild, local and friendly vibe.
Stay at La Casona de Noja, a small, intimate bolthole a short walk from both the town centre and the beach — plain but comfortable, with an on-site restaurant and bar.
GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the 2* La Casona de Noja is from £779pp including flights from Gatwick on August 6.
Madrid is a brilliant base for combining a city break with the main eventCredit: Alexander Spatari
MADRID sits just outside the path of totality, but it makes a brilliant base for combining a city break with the main event.
From the capital, it’s a straightforward run north into Castilla y León, with Burgos and Valladolid both in the path of totality.
Zaragoza is another well-connected option. On the day, the priority is an open view of the low western sky.
For your city stay, the 4* NH Madrid Balboa is a great choice in the upscale Salamanca district, minutes from the Retiro Park and the city’s designer shopping streets, with light, wood-floored rooms and a daily breakfast buffet.
GO: Three nights’ room-only at the NH Madrid Balboa is from £354pp including flights from Stansted on August 11, hand luggage only.
Salou lets you combine seeing the eclipse with a classic Med beach holidayCredit: Getty
FOR families who want the eclipse built into a classic Med beach holiday, Salou is the pick.
The Costa Dorada sits in the path of totality, and Salou’s long, west-facing promenade means you can watch the eclipse without leaving your hotel terrace.
PortAventura is half an hour up the road if you want to build the week around theme parks too.
The Cala Font hotel is perched above its own cove just outside Salou, with pools, a spa and half-board dining — solid, sociable and built for a family week.
GO: Seven nights’ half-board at the 4* Cala Font hotel is from £868pp including flights from Stansted on August 6.
Majorca will give you a true sunset eclipseCredit: Getty
MAJORCA is arguably the most exciting spot of the lot.
The eclipse will reach the island with the sun only a couple of degrees above the horizon — a true sunset eclipse.
The west coast is the place to be for the clearest sightline, and Peguera, on the south-west, ticks the box — a laid-back resort with wide, west-facing beaches at Platja de Palmira and Playas de Paguera.
For your perfect stay, the 4* Hotel Vibra Beverly Playa sits right on the coast in Peguera, with two outdoor pools, a kids’ club and buffet dining for a great family break.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the Hotel Vibra Beverly Playa is from £841pp including flights from Luton on August 11.
San Antonio is one of the best places in Ibiza to catch the eclipseCredit: L. Apolli / AidBC
SAN Antonio already has a reputation as the sunset capital of Ibiza — Café del Mar and the Sunset Strip exist for a reason.
That same west-facing orientation makes it one of the best spots on the island to catch totality as the sun drops into the Mediterranean.
The path of totality runs right across Ibiza, and San Antonio Bay delivers the open horizon needed to see it properly.
Stay at the THB Ocean Beach, a 4* adults-only on the seafront in San Antonio Bay, with a rooftop pool, Bali beds and direct access to O Beach Ibiza next door.
GO: Seven nights’ room-only at THB Ocean Beach is from £1,374pp including flights from Gatwick on August 10, 22kg luggage and transfers.
For travellers who want the eclipse without the crowds, Ciutadella is itCredit: Getty
IF Ibiza is the party end of the Balearic eclipse trail, Ciutadella is the quiet one.
Sitting on Menorca’s west coast, the old capital is already known for some of the island’s finest sunset spots.
Castell de Sant Nicolau is a ten-minute walk from the centre, and Pont d’en Gil and the Punta Nati lighthouse are both a short drive away, all with wide, unobstructed views west across the Mediterranean towards Mallorca.
For travellers who want the eclipse without the crowds, this is it.
The 2* Alfons Hotel is in the heart of Ciutadella, a short walk from the beaches and the town’s cobbled centre, with a small spa, sun terrace and restaurant.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the Alfons is from £998pp including flights from Gatwick on August 11, 22kg luggage and transfers.
AN eye-watering amount of cash is stuffed into suitcases, with Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews’ name printed onto a label stuck on top of the thousands upon thousands of $100 bank notes.
But rather than a show of his apparent wealth, today The Sun can reveal Lee’s boastful videos share the hallmarks of high-level scams – with his ex-fiancee Alana Percival warning that his time evading the heavy hand of the law may be running out.
Katie Price and Lee Andrews said I do in a surprise wedding just days after the former glamour model announced her ninth engagement.Credit: BackGridLee’s ex-fiance Alana Percival has warned that that his time evading the law is running outCredit: Click News and Media
Former glamour model Katie, 48, flew back to Dubai over the weekend to join Andrews, 41, in the country at a £36million mansion which he claims he bought in cash.
The shameless brag, like most that come from his lips, is not true and the London football club have had no dealings with Andrews.
No doubt, like many women, Katie may have seen the suitcases stuffed to the brim with what appears to be millions of pounds in cash.
His alleged vast fortune is, he claims, from complex deals with foreign embassies and treasuries that he’s spent the past nine years developing.
Sharing the two videos with The Sun to prove his “wealth”, Lee alleges he ships the cash to Africa for institutional investment.
However, our analysis found that the clips are almost identical to the dubious proof-of-funds videos often used by fraudsters to convince people they have large sums of money.
In one video, Lee’s name is written on a sheet of A4 paper along with the date, while the man filming references a fictitious code that The Sun has discovered does not exist in the real world banking system.
The wads of $100 notes are bound by plain bands labelled “BEP” (Bureau of Engraving and Printing).
To the untrained eye, it would seem Lee is sitting on a fortune.
But those BEP labelled bands are most commonly found on film sets, binding together fake wads of cash seen in blockbuster movies.
Authentic BEP bands include the institution’s name, a routing number, and a branch ID.
Andrews’s bands include none of those.
The videos are known as “Black Money Scams” – and are often seen in fraud cases.
Metal briefcases, locked with padlocks, labelled “FRAGILE – HANDLE WITH CARE” — are designed to look like a secure, official shipment of cash.
Stacks of $100 bills are then laid out in an open case with a note to make it look personalised and real.
In fact, where these scams exist it’s all faked – the money is not real.
Andrews’ former fiancee Alana has warned the net may be closing in on him and claimed last week that a warrant was out for his arrest in Dubai.
And now those close to Katie tell The Sun they hope she can finally start to see what is happening.
“Alana is saying a warrant is out for Lee’s arrest in Dubai, he still appears to be taking money off women, but Katie still can’t see what he’s doing,” a friend tells The Sun.
“It’s exasperating. Those around her think Lee is bad news.
“The brags about his wealth, the videos of the fake cash, the claims he’s bought a £36million mansion in cash – it’s all laughable.
“Kate is usually shrewd but when it comes to matters of love, she thinks with her heart and not with her brain.
The video shows wads of cash in a suitcase and is designed to flaunt wealthCredit: The SunKatie reunited with Andrews in Dubai at the weekendCredit: wesleeandrews/Instagram
“It is painful for her friends and family watching her consort with this man.”
Alongside the videos supposedly proving his income stream, Andrews also provided three documents.
One of these is a payment guarantee letter for a $100m transaction, the first payment of a proposed $5bn.
It is signed by Mr Sikakaew, allegedly from the Thai bank Kasikorn, who holds a “Supreme SSID License”—a term not recognised in banking, as SSID is actually a name for a Wi-Fi network.
In the document, a scanned image of Lee’s passport appears to have been digitally manipulated and features glaring mistakes such as an upside-down photo and backward font.
A second document is a Memorandum of Understanding, which is a non-legally binding statement of intent to work with another party.
It mentions a “UN license for a mixed currencies redemption program”, something that also does not exist.
The letter, which outlines the transfer of $5bn to the Royal Thai Embassy in Kenya, is signed by American Joseph John Garrity, with no record of such a person being involved in high-level international finance.
The third document is a Capital Readiness Program prepared for Lee by Hachi Capital LLC — a business with no legitimate record.
A similarly named UK company called Hachi Capital Ltd was dissolved in 2013 and coincidentally featured Craig Boddington as director, the same name managing Lee’s account.
The program promises financial returns well beyond any realistic measure, claiming a 500 per cent return on investment per monthly cycle and as much as 100 per cent per 10-day cycle on “bullet trades”.
Further red flags include the business not being licensed or regulated by any major financial authority and has hallmarks of investment scams with six-figure set up fees designed to get clients to part with cash before realising any profits.
A number of women have spoken to The Sun after falling for such Andrews’ investment promises.
Crystal Janke claimed she lost £123k in investmentsCredit: InstagramAndrews claims he ships vast amounts of money to AfricaCredit: The Sun
The money has since disappeared, with Crystal filing a police complaint in the US.
Andrews denies the claims but Crystal to date is still insistent she’s not had a penny, after sharing with The Sun her bank statements which prove the transactions into Andrews’ account.
Earlier this year The Sun revealed that his company, Aura Worldwide Holdings Ltd, was actually dissolved in 2024.
But Andrews is still claiming it is open, despite paperwork proving otherwise, and is pushing his schemes upon women he meets on social media and women he knows through business.
Last month, another woman came forward to tell The Sun she had invested $1,000 but still had no return.
When she confronted Andrews, she claims he fobbed her off and made excuses about the whereabouts of her funds.
A friend of Katie’s told The Sun: “Why Katie cannot see what is going on under her nose is scary.
“None of this is legitimate and everyone is just praying for the moment the penny finally drops and she gets the hell out of this marriage.”
Andrews previously denied all the allegations brought against him by The Sun.
He later claimed his inflated LinkedIn CV was the result of errors by his former assistant and swiftly removed some of his false work history.
Among them was that he was a Member of the Board of Advisors for the Labour Party and Director of Philanthropy at The King’s Trust.
He said: “I think that’s been hyped up and made to look better than what it is and it needs to come down.
“I can’t take the showmanship of it, but I’ll take the accountability.
“The PA no longer works for me now anyway, for other reasons — probably because of that.”
He told us: “People don’t know I’ve met Harvey and two of the kids, I haven’t seen the young ones.
“I’ve been back and forth, I just don’t f***ing tell anyone. I lead a very private life. I tell people what they want to hear, the rest they can make up, you know.”
A representative for Katie later told The Sun this claim was a lie and that Andrews had never met her children.
Katie was warned over new husband by two of his exes who claim he is lying swindler who preys on womenCredit: InstagramLee’s ex Crystal Janke invested into his company Aura Worldwide Holdings LtdAlana Percival was previously engaged to Lee Andrews
As the 2026 Stagecoach Country Music Festival rides off into the sunset, enjoy the last day of the performances from the comfort of your home. The festival will be livestreaming most of the performances, so you’ll be able to watch Post Malone and Warren Zeiders from the couch. You can also take a trip down memory lane with Hootie & the Blowfish, Brooks & Dunn and Third Eye Blind. Close out the festival by watching Loud Luxury, DJ Pauly D and Ludacris onstage.
The festival will be livestreamed on Amazon Music, Prime Video and Twitch. On Sirius XM’s The Highway (Channel 56), you can listen in to exclusive interviews and live performances. Their station Y’Allternative will also be covering the festival on Sunday.
Here are updated set times for the Stagecoach livestream Sunday performances (times presented in PDT):
Ready to sing along from your couch? The Amazon Music Stagecoach Saturday livestream has you covered. For a heartfelt ballad, you’ll be able to tune in as Teddy Swims and Lainey Wilson take the Stagecoach stage. Take a trip back in time to watch Bush perform, then end the night tuning into Mr. Worldwide taking over the desert as Pitbull closes out the Saturday performances.
The festival will be livestreamed on Amazon Music, Prime Video and Twitch. On Sirius XM’s the Highway (channel 56), you can listen to exclusive interviews and live performances. Their station Y’allternative will also be covering the festival on Saturday.
Here are updated set times for the Stagecoach livestream Saturday performances (times presented in PDT):
Channel 1
3:10 p.m. Kevin Smiley; 3:30 p.m. Braxton Keith; 4:05 p.m. Redferrin; 4:40 p.m. Corey Kent; 5:35 p.m. Teddy Swims; 6:20 p.m. Treaty Oak Revival; 7:20 p.m. Little Big Town; 8:20 p.m. Riley Green; 9:30 p.m. Lainey Wilson; 11 p.m. Pitbull
Channel 2
3:10 p.m. S.G. Goodman; 3:30 p.m. Lane Pittman; 4:05 p.m. Benjamin Tod; 4:40 p.m. Michael Marcagi; 5:20 p.m. Willow Avalon; 5:55 p.m. Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters; 6:40 p.m. Chase Matthew; 7:20 p.m. Charles Wesley Godwin; 8:10 p.m. Bush; 9:10 p.m. Gavin Adcock; 10:20 p.m. Two Friends
Sirius XM The Highway
4 p.m. Corey Kent; 6:30 p.m. Little Big Town; 7:50 p.m. Riley Green; 9 p.m. Lainey Wilson
Sirius XM Y’allternative
9 a.m. the Red Clay Strays; 11 a.m. Larkin Poe; 12 p.m. Ole 60; 1 p.m. Sam Barber; 2 p.m. the Marcus King Band; 6 p.m. S.G. Goodman; 8 p.m. Treaty Oak Revival
Choosin’ to stay home instead of trekking out to Indio for this weekend’s Stagecoach festival? Don’t worry, you’ll be able to listen to all the country music your heart desires. You can get your country heartbreak on with Ella Langley, Bailey Zimmerman and Cody Johnson, and then rock out with Counting Crows. If you prefer EDM, you can catch Diplo and Dillstradamus (Dillon Francis and Flosstradamus) as Friday’s closing acts.
The festival will be livestreamed on Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video and Twitch beginning at 3 p.m. On Sirius XM’s The Highway (channel 56), you can listen to exclusive interviews and live performances along with a special edition of the Music Row Happy Hour. The station Y’Allternative will also be covering the festival on Friday evening.
Here are updated set times for the Stagecoach livestream Friday performances (times presented are PDT):
A 10-year-old girl who found an endangered Mexican axolotl while on holiday in Wales has told the BBC about the moment she found and caught the amphibian.
It is the first documented discovery of an axolotl in the wild in the UK, with only 50 to 1,000 left globally, according to experts.
Evie was playing in the shallows of the River Ogmore in Bridgend when she spotted the axolotl nestled in the rocks.
The family decided to cut their trip short to take the animal back to their home in Leicester, naming it Dippy as a tribute to where Evie found it.
“I think it’s a really nice change to the family,” Evie said about having Dippy.
Chris Newman, the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW) director, said the manner in which Dippy was found suggested its previous owner had released it due to a “change in circumstances”.
Kudus is awaiting further assessment on a quad injury that could require surgery. Ghana risk losing their key creative figure if recovery takes longer than expected. His availability remains uncertain as crucial decisions loom. The Ghana international has been out for more than three months after limping out of Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Sunderland on 4 January.
Eder Militao (Real Madrid and Brazil)
Militao has been ruled out for the rest of Real Madrid’s season after suffering a hamstring tear. The 28-year-old centre-back is targeting a return for the World Cup, but Brazil’s medical staff are cautious given his recent history of muscle injuries.
Reece James (Chelsea and England)
England defender James is once again dealing with hamstring issues while sidelined at Chelsea. Having missed the past two major tournaments, his hopes depend on avoiding further setbacks. The 26-year-old sustained the injury in a 1-0 Premier League defeat by Newcastle in March. Any delay in recovery would put his place in serious doubt.
Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich and Canada)
Canada’s talisman is once again struggling with the recurring muscle issues that have plagued his recent seasons at Bayern Munich. His explosive pace is central to Canada’s threat, but his body seems to be pushing back at the worst possible moment. If he is not fully fit, Canada’s chances take a massive hit.
Britain’s Got Talent viewers complained about one act tonight, calling it inappropriate for family viewing
BGT viewers issued a demand to ITV bosses (Image: ITV)
Britain’s Got Talent viewers have voiced the same grievance, urging ITV bosses to “do better” following an “utterly inappropriate” act.
The beloved ITV talent programme has returned to screens once again with a brand new series, featuring BGT judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI, alongside legendary hosts Ant and Dec.
Tonight (April 18) marked the final round of auditions, but one particular act left viewers at home feeling “sick” and outraged. Fakir Testa, 45, was welcomed onto the stage, leaving both the audience and judges curious about what his performance might involve – and no-one could have guessed.
Viewers at home were quickly horrified to witness him standing on blades while having them pressed against his neck, prompting ITV to issue a ‘do not try at home’ warning.
Admitting she was “stressed”, judge Alesha pressed her red button, joined by Simon, who appeared distinctly unimpressed by the performance, reports Wales Online.
Members of the audience were also spotted turning away and peeking through their fingers, while judge Amanda buried her face in her hands.
Nevertheless, Fakir proceeded to invite Simon onto the stage, requesting he take a seat in a waiting car, before hauling it with a blade pressed against his neck.
The audience seemed to watch on in sheer horror, yet the act proved popular with the Blackpool crowd, as KSI was overheard exclaiming: “You madman, you crazy madman.”
However, viewers at home remained thoroughly unimpressed, as they directed their frustration squarely at ITV bosses. Taking to X, one person wrote: “WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK IS THIS? #BGT.” Another said: “This is NOT a family show #bgt.”
A third fumed: “F***s sake. This is on pre watershed. Do better #itv.” A fourth commented: “This is NOT talent! This is f***** lunacy.”
A fifth echoed: “I can’t watch! Why are they showing this for family entertainment #BGT ?!!?”
One viewer admitted they felt “sick” while another confessed they “can’t watch”. One person labelled it as “utterly inappropriate” as another added: “There are far too many of these Don’t try this at home stunts on #bgt . How about don’t show them on the Tele?”
However, one impressed viewer enthused: “Faki Testa – oh my days that was strange so hard to watch but b****y brilliant entertainment.”
Another offered an explanation: “The blade has to move sideways to cut or use a large amount of energy to chop My Kung Fu teacher had us do this, including spears in our throats, back in the day #BGT.”
Judge Alesha also appeared to reverse her earlier red buzzer decision as Fakir successfully made it through his audition.
Reporting from Sacramento — — Two days after he was finally sworn in as California’s lieutenant governor after a grueling partisan battle, Republican Abel Maldonado appeared on national TV with political comedian Stephen Colbert to discuss his signature issue, a primary election designed to reduce the influence of party hardliners in the Legislature.
“Why on Earth would you want to destroy the two-party system?” demanded Colbert, who parodies a right-wing cable news host.
Leaders from both major parties in California, who vehemently oppose the open-primary measure, are asking essentially the same question, only they don’t see it as a laughing matter.
Proposition 14, which appears on the June 8 ballot, would put all candidates for statewide, congressional and legislative offices on the same primary ballot and allow voters to choose from the full list. The top two vote-getters for each office — regardless of party — would face each other in a runoff.
A poll released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California showed 60% of respondents in favor of the measure, 27% opposed and 13% undecided.
Backers, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, say the system would free candidates from the need to court the radical wings of their parties to win nomination to the November ballot. That, in turn, would lead to the election of more moderate lawmakers and more cooperation on tough issues like fixing California’s $19.1–billion budget deficit.
Under the current system, Republicans vote on one ballot in a primary election and Democrats on another. Independents, who now represent a record 20% of the California electorate, are allowed to choose either ballot. But few do, so their influence in a primary is minimal, and candidates for November are generally chosen by hard-core party loyalists.
About a third of California congressional and legislative districts are dominated by a single party, according to a recent report by the nonpartisan Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles. Almost all are Democratic strongholds. In some, Democrats have such an advantage that the two top primary vote-getters might both be Democrats.
In those cases, Proposition 14 supporters said, they hope the more moderate candidate could win by appealing to Republicans and independents.
As of Friday, Schwarzenegger and the California Chamber of Commerce had helped raise more than $4.7 million for a Yes on 14 campaign, which has started airing a radio ad that claims the measure would reduce “the influence of the major parties which are now under the control of the special interests.”
In a display of harmony that would seem unthinkable on other issues, leading state Democrats and Republicans announced a joint campaign to defeat the measure. They had raised $200,000 as of Friday.
“Both political parties in California hate this measure,” said Tony Quinn, co-editor of the nonpartisan California Target Book, which tracks state political races. “They like having these little private clubs. But the voters don’t.”
Party leaders say passage of Proposition 14 would invite a slew of unintended consequences, including higher campaign costs and political skullduggery.
“It allows for mischief where Democrats could go and choose the Republican nominee,” said John Burton, chairman of the state Democratic Party.
He said there are Democrats in safe districts who might try to help their party by casting their primary votes for hard-line Republicans who are “so far out” that they could not win a general election.
Under the current system, primary campaigns are less expensive than general elections because candidates have to woo only voters registered in their own party. With an open system, candidates would need to appeal to all voters, sending out a lot more mail and potentially buying expensive air time on radio and TV. The increased costs could drive them deeper into the arms of well-heeled special interests, party leaders say.
Those leaders also take issue with the underlying notion that they are a source of unhealthy division.
“Broad-based political parties are an essential part of our democracy,” said California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring. “The alternative is to have voters divided by … region, or ethnicity or religion.”
Burton, whose Democrats control both chambers of the Legislature, scoffed at the notion that he can call the shots for lawmakers.
“If I had power, this wouldn’t even be on the ballot, because I urged the [Senate president] pro tem and the Assembly speaker not to do it,” he said.
In fact, it was the Legislature that put the measure on the ballot after one lone moderate broke last year’s budget stalemate. Maldonado, then a state senator, agreed to vote for tax increases after legislative leaders agreed to put the open-primary measure before voters.
But the Legislature’s leaders don’t want the measure to pass and are now opposing it. The move won Maldonado a friend in Schwarzenegger, however, and the governor nominated him for the vacant lieutenant governor post.
The confirmation process quickly descended into a partisan fight.
“They came at me from all sides, and it was all driven by the party bosses,” Maldonado said of the roughly 150 days he spent in limbo, waiting for confirmation. “But with the open primary initiative, you would only be accountable to the people.”
While politicians debate the measure’s possible effect, many academics wonder if it would have any noticeable effect. Bruce Cain, a professor of political science at UC Berkeley, said he expected the major parties and big donors would adapt quickly and make sure they have only one credible candidate in each primary.
“As a social scientist, I’m glad that California wants to do another experiment; it generates more papers and more studies,” Cain said. “But I share the prevailing skepticism of my profession that any significant change will come about.”
