Tuesday, April 30, 2024

BBC EastEnders Stevie Mitchell's True Intentions 'Rumbled' As Fans 'Work Out' Twist

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He was warned away by Phil Mitchell, who was determined to keep him away from his cousin Billy. After fleeing, the character made his comeback on Monday night to which Billy and Phil made it clear he is not welcome on Tuesday night's episode.

Taking to Twitter , now X, viewers were quick to share their theories over what Stevie is really up to and his true intentions. One person said: ⁘What's Stevie really up to #EastEnders⁘ to which a different account replied: ⁘I wonder how long it will take him to steal Honey ring...⁘

London Stocks Take Hit As Wall Street Slips

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Ben Richardson, CEO at SulNOx, confident they can cost-effectively decarbonise commercial shipping. Watch the video here .

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London closed in the red on Tuesday, following Wall Street lower, as investors look ahead to a key interest rate decision from the US Federal Reserve.

The FTSE 100 index closed down 2.90 points at 8,144.13. The FTSE 250 ended down 119.40 points, 0.6%, at 19,965.39, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.59 points, 0.3%, at 760.74.

The Federal Open Market Committee meeting kicked off Tuesday, with a decision scheduled on Wednesday. The Fed is expected to leave rates unmoved, with focus on what Chair Jerome Powell has to say at a subsequent press conference.

Analysts at Brown Brothers Harriman said they are expecting to "see a hawkish hold." James Knightley at ING also anticipates "a hawkish shift."

Stocks in New York were lower at the London equities close. The DJIA and the Nasdaq Composite were both down 0.8%, while the S&P 500 index was down 0.7%.

The pound was quoted at USD1.2523 at the London equities close Tuesday, down compared to USD1.2554 at the close on Monday.

The euro stood at USD1.0690 at the European equities close Tuesday, lower against USD1.0717 at the same time on Monday.

Noughties Pop Star Hasn't Aged A Day As She Joins ITV Coronation Street 22 Years After Hit - Mirror...

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A reality star from the 2000s is set to stir up drama on Coronation Street as she becomes Steve McDonald's new love interest.

Recently, Steve, played by Simon Gregson, was left heartbroken when his wife Tracy, portrayed by Kate Ford, left him for former footballer turned decorator Tommy Orpington, played by Matt Milburn. Despite a brief reconciliation, Tracy decided to follow her lover to Spain after discovering a note from him that Steve had initially tried to hide.

Since then, Steve has ventured into online dating and in upcoming scenes, he will go on a date with one of his matches. The mystery woman, Aurora, who arrives at the Rovers Return, is played by Fame Academy star Pippa Fulton. She is best known for her stint on the talent series in 2002 where she appeared alongside future stars like Lemar and David Sneddon before being eliminated in the fourth week.

Since Fame Academy, Pippa has appeared in rival soap Emmerdale where she took on various guest roles from 2014 to 2017. The TV star also made an appearance in the BAFTA-nominated Channel 4's show Hullraisers, which was devised by Lucy Beaumont. Pippa's Coronation Street character Aurora is headed to Weatherfield but not all is as it seems.

In an unexpected twist, Aurora isn't actually after Steve but instead, she's got her sights set on his mate Tim Metcalfe. It comes much to the dismay of Tim's wife Sally, who is far from impressed when she discovers them giggling together. While it appears that Steve is finally ready to move on from Tracy, her reappearance on the show could be sooner than we think. Last month scenes showed Tracy having farewell drinks at The Rovers.

After heartfelt goodbyes with loved ones, Tracy ventured off the cobbles for a fresh start in her boyfriend's van, apparently never to return. But during an appearance on This Morning last week, soap expert Sharon Marshall hinted there could be more drama to unfold this week.

Discussing Steve's budding romance narrative, Sharon ignited speculation that it may not last long due to Tracy. She said: ⁘I'm wondering... I mean Tracy, that was a bit of a low-key exit for such a major character mid-week, you know? Is she going to be coming back? That's what I wonder, anyway!⁘

Shoppers Racing To Nab Pimple Patches Scanning For Just 99p At The Till - And Some Claim They're 'Better Than...

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SHOPPERS are racing to nab pimple patches scanning for just 99p at a British favourite bargain store.

Some beauty buffs even claim the spot heroes - which come in pink hearts or yellow stars - are "better than £11 ones".

Shoppers Natasha Leavy took to Facebook to alert other shoppers that the beauty product was scanning for less than a quid.

IF your purse is feeling tighter than ever before and you're looking to save cash on your make-up routine, have you ever thought of trying out beauty dupes?

TONE IT UP: If Drunk Elephant's £62 Protini moisturiser is out of your price range, you'll need to check out the new dupe in Home Bargains .

TINTING IT: With Fenty's 'game-changer' skin tint costing an eye-watering £29, a popular supermarket's affordable alternative might just be the thing for you.

Army Provides Update On Horses That Were Injured Bolting Through London | UK News

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Five military horses were said to have been spooked by the noise of construction rubble being dropped nearby, sparking chaos in central London.

Two horses seriously injured as they bolted through central London last week are making progress following surgery, the British Army has said.

Posting on X, the army said: "Quaker, a Cavalry black has shown significant improvement and progresses towards what is expected to be a full recovery."

The grey horse, Vida, seen galloping through the streets covered in blood, "continues to make progress".

The Household Cavalry said the animals - which were taking part in what the army called a "routine exercise" in Belgravia on Wednesday - were said to have been spooked by builders dropping rubble from a height "right next to them" .

Five horses bolted, throwing off four riders and careering through the capital's busy streets - colliding with vehicles, including one smashing into a double-decker bus.

UK risks being unable to call up vital personnel without national plan for war, says military analyst

Monday, April 29, 2024

Hollyoaks' Peri Lomax Caught Out In Romeo Prison Plan

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In tonight's (February 21) newest episode, James spoke to Romeo on the phone, who asked him to smuggle in a burner phone for Kane.

She managed to get the phone in, but when she handed it to Romeo, it started to ring, and she was taken away for questioning.

Elsewhere in the episode, Charlie Dean returned from London and promised to clear Jack Osborne's name, while Dilly Harcourt seemingly left the village, but secretly made a return.

Emily Blunt Movies And TV Shows: All You Need To Know About The British Actress | Age, Height...

Emily Blunt gained her first Oscar nomination at this year's Academy Awards gala for her performance as Kitty Oppenheimer , in Christopher Nolan's drama. She just missed out on the Best Supporting Actress award, which went to Da'Vine Joy Randolph ( The Holdovers ). Her electric portrayal of Robert Oppenheimer's wife did however see her win other industry gongs, including the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards and Best Supporting Actress at the Satum Awards .

Recently turned 41, Emily Blunt is one of the most versatile performers of her generation . Born in southwest London , the British actress made her professional debut when she was still a student. She did so in 'Bliss', the musical written by Paul Sellar that was presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2000.

Three years later, she made the leap to television in her country with the drama 'Boudica '. Then, in 2004, her role in the film 'My Summer of Love' catapulted her to fame . Throughout her many years of artistic career, Emily Blunt has been part of hits such as 'Wild Target', 'The Young Victoria', 'Edge of Tomorrow', 'The Girl on the Train', 'The Return of Mary Poppins', 'Jungle Cruise' and 'Oppenheimer', among many others. In theatre, she has participated in plays such as 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Vincent in Brixton' and 'The Royal Family'.

In terms of Emily Blunt's net worth , it is estimated that actress is worth around $80 million . Curiously, the figure is said to be about the same as her husband's fortunes.

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Emmerdale Exit As Character Forced Out Of Village After Family Disown Her | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV...

Emmerdale  fans seem to think newcomer Rose (played by Christine Tremarco) will be driven out of the village after she is disowned by the only family she has. Last week, Rose was unveiled as Will Taylor's (Dean Andrews) former spouse and Dawn Taylor's (Olivia Bromley) estranged mother. The dramatic revelation came to a head in Friday's episode when Rose confronted Will and Dawn, with Dawn not mincing her words about her mother's return.

One viewer speculated on Twitter: "She'll end up in the Woolpack. Just like Ruby. # emmerdale ," while another predicted a darker fate: "# Emmerdale Kim's gonna bury her..."

Echoing the sentiment of danger, a third fan remarked: "Queen Kimberley is very good at making people disappear permanently, William, or have you already forgotten? # Emmerdale ."

Another theory put forth by a fan hints at a complex storyline: "Dawn's mum Rose will be donor match for Evan who's diagnosed with leukemia next week, she will want a big payday to do it.. that's gonna be the running storyline here # Emmerdale ,".

In official spoilers released by ITV, Rose's family are set to turn against her which could end up driving her out of the village.

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Bake Off Responds To Noel Fielding's Absence With Funny Tweet

"We are gonna spend the whole time giggling like naughty school kids. The bakers are gonna love you to bits."

"They were just brilliant. But I do understand why. If [you're] close to Matt, you do know that he never stops working and he has so many projects and people keep asking him to do things and he loves theatre... he absolutely loves that kind of show."

Leith continued: "And you can't commit to it if you're on Bake Off, because we film that all summer. So I think he thought three years is enough."

The Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4 in the UK. In the US, it's known as The Great British Baking Show , and streams on Netflix.

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Bobby Brazier Sports New Look After Next Job Confirmed Away From...

Bobby, who took part in the BBC One dance contest last year with professional dancer Dianne Buswell, was often tipped to be the perfect person to play Mick Jagger if there were to be a biopic of the Rolling Stones star, partly thanks to his floppy hair and his dance moves.

READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Fleur East 'laughing' with husband after making baby admission

It comes after Bobby's latest role was revealed after it was reported he'd signed up for a further year on BBC One's EastEnders amid doubts about his future in Walford.

Sarah Parish stars as Pamela, while Bobby Brazier plays James, a vocal schoolboy who advocates the abolishment of the curfew. And he's not the only EastEnder in the cast as three former stars of the soap also have roles in the thriller.

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Sunday, April 28, 2024

M⁘S Shoppers Rush To Bag 'Biggest Ever' £10 Dine In Deal - And They're Saying They 'Need...

The posh chain is now offering customers the chance to enjoy what would normally be a weekend treat on a school night.

Customers can pick out two mains and two sides for just £10. The supermarket said they are offering 23 mains and 16 sides providing over 5,000 combinations.

The posh supermarket has run similar deals in recent weeks, including a  steak and chips meal deal for two for £10 .

Tesco's  finest dinner for two offers shoppers one main, one side, one desert and one drink, including a bottle of wine.

The deal is available for Clubcard holders at £12 - slightly more expensive than M⁘S' deal but you do get a drink included.

You can use comparison tools like Trolley.co.uk to find similar food items from other retailers and compare prices.

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S Steve McDonald Set To Find Love Again Following Tracy Betrayal | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV...

Coronation Street 's Steve McDonald (played by Simon Gregson) seems to turn a corner in his quest to find love next week. Official spoilers released by ITV show that he has several potential love interests

Not only that but the beleaguered cab company owner thinks he has found "the one". Just weeks after his wife Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) walked out on him in favour of former Weatherfield County footballer Tommy Orpington (Matt Milburn) he finds himself head over heels for a woman he has just met.

Having been encouraged to try online dating by everyone in his circle, he has thrown himself into it. While he hasn't had much success to date since being convinced by Abi Webster (Sally Charmichael) to pay for a site rather than use the free ones, he finally seems to be getting somewhere.

However, his endeavours cause problems elsewhere when he arrives at the cafe and shows Abi and her husband Kevin Webster (Michael le Velle) a picture of a potential date called Maggie. Kevin makes sexist remarks causing Abi to storm out in a huff.

Oblivious to the problems he has potentially caused the couple, a delighted Steve tells Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) that Maggie has agreed to meet him for lunch in the Bistro. Clearly, his luck is changing as he also meets up with another online connection Carole in the Rovers.

Unfortunately for him, she isn't taking it as seriously as he is and he's thrown to discover she's brought three friends with her.

This causes issues with his wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) when she is at the pub and spots him with a drunken woman, giggling like a schoolboy.

His resolve doesn't last long and he quickly changes his tune when he sees a message from Demi, who he has been chatting with.

Reference: Found here

M⁘S Shoppers Rush To Bag 'Biggest Ever' £10 Dine In Deal - And They're Saying They 'Need...

The posh chain is now offering customers the chance to enjoy what would normally be a weekend treat on a school night.

Customers can pick out two mains and two sides for just £10. The supermarket said they are offering 23 mains and 16 sides providing over 5,000 combinations.

The posh supermarket has run similar deals in recent weeks, including a  steak and chips meal deal for two for £10 .

Tesco's  finest dinner for two offers shoppers one main, one side, one desert and one drink, including a bottle of wine.

The deal is available for Clubcard holders at £12 - slightly more expensive than M⁘S' deal but you do get a drink included.

You can use comparison tools like Trolley.co.uk to find similar food items from other retailers and compare prices.

Reference: See here

Sinn Féin Meets UK Investors In London

It's no secret by now that Sinn Féin has been attempting to soothe corporate nerves over the prospect of the party leading the next government. So it's hardly a shock that deputy leader Pearse Doherty was in London on Friday on a whistle-stop tour to meet city investors.

The meeting, facilitated by a member of Davy Stockbrokers' research team, took place at a hotel in the UK capital, a spokesman for the firm told Cantillon in a statement.

"Given interest from institutional investors in the UK about Sinn Féin policies in respect of the business and investment environment in Ireland," he said, "Davy has facilitated an exchange of views between Sinn Féin's deputy leader and spokesperson on finance... Pearse Doherty and a group of approximately 50 UK investment institutions and asset managers."

Reference: Found here

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Hollyoaks Confirms Bone-chilling Carter And Lucas Twist In Dark Scenes | Soaps

In a bid to make things right, Lucas called over to see John Paul at the McQueen residence, apologising for his homophobia.

Lucas was quick to try and dispel such a notion but he did open up, claiming that the catalyst for his behaviour was the fact that Dillon had told him how he felt about him.

Lucas struggled to hide his smile as he described all the wonderful things he liked about Dillon, with John Paul starting to put two and two together – realising that Lucas also has feelings for Dillon.

Enraged, Carter arranged a meeting with Lucas, having a go at him for speaking to John Paul. Lucas, however, made it quite clear that he was playing John Paul, revealing that he managed to obtain information on the ins and outs of Pride, suggesting that they sabotage the event .

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British Actress Amy Tara Joins Ben Pauling's Mystery-Thriller 'Dream'

The film tells the story of a group of friends who are led by a dream to uncover what they believe might be a trafficking industry in their small working-class town.

⁘Dream⁘ is written and directed by Ben Pauling , and co-directed by Sam Pauling. The film is financed through ArchAge Pictures. Executive producers are Jon Pauling, Micheal Flaherty, co-founder of Walden Media, and producer of ⁘Everest⁘ and a production executive on ⁘Chronicles of Narnia,⁘ Brian Rogers, producer of Legendary⁘s ⁘Godzilla⁘ franchise, and Samuel Rodriguez (⁘Breakthrough,⁘ ⁘Flamin' Hot⁘).

Other cast include Ben Pauling, Steven Cox (⁘The Thinning,⁘ HBO's ⁘I Know This Much Is True⁘), Christopher Ammanuel (⁘April 29, 1992⁘) and Cameron Hanes. Popular on Variety

Tara, who previously appeared in stage play ⁘Indigo Giant,⁘ will next be seen in Stuart Brennan's action-fantasy feature film ⁘Assassin⁘s Guild,⁘ in which she plays alongside Ryan Gage (⁘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug⁘) and David Hayman (⁘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas⁘).

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Billy And Manpreet Outcome Confirmed

Emmerdale star Jay Kontzle has appeared to rule out an affair storyline for his character Billy Fletcher and village doctor Manpreet Sharma.

The ITV soap is exploring an unexpected connection between the two characters, which culminates in Manpreet betraying her partner Charles Anderson next week.

Manpreet has realised that she has a crush on Billy after signing up for his new personal training sessions in the village hall.

Next week, Manpreet kisses Billy on the lips after getting drunk with her friends at The Woolpack. Billy rejects her but there's trouble ahead when Charles finds out what happened .

Speaking to Digital Spy and other press about Manpreet's feelings for Billy, Jay laughed: ⁘It's one of those things where in the back of your mind you're like 'God, why have you done that?'

⁘But at the same time, I think that Billy and Dawn are that strong that nothing can really fracture their relationship. I think that there's nothing there that would make Dawn think any differently of Billy.

Billy was previously caught up in a similar scenario with Gabby Thomas when she also tried to kiss him. He stayed loyal to Dawn by setting boundaries with Gabby.

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Florence Welch Forgot About The 'Bigness' Of Taylor Swift's Fame Until 'Florida!!!' Dropped: 'I Was Like, Oh...

The Florence and the Machine frontwoman collaborated with Swift on ⁘Florida!!!⁘ from the superstar's new album, 'The Tortured Poets Department'

⁘There's the sort of bigness of [Taylor Swift the phenomenon], and then there's the Taylor I spend time with in the studio, who is just the sweetest and most down to earth,⁘ added Welch.

The British performer also spoke to the outlet about making ⁘Florida!!!,⁘ which Swift has described as a song about seeking escapism after heartbreak, partially inspired by Dateline episodes where criminals escape to Florida.

Welch told British Vogue Swift came to her with ⁘a concept and a story⁘ for the track — ⁘my favorite way to start songwriting,⁘ she said. It wasn't until ⁘Florida!!!⁘ dropped as part of the 31-song album, however, that she realized the scale of fanfare they'd receive in response.

⁘We had such a fun time,⁘ recalled the Grammy-nominated artist. ⁘And then when it came out I was like, 'Oh, s---!'⁘

According to Swift, she is ⁘always watching⁘ Dateline and thought about how ⁘people have these crimes that they commit, where do they immediately skip town and go to? They go to Florida.⁘

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Aftermath Of Zack And Lauren Betrayal

EastEnders has offered a first look at the aftermath of Zack Hudson and Lauren Branning's betrayal.

Zack cheated on his partner Whitney Dean with her best friend Lauren in Thursday's episode (April 25), after being left devastated that he'd been lied to over Britney's fostering situation.

Zack was horrified when he learned how Britney really came to be in Whitney's care and the situation intensified when Whitney told him that she'd choose Britney over him if it came down to it.

Believing Lauren was the one who told Zack the truth, Whitney furiously lashed out at her as well, leaving their friendship in jeopardy.

The spark between them became apparent as they shared their mutual problems with Whitney, who was back at home telling Britney the truth about her diagnosis .

The closing moments of the episode saw Zack and Lauren sharing a passionate kiss, and they are left facing the consequences of their actions when the show returns next week.

With it all becoming too much for him, Zack will go AWOL – just as Whitney's step-mum Bianca Jackson turns up .

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Friday, April 26, 2024

Small Business Summit Draws More Than 200 To Groton

"It's something that screams out as common sense," Courtney, D-2nd District, told the assemblage during a luncheon address at the Mystic Marriott. "The cost of medication continues to go up faster than inflation."

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, another speaker Monday, pointed out the state has done its share to make health care more affordable by giving more people access to insurance through Access Health Connecticut, a program that came out of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. In the past decade since the program's launch, she said, the percentage of people in Connecticut who are uninsured has fallen from 10% to 5%.

State officials and program overseers who attended the summit, sponsored by Access Health Connecticut and the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, thanked small business owners for their dedication to creating jobs in Connecticut.

Now, the state-funded WBDC operates in four cities, including New London, and is about to open its fifth site in Hartford, providing Ignite Grants of up to $10,000 for female-led small businesses to gain access to capital to scale up their operations. It also offers free advice and networking opportunities.

Courtney pointed out that southeastern Connecticut's economy is humming along as the fastest growing labor market in Connecticut and the second fastest-growing in New England, thanks largely to the 5,300 new jobs being created at Electric Boat on an annual basis.

In 2023, the program launched with about 700 companies signing on; now, there are close to 6,400 participating.

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ITV Coronation Street's Max's Involvement In Lauren's Disappearance 'Confirmed' In New Scene - Mirror...

Roy appeared to have a memory from around the time she went missing, but it was all blurred and the audio was muffled. As he worked on remembering what he had seen, he realised there was a moment between Lauren and her pal Max Turner in the café.

In the moment, Max is talking to Lauren and she responds to him, with Roy unable to work it all out. But Roy did pull a face that hinted he had either worked out what it was about or at least who, with the screen focusing on Max.

It appeared to hint that Max knew more than he was letting on, or that Roy at least thought this to be the case. So does this confirm Max is more involved than we know, or maybe he actually knows what really happened to Lauren and where she might be?

Max appeared to be asking Lauren: ⁘Is everything alright?⁘ with her suggesting there was nothing wrong, before both of them smiled. Viewers will have to keep tuned in to find out what it all means, and if Roy can work out what exactly he saw.

Another confused fan asked: ⁘Why is Roy seeing Max?⁘ Roy features in more scenes on Friday, so perhaps he will be able to shed some light on the matter!

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Grocery Price Inflation Falls For 14th Month In A Row Driven By Promotional Deals

Grocery price inflation has seen a decrease for the 14th month in a row in April, thanks to an increase in promotional deals offered by supermarkets , according to the latest figures.

These increased promotional offers resulted in an estimated £1.3billion in savings for British shoppers, or £46 per household. Overall, take-home grocery sales saw a rise of 3.3% for the month.

Hot cross buns proved even more popular, being bought by 45% of Britons. Despite the focus on deals, the prices of sweets and chocolate were among the fastest rising in supermarket aisles, along with chilled fruit juices and drinks, according to researchers.

Leading the pack in potential growth is online supermarket Ocado, who witnessed an uplift in sales of over 12.5% in the 12 weeks leading up to April 14. This came ahead of the total online market reported growth of 6.8%. Lidl increased sales for the same period by over 9.1%, earning it a total market share of 8%.

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Serious Condition' After Running Loose In Central London, Minister Says

Two Household Cavalry horses which broke free and ran through the streets of London on Wednesday are in a "serious condition," a British government minister has said.

Six soldiers and seven horses were taking part in an exercise on Wednesday morning when the animals became spooked after some concrete fell off a conveyor belt being used in nearby construction work and hit the ground, according to the British Army.

The army said in an update on X on Thursday that five horses tried to bolt and four broke loose. Three soldiers were injured but are expected to recover fully and return to duty, the army added.

"What I can say is that five horses have been recovered to the army - three of those are fine, but unfortunately two of them are in quite a serious condition and we'll be continuing to monitor them," UK defense procurement minister James Cartlidge told local radio station LBC Thursday.

Host Nick Ferrari asked if the pair would "pull through," to which Cartlidge responded that he "wouldn't want to speculate," but the animals were in a "serious condition."

Cartlidge went on to emphasize that an incident like this is "very exceptional," adding that the army has horses out on exercise in London every day.

"We want to thank everyone who has shown such kindness and concern towards our soldiers and horses. We will provide more updates soon," added the post.

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Hollyoaks' Ross Adams Lands First Role Since Announcing Departure

"Series one was something of a journey – or mid-price cruise – into the unknown, not least trying to film a drama on a cruise ship with 6,000 holidaymakers heading to eight different countries,⁘ production company Clapperboard's Mike Benson told The Sun .

As well as Adams's addition to the cast (reportedly in the role of Colin Smallwood), Coronation Street 's Claire Sweeney is set to return as Beverley alongside Ward and Tyldesley.

Speaking upon his Hollyoaks exit announcement last month, Ross said: ⁘Now feels like the right time for me to try some other things that I've been super keen to do. I really hope you'll all come with me for the ride!⁘

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Rebel Wilson Book Published In The UK With Blacked Out Text

The autobiography of Australian actress Rebel Wilson has been released in the UK - but one contentious section has been redacted.

The publication of Rebel Rising caused a storm in the US earlier this month because of Wilson's allegations against Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The British edition of the book, published on Thursday, has blacked out the text believed to be relating to him.

A note has been added to the page saying the redaction has been made ⁘due to the peculiarities of the law in England and Wales⁘.

A spokesman for Baron Cohen said the redactions represented a ⁘clear victory⁘, and reiterated his position that Wilson's claims were ⁘demonstrably false⁘.

A spokesman for publisher HarperCollins told BBC News: ⁘We are publishing every page, but for legal reasons, in the UK edition, we are redacting most of one page with some other small redactions and an explanatory note.

⁘Those sections are a very small part of a much bigger story and we're excited for readers to know Rebel's story when the book is released.⁘

A spokesman for Baron Cohen told BBC News: ⁘Harper Collins did not fact check this chapter in the book prior to publication, and took the sensible but terribly belated step of deleting Rebel Wilson's defamatory claims once presented with evidence that they were false.

⁘Printing falsehoods is against the law in the UK and Australia; this is not a 'peculiarity' as Ms. Wilson said, but a legal principle that has existed for many hundreds of years.⁘

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Thursday, April 25, 2024

ITV Emmerdale's Gus Malcolms' Real Plan For Ivy 'Rumbled' After Rhona Scene Amid 'Exit' - Mirror...

Emmerdale 's Gus Malcolms had a change of heart this week, that saw him making a surprising offer to Rhona Goskirk amid their feud.

Gus was charged after using frozen embryos that belonged to him and Rhona when they were married years earlier, without Rhona's permission to use them. She had believed they had been destroyed, and when Gus shared his plans to use them with wife Lucy she refused to give permission.

Fastforward a few months, Rhona will not face prison but Gus will learn his own fate in court this week, with him facing years behind bars. On Tuesday he suddenly claimed he was putting Ivy first, and wanted Rhona and her partner Marlon Dingle's help with Ivy.

Rhona asked Marlon for this thoughts though, asking if Gus would really be so reasonable. Marlon said: ⁘We're all gonna be fine,⁘ but could Rhona be right and is Gus planning something?

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Florence Welch Talks Down-Time, Taylor Swift And Her Proms Debut

More broadly, Welch seems to be looking forward to a second run at the "handmade, personal, rough around the edges" record that made her a star aged 23. "When you're young you're so unaware of what you're doing, or where it will go or how it will last, or honestly, if it will be taken seriously – especially as a young woman," she says. "It's so easy to go back and see the cracks in your work. You go back and think, urgh, I would have done this better, or I would have done that differently."

Listening to Lungs now, 15 years on from that "messy, chaotic period of time" when she was breaking through, Welch feels she can almost "hear, sonically, where the pressure starts building up…" A bit like reading an old diary, I suggest? "It's exactly like that! I think it's just that psychological thing of knowing when Florence and the Machine was starting to pick up the pace. To be able to go back and revisit it from a more established place… it's sort of healing, in a way."

The 2024 BBC Proms will run from 19 July to 14 September, and tickets will go on sale from 18 May. Visit the website for the full programme and to book

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BBC EastEnders Star Natalie Cassidy 'In Tears' As She Shares Heartbreaking Family Statement - Mirror...

Her poignant post was warmly received by fans, with many telling Natalie they too had lost a parent and took comfort in knowing they weren't alone.

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FSB Calls On Ofgem To Take Action On Standing Charges Paid By Small Firms - London Business News...

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called for the energy regulator Ofgem to take action on the standing charges paid by small businesses, many of whom have seen the daily fixed price they pay, regardless of usage levels, soar over recent months.

FSB has written to Ofgem's chief executive Jonathan Brearley to draw his attention to the issue, and to recognise the "specific, negative impact standing charges are having on small firms", the letter says.

FSB's correspondence follows on from a letter to Ofgem regarding standing charges from the Energy Secretary, Claire Coutinho MP, and the Minister for Affordability and Skills, Amanda Solloway MP, sent at the end of March, which highlighted that the Ministers wish to "ensure that bills are fair and affordable for all consumers".

One small firm whose owner got in touch with FSB reported an increase in the business's daily standing charge from 70.94p per day in July 2021 to 969.64p per day in September 2023 – over 13 times higher.

Small businesses based in rural areas have been disproportionately affected by standing charge increases, which exacerbates the existing rural-urban divide and "[undermines] efforts to level up more remote parts of the UK", FSB's letter says.

Standing charges are used to fund network infrastructure, operating costs, and policy costs for schemes such as the Warm Home Discount, but this can be difficult for small firms to comprehend. Business customers are not covered by the energy price cap for consumers and many small firms suspect that their costs have been hiked as a result.

The Ministers' letter makes the point that "the growing number of energy users striving to consume energy more efficiently and help towards achieving net zero see standing charges as a disincentive to doing so". This is highly pertinent to small businesses, the majority of whom are keen to play their part in reducing carbon emissions , and underlines the need for greater transparency around what standing charges are actually used to fund.

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ITV Coronation Street Scene Teases Shock Affair As Character 'Betrayed By Own Sister' - Mirror...

Coronation Street could be lining up a heartbreaking betrayal, with an affair teased for two characters on the ITV soap.

One resident may be betrayed by their own sister and their fiancé in a shocking fling amid devastating scenes on the show. With one couple possibly growing apart, it could lead to one of the pair growing closer to their sister-in-law in a forbidden romance.

During Wednesday's visit to Weatherfield, viewers saw upsetting scenes as Toyah Battersby opened up about a secret from her past she had never told anyone. After he recent outburst sparked concern, Toyah broke down and confided in brother-in-law Nick Tilsley about why she lashed out.

As Toyah sobbed, Nick was in disbelief over the news that she had kept from everyone including her sister Leanne Battersby, Nick's partner, for decades. Nick asked why she didn't tell anyone, and she revealed she just could not find the words to tell anyone what had happened.

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Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Burberry In New Warning On Tourist Tax As Minister Breaks Ranks

Announcing annual financial results for Britain's biggest luxury fashion brand, he said London stores — including the Regent Street flagship — were recovering from the pandemic much more slowly than outlets on the Continent.

"Our tourists returning in London were up 19 per cent, but that does compare poorly to the rest of Europe. Our increase in Paris was in triple-digits, so London is still some way behind. In Milan it was 43 per cent," he said. "We're disappointed that the Government chose to scrap it [VAT refunds for tourists]. It puts the UK at a competitive disadvantage.

"We're fortunate that we're a global business and we can manage that but we want to be celebrating the fact that we're a British luxury brand. And when tourists come into the UK they will be coming to Burberry as one of the first shops they would go to and as a distinctively British luxury brand."

Burberry has 13 stores and concession outlets in the capital. Chief financial officer Ian Brimicombe added that even British shoppers were now preferring to do their spending on mainland Europe rather than in the UK.

At last month's Business Connects conference, Burberry chairman Gerry Murphy accused Rishi Sunak of a "spectacular own goal" when, as chancellor, he ordered VAT free shopping for tourists to be axed at the start of 2021. Mr Murphy said this made Britain the "least attractive" shopping destination in Europe.

Mr Scully revealed he had asked the Treasury to carry out "dynamic modelling" research to better illustrate the benefits of the scheme.

However, a study by forecaster Oxford Economics concluded that extra spending generated by scrapping the tourist tax could give the economy a £4.1 billion GDP boost.

Downing Street said this week that Mr Sunak was ready to listen calls from business chiefs to axe the tax. The PM's official spokesman said: "We are always happy to listen to the sector about their concerns and obviously we will respond accordingly."

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Escaped Army Horses Run Amok In Central London

The British army has recovered several horses after they broke free from the prestigious Household Cavalry and bolted through London on Wednesday morning.

A number of people and horses are currently being treated for injuries incurred during the incident, though further details about their conditions are unavailable.

In a statement emailed to CNN, a spokesperson for the British Army said: "A number of military working horses became loose during routine exercise this morning. All of the horses have now been recovered and returned to camp.

"A number of personnel and horses have been injured and are receiving the appropriate medical attention."

The animals were spooked when some concrete fell off a conveyor belt being used in nearby construction work and hit the ground, the army added.

Earlier Wednesday, the City of London Police – the force that oversees London's financial district – reported the events on social media.

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Hollyoaks' Ross Adams Lands First Role Since Announcing Departure

As well as Adams⁘s addition to the cast (reportedly in the role of Colin Smallwood), Coronation Street⁘s Claire Sweeney is set to return as Beverley alongside Ward and Tyldesley.

Speaking upon his Hollyoaks exit announcement last month, Ross said: "Now feels like the right time for me to try some other things that I⁘ve been super keen to do. I really hope you⁘ll all come with me for the ride!"

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Emmerdale Star 'Gutted' As He's Axed From Soap After 15 Years 'With No Chance Of Return' - Wales...

Meanwhile, Emmerdale is rife with dramatic narratives, including Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) being deceived by her new spouse Tom King (James Chase), with an upcoming special episode set to delve deeper into their tumultuous relationship.

Producer Laura Shaw said: "It's a dinner party mainly focusing on Tom and Belle and Marlon and Rhona and we'll see what's going on in their relationship and how what you see in public is not necessarily what you see behind closed doors."

She added: "For Dawn and Billy, like many parents, Evan's diagnosis turns their world upside down so unexpectedly. It's been inspiring to hear the stories of strength, resilience and also to hear of the incredible NHS staff who do such invaluable work when parents' are at their lowest, so I hope we can also reflect this as we approach this storyline."

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New Mum Suki Waterhouse Kept A Coachella Diary For British Vogue

"Feeling like I'm in a Frank Ocean song," said Suki, while trying on a handful of resplendent Retrofête, Stella McCartney and Norma Kamali jackets, care of stylist Cassy Meier, while bathed in Palm Springs's desert light. In the end, the performer landed on a twinkling Bowie-esque one-piece by McCartney and Stuart Weitzman boots, decorated with Haus of Jewelry and Misho gems, before changing into a vintage tee, Rabanne hotpants and Adidas Sambas to watch Lana Del Rey perform.

From splitting her tights due to excitement – and those pretty yet perilous rhinestones – to the glowiest of beauty looks – perfected by make-up artist Shelby Smith and hairstylist Cameron Rains – Waterhouse breaks down her second Coachella weekend for British Vogue, and proves that you really can have it all.

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Tuesday, April 23, 2024

From Timid Apprentice Chef To Multimillionaire Celebrity

If Gordon Ramsay had a dollar for every time he shouted the F-word … he'd probably still be the multi-millionaire he is today.

Ramsay grew up in an abusive household and relied at times on handouts from neighbors. It was only through dedication and perfectionism that he made it to the top of his game.

His mother was a nurse, and his father, also called Gordon, was a swimming pool manager, welder, and shopkeeper.

White was the first British chef to be awarded three coveted Michelin stars and is often called the first "celebrity chef." He ran the kitchen at his restaurant Harvey's in the high-pressure, cutthroat style notorious at the time, but now viewed as toxic by some restauranteurs .

Though the two chefs had a long-running feud, Ramsay has credited White with instilling a perfectionist mentality in him and showing him he could reach for the impossible.

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BBC EastEnders Spring Spoilers 'Sealed': Two Icons Return, Multiple Exits And Nadine 'Twist' - Mirror...

EastEnders viewers might see an eventful spring in Walford, with twists and turns ahead on the BBC soap.

What we do know is that at some point in the coming weeks and months, if not this spring, there's some familiar faces heading back to Albert Square. With that, we can also expect some big goodbyes on the way, if not closer towards summer.

There's bound to be big twists given it's soap land after all, while fans have been speculating some major plots will unfold. The usual soap drama could see new romances, new feuds, new secrets exposed and the downfall of some soap villains.

Perhaps The Six will find themselves under threat once more, with an affair also teased. Here are the plots possibly ahead, and the confirmed spoilers we know so far...

We have some familiar faces returning to screens at some point, including the one and only Bianca Jackson. While Bianca's return to the soap has already aired recently, pictures of actress Patsy Palmer showed her on the set which suggested she would be heading back to Walford at some point - so this will surely happen in the next few weeks.

Shona McGarty is bowing out of the role of Whitney after more than 15 years in upcoming scenes, with her final episode now filmed. Shona was joined by cast earlier this month at her epic leaving party, with fans also saying a goodbye to the actress.

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London Is UK's 'Best Place To Start A Small Business': Reality And Price Increases Disagree | IBTimes...

As part of Simply Business' "Best UK Cities for Small Businesses Index for 2024", London was listed as the best city in the UK to start a small business.

Despite average monthly rent prices measuring around ⁘2125, the capital's average earnings, start-up programmes and coworking spaces boosted it to the top.

Leicester, Coventry and Doncaster followed closely behind London and were considered more affordable cities for small business entrepreneurs in the UK.

"Small businesses sit at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in our local and national economy," said Alan Thomas, the UK CEO of Simply Business.

"We know finance plays a huge part in starting or growing a successful small business. A quarter of small business owners cited lack of funding (25%) as a major factor affecting their business."

Janet Edwards is a floral artist and owner of Janet Edwards Florist, a flower vendor based in Brixton Hill, South London.

Edwards told International Business Times UK: "In the current climate, many businesses are closing in London due to very high rents and business rates."

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ITV Corrie's Joel Actor Calum Lill Was 'Ready To Quit Acting' Amid 'Tough' Relationship Move - OK!

Actor Calum Lill arrived on Coronation Street as Joel Deering back in 2023. The character was introduced as a duty solicitor helping Lauren Bolton, but he ended up becoming a permanent fixture in Weatherfield after striking up a romance with Dee-Dee Bailey.

It looks like Joel could be sticking around in Weatherfield if he manages to make amends with girlfriend Dee-Dee, which will definitely be welcome news to actor Calum. The soap star has been open about his struggles to land roles prior to getting his big break last year.

"I was selling cars while auditioning for Corrie and I hated it," he said. "I thought, 'It's been 15 years, I'm going to have to drop it, nothing's happening'."

He worked on Doctors as well as Holby City after graduating, but when lockdown hit he was left without work, he told the Manchester Evening News. Calum bagged 12 episodes on Hollyoaks at the end of 2021, before going to work on a paella stall at festivals alongside Corrie alumni Jenny Platt and Rupert Hill, who played Violet Wilson and Jamie Baldwin in the soap.

He'd already unsuccessfully audition for Coronation Street at the time, but Jenny and Rupert encouraged him to hold onto some hope, telling him that the producers would be back in touch if they took a liking to him. Calum relocated to Manchester with his girlfriend and continued working alongside acting in a bid to save for a house.

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British Grocery Inflation Dips To 3.2%, Says Kantar | The Mighty 790 KFGO

LONDON (Reuters) – UK grocery price inflation fell for the 14th month in a row in April, partly driven by an increase in supermarkets' promotional activity, industry data showed on Tuesday.

Market researcher Kantar said annual grocery price inflation was 3.2% in the four weeks to April 14, versus 4.5% in the previous four week period.

Kantar said items bought on offer made up 29.3% of supermarket sales – the highest level outside of Christmas since June 2021.

But he noted prices were still rising quickly in markets such as sugar and chocolate confectionery and chilled fruit juices and drinks.

Official UK data published last week showed overall inflation fell to 3.2% in March, driven by a slowdown in food inflation to 4%.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sought to take credit for more than halving inflation, although there has been little sign of an opinion poll boost for his struggling Conservative Party, which badly lags the opposition Labour Party ahead of an election expected this year.

Kantar said online player Ocado was again the fastest growing grocer in the 12 weeks to April 14, with a 12.5% growth in sales.

Market leader Tesco and No. 2 Sainsbury's saw sales growth of 5.9% and 6.8% respectively, both gaining market share year-on-year.

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The Menzingers Announce Two New UK Shows

Today, April 22, marks the 10-year anniversary of the release of Rented World , and to celebrate, The Menzingers have announced two UK shows in London, and one US show in Philadelphia. Tickets for the UK shows will go on sale on Friday, with the US tickets going up on Wednesday.

Previously, The Menzingers' London shows have taken place at The Roundhouse and Electric Ballroom, with their most recent Philadelphia show being at Franklin Music Hall. However, the band will be taking on more intimate shows this time, taking on The Underworld in London, and TLA in Philadelphia.

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Monday, April 22, 2024

Hollyoaks Viewers Make Desperate Plea As Iconic Character Returns To Channel 4 Soap

Hollyoaks viewers were left pleading with bosses on Monday night, as an iconic character made their return to the Channel 4 soap.

As revealed in the very end of Tuesday night's E4 episode, broadcast on Channel 4's streaming platform from Monday evening, a familiar face made their return to the show a year on from their exit. Grace Black made her long awaited comeback, which had been teased in a trailer weeks ago.

While she was only on screen for a few moments, it was enough to send fans wild ahead of her longer appearances during this week. Amid it not being confirmed whether Grace's return is permanent or temporary, recent pictures of filming seemed to hint she could be released.

One viewer posted after seeing the episode online: "GRACE'S RETURN WAS SO ICONIC." Another agreed: "GRACE BLACK IS BACK!!!!" as a third added: "GRACE IS BACK HOLY S**T."

The comments kept on coming too with another reading: "Grace Black appeared at the end of tomorrows episode I'm so happy. I've missed her so damn much." A further fan added: "Welcome back the legend, Queen B, b***h that is @tammiew aka Grace Black. Please never leave us again for real, seriously!!!"

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Rebel Wilson Says A British Royal Invited Her To An Orgy Party

In her memoir Rebel Rising —in which she's already dropped bombshell accusations against Sacha Baron Cohen and a number of other parties—the 44-year-old comedian recalled her unexpected invite to the lavish party by the mystery royal, whom she never names.

"I got thrown a last-minute invite to a tech billionaire's party – the guy who invited me, who's like fifteenth or twentieth in line to the British throne, had said to my male friend, 'We need more girls,'" she wrote.

"The party was insane. Men were jousting on horses in a field, girls dressed as mermaids were in the pool," the actress recalled. "The property was massive, and because it was quite a drive, people had been assigned rooms to sleep there overnight."

Things took a turn around 2 a.m., when servers appeared with sweet treats for the revelers as they enjoyed a firework show outside, she said.

"There's a huge private fireworks display and then all of a sudden it's 2 a.m. and a guy comes out with a large tray piled with what looks like a ton of candy," Wilson wrote.

"I'm like, 'Ooooh, is that candy?' and the guy holding the tray says, 'No, this is the molly,' and I turned to the screenwriter I've been talking with, confused.

"Now the comment by the Windsor about needing more girls started to make a lot more sense," she wrote. "They weren't talking about a boy-girl ratio like it was a year-eight disco. They were talking about an ORGY!"

But Wilson claims she had no desire to stick around and participate. "Needless to say, I hike up my damsel dress and run out of there as fast as I can," the actress concluded.

Before the book was released in the U.S., Wilson vented about Cohen's attempts to stop it on social media. Cohen has denied her accusations.

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Inside Victoria Beckham’s Star-Studded 50th Birthday Party

The final note capped off the evening perfectly: David carrying Victoria out of the party, piggyback style. On her Instagram this weekend, Beckham shared a few thoughts on turning 50 – and she clearly will always remember the special day after celebrating with those closest to her. "As I get ready to step into 50 (in heels, of course!), I feel so incredibly blessed to have reached this milestone," she wrote. "Blessed, but also accomplished and deeply content. Not just of where I am as a woman, but of how far my fashion and beauty brands have come. My ambition was always to empower women and make them feel like the best version of themselves. To me, that meant trusting my instinct and never compromising on my creative vision."

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