The new series of Love Island is just days away and a whole host of sexy singletons are about to make their debut in the Spanish sun when the series starts next week
16:30, 02 Jun 2025Updated 16:30, 02 Jun 2025
The new series of Love Island is just days away!(Image: ITV)
The class of Love Island 2025 has been revealed and judging by the lineup, we’re in for a treat! Fans can’t wait to see who waltzes into the villa next Monday when the new series, hosted by Maya Jama, starts up again.
This summer there looks like there’s going to be fireworks under the Spanish sun as hopefuls including a former fire breather and a Maura Higgins lookalike have all signed up for the series. So, as we wait for Monday to see who’s going to be bringing “more drama, more bombshells, more break-ups, more make-ups, and more twists”, here’s a look at this year’s Love Island lineup…
Megan Forte Clarke who recently starred as one of the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, is sure to bring the drama under the Spanish sun
Megan Forte Clarke
Dubliner, Megan, 24, who recently starred as one of the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, is sure to bring the drama under the Spanish sun. Talking to her TikTok followers, she compared herself to unlucky-in-love Bridget Jones, musing: “I am the modern day Bridget Jones. Can I hold a man down? Don’t be silly. Have I just been ghosted again? Absolutely. Am I still funny AF with great t*ts? Obvs.
Speaking to the Mail about the inevitable comparisons between Megan and Love Island O.G Maura, a TV source said: “Megan is a gorgeous girl, she’s funny, and right now, couldn’t be unluckier in love, making her the perfect Islander.
“Comparisons to Maura are inevitable and if anything, Megan will see it as a huge compliment.”
Football fan Tommy Bradley is this year’s ‘cheeky chappy’(Image: @_tommybradley_/Instagram)
Tommy Bradley
Love Island casting agents have enlisted a “cheeky chappy” to take part in the latest series of the show. A gym enthusiast named Tommy Bradley will be strutting his stuff on the show next week.
The Londoner, who appears to be an avid fan of Tottenham Hotspur judging by his Instagram account, is said to have undergone a dramatic body transformation in preparation for his time in the villa, with a source telling The Sun: “Tommy seems to tick all the Love Island boxes as the cheeky chappy of this summer’s series.”
Former fire breather, Sophie Lee, who suffered horror burns and was left fighting for her life at the age of 22(Image: Instagram/sophirelee)
Sophie Lee
Former fire breather, Sophie Lee, who suffered horror burns and was left fighting for her life at the age of 22, is next on the list. The Manchester-based dancer, now 29, was involved in an accident when an air-conditioning unit blew flames back into her face.
Sophie is now an influencer and motivational speaker, has worked with Katie Piper’s foundation and released a book in February last year, titled In My Skin.
She wrote at the time on social media: “It’s been a difficult process being so open with the trauma I’ve faced and adversity I’ve had to overcome and to now be at a place of peace has not been easy.”
Footballer Harry Cooksley is also looking for love in the villa.(Image: Instagram/harrycooksley8)
Harry Cooksley
Footballer Harry Cooksley is also looking for love in the villa. The midfielder, 29, has been branded Surrey’s answer to French legend, Zinadine Zidane, as a source told The Sun: “Harry’s got the full package – a great, athletic bod and great chat.
“Love Island’s ladies love a footballer and The Surrey Zidane will be sure to impress as he plays away.”
Personal trainer Dejon Noel Williams is sure to get pulses racing the villa(Image: Instagram/dejonnoelwilliams)
Dejon Noel Williams
Personal trainer Dejon is sure to get pulses racing the villa. The fitness fanatic, who is also a semi-professional footballer, has posted a slew of sweaty snaps of himself at the gym on Instagram.
His bio reads: “I go beyond the gym—helping you build Strength, Confidence & Discipline for life.”
Shakira Khan is also set for Spain(Image: Instagram/Shakira Khan)
Shakira Khan
Shakira, 22, is also set for Spain as she looks like she’s going to ruffle some feathers in the villa.
Sharing a string of saucy snaps from far-flung locations, including Dubai, she told her followers on Instagram: “Haiti cos u ain’t me” as she posed in a silver thong bikini.
Businessman Blu, who graduated from Oxford Brooks university, is based in London(Image: Instagram/bluchegini)
Blu Chegini
Businessman Blu, who graduated from Oxford Brooks university, is based in London but also spends a lot of time in Marbella.
He works for a company in London’s swanky Fitzrovia, which is sure to impress some of the girls in the villa.
Scot, Alima Gagigo, is also hoping to set hearts a flutter in Spain.(Image: Instagram/alimsssx)
Alima Gagigo
Scot, Alima, is also hoping to set hearts a flutter in Spain. A graduate of Caledonian University, she often posts snaps from a number of jaunts, including Portugal, Greece and Spain.
Alima also loves a trip down south to London for a slap-up dinner and cocktails with her friends.
Unlike the rest of the lineup, Kyle Ashman doesn’t have a string of photos on Instagram(Image: Instagram/kyleashmantr)
Kyle Ashman
Unlike the rest of the lineup, Kyle doesn’t have a string of photos on Instagram.
Posting just one photo of himself posed to perfection with a rippling six pack, it seems viewers will have to fill in the blanks when he makes his debut on the show next week.
Megan Moore is another girl who likes to travel(Image: Instagram/megann.mooree)
Megan Moore
Megan is another girl who likes to travel and often posts snaps of herself in the sun on Instagram.
Not much is known about her, however one of her followers replied to a shot of her in a a gorgeous white top and skirt, posing in her her garden, gushing: “Stunning girl!”
Influencer Helena is friends with Love Island star, Zara McDermott,(Image: Instagram/Helena Ford)
Helena Ford
Influencer Helena is friends with Love Island star, Zara McDermott, and looks set to make her grand entrance in the villa next week.
With a TikTok account in which she posts ‘Come with me’ videos as she jets off around the world, she looks like she’ll be one to watch.
Model Ben Holbrough is bound to make a splash when he rocks up in the villa(Image: Instagram/ben.holbrough)
Ben Holbrough
Model Ben is bound to make a splash when he rocks up in Spain next week. Sharing a slew of snaps of himself shirtless on Instagram, he says: “My main line of work is modelling, which I’ve been doing for about five or six years now.
“But when I’m not doing that, my hobbies are either going to the gym or playing football.”
Airport security rules can be confusing for many travellers with liquid restrictions in place at many flight hubs – but there is one common food item that is banned
Don’t get caught out at airport security [stock image](Image: Getty Images)
Airport shops are hitting passengers in the pocket by charging up to a staggering 48 per cent more for snacks and drinks compared to high street prices. In a move away from complimentary in-flight refreshments, British Airways is one of the airlines now asking customers to splash out on food during short-haul journeys with their paid-for menu options.
But be advised, packing certain common food items might land you in hot water at security checks, potentially leading to a search or even confiscation of your beloved nibbles. Whilst some UK airports have started updating their security measures, the liquid restrictions linger stubbornly across numerous global terminals.
The official guidance on the UK Government’s website currently states: “If you do take liquids in your hand luggage containers must hold no more than 100ml.
“Containers must be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm and contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed.”
Beware, traveller: while it’s widely known that water and beverages are part of the liquid restrictions, many are unaware that certain foods, including hummus, also qualify under this category due to their consistency, reports the Express.
It’s not just the popular chickpea spread either; other favourites like guacamole and salsa are similarly subjected to these stringent security stipulations.
A travel guru from Ski Vertigo has issued a warning to holidaymakers: “Certain food items, especially those that are liquid or gel-like, such as peanut butter, jam, or yoghurt, are subject to the liquids rule.
“Solid foods generally pass through security without issues, but any food that can be spread, squirted, or poured may be confiscated if it exceeds the allowed liquid limits. Food items can also trigger additional screening if they appear suspicious on the X-ray.”
Despite some UK airports adopting cutting-edge CT scanners that could see the end of the current liquid restrictions, many still lag behind in this tech upgrade.
Even if you’re flying out from a UK airport equipped with these new scanners, remember that numerous international airports continue to enforce the traditional liquid regulations.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Passengers should continue to check security requirements with their departure airport before travelling.”
So, for now, it’s wise for travellers to stick to the established liquid guidelines until further notice, as there’s no confirmed date for when the rules will be universally relaxed.
Just 40 countries representing 3.5 percent of the world’s population respect all civil liberties, a new study has found, warning that “democracy and human rights are under attack worldwide in a way we have not seen for decades.”
The Atlas of Civil Society report published by the German relief organisation Brot fur die Welt (Bread for the World) on Monday said only 284 million people living in “open” countries – including Austria, Estonia, the Scandinavian countries, New Zealand and Jamaica – enjoy protection of unrestricted civil rights and liberties.
The nongovernmental organisation defines a country as “open” if it allows people to form associations “without legal or practical barriers, demonstrate in public spaces, receive information and are allowed to disseminate it”.
Forty-two countries making up 11.1 percent of the world’s population are listed in a second category in which civil rights are classified as “impaired”. These include Germany, Slovakia, Argentina and the United States.
In these countries, the rights to freedom of assembly and expression are largely respected, but there are recorded violations.
‘Restricted, suppressed or closed’
“In contrast, 85 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where civil society is restricted, suppressed, or closed. This affects almost seven billion people,” the report found.
“Their governments severely restrict civil liberties and harass, arrest, or kill critical voices. This applies to 115 of 197 countries,” it added.
Several European countries appear in the “restricted” category, including Greece, the United Kingdom, Hungary and Ukraine.
Civil society is considered “oppressed” in 51 countries, including Algeria, Mexico and Turkey. In these countries, governments monitor, imprison or kill critics, and exercise censorship, according to the data.
Finally, Russia and 28 other countries are classified as “closed” and characterised by an “atmosphere of fear”. Criticism of the government or regime in these countries is severely punished.
Brot fur die Welt drew on data collected by the Civicus network of civil society organisations worldwide for its annual report covering 197 countries and territories.
Nine countries improved their freedom of expression ratings last year, including Jamaica, Japan, Slovenia, Trinidad and Tobago, Botswana, Fiji, Liberia, Poland and Bangladesh.
However, nine countries were downgraded from the previous year, including Georgia, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Peru, Ethiopia, Eswatini, the Netherlands, Mongolia and the Palestinian territory.
Dagmar Pruin, president of Brot fur die Welt, warned that “the rule of law, the separation of powers and protection against state arbitrariness are under threat or no longer exist in more and more countries.”
Gun rights advocates say these AR-15s are owned by millions of Americans, and they argue the 2nd Amendment protects weapons that are “in common use by law-abiding citizens.”
But they fell one vote short of winning a hearing on the question before the Supreme Court.
Three conservatives — Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gorsuch — voted to hear the 2nd Amendment challenge.
But Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh refused for now to cast the key fourth vote. He called the lower-court ruling upholding Maryland’s ban “questionable,” but agreed with the majority in turning down the appeal for now.
“In my view, this court should and presumably will address the AR–15 issue soon, in the next Term or two,” Kavanaugh said.
The closely watched appeal had been pending since December, and the outcome suggests that the majority, including Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., is not ready to strike down state laws that restrict semiautomatic guns.
Monday’s no-comment order lets stand laws in Maryland and Rhode Island that forbid the sale or possession of “assault weapons” and large-capacity magazines.
California adopted the nation’s first ban on assault weapons in 1989. Since then, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Washington have enacted similar laws, all of which would have been struck down if Maryland’s law were ruled unconstitutional.
Lawmakers in California and nine other Democratic-led states say these rapid-fire weapons are especially dangerous and not needed for self-defense.
Maryland said its ban applies to “certain highly dangerous, military-style assault weapons of the sort used in a series of highly publicized mass shootings.”
The case tested the reach of the 2nd Amendment and its “right to keep and bear arms.”
For more than a decade, the justices have turned away gun-rights appeals that challenged local or state bans on assault weapons.
In 2008, the court ruled for the first time that the 2nd Amendment protects an individual right to self-defense, but its constitutional rulings since then have been modest in their impact.
The justices struck down city ordinances in Washington and Chicago that prohibited private possession of handguns, and they ruled states may not deny law-abiding citizens a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
In opinion polls, most Americans are opposed to a ban on handgun possession but they support a ban on semiautomatic assault rifles.
Maryland passed its ban on “assault weapons” after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, where 20 children and six school employees were killed.
The law was upheld last year in an opinion written by a prominent conservative judge.
Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, a Reagan appointee who was a finalist for a Supreme Court nomination in 2005, said the AR-15, AK-47 and similar rapid-fire rifles are not protected by the 2nd Amendment.
“They are military-style weapons designed for sustained combat operations that are ill-suited and disproportionate to the need for self-defense,” he wrote in a 9-5 decision by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. “We decline to wield the Constitution to declare that military-style armaments which have become primary instruments of mass killing and terrorist attacks in the United States are beyond the reach of our nation’s democratic processes.”
The dissenters said the 2nd Amendment protects the right to the “arms” that are in common use.
“Today, the AR-15 and its variants are one of the most popular and widely owned firearms in the Nation,” wrote Judge Julius Richardson, a Trump appointee.
“As of 2021, there are at least 28 million AR-style semiautomatic rifles in circulation. For context, this means that there are more AR-style rifles in the civilian market than there are Ford F-Series pickup trucks on the road — the most popular truck in America.”
Three years ago, the court said in an opinion by Thomas that the 2nd Amendment should be interpreted based on the nation’s history and tradition of gun regulations.
However, the two sides in the Maryland case differed on what to glean from that history.
Gun-rights advocates said there was no early history of laws banning common firearms.
But some judges and state lawyers said the history shows that when new dangers arose — including stored gunpowder, dynamite and machine guns — new restrictions were written into law. If so, that would support new laws adopted in response to the danger posed by rapid-fire weapons.
Wilkinson said assessment of Rhiannon Roberts is also “ongoing”, with the 79-cap defender suffering a fitness issue on the eve of the 1-0 loss in Odense that confirmed the side’s relegation from the top tier of the Nations League.
But the Wales boss said neither were being ruled out at this stage, with the squad for the Euros being named on 19 June.
However, Wilkinson did say Ingle is “on track” to be part of that selection after the “milestone” of training with team-mates in a session before the game with Italy.
“It was great to see her back,” said Wilkinson of the 141-cap former captain, who is also continuing rehabilitation at Chelsea despite announcing her departure from the Women’s Super League (WSL) champions following the end of the season.
“Any injury is a lonely place to be… and one of the big gains is not just being back on the field with the ball, but being back with team-mates.
“She’s done it with her club and now she’s done it with her international team-mates.
“That milestone is such a boost and you could see it in her, it was a big moment.”
But with Wales’ match with Italy their final fixture before they open their Euro 2025 campaign against Switzerland – and Ingle having not played a competitive match for so long – Wilkinson said she would remain cautious.
“She’s in a great space and she doesn’t feel like she’s overextending herself, because when players in stressful situations try to rush back from major injuries that’s when you can see reoccurrence,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson added that Ingle will be part of a training camp in Portugal in the tournament build-up,
“That’s why we want to do it properly. It’s very obvious we want her with us in Switzerland, everything is tracking that way, but she will not be rushed or pushed,” said Wilkinson.
“The most important thing is being able to play, not 90 minutes, but can she contribute?
“She’s aware there will be conversations coming up to the tournament and she’s doing everything she needs to, to be coming to Switzerland with us.”
Fellow defender Lois Joel added: “Sophie’s such a core part of our group, so well respected, so it’s great to have her back in whatever capacity.
“It was great to see her smiling and kicking a ball – and she barely looks rusty.”
June 2 (UPI) — China on Monday rejected claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that it has broken the terms of the recent trade deal made between the two nations.
A Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said in a press release that it “firmly rejects” the “unreasonable accusations” and instead alleged that the United States failed to fulfill its duties.
The statement said that China followed through in canceling or suspending “relevant tariffs and non-tariff measures” implemented in response to Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” against China and several other nations.
It also noted that despite its conciliatory actions, the Trump administration has “successively introduced a number of discriminatory restrictive measures against China” such as export control guidelines for AI chips, stopping the sale of chip design software to China, and refering to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio‘s announcements of plans to “aggressively revoke” visas of Chinese students.
“The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions, exacerbating the uncertainty and instability of bilateral economic and trade relations. Instead of reflecting on itself, it has turned the tables and unreasonably accused China of violating the consensus, which is seriously contrary to the facts. China firmly rejects unreasonable accusations,” China said.
“If the [United States] insists on its own way and continues to damage China’s interests, China will continue to take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
Trump said in a social media post on Friday that China had “totally violated its agreement with us” after the two sides had reached the deal in Geneva in May.
Under the terms of the deal, the two sides agreed to pause tariffs between the countries for 90 days as China reduced tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10% while the United States cut tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified Trump’s comments on CBS News “Face the Nation” Sunday, stating that China was “withholding some of the products that they agreed to release during our agreement,” and then confirmed those products to be rare earths.
A man who burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London has been found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence.
Hamit Coskun, 50, shouted abusive comments about Islam as he held the flaming book aloft in Rutland Gardens in Knightsbridge on 13 February.
On Monday he was found guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court of the offence and of using disorderly behaviour, and fined £240 with a statutory surcharge of £96.
District Judge John McGarva said Coskun’s conduct was “provocative and taunting” and told him “you have a deep-seated hatred of Islam and its followers”.
Turkey-born Coskun, who is half Kurdish and half Armenian, travelled from his home in Derby and set fire to the Quran at around 14:00 GMT, the court heard.
The judge said Coskun’s hatred of Islam had stemmed from his experiences in Turkey “and the experiences of your family”.
He said: “It’s not possible to separate your views about the religion to your views about the followers.
“Your actions in burning the Quran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by bad language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion.”
Judge McGarva said he “did not accept” Coskun’s claim that his criticism was of Islam in general and not its adherents.
Coskun had posted on social media that he was protesting against the “Islamist government” of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who the defendant allegedly said had “made Turkey a base for radical Islamists and is trying to establish a Sharia regime”, prosecutors said.
Coskun said in a statement that his conviction was “an assault on free speech and will deter others from exercising their democratic rights”.
A Humanists UK spokesperson has said the case does “raise concerns” and the bar for prosecutions is too low.
They said: “When blasphemy laws were repealed in 2008, it was a victory for freedom of expression.
“We must make sure that public order legislation is not used to disproportionately target speech – even offensive speech – on religious matters, thereby chilling legitimate criticism and expression.”
Judge McGarva said he did not view the case as an attempt to expand blasphemy laws.
He said that burning a religious book, although offensive to some, was not necessarily disorderly, but that other factors (including Islamophobic comments made in police interviews) made it so on this occasion.
Coskun’s legal fees are being paid for by the National Secular Society and the Free Speech Union (FSU). Both organisations have said they intend to appeal against the verdict “and keep on appealing it until it’s overturned”.
An FSU spokesperson said: “If that means taking it all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, we will do so.
“Religious tolerance is an important British value, but it doesn’t require non-believers to respect the blasphemy codes of believers.”
Which? Travel asked more than 9,000 people to rate their favourite inland towns and villages’ food and drink offering. Ludlow, a historic market town in Shropshire, came out on top
Views of the English town of Ludlow (Image: Getty Images)
The quaint market town is one of the UK’s top foodie destinations, according to a survey by Which? Travel. After polling over 9,000 people in 2024, Ludlow in Shropshire emerged as the nation’s best-rated inland town for its culinary delights, boasting an impressive five-star rating for its food and drink offerings.
This picturesque town, with its 500-plus listed buildings, has long been admired for its charm, with poet John Betjeman once describing it as “the loveliest town in England”. Ludlow’s recipe for success lies in its emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, which are showcased in its numerous pubs, cafes and restaurants.
A spokesperson for Which? said: “Instead of a handful of high-end eateries, there’s a culture of local produce as well as numerous pubs and cafes, served by people who care about the food.”
Some of Ludlow’s top-rated eateries include The Old Downton Lodge, Vaughan’s Sandwich Bar, The Boyne Arms gastropub, and CSONS, a riverside cafe.
Visitors can sample the best of the region’s produce at the Ludlow Local Produce market, held on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.
St Laurence Church in Ludlow(Image: Getty Images)
The market features food and drink produced within a 30-mile radius of the town, promoting sustainable and locally sourced fare.
Wells, the UK’s second-smallest city, took second place in the survey as the best inland destination for foodies. Top UK Towns and Villages for Foodies.
He won £275,000 for winning the title to add to three nightly wins of £30k in total and picking up gold darts worth £30k for a nine-darter.
Bet UK revealed that this meant the Leeds fan earned a mind-blowing £19,706 per week. That worked out at £1,006 per leg, £9,306 per match and £4,926 per hour.
Teen sensation Littler didn’t do so bad either as runner-up.
He earned an astonishing £12,647 per week on average in the BetMGM Premier League season.
With each night taking around four hours to complete, Littler earned a jaw-dropping £3.1k per hour from the competition.
He played the most matches in the Premier League, racking up 37 matches in 16 weeks, during the regular season, earning £90,000 in the process.
He then played two matches on Finals Night, where he finished second after his 11-8 defeat in the final to Humphries, claiming a further £125,000 as a consolation prize and taking his prize money total to £215,000.
Research by BetUK reveals Littler earned £5,513 per match and £556 per leg this season.
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Gerwyn Price also had a really successful season, earning a total of £175,000 in prize money.
That breaks down to £10,294 per week, £665 per leg and £6,250 per match.
Price’s average earnings also work out to be higher than Littler’s, despite earning less prize money, as the Welshman played 11 fewer games and more than 100 fewer legs than the superstar.
DRIVERS looking to buy an affordable but reliable older motor should consider one of these top 10 picks from the Which? annual car survey.
The consumer group has revealed a list of cars it recommends with five-star reliability ratings between 10-15 years old, some for less than £3,000.
From nippy city cars to big family SUVs, there are options for all drivers hunting for a bargain buy that doesn’t scrimp on quality.
Michael Passingham, senior researcher at Which?, told thisismoney that hybrid cars have come to dominate the list of most reliable, older vehicles.
He said: “Why do these cars perform so well? One reason could be that the hardest part of a car’s life – starting and pulling away – are mostly handled by the small electric motor.
“These motors have fewer moving parts than combustion engines and, along with sturdy main battery packs, really don’t have to work all that hard.
“The downside is that our data shows a much higher failure rate of the 12V battery (the small battery all cars have) on full hybrids; this component is worked hard so it pays to buy a quality one and get it replaced every five years or so.”
In good news for consumers, so called ‘full’ hybrids’ have been removed from the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars planned by the government.
Micheal warned against opting for a plug-in hybrid, saying that this type of car has “one of the least reliable engine types according to our data”.
Here is the full list of the 10 best buys for the most reliable older cars…
10. Toyota Auris (2012-2019)
Average used price: £4,650
10
The Toyota Auris is a great option for those wanting a green car that boasts impressive reliability especially for the priceCredit: Alamy
Faults: 28% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 5.3
The predecessor to the Toyota Corolla, the Auris served as the brands family hatchback offering for almost two decades until it was replaced in 2019.
The second generation Auris, sold between 2012-2019, boasts impressive reliability with less than three in ten owners reporting faults in the last year, and only seven per cent saying their vehicle broke down.
The average price of £4,650 makes this a competitive option when looking for a family, and environment, friendly hatchback.
The only caveat is that the Auris took an average of 5.3 days to get back on the road after a breakdown, which is higher than other cars on this list.
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9. Suzuki Alto (2009-2014)
Average used price: £2,800
10
The Suzuki Alto is a small city-friendly car that is simple enough to get repaired cheaply and get back on the road quicklyCredit: Alamy
Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 1% Days off the road: 2.6
The Suzuki Alto, released in 2009, is still living up to its promise of being a cheap, compact and reliable supermini.
It was first offered for £6,000-£7,000 and now can be snapped up for less than three grand, the cheapest buy on this list.
The simplicity of the Alto makes it a particularly reliable option, with just 1 per cent reporting breakdowns in the last 12 months, and a quarter saying they had to deal with faults.
If it does need a repair, the Alto’s simplicity means it gets back to you in an average of only 2.6 days.
8. Toyota Yaris (2011-2020)
Average used price: £3,100
10
The Toyota Yaris has a great track record of reliability, making it one of the most popular hatchbacks of the last 25 yearsCredit: Handout
Faults: 23% Breakdowns: 6% Days off the road: 3.1
The go-to small, dependable car for many in the last 25 years, the Yaris, is still making recommendation lists for its affordability and reliability.
With less than a quarter reporting faults and only 6 per cent dealing with a breakdown in the last 12 months, the Yaris still holds up remarkably well after all this time.
This is the 2011-2020 model with a hybrid drivetrain, an addition which makes it economical to drive as well as to buy, averaging just over £3,000.
7. Suzuki Swift (2010-2016)
Average used price: £3,500
10
Suzuki Swift is considered by some an overlooked gem of the supermini classCredit: Getty
Faults: 27% Breakdowns: 8% Days off the road: 1.4
Suzuki appears again on this list with the 2010-2016 Swift supermini, a compact, simple vehicle at a compelling price.
Received positively upon release, the Swift was praised for being fun to drive with a competitive blend of efficiency and performance.
Now on sale for only around three and a half grand, this might be a great option for those looking for a small but fiery little motor.
Although it scores a little worse on breakdowns, with 8 per cent being the highest on this list, it does only spend a brief 1.4 days in the shop when things do go wrong.
Couple this with a good score of 27 per cent reporting faults, and this characterful car is still a good buy in 2025.
6. BMW X1 (2009-2015)
Average used price: £5,200
10
The BMW X1 is surprisingly reliable for a big luxury SUVCredit: handout
Faults: 35% Breakdowns: 7% Days off the road: 2.1
In a shock entry to this list, the BMW X1 is an outlier for luxury SUVs, which are often unreliable and costly to repair.
On the contrary, the X1 competes with other, much smaller, simpler cars with a respectable record of just 7 per cent reporting breakdowns last year and only 2.1 days taken to fix on average.
Consumers may be able to take advantage of typically low SUV resale prices, generally due to reliability and repair cost concerns, to pick up this hidden gem for a very reasonable price of around £5,000.
That said, the X1 does rank low on this list in terms of faults, with over a third experiencing issues in the last 12 months.
5. Skoda CitiGo (2009-2019)
Average used price: £4,500
10
The Skoda Citigo is mechanically identical to the popular VW Up! making it a great choice for a small car on a budget that also boasts good reliabilityCredit: Getty
Faults: 22% Breakdowns: 5% Days off the road: 2.8
Mechanically identical to the VW Up!, the Skoda CitiGo was meant for squeezing into tight parking spaces and down narrow streets while keeping your fuel costs and insurance premiums to a minimum.
After being discontinued five years ago, the CitiGo now makes for a tempting prospect on the second-hand market.
It was initially praised for being surprisingly roomy for being so small, and for being the cheaper alternative to the Up! while essentially being the same car.
It boasts impressive reliability, with only 22 per cent reporting faults and 5 per cent experiencing a break down.
The CitiGo is fairly quick to repair as well, only spending 2.8 days at the garage before being ready for more.
4. Honda Jazz (2008-2015)
Average used price: £3,800
10
The Honda Jazz is popular among older drivers, but this doesn’t mean it’s not a great option for a convenient and reliable motorCredit: handout
Faults: 25% Breakdowns: 4% Days off the road: 2.7
Almost exclusively driven by those of a certain age, the Honda Jazz is popular amongst the older demographic for a reason: its convenient, reliable and easy to drive.
These attributes might get Grandma excited, but they should also make the Jazz an attractive option for anyone looking for a solid vehicle at a bargain price.
One in four owners reported a fault with their cars and the average time in the garage was 2.7 days being fixed by mechanics.
Your Jazz shouldn’t be seeing the inside of a garage too often though, with only 4 per cent breaking down in the last year.
3. Lexus RX 450h (2009-2015)
Average used price: £6,400
10
The Lexus RX 450h is a very reliable option for a big family motor, breakdowns are very rare according to Which?Credit: Handout
Faults: 16% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 2
This chunky SUV was voted the most satisfying car to own in 2024 in a Which? survey.
A glance at the cars record quickly confirms that one of the factors that make it so popular must be its excellent reliability.
Looking at the hybrid-powered models here, only 16 per cent reported a fault in the last year and none had their RX break down on them.
For the times that the RX was sent into the garage, it only spent 2 days on average being worked on.
The price is a little higher than some others on this list, but buyers are getting both space, comfort and relatively good fuel efficiency.
2. Mazda MX-5 (2005-2015)
Average used price: £3,800
10
The Mazda MX5 Roadster Coupe is a British icon, and could be yours for less than £4,000 if you opt for an older modelCredit: Getty
Faults: 26% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.7
The iconic MX-5 speeds into the number two spot for good reason, bucking the trend of unreliable sports car to still deliver thrilling driving with solid build quality at a good price.
Hailing originally from the late 1980’s, this example of the world’s best selling roadster is the third generation MX-5, it debuted in 2005 and still holds up today.
The record from Which?’s data is flawless when it comes to breakdowns, and shows that this classic is quick to fix only spending 1.7 days in the shop.
Just over a quarter reported faults, but that’s not a huge figure when it comes to second-hand sports cars.
1. Lexus CT 200h (2011-2020)
Average used price: £7,300
10
The Lexus CT 200h is the number one car according to the Which? car survey for reliabilityCredit: PR handout
Faults: 13% Breakdowns: 0% Days off the road: 1.2
Topping the list as the most reliable 10 to 15 year-old car comes the Lexus CT 200h, a full hybrid hatchback which served as the brands answer to the Ford Focus and VW Golf until 2020.
CT 200h owners surveyed by Which? delivered glowing reviews, reporting zero breakdowns and only 13 per cent experiencing a fault with their car.
Drivers praised the vehicles comfort and, of course, reliability, only pointing to a small boot and clunky infotainment system as critiques, as reported by thisismoney.
The car sells for around £7,000, the priciest offering so far, but its near spotless record should mean your investment pays off with a dependable motor that is good for years to come.
The ones to steer clear of
Which? puts the diesel powered Vauxhall Zafira (2005-2014) and Nissan Qashqai (2007-20013) as two of the least reliable vehicles that consumers should steer well clear of if dependability is their aim.
The Zafira has become known for catching fires in recent years due to issues with its heater blower motor and regulator. This usually happens when owners replace parts with cheaper, aftermarket components.
It is hardly a wonder that drivers are turning to cut-price alternatives when the Zafira breaks down on three in ten owners, with more than half reporting faults in the last year.
The car also takes a whopping 14 days on average for repairs to be made.
The first generation Nissan Qashqai also from suffers reliability issues, and needs almost a week in the garage on average before it is road-ready after a malfunction.
Both these cars use diesel fuel, and Which? has found that this is by far the worst fuel type for reliability, with an average fault rate of 48 per cent, compared to 39 per cent for petrol and 23 per cent for hybrids.
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. A sad farewell to Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret Houlihan on “M*A*S*H*,” one of my favorite shows. All that’s left now are Hawkeye, B.J., Radar and Klinger.
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Once again, in the quest to give you some different voices to hear from during the season, I have reached out to Jake Reiner, who has co-hosted The Incline: Dodgers Podcast with Kevin Klein since 2020. Reiner, an actor, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles, executive produced and starred in the romantic comedy “Things Like This,” which is currently playing in theaters across the country. Reiner was featured in the final season of HBO Max’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He’s also born into television royalty as the son of Rob Reiner and grandson of the late Carl Reiner.
This interview was conducted via email.
Q. How long ago and why did you become a Dodger fan?
Reiner: I’ve been a Dodgers fan ever since I learned what baseball was as a young child growing up in Los Angeles. The love of baseball is something that has been passed down from my grandfather to my father and then to me. Both my grandfather and father were originally New York Giants fans that converted to Dodgers fans for different reasons. My grandfather switched his allegiance because he fell in love with Jackie Robinson, and my father changed sides when the Giants traded his beloved Willie Mays to the Mets. I was lucky enough to be born into it after they were already bleeding Dodger blue. Thank God!
Q. How do you assess this season’s team?
Reiner: This year’s team is fascinating because there is a lot to improve with this roster and yet they’re still leading the division. It’s no secret the offense has carried them the entire time. I love the way they’re scoring because they aren’t just reliant on the home run. They’re manufacturing runs, hitting with runners in scoring position, and no deficit feels too large to overcome. The biggest mystery to me is why can’t any of their pitchers stay healthy? We’ve seen a few seasons of this recently, especially with the starting rotation. It’s honestly frustrating as a fan of a team that is so well-run in every aspect but we can’t seem to get a straight answer as to why guys such as Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell can’t stay on the mound.
Q. A genie grants your wish and says you are the owner of the Dodgers and can make three immediate changes. What changes do you make?
Reiner: 1. I would start Hyeseong Kim every day. Kim provides a type of offensive dynamic that the Dodgers don’t have anywhere on their roster outside of Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. He’s surgical with the bat, can beat out an infield single, steal bases, and has some pop. But unlike Ohtani, Kim plays the field at an elite level. Who knows how long Mookie Betts will be out with his fractured toe, so he may get some more opportunities at shortstop, but playing Miguel Rojas over Kim at this point should be considered a crime. I don’t care about platooning — Kim is the better player.
2. This brings me to my next point. I think Rojas’ time as a Dodger should come to an end. We saw how decisive the Dodgers were with Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes, and I think Rojas is next on the list. Not knowing everything he provides as a clubhouse leader, what he provides on the field is not cutting it. He kills too many rallies by grounding into double plays while leaving Ohtani on deck most times, he’s too slow, and his defense can be replaced. The Dodgers already employ Kim, Kiké Hernández, and Tommy Edman, who can do everything Rojas can do, but exponentially better. Plus, I’d like to see a guy like Alex Freeland get called up from OKC to see what he can do at the big league level.
3. My last change(s) might be the most obvious, which is the Dodgers need to stock up as much pitching as they possibly can get before the July 31 trade deadline. Two starters and two relievers would be ideal, but I know that might be asking for too much. I don’t trust Glasnow, Snell, and Roki Sasaki will all return and be effective. I also don’t trust Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, and Kirby Yates to return at full strength either. This might be a pessimistic view, but the Dodgers medical staff hasn’t instilled any confidence in me as it relates to the health of their pitchers.
Q. Tanner Scott is struggling right now. The Dodgers pitching is not as good as usual, and they have 14 pitchers on the IL. Do you remain patient, waiting for these guys to get healthy, or do you make a trade?
Reiner: I think you can be more patient waiting for some of the relievers to come back — especially if the Dodgers are able to maintain their standing in the NL West. But we’ve seen a lot of blown saves and home runs galore surrendered by this bullpen, which is not sustainable. If it were me, I’d actually try and find an innings-eating starting pitcher that can be effective and take the ball every fifth day. That might help the overworked bullpen. With all that said, the Dodgers offense has been able to weather the storm — I just hope they can keep this up until we get closer to the trade deadline.
Q. Last week, a website listed their 10 greatest Dodgers. A lot of fans were unhappy that Ohtani wasn’t among the top 10. Seems way too soon to consider him one of the 10 greatest Dodgers. What do you think?
Reiner: I think the fact that Ohtani won an MVP, had a 50-50 season, and won a title all in his first season with the Dodgers has fans salivating and already declaring him a Dodgers legend. I don’t doubt he’ll continue to put up monster numbers for this franchise, and I’ve even let myself think about him as the greatest player of all time, but let’s give him a few more seasons in blue to truly cement himself in the top 10. While we’re on the topic, I think Freddie Freeman could crack that list too when it’s all said and done.
Q. Do you have a favorite moment from your podcast, and how can fans listen to it?
Reiner: We’ve had a lot of cool guests on the podcast over the years: Shawn Green, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, Tim Neverett, Stephen Nelson, Gavin Stone, Dalton Rushing, Bob Nightengale, and Victor Rojas to name a few (all of them basically). However, I’d say one of my favorite moments, which was also a tragedy, was when the Dodgers got swept by the Diamondbacks in the 2023 NLDS. I don’t think my co-hosts or I had ever been this collectively animated on a single episode. The pain and frustration we released was as therapeutic as it was completely unhinged. We can laugh about it now because the Dodgers eventually cleaned up their postseason woes from 2022 and 2023 to win it all in 2024.
Fans can listen to us on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get your podcasts! Please also follow us on X @TheInclinePod!
The Yankees series
It’s funny how the order of victories can change how you view a series. The Dodgers get a great comeback victory over the Yankees on Friday, then blow them out Saturday, before losing Sunday, and some act like it’s the worst thing that has ever happened. If it had been reversed, and the Dodgers had lost Friday, then had an amazing comeback victory Saturday and a blowout victory Sunday, those same people would be talking about how amazing the Dodgers are.
The fact of the matter is the Dodgers won two of three from the team many believe is the best team in the American League. This is a good thing.
The Dodgers are beginning a tough stretch of games right now. The next 16 games are: Four against the Mets, three at St. Louis, three at San Diego, three against San Francisco, three more against San Diego. Only one day off in the middle of all of that. At the end of those 16 games, we will know a lot more about just how good this team is. Right now, they are off to a good start. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.
All-time leaders
Which batters struck out the most with the Dodgers?
Franchise 1. Matt Kemp, 1,179 2. Duke Snider, 1,123 3. Gil Hodges, 1,108 4. Eric Karros, 1,105 5. Chris Taylor, 1,044 6. Andre Ethier, 938 7. Pee Wee Reese, 890 8. Max Muncy, 882 9. Ron Cey, 838 10. Willie Davis, 815
Los Angeles only 1. Matt Kemp, 1,179 2. Eric Karros, 1,105 3. Chris Taylor, 1,044 4. Andre Ethier, 938 5. Max Muncy, 882 6. Ron Cey, 838 7. Willie Davis, 815 8. Steve Garvey, 751 9. Mike Marshall, 724 10. Steve Yeager, 703 11. Cody Bellinger, 691 12. Bill Russell, 667 13. Raúl Mondesi, 663 14. Justin Turner, 647 15. Davey Lopes, 629
Is there a top 10 Dodgers list you’d like to see Email me at [email protected] and let me know.
Top 10 Dodgers
I asked you what sort of top 10 list you’d like to see, and the response was overwhelming for “Top 10 Dodgers at each position.” So, starting with the next newsletter, we will go position by position, listing the top 10 for each. Up first will be shortstop. And I’d like to hear from you, Who do you think are the top 10 Dodgers shortstops of all time? Rank them in order, and I’ll compile it and present your list after I give you mine.
Who are your top 10 Dodgers shortstops of all time (including Brooklyn)? Email your list [email protected] and let me know.
Bad news for Phillips
When Evan Phillips was first put on the IL, the Dodgers thought it would just be for the 15 days required. But no. The Dodgers announced Saturday that Phillips would undergo Tommy John surgery, which means he probably won’t pitch again until after the 2026 All-Star break.
A tough blow for the bullpen, which still has key members Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates and Brusdar Graterol on the IL.
He can see clearly now
Since putting on glasses, Max Muncy is a new man. In the 25 games since then he’s hitting .262/.387/.536 with six homers and 27 RBIs, 17 walks and 17 K’s in 84 at bats. Sometimes, patience pays off.
Though if I were the Dodgers, I’d bring a top optometrist and ophthalmologist to spring training next season.
Boiling point
Sammy Roth writes our “Boiling Point” newsletter, which deals with environmental concerns. His most recent newsletter takes a look at how the familiar orange and blue 76 logo, a longtime Dodgers sponsor, is now also sponsoring the, wait for it …. San Francisco Giants. Roth writes:
“Long before Clayton Kershaw donned No. 22 and Fernando Valenzuela wore No. 34, another number told fans it was time for Dodger baseball: 76.
“Union Oil Co., the 76 gasoline brand’s former owner, helped finance Dodger Stadium’s construction. The brand’s current owner, Phillips 66, remains a major sponsor. Through six World Series titles, orange-and-blue 76 logos have been a constant presence at Chavez Ravine. They tower above the scoreboards and grace the outfield walls.
“So when 76 recently posted on Instagram that it had begun sponsoring L.A.’s rivals in San Francisco — with an orange-and-blue logo on the center field clock at Oracle Park — some Dodgers fans weren’t pleased…..
A look at how some prominent Dodgers from the last few seasons are doing with their new team (through Sunday). Click on the player name to be taken to the baseball-reference page with all their stats.
Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @latimeshouston. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
Investment to pour into nuclear warheads, submarines and munitions to confront the ‘most immediate threat since the Cold War’.
The United Kingdom has announced a major boost to its defence infrastructure to confront a “new era of threats” driven by “growing Russian aggression”.
The package, unveiled on Monday, includes huge investments in a nuclear warhead programme, a fleet of attack submarines and munitions factories and is part of a Strategic Defence Review that Prime Minister Keir Starmer said will shift the country to “war-fighting readiness”.
“The threat we now face is more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War,” Starmer said as he delivered the review in Glasgow.
“We face war in Europe, new nuclear risks, daily cyberattacks, growing Russian aggression in our waters, menacing our skies,” he added.
‘The front line is here’
The defence review, the UK’s first since 2021, was led by former NATO Secretary-General George Robertson.
Starmer said it would bring “fundamental changes” to the armed forces, including “moving to war-fighting readiness”, recentring a “NATO first” defence posture and accelerating innovation.
“Every part of society, every citizen of this country, has a role to play because we have to recognise that things have changed in the world of today,” he said. “The front line, if you like, is here.”
The UK has been racing to rearm in the face of what it sees as a growing threat from Russia. Fears that the United States has become a less reliable ally under President Donald Trump and will downsize its military presence in Europe as Trump demands NATO states raise their defence spending are other significant factors.
Starmer’s government pledged in February to lift defence spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2027, which would mark the “largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War”.
The government has said it will cut overseas aid to help fund the spending.
New munitions factories, attack submarines
Based on the recommendations in the review, the government said on Sunday that it would boost stockpiles and weapons production capacity, which could be scaled up if needed.
A total of 1.5 billion pounds ($2bn) will be dedicated to building “at least six munitions and energetics factories” with plans to produce 7,000 long-range weapons. As a result, total UK munitions spending is expected to hit 6 billion pounds ($8.1bn) over the current parliamentary term, which ends in 2029.
There are also plans to build up to 12 new attack submarines as part of the AUKUS military alliance with Australia and the US.
The Ministry of Defence also said it would invest 15 billion pounds ($20.3bn) in its nuclear warhead programme. Last week, it pledged 1 billion pounds ($1.3bn) for the creation of a “cyber command” to help on the battlefield.
The review described Russia as an “immediate and pressing” threat while calling China a “sophisticated and persistent challenge”.
I’m Glenn Whipp, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of The Envelope newsletter. While we’re pondering the timeline to upload a human consciousness, let’s consider “Mountainhead” and its Emmy chances.
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Another year, another late-breaking HBO movie
Early on in “Mountainhead,” tech bro and Elon Musk stand-in Venis Parish (Cory Michael Smith) uses film history to put the glitches of his company’s latest AI rollout into perspective.
“The first time people saw a movie, everybody ran screaming because they thought they were gonna get hit by a train,” Venis relates, shouting out the Lumiere brothers’ 1895 film, “Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station.” “The answer to that was not stop the movies. The answer was: Show more movies. We’re gonna show users as much s— as possible, until everyone realizes nothing’s that f— serious. Nothing means anything, and everything’s funny and cool.”
In the meantime, though, Venis’ social media platform has given users the tools to create deepfakes so realistic they can’t be identified as bogus. Immediately, people all over the world are uploading videos of their enemies committing atrocities, inflaming centuries-old animosities. Reality has collapsed and, with it, global stability.
But for “Mountainhead’s” quartet of tech magnates, played by Smith, Steve Carell, Ramy Youssef and Jason Schwartzman, everything is just fine. As venture capitalist Randall Garrett (Carell) notes, “We have plenty of calories stockpiled. Western countries have strategic commodity reserves, canola oil, lard, frozen orange juice.”
Later, Randall asks: “Are we the Bolsheviks of a new techno world order that starts tonight?”
“Mountainhead” is in many ways scarier than the zombie apocalypse of “The Last of Us” because it feels like its premise is lurking right around the corner. Armstrong came up with the idea for the two-hour movie in November, after immersing himself in podcasts and books about Silicon Valley. He shot it in March, edited it in April and delivered it in May. It captures the DOGE era, specifically in the casual cruelty expressed by its entitled characters.
“Do you believe in other people?” Venis asks Randall. “Eight billion people as real as us?”
Randall’s reply: “Well, obviously not.”
Cory Michael Smith, left, and Steve Carell in “Mountainhead.”
(Macall Polay / HBO)
“Mountainhead” aspires more directly to comedy, but because we don’t have a history with these four deplorable men, it’s often difficult to find the humor. “Like ‘Fountainhead’ Mountainhead?” Youssef jokes to Schwartzman about the estate’s title. “Was your interior decorator Ayn Bland?” There’s a procession of put-downs like that. When they’re not roasting each other, they’re trying to boost their own agendas — in the case of the cancer-stricken Randall, it’s the quest to live forever as a disembodied consciousness.
For all its Shakespearean drama, “Succession” was wildly entertaining, more of a comedy than, yes, “The Bear.” Kendall Roy performing the rap “L to the OG” at a party honoring his father’s half-century running Waystar Royco will be the funniest two minutes of television probably forever. But half the fun came from the characters’ reactions to this transcendent moment of cringe. We were deeply invested in this world.
For all their money and power, the “Mountainhead” moguls are, like the Roy children in “Succession,” not serious people. But beyond that, “Mountainhead” doesn’t have much of anything novel to say about its subjects. As good as Smith is at channeling Musk’s alien, empathy-deficient otherness, you can come away with the same level of insight — and entertainment — by spending a few minutes watching Mike Myers on “Saturday Night Live.” I don’t need to watch a movie to know that a guy sitting on a gold toilet isn’t prioritizing anyone’s interests but his own.
“Mountainhead,” as mentioned, arrives on the last day of 2024-25 Emmy eligibility, less by design than from necessity. The paint’s still wet on this film. But this does mark the third straight season that HBO has dropped a TV movie right before the deadline. Last year, it was “The Great Lillian Hall,” starring Jessica Lange as fading Broadway legend. Two years ago, it was the excellent whistleblower thriller “Reality,” featuring a star turn from Sydney Sweeney. Both movies were blanked at the Emmys, though Kathy Bates did manage a Screen Actors Guild Awards nod for “Lillian Hall.”
Did the movies land too late for enough people see them? Perhaps. The late arrival time should mean they’d be fresh in voters’ minds when they fill out their ballots. But you have to be aware of them for that to happen.
Awareness shouldn’t be an issue with “Mountainhead.” Enough people will want to watch the new offering from the creator of “Succession,” and there’s not much else on television vying for attention right now. “Mountainhead” should score a nomination for television movie, even with the category being stronger than usual this year with audience favorites “Rebel Ridge,” the latest “Bridget Jones” movie and Scott Derrickson’s enjoyable, genre-bending “The Gorge” competing.
But actors in these TV movies are at competitive disadvantage as the Emmys lump them together with their counterparts in limited series, performers who are onscreen for a much longer time. This decade, only two TV movie actors have been nominated — Hugh Jackman (“Bad Education”) and Daniel Radcliffe (“Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”). The lead actress category, meanwhile, has been completely dominated by limited series.
Not that there are any women starring in “Mountainhead” because … tech bros. As for the men, Carell, Schwartzman, Smith and Youssef are very good at conveying delusional arrogance. I despised each and every one of their characters. If hate-voting were a thing, they’d all be nominated.
At the time of writing (13:05 CEST), all major European indexes were in the red after China said the US “severely violated” the terms of their recent trade agreement. Market participants also considered the impact of US President Donald Trump’s plan to double current tariffs on steel and aluminium from 25% to 50% from this Wednesday.
The EURO STOXX 50 was down 0.68%, Germany’s DAX fell 0.48%, while France’s CAC 40 declined 0.63%.
“Donald Trump has upset markets once again,” Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said in an email note sent to Euronews.
“Doubling import taxes on steel and aluminium, and aggravating China once again, mean we face a situation where uncertainty prevails. Trump’s continuous moving of the goal posts is frustrating for businesses, governments, consumers and investors.
“Equity markets were down across Europe and Asia, with futures prices implying a similar pattern when Wall Street opens for trading on Monday. Unsurprisingly, gold got a boost as investors returned to safe-haven assets.”
US markets end May on flat note
Meanwhile, US markets ended May on a flat note, although for the month as a whole each of the main indices rose strongly following hopes of tariff reconciliations.
“Such optimism will face an immediate challenge as June begins, with comments over the weekend keeping the aggressive rhetoric in place. The latest broadsides from the White House were primarily directed at China and the EU, with both threatening a response in kind to any further tariff hikes,” Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said in an email note to Euronews.
However, he noted, back on the ground, there were some promising economic signs with the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditures index coming in lower than expected and with a consumer sentiment index showing higher than had been feared.
“However, such respite could prove short-lived as the latter was largely predicated on an apparent softening of hostilities between the US and China in the latter part of the month, which has since evaporated. There will be a further signal on the state of the economy at the end of the week, with non-farm payrolls expected to show that 130,000 jobs will have been added in May compared to 177,000 the previous month and that the 4.2% unemployment rate will remain unchanged.
“In the meantime, US markets have repaired much of the damage wrought over the last few months although sentiment remains fragile. The Dow Jones and Nasdaq are down by 0.6% and 1% respectively in the year-to-date, while the 0.5% gain for the benchmark S&P500 has in part been driven by a resurgence of the mega cap technology trade,” Hunter said.
Asia markets under pressure
In addition to contending with the weekend comments, Asian markets fell foul of geopolitical uncertainty following the latest Russia-Ukraine developments, with the Hang Seng under pressure based on the renewed likely tariff hikes on aluminium and steel.
“Mainland China was closed for a public holiday, which could leave some losses being stored up ahead of its reopening, likely exacerbated by a report which showed a further contraction in factory activity over the last month,” Hunter added.
SACRAMENTO — This just seems wrong: Californians overwhelmingly approved an anti-crime ballot measure in November. But our governor strongly opposed the proposition. So he’s not funding it.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders, however, are now under pressure to fund the measure in a new state budget that’s being negotiated and must pass the Legislature by June 15.
A core principle of democracy is the rule of law. A governor may dislike a law, but normally is duty- bound to help implement and enforce it. Heaven save us if governors start traipsing the twisted path of President Trump.
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But this isn’t the first time for Newsom. Voters twice — in 2012 and 2016 — rejected ballot measures to eliminate the death penalty. Moreover, in 2016 they voted to expedite executions. But shortly after becoming governor in 2019, Newsom ignored the voters and declared a moratorium on capital punishment.
Nothing on California’s ballot last year got more votes than Proposition 36, which increases punishment for repeated theft and hard drug offenses and requires treatment for repetitive criminal addicts.
It passed with 68.4% of the vote, carrying all 58 counties — 55 of them by landslide margins, including all counties in the liberal San Francisco Bay Area.
“To call it a mandate is an understatement,” says Greg Totten, chief executive officer of the California District Attorneys Assn., which sponsored the initiative. Big retailers bankrolled it.
“It isn’t a red or blue issue,” adds Totten, referring to providing enough money to fund the promised drug and mental health treatment. “It’s what’s compassionate and what’s right and what the public expects us to do.”
Rolled back Proposition 47
Proposition 36 partly rolled back the sentence-softening Proposition 47 that voters passed 10 years earlier and was loudly promoted by then-Lt. Gov. Newsom.
Proposition 47 reduced certain property and hard drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors and arrests plummeted, the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found.
Proposition 36 was inspired by escalating retail theft, including smash-and-grab burglaries, that were virtually unpunished. Increased peddling of deadly fentanyl also stirred the public.
The ballot measure imposed tougher penalties for dealing and possessing fentanyl, treating it like other hard drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. But the proposition offered a carrot to addicted serial criminals: Many could be offered treatment rather than jail time.
Newsom adamantly opposed Proposition 36.
“We don’t need to go back to the broken policies of the last century,” the governor declared. “Mass incarceration has been proven ineffective and is not the answer.”
Newsom tried to sabotage Proposition 36 by crafting an alternative ballot measure. Top legislative leaders went along. But rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers rebelled and Newsom abandoned the effort.
The Legislature ultimately passed 13 anti-theft bills that Newsom and Democrats hoped would satisfy voters, but didn’t come close. Totten called the legislative product “half measures.”
Proposition 36 was flawed in one regard: It lacked a funding mechanism. That was part of the backers’ political strategy. To specify a revenue source — a tax increase, the raid of an existing program — would have created a fat target for opponents.
Let the governor and the Legislature decide how to fund it, sponsors decided.
“We didn’t want to tie the hands of the Legislature,” Totten says. “The Legislature doesn’t like that.”
Anti-crime measure won’t work without funding
Without funding from Sacramento, Proposition 36 won’t work, says Graham Knaus, chief executive officer of the California State Assn. of Counties.
“We believe strongly that if it’s not properly funded, it’s going to fail,” Knaus says. “Proposition 36 requires increased capacity for mental health and substance abuse treatment. And until that’s in place, there’s not really a way to make the sentencing work.”
There’s a fear among Proposition 36 supporters that if treatment isn’t offered to qualifying addicts, courts won’t allow jail sentencing.
“That will probably get litigated,” Totten says.
“Counties can’t implement 36 for free,” Knaus says. “Voters declared this to be a top-level priority. It’s on the state to determine how to fund it. Counties have a very limited ability to raise revenue.”
The district attorney and county organizations peg the annual cost of implementing the measure at $250 million. State Senate Republicans are shooting for the moon: $400 million. The nonpartisan legislative analyst originally figured that the cost ranged “from several tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars each year.”
Newson recently sent the Legislature a revised $322-billion state budget proposal for the fiscal year starting July 1. There wasn’t a dime specifically for Proposition 36.
The governor, in fact, got a bit surly when asked about it by a reporter.
“There were a lot of supervisors in the counties that promoted it,” the governor asserted. “So this is their opportunity to step up. Fund it.”
One supervisor I spoke with — a Democrat — opposed Proposition 36, but is irked that Newsom isn’t helping to implement it.
“It’s disappointing and immensely frustrating,” says Bruce Gibson, a longtime San Luis Obispo County supervisor. “Voters have spoken and we need to work together with the state in partnership.”
In fairness, the governor and the Legislature are faced with the daunting task of patching a projected $12-billion hole in the budget, plus preparing for the unpredictable fiscal whims of a president who keeps threatening to withhold federal funds from California because he doesn’t like our policies.
“I am quite concerned about adequately providing the necessary funding to implement Proposition 36,” says state Sen. Tom Umberg of Santa Ana, a strong Democratic supporter of the measure.
He’s fearful that the Legislature will approve only a token amount of funding — and the governor will veto even that.
Under California’s progressive system of direct democracy, voters are allowed to bypass Sacramento and enact a state law themselves. Assuming the statue is constitutional, the state then has a duty to implement it. To ignore the voters is a slap in the face of democracy.
A concept image of one of 12 newly announced Submersible Nuclear Ships (SSN), in development under the AUKUS security pact, as part of a major overhaul of Britain’s strategic defense published on Monday. Photo courtesy U.K. Government
June 2 (UPI) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans Monday to inject an additional $20.3 billion into the country’s nuclear weapons program to combat the “threat from Russia” and China and build 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines.
The new spending is part of a major Strategic Defense Review unveiled by Starmer at a military contractor on Clydeside in Scotland, home to the country’s Trident submarine nuclear deterrent, aimed at restoring Britain’s fighting capability and making it “war-ready” within two years for a conflict in Europe and/or the Atlantic.
“We are moving to war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our armed forces. When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready, and frankly, to show them that we’re ready to deliver peace through strength,” Starmer said.
“I believe the best way to deter conflict is to prepare for it.”
The plan, was Starmer said, “a blueprint to make Britain safer and stronger, a battle-ready, bomber-clad nation with the strongest alliances and the most advanced capabilities, equipped for the decades to come.”
However, he stressed that it would be a “NATO first” policy, putting the military alliance at the center of everything the United Kingdom did.
In addition to the nuclear warheads program and submarines, which will be built under the AUKUS security pact signed in 2021, other review pledges include six new munitions plants and adding 7,000 new long-range weapons to Britain’s arsenal, a “hybrid” Royal Navy that uses drones alongside warships, submarines and aircraft and invest in improved housing and equipment for members of the armed forces.
While Starmer said he was unable to give assurances that defense spending would reach the government’s goal 3% of GDP by 2034, everything in the defense blueprint was deliverable within the 2.5% figure the government committed to in February, due by Fiscal Year 2027.
Britain’s fiscal year runs April 1 through March 31.
The government has promised $12 billion of the $20 billion will come from economic growth, rather than spending cuts or tax hikes.
The 3% is an “ambition,” and the government’s refusal to set a firm timeline, and again tying it in with economic growth, raised eyebrows.
Starmer rejected suggestions that the failure to commit to a 3.5% minimum by 2032 called for by Secretary-General Mark Rutte and others, demonstrated a lack of commitment to the 32-member-country alliance.
The SDR was slammed by both the opposition Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
“With the prime minister unable to even confirm a date for hitting 3% on defense spending, the SDR really is unravelling. How can they deliver what they’ve promised?” Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartledge wrote on X.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer’s ruling Labour Party of not being able to “even hold a defense policy together for 48 hours.”
“How can they be trusted to defend Britain? In the most dangerous era in a generation, they found BILLIONS for the Chagos surrender — but can’t commit to properly funding our armed forces,” she wrote in a social media post.
Writing on X, Helen Maguire, defense spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, called for all-party negotiations to agree on a path forward to 3% of GDP.
“Whilst the prime minister is totally right to recognize the importance of increasing our defense capabilities — without a clear spending plan — the SDR risks becoming a damp squib,” she said.
Rula Jebreal on how some US media narratives are complicit in the normalisation of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.
Journalist Rula Jebreal discusses how some US media narratives have been complicit in the normalisation of Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people.
This Morning viewers were left unimpressed on Monday’s show as they slammed a segment involving two dogs dressed in Bridgerton outfits.
Viewers of This Morning were left outraged by a segment featured in Monday’s programme.
Upon resuming their presenting roles after a week off, Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley greeted two pooches on the ITV show, suitably dolled up as characters from the popular Netflix series Bridgerton.
The pair of pups had bagged accolades at the latest Greenwich dog show for their uncanny resemblance to the regency styles showcased in Best Bridgerton Lookalike category.
Lola, the winner, donned an elegant blue gown with a perched crown atop her wig—a sight to behold, with her owner making sure it stayed put.
Charlotte, the French Bulldog who nabbed second place, sported a blush pink frock coupled with a golden blonde wig, report Wales Online.
As the segment unfolded, Cat couldn’t contain her laughter over the costumes and extended her kudos, although the lighthearted atmosphere didn’t translate to the audience at home.
This Morning viewers reel ‘this is ridiculous’ as animal segment sparks fury
People on X, previously known as Twitter, promptly voiced their dismay, labelling the canine costuming as ‘cruel’.
One person criticized: “Poor dressed up dog must be so hot with all that crap on! If you want something to dress up, buy a doll! So cruel! Makes me so angry.”
Echoing the sentiment, another shared: “Sorry that dog is not happy! #thismorning.”
Additionally, a viewer suggested: “I’d suggest, if you have to hold the costume on the dog at all times, it’s probably time to stop.”
Viewers were not impressed with the segment on the show
Some animal lovers were left fuming after the segment, with one viewer tweeting: “ffs this is just ridiculous it’s animal cruelty that’s what it is…”
Another critic blasted: “This show is so twisted. Preaching one minute, the next showing this type of content. Perhaps get Dr Scott on at the same time!”
One concerned fan posted: “I hate seeing stuff like this encouraged on TV #ThisMorning” While another disgruntled viewer commented: “This is just ridiculous….. Just let you dogs be f****ng dogs and not an attempt to make you relevant.”
However, not everyone was opposed to the segment, with one amused viewer simply tweeting: “2 Victorian Dogs. Ah Ha.”
Greenwich’s annual dog show added a new category this year, Best Bridgerton Lookalike
During the chat with the owner, it emerged that Lola had attempted to remove her crown before going on air, with Cat observing: “She seems very happy! Both of them seem so happy.”
The owner agreed: “Yes, I think she’s alright now, she’s settled.”
Ben then raised the issue of animal welfare, asking: “There will be people asking, ‘Are the dogs happy?’ because dressing dogs up can sometimes get some criticism. Are they happy wearing the outfits? She seems pretty unbothered.”
Charlotte’s owner explained that her pet was accustomed to wearing clothes, saying: “She’s pretty used to wearing clothes in general; when we go out, I tend to dress her up and try to coordinate our outfits.”
This Morning continues weekdays on ITV from 12:30pm
