£1.308 billion (Powerball) on January 13 2016 in the US, for which three winning tickets were sold, remains history’s biggest lottery prize
£1.267 billion (Mega Million) a winner from South Carolina took their time to come forward to claim their prize in March 2019 not long before the April deadline
£633.76 million (Powerball draw) from a winner from Wisconsin
£625.76 million (Powerball) Mavis L. Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts claimed the jackpot in August 2017
£575.53 million (Powerball) A lucky pair of winners scooped the jackpot in Iowa and New York in October 2018
CHEAP Chinese firms could soon be cut out from government contracts under new rules championing British industry, The Sun can reveal.
Ministers want to prioritise UK-based firms in critical sectors like steel, energy, and cyber, putting them at the front of the queue.
The shake-up would allow the public sector to sidestep foreign tender bids, giving homegrown heroes a bigger slice of Whitehall’s £400bn procurement pot.
Currently, foreign suppliers can undercut British businesses with cheap labour and rock-bottom prices.
But in a push to bolster national security and create jobs across the UK, the likes of British Steel would be prioritised.
Under the new blueprint, now up for consultation, Whitehall departments would also favour British Steel for the £725bn of infrastructure spending earmarked for the next decade.
Meanwhile, firms slow to pay small and medium businesses will be kicked out of the procurement race.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, said: “Strong industry is essential to our national security.
“The new rules being considered will give us the power to protect our national industries, ensuring more money goes to them as we buy goods and services in government.
“Our reforms will boost growth and ensure British industry is supported to deliver national security and our Plan for Change.”
Gareth Stace, UK Steel boss, hailed the move as a game-changer, saying: “The publication of this guidance for steel procurement and the launch of the consultation are unequivocally positive news for the UK steel industry.
“These changes rightly recognise the strategic importance of steelmaking to national security and the vital role of resilient domestic supply chains.”
MPs urgently recalled to Parliament over national crisis as emergency law must be passed TODAY to save major UK industry
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Cheap Chinese firms could soon be cut out from government contracts under new rules championing British industries such as steelCredit: Getty
IT is one of the most nostalgic TV reboots of the year – but I can reveal the return of Blind Date will come with a very modern Love Island-style twist.
The Blind Date revival will be set on a tropical island — just like Love Island, hosted by Maya Jama
But it will have a different flavour because much of the show will be spent on a tropical island — just like Love Island, hosted by Maya Jama— where contestants will compete for a dream wedding on the golden sands.
A TV insider said: “This sounds like a radical departure from the old Blind Date, one that definitely has hints of Love Island about it.
“But fans will recall a lot of the dates took place in hot, sunny climes abroad, and producers want to recapture some of the steamy fun, and expand upon that.
“Even the wedding element has hints of the old show, because the dream was always that the dates on the programme would lead to couples tying the knot.”
Cilla was at the helm for 18 years on the show which saw a contestant firing questions at three hopefuls concealed from their view by a wall — which slid back to reveal their chosen date.
The TV insider added: “In the reboot, the creators are not entirely dispensing with all of the old characteristics either as there are still plans to incorporate the show’s famous sliding wall and hire a top female host just like Cilla.”
Disney+ is imminently expected to confirm it is reviving Blind Date, though all details have been kept firmly under wraps.
No presenter has signed up as yet but the channel is targeting some big names in British TV, with the main criteria being that they have to be hugely famous women.
Here’s hoping whoever gets the role doesn’t mind getting a bit of sand between their toes in the course of the job.
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Cilla Black hosted Blind Date for 18 yearsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Blind Date most successful couple Alex and Sue Tatham talk about their time on the show
KATH TAKES FLIGHT
KATHERINE KELLY is back dishing out the drinks . . . 13 years after pulling pints in the Rovers Return.
On Corrie she played feisty barmaid Becky McDonald, while now she’s cabin crew on new Channel 4 thriller In Flight.
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Katherine Kelly stars in new Channel 4 thriller In FlightCredit: Channel 4 / Peter Marley
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Katherin played feisty barmaid Becky McDonald on Coronation StreetCredit: ITV
Katherine will also be serving up some nerve-racking moments as single mum Jo Conran whose life is turned upside down by crooks.
Through the airline she works for, she finds herself blackmailed into drug smuggling after her son is imprisoned in Bulgaria for a murder he claims he didn’t commit.
The six-parter, set in Bangkok, Bulgaria, Istanbul and London, wrapped filming this spirng and is set to air later this year.
STEPHEN IN TECH LESSON
STEPHEN FRY wants to make a futuristic TV drama series where e-mails, TikTok and SnapChat are “uncool” and people return to basic communication in “an unplugged life”.
The Celebrity Traitors star told podcast Extraordinary Life Stories: “I was planning to write a TV series in which this kid comes to a school and completely changes it.”
The pupil asks the teacher how to submit his essay as he doesn’t have a computer so can’t email it.
Stephen continues: “All the other (pupils) think ‘Who is this ridiculous child?’
“But then he starts influencing everybody. They think this is quite a fun way to live.
“We’ve come to a tipping point now where the uncoolest thing in the world is Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok.
“We know they’re harmful, but they are also vapid and shallow and silly.
“Imagine an unplugged life using all these fabulous old tools. You’d be the coolest people.”
Bizbit
THE BBC has un- veiled two new podcasts. Double Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams will host the LGBT Sport Podcast, which begins today.
And 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle tells the stories of the people who helped change space exploration. It launches on July 14.
SEX JOKE BIT MUCH FOR WILL
BRIT actor Will Sharpe came over all prudish about a sex scene in upcoming Netflix rom-com series Too Much . . . well, compared with the Americans on set.
He cringed as US actress Megan Stalter, who plays the lead role in the show about an American woman coping with a new life in London, joked with the show’s US creator Lena Dunham after the X-rated action.
At this week’s launch of the show, which drops on July 10, Lena said: “One of Meg’s favourite things to do is to ask you after a take: ‘What face were you making during that?’
“One time it was right after a sex scene and Meg was like: ‘What face were you making during that?’
“And I heard Will’s mic, like: ‘Jesus f***ing Christ, Meg!’”
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme –Sun Club.
Although you prefer to keep moving on, the new moon suggests this is a day to stand still – at least to understand what’s happening with a passion partner.
Ask the right questions, you’ll get the right answers – so give this plenty of thought.
Single? Opinions may seem far apart, but two hearts are so in tune.
No deal is over until it’s finalised – however far along a negotiation road you have come.
Take time to look at where two sides find themselves, and use your intense imagination and the new moon’s new harmony to find a fresh way forward. In love?
A date can be reset.
Single? Your soulmate has natural ability to adapt.
You are the sign with all the creative skills so take every opportunity to explore what you can do and how and where you could push yourself further, or harder.
You may not blow your own trumpet, but make an exception today.
A routine trip linked to a dull task can set the scene for sparkling romance.
Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme –Sun Club.
High society bible Tatler is among those making the declaration on its new edition, which features the offspring of Nineties music legends Liam Gallagher and Richard Ashcroft.
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Love Island host Maya Jama recreates Liz Hurley’s iconic 1994 dressCredit: Getty
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Liz in the famous Versace safety pin dress that she wore to the Four Weddings And A Funeral premiere in 1994Credit: Getty
Heralding the rebirth of the Britpop-era movement, the magazine pictures Molly Moorish-Gallagher and musician Sonny Ashcroft proudly standing in front of a giant Union Jack.
Anyone over the age of 40 is likely to spot the obvious homage being paid to a similar front cover published by Vanity Fair in 1997.
That iconic picture saw Oasis singer Liam sharing a bed with his then girlfriend, actress Patsy Kensit.
The couple married a few months later when Oasis were arguably the biggest music stars of the decade.
And it is no coincidence the new magazine cover comes just days before the Oasis reunion tour, which will have Richard Ashcroft as the support act.
But Tatler did not go for another “power couple”, like Liam and Patsy were, and instead took the nepo baby route.
But as the new faces of Cool Britannia take centre stage, it’s less champagne supernova, more alcohol-free explosion.
Tatler
However, editors still think the duo are living proof of a second coming.
“They’re the next generation of Britpop: Molly Moorish-Gallagher and Sonny Ashcroft are gracing the cover of Tatler as their fathers, Liam Gallagher and Richard Ashcroft, prepare for an earth-shattering Oasis reunion.
Dua Lipa’s style for her Wembley gig last week seems to have been inspired by model Christy Turlington’s catwalk turn in the NinetiesCredit: Getty
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Christy wearing the original look in the NinetiesCredit: Getty
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Patsy Kensit and then-boyfriend Liam Gallagher on Vanity Fair in 1997Credit: EPA
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Heralding the rebirth of the Britpop-era movement, Tatler pictures Molly Moorish-Gallagher and musician Sonny Ashcroft proudly standing in front of a giant Union JackCredit: Oli Kearon
Noel and Liam Gallagher seen together for first time since announcing Oasis reunion
The piece continues: “She is the daughter of Lisa Moorish and Liam Gallagher; he is the eldest son of Richard Ashcroft and Kate Radley.
“Together, they are the new faces of the (Br)it crowd.
“But what do the pair make of Cool Britannia 2.0?”
It turns out that neither of the nepo babies shares their parents’ hellraising ways, and the revival will not be based around downing pints of lager or being “chained to the mirror and the razor blade”, as Oasis once sang.
Sonny proudly tells the magazine he’s not one for a night out.
He said: “I’m very much a night-in person.
Seeing friends, some good food and drinks and playing games of some kind.
Molly Moorish-Gallagher, Liam’s daugher
“A nice meal with friends and then gathering over some sort of board game or film at home.”
While Molly says her idea of a wild night is: “Seeing friends, some good food and drinks and playing games of some kind.”
But if the Cool Britannia nepo kids aren’t keeping the Nineties hedonistic vibe going, it seems Gen Z-ers are keeping the momentum going through fashion.
Singers Dua Lipa and Lola Young have been inspired by other huge names of the Nineties in their fashion choices.
And Liam’s son Lennon was pretty much an identikit copy of his dad when he attended a Burberry pub takeover last week.
A new study has also revealed that youngsters are now huge fans of some of the decade’s greatest hairstyles, including The Rachel from Friends, the floppy hair of actor Johnny Depp and Victoria Beckham’s Posh bob.
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It’s all about the flag for singer Lola Young – seemingly a nod to Geri Horner’s Ginger SpiceCredit: Instagram/lolayounggg
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Geri rocking the iconic Girl Power outfitCredit: Alamy
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Lennon Gallagher in Burberry jacket last week…Credit: Getty
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… just like dad Liam during Oasis’s 1996 Maine Road gigCredit: PA:Press Association
The study, commissioned by Funkin Cocktails, also found a fondness for Doc Marten boots and baggy jeans, famously sported by the likes of Mark Wahlberg when he was rapper Marky Mark.
Ashley Birch-Ruffell, from Funkin Cocktails, said: “Nineties fashion is very on trend, and it’s fun to see what our official favourite styles are.
“There are clearly many iconic hairstyles and memorable moments from this decade that live on in the public consciousness.
“It seems clear that Nineties trends aren’t going anywhere anytime soon — and why would we want them to?”
“It’s clear that the whole culture of the Nineties is still considered unapologetically iconic.”
Gen Z can’t match our hellraising era
IT was a sensational whirl of bucket hats, Union Jacks, lads’ mags, boozy bands and more than a whiff of the old marching powder, writes Rod McPhee.
The late Nineties were a hellraising golden age not seen since the Swinging Sixties.
But despite being due another period of partying, I’m sorry to say we’ll never quite be able to match the magic of the original Cool Britannia.
Trust me, I was there, I did it. I got the T-shirt – and the dodgy Liam Gallagher shaggy haircut
What’s more, I loved it all. From music to fashion, and movies to models, the run-up to the year 2000 was the perfect blend of sex and, yes, drugs, plus lashings of rock ’n’ roll.
Of course, it’s great to get a taste of the good old days when Oasis stage their comeback tour next week, plus there’s the prospect of the Spice Girls doing a similar celebratory event next year.
But nothing can once again live up to a period in modern pop culture history which I believe was genuinely unique. Maybe I’m looking back at the past through rose-tinted glasses.
But no pop groups, artists, catwalk stars or actors these days come close to the tearaway Primrose Hill crowd that kept us entertained and shocked three decades ago.
That said, no one would love reliving some of the brilliance of the Nineties more than me.
So let’s make the most of summer 2025.
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LAST week saw the hottest day of the year so far, when temperatures hit an incredible 33.2C in Charlwood, Surrey.
Chances are you were drooping in the heat, with low energy levels, unattractive sweating and a high possibility of sunburn.
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There are many ways of heat-proofing and protecting your gardenCredit: Getty
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The Sun’s Veronica Lorraine reveals how to help your outdoor plants this summer without splashing outCredit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
Well guess what?
When your garden hits over 32C, much the same is happening to your plants.
They lose water through their leaves faster than they can absorb it, causing wilting, while the leaves themselves can get scorched.
They can also stop growing, as their energy levels are reduced.
But in the same way we splash water on ourselves, stay indoors and apply liberal coatings of suntan lotion, there are many ways of heat-proofing and protecting your garden.
And all of them are cheap or free – and very straightforward.
BE CLEVER WITH POTS
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Group your pots and move them into the shade so that they give each other protectionCredit: Getty
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B&M currently have some lovely light pink planters for just £2Credit: B&M
If you’ve got plants in pots, move them into the shade and group them together, so that they give each other protection.
Light coloured pots are best for container planting as they reflect the heat and sunlight, which in turn keeps the soil cooler and less prone to drying out.
Darker pots will absorb the heat, drying the contents much quicker and stressing the plants more.
B&M currently have some lovely light pink and pale green planters for just £2, while B&Q are selling deep white pots for £3.
Grow your groceries – how to grow tomatoes from tomatoes!
It’s worth remembering that pots – and hanging baskets – dry out really quickly in the heat and need much more watering.
When the weather’s this hot, water them daily if you can, giving them a really good soak.
Larger pots retain moisture better, so won’t dry out as quickly.
And while terracotta pots look lovely, they dry out much faster than other pots.
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B&Q are selling deep white pots for £3Credit: B&Q
DON’T BE A WATERING WALLY
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The best time to water is early in the morning so the water doesn’t evaporate
There’s a knack to watering in a heatwave – one of the most important tips to remember is not to water in the daytime.
The best time is early in the morning, before it starts getting really hot, so the water doesn’t evaporate. If that’s not an option, water when the sun’s gone down.
Morning is best, though, as slugs move around at night and love the damp soil.
And don’t water all over the plant, however tempting it is to remove the dust and return the leaves to their glossy former selves.
Aim directly for the roots, as wet leaves can cause fungus to form and, in really extreme cases, magnify the sunlight onto the leaves and cause scorching.
But mainly, it’s just a waste of water.
And give them a really good soaking once or twice a week, rather than a light water daily.
Experts reckon you should count to between 15 and 20 seconds as you water each plant to make sure the water soaks down through the soil to the roots.
LET LAWNS GO BROWN
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Remember there is no problem with letting your lawn go brownCredit: Getty
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Johnson’s Nature’s Lawn with Mowable Wildflowers (£12.99) creates a lovely blanket of bloomsCredit: Johnsons
It may not give the lush, healthy look that you’re looking for, but there is no problem with letting your lawn go brown.
If it’s healthy, it will cope and the green will return when there’s a bit of rain.
Also, if you’re currently thinking of laying a lawn, aim for a much hardier native lawn seed, like fescue.
This will withstand extreme heat a lot better than some of the more trendy varieties.
It’s also worth considering a lawn seed that’s mixed with wildflower seeds. Johnson’s Nature’s Lawn with Mowable Wildflowers (£12.99) creates a lovely blanket of blooms if you’re letting it grow longer in the heat.
It’s also best to raise your mower’s cutting level and instead of collecting cuttings, let them fall as mulch onto the lawn to keep in moisture.
TRAP WASTE WATER
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Using a water butt connected to roof drainage means you can store rainwater to reuse in your gardenCredit: Getty
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Argos currently sells a standalone 100 litre butt, with a tap and connecting kit, for £28
Save and store any rainwater to reuse in your garden.
A water butt connected to roof drainage is probably the best option, as it will capture all your rainwater run-off from the pipes.
But a stand alone butt is a great addition to any garden.
There are all sorts on the market at the moment, including ones that attach to walls, which are great for smaller gardens as they don’t take up valuable space.
Argos currently sells a standalone 100 litre butt, with a tap and connecting kit, for just £28.
If you don’t have room for a water butt, just leave a few brightly coloured buckets around to catch any rain.
Or, if you’ve got just a few pots around your garden, you could invest in some cheap self-watering plant spikes, which you fill up with water and stick in your planters.
They release water slowly, reducing the need for a daily soak.
Temu has a set of five for £2.97 – so just 60p a pop.
If you’re feeling spendy, you could splash out on a dipping tank.
They’re beautifully designed and act as an elegant water feature for your garden, as well as creating valuable water storage.
The Dipping Tank Company has a 60cm tank for £395 – not cheap, but it will last a very long time.
You could also set up an irrigation system, although these are also costly. A leaky hose can work just as well.
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Temu has a set of five self-watering plant spikes for £2.97Credit: Temu
CREATE A SHADY OASIS
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Create a shady oasis in your garden with just a few productsCredit: Getty
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Dunelm’s Elements Grey Sail Parasol is just £15Credit: Dunelm
With a bit of careful planning you can create a beautiful, calming escape in your garden with just a few choice products.
A sail shade is a quick, cheap and easy way to zone off a corner of your garden.
Dunelm’s Elements Grey Sail Parasol is just £15 at the moment.
Put garden furniture underneath it to create a lovely, cooling retreat. Dobbies Esme bistro set in green is currently on sale for £79.20, instead of £99.
You can surround the area with pots of fast-growing bamboo, which will not only add shade, but a lovely calming sound as the wind rustles through the leaves.
It’s best to keep bamboo in pots, otherwise it spreads underground and can cause real problems. You can even be fined if it spreads to your neighbours’ gardens.
Or you could plant banana trees in planters to create a natural shady barrier around your seating area. They grow really fast and add a proper exotic, tropical vibe, while also protecting you from the sunshine.
YouGarden are selling Musa Basjoo, aka Japanese banana plants, for just £9.99 at the moment.
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Dobbies Esme bistro set in green is currently on sale for £79.20Credit: Dobbies
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YouGarden are selling Musa Basjoo, known as Japanese banana plants, for just £9.99Credit: YouGarden
WATER GOOD IDEA
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Hydria Life sells lovely pipe-less moveable fountain systems that fit in any pot of 30cm for £99Credit: Hydria
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Or you could buy solar powered fountains from Amazon for just £6.98
Why not add a calming, cooling water feature to your garden?
Studies have shown that the soothing sounds of moving water can reduce stress, lower cortisol levels (a stress hormone) and promote relaxation.
Hydria Life offers lovely pipe-less moveable fountain systems that fit in any pot of 30cm or more for £99.
You can also buy solar powered fountains that you just pop in a dish of water, birdbath or pond from Amazon for just £6.98.
As well as helping you feel more chilled out, water features attract wildlife, including birds, insects and butterflies, helping to boost your garden’s biodiversity.
They’re also known to help block out unwanted background noise, such as traffic sounds.
PLANTS TO BEAT THE HEAT
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Lidl has 40 litre bags of decorative bark chips for just £3.49Credit: Lidl
On a recent gardening trip to Venice, where it was topping 27C daily and only going to get hotter, there was a definite planting plan.
In many of the gardens I visited there were agapanthus, pittosporum, lavender, wisteria, jasmine, fig trees and great big Fatsia Japonicas.
They were bursting with colour, but most importantly had been planted because they could withstand the heat.
Other plants that will work well in UK gardens include geums, sedums, achillea, hardy geraniums, rosemary and salvias.
Remember to mulch your plants, which means covering the soil around them with a thin layer of protective material.
This could be wood chippings, well rotted manure, gravel, shredded leaves or special garden mulch.
It keeps the roots cool and moisture locked in, while also preventing weeds that can compete for water.
Lidl has 40 litre bags of decorative bark chips for just £3.49.
APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions.
Here, Karren gives her expert career advice to a reader who wants to sell their artwork.
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Karren Brady gives you career advice
Q) At the age of 53, I’ve taken up painting, and I think I’m pretty good.
I mainly paint landscapes, and would like to see if I could make some money out of selling art.
My dream would be to retire early and live off the proceeds of my paintings before drawing my pension, though I don’t know how doable that is.
My biggest problem is that I don’t know where to start with selling paintings.
READ MORE FROM KARREN BRADY
I use a computer for my office job, but I’m not very technically minded and I realise I need to create a website if I want to get my artwork seen.
But what else do I need to think about?
Pamela, via email
A) It’s fantastic that you’ve discovered a real passion for painting, and even better that you’re dreaming big and thinking about turning it into something profitable.
Don’t worry about jumping into building a website just yet – there are easier, more approachable ways to get your art seen.
Start small – take some good photos of your work (make sure you use natural light) and open an Instagram account.
The Apprentice’s Karren Brady gives career advice in game of Have You Ever?
The platform is free, simple to use and a great way to test the waters and see what reaction your paintings get.
I’d also suggest joining local art groups on Facebook, as I’ve seen so many people connect, sell their work and get advice that way.
Platforms like Artfinder and Etsy are also worth looking into, plus don’t underestimate the value of a local craft market to get face-to-face feedback and build your confidence.
Most importantly, make sure you sign your work and keep a log of each piece.
Finally, try to speak to other artists whenever and wherever you can – people are often more helpful than you might expect.
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column is being kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.
Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today.
♈ ARIES
March 21 to April 20
Plans that seemed frozen in indecision can break free as your communication sector takes an intense turn.
You can put love feelings into words, this time without going over the top.
But it could be an unforeseen twist in a career path that finds you considering learning a new language – and up for the challenge.
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Your daily horoscope for Tuesday
♉ TAURUS
April 21 to May 21
You can think and talk about money in a calm, logical way that spells success.
It feels good to have a firmer grip on finances. But there are generous amounts of love on offer too, thanks to Venus.
A relative can win a prize, maybe a holiday home, that the family could share. Luck visits a building with four doors.
Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♊ GEMINI
May 22 to June 21
Respect, kindness and passion can be your can’t-fail love formula. It may sound like a pipe-dream but it can start today, as single Gemini meets someone special on a local project.
You look at work in a new way, too, so a job you assumed out of your league now seems a perfect fit.
Luck introduces “H” sisters.
Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♋ CANCER
June 22 to July 22
Jupiter jumps to attention in your own sign and your imaginative ideas can be proof of this – both at work and home.
A deeper understanding between partners can be a further Jupiter gift, while singles find love where unusual music plays.
The friend who looks most like you, can be your luckiest link.
Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♌ LEO
July 23 to August 23
You have deep insight into other people’s minds and this helps you stay a step ahead in negotiations – but also keep the mood friendly.
If you’re single, who you choose to fall in love with may surprise people, but you are meeting at the right time.
In work terms, look at more than just pay to make a smart decision.
Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♍ VIRGO
August 24 to September 22
When a dream job is up for grabs, being fastest to react puts you in a strong position.
Modesty may be a virtue but today you should talk about what you do well. Pluto can power this confidence.
Later, a chat about food can lead to sharing a meal and some unexpected flirting could flip friendly feelings into love.
Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Mercury can show you a simpler way to reach the same destinationCredit: Getty
♎ LIBRA
September 23 to October 23
The Jupiter effect doubles generosity and daring – and everyone enjoys spending time with you.
But romance may need a little less conversation, and a little more action to reach its passion peak.
Couples are ready to make two key decisions, together. Mixing work and study is daunting, but it can lead to success.
Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
List of 12 star signs
The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below.
♏ SCORPIO
October 24 to November 22
Your work plans may be unorthodox – but it is the calm way you talk about them that makes others listen.
In romance, your intuition is sharp and you can tell who wants to create a future – and who is just interested in a good time.
Today’s luck factor links to a family member who is your opposite.
Instead of hiding your true ambition, Mars makes you ready to go for it.
Those who doubted you could become your biggest and most generous fans. This is not a day to let passion just tick over either – but for two partners to try new ways to show their love.
If you start the day single, open your heart to a “D” name.
The key change Mars brings to your chart is movementCredit: Supplied
♒ AQUARIUS
January 21 to February 18
Your career sphere is full of potential – so when you get serious about success, it can happen.
Plus a passion bond may be growing stronger, too. As generous Jupiter focuses on wellness, a fitness location could mark the spot of an exceptionally lucky, if unexpected, meeting.
£1.308 billion (Powerball) on January 13 2016 in the US, for which three winning tickets were sold, remains history’s biggest lottery prize
£1.267 billion (Mega Million) a winner from South Carolina took their time to come forward to claim their prize in March 2019 not long before the April deadline
£633.76 million (Powerball draw) from a winner from Wisconsin
£625.76 million (Powerball) Mavis L. Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts claimed the jackpot in August 2017
£575.53 million (Powerball) A lucky pair of winners scooped the jackpot in Iowa and New York in October 2018
With a rifle pressed to his temple, Barry was told he had ten seconds to admit he was a spy.
As the grim countdown began, the New Yorker wrestled with the dilemma of either being perceived as a traitor to his country or leaving his kids fatherless.
“On the count of five I relented,” Barry told me.
“I signed the false confession, distraught and completely ashamed.”
Trump’s shock Iran strikes take us to brink of global conflict and will strengthen Axis of Evil alliance, experts warn
Barry would eventually return to his loved ones in the US after 444 days in captivity.
Britons are high-value hostages for the regime.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in Iran for six years on trumped-up charges of plotting to topple the Iranian government.
She was finally released when Britain paid a £400million outstanding debt to Iran.
I would eventually get out — more on how later — after staying with an extraordinarily kind Iranian man who put me up in his apartment and tempered my nerves with some rocket-fuel home brew.
Today — with Iran’s tyrannical regime in Israeli and US crosshairs — I cast my mind back to the welcoming people I met while travelling this ancient land.
These folk loathe rule by the hardline ayatollahs and long for a time less than 50 years ago when women wore miniskirts in capital Tehran, the hair bouncing on their shoulders.
I had arrived in Iran — successor state of the Persian Empire — in 2012 with the idea of travelling from Tehran to Persepolis, a millennia-old desert ruin once the centrepiece of its civilisation.
On the way I’d talk to ordinary people to try and understand what made this land tick.
Did they really think Britain was the cursed Little Satan?
‘GREAT SATAN’
On landing in Tehran — a high-rise city of 9.8million shrouded by mountains — fleets of white taxis honked their way through the city’s awful traffic.
In the pollution-choked centre, I was struck by the number of women walking around with white plasters on their noses.
Tehran has been called the nose job capital of the world.
Women here also face a daily battle over what they can wear in public, with checks made by the dreaded Basij militia network.
Yet many were wearing their head scarves pulled back to reveal dyed blonde hair, while their overcoats were colourful and figure-hugging.
Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, when the Shah — or king — Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was toppled and replaced by hardline cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Islamic dress has been strictly enforced.
Alcohol was banned, protests stifled and unmarried couples prevented from meeting in public.
Today, the internet is censored and the regime attempts to scramble satellite TV signals.
Near the Taleghani Metro station is the old American embassy — known here as “the nest of spies” — its walls daubed with murals and slogans decrying the so-called Great Satan.
Months after the revolution, students stormed the embassy compound and took 66 Americans hostage.
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in Iran for six years on trumped-up charges of plotting to topple the Iranian governmentCredit: AFP
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US embassy worker Barry Rosen was held hostage for 444 days in 1979Credit: AP:Associated Press
In Palestine Square — in the heart of Tehran — beats a Doomsday Clock predicting Israel’s end by the year 2040. The regime put it there in 2017.
It helps explain why Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s nuclear sites, senior nuclear scientists and top brass last week.
Nearby, I visited the British embassy compound, its gateway overlooked by lion and unicorn statues.
Around six months before my visit, diplomats had fled as a frenzied mob of Iran- ian “students” storm- ed the building and ransacked offices.
It would remain shuttered for nearly four years.
The rioters — who were chanting “Death To England” — were in fact state-sponsored Basij thugs.
It is the same sinister paramilitary force that is responsible for the policing of morals in this hardline Shi’ite Muslim state, including the wearing of the hijab or headscarf.
Yet these repressive goons are far from representative of the beating heart of this oil-rich nation.
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Oliver’s ‘Denmark’ passportCredit: Supplied
A short stroll away in the teeming Grand Bazaar, women shoppers, in the all- covering black cloak-like chador, were out looking for bargains.
But surprisingly, Union Jack-patterned knickers and bra combos were on sale on at least three stalls.
American stars and stripes underwear was also available in several shops.
One black-clad shopper in her thirties told me: “The underwear is very popular.
“We have nothing against your country.”
The message that the lingerie worn under the chadors sent out was clear: Knickers to the hardliners.
Indeed, as a metaphor for things being very different under the surface in Iran, it couldn’t be bettered.
“We don’t hate Britain,” a 26-year-old Red Devils-mad taxi driver told me.
“Far from it.
“We admire your freedom.”
After a few days in Tehran I took a shared taxi on the five-hour, 280-mile journey to Iran’s third largest city Esfahan.
It’s home to an exquisite square overlooked by the imposing aquamarine dome of Shah Mosque, regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian architecture.
The city’s outskirts are also home to one of the largest uranium enrichment facilities in the country.
‘EVERYBODY BREWS THEIR OWN NOW’
Terrified that Iran was close to producing a nuclear weapon to make good on its doomsday prophecy, the site was pummeled by more than two dozen US Tomahawk cruise missiles on Sunday morning.
I had checked into a largely empty hotel in the city centre which had no safe for valuables.
That evening I went out shopping for a Persian rug.
Warily passing some soldiers in the street, I was dismayed to see them beckon me over.
Yet they simply wanted a selfie alongside a rare Western traveller.
Emerging with my new carpet, I was heading for an electronics store bearing a fake Apple logo when I was surrounded by pickpockets.
Now passportless, I was petrified about being stopped by police and asked to produce my documents.
I then remembered meeting some Iranian migrants in Calais who had told me they used to work as smugglers, trekking over the mountains from Iran to Turkey with some contraband alcohol in backpacks.
Finding an internet cafe to research the journey, a man started using the computer next to me to watch porn.
The idea of attempting to walk alone over rugged mountains seemed more hazardous than another internet suggestion — go to another country’s embassy and throw myself at their mercy.
Travelling back to Tehran I attempted to check into a hotel but the receptionist insisted I needed to show my passport.
When I explained my predicament, he told me: “I’ll phone the police and they’ll sort this out.”
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Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, who was toppled in 1979Credit: Getty
I told him I needed to collect my luggage then scarpered.
Knowing no one in the country, a contact then put me in touch with someone who could put me up.
The grey-haired father lived alone in a ramshackle flat and said I was welcome to the sofa.
“I was jailed for protesting against the Shah when he ruled,” he told me.
“Now I wish I hadn’t bothered.
“This regime is far worse.
“We have far less freedom now.”
Deciding the Dutch would be most amenable to a stricken Brit, I tried their embassy but it was closed for holidays.
So I went to the Danes instead.
They took my details and I was told to return the following day.
Presented with a paper Danish temporary passport 24 hours later, I profusely thanked the embassy staff for making me an honorary viking.
Taking a cab to the airport, I checked my bag on the flight then queued up at immigration dreaming of a glass of red on the plane.
A bearded border guard disdainfully looked at my Danish passport, sniffing as he tossed it away: “No good, no ministry stamp.”
It was back to my new friend’s sofa to watch subtitled TV, including shows with Jamie Oliver and James May.
The former prisoner — raising a glass of home-distilled spirits — revealed: “Twice every year the police go upon the roof and smash up all our satellite dishes.
“But we simply go out and buy some more.
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A chanting crowd during the Iranian revolution in 1979Credit: Getty
“There’s a saying here that the regime closed down thousands of brewers during the revolution but created a million more.
“Everybody brews their own now.”
After two days queuing at the relevant Iranian ministry — and praying that they wouldn’t google my identity — I finally got my stamp.
My plane banked over the vast mausoleum built to house Khomeini’s remains as it headed west.
One after another, most of the women on the flight removed their head scarves, then their restrictive chadors.
Settling with a glass of wine, I hoped one day to return to this fascinating land under better circumstances.
Now, with the ayatollahs’ regime perhaps at threat of being toppled, I may one day make it to Persepolis.
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme –Sun Club.
A DAREDEVIL TT rider cheated death after slamming into a jumbo-sized seagull at 150mph – and somehow stayed in the saddle.
Mark Parrett, 55, was tearing through the famous Isle of Man course when the feathered missile hit him head on.
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Mark Parrett is a TT veteran with 98 starts under his beltCredit: Ben Lack
The 3kg bird busted his lower arm, snapping one bone in two, and dislocating his wrist.
Mark, a TT veteran with 98 starts under his belt, miraculously managed to stay in control of his powerful BMW superbike.
The speedster, from Midhurst, West Sussex, was airlifted to hospital after the smash earlier this month.
He told The Sun: “It’s a bit of a miracle I stayed upright.
“It was a huge seagull – they’re all massive on the Isle of Man – and it just shot up out of nowhere.
“I was doing 140 or 150mph so there was no way of avoiding it. I had to just grin and bear it.
“It felt like being hit by a cannonball. If it had hit me in the chest or the helmet, I’d be history.
“I was lucky that I didn’t come off the bike.”
Pictures posted on social media show his racing leathers drenched in bird guts.
Mark, a self-employed electrician by day who now faces surgery to plate and pin the break, later joked: “Parrett one. Seagull nil.
Football rolls inches from Isle of Man TT legend riding at 130mph in frightening near miss
“It does go to show Parrett’s are birds of prey after all.”
He added: “I’ve had enough laps around that place to know the worst thing you can do is panic.
“It’s the nature of the circuit – you can hit all sorts of things.”
Mark is aiming to return to the Isle of Man next year for his 100th start.
He added: “I’m getting too old to be doing this, but it’s like an addiction. I will be back there next year, whatever happens.”
A post on the Facebook page of Mark Parrott Racing read: “A local seagull lay in wait for ‘The Parrett’ on the approach to the 33rd milestone and hit Mark on the left arm.
“He soon realised that it was rather serious when he tried to pull in the clutch and his left hand wasn’t working.”
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Mark was competing in the Isle of Man TT races when the 6lb gull hit himCredit: Pacemaker
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.
Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today.
♈ ARIES
March 21 to April 20
Your sun and moon mix makes you enigmatic and charismatic in equal parts.
You can make an impact in any meeting, from two to two hundred, and a message you first voice on a screen can reach far further than you expect.
Mixing silver and gold can link you to luck – along with a woman who wears many rings.
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Your daily horoscope for Monday
♉ TAURUS
April 21 to May 21
Feelings are strong early in the day, especially around a set of rules you may feel have become unfair.
Calm, controlled words work better here than any display of anger, and you can be the perfect pick for a team leader to address this issue.
In love? Listen to your deepest heart, it tells the truth.
Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♊ GEMINI
May 22 to June 21
A strong sense of breaking through barriers is just one of the highlights of your day.
You may feel any progress you are making is small, but it can be building to a big finale, so stick to your plans.
If you’re in love, one partner’s wish-list may overwhelm both of you unless you seek better balance.
Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♋ CANCER
June 22 to July 22
Your new Jupiter self is generous to a fault – but do guard against giving away feelings or belongings that you really should hold on to for yourself.
The future shines brightest when you let your own light be seen, rather than just reflecting other people’s.
In a relationship, at any stage, this is important to remember.
Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♌ LEO
July 23 to August 23
Staying on the diplomatic side of a decision is a great move – as a choice may turn out to be more complicated than you think, and you need to be ready to lead a rethink.
At work, your words can be kind but clear, so everyone knows where they stand.
But in love, do leave some wriggle room for sudden changes of heart.
Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♍ VIRGO
August 24 to September 22
Big changes are firing up for Virgo, and a time of feeling unheard, or unappreciated, can be close to the end.
Take some time today to celebrate what you have achieved, and who and what you are – unique and special.
In love? Say yes to a request you’ve always refused before.
Single? A Pisces traveller can be The One.
Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
A fitness track may twist and turn, but the finish line is within reachCredit: Getty
♎ LIBRA
September 23 to October 23
A rush of unexpected feelings can be the result of Uranus taking you places you have never been before.
At work, this can mean a new project in a very new area.
At home, an unusual address can start to seem a great fit.
And passion wise, love that’s 100 per cent on your own terms is on the horizon now.
Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
List of 12 star signs
The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below.
♏ SCORPIO
October 24 to November 22
Most of your day can find you getting through to-do lists in your own usual smart, efficient way.
But later, as your imagination kicks in, story and script ideas can pour into your mind and demand that you pay attention.
You are ready to share something with the world that has never been seen or heard before.
BRITISH pubs could rake in a massive £32 million if Trooping the Colour was designated a bank holiday, beer bosses believe.
The British Beer and Pub Association say an extra 6.5 million pints would be pulled, pouring £5.5 million into the Treasury in VAT and £3 million in beer duty.
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Pubs could rake in a massive £32 million if Trooping the Colour was designated a bank holiday, beer bosses believeCredit: Getty
Booze bosses called for the King’s birthday to be marked every year with a three-day weekend.
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the BBPA, said: “This weekend was a celebration of British tradition, nation and community.
“Our pubs are central to that story—bringing people together and boosting the economy.
“A bank holiday would not only honour our heritage but deliver a tangible economic and social dividend as communities come together and raise a glass to Beer Day Britain as well as celebrate everything that is great about Britain.”
She added that ministers should support pubs with a long-term plan that includes a cut to beer duty and fairer business rates.
ROMEO and Juliet has been hit with a trigger warning — with audiences informed it featured violent scenes and death.
Shakespeare’s classic 16th-century love story has been “retold” as a modern ballet.
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William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been hit with a bizarfre trigger warningCredit: Alamy
But London’s Royal Opera House deemed it necessary to warn potential visitors the production includes themes of “violence and death”.
Sir Ian McKellen, who has appeared in Romeo and Juliet productions throughout his career, previously hit out at “ludicrous” warnings.
He said: “I quite like to be surprised by loud noises and outrageous behaviour on stage.”
It comes four years after The Globe in London warned of “upsetting” themes in the play, and provided a number for The Samaritans.
They were even provided a number for the Samaritans for after the show.
Actor Christopher Biggins said: “Do we have to have signs for everything under the sun?
“It’s a joke. What they are trying to do is insulting to the mentality of theatre-goers.”
The Globe has also warned about themes of “violence, sexual references, misogyny and racism” in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as “anti-semitism” in The Merchant of Venice.
In February, the University of the West of England slapped over 200 trigger warnings on Shakespeare’s work – including “bad weather” in The Tempest.
The Royal Opera House was asked to comment.
Celeb Millionaire contestant forced to use lifeline on tricky Shakespeare question – but could you get it right-
SINCE Sky’s Soccer AM left our screens two years ago, its celebrity penalty shootout has been much missed.
But I can reveal the fan-favourite format has now inspired a copycat segment from Graham Norton‘s So Television.
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A copycat segment from Graham Norton’s So Television is set for our screensCredit: The Mega Agency
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Soccer AM’s celebrity penalty shootout has been much missedCredit: YouTube
Just like Sky’s original version, the new series will see a line-up of big names stepping up to the penalty spot to try to score.
But with comedian Chloe Petts in charge of proceedings, it will feature fellow comics only.
So far stars including Nish Kumar and Harriet Kemsley are on the team sheet.
A source said: “Penalties frequently provide some of the funniest moments in football, so adding comedians to that mix will bring about endless laughs.
“Soccer AM had big names like Stormzy, Ed Westwick and Louis Tomlinson desperate to be involved so everyone is very excited that this new spin-off could run and run.
“Chloe Petts is a genuine football fan and brings a wealth of knowledge, as well as humour. Filming begins this week in London and everyone can’t wait to see how it turns out.”
In an increasingly common move, the series is first heading to YouTube.
The source added: “This kind of content lends itself brilliantly to a short-form media and so will live online for now.”
Soccer AM ran for 29 years on Sky until it was shelved in May 2023 due to falling ratings.
As well as the penalty spot, other segments included the Nutmeg Files, Unbelievable Tekkers and the Crossbar Challenge.
Plenty of comedic inspiration there too, I’d say.
‘I cringe about that’ says Soccer AM legend as he admits regret over much-loved segment that ‘pushed the boundaries’
DIVE in to scrumptious staycays in England’s eastern counties.
From beautiful beaches in North Norfolk to stunning sustenance in Suffolk, we have it covered.
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The quaint beach huts in Wells-next-the-Sea in NorfolkCredit: Shutterstock
The Nest Farmhouse, King’s Lynn
Beauty Writer Mia Lyndon and boyfriend Jamie found vineyards and seafood feasts in Norfolk.
THE PAD
Tucked away in the rolling fields of North Norfolk, guests are greeted with fizz from neighbouring Cobble Hill Winery at this former barn.
Rooms are bang-on theme with farmhouse-chic decor – ours had a vintage tub, dried flowers, distressed furniture and a spacious balcony from which green vistas extend as far as the eye can see.
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Flock to The Nest FarmhouseCredit: Neeve Photography
Fragrant home-made negronis made from a concoction of aged local spirits and spices, £14, are literally on tap from a miniature barrel in the homely bar.
Then tuck into rich bone marrow and crunchy focaccia, £12, followed by tender local Old Spot pork chop, £28, and barbecued cabbage smothered in a tangy, buttery anchovy dressing, £5.
Fluffy doughnuts dunked in toffee sauce, £10, are the perfect pud, and we splashed out on a bottle of local Cobble Hill Bacchus Reserve, £55.
Birdsong will wake you for an alfresco brekkie of local cheese, cured meats and trout, while you watch ducks bob about in the pond.
EXPLORE
Spy deer in the lush 667 acres of the palatial 18th-century Holkham Estate, before ogling rich tapestries, marble sculptures and the lavish guest rooms where Queen Victoria once slept.
Entry costs from £24 per person (Holkham.co.uk). Later, spot seals frolicking in the surf from the sweeping sand dunes of Holkham Beach.
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Look out for deer in the woods of Holkham Park in North Norfolk
The neighbouring town of Wells-next-the-Sea is postcard-pretty – duck into The Old Station for whimsical ceramics that are made on-site, before sipping on local Crisp Eastern Gold, £2.55 for a half pint, on the rooftop deck at The Globe Inn (Theglobeatwells.co.uk).
Pretty Norfolk coastline has sea lions and award-winning beaches-
REFUEL
Norfolk is renowned for crab, so tuck into a platter at family-run Wells Crab House and feast on creamy dressed crab, crayfish, oak-smoked salmon, juicy prawns, tangy cockles and rollmops, plus indulgent potato salad – £44 for two people.
Start your day with fluffy French toastCredit: Neeve Photography
Meanwhile, in cobble-stoned King’s Lynn, devour giant slabs of buttery ginger cake, £2.50, from indie cafe Norbury’s (Instagram.com/norburysfinefoods).
Then plump for dinner by candlelight at Grade-II-listed The Bank House, a stylish eatery on the banks of the River Ouse.
Order Pineapple Fogs, a blend of honey-lime juice, pineapple and tonic, £5, and savour flaky cod and seafood chowder with mussels, squid and prawn, £22.50 (Thebankhouse.co.uk).
DON’T MISS
Knowledgeable David at Burn Valley Vineyard (which has near-identical soil to the Champagne region), is the perfect host for wine-tasting, £25 a person.
You’ll get to swig six wines – our fave was sweet, acidic Solaris 2023 – before wandering around the vineyard to see where they’re grown (Burnvalleyvineyard.co.uk).
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Mia Lyndon in Norfolk with partner JamieCredit: Mia Lyndon
Writer Sasha Cunningham and husband Grant checked into a foodie haven on Suffolk’s coast.
THE PAD
Nestled in the sleepy town of Orford, you’ll find 21 newly refurbished rooms and an intimate two-AA-Rosette restaurant.
Our bright and spacious deluxe sea-view room had amazing glimpses of Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, plus a large bath, rainfall shower, Temple Spa toiletries and cosy armchairs.
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Experience the charm of The Crown and CastleCredit: Matt Finch
Grab an Aperol Spritz, £9, or a pint of Mosaic lager, £5, before digging into dishes such as the spectacular soy-cured monkfish with glass noodles and sesame, £28.
Mains such as beef blade and fillet on a bed of spelt, celeriac and mushrooms, £32, won’t disappoint, either.
EXPLORE
You’re just over the road from 12th-century Orford Castle, which is well worth a visit for both the views from its tower and its captivating audio guide, £8.10 per adult (English-heritage.org.uk).
Or take a wander down to the River Ore – pick the distance and difficulty of your walk by scanning the hotel’s handy QR codes.
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Brighten up your day at the Orford Ness Lighthouse
Be sure to book your visit to the nature reserve in advance, from £4.50 per adult (Nationaltrust.org.uk).
Once used during WW2 for atomic bomb testing, it’s now home to many species of birds and a colony of 200 grey seals.
REFUEL
Share the griddled fish selection of prawns, squid, sardines and mussels brushed with garlic oil, from £19.50, at Butley Orford Oysterage, a short stroll from your bed (Pinneysoforford.co.uk).
Or hunt out Two Magpies Bakery in the nearby pastel-coloured seaside town of Aldeburgh for rich hot chocolate, £3.45 – it’s the perfect drink for a walk by the beach, where you can snap the giant scallop sculpture (Twomagpiesbakery.co.uk).
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Tuck into fresh oysters with a squeeze of lemon
Later, join a tour of Fishers Gin Distillery for tastings with a sea view, £35 for a 90-minute tour (Fishersgin.com).
DON’T MISS
Stop by Orford’s Pump Street Bakery for bear-claw almond frangipane pastries, £4.50 – just go early before they sell out (Pumpstreetchocolate.com).
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Sasha Cunningham and husband GrantCredit: Supplied by Sasha Cunningham
Fashion Assistant Emily Regan, boyfriend Harry and dog Ragnar enjoyed history and booze in Suffolk’s charming market town.
THE PAD
This central Georgian hotel – once a favourite of Charles Dickens – blends vintage furnishings with modern touches.
Book a Copper Room for a king-size bed, free-standing copper bath and a picturesque view of Abbey Gate.
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Have a heavenly stay at The AngelCredit: Supplied
Then dig into mouth-watering Surrey Farm 10oz sirloin with peppercorn sauce, £34, in the hotel’s lively Eaterie.
Finish with chocolate crémeux, honeycomb and brownie ice cream, £8.50, and a pornstar martini, £14.
Come breakfast, a full English, plus sausage bites for Ragnar, were winners, and there are plenty of other doggy treats and toys on hand, too.
EXPLORE
A five-minute stroll away you’ll find St Edmundsbury Cathedral (Stedscathedral.org) and St Mary’s Church, with its hammer-beam angel roof (Stmaryschurchbse.org).
But to really learn more about the town’s history, join a walking tour around Abbey Gardens and the ruins of an 11th-century monastery, £10 per person for 90 minutes (Burystedmundstourguides.org).
Gift hunters should head to The Parsley Pot with its cute ceramics (Theparsleypot.com), while dogs will love scampering through the scenic woodlands of Nowton Park (Westsuffolk.gov.uk).
REFUEL
For mid-morning pick-me-ups, No.5 Angel Hill has excellent home-made sausage rolls, £4.95, and iced lattes, £3.90 (Fiveangelhill.co.uk).
Discover the town’s hop history on Greene King’s brewery tour – or just lunch on beef and ale pie for under a tenner at its Beer Cafe.
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The Swan at Lavenham serves up cracking food, £28 for two coursesCredit: The Swan/ Instagram
PEOPLE smugglers are using women and children as human shields in a diversion tactic to get past French police – before mostly men make it onto a dinghy.
Families with young babies and kids were put at the front of the queue of migrants entering the vast beach from the sand dunes in Gravelines, near Calais, yesterday with young men trailing behind.
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People-smugglers are using women and children as a diversion tactic to get young male migrants past French policeCredit: Getty
The diversionary tactics meant the 40 police officers, armed and waiting with pepper spray and tear gas, remained calm and did not use force against the group straight away to avoid injuring the children.
Instead, officers kettled the group and successfully marched them off back into the sand dunes.
But, when the time was right and the police thought they had taken the group off the beach, a group of mostly men suddenly sprinted off into the sand dunes before making a break for it back onto the beach.
Most of the migrants with children did not return to the beach.
It comes after senior Labour minister Darren Jones was slammed after suggesting on BBC’s Question Time that the majority of migrants entering by small boats that he had seen were women and children.
A dramatic cat and mouse game followed yesterday with tear gas being fired over Gravelines beach in an attempt to keep migrants away from the sea.
But they failed to stop a nearby dinghy from picking up the migrants and it left for British shores with mostly men on board.
It comes after official figures showed that more than 919 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Friday on 14 dinghies – averaging around 66 people per boat.
It has taken the provisional annual total to 16,183, which is 42 per cent higher than the same point last year and 79 per cent up on the same date in 2023.
The highest daily number so far this year was 1,195 on May 31.
You and Mars make an unlikely couple – but one that really gets great results.
You may need to pause your usual personal rules, and allow yourself to be a little wilder this week.
But this can be a revelation! Old friends with a new look can be a luck-link, and you should seriously consider taking that step towards talking on camera.
Love is a learning curve of shared curiosity.
DESTINY DAYS: Set a more ambitious schedule for yourself on Tuesday – an stick to it. Wear colours that make you feel joyful on Thursday. Share some special news on Sunday.
LUCKY LINKS: A TV show with an all- female cast. Names that start with your initial. A picture taken in a mountainous setting.
JUPITER SQUARE SATURN: You are experiencing the third square of these two planet giants in less than a year – and you should tap into the special powers this affords you.
What your zodiac sign says about your home decor
One is endurance, to keep going even when others seem less able, or willing, to keep up with you.
And another is the ability to read between the lines of friendship and family conversations or messages, and understand what’s really meant.
This helps you adapt, and grow, in ways that help you shine — in groups and solo.
Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.
Think twice about hiding anything this week, from feelings to facts, as Mars is so strong in the deepest part of your chart.
Honesty is your best policy, and you have the strength to say even difficult things.
With the sun now at the top of your chart, it’s a week to celebrate who you are and where you are going, so set some shining goals in love and life.
DESTINY DAYS: You can make a difference on Monday, especially to someone 10 years away in age. Tweak a cash plan on Thursday, but don’t give it up all together. Fill in forms with care on Friday.
LUCKY LINKS: A room painted in rainbow colours. Items sold in sets of six. Competitions with a mystery-solving element.
JUPITER SQUARE SATURN: This is the third Jupiter-Saturn square in less than a year, and is your moment to stop making excuses and start getting deals signed and sealed.
You may have waited for others to get on the same page, but it’s better to push on alone than keep on delaying in search of a “yes” that is elusive.
What your zodiac sign says about your home decor
There’s a mix of ambition and understanding in you that’s unique – but it must be used while it is hot.
Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.
SOMETHING a bit different. It’s not a car review. It’s a world-first look at Apple CarPlay Ultra.
Most of you with a newish car will hook up your iPhone and use the central touchscreen for music and maps.
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Apple’s first motoring collab is with Aston Martin – but expect CarPlay Ultra in more motors soonCredit: simon thompson
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It’s all very slick. All very easy. All very Apple. No handbook requiredCredit: simon thompson
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There’s some cool updates on the central touchscreen tooCredit: simon thompson
CarPlay Ultra allows you to use two screens. So you can have Waze or Apple Maps filling the driver’s display in front of you.
Finally.
Apple’s first collab is actually with Aston Martin but you can guarantee CarPlay Ultra will be popping up in other motors in the near future.
There’s some cool updates on the central touchscreen too.
Swipe right for an Apple Watch-style dashboard with up/down toggles for weather, clock, calendar and more.
There’s a simple button to deactivate the bloody annoying driving assistance tech. We like that too.
Plus, car-specific buttons for hill descent control and noisy exhaust mode.
Radio station favourites are linked to your device. So when you’re driving you’ve got talkSPORT and when your partner’s at the wheel they’ve got Magic FM. Or vice versa.
It’s all very slick. All very easy. All very Apple. No handbook required.
The funny thing is, when the DBX arrived in 2020 it didn’t even have a touchscreen. Now it’s top of the class. Dreamy lines. V8 engine. Cutting-edge tech. Aston Martin is on it.
Apples’s big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own
