A GANGSTER jailed for plotting to blow up a football stadium has lost his bid to stay in Britain — but is still here.
Maksim Cela, 59, claimed returning to Albania would put him at risk from rivals.
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Gangster Maksim Cela has lost his bid to stay in Britain — but is still here
His claims were thrown out by a judge on Friday after a two-year fight costing taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds.
But the crook, who arrived in 2023, five days after serving a sentence for murder and terrorism in Albania, has not left and launched yet another appeal.
But Judge Jeremy Rintoul of the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber said: “I do not accept that the appellant has told the truth about the nature of the threats.
Read More on DEPORTATIONS
“I find that the appellant’s refusal to acknowledge guilt weighs heavily against him.”
Cela was jailed in Albania for masterminding the murder of a crime-busting police officer and plotting to bomb a football stadium.
In his legal battle, he claimed the elderly mum of the dead officer might seek revenge.
He was named as the mafia boss in the case only after The Sun fought for 23 months to overturn an anonymity order.
Sources last night confirmed Cela was still in the UK and had lodged another legal appeal.
The Home Office said: “Foreign nationals who commit heinous crimes should be in no doubt we will do everything to make sure they are not free on Britain’s streets.”
It remained unclear last night where Cela was living — but he can remain here while his appeal is being prepared.
Inside the TikTok Job Centre used by Albanian crimelords to advertise £100,000-a-year drug dealer jobs
Vance paid his respects at the late Pope Francis‘s tomb upon arriving in Rome late on Saturday before heading to the US delegation honouring Chicago-born Leo.
The pope, 69, has publicly criticised Vance, previously sharing an article condemning the Republican’s comments about a hierarchy of who you love in Christianity on a social media account under his name.
Both the United States and Peru get front-row seats at the historic event due to Leo’s dual citizenship as well as strict diplomatic protocol.
read more on pope leo XIV
Catholic convert Vance – who tangled with Pope Francis over Donald Trump’s mass migrant deportation plans – was joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio arrived in Rome ahead of time to try to advance tense Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
Images showed Vance smiling as he shook the hand of President Zelensky – despite the two engaging in the brutal three-way Oval Office shouting match earlier this year.
Moscow last night fired a total of 273 exploding drones and decoys targeting Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, as well as Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions – the biggest Russian drone attack since the start of the war.
Pope Leo laughs as he issues cryptic six-word message for Americans after JD Vance criticism
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Chicago-born Leo waving from the popemobileCredit: Getty
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme –Sun Club.
WILL today go down in history as the day Sir Keir Starmer betrayed Brexit and the British people?
From the moment he entered No10, or Remainiac Prime Minister — who spent years in Opposition trying to reverse the historic 2016 vote — has been hellbent on securing a so-called “reset” with the EU.
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Keir Starmer with EU boss Ursula Von der Leyen ahead of their crunch meetingCredit: AFP
His approach to the negotiations with Brussels has been naive at best, and craven at worst.
Indeed, the message his public desperation sent to the hard-nosed Eurocrats was “I want a deal at any price, so shaft me”.
The vengeful EU — which will never get over Brexit, and cannot stand the idea of us being a sovereign nation again — duly obliged.
Its list of demands, in return for a defence partnership, a sop on passport queues and the simple lifting of some spiteful checks on British food exports, would put a mafia extortionist to shame.
Through a series of snide anonymous briefings (the EU’s tactic of choice for decades), we know it expects to agree the following at today’s Lancaster House talks:
Britain to slavishly adhere to every pettifogging Brussels edict on standards, a straitjacket known as “dynamic alignment” which would make trade deals with the rest of world far harder.
Generous access to our fishing waters for mostly French vessels for ever more, undermining a core reason why millions voted Leave.
Bundles of cash to once again be paid into the EU’s coffers for participation in its various programmes and schemes.
Most unbelievably, a “youth mobility scheme” for anyone under 35 – yes, 35! – which would restore free movement by the back door, and give 80 MILLION EU citizens the chance to live and work here.
Think the Tories were split over Europe? If Starmer’s EU trip goes wrong he’ll be on menu when he gets home
So much for getting a grip on runaway immigration.
And what has Sir Keir’s response been to all of this?
He and his Chancellor have effectively said bring it on, and that this is just the start of a much deeper future partnership with the EU.
We remind them both of two things, before they sit down to formally ink this seemingly wretched surrender deal.
First, the best economic days of the EU are long behind it — look at the state of the German and French economies.
Britain should be looking to do ambitious trade deals beyond Europe — indeed the new partnership with India, and the recent easing of US tariffs were only possible because of Brexit.
Not tying our hands and alienating allies like Donald Trump.
And, second, the British people voted nine years ago to take back control of our money, borders and laws.
If the PM hands all of this back over to Brussels today, he will not be forgiven.
Today I’ve put some to the test to see if they are worth the cost . . .
Alkaline water
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Actiph Water undergoes a unique process of purificationCredit: Supplied
ACTIPH Water from Shropshire undergoes a unique process of purification before having electrolytes magnesium sulphate, sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate added to it.
You are left with an alkaline water with a PH of 9+ compared to your average water, which is about 7.
Some studies suggest higher PH might help with hydration, acid reflux and bone health.
This water has a smooth, clean taste.
My favourite of the three.
I loved the 600ml bottle size, which is great to carry about.
Warrior Protein Water contains 10g of proteinCredit: Supplied
IN each 500ml bottle of Warrior Protein Water there is 10g of protein as well as essential vitamins, with zero sugar and only 48 calories.
It comes in two flavours, tropical and berry, and is a clever way to boost your protein intake if you don’t want to eat any actual food – plus you are obviously hydrating at the same time.
But this stuff is sweet. I tried the tropical flavour, which reminded me of Lilt.
Although it doesn’t contain sugar, it does contain plenty of sweetener.
So unless you’ve got a sweet tooth, this is not for you.
I thought the lid was great, unlike some other bottles where they can flick open.
I had this one in my sports bag and it didn’t spill.
From £1.67 for a 500ml bottle, Spar stores or teamwarrior.com.
Collagen water
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Tide uses a premium collagen formula in their sparkling raspberry waterCredit: Supplied
TIDE has just launched a sparkling raspberry collagen water that can help support glowing skin, strong hair and healthier nails.
It is a premium collagen formula with 3.5g of high-quality, hydrolysed collagen peptides sourced from wild-caught North Atlantic and Pacific Ocean fish.
When you drink marine collagen, studies have shown it can hydrate and firm skin, reduce wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and enhance the overall structure and appearance of skin.
There are zero artificial sweeteners or additives but this one is very sweet thanks to the addition of fructose, a natural sugar that is found in fruit, vegetables and honey.
It comes in at just 27 calories per 250ml can.
If you’re drinking it for the collagen benefits I would recommend having two.
A clever idea for skin, but only if you have a sweet tooth.
From £27 for 12 cans or £2.25 each, wearetide.com.
The formula is extremely thin, so it doesn’t feel cloying or oily on skin, and it absorbs in a matter of seconds so it’s great for wearing under make-up as you don’t have to wait for it to dry down.
I have super sensitive eyes which are easily irritated by sunscreen and this doesn’t cause me any problems even though it’s lightly fragranced.
It’s also non-comedogenic so won’t cause spots, which is a godsend as I just have to glance at the wrong product and I’ll break out.
Can coloured mascaras help turn back the clock?
It’s a great middle of the road SPF that’s suitable for all skin types.
Luxury
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Trinny London See The Light SPF 50+ Moisturiser has been my go-to everyday sunscreen
Trinny London See The Light SPF 50+ Moisturiser, £46 for 50ml, trinnylondon.com
Since this launched two summers ago, it has been my go-to everyday sunscreen.
It took three years to get the formula right, but it was worth the wait. It feels more like a moisturiser than an SPF.
The packaging looks more like premium skincare than sun protection, as well as PA++++ UVA protection ( the highest level of UVA protection in sunscreens) and SPF50 UVB.
You certainly get what you pay for with this one.
Pick of the week
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Instant tan has had a serious glow up this year
INSTANT tan has had a serious glow up this year.
Utan Instant Tan, £17.99, comes in two versions – cool and warm – with a shade tailored to the hue of your skin for a natural sun-kissed look.
If you’re not sure of your undertones – look at your jewellery; silver tends to suit cool best, whereas gold flatters warm.
The air-brush mist dries in 30 seconds, and washes off with soapy-water.
YOU may use price comparison sites to get the best deals for your broadband or car insurance – but probably don’t do the same when shopping.
Whether you’re looking for great buys for your home and garden, a good deal on a new summer outfit or simply to drive down the cost of your weekly shop, there are online tools that can help you get the best price.
FANCY FEATURES: For homeware, tech, clothes and more, compare prices using sites like PriceRunner, Idealo, Google Shopping and PriceSpy.
Check across different sites to make sure you get the best deal.
They all have clever features to help you make the savviest shopping choices.
Idealo is one that allows you to scan barcodes in store to check if a product is cheaper online
READ MORE MONEY SAVING TIPS
With the PriceRunner on the Klarna app, you can access an AI assistant who will interpret what you’re looking for and help you find the right item.
PAST PRICES: The sites’ price-tracking tools also help you to check if deals are as good as they look.
They show price history, so you can see how the cost of an item has gone up and down.
That way you can judge whether you might get a better deal by waiting.
If you’re shopping via Amazon, then CamelCamelCamel will show you how much items have previously sold for.
Use the tool to check out the offers during Amazon’s Everyday Essentials Week, starting on Wednesday.
Cut car insurance costs and save money
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: For grocery shopping, download the Trolley app or log on to trolley.co.uk.
You can search for any item you’d find in the big supermarkets, including own brands, to see the best prices.
On the app, you can scan barcodes, create shopping lists and get price alerts when an item changes price.
It shows Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 1.35kg, is currently £4.92 at Asda or £6 at Morrisons.
Prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability
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Three savvy ways to use price comparison sites for your shoppingCredit: Getty
Deal of the day
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Save £50 the Vileda Sun Rise rotary washing line
SWAP using a costly tumble dryer for drying your clothes outside on the Vileda Sun Rise rotary washing line, down from £167.99 to £117.99 at vileda.co.uk.
SAVE: £50
Cheap treat
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Save £1.75 on Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons ice cream with a ClubcardCredit: Supplied
TREAT the family to Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons ice cream, £4.50 for a pack of four from Tesco, or £2.75 with a Clubcard.
SAVE: £1.75
What’s new?
IF you missed the sell-out metal striped chair from Asda last summer, there’s now another chance to buy it.
The garden lounger is £39, while stocks last.
Top swap
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This white linen blend short-sleeved shirt is £18 from MatalanCredit: Supplied
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Or try the linen blend shirt just £7.99 from LidlCredit: Supplied
FELLAS can update their wardrobe with the white linen blend short-sleeved shirt, £18 from Matalan, or they can try the linen blend shirt, £7.99 from Lidl.
SAVE: £10.01
Little helper
LAY on a tasty spread with three sharing plates for £8 at Sainsbury’s with Nectar, saving up to £5.50. Includes bacon-wrapped halloumi sticks and goat’s cheese and caramelised onion quiches.
Shop & save
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Save £3.90 on a pack of The Best fresh pasta, sauce and garlic bread from a selection at MorrisonsCredit: Supplied
PICK up a pack of The Best fresh pasta, sauce and garlic bread from a selection at Morrisons for £6, to make a tasty Italian meal for two.
SAVE: £3.90
Hot right now
SEARCH “kids eat free megathread” now at hotukdeals.com for a list of restaurants, cafes and supermarkets with “kids eat free” deals.
PLAY NOW TO WIN £200
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Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle
JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.
Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.
Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
True is also seen kitted out in a £160 Monnalisa designer dress, a £40 bag from Hookd and a Pandora charm bracelet.
Her Rolex is identical to one worn by Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi, six.
Phil’s own watch collection includes a Rolex Sky Dweller and a Day Date.
The midfielder, who came on as a sub in yesterday’s FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, loves spending his £200,000-a-week wages on his kids — Ronnie, five, True, and baby boy Phil Junior.
True was given a pony, Angus, at Christmas and is having riding lessons.
A source said: “True loves anything girly, sparkly — she loves fancy things. She is the little girl that wants for nothing.”
Phil recently moved the family to a mansion with a lake in the Cheshire countryside.
He was brought up on a council estate in nearby Edgeley, Stockport.
His mum, Claire, has revealed how much her son had changed recently.
She said: “The shocking thing is I hear him ordering salmon a lot now and he never used to eat that.”
‘I don’t expect anything’ Roy Keane savages England star after below-par display in Thomas Tuchel’s first game
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The Rolex is identical to one worn by Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi, six
SUPERMARKETS have told The Sun they have no plans to sell American beef, upping the stakes for politicians thrashing out the details of a UK-US trade deal.
And the Government has said that imports of hormone-treated beef or chlorinated chicken will remain illegal.
Tesco boss Ken Murphy said this week that he had no plan to sell US beef.
He said: “We source 100 per cent Irish and British and for the foreseeable future that policy will be the same.”
Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons also said they don’t intend to change supply or animal welfare and food standards.
Budget pair Lidl and Aldi are also not budging on beef.
Aldi chief exec Giles Hurley said: “British farming is known for its high welfare, food safety and environmental standards — and we know how important that is to our customers.”
Iceland boss Richard Walker said there was no appetite for US beef from customers or supermarket suppliers.
US agrees trade deal with China following ‘productive talks’ just weeks after trade war threw world economy into chaos
He said: “Consensus is that even at a ten per cent tariff it’s a very price prohibitive option.”
The Co-op’s Matt Hood said: “We’re a long-term supporter of British farming, and the first national UK grocer to switch to 100 per cent British fresh and frozen own brand protein.”
The National Farmers Union said: “It’s brilliant to see supermarkets championing British beef. Consumers value its high standards in animal welfare.”
A government spokesman said: “This is a great deal as we have opened access to a huge American market, without weakening UK food standards on imports.”
Premier in £1B league
PORRIDGE pots and Japanese noodles have helped to lift Premier Foods’ branded revenues above £1billion for the first time.
The Mr Kipling cake to Bisto gravy maker has been broadening its pantry with new products.
Boss Alex Whitehouse said the firm was exploring “mergers and acquisitions” after buying Spice Tailor in 2022 and entering a strategic partnership with Japan’s Nissin Foods in 2016.
Premier, which hailed its Ambrosia Porridge for growth, posted a 5.2 per cent rise in branded sales, boosting overall turnover by 3.5 per cent to £1.14billion.
Pre-tax profits rose 6.5 per cent to £161.3million.
Butty giant spreading
GREENCORE, the UK’s biggest sandwiches maker, announced it has agreed a £1.2billion takeover of rival Bakkavor to create a food-to-go giant.
It will see £4billion of revenues generated from selling pizzas, soups, salads and sushi to almost all of Britain’s supermarkets.
But workers fear job cuts after the firms said they would save at least £80million in costs a year after the deal.
GMB union national officer Eamon O’Hearn said: “The likelihood of site closures and drop in headcount confirms our worst fears — that hard-working production staff will be facing job losses.”
It’s dirty business
THE water firm accused of dumping sewage into Windermere has posted a doubling in profits a month after hiking customer bills.
United Utilities said they had soared to £355million and it would be bumping its dividend by 4.2 per cent to 34.6p.
It recently put bills in the North West up by £86 and says they will rise by an average of 32 per cent over five years.
It said the increase was needed to fund £13.7billion of upgrades to its pipes and sewers.
ITV’s not love sick with US
LOVE Island broadcaster ITV yesterday shrugged off any US tariff concerns as bosses highlighted its Studios arm made TV shows, not films.
President Trump has spooked Britain’s creative industry by slapping 100 per cent tariffs on movies “produced in foreign lands”.
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Love Island broadcaster ITV yesterday shrugged off any US tariff concernsCredit: Rex
ITV yesterday said it did not “anticipate any direct impact”.
It came as the company toasted a return to growth for the Studios business, with revenue up one per cent at £386million after years of disruption from the Hollywood writers’ strike.
Speculation about a takeover of ITV or the Studios business continues to run rife, but insiders downplayed rumours.
MINISTERS have scrapped a Covid fraud recovery unit and transferred investigations to the Insolvency Service — after realising even more taxpayer cash was being wasted.
Around £47billion was paid to firms as bounceback loans but there had been more than 100,000 cases of fraud and error.
The National Investigation Service received £38.5million in state funding but has secured just 14 convictions.
Trade minister Gareth Thomas said transferring the probes would “remove unnecessary waste and inefficiency”.
Cash-strapped country
ONE in ten Brits has no cash savings at all and 21 per cent have less than £1,000 to draw on in an emergency, a survey by the Financial Conduct Authority revealed.
In addition, a third of adults have less than £10,000 saved for their pensions.
B&M goes Dutch
DISCOUNT chain B&M has hired a Dutch former Tesco executive in the latest sign of FTSE firms looking abroad for leadership.
Tjeerd Jegen, who recently led Europe’s biggest ebike maker Accell Group, has also worked at German clothing chain Takko Fashion and Dutch retailer Hema.
He led Tesco’s Malaysian business in 2010 and was its chief operating officer in Thailand before that.
Tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht sank because it was vulnerable to wind, a report claimsCredit: EPA
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Lynch, 59, died as the yacht sankCredit: Reuters
Brit tech tycoon Lynch, 59, and daughter Hannah, 18, were among seven killed in the disaster.
An interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch said the yacht had a “vulnerability” to lighter winds but the owner and crew would not have known.
It added it had “limited verified evidence” as the criminal probe in Italy had restricted its access.
Andrew Moll, chief inspector of marine accidents, said: “The findings indicate that the extreme wind experienced by Bayesian was sufficient to knock the yacht over.
READ MORE ON YACHT SINKING
“Further, once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70° the situation was irrecoverable.
“The results will be refined as the investigation proceeds, and more information becomes available.”
Five people were injured “either by falling or from things falling on them”, while the deck hand was “thrown into the sea”, a report said.
Two guests used furniture drawers “as an improvised ladder” to escape their cabin.
The skipper instructed guests and crew on an area of the deck to “swim clear of the mast and boom as the vessel was sinking”.
Survivors later made their way onto a life raft released from the Bayesian.
Manslaughter probe launched over Bayesian disaster as cops scour CCTV & review captain’s decisions
They went on to be rescued on a small boat dispatched by yacht Sir Robert Baden Powell, which was also at anchor nearby.
A search was conducted of the accident site.
All the bodies of those who died were subsequently recovered by the local authorities.
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Mike’s daughter Hannah was also killed in the disasterCredit: EPA
SIR Keir Starmer is preparing to wave the white flag to Brussels in a fresh Brexit betrayal, Kemi Badenoch has warned.
The Tory chief accused the PM of lining up a string of concessions to the EU just to say he’s “reset” Brexit relations.
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Starmer is preparing to wave white flag to Brussels in fresh Brexit betrayal, Kemi Badenoch warnsCredit: Reuters
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The Tory leader accused Labour of preparing to make Britain ‘a rule-taker from Brussels once again’Credit: PA
It comes as the PM is heading to Albania today for last-minute talks with EU leaders ahead of a major London summit, where he’s expected to sign a new defence and trade pact.
It is understood that in return, Sir Keir has put fishing rights, immigration rules and legal powers all on the line.
“The Brexit vote was not a polite suggestion, it was a clear instruction: to put Britain first.” She warned British waters could be handed back to French trawlers “for no good reason”, calling it “a fundamental betrayal of Britain’s fishing community”.
And she raised alarm over Labour’s support for an EU Youth Mobility Scheme, saying it “would see us accepting seemingly unlimited numbers of unemployed 20-somethings from Romania and Bulgaria… all coming over here to take UK jobs.”
The Tory leader accused Labour of preparing to make Britain “a rule-taker from Brussels once again” by aligning food laws, restricting farmers from using modern crops.
And she warned the plan to join the EU’s carbon trading scheme will leave Sun readers “saddled with even more expensive bills, just so Keir Starmer can say he ‘got closer’ to Europe.”
Vowing to reverse any Brexit row backs, Ms Badenoch said: “A future Conservative Government will take them back. I will always put Britain first. And when the time comes – I will make it right.”
Ms Badenoch will head to Brussels herself today to speak at the IDU Forum – a global gathering of centre-right parties.
She will argue Britain’s relationship with EU countries can be improved without “being supplicant”.
Squirming Keir Starmer confronted over Brexit betrayal but vows ‘I’ll strike deal with Trump’
Mark and Anna Newlands have spent £20,000 to get home from a US holiday for the FA Cup final before flying back outCredit: David Hartley
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The pair say the club is in their DNA – so they have to be there for the finalCredit: David Hartley
The couple booked it months ago for a cousin’s birthday before the Eagles got to the final.
So they have bought flights to get back the day before and will return to the US the day after.
Mark said they would miss the big birthday but their relatives understood.
The retired risk manager, 61, from Newbury, Berks, said: “The club is in my DNA.
“We have to be there.
“I’m not bothered if this is sensible or not. It’ll be worth every penny.”
Anna, 62, is just as devoted to the South London club and did not hesitate when Mark suggested the plan.
The pair, pictured at the semi-final win over Aston Villa, hope it will be third time lucky after Palace lost their two previous finals.
The couple’s son James, also a Palace season ticket holder, is attending the final although he is not on the New York trip — while their daughter Alice will stay in the Big Apple.
Crystal Palace fans earn club an FA charge within 30 SECONDS after engulfing Wembley in smoke by sneaking in flares
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How the couple will fly from the US to watch Crystal play in the FA Cup final – then jet back
Ms Badenoch has promised to oppose any erosion of Britain’s national sovereignty and will force a vote in Parliament on the issue.
She will today meet the EU’s ambassador in London to warn she would reverse any deal that crosses her “red lines” on sovereignty.
READ MORE ON KEMI BADENOCH
A Tory spokesman said: “The Conservative Party stands by the decision made by millions in the 2016 referendum and will always defend our national interest.
“Keir Starmer and many of his Cabinet spent years trying to overturn the largest democratic mandate in British history and are now preparing to sell us out to Brussels.”
Labour have ruled out any deal that returns the UK to freedom of movement, the single market or customs union.
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
A full moon of full-on emotional exploration takes your inner self to the next level.
You can be facing things you have previously turned away from, and this is a positive move.
With Venus and Neptune both supporting your ability to love and be loved, this can be a breakthrough day for romance.
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Your daily horoscope for Monday
♉ TAURUS
April 21 to May 21
The part you play in relationships is up for scrutiny.
Staying out of other people’s troubles can free up so much energy to deal with any issues of your own.
So even when people try to drag you back in, you can stay strong.
Pluto’s force for change is focused on your goals, and your next step becomes clear.
Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♊ GEMINI
May 22 to June 21
How well you work today matters more than how many hours you put in – so if you see a smart shortcut to an outcome, this is your moment to speak and to act.
There’s a special sociability to your chart that draws all kinds of people towards you, all day – and you are right to flex your leadership skills.
Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♋ CANCER
June 22 to July 22
Even if you usually keep all your ideas safely hidden away inside, the impact of the full moon encourages you to share them.
You have such a strong creative strand.
This can be a day when your wildest notions can lead to wonderful plans.
Passion is ambitious for you, so keep your love standards high.
Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♌ LEO
July 23 to August 23
There are strong signs today of friendships deepening and leading to lasting promises.
If you are already in love, you could see that security is good, but happiness is better – and make some internal adjustments.
The clear eye of Mercury can spot the perfect chance for you in a long list.
Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♍ VIRGO
August 24 to September 22
If you find yourself more outspoken today, it can be an effect of the full moon – you know it’s time you said what you really think.
Partners who may have been drifting can find a shared focus again when both sides are honest with each other.
If you start the day single, a meeting in a noisy location can change that.
Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
There are strong signs today of friendships deepening and leading to lasting promisesCredit: Getty
♎ LIBRA
September 23 to October 23
How much energy you give to money matters is your star focus today.
Shouldering responsibility alone, when you know it should be shared, can end when you set out three clear questions, and work with the answers you get.
As for love, Venus radiates passion power and the ability to let minor niggles go for good.
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 personal full moon invests you with near-psychic ability to see through other people’s excuses, and find a way to move forward, together.
This asks you to challenge bad behaviour, but you can do this.
At work, it’s tempting to let small faults pass, but these can grow bigger if you don’t address them now.
What winning means to you is changing overnight – and you may settle for a smaller prize, in your personal or professional life, that is more predictable and permanent.
You do have this choice – but you are the only one who can make it.
Love is so bonding today, you can say clearly what is hidden in your heart.
Around 38,000 are currently based in 210 hotels, but the Home Office is running an audit of the migrants to see if each is eligible for taxpayer-funded aid.
It declined to comment on individual cases.
Smurf told our reporter: “There ain’t no story. You’re talking to the horse’s mouth. I’m telling you, that’s fake news.”
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The 102-room, four-star Novotel, off the A1 near Knebworth House, is closed to the public while housing refugeesCredit: Ian Whittaker
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50 Cent refused to pay Smurf’s bail after he was given prison time for gun possession following a New York shootout, pictured the US rapper on stageCredit: AP
YOU can’t beat beetroot – as research shows it could benefit your body and brain.
It can even help you run faster because beets are rich in nitrates, which the body converts into nitric oxide, a compound that helps relax blood vessels, improving blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles.
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We test three beetroot products
And it’s packed with more antioxidants than tomato, carrot, orange and pineapple juice.
Plenish Beet Balance Shots currently £1.50 each with a Tesco ClubcardCredit: Supplied
PLENISH Beet Balance Shots are a daily dose of beetroot, apple (74 per cent), ginger, lemon juice, with the added benefit of vitamin C for glowing skin plus B6 and folic acid.
Best of all, they taste amazing.
READ MORE ON HEALTH PRODUCTS
Each 60ml bottle has just 26 calories and 100 per cent of your reference intake of B6, which is great for regulating hormones.
There is no added sugar.
I would prefer if it was more beetroot and less apple, but I love these.
I am sure they give me energy before a run.
Plenishdrinks.com, or currently £1.50 each with a Tesco Clubcard.
My 60-year-old mom looks like she’s in her 30s – she gave me her DIY skin spray recipe, it’ll take years off your face
VERSATILE JUICE
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Cawston Press Brilliant Beetroot is 90 per cent beetroot juiceCredit: Supplied
IT looks just like red wine when you pour it into a glass, but Cawston Press Brilliant Beetroot tastes much earthier than the shot.
That’s because it is 90 per cent beetroot juice and just 9.9 per cent apple juice, with a little citric acid and vitamin C added.
It doesn’t have that off-putting aroma which some vegetable juices have, and it is only 39 calories per 100ml, with eight per cent sugar.
This is also a really versatile product – you could easily add it to soups, casseroles, shakes or pancakes for an extra vitamin hit.
Plus, there is the added bonus of this juice being a long life product, so you can keep it stashed away in the store cupboard before you open it.
1-litre, on offer for £2.65 with a Clubcard at Tesco.
PROTEIN BAR
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Each 60g bar of BodyMe Beetroot Berry includes 16g of plant protein and is packed with nutrients, vitamins and mineralsCredit: Supplied
BODYME Beetroot Berry Vegan Protein Bar contains protein powder blend (pea protein, sprouted brown rice protein, hemp protein) with cashews, coconut nectar, dates, goji berries, beetroot raspberry and coconut oil.
And all of them are organic.
There is not loads of beetroot in here, but this is a great snack bar.
Each 60g bar includes 16g of plant protein and is packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
No added sugar or sweeteners in here.
There is 9.5g of fat, but that comes from nuts and coconut oil.
I found these were a great pick-me-up to help beat my usual mid-afternoon energy slump – without the jittery crash that comes after a coffee hit.
Wrexham AFC players got stuck in a lift for an hour during their wild promotion bash in Las Vegas
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Hollywood star owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney splashed £500,000 on celebrations after the team clinched a place in the ChampionshipCredit: Rex
The players flew by private jet to Vegas on Thursday and kicked off the fun at a pool party.
A source said: “After leaving there, the players went back to the Bellagio Hotel to get ready before heading to Hakkasan Nightclub.
They’d been drinking all day and were a bit over-excited when they got in the lift to go up to the entrance of the club on the fourth floor.
“They started messing around by jumping up and down.
“Next thing they knew, the lift came to an abrupt stop and would no longer move.
“They ended up having a sobering hour-long wait for firefighters to help get them out.”
When they were finally released, bosses Ryan and Rob had paid for them to have the best table in the house.
Onlookers said those on the Owners Table of the venue on Las Vegas Boulevard tipped their waitress £3,000.
Deadpool star Ryan and fellow actor Rob bought Wrexham in 2020 for £2million when it was a non-league club.
It is now worth more than £100million.
Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham mercilessly trolled by Peterborough stars after Cup heartache
The Hollywood pair’s exploits have been documented in their TV series Welcome to Wrexham.
It has seen the North Wales club win their third promotion in a row under manager Phil Parkinson.
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Wrexham’s visit to Vegas is now a promotion tradition
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Players enjoyed pool parties as they soaked up the sun
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The stars hung out with bikini-clad women
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Wrexham are now in the Championship, England’s second tierCredit: Rex
“What a long, strange trip it’s been” for the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir – or Bobby Weir, as he goes by these days.
As Deadheads among you will know, that immortal line comes from one of their best loved songs, Truckin’.
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Legendary Grateful Dead co-founder Bobby Weir, 77, brings a symphonic spin to his music – and he’s finally back on a London stageCredit: Todd Michalek
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Weir with Grateful Dead, including his late soulmate, guitarist Jerry GarciaCredit: Redferns
A Weir co-write with Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and lyricist Robert Hunter, the bluesy, steady-rolling shuffle has been recognised by the United States Library Of Congress as “a national treasure”.
The same accolade applies to Weir himself. It was he who took lead vocals on the song which references a drugs raid at the band’s hotel on Bourbon Street, New Orleans, in 1970.
At 77, he is chief keeper of the Dead’s flame, performing their music as leader of two bands, Dead & Company and Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros.
It is the second of these offshoots that us British Deadheads (yes, I count myself among them) are getting excited about.
On June 21, Weir is heading to the UK for the first time in 22 years, the last time being with another of his post-Dead bands, RatDog.
He and Wolf Bros — Don Was (bass), Jeff Chimenti (piano) and Jay Lane (drums) — are taking to the Royal Albert Hall’s hallowed stage with the 68-piece Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.
They will present reimagined songs from what Weir describes as “the Dead songbook” and a sprinkling of compositions from his solo career.
And that’s the reason why I’m on a video call to one of America’s most intriguing and long-serving musicians.
It’s a fine spring evening in London and an equally balmy lunchtime on the West Coast, where a clear blue sky frames Weir’s distinctive, distinguished features.
‘A sense of being’
His swept-back grey/white hair with matching walrus moustache and beard, as well as his piercing brown eyes, give him the air of one of rock’s elder statesman.
But, before we get stuck into his symphonic London show, it’s time for a Grateful Dead recap.
It’s important to note that they were not just a band but also a way of life.
They fostered unrivalled community spirit, putting themselves and the original Deadheads at the forefront of the counterculture movement in the late Sixties.
They were a rallying point for all those pot-smoking folks with tie-dyed clothes, beaded necklaces, sandals and long hair. They were — to borrow hippie parlance — far out, man!
When I first heard rock and roll, I realised I had something of a calling. I was seven, eight, nine years old when Elvis Presley was a big star. He had an energy about him that I related to.
Being part of a giant family gave the Dead “a sense of being and a sense of purpose”, decides Weir.
At just 16, he had hooked up with Jerry Garcia, five years his senior, in the Californian city of Palo Alto to become the Dead’s youngest founder member, beginning his “long strange trip” playing the band’s music.
“Number one, it’s the only thing I’m equipped to do,” he tells me, choosing his words carefully. “I’m dyslexic in the extreme, so an academic career was never a move on the board for me.
“When I first heard rock and roll, I realised I had something of a calling.
“I was seven, eight, nine years old when Elvis Presley was a big star. He had an energy about him that I related to.
“Soon, there was only one thing I was really interested in — making that kind of music.”
Weir says the arrival in the US of The Beatles, as leaders of the “British Invasion”, also had a profound effect.
“The Beatles looked like they were having a lot of fun — they were bright, they worked well together and their music reflected that.
“It’s pretty apparent that in three or four hundred years, people will still be talking about them. Maybe if we [the Grateful Dead] are lucky, we’ll also make that cut!”
Weir’s imposing rock vocals and richly textured rhythm guitar provided the perfect foil to Garcia’s ethereal delivery and intricate lead guitar.
They conjured up a transcendent fusion of rock, country, jazz, gospel, ragtime, you name it, and were masters of improvisation on extended jams involving tracks such as the epic Dark Star.
Today, Weir admits that never a day goes by when he doesn’t think about Garcia, who died in 1995 aged 53, effectively ending the Grateful Dead (if not live performance of their music).
“Jerry and I were soulmates,” he says. “I did stuff that he didn’t do and he did stuff that I didn’t do. We relied on each other.
“The whole deal was that we would keep doing it for as long as we were having fun — and we did.”
Weir also has bassist Phil Lesh on his mind, a fellow founder member who died last October aged 84.
Back in the day, when we were playing these songs, this [orchestrated sound] is basically what was going on in our heads.
“I’ve thought about him a lot lately and I haven’t come up with any greater clarity other than he was a friend of mine — he taught me a lot and I like to think I taught him a lot.
“He was a musical mentor but, at the same time, my way was not his way. I had to sort the catfish from the trout, as they say, when ideas came up.
“Now, I’m just going to let that all pass.”
It’s a full 60 years since The Grateful Dead formed and 30 since Garcia’s death but Weir is still pushing on by bringing his special concert to the Albert Hall, a venue he’s never played before.
“I’ve only heard about it in songs but I’m looking forward to it for sure,” he says, surely in reference to The Beatles’ A Day In Life with its line, “now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall”.
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Jerry Garcia was a founding member of the band Grateful Dead and died in 1995
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Weir pictured with Wolf Bros
The event follows similar outings by Weir in the States and he believes the addition of a full orchestra is not as strange as it seems.
“Back in the day, when we were playing these songs, this [orchestrated sound] is basically what was going on in our heads,” he says.
“We were hearing a much fuller representation than our instruments allowed us to play.
“So, we imagined how songs could sound and we reached for those timbres. This is an opportunity to actually do it.”
For an artist so defined by improvisation, I’m intrigued by the prospect of him playing with an orchestra and all the attendant constraints.
When I mention this, Weir latches on to the theme and says: “This is the point I wanted you to remind me of.
“Right now, we have to stick to a given arrangement. What’s on the paper is what’s going to get played BUT that’s not where we’re taking this.
“What’s afoot is trying to get it so the orchestra can improvise relatively freely.”
‘I’ll need 100 iPads’
Weir explains his plans for a team of “improv leaders” sorted into “various sections of the orchestra with a multiple choice of riffs”.
“I’m probably going to need Apple to give me a hundred iPads to make it work,” he adds with a wry smile.
“But if it works for us, it will work for any of the composers. I’m thinking of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony — the start of the second movement. You could employ this kind of thing until hell won’t have it no more!”
Weir returns to matters in hand, namely the Albert Hall show and what the audience can expect — ie the unexpected as is the Grateful Dead way.
He says: “We’ve got a couple of dozen songs orchestrated. Right now, it comes out at roughly five and a half hours of music. We’re already at the point where you don’t know what you’re going to hear.
“That’s how we’ve done things all along and that’s how I intend to go on. That said, there will be new additions for the London performance because they’re up and ready.”
Weir senses that his audience will be open-minded about orchestral arrangements and prepared to “get with it” on this latest sonic adventure.
“This is for the folks who want to hear something that’s a step beyond where it’s been — and this is surely that!” he exclaims.
So, are we likely to see the cosmic Dark Star, which once ran to 43 minutes but usually clocks in at about 20.
“Dark Star is orchestrated,” replies Weir. “I won’t say I’m taking requests but I’ll take it into consideration. We haven’t got there with the setlist yet.”
When I was 15, I decided on a terribly romantic thing to do — run off and be a cowboy.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see if he’ll play his most cherished Dead co-writes — Sugar Magnolia, Playing In The Band, Estimated Prophet, Hell In A Bucket, Throwing Stones or, of course, Truckin’.
While Garcia forged an intuitive songwriting partnership with Robert Hunter, yielding Uncle John’s Band, Ripple, Stella Blue and other classics, Weir fell out with Hunter when creating crowd pleaser One More Saturday Night.
He confesses: “There was a lot of tension because I write lyrics too and Hunter was not real good with that. He liked to play it closer to the vest.”
So Weir turned to his pal, the late John Barlow, for collaborations. “Barlow and I went to school together,” he says. “We grew up together.
“When I was 15, I decided on a terribly romantic thing to do — run off and be a cowboy.
“I worked on Barlow’s parents’ ranch in Wyoming. Over the years, we would live out there in a little log cabin and write.
“And I’ll tell you this — we’re just starting to crack the nut on some of our compositions with the orchestral work.”
In this free-ranging interview, full of unexpected twists and turns, a bit like a Grateful Dead live set, I ask Weir about his early visits to England.
He recalls the 1972 Bickershaw Festival, near Wigan, a doomed venture partly organised by late TV host Jeremy Beadle.
The Dead played a five-hour set to the mud-covered crowd and Weir says: “I remember it well. It was a rainy occasion!”
During that tour of Europe, they also did two nights at Wembley Arena (then called Empire Pool) and a four-night stand at London’s Lyceum.
Weir says they were a band at the peak of its powers, celebrated by the live triple album, Europe ’72.
“We were young and strong but jet lag was a serious business,” he adds. “We took it into consideration in ’72 and held off for a few days.
“But we were in a phase when the band was high and we delivered the goods.”
This year, Weir has also been delivering for Dead & Company (with John Mayer on lead guitar) at the state-of-the-art Sphere in Las Vegas.
The venue projects moving images on to the inside of the huge spherical auditorium but, says Weir, it’s still not fully prepared for the Dead’s freewheeling attitude.
“Mind-blowing as it is, it’s still a work in progress because a great deal of technological development needs to be done before content people can be faster on their feet.
“When that work is done, it’s going to surpass opera in terms of what you can deliver from one stage.”
As for this restless soul Weir, he believes that his musical journey is only just “coming to fruition”.
“It’s been complicated so it was always going to take a while,” he admits. “I’m not sure I totally understand what it is that I’m up to but I have a handle on it now to take the nextsteps forward.”
It seems that this line from Truckin’ could have been written for Bobby Weir.
“Sometimes the light’s all shinin’ on me.”
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Weir says ‘Jerry (right) and I were soulmates, I did stuff that he didn’t do, and he did stuff that I didn’t do. We relied on each other.Credit: Redferns
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On June 21, Weir is heading to the UK for the first time in 22 years
Most businesses still believe they are in a worse situation than before President Donald Trump’s tariff blitz
Bosses privately complained last night that despite being the first nation to strike a deal, the UK is still stuck with a 10 per cent baseline tariff.
Institute of Directors adviser Emma Rowland said while the deal “shields some of our key export sectors from the worst excesses of US protectionism . . . it falls short of the full free trade agreement ministers have been seeking for years”.
The FTSE 100 yesterday dipped by 27.72 points — 0.32 per cent — to 8,531.61.
The terms of the historic deal mean British car makers will have their tariffs knocked back from 27.5 per cent to 10 per cent for the first 100,000 of vehicles sent across the Atlantic — close to the exact amount of annual exports.
READ MORE ON US-UK TRADE DEAL
JLR ships around a quarter of its vehicles to the US every year and was facing millions in extra export costs that threatened the factory’s livelihood.
JLR boss Adrian Mardell said: “The car industry is vital to the UK’s prosperity, sustaining 250,000 jobs. We warmly welcome this deal.”
Luxury car brand Aston Martin saw its shares jump by 14 per cent yesterday.
Other winners include British Steel with 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports dropped. Brewers will also benefit.
And Rolls-Royce is a big winner after Mr Trump reduced a tariff to 10 per cent on the aircraft maker’s engines and some parts.
But farmers will be angry over ethanol imports and more machinery, chemicals and beef, although food standards will remain.
Moment Keir Starmer & Donald Trump seal UK-US trade deal in historic phone call
AIR CHAOS CLUE
A FIRE that caused the Heathrow Airport shutdown has been traced to a 60-year-old electricity substation.
A report by the National Energy System Operator into the chaos on March 20 confirmed the blaze started at the North Hyde substation, which had been built in the 1960s.
It then spread to two other National Grid facilities, which took out the power from Europe’s busiest airport.
The report said the cause remained unknown but police had found no evidence to suggest it was suspicious.
NEXT BASKS IN SUN
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Next saw a surge in demand for spring and summer wardrobes, as modelled by telly’s Rochelle Humes
FASHION powerhouse Next has boosted its profit forecasts for the second time in two months after spring sunshine sent shoppers flocking to the high street.
The chain said sales had jumped by 11.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to April 26, helped by the “warmer weather” which had caused a surge in demand for spring and summer wardrobes, as modelled by telly’s Rochelle Humes.
After making £55million more in sales than expected over the past three months, Next bumped up its profit forecasts by £14million to £1.08billion.
One insider said the profit upgrade did not reflect any benefit from shoppers switching to Next during Marks & Spencer’s cyber attack because the 13-week period had been before M&S stopped taking online orders.
M&S shares tumbled during the incident – with the retailer shedding more than 12 per cent of its value, or £1.05billion, since the hack at Easter.
The CO-OP and Harrods were also subject to recent cyber attacks which crippled online systems.
Next is likely to benefit from M&S shoppers who are impatient to order new outfits switching loyalty as the cyber attack issues drag on.
TSB’S ON A ROLL
HIGH street bank TSB has posted a doubling in profits thanks to cost-cutting and new mortgage business.
First-quarter profits at the lender — owned by Spanish bank Sabadell — rose from £53.4million a year ago to £101.3million.
And its mortgage lending jumped by 12 per cent year-on-year to £1.5billion from January to the end of March.
The bank said: “The UK consumer remains resilient in the face of sluggish economic growth and uncertainty about the global outlook.”
CENTRICA PAY FUELS REVOLT
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Centrica’s Chris O’Shea was paid £4.3million last year
THE owner of British Gas faced a shareholder revolt yesterday as nearly 40 per cent of investors voted against pay packages for its top brass.
Centrica’s Chris O’Shea was paid £4.3million last year, roughly half the £8.4million he earned the year before.
Mr O’Shea has previously said there was “no point” in trying to justify his multimillion pay package — and he has come under fire as households face rising energybills.
At Centrica’s annual investor meeting in Manchester, two in five shareholders voted against its remuneration report, which sets the pay for top directors.
Shareholder advisory group ISS had recommended investors vote against Mr O’Shea’s pay packet.
The meeting came alongside British Gas saying profits will be lower because a warm spring had lessened demand for heating.
TESCO boss Ken Murphy has seen his pay dip to £9.23million from £10.2million last year.
In 2024, his pay doubled from £4.4million as share awards vested.
The head of Britain’s biggest retailer received a 3 per cent rise in his base salary to £1.45million.
ELECTRIC VANS FLAT
TRADERS are snubbing electric vans amid fears of high prices and charging anxiety, Autotrader data shows.
The online marketplace says despite van makers offering discounts, drivers are reluctant to commit.
Used electric vans take 12 days longer to sell, with many nervous about a lack of charging points.
Tom Roberts, of Autotrader, said: “There’s a confidence crisis among tradespeople in going electric.”
