New York is expected to become the fourteenth state to legalize medically assisted death in the United States, upon receiving Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature this week.

The Medical Aid In Dying Act, which was passed by the New York state legislature last year, provides legal language to allow terminally-ill, mentally-competent people who are given less than six months to live to request life-ending medication.

For more than 10 years, state lawmakers have sought to legalize medically assisted death in New York, allowing terminally ill people to die with dignity.

“It isn’t about ending a person’s life, but shortening their death,” then-New York state Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal told reporters last year. Hoylman-Sigal introduced the bill but was elected Manhattan Borough President in November, before the bill was enacted.

Although the state legislature passed the bill last year, Hochul had wavered on signing it to negotiate additional guardrails. In December, the governor announced she would sign the bill after reaching a deal to require patients participate in a five-day waiting period, mandatory mental health evaluations, in-person physician evaluation, elect a person other than someone who may benefit financially from their death serve as a witness to the request and more.

The governor, who said she plans to sign the bill, has until Friday at midnight to enact it. It will take effect six months later.

“Although this was an incredibly difficult decision, I ultimately determined that with the additional guardrails agreed upon with the legislature, this bill would allow New Yorkers to suffer less–to shorten not their lives, but their deaths,” Hochul said in December.

Hochul asked for the six-month extension to give the state Department of Health to place regulations around the medication and process while ensuring healthcare facilities can properly train staff.

Medically-assisted death is largely favored in the U.S. A 2024 Gallup poll found that 71 percent of people believe doctors should be allowed by law to end a patient’s life in a painless way if it meets the patient’s request.

Last year, a group commissioned to conduct a poll of New Yorkers’ feelings toward medically assisted death, End of Life Choice New York, found that 68 percent supported the legislation. While support varied on demographic, people of all races and political affiliation largely supported the law.

New York will join California, Colorado, Delaware, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington in legalizing medically assisted death.

Alan Shearer believes Newcastle United will struggle to hold onto players like Sandro Tonali if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Tonali’s future in the north east came into doubt on transfer deadline day after it emerged he had been offered to Arsenal after the Gunners lost Mikel Merino to injury.

Arsenal explored the move with talks taking place in the final hours of the January window. Newcastle however swiftly knocked back the audacious approach, adamant one of their key players would not leave the club midway through the campaign.

Eddie Howe echoed those sentiments this week, insisting the Italy international ‘loves representing the city’, dismissing suggestions January interest could unsettle the player heading into the summer.

Newcastle are hopeful of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League with a play-off tie against Qarabag to navigate first.

Their participation in next season’s competition is less certain, with the Magpies currently sat in 11^th place.

While fifth is likely to be good enough for Champions League qualification again, Newcastle are currently seven points adrift of that spot.

Premier League legend Shearer fears his old side will find themselves in a very tricky situation in the summer if there is no European football on offer for their most coveted players.

‘Sandro Tonali hasn’t hit the heights he was at last season, but I guess what’ll happen is, if Newcastle aren’t going to qualify for Europe or be competitive in the Premier League, you’d expect other clubs will look at Newcastle and try to buy their best players,’ Shearer told Betfair.

‘Although it was a surprise in the January window, I think it’ll happen more in the summer if Newcastle don’t achieve what they have in the past few years.

‘Top players want to play Champions League football, and we know there’s no real loyalty in football – I’m not saying Tonali will do anything like that, but we know if clubs don’t get into European places, other clubs will try and pick players up.

‘Newcastle have to start winning games and go far in the FA Cup and hopefully the Champions League to try and rescue what, at the minute, certainly Premier League wise, has been a disappointing return.

‘I know we got to a semi-final and all those years ago we’d craved for that but then the money that’s been spent and put into the club and where the club wants to go to, at the minute it’s been disappointing.’

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American Idol alum Rhonetta Johnson appears worse for wear in a new mugshot linked to an arrest for prostitution years after appearing on the hit talent show.

Johnson, now 44, became a viral sensation after a disastrous audition during American Idol’s Season 5 in 2006, when she had a fiery clash with judge Paula Abdul.

The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal she was taken into custody at the end of January after skipping previous court dates.

She was booked in North Carolina’s Mecklenburg County after an outstanding order for arrest tied to a long-running prostitution case was finally served at the courthouse.

She was issued multiple release orders, had a public defender appointed, and was placed on a $2,500 unsecured bond, which was later posted.

The arrest traces back to a separate prostitution case filed in 2018, which dragged on for years after Johnson repeatedly failed to appear in court.

Johnson was caught on October 4 in an undercover sting at a massage parlor that led to multiple prostitution arrests in Charlotte, according to charlottealertsnews.com.

Officers found her at the Continental Inn on West Sugar Creek Road, where she allegedly agreed to have sex with an undercover officer for $35, cops said.

During the encounter, Johnson reportedly made a spontaneous statement admitting she had a crack pipe, which officers later found in her bag, leading to an additional charge, the outlet reported.

The charge was later dropped, and only the prostitution charge was filed.

Following her initial arrest, Johnson repeatedly missed court appearances, prompting several warrants, and she was taken into custody and released multiple times in 2019 on secured bonds reaching $2,000.

Despite the drawn-out proceedings, prosecutors ultimately dismissed the prostitution charge with leave in February 2020, formally ending the case, though unresolved paperwork allowed it to resurface years later.

LONG RAP SHEET

Johnson’s legal troubles date back even further.

In June last year, the Columbus Police Department also issued a missing persons plea after she reportedly disappeared.

A post on Facebook shows they later updated followers, saying she had been located in “good health.”

In 2012, she was cited for possessing up to half an ounce of marijuana and charged with soliciting for prostitution, court filings show.

After failing to appear in court multiple times, she was finally arrested in August 2014.

The case was resolved the following month when she pleaded guilty to the marijuana charge and was sentenced to 27 days in jail, all credited as time already served, while the prostitution charge was dismissed.

Court records later show she was hit with $170 in attorney-fee judgments, which remained unpaid and were flagged for state debt collection in July 2025.

The U.S. Sun can also confirm she has had multiple run-ins with the law dating back as far as the 1990s, before her time on the show.

WILD CONTESTANT

Johnson first grabbed attention as a contestant in 2006, auditioning in Greensboro, North Carolina.

She didn’t make it to the Hollywood rounds, but her audition became infamous, not for her singing, but for her reaction after being rejected by the judges.

Johnson lashed out at Abdul, claiming she could be “bigger” than stars like JLo, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, and even refused Abdul’s offer of water, mocking the judge on camera.

Clips of the audition went viral, earning Johnson a spot in reality TV lore and even a humorous mention during that season’s finale.

She never launched a mainstream music career, though she did release a self-produced remix EP in 2014.

Cristina Perez Galcenco, the 21-year-old daughter of a retired Spanish footballer, was tragically found dead at her home this week

Tributes have poured in for an international catwalk model who was tragically found dead at her home in Spain.

Cristina Perez Galcenco, the 21-year-old daughter of a retired Spanish footballer, was found dead in Caleta de Velez, Costa del Sol, near Malaga on Tuesday. The Lanzarote-born beauty was said to have a promising future ahead of her, having already done catwalk modelling around the world in cities including London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. Well-placed sources said today her death wasn’t being treated as suspicious.

Graciela Suarez, director of a fashion event in Oviedo in northern Spain called Pasarela Campoamor – where Cristina first made her name as a teenager – said today: “I am devastated.”

As well as participating in events like Madrid Fashion Week, Cristina also featured in a number of ad campaigns for big brands like Stradivarius – even presenting new fashion collections for the likes of Versace and Louis Vuitton.

Her body is expected to be transferred to Asturias in northern Spain where she grew up in the next few days so her funeral can take place.

Cristina’s parents, former goalkeeper Nacho Perez and her Moldovan-born mum Tatiana Galcenco, have yet to comment on their social media.

Photographer Xana de Jesus said in an emotional tribute: “I have no words for this sad news, except to tell her parents Tatiana Galcenco and Nacho Perez and her family that a star shines eternally in our hearts and that I offer my deepest condolences in such a time of grief.

“I will never forget your words, Cris. You were and always will be a role model and an example to follow, both in your modelling career and as a person. I was very fortunate to have known you and worked with you. How unfair life is.” Another heartbroken friend added: “Cristina is an angel and always was.”

Cristina said in a recent interview: “My job is to be the image of what a brand wants to represent to the public, whether through catwalks or advertising campaigns. I always say that the most satisfying thing about this profession is the number of people, cultures and mentalities you get to know.

“They are so different from your comfort zone that you have no choice but to grow and adapt to them; on the other hand, I feel that this comes with loneliness, which is the worst part of this job.

“It is a fact that, being constantly on the move, no one in your close circle can keep up with you, so learning to get along with yourself is one of the most important things.”

Cristina went on to admit that modelling at a young age had been an obstacle in confronting some of the difficulties associated with the job. She was studying a course in Malaga around the time of her death.

Enzo Romano, 16, said it was his ‘dream’ to wear the Welsh shirt again

A talented young Welsh footballer was “devastated” to be told he might be banned from playing for his country again because he doesn’t hold a UK passport. Enzo Romano, 16, was born in Cardiff to Spanish and Italian parents and grew up in the city before moving to Spain at the age of eight when he signed for the Barcelona football academy.

The family still live in Spain but Enzo has been playing for Wales at junior level for a number of years.

However, from the age of 16, Welsh youth teams start playing in international competitions overseen by FIFA, whose eligibility rules state that you must have citizenship for the country you play for. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Enzo’s dad Antonio Romano told WalesOnline that his son is “proudly Welsh” and wants to play for his national team again but the Home Office has rejected his application for British citizenship on two occasions, seemingly ending his dream of playing for Wales’ first team.

Enzo said it feels “unfair” that his “dream of wearing the Welsh shirt in the Cardiff City Stadium making my debut for my national country” could potentially be taken away from him.

The Home Office has agreed to reopen the case to review new evidence submitted by the family. Antonio said the teenager has turned down playing for Spain, Italy and the Dominican Republic because of how much he wants to play for Wales.

He added that Enzo has been “emotional” for the last two years while the family have been trying to get the issue resolved.

Antonio said: “He has said no to three national teams to play for Wales and so after he heard that the Home Office rejected his citizenship application, he was devastated.

“I’m fighting so much because I want to see my son happy. He’s proudly Welsh and he wants to play for his national country.”

Antonio said that the FAW have been trying to support the family with the application.

He added that the family have been given multiple reasons why the application for citizenship has been rejected. According to the Home Office website, in order to obtain British citizenship at least one of your parents must be British or have settled permanently in Britain.

Antonio lived and worked in Cardiff for over a decade and believed he had permanent resident status, but said that the Home Office told them he had not submitted the evidence to prove this. He also said that the case is being reopened to consider new evidence from the family.

Antonio said he is “hopeful” that they may receive news within weeks confirming whether Enzo’s dream of playing for the Welsh team again “will come true”.

After the family shared the news about the Home Office rejecting his application for a second time last week, dozens of people have been in touch with the family to offer support.

He said: “I’m so grateful for everyone’s words and support. It keeps me feeling more Welsh than I already was.”

Enzo now plays for FC Damm, a club which Antonio said regularly produces players which go on to play for Barcelona.

The Home Office has been approached for a comment.

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9 mins: Gibson-Park with an up and over kick looking for Stockdale to invert and claim, but the hosts hold him up well. It’s turned over, however, with another cross-field kick, this time from Prendergast, which is an absolute beauty looking for O’Brien, but Ramos is over on that right flank to clean up.

Andrew Peacock, who had been deputy head of department at Hetton Academy, was spotted walking naked in a residential area causing fearful onlookers to call the police

A maths teacher who claimed to be a naturist was spotted naked in the street by pub goers as he walked through a residential area.

Andrew Peacock, who had been deputy head of department at a nearby academy, was spotted walking nude through Hebburn in Tyne and Wear heading towards the River Tyne. Mr Peacock, who had been deputy head of department at Hetton Academy, was accused of four allegations at a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing.

The tribunal heard how he accepted a police caution for a public order offence – namely causing harassment, alarm or distress, Chronicle Live reports. Two members of the public reported Mr Peacock to police after he was found naked in a residential area – Ellison Street in Hebburn. Cops were told that the pair hid from Mr Peacock after he had got into his parked car and “driven up and down” the street.

The allegations were laid out at a virtual hearing of the TRA on Thursday February 5. Leah Redden presented the allegations before the panel; that Mr Peacock had been naked in a public place on the November 11, 2023, that he had been arrested but failed to inform anyone at the school about this, that his conduct constituted a criminal offence and he had accepted a caution, and that his conduct was dishonest.

The tribunal panel found each offence proven, and also found that Mr Peacock’s actions had constituted misconduct and may bring the profession into disrepute. The panel will now decide whether to recommend a teaching ban is imposed by the Secretary of State for Education.

During the hearing Ms Redden told the panel how Mr Peacock had been deputy head of maths at Hetton Academy from 2022 to 2024 when he resigned prior to an internal disciplinary hearing. He had been employed there since 2013.

Ms Redden added: “He was arrested [over his] nakedness in a public place on November 11, 2023. The circumstances were he was spotted by two members of the public, seeing he was naked in a residential area.”

She added that: “It is [Mr Peacock’s] position that he is a naturist and had been delivering food in the local area before deciding to go for a walk by the river.” The teacher claimed to have spent less than a minute outdoors – returning towards his car when he heard a voice – the panel heard.

Hetton Academy Principal Vicky Pinkney gave evidence, telling the panel that Mr Peacock had not taken the opportunity to inform her of his arrest over a period of more than a week. The school only found out about this when the local authority designated officer (LADO) contacted her. At this stage Mr Peacock was called to a meeting and a disciplinary investigation began.

Ms Pinkney told the panel that she had serious concerns about the impact of Mr Peacock’s behaviour. She said: “He seemed to think that he was a naturist and it didn’t affect school and that it was acceptable for him to be out and about without his clothes on. I was quite shocked – as I did think it affects school.”

She told the panel she was not aware of any school pupils living in the relevant area of Hebburn – but that a member of staff did live nearby, and that she knew some pupils did attend school via taxi from places further afield. The principal added that there had been no previous concerns about Mr Peacock though he had experienced periods of absence from school.”

Asked about the quality of his teaching, he added: “He was an okay teacher, results were not always where perhaps they should have been but we were working to develop that.”

In her closing statement for the TRA, Ms Redden recalled the evidence of a witness who saw an unclothed Mr Peacock. She said: “She felt panicked and terrified. She did not know what he was planning on doing. He made her think twice about being out at night.”

Ms Redden added there were a number of residential houses facing the street and said: “It is clear that he was in a residential area and did not park as close to the river as he possibly could have. He would have been aware that to get to the river he would have had to walk past those houses.”

She added that Mr Peacock contends his actions were a “simple act of naturism” but in the TRA’s view “it was rather an act which constituted a criminal offence, corroborated by witnesses, who felt they had to hide, fearing they were followed”.

The tribunal panel – Carl Lygo, Suhel Ahmed and Beverley Williams – found all four allegations proven. In announcing the decision, Mr Lygo explained details of evidence the panel had been provided with including witness statements from the police investigation and disciplinary hearing, along with Mr Peacock’s video-taped police interview.

Mr Lygo cited the police witness statements adding: “The police report states that at the time Mr Peacock was stopped in his car, [the officer] noticed Mr Peacock had a grey hoody placed over his lap and his bare legs were showing.”

Mr Lygo recapped that Mr Peacock had accepted being naked but had claimed to have “taken reasonable steps” to avoid being seen. The panel chair also explained that in his evidence to the TRA and the school disciplinary hearing, Mr Peacock had claimed that he had accepted the police caution to “avoid attracting media attention” and to protect the school’s reputation.

The teacher had claimed not to have known that he needed to tell his school about the arrest – but the panel did not accept this application. Mr Lygo said that in Mr Peacock’s police interview he had denied seeking to be seen, intending to alarm anyone, or seeking sexual gratification.

Referring to the charge of Mr Peacock not informing his superiors about the arrest, Mr Lygo continued, adding: “As an experienced teacher, Mr Peacock would have been familiar with his responsibilities around safeguarding.”

Mr Lygo added: “His behaviour amounted to misconduct and fell significantly short of the standards expected from the profession. He was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.”

A TV star who worked on Lord Sugar’s BBC show has a new job lined up

Tom Allen has teased details of his new role after quitting his job on The Apprentice.

The comedian had hosted the BBC show’s spin-off The Apprentice: You’re Fired since 2019, but recently confirmed his departure. He is now set to appear on stage in West End musical Titanique, a parody based on the film Titanic which follows the love story of Rose and Jack, but with lots of twists.

Appearing on The One Show on Thursday (February 5), he said he was “so excited” but admitted to battling the nerves.

“I’m nervous because I’m having very intense singing lessons at the moment, which has been great fun,” he said.

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“And it’s been very intense. And I just didn’t want to show myself up in front of a cast of like, literally the best singers in the land.

“So I didn’t want to sit there and be like, ‘Oh, I don’t know anything, me.’

“So I’m a little bit apprehensive. And of course, I’m going to be the new boy to hit the cast and… a bit intimidating. But I’m reassured they’re nice people.”

Tom told the show’s hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp of the production: “It’s kind of like that kind of madcap camp comedy that you only really see in things like Airplane and Naked Gun and maybe 30 Rock… It’s so funny.”

Tom recently announced he was leaving The Apprentice spin-off, posting on Instagram: “I have decided, after six years, to say goodbye to The Apprentice: You’re Fired.

“I have had so much fun working with the most incredible creative people to make it all happen. I was also getting concerned Lord Sugar might realise I know nothing about business – as above video demonstrates.

“Thank you @lord_sugar @karren_brady_official @timcampbell_mbe for all their support and encouragement at every step and also thank you to each @apprenticeuk candidate and guest panellist who joined me in the studio.”

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website.

The Apprentice and The One Show both air on the BBC.

Forecasted heavy winds and heavy sea state have resulted in several sailings being cancelled.

Sailings between Cairnryan and Loch Ryan Ports and Northern Ireland have been cancelled due to heavy winds. Operation Overflow will be activated from 7pm this evening.

This comes after a number of sailings to and from Northern Ireland were cancelled due to forecasted high winds and heavy sea state. Those booked onto any of the affected sailings are advised not to travel to the areas where delays are expected and should instead seek alternative travel options elsewhere.

Freight drivers attending the area are advised to follow instructions from port operators and Police Scotland about accessing the Operation Overflow site while the cancellations are in place.

A statement from Stena Line read: “Please be advised Operation Overflow will be in process from 1900hrs this evening and Cairnryan port will closed for acceptance of freight vehicles. Unfortunately, as a result of this all bookings are suspended.

“This will remain in place until the clearance of the backlog of traffic currently waiting at the port and the overflow area at Castle Kennedy. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.”

A spokesperson for P&O Ferries earlier said: “Please see below sailing cancellation update. Due to severe weather we have now cancelled the 20:00hrs crossing from Larne and Cairnryan.

“Thursday 5th February: 12:00hrs, 16:00hrs, 20:00hrs – CANCELLED. 23:59hrs sailing is currently under review and remains subject to a further weather update later today.

“Normal allocations will be suspended and all space is subject to availability. Thank you for your patience and continued support.” P&O Ferries.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Operation Overflow will be activated from 7pm on Thursday, 5 February, 2026, after a number of sailings between Cairnryan and Loch Ryan Ports and Northern Ireland were cancelled. This is due to forecasted high winds and heavy sea state.

“Those booked onto any of the affected sailings are advised not to travel to the areas where delays are expected and should instead seek alternative travel options elsewhere. Please check with Stena Line and P&O Ferries as appropriate for updates on your sailings.

“Freight drivers attending the area are advised to follow instructions from port operators and Police Scotland about accessing the Operation Overflow site while the cancellations are in place.”