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NewsBeat

Voters in California governor’s race to decide future of state government

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Voters in California governor's race to decide future of state government

One of the country’s messiest and most consequential governor’s races is hurtling toward an inflection point on Tuesday in California.

Voters are looking for a replacement for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, and their decision will help determine the future of a state government that is a testing ground for progressive ideas and a punching bag for Republican President Donald Trump. California is not only the nation’s most populous state, it has one of the world’s largest economies and is home to Hollywood tastemakers, Silicon Valley disrupters and Central Valley farmers.

The race was upended in April when Rep. Eric Swalwell, who had been consolidating support among establishment Democrats, was accused of sexual assault and dropped out.

California eliminated partisan primaries in 2010 in favor of a “ jungle primary.” All voters will get the full list of candidates, and the top two finishers will advance to the general election regardless of party.

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Two polls conducted in mid-to-late May suggested that Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton each have the support of about 2 in 10 likely voters. In one of the polls, Democrat Tom Steyer landed closer to Becerra and Hilton, with Republican Chad Bianco and Democrat Katie Porter trailing further behind, but similar shares of voters were supporting Steyer, Bianco and Porter in the other poll. None of the other candidates were polling in double digits in either poll.

Among the 61 names on the ballot, money and attention have accumulated around a handful of candidates with track records in politics. Here’s a look at those top contenders.

Xavier Becerra, Democrat

Becerra has a 35-year history in California and national politics. He was a member of Democratic leadership in the U.S. House when then-Gov. Jerry Brown picked him to be California attorney general after Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate. He used that perch to aggressively fight Trump and his agenda in court during the president’s first term.

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He later served in President Joe Biden’s cabinet as secretary of Health and Human Services.

That experience is at the core of his pitch to voters as a steady hand to guide California and stand up to Trump. It has also invited scrutiny.

Some Biden administration alumni have disparaged his record as health secretary, and he has faced persistent questions since a former top aide was convicted of stealing his campaign funds.

After Swalwell dropped out, Becerra consolidated support from many of California’s Democratic power players, including major labor unions, Planned Parenthood and the LGBTQ rights group Equality California.

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Steve Hilton, Republican

Trump’s endorsement gives Hilton a leg up with Republicans and perhaps the clearest path of any of the candidates into the general election. But it could be a liability in November in a state that voted overwhelmingly against the Republican president. Hilton largely avoided mentioning Trump unless prompted during a series of debates.

Hilton is a conservative commentator and former Fox New host. Originally from England, he advised former British Prime Minister David Cameron.

In a nod to the dominance of Democrats in California, he is urging voters to elect a Republican as a check on the majority in Sacramento. In contrast with Bianco’s focus on cultural issues, Hilton’s message is tied more closely with the traditional Republican focus on lower taxes and smaller government. He has pledged to make people’s first $100,000 of income tax free and to dramatically lower gas prices.

Tom Steyer, Democrat

The billionaire founder of a San Francisco-based hedge fund, Steyer — or his face, at least — is everywhere ahead of the primary. His record-breaking spending, mostly from his personal fortune, has made his advertising inescapable. That has helped him become one of the race’s frontrunners.

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Steyer, who has never held elected office, first made a name for himself as a donor to Democratic politicians and groups committed to fighting climate change. He bankrolled a campaign calling for Trump’s impeachment during his first term, and he later financed his own campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but dropped out after a disappointing showing in early-state primaries and caucuses.

Steyer is running as a progressive populist, railing against the political power wielded by special interests and corporations. His message has endeared him to unlikely allies for a billionaire financier, including the Bernie Sanders-aligned group Our Revolution.

Matt Mahan, Democrat

As mayor of San Jose, Mahan is a moderate Democrat rooted in the pro-innovation ethos of Silicon Valley. His business-friendly pitch and his own background as an entrepreneur have made him a favorite with some in the tech world.

Mahan says California should get “back to basics,” emphasizing technocratic problem solving over factional skirmishes. He entered the race late as an outsider to Sacramento leadership, building a statewide profile mainly by criticizing Newsom and the Legislature’s response to homelessness and crime.

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His backing from tech executives — and their millions of dollars — has been controversial in some corners of the party, particularly among labor unions and populists worried Silicon Valley elites wield too much power.

Still, he has struggled to consolidate support on the pro-business left, and even some of his benefactors are hedging their bets. Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale also gave to Republican Steve Hilton.

Katie Porter, Democrat

Once a college professor, Porter made a name for herself with a whiteboard and simple policy messages during three terms representing Orange County in Congress. Her verbal sparring with business executives testifying on Capitol Hill went viral.

Porter is leaning on her populist, anti-corporate background, arguing that she can fight on behalf of normal Californians against powerful interests. Before running for office, she was California’s independent monitor of banks in the national mortgage settlement following the 2008 financial crisis.

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Her grasp of policy has helped her amass support from newspaper editorial boards. But she has battled an image as a mercurial leader. Leaked videos showed her berating an aide who could be seen behind her in a Zoom video and threatening to walk out of a television interview. She has apologized and pledged to treat people more respectfully.

Porter ran for Senate in 2024, but she failed to make it through the primary.

Antonio Villaraigosa, Democrat

The former mayor of Los Angeles and speaker of the state Assembly has struggled to gain traction after more than a decade out of public office.

A one-time union organizer, Villaraigosa was the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles in more than a century, a role he filled from 2005 to 2013.

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Villaraigosa is pitching his experience in LA and the state Capitol, running as a pragmatic, centrist problem solver in an implicit contrast with his Democratic rivals emphasizing their commitment to a progressive ideology.

Villaraigosa’s roots are in the Southern California political ecosystem, which would be a contrast after four terms of Brown and Newsom, both governors from the San Francisco Bay Area.

He ran for governor in 2018 but finished third in the primary.

Chad Bianco, Republican

Bianco is the sheriff of Riverside County and is emphasizing his three-decade career in law enforcement, pledging to tackle crime and homelessness.

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A staunch Trump supporter, Bianco stoked national notoriety when his office seized 1,000 boxes of election material including more than a half million ballots from a 2025 special election on redistricting. He says it is part of a legitimate criminal investigation, but critics see it as a nod to discredited conspiracy theories that have motivated Trump’s base. The state Supreme Court in April ordered him to halt the probe.

The seizure put him at odds with California’s Democratic attorney general and raised his profile among Republicans.

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Wizz Air threatens to cut UK flights due to rising tax price

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Wizz Air threatens to cut UK flights due to rising tax price

The budget airline issued the warning as it assesses the impact of the rising air passenger duty (APD) on demand and profitability.

APD, a tax imposed by HMRC and paid by airline passengers, reached a record high in April and is set to rise again next year in line with inflation.



Chief executive of Wizz Air, József Váradi, speaking in The Telegraph, said: “We are evaluating the impacts of those measures to see how they would play out, so that would affect our capacity in the UK.

“Nothing is ever engraved in stone.

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“We have to evaluate how exactly that plays out on our network, our customer base and our financial performance and make decisions accordingly.”

Mr Váradi said Wizz Air is “committed to the UK”, but added that “if the cost of business is going up, that will result in capacity rationalisation if you are unable to pass it on to customers.”

Wizz Air boss issues update on fare prices

Despite increasing fuel prices driven by the conflict in Iran, Mr Váradi said the airline aims to keep fares stable this summer.

He said he had no concerns about fuel supplies, with good visibility until the middle of August, although some countries have begun tapping into strategic reserves.

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Earlier this year, Wizz Air cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and other Middle Eastern destinations following the outbreak of conflict in the region.

These cancellations, along with suspended routes to Cyprus, cost the airline an estimated €50 million (£43.1 million).

Wizz Air fare prices look set to remain stable this summer, despite the conflict in the Middle East. (Image: Getty Images)

Flights to Tel Aviv resumed at the end of May, and the airline shifted its summer offerings to other destinations, including Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Albania.

British Airways and Ryanair among other major airlines to have cut flights

Several other airlines have been forced to cut flights, increase fares, or axe UK routes in 2026.

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UK airline Skybus announced back in April that it had ceased all flights between Cornwall and London due to “the huge rise in the global cost of fuel” and “a significant drop in new passenger bookings”.

Due to the “ongoing uncertainty” caused by the conflict in the Middle East and airspace restrictions, British Airways (BA) was also forced to cancel or suspend flights to various destinations, including Dubai and Doha, in March.

BA had been set to resume its regular schedule to Dubai International Airport on July 1.

However, this has now been delayed, and all flights between the UK and Dubai have been cancelled until October 25.

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All flights to Amman, Bahrain, and Tel Aviv have also been cancelled until October.

BA has also confirmed it is reducing its Doha schedule to one daily flight, set to resume from August 1, according to Time Out.

Ryanair has also been forced to make several major changes in 2026.

In April, the budget airline revealed it would be closing its Berlin base as of October 24, reducing the number of flights it operates out of the German capital by 50% (for its upcoming winter schedule).

Ryanair also announced it will close its Thessaloniki base and reduce capacity at Athens Airport for the 2026 winter season.

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This closure will result in:

  • 12 routes being cut
  • The loss of 700,000 seats
  • A 45% reduction in passenger capacity
  • Suspension of operations in Chania and Heraklion


The airline said both these cuts were due to high airport costs.

All the cuts made by Ryanair recently due to rising costs have resulted in flights being cut from 19 airports across the UK and Europe, according to The Sun:

United Kingdom

  • London Stansted
  • Manchester

Ireland

Germany

  • Berlin Brandenburg
  • Cologne Bonn
  • Hamburg

Italy

Portugal

Belgium

France

Poland

Hungary

Romania

Bulgaria

Spain

Travellers flying to or from these airports are being urged to check their schedules before flying to ensure their bookings are still going ahead.

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Have you got any flights booked with Wizz Air in 2026? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

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James McClean slams FAI’s ‘cowardly move’ over Ireland-Israel venue change

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Belfast Live

The Derry native has slammed the FAI’s decision to move Ireland’s UEFA Nations League match against Israel to a neutral venue

James McClean has slammed the FAI’s choice to relocate Ireland’s fixture against Israel to a neutral location.

The Derry native has argued that the organisation missed a chance to “stand on the right side of history” by refusing to play the match, describing the decision as a “cowardly move”.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Ireland’s UEFA Nations League encounter with Israel would take place at a neutral ground instead of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

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But, McClean, who earned 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland, has condemned the organisation for not taking a stance on the continuing situation in Gaza.

Speaking to RTE Sport on Saturday evening, the Derry City player said: “I think we’ve missed a massive opportunity here.

“I think the decision to move to a neutral venue behind closed doors, of all the decisions we could have made, is by far the worst one.

“The FAI have missed a massive opportunity to stand on the right side of history.

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“If you’re going to go ahead with the game, at least have the courage to face the backlash that was going to come with it being played in Dublin.

“But to move it away is a cowardly move. If there’s one country that can relate to the oppression and famine and what’s going on in Gaza, it’s the people of this country.

“I think the decision-makers have kind of forgotten that, to be honest.”

On Saturday, the FAI published an extensive statement outlining the reasoning behind relocating the Israel match to a neutral venue.

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“The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirms that UEFA has approved a request to host the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixture between Ireland and Israel on October 4 overseas, at a neutral venue and behind closed doors,” the statement read.

“Following consultation with various stakeholders, the Association is of the view that operational challenges could impact the delivery of the game on home soil, and therefore the fixture will be played away from the Aviva Stadium.”

“The Association thanks An Garda Síochána for their support and advice over recent months and states that the decision to relocate to a neutral venue is one that has been considered an appropriate course of action by the FAI Board, with the support of UEFA.

“The Association understands and respects the views expressed by players and staff, supporters, its members, campaigners, members of the public and the Irish footballing community in relation to this fixture.

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“In recent months, the Association has been in communication with the Palestinian Football Association regarding the fulfilment of the fixtures and they have shared the following statement:

“‘The Palestinian Football Association expresses its appreciation for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes.

“‘The Palestinian Football Association also affirms its respect for the decision made by the Football Association of Ireland within the framework of its sporting and international obligations, in a manner that enables it to continue fulfilling its noble mission of serving football and promoting the values of justice, solidarity and mutual respect.’

“The Association is deeply conscious of the suffering and devastation being endured by civilians in Gaza and continues to reflect the sentiment of the motion that was proposed and voted in favour of by members of the FAI General Assembly in November 2025. This motion was to issue a formal request to the UEFA Executive Committee for the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions for a breach of UEFA statutes.

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“While the Association submitted that motion to UEFA and has consulted with UEFA officials for almost two years on this issue, it also recognises the UEFA competition rules and regulations to which it has agreed. These outline that if an association refuses to play a match, that fixture will be forfeited and further disciplinary measures may follow, including potential disqualification from the competition.

“In February 2026, Ireland were drawn into Group B3 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League alongside Austria, Israel and Kosovo. The Association stated at the time that the Ireland team would proceed with all scheduled fixtures and maintains this position, given that any alternative would have a profound impact on Irish football as a whole.

“If the Association opted not to fulfil the fixtures, the immediate result would be:

“Beyond the sporting implications, there would be broader consequences for Irish football, including a reduced capacity to support clubs and leagues through critical services such as safeguarding, educational programmes and player development opportunities.

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“There could also be implications for Ireland international teams, including the withdrawal of underage teams and a reduction in the level of support and services provided to players and staff.

“The Association will engage with its members at a forthcoming Extraordinary General Meeting, but reminds its members that it is the responsibility of the FAI Board to protect the future interests of football in Ireland and therefore remains committed to fulfilling each of its 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixtures.

“While the FAI Board appreciates that its decision to fulfil this fixture affects many stakeholders, it would ask that consideration also be given to the players and staff.

“The Association acknowledges the impact the change of venue will have on its loyal Season Ticket holders and Club Ireland members. Once all details surrounding the fixture on October 4 have been finalised, the Association will update its 2026 FAI Season Ticket holders and Club Ireland members on the appropriate ticketing arrangements, which may include compensation or the possibility of an additional home fixture in 2027.

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“The FAI Board would like to reiterate that its decision to fulfil the fixture has been made in the interests of Irish football.”

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UFC Freedom 250 fighter Josh Hokit throws up on scales: ‘So what? I was drinking’

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UFC Freedom 250 fighter Josh Hokit throws up on scales: ‘So what? I was drinking’

Ahead of Sunday’s remarkable UFC White House fight event, Josh Hokit stole the show at the Saturday morning weigh-in, having done the same at Friday’s press conference.

On Friday evening, all 14 fighters from the seven bouts shared a stage in front of the Lincoln Memorial, trading barbs with their rivals but with Hokit chiming in at every opportunity – regardless of who had been asked a question.

And on Saturday morning, as the fighters weighed in before a crowd of media personnel, Hokit seemingly pretended to throw up, as he dribbled a sick-coloured liquid from his mouth.

Heavyweight Josh Hokit on the scales before UFC Freedom 250
Heavyweight Josh Hokit on the scales before UFC Freedom 250 (Reuters)

“So what? Maybe I was drinking last night,” the American heavyweight told those in the room. “Who wouldn’t be?

“I’ve got a giant man who wants to knock me out. He has the most knockouts in UFC history,” Hokit added, referencing his opponent Derrick Lewis.

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Hokit, 28, also appeared to be on unsteady legs as he walked into the room, took to the scale, and exited. However, this also seemed to be part of his act.

Hokit has made a name for himself in recent months by playing different characters. At Friday’s press conference, he continually referenced “The Incredible Hoke”, while he spoke nervously about all of the fighters at the event.

Hokit, who weighed in at 231lb on Saturday morning, will join his fellow athletes in performing a ceremonial weigh-in on Saturday evening, at the Ellipse park near the White House. That gives each fighter one final chance to face off with their opponent before Sunday’s unprecedented fight card on the South Lawn.

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Hokit vs Lewis was added to UFC Freedom 250 at the request of Donald Trump, after the US President watched from cageside in April as Hokit won an instant classic with Curtis Blaydes.

Derrick Lewis facing off with Hokit at Friday’s press conference
Derrick Lewis facing off with Hokit at Friday’s press conference (Getty)

By the end of the night, UFC president Dana White – a close friend of Trump – had paired Hokit with fellow American Lewis, who is Trump’s favourite fighter.

Lewis, 41, tipped the scales at 265lb on Saturday morning. The veteran is the betting underdog for his contest with Hokit.

On Friday, Hokit’s behaviour culminated in him referencing the recent divorce of main-event fighter Ilia Topuria, and White immediately ended the press conference after that insult.

At a launch press conference for UFC Freedom 250 in May, Hokit had insulted Topuria – as well as co-main-event fighter Alex Pereira – and was escorted off stage by security.

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Knicks fan, 17, left in coma after brutal attack near MSG

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Knicks fan, 17, left in coma after brutal attack near MSG

Police have released a photo of a man accused of attacking a 17-year-old after a Knicks game in an assault that left the teen in a coma.

The New York Police Department shared a photo of the suspect in an X post Friday and urged the public to come forward if they recognized him.

The unidentified man is wanted for gang assault after allegedly punching and kicking the teen victim on West 35th Street near Madison Square Garden after Wednesday night’s game, the NYPD said.

The victim had a seizure and was left in a coma, according to police. The department didn’t elaborate on his condition further.

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Celebrations after Game 4 turned violent leading to repeated calls by NYPD for peaceful gatherings
Celebrations after Game 4 turned violent leading to repeated calls by NYPD for peaceful gatherings (Getty Images)

“I have no words for him,” the victim’s mother, Shiomara Arce, told The New York Post. “Right now my son comes first. This person needs to pay for what he’s done.”

She described the victim, Johnny Aumuller, as a Knicks fan who is “always playing basketball in the neighborhood.”

He was no longer in a coma as of Friday but was still listed in critical but stable condition at the hospital, The Post reported.

The search for the suspect comes as the Knicks seek their first NBA championship in 53 years. They took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 107-106 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Police arrested at least 15 people after that game, and videos on social media appeared to show fans throwing eggs at Spurs star Victor Wembanyama as he entered his team’s hotel.

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“Once again, there were large crowds of people who engaged in incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior last night both during and after the game,” the NYPD wrote in a statement Thursday. “This demonstrates exactly why the NYPD has increased our presence in and around Madison Square Garden.”

Game 5 is Saturday night in San Antonio, Texas. If necessary, Game 6 will be at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

Despite the team’s absence from Madison Square Garden Saturday, thousands of Knicks fans are expected to descend on the area surrounding the Manhattan arena.

The team has organized an official watch party for up to 3,000 supporters outside MSG, requiring advanced registration and police screening. Additional viewing events are planned for Radio City Music Hall and Wollman Rink in Central Park, catering to the overwhelming demand.

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DWP confirms five groups owed State Pension back payments after errors

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Cambridgeshire Live

The DWP has released new figures showing the scale of State Pension underpayments due to historic National Insurance HRP errors, with thousands of pensioners potentially owed back payments

Thousands of pensioners throughout the UK may still be entitled to State Pension back payments as the DWP works to rectify longstanding errors relating to National Insurance records.

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Newly published figures from the DWP reveal that mistakes involving Home Responsibilities Protection remain the leading cause of State Pension underpayments, with both the department and HMRC engaged in a substantial exercise to identify those affected and issue arrears. According to the DWP’s most recent Fraud and Error in the Benefit System report, HRP-related errors account for roughly £6 in every £10 underpaid as a result of National Insurance contribution mistakes.

HRP was a scheme operating between 1978 and 2010, designed to safeguard the State Pension entitlement of parents and carers who took time away from employment to look after children or disabled family members.

However, certain eligible years were not correctly recorded on National Insurance records, leaving numerous individuals receiving lower State Pension payments than they were rightfully due.

Based on DWP guidance and the groups most frequently affected by Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) errors, there are five key categories of people who may be owed State Pension back payments, reports the Express :

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  1. Women who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 and whose National Insurance number was not correctly linked to their claim.
  2. Parents whose partner claimed Child Benefit instead of them, meaning HRP may not have been credited to the correct person’s National Insurance record.
  3. People receiving Income Support while caring for someone who was sick or disabled.
  4. Unpaid carers who looked after a disabled or seriously ill person and met the HRP criteria.
  5. Foster carers and eligible kinship carers (particularly between 2003 and 2010) who may have qualified for HRP but never received it.

The DWP stated: “Some people have not had all eligible years of HRP recorded on their National Insurance records and so have an incomplete record affecting their State Pension entitlement.”

As part of an ongoing rectification scheme known as the Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) exercise, HMRC has already dispatched more than 370,000 letters urging individuals to check whether they may have been affected.

Officials are cross-referencing National Insurance records to identify those who may have qualified for HRP between 1978 and 2010 but have no corresponding credits on file.

The most recent figures reveal that State Pension underpayments remained at approximately £390 million in the year to April 2026, with National Insurance contribution errors continuing to account for a considerable proportion of cases.

Those who believe they may have missing HRP years are able to review their National Insurance record and State Pension forecast online via GOV. UK.

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Individuals can still apply to have missing HRP added to their record even after reaching State Pension age.

The DWP and HMRC have confirmed they will press ahead with reviewing cases, correcting records and issuing back payments to those found to have received less State Pension than they were rightfully owed.

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John Swinney hails ‘electric’ atmosphere in Boston ahead of World Cup kick off

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Daily Record

The FM has joined thousands of Scotland fans for a Boston takeover ahead of our first World Cup match in 28 years.

John Swinney has praised the “electric” atmosphere in Boston as the Tartan Army gather in huge numbers ahead of the country’s first World Cup Match in 28 years.

The First Minister is in the US city to watch Steve Clarke’s men take on Haiti in their opening fixture of the 2026 tournament which kicks off at 2am UK time on June 14.

The SNP leader has been joined by famous faces including Gerard Butler and Gordon Ramsay in the Massachusetts capital alongside an estimated 40,000 Scotland fans who have also made the trip.

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Speaking to the Press Association, Swinney said: “The atmosphere is electric here in Boston, it has been since we arrived.

“There are thousands and thousands of Scotland fans who have made the journey and the atmosphere is lively, it’s positive.

“It’s great weather and people are having a great time and engaging with the local community here in Boston. Everyone has had such a warm welcome from the Boston community, so its a fantastic situation to be part of.”

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Mr Swinney added that Scotland’s 28-year absence at the World Cup made it “particularly precious” to be in Boston and supporting the team.

He was speaking at The Haven, a Scottish pub in Boston, for an event by the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal, which aims to donate to children’s charities in every country in which the Scotland team plays matches.

A spokesman for Meet Boston – a tourism organisation in the city – told the Press Association that the Scottish fans were bringing “palpable” joy. He said: “To say the impact has been significant would be a major understatement.

“The Tartan Army is omnipresent across town and their energy and joy is so palpable.”

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The spokesman described scenes posted on social media of Scotland fans celebrating ahead of the match as “absolute fire”.

He said many people had been trying to estimate the overall number of visitors from Scotland, which was about 40,000 but “could be higher”.

The Dubliner Boston, an Irish pub which has been popular with fans, had gone through 30 kegs of Tennent’s lager by Thursday, he added.

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On Friday night, Mr Swinney attended events in Boston alongside celebrities including Gerard Butler – star of the movie 300 – who wore a kilt and football shirt.

Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd also sported a kilt, with actors Martin Compston and Tony Curran, former footballers James McFadden and Darren Fletcher and broadcaster Gordon Smart, also in attendance.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the world cup. Click HERE.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

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Perrie Edwards and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pre-wedding party with pizza and cocktails at luxury venue

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Daily Mirror

Former Little Mix star Perrie Edwards got ready to tie the knot with footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a pre-wedding celebration

Perrie Edwards is in party mood as she ties the knot with footballer fiance Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The former Little Mix star is getting married in the Algarve four years on from their engagement. The couple will exchange their vows in Quinta do Lago in Portugal. The couple know the area well, with Perrie said to own a villa nearby.

The intimate ceremony will see the likes of Perrie’s former bandmates, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock jet over to be a part of the special day. And the exclusive resort where the wedding party have been staying is said to cost up to £2,800 for a room for the night.

The pre-wedding ceremony saw the stars and their guests mingle, with footballers including Harrison Reed also in attendance. It’s claimed Alex’s brother was one of the last to leave the celebration, with most guests calling it a night at 10pm.

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The guests are said to have tucked into pizzas, pastas and cocktails at the resort’s Italian restaurant. It comes as Perrie recently couldn’t hide her delight at the impending big day.

Perrie had hinted her big day was close last month as she said: “There’s so much coming up in both my personal and professional life — my wedding! I tried on the dress the other day and I’m so happy with it. I feel very fulfilled in my life right now, and I’m very happy with the balance. But yeah, a lot is going on — babies, dogs, planning my wedding.”

But she also admitted that the other member of Little Mix, Jesy Nelson, would be nowhere to be seen. She confessed that she can’t see their friendship ever reforming.

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Perrie told Jamie Laing on his podcast: “”What annoys me is the most, and again I have to be careful how I say this as I don’t want to seem like a b**** but for me what upsets me the most is when situations like this happen and the other person doesn’t take any accountability, that boils my blood!

“I am not blaming everything on you, I am not saying that she’s this f****** monster and everything was her thought blah, blah, blah but take some accountability for your actions and realise you were difficult, you did have difficult moments.”

But Jesy’s sister wasn’t prepared to take the comments without responding. Jade Nelson fired back in a lengthy post on Instagram.

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Within the post, Jade fumed: “She’s fully aware she was hard to deal with but through it all if any other single person were struggling with a break up, anxiety, life, she was there! lsn’t that what you do as friends or if you love someone?”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

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How to watch Brazil vs Morocco FOR FREE: TV channel and live stream for World Cup today

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How to watch Brazil vs Morocco FOR FREE: TV channel and live stream for World Cup today

The World Cup party officially begins tonight as Brazil are in town, facing Morocco in, arguably, the most anticipated match of the tournament so far.

It has often been said that a World Cup does not truly get underway until Brazil have played and there is quite a bit of pressure on the Selecao this time around.

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TripAdvisor names Co Fermanagh hotel one of the top in the UK for 2026

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Belfast Live

Two hotels in NI were given the ‘Best of the Best’ title this year

A Northern Irish hotel has been named in the top three across the UK at the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2026.

Each year, TripAdvisor highlights the highest-rated hotels worldwide, based on reviews from TripAdvisor reviewers over a 12-month period.

The Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best’ title is awarded to those who receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community.

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Winners are determined by the quality and quantity of TripAdvisor reviews and ratings from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, and Belmore Court & Motel in Co Fermanagh has landed in the top 10.

Ranking third across the entire UK, it is joined by Belfast’s Tara Lodge on the UK’s Top 25 Hotels for 2026 list, making it the only two hotels from Northern Ireland to be recognised this year.

Both Belmore Court Enniskillen and Tara Lodge are among the fewer than 1% of TripAdvisor’s 8 million listings to achieve this milestone.

This is what TripAdvisor had to say:

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3. Belmore Court & Motel, Enniskillen

At Belmore Court & Motel, you’re right in the heart of Enniskillen, perfect for exploring the lakes and Fermanagh’s sights.

You’ll find a mix of rooms (some pet-friendly!) packed with thoughtful touches. The setting’s relaxed without being stuffy.

There isn’t a restaurant, but the breakfast spread is solid, and the service is great.

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25. Tara Lodge, Belfast

Tara Lodge stands out for its stylish rooms, located near great dining spots and transport links.

Enjoy an excellent à la carte breakfast served by award-winning staff in a beautiful setting. Long-established quality service ensures a great stay for every guest.

See the full list here.

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AI giants like SpaceX are heading for 401(k) accounts, even if people don’t want them

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AI giants like SpaceX are heading for 401(k) accounts, even if people don't want them

NEW YORK (AP) — While you might want to ignore all the hubbub around SpaceX, Elon Musk and IPOs, your 401(k) likely can’t.

SpaceX is now worth $2.1 trillion after its stock launched 19.2% higher in its debut on Wall Street. Whether or not you believe it deserves to be worth more than Exxon Mobil, Bank of America and Coca-Cola combined, the collective market does. And if SpaceX maintains that big a value, it will join some high-profile stock indexes.

Many of these indexes don’t care about how realistic a company’s growth plans are or who its CEO is. They’re simply trying to show how slices of the market, or the whole thing, are performing. And if SpaceX is big enough to meet the qualifications to join those indexes, whether it’s in a few weeks or a year, it will gain entry.

That matters for investors and their 401(k) accounts because they’re depending more than ever on funds that simply mimic these indexes. It’s a lower-cost way to invest, allowing savers to keep more of their investments. Partly because of that, such index funds have usually proven to be better performers than funds that try to pick and choose individual stocks.

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Just one in five actively managed U.S. stock funds survived and beat their average index peer over the last decade, at 21%, according to Morningstar’s data through 2025. Such disparities in performance meant investors had more money invested in U.S. index funds than actively managed ones beginning in 2024, and the gap has only grown since then.

Here’s a look at what’s going on:

What indexes are

They’re things the investment industry has created to answer the question: What is the market doing? It’s otherwise tough to answer quickly when the U.S. market has thousands of stocks moving in different directions at any moment.

The S&P 500 is perhaps the most famous and influential index. It tracks 500 of the biggest U.S. stocks, and trillions of dollars in investments are either directly mimicking it or at least benchmarking themselves against it.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average is well known because it’s been around since the 19th century, but it tracks only 30 big stocks so Wall Street pays it little attention.

Companies want to be in indexes

Because index funds are the way so many investors put money into the stock market, companies want to be part of indexes. Stocks can see a big jump in their prices after S&P Dow Jones Indices, Nasdaq, FTSE Russell or other companies announce they’ll be joining their indexes.

The investment industry has created funds, including both traditional mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, to track almost every kind of index. More than 1,000 index funds were available at the end of last year, according to the Investment Company Institute. Of them, 185 tracked the S&P 500.

SpaceX could soon be in indexes

Nasdaq changed its rules to allow some huge companies to join its Nasdaq 100 index after just 15 trading days. That’s a break from the past, where it would wait until each December to add new members in an annual reconstitution to make sure it includes the 100 largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq.

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Some popular funds track the Nasdaq 100 index, including the QQQ exchange-traded fund from Invesco that has roughly $477 billion in total investments. That means QQQ holders could soon own shares of SpaceX, without doing anything on their own.

Other AI giants could as well

Anthropic and OpenAI are two other huge AI-related companies looking to sell their own stocks soon on a U.S. exchange for the first time. Their IPOs could potentially make each worth close to $1 trillion.

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It used to be that companies would have an IPO long before they got that big. But SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI swelled to tremendous sizes thanks to dollars from private investors, including pension funds, companies and rich investors, away from the public market.

That’s forcing the reconsideration for the investment industry about how quickly to add companies to indexes that they say track the biggest companies.

Not every index is making changes to fast-track big IPOs

The company behind the S&P 500 is not making changes to allow SpaceX and other “mega” IPOs faster entry into the index. For it, a stock needs to trade on an eligible exchange for at least 12 months before it can join the index.

Not only that, S&P Dow Jones Indices also requires companies to have made a profit in its most recent quarter and over the sum of its last four quarters.

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SpaceX lost $4.9 billion last year and another $4.3 billion through the first three months of 2026. It acknowledges that it “may not achieve profitability in the future.” Over the long term, a stock’s price tends to track with how much profit the company is making.

Not everyone is happy about SpaceX’s IPO entry to indexes

Officials from pension funds for firefighters, teachers and other workers in California and New York sent a letter to SpaceX last month decrying its corporate governance, including how much power Musk will hold over the company through his ownership of a special class of stock with more voting power.

They said they could become owners of SpaceX stock because they hold index funds.

If Musk is able to control so much of the voting power on the board of directors, it would make him tremendously powerful atop SpaceX, “essentially making him unfireable without his own consent,” the CEO of California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the New York state comptroller and the New York City comptroller wrote in their letter.

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If an investor doesn’t like certain companies in the index

Index funds track indexes. And if a stock is in an index, the index fund will buy it, even if investors may not like it.

Tesla has remained in the S&P 500 even though critics called it overvalued for years, for example, and Musk’s electric-vehicle company has grown to become one of Wall Street’s 10 biggest companies.

Some indexes say they will not include companies that have poor corporate governance standards or other narrowed criteria, but investors need to look for them.

The S&P 500 ESG index famously kicked Tesla out in 2022, for example.

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