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The Masked Singer leaves viewers aghast as Red Panda’s identity is revealed

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The Masked Singer leaves viewers aghast as Red Panda's identity is revealed
Red Panda is out of The Masked Singer! (Picture: ITV)

As The Masked Singer UK 2026 heats up, with the semi-final next week, another celebrity has been revealed in an electrifying elimination.

Tonight, Can of Worms, Toastie, Conkers, Moth, Red Panda, and Sloth all performed for panellists Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama, and Mo Gilligan.

But sadly for Red Panda, despite all their attempts to conceal their identity with cryptic clues and remain in the competition by delivering entertaining performances, the game is up.

And upon the character’s elimination, viewers were stunned to find beloved comedian Harry Hill beneath the mask.

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Previous guesses from the panel included Tom Fletcher of McFly, Professor Brian Cox, comedian Alan Carr, and podcaster Chris Ramsey, with Mo particularly frustrated after guessing Harry was Kingfisher for the whole of the 2025 series.

‘I’d like to apologise to Alan Carr,’ Harry joked after his unmasking, having imitated the Chatty Man’s distinctive voice to throw everyone off the scent.

The masked singer Harry Hill unmasking picture: ITVX METROGRAB
It was only Harry Hill! (Picture: ITV)
The masked singer Harry Hill unmasking picture: ITVX METROGRAB
The TV Burp icon has long been a name thrown out on the show – so he finally did it (Picture: ITV)

Clues in Red Panda’s VTs involved a makeup artist dancing in rave gear, which pointed towards Harry’s past TV show Harry Hill’s Clubnite, while the can of ‘XL tomato soup’ was a nod to the cover of his DVD Harry Hill’s Cream of TV Burp.

Among the more bizarre hints was a line about ‘following your nose’, which was in reference to Harry being able to play the nose flute.

And, in typical Masked Singer fashion, the clues really were everwhere – even on his costume. Red Panda’s attire featured a clapperboard, which was pointing towards The Harry Hill Movie.

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Reacting to the 61-year-old You’ve Been Framed host’s reveal, viewers took to X in shock.

‘Harry Hill!! as if!! Every year i have guessed him and the only year I don’t he is on!’, wrote @mrsdazo.

@atvfriend added that they were ‘convinced’ Red Panda was Celebrity Traitors winner Alan, thanks to the impression, while @DizzyEllena1 said Harry was ‘amazing’ on the show.

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 20.00 Friday 16 January 2026 From Bandicoot TV The Masked Singer: SR7: Ep4 on ITV1 and ITVX Pictured: Red Panda. This photograph is (C) Bandicoot TV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Publicity. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Publicity. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Red Panda’s first performance was never shown on TV (Picture: ITV)

‘I am loving this resurgence of Harry Hill into public life’, wrote @Tales_TimeLord, while a string of others demanded that TV Burp be revived.

Speaking in a post-unmasking Q&A, the TV Burp legend acknowledged how ‘pretty much every year’, his name pops up in connection with the programme, as he’ll receive text messages asking if he is behind certain characters – so, he finally decided to give it a go for real.

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‘It’s tempting sometimes to take yourself a bit too seriously,’ he said of taking part. ‘I think previously, when the idea had come up, I thought, “Oh no.” But actually, it’s really good fun.’

Asked how he kept his Masked Singer stint a secret, he explained: ‘I would have told them [his children], but my wife said no, don’t tell them. And she’s a brilliant liar. Quite a worryingly good liar.

‘I came back from filming one day, and one of them was at home. She said, “Where’s Dad been?”, and my wife said, “He’s been doing a pilot with Alan Carr.”

‘It’s always Alan Carr. I’m sorry to keep mentioning him.’

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Red Panda had quite a turbulent start to this series, as Harry’s first performance was not aired out of concerns it would be viewed as insensitive.

He initially sang The Trammp’s 1976 hit Disco Inferno, which was scrapped from the launch episode at the last minute due to its lyrics and the fiery imagery. Just days earlier, 40 people were killed, and over 100 were seriously injured in a bar fire in Switzerland.

Red Panda subsequently remained absent from the edit for a few weeks before making a comeback.

Elsewhere in tonight’s episode, the elusive Mole Dommett was also unmasked, having debuted on the scene a couple of weeks ago to help the panel with their guessing.

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But after directing them to various clues and assisting with their detective work, the furry creature – whose name is, of course, a play on that of host Joel Dommett – turned out to be Olly Murs all along!

It’s certainly been an eventful seventh series of The Masked Singer thus far, as we kicked off with the arrival of two house bands, fronted by Goldfish and Emperor Penguin.

The Masked Singer 31/01/2026 Olly Murs Picture ITV METROGRAB
Mole Dommett’s identity was also revealed… as Olly Murs! (Picture: ITV)
The Masked Singer 31/01/2026 Olly Murs Picture ITV METROGRAB
He had been helping the panel with their guessing (Picture: ITV)

The pair were soon unmasked as pop star Anne-Marie and Little Britain comedian Matt Lucas, who both joined the panel as guest stars when the contest got fully underway.

In our first official elimination of the series, The One Show host Alex Jones left everyone aghast by revealing that she was Disc Jockey, as not a single person predicted she would be.

And the surprises just kept coming, with the next week seeing rapper Professor Green lift off Teabag’s costume, despite the panel guessing it could’ve been Richard Osman or Judge Rinder.

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In the third week, we had Yak’s unmasking, with Sex Pistols icon John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, underneath, before another music legend, American singer-songwriter Marcella Detroit, was unveiled as Gargoyle.

Then, most recently, ITV treated us to a double whammy, unmasking both Monkey Business and Arctic Fox last weekend.

Musician Kate Nash was the one underneath Monkey Business’s incredible costume, again, with no one expecting the Foundations hitmaker to be uncovered as the voice they’d been listening to.

As for Arctic Fox, the glamorous character transpired to be none other than Anton Du Beke, who put all his Strictly Come Dancing performing experience into practice to go undetected week after week.

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Now, just five contestants remain in the show, all of whom are hoping to take the torch from last series’ winner Samantha Barks and be crowned champion in the final.

The Masked Singer continues next weekend on ITV1 and ITVX.

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George Clarke’s Two Houses, One Home looking for families

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George Clarke’s Two Houses, One Home looking for families

The show, titled George Clarke’s Two Houses, One Home, is a four-part series produced by IWC that will feature two households who dream of living together under one roof.

Mr Clarke, a well-known architect, will guide participants through the emotional and practical challenges of merging homes, selling one property, and transforming the other into a shared dream space.

George Clarke, presenter and architect, said: “At its heart, any successful home allows us to be together with those who matter to us, giving the space to share our lives, from the special events to the everyday moments.

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“Seeing people giving their all to move in together and make this kind of space for themselves promises to be a heartwarming experience.

“It will be a joy to accompany them on their journey.”

The show focuses on couples moving in together for the first time, blending families, or bringing elderly relatives closer, all with the shared goal of creating one home that fits their changing needs.

Gerard Costello, head of popular factual at IWC Media, said: “At IWC, we pride ourselves on our property programmes and seeing people work to make the perfect home for themselves is always a pleasure.

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“This exciting new format shows that a house can never truly be home until it can accommodate all of those who want to be together under its roof.

“We’re excited to see the homes they make – and delighted George Clarke feels the same.

“There could be no better companion on their journey, as their two houses become one home.”

If you would like to take part, more information can be found here: https://www.channel4.com/4viewers/take-part/dream-home.

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Award-winning sushi restaurant founder ‘extremely excited’ to be opening St Ives branch

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Cambridgeshire Live

The restaurant will be found in a Grade II listed building that used to be a bank.

A popular Japanese food spot is opening a new branch of its award-winning restaurants in a Cambridgeshire town. Sushi and Salad already has restaurants in Ely, Stamford, and Saffron Walden, and will soon be opening in St Ives in the former Lloyds Bank.

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Juliana Hunt, the founder of Sushi and Salad, said she had been looking for a new spot to open the fourth restaurant. She added: “We are from a village very close to St Ives and we go into town whenever we have the opportunity to.

“So we’ve had our eyes on that location for a while. It’s exciting to see how St Ives has been growing so we want to be a part of the community.”

The restaurant will offer a “complex menu” with both sushi options and hot meals that have been inspired by Okinawan cuisine. When asked about her favourite dishes at Sushi and Salad, Mrs Hunt said: “Of course, I’m a fan of sushi. I love Japanese food.

“At the moment, we have a new menu that just launched and there’s a dish called truffle udon. That’s served with a soy-cured egg that you can grate like parmesan and it’s so delicious. It’s one of my favourites. Every time I go, I’m just like ‘I’m going to have that’.

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“Also the black cod as well on the menu is unbelievable. It’s marinated for 48 hours and then grilled. We have our signature dishes like the spicy crunch roll, which is one of the most popular options at the restaurant.”

If you are not a fan of fish, there are plenty of alternative options such as noodle dishes and katsu curries. Sushi and Salad also has a vegan menu, which Mrs Hunt describes as “very tasty”.

Many people have already expressed excitement for the opening. She said: “As soon as we applied for the planning and license, it kind of got out there and people started asking so it’s been great.

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“I’ve seen some posts on Facebook and people are saying how excited they are for Sushi and Salad to be coming to St Ives. I love all the comments with people saying this is great and it’s good for St Ives. It’s been well received.”

The new Sushi and Salad will be found in the old Lloyds Bank building, which is Grade II listed. Mrs Hunt said “not much” will be done to the structure of the building. She described it as “a beauty”, with the interior design set to resemble the other sites that are “calm and inspired by Japanese tea houses”.

Sushi and Salad can be found at 1 The Pavement in St Ives and is set to open in mid-June.

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A stubborn inflation gauge stayed hot in February, even before Iran war gas spike

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A stubborn inflation gauge stayed hot in February, even before Iran war gas spike

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key measure of inflation stayed high in February, before the war in Iran spiked gas prices, a sign that everyday costs were elevated even before the conflict began.

An inflation gauge monitored by the Federal Reserve rose 0.4% in February from January, up slightly from the previous month. Compared with a year ago, prices rose 2.8%, the same as January. Thursday’s data was delayed by a backlog of economic reports created by the six-week government shutdown last fall.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core inflation also rose 0.4% in February from January, and it was 3% higher than a year earlier. The annual figure is slightly below January’s reading of 3.1%.

Still, the monthly increases are at a pace that if continued for a whole year, would easily top the Fed’s 2% inflation target.

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“Consumer inflation was firming even prior to the outbreak of war in the Middle East, and it is primed to jump sharply higher in March,” Kathy Bostjancic, chief economist at Nationwide, wrote in a client note. “Even if a long-lasting deal to end the war is reached and the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened, it would take months for oil, gasoline, diesel and other commodity supplies to snap back to prewar levels and thus for prices to settle back to preconflict levels.”

Thursday’s report is largely a warm-up for the more important inflation data to be released Friday, when the government will publish the higher-profile consumer price index for March. The Friday report will be the first to reflect the impact of the gas price spike from the Iran war. Economists forecast it will show a big increase of 0.9% just in March from February, and a 3.4% gain from a year earlier. The annual figure would be a big increase from 2.4% in February.

The large jump in inflation in March will heighten concerns at the Fed that prices are moving further away from their inflation target and make it much less likely the central bank will cut rates anytime soon. At their most recent meeting last month, some Fed officials supported opening the door to the potential for rate hikes if inflation didn’t show signs of improving.

Thursday’s report from the Commerce Department also showed that Americans’ incomes slipped 0.1% in February, the first decline since October, while spending after adjusting for inflation barely increased.

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Higher inflation is sapping Americans’ purchasing power. Spending rose a solid 0.5% in February from the previous month before adjusting for higher prices. Bostjancic expects consumer spending, adjusted for inflation, will rise a modest 1.2% at an annual rate in the first three months of this year, below the 1.9% reached in last year’s fourth quarter.

The economy may still grow a decent 2% in the first quarter, Bostjancic said, driven by investments in artificial intelligence and a bounceback in government spending after last year’s shutdown. The government said Thursday growth was just 0.5% at the end of last year.

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Ex-NYPD officer sentenced to prison for throwing cooler that caused fatal crash

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Ex-NYPD officer sentenced to prison for throwing cooler that caused fatal crash

NEW YORK (AP) — A former New York City police sergeant was sentenced Thursday to three to nine years in prison for tossing a picnic cooler full of drinks at a fleeing suspect, who then crashed his motorized scooter and died.

The ex-officer, Erik Duran, was convicted of manslaughter in the 2023 death of Eric Duprey. The former sergeant said he was trying to protect other officers from the approaching scooter.

“I took this job to save lives. I felt terrible once I saw Eric Duprey crash,” Duran told the court Thursday, saying he “did everything he could” to attend to the man’s injuries.

“I never wanted this to happen,” he added, addressing Duprey’s family directly in Spanish that a court interpreter translated.

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Duprey’s mother, Gretchen Soto, wept as the ex-officer spoke . She had told the court a half-hour earlier: “There are no words to express what I feel.”

Judge Guy Mitchell said he did not accept the ex-sergeant’s defense that his actions were justified.

“It is the court’s belief that the defendant, Sgt. Duran, was upset that Mr. Duprey was getting away” and reacted by hurling the cooler, Mitchell said.

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Duran was immediately taken into custody after sentencing. His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said he will ask an appeals court for bail pending appeal, which would allow Duran to be freed while he challenges his conviction.

“Nobody’s above the law” a woman in the hallway outside court shouted after the sentence was announced.

The case has animated police on one hand and accountability activists on the other. Duran’s union, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, says thousands of officers have signed an online petition calling for him to be spared prison.

Officers in New York Police Department jackets streamed down a Bronx courthouse hallway ahead of the sentencing Thursday, while a couple of dozen protesters demonstrated outside to demand justice for Duprey.

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Prosecutors with state Attorney General Letitia James’ office sought a three-to-nine-year prison sentence for Duran, saying he recklessly caused Duprey’s death.

“He did that while on duty,” then attempted to cover up his actions, prosecutor Joseph Bianco told the court.

Duran and his lawyers had not yet had their chance to speak.

Duran was part of a narcotics policing group that conducted a “buy-and-bust” operation in the Bronx on Aug. 23, 2023. Police said Duprey sold drugs to an undercover officer, then tried to flee on a scooter.

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Surveillance video showed Duprey driving the motorized scooter on a sidewalk toward a group of people. As he approached, the then-sergeant — who wasn’t in uniform — picked up a bystander’s cooler and threw it.

The container full of ice, water and sodas struck Duprey. He lost control of the scooter, slammed into a tree and crashed onto the pavement. Duprey, 30, wasn’t wearing a helmet. He sustained fatal head injuries and died almost instantly, according to prosecutors.

They argued Duran had enough time to warn others to move but instead hurled the cooler because he was angry.

Duran, however, testified at his trial that he made a split-second decision to keep other officers safe from the scooter speeding toward them.

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“He was gonna crash into us,” Duran said then, adding “all I had time for was to try again to stop or to try to get him to change directions.”

Duran opted to have Mitchell, not a jury, decide the case.

Sergeants Benevolent Association President Vincent Vallelong has said the conviction sent “a terrible message to hard-working cops” about the costs of defending themselves and fellow officers.

Duran was an NYPD officer for 13 years before he was suspended after the crash. He was dismissed from the force after his conviction this past February.

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Duprey worked as a delivery driver and had three young children. His mother, Gretchen Soto, who said she was on a video call with him right before he died, has disputed the police claims that he sold drugs and fled from officers.

She told the judge Thursday her son “is not just a name, not just one more case.”

“It is an unjust incident,” Soto said through a Spanish interpreter. “As a mother, I have to miss him now every day.”

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Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.

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Molly-Mae Hague speaks out on Tommy Fury’s fight amid due date with second baby

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Manchester Evening News

Tommy’s return to the ring supposedly coincided with Molly-Mae’s due date as they prepare to welcomed their second child

Molly-Mae Hague has addressed Tommy Fury’s upcoming return to the ring, supposedly coinciding with her due date, as they prepare to welcome their second child into the world.

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Fans are aware that the couple, who met and fell in love on Love Island back in 2019, announced in February that they are expecting their second child together, just nine months after reconciling following a brief split.

Molly-Mae and Tommy, both 26, are said to have worked on their relationship before Molly-Mae confirmed they were back together in her Amazon Prime series, Behind It All, last May, saying her boxer beau had not drunk alcohol for four months, which was said to be a factor in their split. and that “things are looking so much better”.

Molly-Mae was then seen moving in with Tommy again, before announcing they’ll be welcoming baby number two, three years after they welcomed their first child, daughter Bambi, into the world.

Since then, Tommy has confirmed his first fight in almost a year, as he will take on former world’s strongest man, Eddie Hall. The fight is set to take place at the AO Arena on June 13 as part of the latest Misfits card, broadcast live on DAZN.

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But with Molly-Mae confirming she was already six months into her pregnancy at the time of their baby announcement, fans have worked out that she is due in the summer, potentially clashing with Tommy’s return to the ring.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (April 7) alongside Eddie to discuss their upcoming face-off, Tommy was asked by host Charlotte Hawkins about how Molly-Mae took news of his plan to fight so close to the expected arrival of their second baby.

But he shut down the question, describing it as a “family matter”. He said: “Well I just want to say thank you to the Lord and our saviour Jesus Christ for blessing me with another child on the way. And obviously that is a family matter, we’re dealing with that fantastically, and everything will be perfect.” He added: “We’ll deal that as a family. Thank you.”

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Molly-Mae has also addressed the issue, saying in her YouTube vlog where she answered fans’ burning questions: “A lot of questions about how do you feel about Tommy’s fight and obviously the date of it. Obviously I knew that you guys were going to like be concerned about that and have questions about that, but fear not.

“Fear not, fair maiden, because we’re actually feeling really, really good about it and have a really good plan in place. There’s actually like a good amount of time between my birth, my supposed birth because basically I’m having the baby in London again. So I gave birth with Bambi at The Portland. I’m not worried and I’m actually really, really happy that he’s got a fight because it’s been over a year since his last fight.”

She went on to speak about how “difficult” it is to get a fight date secured, adding: “So just having a date for something and and having a focus and us having like I don’t know something to look forward to in the fight like it’s just I think it’s actually a really, really, really positive thing and he will be here when I get home. He will be able to support me.”

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Move Over Skims, M&S Just Launched Its Budget-Friendly Solution To Seamless Underwear

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Move Over Skims, M&S Just Launched Its Budget-Friendly Solution To Seamless Underwear

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Oh M&S, you just keep outdoing yourself. Every time we think the retailer has come up with its best collection yet, we’re proven wrong. And we’re not mad about it!

Summer is coming up, and if you’re anything like us, you’ll spend an almost embarrassing amount of time rifling through underwear to find a pair that won’t show underneath our summer dresses.

Yes, OK, a certain reality star launched a popular solution to this a few years ago. But, let’s be real, we’re not made of money.

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So when we found out that M&S had launched a high street (and far more budget-friendly) equivalent, we were raring at the bit.

Made up of knickers, bras, bodysuits, vests, and slips, the BODY collection is designed to be invisible, cooling, and comes in a range of colours and skin tones.

If you know that the key to any good outfit is a solid base, here’s our pick of the best underwear from the collection, which is available to shop online and in stores now.

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Store openings set to drive Uniqlo owner to record revenues

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Store openings set to drive Uniqlo owner to record revenues

The retail group behind Uniqlo has forecast another record year amid a boost from strong international growth.

It came as Japan-based Fast Retailing reported it was facing some higher transport costs amid the conflict in the Middle East.

Nevertheless, the fashion business reported stronger profits for the past half-year.

Fast Retailing told shareholders on Thursday that operating profits lifted by 31.7% to 400.6 billion yen (£1.88 billion) for the six months to February 28.

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Revenues for the period were up 14.8% to 2.05 trillion yen (£9.64 billion), compared with the same period a year earlier.

The company said it has been buoyed by the continued global expansion of the Uniqlo brand, with the new store openings in recent months.

As part of its growth plans, Uniqlo is opening its first store in Bristol later this month and is also set to open in Leeds in 2026.

The group added it was also boosted by strong sales of both winter products and “year-round” lines.

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Uniqlo International revenues jumped by 22.4%, while business profits from the division were up 37.4%.

This included an increase in half-year revenues across the key Greater China region.

Operations in Europe and North America both delivered double-digit sales growth on the back of store openings and positive demand for winter clothing.

Fast Retailing said it is on track to deliver sales growth of 14.7% and operating profit growth of 24.1%, to around 700 billion yen (£3.24 billion) in the current financial year.

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‘I can’t go out on my own after what my ex did to me’

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Wales Online

Rhys Chalmers subjected his ex-partner to a sickening string of abuse

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A woman whose ex-partner made her life hell has told how she can no longer leave the house on her own. Rhys Chalmers, 46, of Penrhys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was in a relationship with the mother when he repeatedly assaulted her.

Things got so disturbing that he poured urine over her from a bottle, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard on Wednesday. The court heard how the defendant would regularly physically abuse his then-partner, usually after he’d drank excessive amounts of alcohol.

Bethan Evans, prosecuting, told the court how when the pair got together there didn’t seem to be any major issues but she told how Chalmers gradually began to become angry after drinking.

She detailed the first violent incident on January 18, 2025, when the couple had both been in her room drinking alcohol when Chalmers became more and more intoxicated. Ms Evans said his demeanor changed and he began using aggressive words.

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The next thing the woman remembered was being on the floor and Chalmers punching her face two or three times, causing injuries to her eyes. She said that kind of incident became so frequent she was unable to recall exact dates or times for each incident.

The court heard how on May 12, 2025, the couple had been drinking in the bedroom when she left the room and Chalmers followed her with a bottle of yellow liquid which she later realised was urine. Ms Evans told the court Chalmers forced the woman down and poured the bottle over her.

A few weeks later, on June 21, 2025, the couple had been drinking together in the bedroom again when he suddenly punched her to the face. On July 16 he kicked and punched her off the bed, causing eye injuries which she had to use make-up to hide.

Ms Evans also told the court that during the course of the relationship Chalmers damaged his partner’s belongings, including smashing two TV screens. She said he would also use derogatory language towards her and made false accusations about her being unfaithful.

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Chalmers wouldn’t let his partner go anywhere alone and would take her belongings and not give them back to her, including her bank cards, the court heard.

In a victim impact statement which Ms Evans summarised to the court, it was heard how as a result of her relationship with Chalmers, the woman now has to be escorted by her son or mum wherever she goes. She also said she couldn’t see herself engaging in an intimate relationship or trusting a man again.

Chalmers, of Heol Mair in Penrhys, has three previous convictions for four offences including for causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage. His last appearance before the courts was in 2024.

He pleaded guilty to one count of controlling and coercive behaviour of a physical nature and one count of controlling and coercive behaviour of a non-physical nature.

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Solomon Hartley, representing Chalmers, said his client had worked all his life and did not have a bad record. He added that this recent offending had related to “a recent downturn in his life” which had caused his alcohol problem to spiral.

Judge Lucy Crowther said: “It seems you have been overwhelmed by an unhealthy addiction to alcohol and you do not have an understanding of what a healthy relationship is.”

Judge Crowther sentenced Chalmers to 25 months in prison. She also issued a restraining order in respect of his former partner for three years.

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‘I’m a travel expert – there are 4 simple tricks to avoid huge airport queues’

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Daily Mirror

Rules around travel to Europe are changing – make sure you’re prepared by following a travel expert’s tips.

Nobody wants to face those dreaded airport queues; there’s nothing to ruin the start of a holiday than being stuck in a long queue, stressing about whether you’ll make your flight, surrounded by equally frustrated travellers.

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From April 10, new biometric checks will become mandatory for all non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area which will include Brits. Traditional passport stamping is now replaced by fingerprint scans and facial recognition. While it is meant to be a quick process, major international hubs are already reporting long queues of up to four hours for the service, especially at airports that host multiple airlines.

With that in mind, Jane Bolton, a travel expert at Erna Low, has shared four simple but essential tips to help passengers avoid unnecessary delays and start their trip without delays.

Arrive earlier than you think you need to

“Airport wait times can vary, but with the new EES checks, queues of up to four hours are expected at peak times,” Jane explains. “In the past, travellers were advised to arrive two hours before a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight. Now, it’s worth allowing more time than usual.”

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To be extra prepared, Jane would recommend arriving three to four hours before the flight to account for additional biometric checks slowing down border processing – especially if you’re flying during busier holiday periods.

Consider fast-track options where possible

But spending so much time in airports isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of fun. In that case, fast-track security could be worth the investment. “As long queues are expected, passengers should opt for alternative time-saving methods where possible,” Jane says. “Purchasing fast-track tickets for security is a great method for reducing the time needed prior to a flight.” Typically costing between £3 and £12, these passes can help you bypass long security lines, a price she says is “a relatively small investment for peace of mind.”

Plan carefully if you’re travelling with family

Under the new system, families might even face additional challenges – children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting and facial recognition, but they must be linked to a registered adult. “For families or large parties travelling, allowing extra time at the airport is essential,” Jane explains. “This process will take longer than average, so plan ahead and keep all documents ready.”

Double-check your passport before you go

Since Brexit, Jane says, one of the most common mistakes travellers make is assuming their passport is valid everywhere, at any point. “Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before your travel date and be valid for at least three months after departure,” Jane says. She stresses that, while most would know their passport is expired, some wouldn’t think to check one thing that also matters: the issue date. She explains: “For example, a passport issued in March 2015 and expiring in December 2025 won’t be valid for EU travel after March 2025.” Failing to check this could mean being turned away at the airport before your trip even begins.

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Canada’s Mark Carney makes call to Artemis II

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Canada's Mark Carney makes call to Artemis II

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told the astronauts of the Artemis II mission that Canadians ‘couldn’t be more proud’ of them.

In a lighthearted call from Canada to space, Carney spoke with the astronauts about their experiences and lessons from the mission. He also joked about their preference for Nutella or maple syrup on pancakes, following the viral moment when cameras caught a jar of Nutella floating through the microgravity inside the capsule. The Artemis astronauts showed off a Canadian flag patch to Carney, with the prime minister’s title on the back.

Carney also invited the four astronauts to visit Canada after they splash down from their mission on 10 April.

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