Believe.

After taking a three-year break, the Emmy-winning sensation “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV triumphantly returns with its fourth season. This installment revitalizes the series with a much-needed burst of energy.

Season 4 initially falters with a lukewarm premiere, but once it regains its stride, it delivers the finest episodes since the inaugural season of “Ted Lasso.”

Making its debut on August 5, the new season revisits Ted Lasso (played by series creator and star Jason Sudeikis), the affable former college football coach turned unexpected Premier League soccer manager in the UK. This time, he finds himself back in Kansas, having left his soccer adventures behind.

Originally airing for three seasons from 2020 to 2023, the series has fast-forwarded a few years past the events of its third season, exploring fresh narratives and character arcs.

Ted is working a mundane job and raising his son, Henry (played by Gus Turner from Seasons 1 to 3, now recast as Grant Feely). 

When his old friends and colleagues, including Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) and Leslie Higgins (Jeremy Swift), visit, they convince Ted to return to his old stomping grounds across the pond — this time, to coach their budding women’s soccer team. 

Unwisely, the season premiere takes nearly an hour to set that up, even though we all know that Ted coaching a women’s team is the premise of Season 4. 

It’s in the trailers! So, that’s a needlessly laborious note to start on. 

But, after that misfire, Season 4 has a similar format to Season 1, as Ted tries to assemble and motivate a team of underdogs and figure out how to make their clashing personalities work — and everyone has their own drama. 

Former player Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) returns as the men’s coach who is conveniently sharing the facility. This allows him to constantly pop up, like a foul-mouthed version of a sitcom neighbor. He continues to have a “will they or won’t they” dynamic with his ex-girlfriend, Keeley. 

Season 4 is different enough that it doesn’t feel like the show is repeating itself (give or take some plot threads, such as Roy and Keeley circling each other). There’s a new team, with new characters and unique issues. 

It’s also familiar enough that for audiences who found the show cozy when it came out during the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ll find the new episodes to be a return to form. 

It seems like a course-correction from how it veered off the rails in Seasons 2 and 3, which got bogged down with plots that didn’t work, including Nate’s (Nick Mohammed) heel turn. He’s mercifully absent.

The show seemingly ended in 2023, until Season 4 was announced in March 2025. 

The first three seasons were a culture-clash story, following goofy Ted in England, coaching an underdog men’s team, which included Roy and Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster, who has been cagey about if he’s returning).

After premiering in 2020, “Ted Lasso” quickly became a phenomenon. To date, it has 61 Emmy nominations and 13 wins. The comedy put Apple TV on the map for its later shows, including “The Studio” and “Widow’s Bay,” to also dominate awards season. 

The show was a star-maker for Goldstein, Waddingham and Temple. Fittingly, they all get a lot of focus in Season 4. 

The new season mixes them with new characters, including the hard-nosed women’s coach, Alice Chilton (Tanya Reynolds), and working-mom player Lizzie (Faye Marsay).

The new players’ personalities are introduced slowly. Returning characters dominate the plot. 

Does all of the “Ted Lasso, but this time, with women” stuff work? No. 

In some places, it’s woven in well, such as in Rebecca’s efforts to lean into “girl boss” feminism. It’s deliberately and amusingly awkward, which suits her character. In other sequences, such as the first episode’s attempt to compare women’s sports to baseball’s historic Negro Leagues, it lands with a thud. 

The cringeworthy moments are minimal, though.

The episodes clip along at a steady pace, and the humor mingles well with more serious points about women’s sports being underfunded and undervalued.

Season 4 is “Ted Lasso” at its best, offering team-building, sincerity, an emphasis on everyone trying their best, all undercut with enough dry British humor to keep the whole thing from feeling too cloyingly sweet. 

For those who liked Season 1 and found your attention stray, as Seasons 2 and 3 had diminishing returns, it’s worth giving it another shot. 

“Ted Lasso” Season 4 premieres Aug. 5 on Apple TV. 

Meghan Markle has delighted her fans with a charming new video, showcasing her playful side as she dances to a lively birthday tune, all while donning a whimsical tiara-like headband in celebration of her 45th birthday.

The Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram, sharing a heartwarming series of clips from her special day. In these videos, she is seen joyfully swaying to the music and bursting into laughter as she and Prince Harry adorn their beloved dogs, Pula and Mamma Mia, with paper hats.

In this rare, more casual glimpse of Meghan, she is seen sporting relaxed white pajama bottoms paired with a T-shirt emblazoned with the playful phrase, ‘It’s giving Mrs.’

As the birthday song reverberates in the background, you can hear Prince Harry chuckling, exclaiming a lighthearted “oh dear” from behind the lens.

The Instagram story transitions to another endearing clip, capturing the couple’s dogs, their heads adorned with paper hats. The Duke and Duchess can’t help but laugh as the pups seem less than thrilled by their festive headgear.

The hats slip on and off the dogs, before Harry repeats ‘oh dear’ and Meghan chuckles, adding: ‘Oh no, okay, let’s take it off. I’m sorry.’ 

The clips came hours after Meghan marked the occasion by sharing photos of herself jumping into an outdoor pool while holding balloons – as she thanked her followers for ‘the birthday love’ on social media. 

Her lifestyle brand As Ever also congratulated the mother-of-two with a snap of Meghan wearing a designer striped shirt from Céline and white Anine Bing ‘Brie’ jeans.

The company’s social media post also included a throwback photo of a young Meghan sporting pigtails and a white turtleneck, seated in what looks to be her childhood bedroom. 

To mark the duchess’s birthday, the brand wrote on social media: ‘Happy birthday to our founder, @meghan. Lighting No. 084 to celebrate!’ 

The caption referenced a candle sold by the brand, which appeared alongside other As Ever products in one of a quartet of photos posted to celebrate Meghan’s special day.  

Last weekend, Meghan showcased her jewellery collection during her latest promotional footage for As Ever. 

On Sunday, she shared the recipe for her ‘favourite ice cream sundae’, made by placing her raspberry spread into a glass before adding vanilla ice cream, crumbled shortbread and flower sprinkles. 

But royal fans couldn’t take their eyes off the former actress’ rings, which were on full display as she created the dessert. 

Prince Harry’s wife wore her wedding ring, as well as a giant diamond pear band, thought to be worth $250,000 and once dubbed ‘an engagement ring upgrade’ by jewellery experts.

She also wore a new, unidentified gold band on her right hand, and Princess Diana’s Cartier Tank Française watch, worth £17,800 ($24,020), which was given to her after she married the Duke of Sussex.

Meghan was also seen wearing her £2,370 ($3,197) Jennifer Meyer mini bezel tennis bracelet, which is handcrafted from polished 18-carat yellow gold and was designed by Tobey Maguire’s ex-wife.

However, despite the enviable jewellery collection on display, there was one item noticeably absent – the duchess’ £120,000 ($161,922) engagement ring.

The Suits star is believed to have not worn the sparkler in over four months; the last time she was pictured with the jewel was in February 2026 when she wore it to an NBA game in California. 

CHICAGO — A chasm emerged within the Democratic Party as Michigan voters hit the polls, showcasing a clash between longstanding party norms and a burgeoning progressive movement.

The primary showdown saw U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens face off against the insurgent Abdul El-Sayed for the Senate nod, challenging Michigan’s swing state dynamics and questioning the longevity of choosing centrist candidates in key elections.

Amid a crucial election year where reclaiming the U.S. Senate is on the line, Democrats reckon with limited opportunities for missteps against their Republican adversary, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.

Republicans also met a significant moment in Michigan’s gubernatorial race as President Donald Trump’s favorite, U.S. Rep. John James, triumphed over Perry Johnson, a lavish, self-funding outsider.

While Michigan captured much attention, pivotal primaries unfolded in Kansas, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington. These elections will cement the face-offs for November, with notable attention on Virginia, where Democrats previously stumbled on redrawing the state’s congressional districts.

Here are some takeaways from Tuesday’s elections:

Test time for Democrats in Michigan’s Senate race

The choice between El-Sayed and Stevens has become a focal point for Democrats this year, and the race has become bitter. Whoever wins will need to bring splintered factions back into the fold to beat Rogers.

The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring, and Democrats are under pressure to defend it to preserve their chance of winning control of the chamber.

The campaigns have taken sharp aim at one another. Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of El-Sayed’s most prominent supporters, called Stevens “nothing more than an employee” of billionaires. El-Sayed has been a pointed critic of Israel and called the military campaign in Gaza a “genocide,” an accusation rejected by the Israeli and U.S. governments.

Stevens has criticized El-Sayed’s style, comparing him unfavorably to a celebrity who is always “running at the first mic or camera.” She has also suggested he’s not electable in the fall, saying Republicans have been propping him up because they think El-Sayed will be easier to beat.

Trump’s endorsement overpowers self-funded candidate for governor

Republican voters picked their nominee for Michigan governor on Tuesday as well, going with Trump’s endorsed candidate, Rep. John James.

The president’s backing typically carries significant weight in Republican politics, but businessman Perry Johnson had lent his campaign more than $30 million, according to Michigan campaign finance records.

Trump’s endorsement hasn’t always overcome big spending. In Georgia’s race for governor, Rick Jackson spent $100 million, largely of his own money, to defeat Trump-backed Burt Jones in a runoff.

On the Democratic side in Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson defeated Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

AIPAC continues to be a lightning rod

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has long been an influential force in U.S. politics, but it’s been under pressure as Democratic support for Israel erodes over the war in Gaza.

The organization has suffered a series of losses in Democratic primaries that saw a surge of progressive candidates. Victors range from Rep. Analilia Mejia, who won a special election to Congress in suburban New Jersey, to Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who captured the Democratic nomination for a U.S. House seat in Illinois.

AIPAC’s biggest investment has been in Michigan, where it and its affiliates have spent more than $30 million supporting Stevens, a stalwart backer of Israel. El-Sayed and his backers have seized on the group’s intervention as an example of the problems of big money in politics.

Although the outcome in Michigan remained uncertain, AIPAC had some success Tuesday. In Missouri, former Rep. Cori Bush fell short in her rematch against Rep. Wesley Bell, who defeated her two years ago.

Bush had blamed her previous loss on AIPAC, even vowing revenge on the organization in her concession speech. “AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down!” she pledged.

However, she was quickly defeated as voters in the St. Louis-area district decided to stick with Bell.

Virginia is on Democrats’ minds

One of Democrats’ most bitter defeats this cycle took place in Virginia, where that state’s supreme court in May overturned a voter-approved initiative to redraw the state’s House map to make four more seats easier for the party to win.

The failed effort was part of Democrats’ attempt to match Republicans’ own redistricting campaign, which was spurred by Trump last year in hopes of making it easier for his party to hold control of the House.

Democrats are optimistic they can recover at least a couple of those Virginia seats the old-fashioned way. On Tuesday, they got what they wanted in the state’s two swing seats, with former Rep. Elaine Luria winning the nomination to compete for the 1st District in Virginia Beach and prosecutor Shannon Taylor getting the nod to run in the Richmond-area 2nd District.

The longer shot comes in the heavily rural 5th District in central Virginia, where Tom Perriello, who briefly represented the region in President Barack Obama’s first term, won the Democratic nomination to try to win a now even more conservative-leaning seat.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

In an unexpected twist to their usual proceedings, Brazilian lawmakers at a state legislature found themselves in the company of some unexpected visitors.

On July 30, a cohort of capybaras wandered into the Mato Grosso Legislative Assembly located in Cuiabá, momentarily diverting attention from a planned vote as they roamed the facility.

Captured on video by legislative employee Nayara Bueno, the footage shows these large rodents tranquilly strolling through the building’s entrance, as staff members gently attempted to guide them back outside.

“These capybaras are no strangers to us; we’ve grown accustomed to their visits,” Bueno shared with The Associated Press.

The rodents’ guest appearance did not cause any damage to the Mato Grosso state legislature, according to officials.

The legislature borders a park that is home to wildlife, giving the animals easy access to the surrounding government complex. 

Native to South America, capybaras are semiaquatic mammals commonly found around wetlands and other bodies of water. They are highly social, generally travel in groups and can reach weights of about 175 pounds.

The world’s largest living rodents have also become internet favorites, with social media users frequently highlighting their laid-back behavior around other animals and people.

A pilot for Malaysia Airlines was recently caught attempting to smuggle a staggering 57 pounds of drugs into Indonesia, raising further concerns as he is also suspected of possibly using drugs while operating flights.

The startling discovery was made evident through surveillance footage released by Indonesia’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise. The footage shows the pilot’s arrival at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on July 29.

Upon retrieving his luggage, the 39-year-old pilot, known as MS from Malaysia, was stopped at a designated customs checkpoint. Authorities decided to examine his bags thoroughly at the capital’s airport.

Even though the pilot was initially directed to a priority lane, typically used by airline crew, customs officers still singled him out for further investigation.

During the inspection, four customs officials surrounded his luggage, eventually revealing a significant stash of illegal drugs concealed within one of his bags.

The pilot was found to be smuggling more than 70,000 ecstasy pills weighing about 57 pounds, along with 4 grams of methamphetamine, authorities said.

MS told investigators he had been promised 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit — more than $12,200 — to smuggle the drugs into Jakarta and was instructed to check into a local hotel after landing to make the deal, the Indonesian National Police said.

MS also told investigators he had previously delivered methamphetamine to Sabah, Malaysia, and later transported 15 pounds of methamphetamine to Jakarta.

Officers also seized a small bottle of urine, which they suspect MS would’ve used to falsify urine test results

The 39-year-old pilot is also accused of being under the influence of narcotics, police said.

The pilot “tested positive for MDMA, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cocaine in his urine test,” head of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs and Excise Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang said at a press conference Friday.

“This means he likely used drugs while flying to Indonesia,” Aritonang added.

MS was at the controls of Malaysia Airlines flight MH272 from Kuala Lumpur — with at least 170 passengers onboard — when he landed, authorities said.

Malaysia Airlines said in a statement that it is cooperating with authorities and has initiated an internal review of the incident.

“Malaysia Airlines wishes to reiterate that it does not tolerate any form of misconduct and is currently undertaking an internal review of the matter,” a spokesperson for the airline said Friday.

MS is currently being held at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency detention center and has been charged with narcotics-related offenses.

Indonesia is one of the toughest countries in the world when it comes to drug crimes — with penalties that ramp up sharply based on the type and amount of drugs involved.

If found guilty, MS could face death by firing squad or life in prison.

With Post wires

In a remarkable display of composure, a 21-year-old flight instructor stunned onlookers by executing a flawless emergency landing on a bustling Florida highway. A first-time student played a crucial role during this extraordinary event.

Emily Shelton was guiding her novice pilot through the skies aboard a 1974 Piper Cherokee Warrior. The duo had departed from Pensacola International Airport at 9:20 a.m. on Monday morning, according to a report by WEAR.

Flight data revealed that their training journey climbed to an altitude of 3,000 feet, with the student practicing maneuvers, before plotting a course back to the airport.

However, at 9:52 a.m., as the plane flew over the Ensley region, it vanished from flight monitors at approximately 1,600 feet.

In a captivating scene captured by dash cameras, the aircraft weaved under a highway sign and safely came to rest in the middle of Interstate 10, just two miles from its last tracked position.

Both Shelton and the student were then able to walk away from the plane unscathed. 

Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol have since said the daring landing attempt was necessitated by engine failure onboard the plane.

In dramatic audio, Shelton could be heard telling an air traffic controller at Pensacola International Airport that she could smell burning oil.

‘We do now have a burning oil smell in the cockpit,’ she said. ‘I don’t know if we’re going to make the airport.’

When the air traffic controller then asked for clarification, Shelton explained: ‘Our oil pressure is dropping down into the red and we do have fumes in the cockpit from the oil.’

Moments later, Shelton calmly informed the controller that ‘We are not making the airport, we’re going down on I-10.’

As she and the student then approached the interstate highway, Shelton once again called the air traffic control tower.

‘Just want to let you know we are lined up with I-10 trying to avoid the cars,’ she said at the time.

‘Roger. We’re going to get everybody over there as fast as I can to help you out,’ the air traffic controller replied. 

Meanwhile, truck driver Eric Jordan noticed the plane’s shadow as it started to descend overhead. 

He immediately slowed down and turned on his blinkers to alert the cars behind him of the pending danger. 

‘If I wouldn’t have seen that shadow over my truck and slowed down, he would have been in the side of the cab,’ Jordan told WSVN. ‘As you saw in the video, it was a close call from the truck and the sign, but he landed, he kept it in control.’

‘By the grace of God, he was able to land that plane in the middle of the interstate, and they’re not getting hit by another vehicle, so it all worked out,’ he continued. ‘Everyone was safe.’

Jordan then went on to hail Shelton as a ‘good instructor,’ calling it a ‘miracle’ that she and the student ‘landed the thing with no problem.’

The interstate was temporarily shut down in the aftermath of the landing, but officials were quickly able to move the small aircraft to the side of the road, allowing traffic to once again flow through the corridor, the Pensacola News Journal reports. 

After seeing the video, George Sigler, a retired Navy and commercial pilot, agreed that it was a daring landing.

‘They were probably doing somewhere around 60, 70 miles an hour in a glide,’ said Sigler, who is also the former owner of a Sky Warrior Flight School in Pensacola, where more than 14,000 military members and civilians have been trained.

‘So yeah, that’s still pretty darn fast, especially if you hit something solid like a sign. And then you still have altitude to deal with. So it was amazing. It’s one of those things that it’s hard to believe.’ 

But inside the aircraft, Shelton said she was assuring the student she would find a safe place to land the plane – even if that meant in the middle of the interstate.

‘I feel my training has prepared me exceptionally well for this moment,’ she said. ‘I’ve practiced this exact scenario many times – just never thought I’d actually have to execute it in real life.’

The emergency landing is now being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration. 

The United States Air Force has announced that its new B-21 Raider stealth bomber program is progressing ahead of schedule. The first operational unit of this next-generation bomber is anticipated to be delivered to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota by 2027, marking a significant milestone for the program.

Adding to the optimism, the Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47 fighter program is also making faster-than-expected advancements. Gen. Dale White, the director of Critical Major Weapon Systems, shared these insights during the Air Force’s Life Cycle Industry Days conference held in Dayton, Ohio, providing an update on both cutting-edge programs.

Gen. White revealed that since a pivotal $4.5 billion funding boost was incorporated into the 2025 reconciliation bill, the B-21 acquisition program has accelerated by approximately 25%. This financial injection has played a crucial role in expediting the program’s timeline.

These developments offer one of the most transparent public briefings to date regarding the status of the Air Force’s premier next-generation aircraft initiatives, shedding light on the rapid progress being made.

The update comes months after the Air Force announced a second B-21 Raider joined flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, a milestone officials at the time said would accelerate testing and weapons integration for America’s first new long-range bomber in more than three decades.

White said the first operational B-21 is expected to be “on the ramp” at Ellsworth in 2027, with Northrop Grumman planning to eventually produce seven operational bombers annually. The Pentagon has requested $6.1 billion for the B-21 program in its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal.

Built by Northrop Grumman, the B-21 is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons while penetrating advanced enemy air defenses. The aircraft is expected to eventually replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit while operating alongside modernized B-52 Stratofortress bombers expected to remain in service into the middle of the century. The Air Force plans to acquire at least 100 B-21 bombers.

White also said planning for the Boeing-built F-47 has reached an “unprecedented maturity.”

The Air Force plans to acquire 185 F-47 fighters, with the first flight scheduled for 2028. The aircraft will replace the F-22 Raptor as the service’s primary air superiority fighter and is expected to operate alongside Collaborative Combat Aircraft, autonomous “loyal wingman” drones designed to support crewed aircraft in combat. The Pentagon has requested $5.03 billion for the F-47 program in its fiscal year 2027 budget request.

News Media has reached out to the Air Force, Northrop Grumman and Boeing for comment.