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Unbreakable Bonds: Discover Which Love Island Couples Are Still Going Strong!

Kyra Green and Cashel Barnett: A Love Story Ends

Kyra Green and Cashel Barnett captured the hearts of viewers with their surprising romance on the U.S. edition of “Love Island.” Kyra even chose to exit the show in pursuit of rekindling her relationship with Cashel after he was eliminated, only to discover that he had already made his return. Unfortunately, the pair, both with a shared passion for music, decided to part ways in October 2019.

By late November, the couple had reunited, but their reconciliation was short-lived. In February 2020, Kyra and Cashel decided to end their relationship permanently.

“We had a good run,” Cashel revealed on the #NoFilter podcast. “We’re just in different stages of our lives… I think she might have even blocked my number,” he candidly admitted.

Kyra continued to make waves on television, appearing on shows like Match Me If You Can in 2021, The Challenge: USA in 2022 (where Cashel was also a contestant), and Love Island Games in 2023. Ultimately, she found love away from the spotlight with Tal Sahar, a dental student and former basketball player, in 2024.

In May 2025, Cashel was jailed in Utah on charges of domestic violence and assault, according to online records. The following month, new charges of assault and domestic violence were filed against him.

According to NBC News, Cashel denied the allegations, with his attorney Andrew K. Deesing telling the outlet, “My client and his family are enduring an incredibly difficult time, and we hope that his privacy will be respected as we work diligently to defend his name and reputation. Obviously, we’re in the very early stages of this and don’t have any further comment at this time.”

EastEnders Icon Lacey Turner Set to Dazzle on Strictly Come Dancing Stage

EastEnders actress Lacey Turner is reportedly set to join the next season of Strictly Come Dancing.

The 38-year-old, known for her role as Stacey Slater on the beloved BBC soap, is currently on an extended hiatus from the show. She plans to use this break to focus on training for the popular dance competition, which is slated to kick off in September.

Lacey is reportedly eager to dive into the world of dance, and BBC producers are thrilled for viewers to see a new side of her outside of her EastEnders character.

According to a TV insider who spoke with The Sun, “Strictly bosses are thrilled to have Lacey on board, given her massive fan following from her time on EastEnders.”

The source added, “She’s incredibly down-to-earth, and audiences will be keen to discover her real personality beyond Albert Square.”

‘She has loved having some quality time off screen to focus on parenting, but feels like now is the perfect time to learn to dance and try something different before she reprises her role in EastEnders.’

EastEnders star Lacey Turner has reportedly signed up to star on the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing; pictured 2023

EastEnders star Lacey Turner has reportedly signed up to star on the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing; pictured 2023

The actress, 38, is currently on an extended break from playing her character Stacey Slater in the soap and is keen to use her time to train for the BBC competition; pictured 2025

The actress, 38, is currently on an extended break from playing her character Stacey Slater in the soap and is keen to use her time to train for the BBC competition; pictured 2025

 Back in 2017, Lacey revealed she had turned down an offer from Strictly and admitted she didn’t ‘have the guts’ to do it. 

She said at the time: ‘I have been asked to go on Strictly but I’m rubbish at dancing and I don’t really have the guts.

‘I think it’s a great show to do, though, as you learn a new skill.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Lacey and BBC representatives for comment. 

It comes days after Denise Welch ‘dropped a huge hint that she’s in talks for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing’.

The 2026 celebrity line-up is yet to be announced following the BBC’s major shake-up of the hit show.

But as speculation continues to grow over who will compete in the new series, Denise was put on the spot while discussing whether she is securing a spot on the show this year.

When asked if she was in talks with Strictly, she told The Sun: ‘I’m pleading the fifth on that one. Bye!’

Strictly often casts people from the ITV talk show Loose Women, including past contestants like Kaye Adams, Ruth Langsford, and Judi Love.

Even though Denise has hinted she may take part in a reality show, she also insisted that her focus remains on acting, with several upcoming projects in the pipeline. 

‘It’s all exciting,’ she added. 

The Daily Mail has contacted Denise’s reps for further comment. 

Earlier this month, presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe were announced as the new Strictly hosts

Earlier this month, presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe were announced as the new Strictly hosts

Earlier this month, presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe were announced as the new hosts.

The unlikely trio will take over from outgoing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after they stepped down at the end of last year, following a rigorous audition process.

The news was confirmed on Strictly’s official Instagram page, with the trio coming together.

The caption read: ‘It’s official….September 2026.’

In the video, Emma and Johannes kissed each other on the cheek as they sat on stools, before Josh was invited over to join them.

‘It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Strictly – I’ve cheered and danced along from my sofa for years – so to be stepping into the Strictly ballroom is something I can’t quite comprehend,’ said Emma of her new role.

‘It’s impossible to fill the shoes that Tess and Claudia have left behind – two wonderful, iconic women who have been the beating heart of Strictly for so long.

‘I can only hope that we are able to help to steer the ship as beautifully as they have, into this new chapter.’

She added: ‘I can’t wait to spend my weekends with Josh and Jojo, the incredible dancers and the judges. Fingers crossed for a 10 from them!’

Josh, who is a fan of the show and competed as a contestant on the 2024 Christmas special, said he was ‘giddy with excitement’ to have won a presenting slot.

‘Dancing the Charleston dressed as a penguin for the 2024 Christmas Special of Strictly remains my career high point, so I am giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance to step into the biggest shoes in television,’ he said.

‘I adore Emma and Jojo and can’t wait to spend my weekends with them. I’ll dust off the penguin costume.’

Johannes said that being given the opportunity to host was ‘beyond anything I ever imagined’.

He said the long-running show ‘has always stood for joy, heart, and togetherness’, and he feels ‘deeply honoured to now help carry that magic forward’.

He added: ‘To do it alongside the formidable Emma Willis and the utterly brilliant Josh Widdicombe makes it even more special. I’m ready-sequins, nerves, and all…please bear with me.’

Tragic Twist: Murder Victim’s Family Faces Homelessness After Suspected Arson Attack

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New details have emerged about a devastating house fire that sent several Brisbane streets into lockdown with revelations the victims are a family already synonymous with tragedy.

A devastating fire in Clontarf has claimed one of three homes, belonging to the parents of Angus Beaumont, a teenager tragically murdered six years ago. Shockingly, the suspected arsonist and attempted murderer is a relative of the family.

The Beaumont family’s world was shattered in 2017 when 15-year-old Angus was fatally stabbed by teenagers in a Redcliffe carpark.

Angus Beaumont
Angus Beaumont was stabbed to death by two 14-year-olds in 2020. (Today)

Yesterday, their home was engulfed in flames, a result of what is believed to be a domestic violence-related arson attack.

Mandy Beaumont, a family member, expressed her anguish online, stating that it “looks like they’ve lost everything.” She added, “This on top of everything else is just too much to bear.”

Family member Mandy Beaumont said online it “looks like they’ve lost everything” adding “this on top of this is just too much”.

She said on a fundraising page it was an “arson attack while they were in the house”.

The massive inferno forced streets to be evacuated.
The massive inferno forced streets to be evacuated. (Nine)

The blaze spread to two neighbouring homes with all three destroyed.

The alleged offender was taken into custody after being tracked down by the police dog squad.

Corey Wardle, Angus’ half brother who runs a local yard maintenance business, is accused of dousing the family home with jerry cans of accelerant and setting it alight.

Those inside are understood to have made several Triple Zero calls for help, over four hours in the lead-up.

The fire quickly spread to other homes.
Those inside are understood to have made several triple-zero calls for help, over four hours in the lead-up to the fire. (Nine)

The family was forced to leave almost everything behind, in a race against time to flee the home, as the inferno took hold.

9News understands they managed to save one irreplaceable item, the urn containing Angus’s ashes.

Wardle will face Redcliffe Magistrates Court on a domestic violence arson charge and three counts of three counts of domestic violence attempted murder tomorrow.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Nollywood’s Struggle: The Legal Battle Over Afrobeats Music Rights

  • Dami Twitch, a music video director and filmmaker, emphasizes the need for Nollywood filmmakers to obtain proper clearance for using Afrobeats songs.
  • The change is attributed to many Afrobeats artists signing publishing deals with international companies.
  • These deals impose stricter licensing controls on the use of their music in productions.

Film director and former music video creator, Dami Twitch, has highlighted that Nollywood filmmakers must now secure appropriate permissions before incorporating Afrobeats tracks into their films.

During a recent episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, Twitch pointed out that this change is primarily because many Afrobeats musicians have signed with international publishing companies, leading to tighter regulations on music licensing.

He mentioned that this has significantly increased the cost of music licensing for Nollywood filmmakers. As a result, many producers struggle to afford the fees necessary to legally include popular Afrobeats songs unless they have substantial financial support or investment from outside sources.

Twitch also remarked that this new reality is beginning to create tension between the flourishing Afrobeats music industry and Nollywood. As both sectors experience growth, they face emerging challenges regarding collaboration and the rights to use content.

He further noted that this situation is beginning to strain the relationship between the Afrobeats music scene and Nollywood, as both industries continue to grow but face new challenges around collaboration and content usage rights.

His words…

“Nollywood producers can’t freely use Afrobeats songs in movies anymore. Some artists have already sold their music rights, so adding their songs to films becomes difficult.

“Even if the artist is my friend, they can’t give me permission to use their song freely because they have already entered a contract. That is a major challenge in the movie industry.

“The collaboration between Nollywood and Afrobeats is at a very weird place right now. A lot of producers can’t afford putting Afrobeats songs in their movies unless a big studio or investor supports them. Nigerian producers are mostly independent filmmakers so a lot of us won’t be able to afford it,” he said.

Hardline Anti-Cartel Candidate Echoes Trump in Effort to Conclude Colombia’s Leftist Period in Key Election

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A candidate with a hardline stance on law and order is gaining momentum among voters as Colombia prepares for its presidential election this Sunday. This candidate has pledged to dismantle drug cartels and overhaul the country’s security policies.

Colombia, known as the world’s largest producer of cocaine and a key ally to the United States in security matters, sees its domestic policies impacting not only drug trafficking but also migration and stability in the region.

Experts suggest that a change in leadership in Bogotá could significantly alter the nature of cooperation with Washington, specifically in areas like drug interdiction, intelligence sharing, and operations against cartels—issues that are pivotal to both U.S. domestic and international strategies.

Abelardo De La Espriella, a businessman and accomplished defense lawyer, has emerged as a prominent right-wing contender. His campaign is centered on rigorous counternarcotics measures, institutional reform, and a stark departure from the negotiation strategy employed by the current left-wing President, Gustavo Petro, when dealing with armed rebel factions.

TRUMP’S WAR ON DRUGS STOPS AT MEXICAN BORDER — FOR NOW

Colombia election

A supporter of Colombia’s presidential candidate for the Defensores de la Patria party, Abelardo de la Espriella, takes a selfie as she awaits his arrival to his last campaign rally in Barranquilla, Colombia, on May 23, 2026. Colombia will hold presidential elections on May 31.  (Vanessa Romero/AFP via Getty Images)

The 47-year-old, nicknamed ‘The Tiger,’ recently told the Associated Press, “The only peace process I believe in is one imposed by the force of arms and the laws of the republic. Under my government, any bandit who resists will be eliminated as appropriate, and if he submits, we will imprison him in a mega prison so he can pay his debt to justice as they should.”

His rise mirrors a regional pattern seen with leaders like Javier Milei, Nayib Bukele and José Antonio Kast figures who have built political momentum around security-first agendas and voter frustration with crime and economic instability.

According to an Associated Press report, polls say De La Espriella is likely to fight it out with leftist candidate Iván Cepeda, who is from the same party as President Gustavo Petro, and center-right candidate Paloma Valencia. There are 14 candidates on the ballot.

Abelardo de la Espriella

Colombia’s presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, of the Defensores de la Patria party, speaks behind bulletproof glass during his closing campaign rally in Medellin, Colombia on May 24, 2026. Colombia will hold presidential elections on May 31.  (Jaime Saldarriaga/AFP Via Getty Images)

Valencia’s campaign is backed by most of the nation’s traditional parties and by economists who are concerned about the growing levels of debt under the Petro administration and want Colombia to return to more orthodox policies, the Associated Press reported.

US PARTNERS WITH COLOMBIA TO TAKE ON IMMIGRATION USING BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES

Valencia told Fox News Digital, “As president of Colombia, we will restore a strategic, close, and trustworthy relationship with the United States, based on mutual respect and the defense of our national interests. We will strengthen cooperation in security, intelligence, military training, and the fight against transnational crime; areas in which the alliance between our two countries has been essential to Colombia’s stability. We will also work to ensure that Colombia plays an active role in the Shield of the Americas and contributes to regional leadership in defense and security. “

She added, “The United States will continue to be a key partner for economic growth, investment, and job creation, as well as a vital ally for the millions of Colombians who live there. Colombia will also stand alongside the United States in defending freedom and democracy across the hemisphere, supporting efforts to restore liberty in Cuba and to help Venezuela return to a democratic path. Our relationship will be defined by trust, cooperation, and the pursuit of tangible benefits for Colombia and its citizens.”

Paloma Valencia

Paloma Valencia, presidential candidate for the Democratic Center party, during the Gran Consulta Por Colombia election night rally in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Senator Paloma Valencia is now among the favorites to become Colombia’s next president after her landslide win in primaries on Sunday.  (Nathalia Angarita/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Critics say leftist candidate Iván Cepeda, represents a continuation and potential expansion of the leftist policies associated with Petro. Cepeda supports dialogue with armed groups, rural reform and a reform of Colombia’s traditional security framework, placing greater emphasis on social investment.

COLOMBIA PRESIDENT DECREES EMERGENCY POWERS TO RESTORE ORDER IN COCA REGION WRACKED BY REBEL COMBAT

Camilo Guzmán, executive director of Libertank, told Fox News Digital that Sunday’s election will likely result in a runoff between Cepeda and De La Espriella. “Abelardo earned that ticket by reading the room better than anyone else in the opposition. He offered catharsis, speaking directly to Colombian voters’ indignation toward the traditional political class and the establishment. 

“Where center-right Senator Paloma Valencia offered competence and continuity with the Uribe tradition, he said, De La Espriella’s message “is built on a hard line on security,” Guzman added. “Ending Petro’s failed ‘total peace’ policy that emboldened guerrillas and cartels, going after narco-trafficking with full force, and rebuilding the counter-narcotics alliance with Washington that Petro spent four years dismantling.“

Analysts say the outcome for the U.S. carries significant strategic weight. A De La Espriella administration could align more closely with Washington’s traditional counternarcotics priorities, potentially strengthening bilateral cooperation at a time when synthetic drug flows and organized crime networks are expanding across the hemisphere.

TRUMP-STYLE LAW-AND-ORDER CONSERVATIVE CLINCHES CHILE’S PRESIDENCY AS VIOLENT CRIME CRISIS RESHAPES NATION

Ivan Cepeda

Colombia’s presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda, of the Pacto Historico party, speaks to supporters during his final campaign rally in Barranquilla, Atlantico department, Colombia on May 24, 2026.  (Vanessa Romero/AFP via Getty Images)

Beyond bilateral relations, the election is being closely watched as a potential inflection point for Latin America. A De La Espriella or Valencia win would reinforce the momentum of security-focused leadership seen in parts of the region, while a Cepeda presidency would signal continuity for Petro’s policies.

José Manuel Restrepo, candidate for vice president on the ticket with De La Espriella talked exclusively to Fox News Digital. “The relationship between Colombia and the United States needs to be recovered and rebuilt, and this starts with a sound security policy to combat drug trafficking. It will be crucial to move beyond the current deteriorated relationship, in which we lost the historic bilateral, bicameral, bipartisan, and multisectoral relationship with our primary trading and investment partner.”

Jose Manuel Restrepo

Jose Manuel Restrepo, Colombia’s former finance minister and vice presidential candidate for the Defenders of the Homeland party, during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.  (Nathalia Angarita/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

He continued, “To strengthen it, we must seize the opportunity for Colombia to become the United States’ best possible ally in the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. Leveraging this relationship with the United States, we can play a major role in investing in food, hygiene products and basic needs from Colombia to Venezuela. This would, among other things, give a new direction to the relationship with the United States, creating new opportunities that benefit Colombia…Under our administration, the relationship with the United States would be strengthened and revitalized.

Guzman noted that “De La Espriella’s anti-establishment posture is not a libertarian agenda. His economic program leans on price controls, interest-rate subsidies, and import substitution, closer to old-school Latin American populism than to Bukele’s pro-investment turn, and a world away from Milei’s free-market project. Whether the economic program that comes with it creates new instability south of the border is the open question.”

Cepeda supporters

Supporters of Colombia’s presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda, of the Pacto Historico party, attend a campaign rally at Plaza Bolivar in Bogota on May 22, 2026.  (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)

Analyst, entrepreneur and son of a former president Jerónimo Uribe said the stakes could not be clearer in Sunday’s presidential race. “The elections in Colombia are not between the left and the right. They are between a communist model propped up by drug traffickers and a model that defends democracy and freedom,” he told Fox News Digital.

Representatives for Cepeda did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Marcelo Balboa: Why Missing World Cup Quarterfinals Would Be a Major Disappointment for the U.S.

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When Marcelo Balboa first laced up his soccer cleats, the sport was largely regarded as a way for children to learn social skills rather than as a serious athletic pursuit.

At that time, there was no extensive media coverage, no American players making waves in European leagues, and no international stars gracing U.S. fields. Stadiums weren’t packed to capacity, and Lionel Messi jerseys weren’t a common sight alongside Lakers hoodies on the streets of Los Angeles.

Balboa’s introduction to the beautiful game came through the fuzzy broadcasts on Univision, where he would listen to the legendary Andres Cantor and his electrifying “Goooooooool!” chant.

“The first time I heard his famous goal call was as a kid watching Univision,” Balboa recalled. “It stood out because it was unlike anything else in the U.S.”

With roots in Argentina, where his father played professional soccer, Balboa’s upbringing was unique compared to most Americans. During the 1970s and ’80s, while the nation was captivated by the NFL, MLB, and NBA, Balboa’s family was on a mission to make Americans realize that the world’s favorite game was worth their attention as well.

As the continent prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, Balboa has a unique perspective as a former player and captain of the United States men’s national team. 

Balboa played in the World Cup for Team USA in 1990 and 1994. His teams were pioneers tasked with dragging American soccer into relevance with little institutional support and almost no global respect. 

Flash forward to today and the current team is walking into the biggest tournament in the sport surrounded by billion-dollar infrastructure, elite academies, European club experience and also the pressure of playing in a World Cup on home soil. 

“The pioneers made soccer matter here,” said Balboa in an exclusive interview with The California Post ahead of the 2026 World Cup. “Now this generation has to prove it can win here.”

The expectations for the U.S. in the 2026 World Cup are sky-high. Simply participating is not enough anymore. Balboa understands that clearly because he has seen the arc. He’s lived it.

“You know I can go all the way back to the 1990 World Cup,” he said. “If we don’t qualify for that tournament, who knows what happens. We had to open everyone’s eyes in 1994.”

Back then, American soccer players were survivalists. Balboa remembers a time without modern training facilities, no world-class soccer stadiums, and without American stars regularly competing in Europe. The mission was cultural as much as competitive. Convince the country to care for soccer first. Results would have to come later. 

The U.S. did not qualify for the World Cup for 40 years from 1950 to 1990. But when FIFA announced in 1988 that the U.S. would host the 1994 World Cup, Balboa knew it was time for that to change. 

They qualified for the 1990 World Cup in Italy but lost all three of their matches and didn’t get out of the Group Stage. Four years later, on home soil, they barely escaped the group but were eliminated in the second round. Over the next 30 years, they would only escape group play three times, with their best finish coming in 2002 when they defeated Mexico to reach the quarterfinals and finished eighth. 

“If we don’t get out of the group, it would be a complete disaster,” Balboa said of expectations for the current USMNT. 

And honestly? He’s right. 

“This team is good enough to reach a quarterfinal,” he said.

Balboa believes that goalkeeper Matt Freese, right-back Alex Freeman and forward Folarin Balogun will have breakout performances in the World Cup, but he also knows all the attention will be on Christian Pulisic.

Pulisic has yet to score for club or country since the start of the calendar year. His last goal came for AC Milan on Dec. 28, a span of 21 straight appearances without a goal. For the U.S., that drought goes back almost two years, to Nov. 19, 2024, against Jamaica, a span of eight matches for the national team.

“Big-time players show up for big-time occasions,” said Balboa of his expectations for Pulisic. “We’ll see if he can break out of his struggles in these two friendlies before the World Cup starts.”

Balboa’s expectations carry even more weight coming from one of the defining faces of American soccer’s rise. He captained the national team during an era when the sport was starved for oxygen. But his team’s run in 1994 became a part of U.S. soccer folklore. His bicycle kick attempt just missed the back of the net against Colombia. It was a flash of audacity before the country fully understood the beauty of the sport.

“I remember the excitement in the crowd during that bicycle kick,” Balboa said. “There’s now a lot of history in the sport in this country. A lot of the best players in the world have played here.”

He rattled off names that once felt unimaginable in American club soccer: Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Jorge Campos, Carlos Valderrama and now Messi himself transforming MLS into a global conversation piece.

That growth is exactly why Balboa refuses to lower the standard for this U.S. team.

“I’m surprised a little bit that we keep losing in the second round of the World Cup,” said Balboa of the growth of the U.S. team. “I’d like to see the U.S. reach that mountaintop and get over it. I hope they can put it together this summer.”

He’s right.

After 32 years, the Americans are no longer a novelty act hosting the world. They are supposed to start competing with it. Balboa believes the U.S. should win its group and reach the quarterfinals. He even admitted that once a team reaches that stage, dreaming about winning the whole thing no longer sounds insane. 

But he also understands that the pressure of playing on home soil can suffocate the players. That’s why it’s so important to win their first match on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium.

“That first game, you can’t lose,” Balboa said. “You can’t put yourself behind the 8-ball.”

Balboa knows that tension well.

Led by its captain, the U.S. forced a 1-1 draw against heavily favored Switzerland in their first match. They rode that wave of momentum into a shocking 2-1 upset over Colombia in their second match.

Balboa and his teammates carried the burden of proving soccer belonged in America. Now an entirely different generation carries the burden of proving America belongs among soccer’s elite. 

“We all feel it’s our time to do something special,” Balboa said. 


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Paris Police Detain Many Amid Chaos at PSG Champions League Victory Celebrations


PARIS (AP) — Paris police detained numerous individuals following violent incidents that marred the celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s second Champions League victory. The unrest erupted late Saturday, with attempts by some to breach a police station in the heart of the French capital.

Festivities began in Paris shortly after PSG’s thrilling penalty shootout win against Arsenal in Budapest, Hungary. Fans took to the streets to rejoice, creating a lively atmosphere near the iconic Arc de Triomphe, where flares were lit and car horns blared in jubilation.

Around 20,000 supporters gathered on the famed Champs-Elysees, prompting police efforts to manage the enthusiastic crowd. However, smaller groups engaged in disruptive activities, vandalizing shops and setting fires in the process. Several cars were set alight, and one police officer sustained injuries. Authorities reported dispersing individuals who attempted to storm a police station in the upscale 8th Arrondissement.

By 10 p.m., police confirmed that 45 people had been taken into custody in connection with the disturbances.

It said that by 10 p.m., 45 people were taken into custody.

The main ring road surrounding Paris was briefly blockaded by a crowd before police dispersed it. Police also said one bakery and a restaurant were damaged.

Officers also contained about 1,000 people gathered near the PSG stadium in the 16th Arrondissement and cleared barricades made from bicycles.

In May last year following PSG’s first title, when 201 people were injured in the French capital and police made more than 500 arrests across France, Paris was on high alert, with 8,000 police officers deployed across the city.

___

AP soccer:

California’s ‘Monster’ Party Mom, Shannon O’Connor, Sentenced for Hosting Underage Alcohol-Fueled Gatherings

A woman from California, labeled as “Party Mom” by officials, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after prosecutors accused her of providing alcohol to teenagers and encouraging sexual activities among them, often when they were too inebriated to give consent.

Shannon O’Connor, aged 52, received a sentence of 35 years and 10 months on May 29, following her conviction for felony child abuse in March, as reported in a statement from the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office.

“This isn’t about a lenient parent offering wine spritzers to kids. She orchestrated perilous and drunken encounters among these minors. Her actions endangered their lives and inflicted lasting trauma,” stated District Attorney Jeff Rosen. “Shannon O’Connor is not a party mom; she is a convicted felon and a registered sex offender.”

Prior to her sentencing, O’Connor expressed remorse in court, addressing her victims directly.

“My actions caused your suffering, and I am deeply ashamed,” she admitted, as reported by ABC 7. “I live every day knowing I was the cause.”

What Was “Party Mom” Shannon O’Connor Accused Of?

Prosecutors said O’Connor hosted “drunken and destructive parties “for teens over a two-year period beginning in 2020, often warning those in attendance not to tell anyone or she could go to jail.

“Defendant supplied excessive amounts of alcohol to her son and his minor friends to the point where minors would vomit, be unable to stand, and fall unconscious,” prosecutors wrote in a statement of facts. “When these minors were extremely intoxicated from the alcohol, she encouraged them to engage in sexual activity with each other, facilitated sexual encounters, and watched some of these sexual encounters.”

During one party, O’Connor gave an underage teen a condom and pushed him in a room with an intoxicated minor, prosecutors said in the release. Then, at a New Year’s Eve bash, she “watched and laughed as a drunk teen sexually battered a young girl in bed,” prosecutors said.

“In another case, the defendant brought one drunk teen into a bedroom, where an intoxicated 14-year-old girl was lying in the bed,” prosecutors said in the release. “After she was assaulted, the victim said to the defendant: ‘Why did you leave me in there with him? Like, you knew like what he was going to do to me.’” 

In another December 2020 incident, O’Connor drove a group of intoxicated boys around and then encouraged one of the minors to drive her SUV through the high school parking lot as two other teens hung onto the back, per the statement of facts. One of the teens fell off and got a concussion. Then, as others tried to pick up the unconscious teen and place him the vehicle, he was repeatedly dropped.

The mom of two of the victims identified as Jane Doe 8 and Jane Doe 9 called her a “monster” in court, according to ABC 7, adding, “You preyed upon my daughter by supplying her alcohol, enticing sexual situation, and pushing her when she was not in a place to consent.”

Victims Confront Shannon O’Connor About the Abuse in Court

During the multiple day sentencing hearing, victims addressed O’Connor in court, revealing the lasting impacts of the abuse.

“I wish I could say that every memory with you has been healed with time,” Jane Doe 12 told her, per the news outlet, “but I still find myself crying myself to sleep over the way that you took complete advantage of me.” 

Another victim, referred to as Rylan Doe, said she found a suicide note in her bedroom with O’Connor’s name on it and told O’Connor in court, ”That is the impact you had on my life.”

Others spoke of the resilience they’d found in the aftermath of the abuse. 

“I refuse to let her live in my head any longer. I refuse to let these repercussions consume me, and I refuse to be a victim of hers,” Jane Doe 7 said during the sentencing, per ABC 7. “She may have taken my voice away when I was just a little kid, but she has now created a platform for it.”

As another victim told her, per the outlet, ”Shannon O’Connor held me prisoner for almost six years. It’s her turn to serve a very long sentence in jail.”

Shannon O’Connor Apologizes to Victims in Court

In her own comments to the court, O’Connor said the years since her arrest have given her time to think about her behavior.

“I’m not here to make excuses for my actions. I’m fully aware about how you all feel about me,” she said, according to NBC News. “I know that you all entrusted me and I let you all down. Because of my actions or lack thereof I have been absent from my own children, missing major milestone and time that I can never get back. They as well as your sons and daughters have suffered. They have lived these past five years parentless.”

She went on to add that she hoped her prison sentence would provide her victims with some measure of closure. 

“I am not sorry for myself, I am sorry for all of you and what I put you through,” O’Connor said per ABC 7. “But as I look at you all today, I hope you can find some comfort knowing that I have been punished and will continue to be for years to come.”

Her attorney Stephen Prekoski told Oxygen that they plan to appeal.

“She never had a meaningful opportunity to settle this case,” he told NBC News. “I’m not persuaded by those that believe that she was not remorseful. I’m not persuaded by those that believe she didn’t take accountability for her actions.”

Inside Molly-Mae Hague’s Baby Bambi’s $1K Designer Ski Wardrobe: Luxury Meets Toddler Style

Molly-Mae Hague gave her Instagram followers a glimpse into her baby daughter Bambi’s high-end ski wardrobe on Thursday while they relished a luxurious getaway in Courchevel.

The 24-year-old Love Island alum, who boasts a net worth exceeding £6 million, chartered a private jet to transport a group of friends to the opulent ski resort this week.

Throughout the vacation, Molly-Mae has been documenting her experience, donning an array of designer outfits from brands like Prada, Celine, and Chanel, clearly sparing no expense for their holiday.

The social media influencer made sure her little one was equally stylish, outfitting Bambi in a £520 Moncler snowsuit, a £495 Canada Goose snowsuit, and £65 toddler Timberland boots.

Bambi’s father, Tommy Fury, captured a heartwarming photo of her sitting in the snow, dressed in the Moncler snowsuit, complete with a cozy fur hat.

Molly-Mae Hague showcased her baby daughter Bambi's luxury designer ski wardrobe on Instagram on Thursday as they enjoyed a lavish ski trip in Courchevel

Molly-Mae Hague showcased her baby daughter Bambi’s luxury designer ski wardrobe on Instagram on Thursday as they enjoyed a lavish ski trip in Courchevel

The Love Island star, 24, who has a net worth of more than £6million, flew out a group of her friends on a private jet to the lavish ski destination this week (pictured with pal Tayla)

The Love Island star, 24, who has a net worth of more than £6million, flew out a group of her friends on a private jet to the lavish ski destination this week (pictured with pal Tayla)

Earlier in the week, Molly-Mae posed for photos with her bundle of joy in the village wearing a similar black Canada Goose baby snowsuit.

For the outing, Molly-Mae slipped into a pair of black wide legged jeans and a white T-shirt which she wore under an oversized brown cosy coat and matching mittens. 

The influencer added a warm Chanel hat and carried her belongings in a £3,300 Chanel backpack as she joined her pals for some shopping in the village. 

She wrote: ‘Courchevel with my sidekick. The mushy rice cake really finishes the look off perfectly.’

Molly and 12 of her friends jetted out to the French Alps on Sunday, which was organised as a surprise for her best friend Tayla Blue’s 30th birthday.

The influencer made sure to turn heads in the mountains as she wore the top designer gear, including a black £3,000 Prada snowsuit complete with a black helmet and £480 Celine white goggles.

On Wednesday, Molly-Mae opted for a pair of coordinated black £560 Prada gloves as she filmed herself racing down the mountain before stopping for a boozy lunch with her pals.

The girls were seen standing on chairs in Bagatelle dancing to Abba while their partners waved napkins in the air dancing.

During the trip, Molly-Mae has been keeping followers up-to-date as she worn a slew of designer pieces from Prada, Celine and Chanel

During the trip, Molly-Mae has been keeping followers up-to-date as she worn a slew of designer pieces from Prada, Celine and Chanel

And the influencer ensured her baby girl also had all the best gear, as she dressed her in £520 Moncler black baby snowsuit (pictured with a friend)

And the influencer ensured her baby girl also had all the best gear, as she dressed her in £520 Moncler black baby snowsuit (pictured with a friend)

Molly-Mae also dressed Bambi in a similar £495 Canada Goose snowsuit and a pair of £65 toddler Timberlands as they headed to the village

Molly-Mae also dressed Bambi in a similar £495 Canada Goose snowsuit and a pair of £65 toddler Timberlands as they headed to the village

Molly-Mae shared a sweet photo of Tommy and Bambi wearing matching Moncler outfits

Molly-Mae shared a sweet photo of Tommy and Bambi wearing matching Moncler outfits 

The reality star cradled her baby girl and planted a kiss on her cheek as they stopped for lunch during the ski trip

The reality star cradled her baby girl and planted a kiss on her cheek as they stopped for lunch during the ski trip

She later took her daughter sledging down a small hill

She later took her daughter sledging down a small hill 

Bambi looked adorable as she played in the snow

Bambi looked adorable as she played in the snow 

Molly-Mae flew out 12 of her friends to the French Alps for the luxury ski holiday

Molly-Mae flew out 12 of her friends to the French Alps for the luxury ski holiday 

The swanky eatery serves French and Mediterranean dishes and has locations across the globe in Turkey, Mexico, France, America and Dubai.

Molly and her friends dined on £78 pizzas at the slope side restaurant, which boasts incredible views across the mountains.

Cocktails at the restaurant set customers back around £25 and champagne is served by the glass for between £22 and £33.

During the lunch, Molly-Mae packed on the PDA with fiancé Tommy Fury as they posed for a sweet selfie.

The reality star also snapped group picture on the mountain with the girls including her sister Zoe, before beaming for a snap in a gondola with bestie Tayla. 

Once the friends arrived at the chalet, Molly-Mae showed off their luxury living arrangements which was complete with a personal chef and a swimming pool.

They were greeted with a huge spread of afternoon tea in the living room complete with a number of pink and white balloons. 

Molly-Mae filmed boxer Tommy holding daughter Bambi and said that she had been amazingly well behaved the whole flight.

The television star went onto reveal she had put Bambi’s cot in a separate room from her and Tommy’s as she gave fans a tour. 

She admitted: ‘Our rooms here but we have managed to put our cot round the corner where our wardrobes are.

‘That is the toilet so not sure what we are going to do about that TBC. I think we’re going to have to use the shared toilet down there, but yeah.’

For the travel day, Molly-Mae cut a casual figure in blue jeans and a white T-shirt as she matched with one of her friends. 

Molly-Mae hit the slopes in luxury gear before partying with her pals at swanky Bagatelle in Courchevel

Molly-Mae hit the slopes in luxury gear before partying with her pals at swanky Bagatelle in Courchevel 

Molly-Mae was seen packing on the PDA with fiancé Tommy Fury during the lunch as they posed for a sweet selfie

Molly-Mae was seen packing on the PDA with fiancé Tommy Fury during the lunch as they posed for a sweet selfie

The girls were seen standing on chairs at Bagatelle dancing to Abba

The girls were seen standing on chairs at Bagatelle dancing to Abba 

Tommy (right) waved a napkin in the air while dancing in the restaurant with pals

Tommy (right) waved a napkin in the air while dancing in the restaurant with pals

Molly-Mae organised the four-day ski trip as a surprise for her best friend Tayla to celebrate her birthday.

Molly-Mae showed off the lavish trip on her YouTube vlog, as she revealed the personalised details of the trip and showed off their lavish private chalet.

The former reality star surprised Tayla just a week before they flew out to the French Alps with an envelope saying the pair were going skiing. 

The influencer had organised for Tayla’s husband, their baby, her sister, and other friends to come along on the trip.

Tayla was seen walking onto the private jet with Molly-Mae before all their friends yelled surprise from inside the plane cabin. 

The group also shared a fun snap of everyone posing outside the private plane before taking off on their lavish trip. 

While in the air, the friends were treated to a personalised food menu, cupcakes with Tayla’s face on, a large cake and champagne.

In the evening they enjoyed a huge meal with their own personalised cocktail menu, with the influencer’s being the ‘Molly-Mae margarita’ and her sister’s the ‘Zoe zest spritz’. 

Molly-Mae organised the four-day ski trip as a surprise for her best friend Tayla to celebrate her birthday

Molly-Mae organised the four-day ski trip as a surprise for her best friend Tayla to celebrate her birthday

Molly-Mae showed off the lavish trip on her YouTube vlog, as she revealed the personalised details of the trip and showed off their lavish private chalet

Molly-Mae showed off the lavish trip on her YouTube vlog, as she revealed the personalised details of the trip and showed off their lavish private chalet

She posed with Tommy and their baby daughter Bambi

She posed with Tommy and their baby daughter Bambi

They were greeted with a huge spread of afternoon tea in the living room complete with a number of pink and white balloons

They were greeted with a huge spread of afternoon tea in the living room complete with a number of pink and white balloons

In the evening, the group of friend enjoyed a huge meal together in their chalet

In the evening, the group of friend enjoyed a huge meal together in their chalet 

They enjoyed their own personalised cocktail menu, with the influencer's being the 'Molly-Mae margarita' and her sister's the 'Zoe zest spritz'

They enjoyed their own personalised cocktail menu, with the influencer’s being the ‘Molly-Mae margarita’ and her sister’s the ‘Zoe zest spritz’

The group were later seen standing on the balcony of the chalet as they were treated to a firework display

The group were later seen standing on the balcony of the chalet as they were treated to a firework display

The group were later seen standing on the balcony of their chalet as they were treated to a firework display. 

Molly-Mae shot to fame in the show’s fifth series when she found love with Tommy, finishing as runners up to Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea – who parted ways just weeks later.

Already an influencer before joining the show, Molly has amassed 7.9 million Instagram followers and landed a six-figure deal when she signed with fast fashion chain PLT in 2019 to become their creative director.

Molly-Mae has made bumper profits via her company MMH Group Holdings and her self-tanning business Filter.

She added to her cash pot with her memoir released in June 2022 – Becoming Molly-Mae – which sold at a cost of £20 and bulked up her fortune by £2million during the pandemic.

The star is also a brand ambassador for Beauty Works.

50 Years of UFO Research: Unveiling Surprising Discoveries

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For many, the notion that the United States, China, and other nations possess remnants of alien spacecraft seems absurd. The idea that these crafts have been retrieved with extraterrestrial beings—whether deceased or alive—strains the limits of belief. Yet, the mounting evidence suggests otherwise.

My pursuit of this enigmatic subject began in my teenage years after watching a television segment about a ‘flying saucer tailing a commercial airliner.’

Over the past fifty years, I’ve delved deeply into this mystery, meticulously examining a vast array of documents and conducting interviews with pivotal figures in this shadowy field, including some highly discreet sources.

In my new book, “Not For Disclosure,” I’ve employed the same thorough scrutiny I would as a legal professional. Only evidence that I find both truthful and dependable makes the cut, allowing me to assert my findings with confidence. I’ve sifted through a great deal of information, setting aside anything less than credible. Additionally, I’ve been entrusted with highly sensitive information by individuals whose integrity I respect.

The intrigue surrounding these extraordinary objects, formerly known as UFOs and now referred to as UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena), is shared by numerous influential personalities.

When I was on the editorial board of the leading international journal, Flying Saucer Review, Buckingham Palace requested that a copy of every edition was delivered to the Duke of Edinburgh’s equerry. Prince Philip, of course, was a highly experienced pilot who quietly followed this subject, even having some witnesses interviewed at the Palace.

My professional life has been spent as a barrister, a King’s Counsel, evaluating evidence in very complex cases. I have done my best to bring that experience into this more anomalous arena, and my legal reputation has sometimes meant that I have been able to open doors that were closed to other researchers.

The shocking evidence that I have amassed proves beyond any doubt that not only are UAPs real, but they are undeniably evidence of alien technology. The sources of these non-human intelligences is still not known even by the intelligence services of the world.

My concern about these extraordinary objects – once termed UFOs but now known as UAPs or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena – has been shared by many influential figures

My concern about these extraordinary objects – once termed UFOs but now known as UAPs or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena – has been shared by many influential figures

The shocking evidence that I have amassed proves beyond any doubt that not only are UAPs real, but they are undeniably evidence of alien technology, writes Jonathan Caplan

The shocking evidence that I have amassed proves beyond any doubt that not only are UAPs real, but they are undeniably evidence of alien technology, writes Jonathan Caplan

More than that, the United States, China and Russia have been competing to reverse engineer and replicate these technologies, including anti-gravity, free energy and the real relationship between space and time.

I am fully aware how extraordinary this sounds. The principal motive for writing my book was to enable a wider and informed debate to take place without stigma or embarrassment. This subject is not on any educational syllabus and it is difficult to know where to access reliable material.

The ridicule surrounding the subject has not arisen by accident. A deliberate policy of denial and fabrication has been implemented by the US government and others, which has ended the reputations and even the lives of many people who have tried to lift the veil.

That is changing. In July 2023, a former Air Force intelligence officer named David Grusch went public under oath on live television before the US Congress, declaring that the United States was in possession of crashed NHI (non-human intelligence) craft.

Senator Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state and a probable contender to be the next president, told political website The Hill in July 2024: ‘Either what they are saying is partially true, or entirely true – or we have some really smart educated people with very high clearances and very important positions in our government who are crazy and are leading us on a wild goose chase. 

‘What incentive would so many serious people have to make something up?’

Grusch did not say how many crashed NHI craft had been recovered, only that it was ‘in double digits’. One was seen by Lance Corporal Jonathan Weygandt. He was a US Marine posted to Peru in 1997, when he was sent with his unit one night to secure the site of a crashed aircraft, close to a radar tracking station.

‘We found the area real easy,’ he said, ‘because there was a huge gash in the land. It was like something had almost cut warm butter with a knife. It was a huge ship, buried in the side of a cliff. And when I first saw it I was scared.

David Grusch did not say how many crashed non-human intelligence craft had been recovered, only that it was ‘in double digits’

David Grusch did not say how many crashed non-human intelligence craft had been recovered, only that it was ‘in double digits’

One was seen by Lance Corporal Jonathan Weygandt. He was a US Marine posted to Peru in 1997 when he was sent with his unit one night to secure the site of a crashed aircraft close to a radar tracking station

One was seen by Lance Corporal Jonathan Weygandt. He was a US Marine posted to Peru in 1997 when he was sent with his unit one night to secure the site of a crashed aircraft close to a radar tracking station

‘It was dripping a syrup-like liquid – about 10 metres in width, 20 metres in length, like something between an egg and a teardrop.’

Whatever it was, this craft was not manmade. As far as Weygandt could work out, it had not crashed but was shot down, apparently by a Hawk surface-to-air missile. And something was still inside it, something alive.

‘I think,’ he said, ‘the creatures inside were trying to communicate with me telepathically.’

A US military unit in plain black fatigues arrived with a Nuclear Energy Support Team from the Department of Energy to recover the entities and the craft. Weygandt was arrested and taken by helicopter to a US Navy Medical Research Unit nearby.

Here, anonymous officers told him he was witness to something that he was not supposed to have seen. ‘I thought they were going to kill me. They threatened to take me up in a helicopter and kick me out into the jungle.’

His story might seem a hallucination, if it did not tally so closely with what we know about other crash retrieval operations. Unidentified craft are tracked in the United States through various agencies, including North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

If a UAP is detected to have crashed, then special paramilitary units are sent to the scene together with the Office of Nuclear Energy in order to secure the area – just as Weygandt describes.

The CIA is also closely involved, and has recovered craft within US borders and from foreign territory both on land and under the sea. They have also engaged in operations to bring down craft.

When craft have been too large to recover, they have allegedly been left in place, buried under a building or structure while a facility is constructed underground to study it: This is said to have happened in the 1970s in the mountains outside Seoul, South Korea.

In January 1996, NORAD warned Brazilian authorities that a UAP was in their airspace. A cigar-shaped craft was seen by residents to be flying erratically and low before it crashed.

Multiple reports were made of strange beings with dark oily skin, large red eyes and three bony protuberances on their heads in the vicinity of the town of Varginha. Witnesses included three young women as well as military personnel and firefighters. A US plane arrived at the army base in Campinas to collect the wreckage and entities. Two of these creatures were captured. A military officer, Marco Chereze, who came into physical contact with one died soon after.

We do not know what happened to one of the beings but the other was taken to the regional hospital. The head of neurosurgery, Dr Italo Venturelli, attested last year that he went to consult with one of the beings for several minutes.

He said: ‘He was magnificent and very tranquil. I wondered if he was suffering but he was not. It was like he understood everything I was thinking entirely.’

Many suppose the history of crashed spacecraft begins with the 1947 Roswell incident in New Mexico, when a ranch foreman named Mac Brazel discovered wreckage scattered across a wide area. This included metal beams covered in hieroglyphic symbols.

A police officer in Roswell holds debris of an alleged flying saucer found by ranch foreman Mac Brazel

A police officer in Roswell holds debris of an alleged flying saucer found by ranch foreman Mac Brazel

At a second crash site, the main part of the craft was found with five small, non-human bodies inside. The official explanation was that the debris came from a ‘weather balloon’.

But a crash in Magenta in northern Italy pre-dates that by more than a decade. In 1933, a bell-shaped object was recovered from a site near Milan, though no bodies were found inside. A secret group known as Cabinet RS/33 was established to safeguard the craft and it reported directly to dictator Benito Mussolini.

Telegrams and notes from June 1933 have been discovered, ordering a Press blackout and establishing a detailed protocol for dealing with the object’s recovery. 

At the end of the Second World War, the Office for Strategic Services (the OSS, which was the first US intelligence agency), with the assistance of the Vatican, arranged for the US government to take possession of the craft and to transport it back to an American facility.

Beyond any dispute, the international operations carried out across almost a century to keep this technology away from public sight amount to the world’s greatest ever cover-up. But the technology is only part of it. Even more disturbing is the non-human intelligence behind it.

Five alien species are commonly described in the literature but there are many more that have been reported. Paul Hellyer, the former defence minister of Canada, told me that he had been officially notified that more than 40 different species have been recorded visiting Earth. 

The five main observed types include ‘greys’ which are most commonly depicted in popular culture, described as about 4 ft tall with large, teardrop-shaped heads, wraparound black eyes, no nose or ear protuberances and a straight line for the mouth.

The four other most commonly observed body types include small humanoids; larger, well-built reptilian-like beings; tall, fair Nordic types; and those with a mantid or insectoid appearance.

Dr Eric Davis, an astrophysicist who has worked for the US Department of Defense, confirmed his knowledge of these species at a Congressional event held by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on May 1, 2025.

Many researchers suspect the ‘greys’ are actually androids, arguing they are synthetic beings built to carry out tasks for the real NHIs.

There is a strong argument that today’s UAP encounters echo the content of our fairy tales and folklore, and even of some religious visions. Instead of coming across goblins and fairies, today it is aliens and spaceships.

Witnesses are often deeply affected by what they have seen, but prefer to say little, either for fear of being mocked or in many cases because they have been directly threatened. Sometimes though such events cannot be contained and become breaking news. 

On July 1, 1965, a French lavender farmer named Maurice Masse, in Valensole in the French Basses Alpes, was smoking a cigarette just before starting his tractor for the day’s work when he heard a whistling noise. On the other side of his field, he saw an egg-shaped object resting on four legs.

On July 1, 1965, a French lavender farmer named Maurice Masse, in Valensole in the French Basses Alpes, was smoking a cigarette just before starting his tractor for the day’s work when he heard a whistling noise

On July 1, 1965, a French lavender farmer named Maurice Masse, in Valensole in the French Basses Alpes, was smoking a cigarette just before starting his tractor for the day’s work when he heard a whistling noise

Two small boys were squatting nearby in grey-green overalls, looking at the ground. They stood up when he approached. They were about 4 ft tall with bald heads and large slanted eyes. Their mouths had no lips and resembled a small hole.

He claims there was a telepathic exchange, then they pointed a ‘pencil’ at him causing temporary paralysis.

The craft took off at speed and, once he was free to move, he inspected the place where it had stood. The legs of the craft had left indentations in the ground. The local gendarmerie from Digne came to investigate and alerted government agents who concluded that Masse was not lying.

From then on the landing site, damaged and charred, would only grow weeds. Madame Masse told investigators that her husband thought about these beings every day and that it was a profound experience, something that should not be discussed with anyone. He shied away from media attention but his story quickly spread and was reported in the Washington Post four days later.

A UAP investigator named Jacques Vallee who interviewed Masse wrote: ‘The Valensole case is the best authenticated close encounter incident in continental Europe. It involved hard traces, botanical data, physiological data, and detailed descriptions of beings associated with the object.’

There are also claims of official contact, the most common being that arrangements were made for US president Dwight D Eisenhower to meet a group of extraterrestrials in 1954 at Edwards/Muroc Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert in California.

On another occasion president George HW Bush was informed, when he became director of the CIA, that a craft had landed at Holloman Air Force Base and a tall humanoid of Nordic appearance emerged and met with several uniformed and CIA officers. The Holloman contact was filmed but Bush was not allowed to view it.

The astronaut Gordon Cooper (who flew on the 1963 Mercury-Atlas 9 mission and 1965’s Gemini 5) was present on another occasion when a saucer allegedly landed at Edwards base in May 1957.

He and a crew had set up a Cinetheodolite precision-landing system on a dry lakebed – a system that could take pictures at the rate of 30 frames per second – for an exercise that had nothing to do with UAPs.

Later in the morning they saw a saucer hovering above them. It landed 160 ft away using three extended landing gears. As they approached to get a better view, the landing gears were retracted and the craft took off. Cooper, who was very familiar with experimental aircraft, had never seen technology like this.

When Cooper held the negative print up to the light, he observed that the quality of the photography was excellent. The film was speedily collected by an agent who arrived by special plane. Cooper never heard any more about the matter.

As Marco Rubio has said, why should a highly trained man like that, or his colleagues, lie about such an incident?

But perhaps the accounts that are hardest to dismiss are the mass sightings. On September 16, 1994, more than 60 children at a private elementary school in Ruwa, 12 miles outside Harare in Zimbabwe, were taking a mid-morning break while their teachers were in a staff meeting.

Suddenly, several silver spheres came out of the sky and seemed to vanish and reappear. The largest object came down, hovered and landed on a hill by some gum trees just outside their schoolyard.

The children, aged six to 12, saw one or two small men, about 3 ft tall, dark grey with long black hair, large black almond eyes and tight black suits, atop the craft.

Next day, the headmaster Colin Mackie asked them to draw what they had seen. He received 35 drawings, all very similar.

The BBC’s Zimbabwe correspondent, Tim Leach, was the first to arrive to film interviews. Leach later said: ‘I could handle war zones, but I could not handle this.’

He edited his report and sent the tape to London for BBC News but the tape went missing and he had to prepare a further one – but not before, he said, he had received veiled threats to ‘be very careful’ from a source whom he suspected was working with the CIA.

Several children said they had received telepathic information from the visitors. Lisel, 11, said: ‘I received through the being’s eyes the message that we are not taking care of the planet.’

That message could not be more benign. But the implications for humankind may not be. These craft are present in our skies and oceans in increasing numbers and no government today has any real idea of their agenda.

A race is underway between the superpowers to unlock their scientific secrets which may alter our worldview and our concepts of consciousness and reality.

China is known to have advanced UAP programmes with fewer restrictions on funding and better co-operation between scientists dealing with different projects.

In December 2012, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev was recorded off-air telling a journalist that Vladimir Putin receives a regular report prepared by the special service ‘devoted to the strangers who visit our planet’.

This secret government agency concerns ‘the control of aliens in our country’. He said he could not talk about how many were among us because ‘panic will begin’.

He did not appear to be joking.

Adapted from Not For Disclosure by Jonathan Caplan (Century, £22), to be published June 11. © Jonathan Caplan 2026. To order a copy for £19.80 (offer valid to 13/06/26; UK P&P free on orders over £25) go to www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.