Home Blog Page 85

Dave Hughes Reveals Who He’s Voting For in Surprise Admission

0

Dave Hughes has built a career on saying exactly what he thinks, and he is not changing course now.

The outspoken 55-year-old comedian has floated a striking theory about Victoria’s new Premier, Ben Carroll, suggesting the freshly appointed state leader may have been paying very close attention to his social media commentary.

Discussing Victoria’s latest political shift on the Daily Mail podcast The Debrief with Savanna Young, Hughes said he believed Carroll’s recent messaging sounded familiar — and possibly aligned with points he has been pushing online for months.

‘I feel like he’s been watching my Instagram,’ Hughes said.

According to Hughes, the moment that caught his attention came when the Premier spoke about respecting taxpayers’ money, a theme the comedian says closely reflects the arguments he has repeatedly made in public.

‘He seems to be watching what I say because he’s repeating a lot of what I say,’ Hughes insisted.

Dave Hughes, 55, claims Victoria's new Premier Ben Carroll may have been paying close attention to his social media

Dave Hughes, 55, claims Victoria’s new Premier Ben Carroll may have been paying close attention to his social media

According to Hughes, the government’s messaging signals a recognition that public funds belong to Victorians rather than politicians.

While Hughes welcomed Mr Carroll’s rhetoric, he questioned whether voters would be convinced that meaningful change is underway.

And in an extraordinary claim, Hughes suggested his outspoken criticism of the Victorian government may have played a role in the downfall of former Premier Jacinta Allan.

Allan, 52, quit as Premier in July after losing the support of the Labor caucus, despite maintaining she could still win the November state election.

Carroll, 51, has now taken over the state’s top job with Labor facing a difficult election campaign, as the party struggles in opinion polls ahead of the November vote.

‘I think I’ve made a big difference in Victoria,’ Hughes declared.

‘If I hadn’t been as vocal as I had, I reckon Jacinta Allan would still be Premier of Victoria. Seriously.’

The comedian acknowledged others may disagree with his assessment, but maintained that his public campaigning had an impact on the political landscape.

Hughesy suggested his outspoken criticism of the Victorian government may have played a role in the downfall of former Premier Jacinta Allan. Pictured left with current Victorian Premier Ben Carroll

Hughesy suggested his outspoken criticism of the Victorian government may have played a role in the downfall of former Premier Jacinta Allan. Pictured left with current Victorian Premier Ben Carroll

Hughes also pointed to comments made by the new Premier on his first day in the top job, particularly remarks about integrity and leadership.

The former radio star argued those comments amounted to an implicit criticism of previous administrations, a point he seized upon during his lengthy political commentary.

‘He said “I’m not Dan Andrews, I’m not Jacinta Allan. So I’m not the last two premiers under the government, I lead with integrity. Integrity will not be optional”. He said that,’ Hughesy quoted Carroll.

‘So the guy who watched the last two premiers behind closed doors said that when he’s in charge, integrity is not going to be optional, which is saying integrity was optional under those two leaders. It’s a big thing to say.

Despite expressing some optimism about the new leadership’s messaging, Hughesy remained deeply sceptical about the governing party’s prospects ahead of the next state election.

He said Carroll faces an uphill battle convincing Victorians that the government has changed course.

‘He’s got two months to try to convince the public that the government should be trusted,’ Hughesy said.

The comedian also threw his support behind the Victorian Liberals, revealing he has gone ‘all chips in’ on the opposition.

He specifically praised Liberal leader Jess Wilson (pictured behind Hughes), describing her as 'reasonable' and 'honest' after attending a Liberal function with her in Geelong last month

He specifically praised Liberal leader Jess Wilson (pictured behind Hughes), describing her as ‘reasonable’ and ‘honest’ after attending a Liberal function with her in Geelong last month

Join the discussion

Do outspoken celebrities really shape political change, or just overstate their own influence?

He specifically praised Liberal leader Jess Wilson, describing her as ‘reasonable’ and ‘honest’ after attending a Liberal function with her in Geelong last month.

Hughesy also argued Victorians should consider giving the opposition a chance, while stressing he would remain willing to change his view if future policies failed to impress him.

‘Jess Wilson is a young woman. She’s in the mid 30s. Young mum. I’ve met her a few times. I’ve done a function with her down in Geelong,’ he added.

‘I think Victoria should give her a go and give the Libs a go this time.’

While political pundits may debate the true extent of his influence, Hughes himself appears convinced his voice is being heard in the corridors of power.

But has his self-proclaimed influence prompted him to run for politics?

His surprising answer, and the full explosive interview, can be heard in the latest episode of The Debrief with Savanna Young – now available on the Daily Mail’s YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes dropping weekly.

Nicolas Cage Sinkhole Crisis Forces Neighbors From Homes

0

Residents living near Nicolas Cage’s Malibu beachfront property have been told to leave their homes after a large sinkhole tore open along his street and consumed the driveway of his $10.5 million oceanfront mansion.

The damage was uncovered early Tuesday when firefighters arrived in the area to investigate a possible gas main rupture, a public information officer told KTLA.

Later that day, Malibu officials issued an emergency order, warning of an “imminent danger” for people living on Sea Level Drive, the road where Cage’s home is located.

By that point, seven properties had been red-tagged, a designation that means the buildings were deemed unsafe to occupy because of hazardous conditions caused directly by the sinkhole.

City officials said another 24 homes were also expected to be red-tagged because the damaged roadway had blocked safe vehicle access to the properties.

Cage, who purchased his home on Sea Level Drive in 2024, is not known to have been spotted in the vicinity of the property since the crater appeared.

The Daily Mail has contacted Cage’s representative for comment.

Nicolas Cage's Malibu neighbors have been instructed to evacuate their homes as a result of the massive sinkhole that opened on his street and swallowed up his driveway

Nicolas Cage’s Malibu neighbors have been instructed to evacuate their homes as a result of the massive sinkhole that opened on his street and swallowed up his driveway 

Cage, who purchased his home on Sea Level Drive in 2024, is not known to have been spotted in the vicinity of the property since the sinkhole opened

Cage, who purchased his home on Sea Level Drive in 2024, is not known to have been spotted in the vicinity of the property since the sinkhole opened

The sinkhole, according to the City of Malibu, had an astonishing estimated width of 30 by 60ft and a depth of approximately 25 to 30ft. 

Such a ‘large portion’ of Sea Level Drive has ‘collapsed’ that large emergency vehicles like fire trucks can no longer get through, the proclamation said.

‘Gas service to the affected area has been shut off, and water service may also be discontinued as conditions warrant,’ the authorities noted.

The scale of the threat was compounded by the intensified tides and rainfall caused by Hurricane Marie, as well as a particularly strong El Nino that a government forecast has given a 90 percent chance of escalating into a ‘super’ event.

Evacuees will be able to take refuge at a temporary shelter the American Red Cross is setting up at Malibu High School, the City of Malibu advised on its website

Photos of the destruction Tuesday showed the once-palatial property sitting on the edge of a massive crater that has taken down the driveway, a portion of the adjacent street and a portable restroom. 

The luxurious residence had been sectioned off with construction cones, and workers could be seen assessing the situation in the sinkhole and along the street.

The hole was reportedly the result of coastal erosion. 

Photos of the destruction Tuesday showed the once-palatial property sitting on the edge of a massive crater that has taken down the driveway

Photos of the destruction Tuesday showed the once-palatial property sitting on the edge of a massive crater that has taken down the driveway 

KTLA reporter Rich Prickett, who was reporting on the incident from the air, said no one appeared to be inside Cage’s residence at the time. 

‘Substantial damage done to this home, or at least the driveway to this home here in Malibu,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t appear that anybody was home. As a matter of fact, the house looks like it is under some sort of renovation.’ 

No one has been reported to have been injured, according to KTLA. 

Located in a highly desirable oceanfront setting, the home contains a rooftop deck with jacuzzi, soaring glass walls, multiple bedrooms and was the previous owner’s ‘happy place.’

The home was built in the 1990s by the late Jose Liberman, co-founder of the Liberman Broadcasting, and remained in his family until it was sold to Cage.

‘Yes, Nicolas Cage bought our home in Malibu,’ Lenard Liberman, Jose’s son and Liberman Broadcasting co-founder, told The New York Times in 2024.

‘My parents would go on weekends and it was my father’s “happy place”, he explained.

‘My father passed away and my mom just couldn’t go to the house anymore. Too many memories,’ he added.

A member of a Hollywood dynasty, Cage rose to fame with roles in Moonstruck and more

A member of a Hollywood dynasty, Cage rose to fame with roles in Moonstruck and more

In 1996, he earned an Oscar win for his role in Leaving Las Vegas

In 1996, he earned an Oscar win for his role in Leaving Las Vegas

The residence contains access to an isolated beach, chef’s kitchen and garage with elevator access. 

An Oscar winner, Cage is a member of a Hollywood dynasty.

Born Nicolas Kim Coppola, Cage is the son of the late American academic and author August Coppola as well as the nephew of film-maker Francis Ford Coppola and his actress sister Talia Shire. 

The family includes Cage’s cousins, film-maker Sofia Coppola and actor Jason Schwartzman. 

His grandparents were composer Carmine Coppola, who scored many of Francis’s films, and Italia Coppola, who also appeared in her son’s Godfather films. 

Over the decades, Cage carved out a wildly impressive acting career with roles in films Moonstruck, Raising Arizona, Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure and an Oscar win for Leaving Las Vegas.  

Last year Cage legally changed his name to ‘Nick Cage’ to avoid being the Coppola ‘clown cousin.’

‘I am Nick Cage. I changed my name legally last year,’ he told Variety

Cage walked down the aisle for a fifth time in 2021 when he wed Riko Shibata. Above, in May

Cage walked down the aisle for a fifth time in 2021 when he wed Riko Shibata. Above, in May

The name was inspired by Marvel character Luke Cage, a last name he thought was ‘cool.’

‘I’m Nick Cage in life, and I’m Nick Cage on camera. ‘Tis better to be the patriarch of my own little family than the clown cousin on the margins of someone else’s, so I decided I’m going to bring it on and be “Cage.”

‘”Cage” is a name that I liked coming across in the comics – I just thought he had a cool name – and I grew up in a very avant-garde, artsy family and there was talk about John Cage and the experimental compositions that he did. I was looking for something like “James Dean”; I was looking for something short and sweet. 

‘I thought, well, I’ll keep the name “Nicolas” because my father named me Nicolas -with French spelling, which has always frustrated me, because everyone adds an “h.” I don’t know why he gave me the French spelling! But he did.’

Whether he prefers ‘Nick’ or ‘Nicolas,’ the actor told Variety: ‘I’m both! I think people know me as both.’ 

In 2021, Cage walked down the aisle a fifth time when he wed his much-younger wife Riko Shibata, now age 31. They welcomed daughter August Francesca in 2022.

The actor also has sons Kal-El, 18, with ex-wife Kim and Weston, 33, with ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton.

Chris Rock Says Trump Is Right on One Key Issue, Jokes It Nearly Redeems His ‘Other Sins’

0

Chris Rock, the celebrated actor and comedian, said President Trump may have been right about at least one thing: his repeated criticism of the news media as “fake.”

Rock made the remarks in an interview with Variety while discussing his upcoming film, “Misty Green,” and sharing unfiltered thoughts on the entertainment business.

In the profile, Variety observed that Rock still carries the same “opinionated, incendiary persona that caught Eddie Murphy’s eye at a New York comedy club one night when Rock was just 19.”

The outlet also noted that Rock was among the rare celebrities who publicly predicted Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential election.

Asked about Trump now, Rock told Variety, “I’m not a fan. But it’s weird when somebody gets one thing right, and the one thing almost clears them of all their other sins. The news is fake. He got that right.”

Curtis Houck, managing editor of the Media Research Center’s NewsBusters, responded to Rock’s comments in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Chris Rock said President Trump is correct that “the news is fake.” Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

“In this day and age, we often find ourselves feeling like we’re approaching cats-and-dogs living together on certain issues, and that includes the acknowledgment that the legacy, elitist media have failed to serve the public,” Houck said. 

“The widespread awareness of both media bias and press ineptitude will be one of President Trump’s longest-lasting legacies. Chris Rock certainly seems to be on the president’s wavelength.”

In 2023, Rock raised eyebrows by warning US lawmakers that arresting Trump would only make him “more popular.”

President Donald Trump claps after finishing his speech at the Republican convention.

Rock previously warned US lawmakers that arresting Trump would only make him “more popular.” AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Rock had made the comments while in Washington, D.C., for an event honoring Adam Sandler.

He began poking fun at the well-connected crowd, which included former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of President Biden’s administration.

“Are you guys really going to arrest Trump?” Rock asked. “Do you know this is only going to make him more popular. It’s like arresting Tupac. He’s just gonna sell more records. Are you stupid?” 

Israeli Strike in Gaza Kills 4, Including Children, as Middle East Tensions Deepen

0

An Israeli strike in northern Gaza killed at least four people, among them two children, according to local reports. Separately, a media outlet run by Iran-backed Houthi rebels said Saudi-backed forces had carried out airstrikes in multiple areas.

Here are the latest developments from across the Middle East. Full coverage can be found here.

Israel launches deadly strike in Gaza

Two children were among those killed when Israel carried out a strike early Thursday in Beit Lahiya, a community in northern Gaza, Shifa hospital said after receiving the bodies.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the Beit Lahiya strike. In a separate statement, it said its forces had targeted Hamas weapons storage sites in three locations across Gaza on Wednesday.

Israel’s military in the past has said it carries out strikes in response to threats against its forces under the fragile ceasefire that has been in place since October.

Houthis claim Saudi-back forces strike again

Al-Masirah TV, controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, claimed Saudi-backed forces launched 40 airstrikes in recent hours in Taiz, Jawf, Hodeida and Marib provinces.

The Associated Press couldn’t immediately independently verify the Houthis’ claim as fighting with the Yemeni government forces has heightened this week. There was no immediate comment from the Saudi-backed forces.

Warnings have been growing about a major escalation as the Houthis clash with Yemeni government forces and attack oil facilities and utilities in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

___

This story will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

President Trump Delivers Keynote Speech at Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas

0

DALLAS — President Donald Trump closed the first night of an unconventional Republican midterm convention on Wednesday with a blistering attack on Democrats, casting them as extremists while forcefully defending the war in Iran. He also made a remarkable campaign-season promise: every adult American would receive $5,000 if Republicans keep control of both the House and Senate after November.

The idea, which could carry a price tag of at least $1 trillion, appeared highly unlikely from both a fiscal and political standpoint. Still, it underscored Trump’s belief that dramatic promises may be needed to improve Republican midterm prospects as Democrats look to capitalize on his weak approval ratings in competitive races nationwide.

Trump leaned into the notion that the November elections are, in many ways, a referendum on him — even as it remains uncertain whether that dynamic will energize Republicans or complicate their path. A number of GOP figures are staying away from the two-day gathering in Dallas, while others see the convention as a chance to step onto the national stage and motivate Trump’s base in a midterm year when he is not on the ballot.

“If we hand America’s future to the radical-left Democrats, our nation will spend the next decade just getting back on its feet,” Trump said. “Vote Republican and we will leave the world in our dust for generations to come.”

The president encouraged supporters to approach November as though he were running himself, pointing to roughly 35 pivotal Senate and House contests that could determine whether Republicans maintain control of Congress. He vowed “to go to every one of those states,” indicating that some could see him more than once before Election Day.

But Trump also frequently mentioned the unpopular war in Iran, even seeming to acknowledge that it had hurt the U.S. economy. “We were doing great,” he said before he approached his economic advisers to say, “I hate to do this to you,” explaining that he needed to start the conflict because Iran was perhaps “two, maybe three weeks away from having a nuclear weapon.”

Trump similarly defended imposing sweeping tariffs on U.S. trade partners, insisting that the resulting economic turmoil would be worth it in the long run.

His most dramatic comments, however, were to promise, “If the Republicans win the Senate and House, because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000.”

The president said the only caveat would be that recipients spend the money in the U.S. He provided no details on how such a plan would be implemented but declared, “It will be called the Trump dividend.”

The gathering took place as Republicans try to boost enthusiasm heading into the final stretch before Election Day, despite voters’ economic concerns and dissatisfaction with the war in Iran. The event described Democrats as communists, anti-American or even evil. Republicans called themselves a “common sense” alternative.

Trump used several minutes of his speech to praise Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is in a tough Senate race in what is normally America’s largest red state.

“He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen,” Trump said of Paxton, while adding, “he deserves to be your next senator.”

The convention got a boost from an unlikely source, Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who said in a video message that “I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism.” Fetterman, who has clashed with his party’s leaders, referenced his state’s steel industry in pledging to “work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life.”

Normal political conventions are held every four years and serve a purpose beyond pomp and circumstance, with parties formally nominating their presidential picks. This week’s convention, by contrast, is The Trump Show, through and through.

The walls of the arena where the Dallas Mavericks play were covered with photographs of Trump, even in the elevators. Plenty of attendees wore cowboy hats and boots and many sequins were on display – as well as “Make America Great Again” and American flag caps and other gear.

People in the crowd waved signs reading “Republicans Are Fixing Democrats’ Mess,” despite Republicans controlling the U.S. House, Senate and presidency.

Trump will follow up Wednesday’s address with closing remarks on Thursday, after Vice President JD Vance gives his own speech.

“I’m not doing a big deal like this,” Trump said, wrapping up his opening night address that approached the two-hour mark.

Ray Washburne, co-chair of the Dallas host committee, said the event is expected to draw roughly 30,000 people across both nights, but getting airtime was challenging. The NFL season kicked off Wednesday with a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. On Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams will play in Australia.

Speakers included Republican congressional leadership and Cabinet members. Attorney General Todd Blanche also spoke, which is uncommon for the nation’s top law enforcement official, as Justice Department leaders don’t typically address such events given the agency’s tradition of political independence.

Blanche said Trump and Vance “put American families first. They prove that order and prosperity go hand in hand.”

Republican Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers, who is facing off against Abdul El-Sayed, isn’t giving his speech until Thursday night. However, many opening night speakers singled out El-Sayed as a sign Democrats were too radical.

There are 12 hours of programming over two nights, with 100-plus speakers and segments focused on subjects such as tax cuts, fraud allegations and border security.

Trump also hinted that he’d talk a lot about Iran even before leaving for Dallas. As he spoke to reporters on the tarmac prior to boarding Air Force One, the president said that oil prices – which have surged because of the conflict – likely won’t come down until after the midterms, a bit of economic forecasting that could darken his party’s fortunes.

“Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward,” he promised, as oil prices jumped more than 3% Wednesday.

Some Republicans balked at high attendance fees. Republican House members were being asked to pay $25,000 for convention tickets and lodging, according to people familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to speak frankly about the private arrangement.

An additional 2,000 tickets were distributed by the National Republican Congressional Committee, largely to donors and others to attend the convention. Other tickets were allocated to state parties to distribute as they saw fit.

“Per the RNC, this is a ticketed fundraiser and rally, not a traditional national convention,” the Denton County Republican Party in Texas wrote in a Facebook post, which advertised packages from $5,000 to $20,000.

Trump’s political operation, which has been sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars, began spending heavily through a new group, the No Going Back PAC Inc., the New York Times reported Wednesday. The group has reserved $49 million in six competitive Senate races and one competitive House race.

That’s in addition to the $10 million that MAGA Inc., Trump’s super PAC, has spent on the Texas Senate race.

___

Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in Dallas, Steven Sloan, Aamer Madhani and Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa and Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Teen Boater Rescued Clinging to Capsized Vessel After 3 Reported Missing; 2 Bodies Recovered

0

The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that a 15-year-old was the only person found alive after three boaters were reported missing earlier this week in Alaska waters.

Search-and-rescue crews located the teen Monday off the Alaska coast, where he was discovered holding onto an overturned skiff. Officials said he was in urgent need of medical attention when rescuers reached him.

According to the Coast Guard, the survivor was pulled from the capsized boat while showing signs of hypothermia.

capsized boat

FILE — The teen was rescued after being found clinging to the overturned skiff and suffering symptoms consistent with hypothermia. (Alvaro Ballesteros/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Authorities said the two other mariners were later found dead after their 18-foot fishing vessel capsized roughly 4 miles east of St. Lawrence Island.

The Coast Guard said crews initiated a search mission early Monday after Alaska State Troopers notified the Coast Guard of an overdue boat Sunday evening. The vessel was expected to return Sunday at 3 a.m.

Officials said crews were unable to launch a rescue mission until Monday morning due to weather and poor visibility.

FILE — A good Samaritan vessel helped rescue the teen and recover the bodies of the two deceased mariners off the coast of Alaska.

FILE — A good Samaritan vessel helped rescue the teen and recover the bodies of the two deceased mariners off the coast of Alaska. (Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

After launching an aircrew, personnel spotted the survivor and deployed a raft with survival equipment.

Officials said a good Samaritan vessel also stepped in, rescuing the 15-year-old survivor and recovering the bodies of the two deceased mariners from the water.

Coast Guard helicopter flying in Washington State

FILE — The Coast Guard began searching after Alaska State Troopers reported the fishing vessel was overdue to return Sunday evening. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer David Mosley)

The two mariners and the teen survivor were then brought to Nome, Alaska, officials said.

Prince Harry Joins Richard Branson at Charity Event Supporting Ukraine

0

Prince Harry has only just made his way back home, but he is already said to be taken aback by the King’s very public clarification that both he and Meghan are still regarded as private citizens, do not speak on behalf of the Royal Family, and are no longer entitled to use the HRH style they held before stepping back from royal duties.

Still, anyone assuming that reminder will curb Harry’s enthusiasm for high-profile charitable work may be mistaken.

I can reveal that the Duke of Sussex is set to be the headline guest at an upcoming charity fundraiser — a billing that stands out even with billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson also expected to attend.

The event, titled United For Freedom and described as “a charity evening in support of Ukraine,” will take place at London’s Imperial War Museum on October 1.

“Prince Harry has consistently spoken out in support of Ukraine, so we’re thrilled to have him involved,” one supporter of the fundraiser tells me, predicting “an incredible evening of fundraising.” The source adds: “His attendance will be a major part of the night — and if Meghan joins him, that would be an added bonus. We’re delighted to be involved in the duke’s next chapter in the UK. His commitment to charity is something we really admire.” Proceeds from the black-tie gathering will go to two funds, with 120 guests each contributing £1,000 to attend.

One of the funds – ‘Superhumans’, supported by Sting and Bear Grylls, as well as Harry – has so far raised $130million (£96million, paying for 2,609 operations on those maimed in the Ukrainian war, plus 2,240 prosthetic limbs).

Prince Harry, seen giving a speech in Kyiv earlier this year, will be the star attraction at a London charity fundraiser in support of Ukraine

Prince Harry, seen giving a speech in Kyiv earlier this year, will be the star attraction at a London charity fundraiser in support of Ukraine

The black-tie event's 120 guests will also include billionaire Sir Richard Branson. All attendees are expected to pay £1,000

The black-tie event’s 120 guests will also include billionaire Sir Richard Branson. All attendees are expected to pay £1,000

It sounds exactly the sort of cause which any ‘working royal’ might embrace. But the organisers also stress that there will be ‘the chance to meet people shaping business, diplomacy and public life’, not only at dinner, when there will be ‘remarks from honoured guests’, but afterwards for ‘networking and new connections’.

The fusion of charitable purpose with personal interests is unthinkable at any official royal engagement.

Not that that will trouble guests hoping for success in the evening’s auction. One prize is a week on Branson’s Moskito Island, which has three villas, sleeping up to 22.

Harry has resisted offering the Tuscan-style mansion – complete with 13 and a half bathrooms – in Montecito that he and Meghan still own. He is, instead, donating a copy of his memoir, Spare.

Kelly: I’m looking for fun, not love

Kelly Osbourne has sworn off love following her split from her fiancé, former Slipknot musician Sid Wilson, earlier this year.

The TV star, 41, tells me at the National Television Awards 2026 in London’s O2 Arena: ‘Love isn’t something I’m looking for right now. That’s for sure.’

Kelly Osbourne, who recently split from her fiance, Sid Wilson, looked stunning in a Vivienne Westwood gown at the National Television Awards

Kelly Osbourne, who recently split from her fiance, Sid Wilson, looked stunning in a Vivienne Westwood gown at the National Television Awards

Kelly, who wore a £2,985 Vivienne Westwood tartan off-the-shoulder Chichi gown to the ceremony, adds: ‘I’m looking for fun now. It has taken me a little bit to find myself, and this new version of me.’

She says her appearance at the ceremony was ‘bittersweet’ as the BBC documentary Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, which followed her late rocker father’s final three years, was up for a gong.

It’s nearly a year since Paloma Faith was on Celebrity Traitors, but she admits she’s still dealing with the psychological fallout from the show.

Despite the support provided for contestants, the singer, 45, has warned it’s not for the ‘faint-hearted’. 

Faith was first to be ousted after being ‘murdered’ by her pal Alan Carr. ‘I’m still in therapy,’ she tells me at the National TV Awards where the show won Best Reality Competition. 

Celebrity Traitors star Paloma Faith, 45, tells our columnist she is still in therapy after dealing with the lingering psychological fallout from the show

Celebrity Traitors star Paloma Faith, 45, tells our columnist she is still in therapy after dealing with the lingering psychological fallout from the show

‘I was the shortest-lived person with the longest time in therapy. I thought I was going to the playground for a laugh. They [producers] told me I should have watched the [show before going on it] and now I wish I had.’

Even best-selling author Robert Harris is unnerved by artificial intelligence.

‘As a joke, I put into one of the AI machines, ‘Write me a parody of the opening of a Robert Harris novel’. Within five seconds it came back with an alarmingly accurate parody of what I might have written,’ he tells me at the London launch party of his Roman-era novel, Agrippa.

Comic Gina’s rant at Andi Peters  

This Morning host Andi Peters received an outpouring of public sympathy after Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes used a racial slur while questioning his ethnicity on the ITV programme last week.

Yet comedienne Gina Yashere has been left appalled at Peters, 56, for his passive response to Margolyes’s behaviour.

‘That reaction was on brand for Andi Peters,’ Gina said in a video rant online.

‘I don’t think he’s known that he’s black for at least the last 35 years.’ The TV star claims she has an ITV studio encounter to back up her view.

This Morning host Andi Peters received an outpouring of public sympathy after Miriam Margolyes used a racial slur while questioning about his ethnicity on the ITV show

In response to the incident, Gina Yashere sneered: 'I don't think he's known that he's black for at least the last 35 years'

Gina Yashere, right, has not joined public support for Andi Peters after Miriam Margolyes used a racial slur while talking about his ethnicity. She said: ‘I don’t think he’s known that he’s black’

‘I was on a talent show… I was walking down the hallway of the ITV studios with my black friends and family. We saw Andi Peters walking towards us and we are all big fans [of Peters] … I don’t think he could have run away from this group of black people faster… I never forgot that.’

A representative for Peters has been contacted for comment.

The Earl of Devon is cooking up something special ahead of his wedding to Jemima Hannon.

I hear Charles Courtenay, 51, has applied for listed-building consent to install a bespoke family kitchen at his magnificent ancestral seat, the Grade I-listed Powderham Castle in Devon.

The estate, which dates back to the 14th century, is seeking to transform the castle’s existing private dining room into a more ‘functional domestic kitchen’.

The move comes after the earl announced his engagement to Jemima in March following the breakdown of his 18-year marriage to former Baywatch actress AJ Langer, 52.

At the time he said he was ‘delighted to unite their families’. Now, it seems the family union starts at the kitchen table.

Edited by STEPHANIE TAKYI

Alachua Man Arrested in Juvenile Sexual Battery Investigation

0

ALACHUA, Fla. – Robert James Lockard, 22, was arrested yesterday after authorities said he sexually battered a girl who was between 12 and 16 years old.

According to an Alachua Police Department detective, the incident was reported to have happened on September 3, when the girl waited for her parent to fall asleep before leaving home and walking to Lockard’s apartment after messaging him.

The detective wrote that the girl already knew Lockard and that he was “explicitly” aware of her age.

After she arrived at the apartment, Lockard allegedly gave her marijuana, which both of them smoked, before he began kissing her and then sexually battered her. The girl reportedly told the detective that afterward, they watched a show and fell asleep. She had set an alarm so she could return home before her parent woke up, and she said Lockard told her to text him once she made it home safely.

The detective also reported that the girl’s phone contained a communication history between her and Lockard on Instagram and Snapchat.

The detective also reported that APD collected the unwashed undergarments the victim had worn during the incident, and those will be submitted to forensic and DNA analysis.

Lockard has been charged with lewd or lascivious battery on a person between the ages of 12 and 16. He has no criminal convictions but is currently facing a Notice to Appear for driving without a valid license. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing. Judge Rawls also ordered him to have no contact with minors.

Lindsay Clancy and the Postpartum Mental Health Crisis Too Many Still Misunderstand

0

Lindsay Clancy Juror Recalls Pressing Sole Male Holdout During Deliberations

0

A male juror from the Lindsay Clancy trial has spoken publicly about the tense deliberations, saying he pushed hard to convince the panel’s lone dissenting member to support a not-guilty finding on the murder charges.

Clancy, 36, did not dispute that she strangled her three young children with exercise bands. Her defense, however, centered on claims that she was battling postpartum depression and had been placed on a mix of medications that triggered a psychotic episode.

Following five and a half weeks of testimony, 11 of the 12 jurors concluded that Clancy should be acquitted of murder and manslaughter in the January 2023 deaths of five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and eight-month-old Callan.

But one juror would not agree to clear the former labor and delivery nurse, leaving the panel deadlocked and leading Judge William Sullivan to declare a mistrial in the high-profile Massachusetts case.

Nick Dargie, 25, one of the three men on the jury, has since claimed that the unidentified holdout failed to point to specific evidence that justified his refusal to acquit Clancy.

‘There were several times I would ask him to show us evidence or, you know, describe a witness testimony that helped to prove what he was saying and… he couldn’t,’ Dargie told ABC News. 

‘There wasn’t a single piece of evidence or witness testimony that he used to prove why he was thinking the way he was, which is why we ultimately sent in that note,’ he continued. 

The note he referenced was given to Judge Sullivan by the jury foreperson before Sullivan declared a mistrial.

‘Otherwise, like, there’s nothing wrong with somebody having a completely opposite opinion… that would be a hung jury. That, like that, is our justice system.’ 

Lindsay Clancy, 36, faces a potential retrial after a jury of nine women and three men were unable to agree on whether she was guilty of the murders or manslaughter

Lindsay Clancy, 36, faces a potential retrial after a jury of nine women and three men were unable to agree on whether she was guilty of the murders or manslaughter 

Nick Dargie, 25, claims the unidentified dissident on the jury did not provide the other panelists with any evidence explaining his vote.

Nick Dargie, 25, claims the unidentified dissident on the jury did not provide the other panelists with any evidence explaining his vote.

Jury foreperson Roni Carlson previously told NBC Boston how the lone holdout 'would not interact with us and try to understand'

Jury foreperson Roni Carlson previously told NBC Boston how the lone holdout ‘would not interact with us and try to understand’

Dargie’s comments come just one day after three female jurors told NBC Boston that the holdout ‘would not interact with us and try to understand.’ 

Could deaths have been prevented?

Hi, I’m Rachel Sharp, US Editor of The Crime Desk. 

In our bonus podcast episode, we examine Lindsay Clancy’s complex medical history and explore the questions at the heart of this case. Click here, subscribe and listen.

‘He had reasonable doubt. He admitted he had reasonable doubt,’ jury foreperson Roni Carlson claimed.

‘I started filling out the forms, I was so excited. There were three forms I had to fill out, and then he said, “But I’m still not going to say she’s not guilty.”‘

Jurors in Massachusetts are instructed that in order to prove a defendant is criminally responsible for their conduct, prosecutors must ‘prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not suffer from a mental disease or defect at the time of the alleged offense.’

Carlson said she came to the conclusion that Clancy ‘snapped’ after hearing character witnesses describe how Clancy was a loving mother.

In total, the jury of nine women and three men spent more than 37 hours as the one juror refused to side with the others. 

At one point, defense attorney Kevin Reddington sought an emergency order to try and force jurors to enter one final round of deliberations.

But the motion failed, and Judge Sullivan declared a mistrial at Plymouth Superior Court last Friday afternoon. As a result, Clancy could face a retrial in the case. 

Carlson described how she came to the conclusion after listening to witnesses describe Clancy as a loving mother

Carlson described how she came to the conclusion after listening to witnesses describe Clancy as a loving mother

Clancy was charged with murder after strangling her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan in 2023

Clancy was charged with murder after strangling her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan in 2023

In a desperate attempt to prevent that from happening, Reddington on Tuesday 
pleaded with President Donald Trump to consider pardoning Clancy, describing her as a good person.

‘Mr President, I hope that you would consider this young lady, the type of person she is, what she’s been through, and consider a pardon,’ the lawyer said on Good Morning America.

He went on to describe Clancy as being ‘intelligent’ and ‘hardworking,’ while describing the strong bond he has with Clancy. 

‘I do feel a very strong bond with Lindsay because of the type of person she is. She’s such a wonderful, wonderful person,’ the lawyer said as he acknowledged he didn’t know much about postpartum depression before taking on Clancy’s trial. 

Despite the plea, the president cannot pardon defendants facing state charges. 

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington has pleaded with President Donald Trump to

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington has pleaded with President Donald Trump to 

Join the discussion

Should someone with severe mental illness be held fully responsible for a tragedy like this?

Meanwhile, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz has not yet announced whether he plans to retry Clancy.

‘I appreciate the fact that there are strong feelings and opinions tied to this case,’ he said outside the courthouse on Friday.

‘However, our job is to set aside our feelings and focus solely on the facts. The facts are Lindsay Clancy killed her three children and the evidence suggested to us that she was in control of her actions when she committed these homicides.’

Reddington and Cruz are now set to meet in court on September 29 to determine the next steps in the case.