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Syria’s president calls for ‘peace, calm’ amid brutal clashes

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has urged for peace amid escalating communal violence that has killed hundreds of civilians in the coastal areas.

On Sunday morning, al-Sharaa stated the need to “preserve national unity and domestic peace, we can live together” as newly appointed forces clash with fighters from removed President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect.

The fighting began after pro-Assad fighters coordinated attacks on security forces on Thursday. The attacks spiralled into revenge killings as thousands of armed supporters of Syria’s new leadership went to the coastal areas to support the security forces.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, at least 745 Alawite civilians have been killed in Latakia and Tartous since Thursday, as well as about 125 members of the government’s security forces.

In addition, 148 pro-Assad fighters were killed, the Observatory added, taking the overall death toll to 1, 018.

Al Jazeera has been unable to independently verify those figures.

“Rest assured about Syria, this country has the characteristics for survival”, al-Sharaa said in a video at a mosque in Mazzah, Damascus. “What is currently happening in Syria is within the expected challenges”.

Al-Sharaa has said anyone targeting civilians would be held accountable.

On Sunday, Syria’s state-run news agency SANA reported, quoting a source in the Ministry of Defence, that “intense clashes in the vicinity of the village of Betannita in the countryside of Tartous” were taking place.

“Many war criminals affiliated with the al-Assad regime and groups of armed remnants fled to the village”, the report added.

Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, spokesperson for the ministry, said that “the second phase of the military operation aimed at pursuing the remnants and officers of the defunct regime has begun in the countryside of Latakia and Tartous, after restoring security and stability in the main coastal cities”.

Reporting from the capital Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar said as the clashes have significantly decreased, the reality of what happened in the past four days is becoming more evident.

“The pictures coming out are indeed horrific. There is a high death toll, and the numbers are expected to increase in the coming hours and days because officials who have control of the area are still discovering]bodies]. As of now, it’s extremely difficult to clarify the exact number”, he said.

Serdar explained that the recent clashes are a stark reminder of how divided Syria is despite al-Sharaa’s earlier claims of ruling the country as one.

“Some of the unconfirmed list of the]new] cabinet are coming out and we’re seeing that there are Alawite members in the cabinet, Kurds, Turkmen, Arabs, Sunni, Shia, Muslims, Christians]which] is absolutely necessary for this country”, he added.

On Sunday, the optical cable linking Deraa and Damascus governorates was damaged which resulted in “the cessation of telecommunications and internet services in the governorates of Deraa and Sweida”, according to the Director of Deraa Telecom’s Branch.

Maura Higgins flees the country as Danny Jones kiss scandal rumbles on

Maura Higgins has fled the country as more details of her wild BRITs night out with Danny Jones emerge.

Maura shared a photo from inside a plane on her Instagram story this morning, following reports she and Danny had partied together until 6am. The post is her first share on Instagram since her drunken BRIT Awards afterparty kiss with married McFly singer Danny was revealed.

The snap sees Maura’s point of view from a luxurious British Airways plane, the photo shows the view of a runway from through a small plan window while a table next to the window can be seen, which has an iPad, headphones and a glass of wine resting on.

Maura broke her silence on Instagram to reveal she was jetting off
Maura broke her silence on Instagram to reveal she was jetting off (maurahiggins/instagram)
Maura was filmed kissing married McFly star Danny Jones last weekend
Maura was filmed kissing married McFly star Danny Jones last weekend (Getty Images)

On a screen shown in the image, the British Airways logo can be seen while Maura’s seat number of 23 A as well as her route starting point and destination. It appears Maura is travelling from London Heathrow Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. As she posted the photo of her view on her Instagram story, she wrote on the image: “Exciting shoot” followed by a plane emoji.

Maura’s post comes after new details emerged last night about the Love Island star’s night out with her I’m A Celebrity campmate Danny. Last weekend, a video emerged of newly-single Maura, who had recently split from Pete Wicks, and married McFly singer Danny sharing a drunken kiss at the Universal Music BRITS afterparty.

At the time it was claimed the pair “seemed to be having a great time” at the afterparty. The source later added: “They looked like they had a brief drunken kiss”. The I’m A Celeb campmates were later photographed smiling as they left the bash alongside their fellow former campmate Oti Mabuse.

Danny then reportedly ‘ moved away ‘ to speak to others while Maura walked towards a chauffeur-driven car, while ‘ shouting Danny’s name’.

Since the footage was released both Danny and Maura have kept tight-lipped on the controversial kiss. The pair have also kept a low-profile as they have avoided posting to their Instagram accounts while Danny’s wife Georgia – who is said to have felt ‘ slapped in the face ‘ by the kiss – cancelled a public appearance.

A week later, a new video has since emerged of Maura and Danny from their BRIT Awards night out – after the pair travelled separately from the Universal Music afterparty at 180 Studios to the Sony afterparty at Nobu Hotel in London Portman Square. In the video, obtained by The Sun, the pair are seen chatting together, while laughing and both holding two filled-up glasses of wine at the Nobu Hotel in Central London.

A source told the publication: “Danny and Maura seemed to be enjoying their night of partying and had no plans to call it a night. They were knocking back wine at the Nobu from 4am and seemed keen to carry on. They weren’t seen leaving before 6am”.

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Djokovic Crashes Out At Indian Wells As Alcaraz Sails Through

Five-time champion Novak Djokovic tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Saturday, falling in his first match to lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp as two-time defending champ Carlos Alcaraz advanced.

“No excuses for a poor performance”, 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic said after 37 unforced errors in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat.

“It doesn’t feel great when you play this way on the court”, he added. “But congratulations to my opponent — just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me”.

Djokovic is just the latest in van de Zandschulp’s string of superstar victims.

He stunned Alcaraz at the US Open last year before beating Rafael Nadal in Davis Cup in what proved the Spanish great’s last match.

“I think I kept my cool during the whole match”, said van de Zandschulp. “I know if I go into the match and lose my cool, especially against the big players, it’s going to be a really tough day. That’s always one thing I’m trying to do well”.

After 14 unforced errors in the first set, Djokovic cleaned things up in the second, grabbing a quick break on the way to a 3-0 lead.

Djokovic pumped his fist after belting a forehand winner to the corner for his first break chance of the match and after consolidating the break nodded his head in satisfaction.

The rallies remained tense affairs and Djokovic’s frustration was clear at times, but after he was broken when serving for the set he closed it out on his next service game.

It was only a brief respite. Van de Zandschulp kept the pressure on both from the baseline and at the net and Djokovic’s errors began to pile up again.

Van de Zandschulp took control with a break for 3-1, reeling off the last five games as Djokovic was unable to stop the bleeding.

“The first three games, four games of the third set were quite close”, Djokovic, seeded sixth, said. “Had my chances. Was just some awful mistakes”.

Italian Matteo Arnaldi sprung another upset, beating seventh seed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-5. Djokovic and Rublev followed top seed Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Casper Ruud as second-round casualties.

Alcaraz relaxed and ready

With Zverev out and world number one Jannik Sinner serving a three-month drugs ban, world number three Alcaraz is the highest seed left in the men’s draw.

Alcaraz, trying to join Djokovic and Roger Federer as the only men to win three straight Indian Wells titles, eased into his defence with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over France’s Quentin Halys.

He admitted he was feeling some nerves to start the match, but they evaporated amid a strong all-around performance.

One early break staked Alcaraz to the first set. He roared to a 4-0 lead in the second behind a formidable service display and wrapped up the win in 67 minutes.

“I was nervous at the beginning of the match”, he told a supportive crowd. “The first match is never easy so I was trying to be focused on my game.

” I just tried to be relaxed, as relaxed as I can. Can always be better, but I’m ready for the (next) round and excited. “

Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka opened her campaign with a 7-6 (7/4, 6-3 victory over rising US talent McCartney Kessler.

Madison Keys, who denied Sabalenka a third straight Australian Open title as she claimed her long awaited first Grand Slam in Melbourne, subdued hard-hitting Russian Anastasia Potapova 6-3, 6-0 in her first match since then.

Americans Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff — seeded third in their respective draws, both advanced.

Fritz, the 2022 men’s champion, defeated Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante 7-5, 6-3.

Gauff survived 21 double faults to claw out a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima.

Lisa Riley breaks cover with Peter Kay weeks after he was slammed for ‘cruel joke’

The real life Lisa Riley has posed with Peter Kay and attended his latest comedy show – just weeks after he threw out a woman from his set and joked she resembled the soap star.

Lisa showed there were no hard feelings with Peter and even posed for pics with him after the gig.

In February Peter said he had “no choice” but to ask security to eject two hecklers at his show on Saturday because their “repeated disruptions” made it “impossible to continue”.

The comedian asked staff at Manchester’s AO Arena to remove a man who shouted “Garlic bread”, his Phoenix Nights catchphrase, before telling them to throw out a woman who kept calling his name. At the time he dubbed her Lisa Riley because of her resemblance to the actress.

On X the real Lisa Riley said: “THANK YOU so so so much Peter for the most fantastic night. We laughed until it hurt-the show is absolutely hilarious-we were up until way gone midnight reciting all the jokes-northern at its absolute best. You are the best of the best. Love ya”.

Lisa Riley was delighted to reunite with Peter Kay again (Reallisariley/X)

In his statement at the time Kay was adamant the two people he threw out had been “disrupting from the very start”.

Following a backlash and complaints from the two people, he explained in a statement: “I then tried to ignore them, hoping they’d settle down, but when the disruption persisted into the second half of the show, I asked the audience around them if they were being bothered by the noise. They all shouted ‘ yes, ‘ and when I asked for a show of hands, at least 40 people raised theirs.

” At that point, I had no choice but to take action. The lady who was escorted out did bear a striking resemblance to Lisa Riley, though I don’t see how that’s an insult. “He said he had only kicked out one other person in the previous 114 shows of his three-year tour.

WARNING TAKEN FROM XCaption: @ReallisarileyTHANK YOU so so so much Peter for the most fantastic night at @fdarenawe laughed until it hurt-the show is absolutely hilarious-we were up until way gone midnight reciting all the jokes-northern at its absolute best. You are the best of the best. Love ya#peterkay #leedsImage: https://x.com/Reallisariley/status/1898665954290127110Profile:
Lisa joined family and friends at the show (Reallisariley/X)
WARNING TAKEN FROM XCaption: @ReallisarileyTHANK YOU so so so much Peter for the most fantastic night at @fdarenawe laughed until it hurt-the show is absolutely hilarious-we were up until way gone midnight reciting all the jokes-northern at its absolute best. You are the best of the best. Love ya#peterkay #leedsImage: https://x.com/Reallisariley/status/1898665954290127110Profile:
The pair posed for a selfie (Reallisariley/X)

” As a comedian, you never want to eject anyone, but when repeated disruptions make it impossible to continue, it’s important to consider the experience of the rest of the audience, who’ve paid to see a show without interruption, “he added.

After Riley made headlines, she shared a post on her Instagram page, which suggested that she saw the funny side to the situation.

Riley shared an image that read:” Keep calm and laugh, “adding as a caption:” It’s a laugh, it’s funny! “

But Myar Curran, 25, who was the butt of the ‘ Lisa Riley ‘ comment said on Good Morning Britain she will never watch the comedian again.

She said:” I didn’t mean to cause any harm, I was just showing my love as he kicked someone out but he obviously didn’t like it. I feel like what I said was not abusive or aggressive – it wasn’t anti-social and I wasn’t drunk, ‘ she added. “I was just standing up chanting” we love you Peter, we do”. It’s just been a bit over the top, his reaction”.

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Britain’s Got Talent winner unrecognisable after surgery amid drugs claims

Jai McDowall skyrocketed to fame when he wowed the judges on Britain’s Got Talent in 2011 with his rendition of Anthem and he went on to clinch the series title. Now, some 14 years later, Jai’s floating on a wave of singing success and seriously, you’d hardly recognise him. In 2022, Jai revealed an operation to remedy problems with his previously-broken nose. The Scottish crooner needed surgery for a deviated septum – which resulted from him breaking up a pub scuffle.

But some fans were dubious about his reasons, leading Jai to clear the air directly from his hospital bed in 2017. In an honest video, Jai said: “The amount of times I’ve been asked if I have a cocaine habit and that’s why I have a deviated septum in the first place has been unreal”. He made it crystal clear: “I don’t have a cocaine habit, just in case anyone is wondering”.

Jai McDowall
Jai was left on the brink of bankruptcy despite winning Britain’s Got Talent (itv)

Speaking to the Daily Star after his surgery, Jai described the experience: “It was a really nice procedure. Obviously, I had black eyes for about three weeks and big bandages and stuff, but it was worth it”.

But life gave Jai more curves than straight lines post-BGT. He spoke to The Sun about his monetary woes after parting ways with the record label Sony, which nudged him perilously close to financial ruin. Jai confessed: “I didn’t do it because, thankfully, I’ve got a brilliant support network. But I did get to a point where I was like, ‘ Is this it, is this over? ‘”

Editorial use only. No book publishing.Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/REX/Shutterstock (1335899iy)Ant and Dec [Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly] with Jai McDowall'Britain's Got Talent Final' TV Programme, London, Britain - 04 Jun 2011
Jai during the Britain’s Got Talent Final (Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/REX/Shutterstock)

He continued: “I moved in with my parents at the time. I did have property but I had no money. That took a long time and a lot of grit and determination for me to get back out of that”.

The singer spoke to the Mirror when he recalled standing in the final alongside Ronan Parke. “I know genuinely it does sound sort of out there but I envisioned the finale of that show and I knew it was going to be me and Ronan. Not going to lie, I thought he was going to win”, Jai told us. “That way I was like, ‘ No, keep positive thoughts and keep going ‘ and genuinely I thought that really helped and it’s one of those things. Life is up and down – it’s a roller coaster and you can’t always be positive all the time. I genuinely feel like if you can keep yourself in a better mental state with that you can – magic happens sometimes”.

Jai McDowall
He was really happy to have undergone surgery to fix his nose after suffering from a deviated septum (No credit)

He was forced to give up his singing career during the coronavirus lockdown. “I genuinely know I couldn’t give singing up because the only time I had to was during Covid and it was terrible, genuinely the closest I’ve ever been to being really, really sad. And I genuinely missed it”, Jai admitted.

Coronation Street icon Wendi Peters’ life now as Sam Ashton storms Dancing On Ice final

Former Coronation Street star Wendi Peters lives a very different life after shooting to fame as the iconic Cilla Battersby-Brown.

Swapping the cobbles for the theatre stages, Wendi is currently starring as Florence Foster Jenkins in the production of Glorious, a musical playing now at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. The show tells the story of an American socialite based in the 1940s who drew a devoted crowd from her opera performances despite her awful singing.

Now an established musical theatre star, Wendi’s role in Glorious follows her tour with last years Sister Act: The Musical.

Wendi Peters taking a bow at the press night performance of “Big The Musical” on September 17, 2019, following her exit of Corrie (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Looking unrecognisable from her flame-haired and pink-lipped Corrie character, Wendi has teased that she is not opposed to returning to the soap.

In 2023, Wendi went through another major life change as she split with husband Kenny Linden after 30 years of marriage. A year later Wendi went revealed her new relationship with Gareth Wale, a carpet fitter.

Wendi and a young Sam on October 26, 2004 at the Royal Albert Hall, in London.
TV mother-and-son duo Sam Aston with Wendi Peters at the National Television Awards, October, 2004 (Getty Images)
Wendi Peters attends The British Soap Awards 2023
Since leaving Coronation Street, Wendi has dived into the musical world of the West End, as well as appearing on hit show Doctors (Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Wendi and Kenny share daughter Gracie. On her journey with IVF, Peters shared the parents had looked into adoption after having Gracie as “it took seven attempts to have her. Then we had two more attempts after her to have another child, and then we gave up”.

The mother added that a lot of thought was put into this decision and that the pair “discussed it and thought about it”, but due to them both having jobs as actors, “thought it wasn’t really something]they] felt]they] would be able to give]their] full attention to”.

She continued, saying: “You do consider all options, but then we thought” instead of worrying about what we haven’t got, let’s enjoy what we have got. It took such a long time to have her, let’s just enjoy life with her now””. Now 24 years olds, Gracie received a dedicated birthday post on Instagram from the Musical theatre star. The mum wrote: “How can you be 24!!! Happiest birthdays to me beautiful, kind baby. Have a fabulous day… love you Grooves xx”, below a thread of pictures of her blonde mini-me.

Wendi with her current partner Gareth Wale
Wendi with her current partner Gareth Wale (wendi. peters/instagram)
Wendi Peters October 2024
Wendi outside the set of Sister Act: The Musical, taking a call during her break as she walks her dog (BACKGRID)

Now dating a younger Gareth, 54, Wendi appears to be totally in love months on. In November, the 57 year old spoke to The Sun on her new relationship, sharing that “moving in]was] certainly something]they] might consider”. Living in Buckinghamshire at the time, and her boyfriend from Leicester, the pair have date one and a half years already.

And though she admitted to finding it “very hard continuing a relationship when you’re 150 miles away from each other, with very different work hours”, the ex ‘ Corrie ‘ actress is still in no rush to wed again. She said: “I was married a long time, and I mean, never say never to doing it again” but, “at the moment, I just don’t really see the need”. The pair have made an effort to travel together, jetting off to Crete, Greece, as well booking romantic staycations like their trip to the Cotswolds – which the star shared on socials.

Peters ‘ soap son ‘ Sam Ashton has also found success elsewhere, making it to the DOI final after a blunder from judge Christopher Dean who ‘ forgot ‘ to put in Sam’s score.

Chris became flustered over his mishap when asked after his score, shouting: “Oh f****** heck, I forgot to put that in”, later explaining that he “got so excited with]Sam’s] performance that]he] forgot to give a mark”. Viewers were alarmed, despite a shortly followed apology from the judge, one saying: “Did Christopher Dean just drop an F bomb”? and another asking “did Christ just go F****** Heck. #dancingonice”.

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