As the country wrestles with lingering questions about the fate of the many thousands of people who vanished during the country’s civil war, Syria is hosting its first International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances since Bashar al-Assad’s assassination.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) claimed this year has “particular significance” because it has seen a significant rise in the number of cases since al-Assad’s assassination in a report released on Saturday to coincide with the annual commemoration.
After al-Assad’s removal, desperate families flocked to former detention centers, prisons, morgues, and mass grave sites to seek out their missing relatives. In addition, investigators had unprecedented access to government records, witness accounts, and human remains.
The fate of tens of thousands of detainees remained unknown, making them forcibly disappeared, according to SNHR on Saturday, while a small number of detainees were still alive. This revealed a significant tragedy that affected all aspects of Syrian society.
According to the rights group’s report, at least 177,057 people were forcibly disappeared in Syria between March 2011 and August 2025, including 4, 536 children and 8, 984 women.
More than 90% of those cases, according to the study’s estimate, were caused by the former government.
According to SNHR, “Al-Assad’s regime has systematically implemented a policy of enforced disappearance to terrorize and collectively punish society, aimed at dissidents and civilians from various regions and affiliations.”
A new Syrian government was established just months after the establishment of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances under the leadership of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa has pledged to stop the practice of enforced disappearances by establishing a National Commission for Transitional Justice and a National Commission for Missing Persons (NCMP) with a presidential decree in May.
The bodies are charged with, among other things, examining issues involving accountability, reparations, and national harmony. Al-Sharaa has also pledged to punish those responsible for mass murders and other crimes.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Saturday that the country’s government would continue to prioritize enforced disappearances. According to the ministry, “it can only be resolved by bringing justice to the victims, disclosing the truth, and restoring dignity to their families.”
Mohammad Reda Jalkhi, the NCMP’s head, added that while “Syria faces a daunting task,” “[the] families of the missing have the right to thorough and impartial investigations.”
resources and independence
Advocates for human rights applauded the Syrian government’s initial efforts to stop forced disappearances, including the NCMP’s establishment. However, they stress that the commission must have all necessary resources and be independent.
According to Kristine Beckerle, deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, “truth, justice, and reparations for Syria’s disappeared must be treated as an urgent state priority.”
According to Beckerle, the NCMP needs “adequate resources and the highest levels of cooperation across all state institutions.” The stress of families awaiting answers about their loved ones’ fate and whereabouts increases with each day.
The effectiveness of the new commissions “depends on their actual independence and full access to information and documents,” according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.
The group argued that “the legal frameworks regulating their work must be formulated to ensure the representation of victims and civil society, and to strengthen the completeness of justice, from truth-telling to reparations to preventing recurrence,” according to the group.
The disappearance of a family member was “one of the deepest and most prolonged human wounds of the Syrian conflict,” according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday.
The ICRC delegation in Syria, led by Stephane Sakalian, said in a statement that “the families of the missing deserve unwavering support and compassion to help them seek answers about the fate of their loved ones and put an end to their suffering.”
Their privacy is a fundamental human right.
Meanwhile, SANA, a state-run news agency in Syria, reported that witness accounts of those detained in al-Assad’s detention facilities, including the notorious Sednaya prison, were posted online.
In order to encourage the pursuit of accountability, the platform, created by journalists and activists, aims to serve as both a memorial and forensic archive.
According to the UN, al-Assad’s regime operated an unspecified number of secret locations and more than 100 detention facilities.
Ruben Amorim’s under-fire manager had a much-needed first win of the season, but Manchester United needed a 97th minute Bruno Fernandes penalty to beat newly promoted Burnley 3-2.
The Red Devils twice took the lead at Old Trafford on Saturday after leaving Grimsby in the League Cup on Wednesday.
However, they were saved in stoppage time when Fernandes scored from the spot after a VAR review for a pull on Amad Diallo, who had missed a penalty in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Fulham.
With victory, United can now take four points from their first three Premier League games and relieve Amorim’s workload ahead of their two-week international break.
The 20-time English champions’ humiliating defeat to League Two opponents in midweek was the club’s most recent and biggest scandal of its tenure.
In the aftermath, the Portuguese coach doubted his future, saying that “something has to change” and that he would “think things through.”
Andre Onana was replaced by Amorim in the third successive Premier League game, while Benjamin Sesko made a third-place start on the bench.
READ ALSO: Chelsea Can Beat Fulham With VAR Controversy
On August 30, 2025, Manchester United’s Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko reaches the highest head of the ball during the English Premier League game between Burnley and Manchester United at Old Trafford in Manchester, north of England. (Photo by Oli SCARFF/AFP)
United started as a team determined to win back their fans.
Before United had a penalty overturned by a VAR review after Mason Mount fell victim to Kyle Walker’s challenge, Martin Dubravka did a good job of denying Bryan Mbeumo an early opener.
Rodrigo Muniz’s penalty at Fulham was United’s only previous Premier League goal of the season when he converted into his own net.
Casemiro’s header hit the crossbar, breaking the deadlock, and into the unlucky Josh Cullen, who Amorim’s men needed another own goal.
Before half-time, Diallo had a huge chance fired wide from Mbeumo’s pass. United should have been in the lead.
In the first half, Burnley hardly faced any threat as an attacking force, but United did so effortlessly when United equaled on 55 minutes.
Jacob Bruun Larsen’s pinpoint cross was crossed by Lyle Foster as she stretched.
United regained control right away after the first whistle.
The Frenchman’s first Premier League goal since joining Brentford for £65 million was scored thanks to Mbeumo’s clever movement, which saw him divert from his market to meet Diogo Dalot’s cross.
As Burnley once more came from behind, United’s frailty from set-pieces and their goalkeeping issues persisted.
The Clarets and Foster were denied a second equalizer by the best of margins for offside against the South African international.
On August 30, 2025, Manchester United’s South African striker #9 Lyle Foster (L) dribbles round Turkey’s goalkeeper #01 Altay Bayindir (R) to score, but he is ruled offside and the goal is overturned in the English Premier League game between Burnley and Manchester United at Old Trafford in north-western England. (Photo by Oli SCARFF/AFP)
When Loum Tchaouna’s effort was stifled by Jaidon Anthony in the middle of the goal, it was Jaidon Anthony who scored the winner.
In the final fifteen minutes of the search for a winner, Amorim finally called Sesko.
The enormous Slovenian twice missed his heroes’ goals.
After a lengthy VAR check to determine whether Anthony’s pull on Diallo continued inside the box, Fernandes instead rode his side to his rescue.
Burnley now has three points from their first three games following an agonizing defeat.
Jade Thirlwall’s former bandmates from Little Mix have backed her, and she surprised audiences by playing the opening act on Chappell Roan’s UK tour.
One of Jade Thirlwall’s former bandmates from Little Mix left her a sweet message after her latest career achievement(Image: Getty)
This week Jade Thirlwall reached a new milestone in her music career, and a former Little Mix bandmate has come out in full support of the pop star.
The 32-year-old singer took to Instagram to share her excitement about serving as the opening act for rising pop sensation Chappell Roan, calling the experience nothing short of “magical”.
She remarked, “Chappell Roan’s opening was so magical. The most enjoyable place, the best crowd, and a small tip. Showbiz Baby, that’s it! We literally manifested this moment two years ago, my best friend messaged and reminded me of. Thank you, Chappellroan, and for being so lovely for inviting me to join you. captivated viewers with their incredible inspiration.
The pop star was the opening act for Chappell Roan on her tour this week(Image: Instagram/ @jadethirlwall)
One of the messages of support she received under her post was from former Little Mix bandmate Leigh-Anne Pinnock, who proudly commented: “You did that.”
Jade also shared footage of her performance in Scotland earlier this week, captioning the video: “Edinburgh, I have no words.”
While her career is on the rise, Jade has been open about the pressures that come with being in the spotlight. Recently, she revealed she faces a “daily battle” not to use weight-loss drug Ozempic, admitting that social media scrutiny about her body often stirs up painful memories of her past eating disorders.
“I have a daily battle with myself not to go on Ozempic,” she told The Guardian. “I don’t judge people that do, but because I have a history of eating disorders, I don’t know where taking something like that would end for me.”
Jade’s surprise appearance in Edinburgh was greeted with delight from the crowd.
Jade said she is still receiving comments that make her question whether she is pregnant, which she finds invasive despite being the “healthiest I’ve ever been.”
Jade rose to fame in 2011 when Little Mix became the first girl group to win The X Factor. The group was one of the most successful UK acts in the history of the show, but the band eventually went on hiatus in 2021.
Since then, Jade has launched her own solo career, winning Best Song at this year’s Brit Awards for Angel of My Dreams. She has already performed at Glastonbury, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Capital’s Summertime Ball and BBC Proms.
Continue reading the article.
Jade described the challenges she faced at the beginning of her musical career when asked about her recent time with Little Mix as “the ultimate boot camp on how to survive the music industry.” You’re a woman first, then you’re in a girl band, and it’s always difficult to demonstrate to others that you’re a reliable artist and deserving of praise. When we first started in 2011, especially since we were a fan of The X Factor, we were constantly demonstrating to the public that we deserved a table and that we deserved to live long.
The most important part of enduring that was Little Mix’s ability to do so. We constantly reinvent ourselves, and it’s pretty impressive to be a member of a girl band that lasts for more than ten years. That is not something you hear about often.
Who: Liverpool vs. Arsenal What: English Premier League Where: Anfield in Liverpool, United Kingdom When: Sunday, August 31, at 4:30pm (15:30 GMT)
Follow us for the live stream of our live commentary stream on Al Jazeera Sport starting at 12:30 PM (12:30 GMT).
When Liverpool and Arsenal meet in Merseyside, England on Sunday, they will both work to stay perfect in the Premier League.
Last season, champions Liverpool finished 10 points clear of Arsenal, with the Gunners claiming second place for the third time in a row.
Al Jazeera Sport examines the titanic title fight from the beginning of the season.
What have Liverpool’s Premier League results been so far?
Liverpool’s flawless record has been significantly more adventurous, with twice giving back late leads before scoring match-winning goals later.
In stoppage time, Mohamed Salah scored the winner with a 3-2 victory over Newcastle United last Monday, setting up Rio Ngumoha, 16, in the second half.
The Reds were forced to come back from their opening game against Bournemouth, which gave them a 4-2 home advantage.
Ryan Gravenberch celebrates scoring his team’s first goal at Newcastle [Lee Smith/Reuters]
Who has Arsenal lost this season in the Premier League?
In the new campaign, Arsenal has not conceded, and last Saturday’s 5-0 home victory over Leeds United was a foregone conclusion thanks to Bukayo Saka’s second goal in stoppage time.
Manchester United beat Manchester United 1-0 to start the new year off with a winning start to the season, despite the home team’s goal coming after a mistake by the goalkeeper.
Does Alexander Isak still need to be at Liverpool?
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak has already received one offer from the Reds, and manager Arne Slot has suggested that a second offer might be made.
The transfer saga surrounding Liverpool’s pursuit of Isak led to contentious discussions at the meeting between the two clubs at St James’ Park.
The positive news for Slot is that, as of right now, Slot’s side has no need to rely on the veteran Salah for their attacking production, in large part because of their summer transfer business.
Hugo Ekitike, a former Eintracht Frankfurt player, has two goals and an assist at Anfield, including Liverpool’s second goal at Newcastle.
According to Slot, “I believe he has already had a significant impact in our game’s attacking portion.” “Being involved in build-up situations where he was the one who initiated the attack or was a part of our initiating an attack, as well as scoring goals.” Although [Luis Diaz] was frequently a part of our build-up when he was there, I’m talking about a slight difference over last season.
How does Arsenal’s bid for a second Premier League title look like?
Saka, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard are already dealing with injuries, with the former two expected to miss at least a few weeks.
That will concentrate on recent acquisitions like Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, and Eberechi Eze, who were part of Arsenal’s effort to combat these kinds of circumstances.
Gyokeres scored against Leeds to earn his first two Premier League goals, including one from the spot. After moving from Crystal Palace for a reported fee of around $80 million this week, Eze hasn’t yet made his debut for the Gunners.
“We lost three of our main players, but that’s the reality,” according to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Three extremely different situations, all in one very unfortunate circumstance. But because of this, we keep insisting that you need a large squad to be able to maintain the level, just like everyone else.
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring his fifth goal against Leeds United [Andrew Couldridge/Reuters]
What transpired at Anfield last season between Liverpool and Arsenal?
The Gunners have drawn three draws at Anfield before losing six of those games.
Arsenal, who haven’t won at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012, will undoubtedly be at the pump once more.
The winner of the previous year is always the favorite. Someone needs to come and take that crown from them, Arteta remarked about Liverpool’s title victory.
“Very important game. You want to keep sustaining the current momentum. You want to go there on those grounds in opposition to this sort of opposition. The goal is to come out of those big games and win in a really convincing way.
Eze is one player who could be a help in that regard.
You feel at ease when you are his side. He smiles a lot. He separates teams, according to Arteta.
It’s very impressive to watch him ask the right questions, then just let him flow with the ball and his ability to pick passes effortlessly, drive past people effortlessly, and just understand the timing of things.
Head-to-head
The clubs’ 245th meeting is now underway.
In 81 of the encounters, Arsenal claimed victory, while Liverpool claimed victory in 94 of the meetings.
news from the Liverpool team
Liverpool have no additional injury concerns ahead of the game.
Alexis Mac Allister is available after missing the trip to St James’ Park, and Conor Bradley made his first appearance of the season in a substitute role against Newcastle.
Virgil van Dijk was tackled in the match, but Anthony Gordon was cleared to play for Arsenal.
news from the Arsenal team
According to manager Mikel Arteta, skipper Martin Odegaard is a doubt for the Premier League game while forward Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz will be sidelined for many weeks due to their injuries.
Arteta claimed Saka injured his hamstring during Arsenal’s 5-0 home win over Leeds United. He won’t need surgery, which forced him to play for months the previous season.
“Bukayo is doing better, but he will probably be missing for a few weeks,” he says. No surgery, according to Arteta, who told reporters that it isn’t as bad as the previous one.
Let’s see how he develops over the coming days and weeks, repeat the scan, and see where he is headed. “Of course, it’s very unfortunate to pick it up, but it’s on the other side,” he said.
Arsenal confirmed that Havertz had undergone minor surgery after suffering a knee injury during their opening season opener against Manchester United.
“I don’t know how many months it will take, but I believe it will be weeks.” Havertz, who also had surgery on a hamstring injury earlier this year, is “very unfortunate and very sad for him,” Arteta said.
He recovered from the previous one very well, despite never having been injured before, and this is what happened.
However, we must accept that this is our profession. Although we lost a significant player for many, many weeks, surgery was the right course of action.
Arteta said he is unsure whether his skipper will play a role in the win over Leeds, and that Odegaard was also substituted early because of a shoulder issue.
“We don’t know yet,” He said he hasn’t trained yet, but if he does, it will be tomorrow.
Ben White and Christian Norgaard, both of whom are new recruits, are also being watched.
Liverpool had a starting lineup in mind.
Alisson, Bradley, Bradley, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike, and Van Dijk are just a few examples.
Arsenal had a starting lineup in mind.
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli, and others
Kate Cassidy, the girlfriend of One Direction star Liam Payne, has uploaded a heartfelt video to his 32nd birthday.
Kate Cassidy has shared a heartbreaking video of herself baking a birthday cake for late boyfriend Liam Payne on what would have been his 32nd birthday.
Social media influencer Kate, 26, took to TikTok on Friday to celebrate Liam, who tragically died on October 16 after he fell from a third floor balcony hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Following Liam’s tragic death at 31, Kate has been bravely documenting her journey with grief as she adjusts to live without him.
The blonde beauty admitted that she wasn’t the best baker and posted a video of herself baking Liam a birthday cake on Friday. She captioned the video, “Happy Birthday, Liam. You still have my heart’s sweet tooth, I’m sure of it. These days, I’m not very good at baking.
READ MORE: Kate Cassidy shares she wears Liam Payne’s clothes to bed in emotional grief updateREAD MORE: Cheryl’s emotional tribute to Liam Payne in first job since his tragic death
After reading the video, Kate’s fans took to the comments to express their love and support for Liam’s passing girlfriend.
Kate, you are so strong. I’m just aware that he is smiling and down on you today. You should be so proud of yourself because of how gracious and courageous you have been, one TikTok user said. I’m crying so much, OMG. He would have been 32 today, but I still can’t believe he’s gone. Another person echoed, “What a beautiful man he was.”
“You are amazing, Kate. Liam and I both adore you dearly. Someone gushed, “We got you.” You’ve got this girl, I tell you. For you and Liam’s family, I can’t imagine how challenging this must have been. Wherever he may be right now, I know he’s still watching out for you.
Kate shared a video of herself baking Liam a birthday cake(Image: @kateecass/tiktok)
Kate became emotional when she opened up to her online fans while discussing grief. In an effort to assist others in grieving, she posted a sincere Instagram post.
Kate revealed that Kate frequently inquires about Liam’s passing and how she handled his passing on social media.
When she mentioned the singer’s name, she became emotional and decided to respond to a number of the queries. Kate stated in her opening statement that she wanted to share her thoughts in order to help others deal with their grief.
Kate described grief as “a world that you wake up in and it doesn’t make any sense anymore, especially when you lose someone so suddenly and unexpectedly that you almost have a hard time forgiving the world for ripping that person away from you.”
Kate and Liam had been dating since 2022 before the singer’s tragic death(Image: instagram/kateecass)
She continued, “Sometimes I feel numb,” while other times it can be emotional. She also acknowledged that she believes her personal suffering will last a “lifetime.” She continued, “Grief does not have an expiration date.” It’s something you learn to carry with rather than something you learn to get over.
Kate responded to a question about grieving appropriately by saying, “This question resonates with me a lot because there are no guidelines for grief. Everyone approaches it in a different manner.
She acknowledged that she frequently feels like different approaches can help her with her daily changes. That includes “dressing up” and “being in sweats.”
Kate continued by urging people to not hold grieving differently. She also acknowledged that she copes by “wearing my loved ones’ clothes to bed” in a number of ways.
Kate has been sharing her journey with grief on social media(Image: instagram/kateecass)
She added that she might benefit from rereading old notes and letters. It gives me a lot more of a relationship with him. When I read something in someone’s handwriting, I can hear their voice in my head as I read it. This is very helpful for me.
“And perusing dated videos and photos. It shouldn’t always be depressing. The loss of love is a reminder of that.
Kate clearly smirked as she tried to continue, “And I’m so lucky to have experienced that with, Liam. “
In a scene straight out of a rom-com, Liam and Kate first met at a Charleston, South Carolina, bar in 2022, when the then-ordinary waitress served the megastar.
Liam immediately snagged her number, and he immediately felt the attraction.
She told fans of their sweet love story as she previously shared a TikTok of the moment. And Liam told his fans he “never felt a love like I do for Katelyn,” adding: “We make each other better people.”
Columnist Jessica Boulton’s rundown of the past week in showbiz: From Strictly Shirley’s heartbreak lessons to Meghan Markle’s latest faux pas and Loose Women’s own goal
Shirley Ballas is back to her best in our new shoot – and we can all learn from her ordeal(Image: Reach PLC / Matt Monfredi)
Shirley Ballas is used to making big, bold moves on the dancefloor. But now it turns out she’s no stranger to making them in her love life too.
The Strictly Come Dancing head judge has scored herself some impressive headlines this weekend after finally opening up about her mystery split with toyboy-of-six-years Danny Taylor, 51. The pair had first met while doing in Jack and the Beanstalk in 2018 – and fans had been convinced a wedding was in the stars. (Even Shirley seemed sure at one point – as she had already bought the engagement and wedding rings).
However just a day after her 64th birthday last September, Shirley suddenly told Danny to Foxtrot Oscar for good. Fans have since been speculating to what could possibly have happened, to prompt such a dramatic exit.
But after Shirley finally shared her side of the story today, there’s not much debate. In fact if his actions were being scored by the judges, I imagine this is what he would have got:
Craig Revel Horwood has given a few ones during his time on Strictly
So what did her hunky toyboy allegedly do to be sent quickstepping away? It wasn’t his red flags – she admitted she ignored far too many of them. It wasn’t that he was scatty, sometimes vague and disorganised; that they would row, sometimes for days; or that she spent a small fortune showering him with gifts, either.
And it wasn’t – even though it really should have been – the day he straight up Han Solo-ed her grand romantic gesture. Just like Princess Leia to Han in Empire Strikes Back, Shirley apparently once told Danny she loved him. And just like Han, Danny gave a colder-than-planet-Hoth riposte: “I know”.
No. Despite all that, there was only one thing that could finally end their push and pull, Paso Doble of a relationship. And it was the (alleged) actions of a man who perhaps should have known better.
Apparently it was Shirley’s birthday, he’d gone away to see friends and she had been out with her mum (who lives with her). But then Shirley got a call from his friend, to say Danny had disappeared, his phone was off and they were ‘worried’ about him.
For Shirley and her mum, it was an immediate flashback to their night of fear of 2003, when her brother David disappeared before taking his own life aged 49. The two women were frantic – until, at some point in the late early hours, Shirley saw Danny had finally read her WhatsApp message.
Shirley Ballas and Danny Taylor at British Summertime show in Hyde Park, during a brighter point in their relationship (Image: Getty Images for Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time)
You don’t need to be a psychologist to guess why Shirley was so affected. And while Danny was never at risk, in Shirley’s mind, he should have realised how his actions might trigger her worst fears. Danny has yet to respond to Shirley’s claims or explain his side of the story. But whatever happened, Shirl decided to don her head judge hat and send him packing.
So what is it that us that singles of a certain age can learn from Shirley’s heartbreak? Well, fast forward a year and she’s talking a lot of sense. Her new book Best Foot Forward is all about her life lessons. But just from her experience Danny alone, there are clearly four key things anyone solo and over 40 should take on board.
1. Don’t panic about being single and settle. You can date in your 50s, 60, 70s, and beyond. (Or not, if you prefer). But don’t ignore red flags through fear of being alone. “There was no question about how much I loved that man,” Shirley says. “[But] Along the line, there were red flags that I chose to ignore.” As she should know from the Paso (the Latin dance based on bullfighting), you always have to face the music eventually. She adds: “[Then] It just got to a point where the relationship was becoming too difficult for me in many ways.”
2. At different times in life you need different things from a relationship. Shirley says: “I don’t think I’ll ever have another relationship, but if I did, it would have to be with somebody that was much more calm and saw us growing in the same direction.”
3. Don’t regret a relationship just because it didn’t work out. Shirley knew when they’d danced their last dance – but she didn’t regret all the ones before. “I just didn’t really have a choice [to end it]”, she explains. “It doesn’t mean those six years I had with Danny, I didn’t adore him”.
Shirley and Danny in July 2022(Image: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)
Shirley’s new memoir is being serialised in the Mirror this weekend
4. And finally – and this is my favourite one – be HONEST about what you want – and don’t apologise for it. This might be the one area where Shirley might need a bit more work. Why? Because Shirley made a vow today: “I think my ‘toyboy’ days are behind me,” she said. Only to then reveal her new target age bracket. “I reckon anything from 55 to 70 if they’re fit,” she said.
Yep, you read that right. Shirley, 64, is cutting the toyboys…… by making 55 her new minimum age requirement. So, either I’ve been doing maths wrong for ever…… Or she just needs to just own the fact she loves a younger man. To be fair, if I looked as fab-u-lous as her, I’d be trying to cha-cha-charm them too.
Shirley’s not the only showbiz news that’s been raising an eyebrow or two this week. Plenty of other celebs have been getting us twittering. And where better to start than…….
THE PRICE OF WAR MONDAY
The week began with the latest episode of my very favourite reality show: Katie And Peter. Yup, it may have been cancelled by ITV way back in the noughties, and their marriage may have kicked the bucket back in 2009….
But like Alexis Colby and Blake Carrington, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, or Kramer vs Kramer, the fallout from Katie Price and Peter Andre’s break-up was toxic. So very very toxic, in fact, the air could take longer to clear than….well, Earth’s (now climate-change denier Trump’s in charge).
Katie Price and Peter Andre first met on I’m a Celebrity in 2004, married in 2005 and split in 2009
Katie and Peter’s ongoing saga is now playing out over social media rather than on TV – and Season 6,852 opened with a bang this month when Andre threw down the gauntlet by declaring it was time to TELL ALL. (Yes, KP’s done 5,929 autobiographies, but there really is still more to tell.)
With the war of the exes firmly back on, attention has now turned to how their children have been reacting, amid reports of a feud between Katie and Princess, 18. On Monday, Pete publicly praised son Junior, 20, for explaining to fans that he had decided to take time out from the limelight to concentrate on life in the real world.
It was not only surprisingly mature for a nepobaby, but also the kind of self care advice Katie and Pete might want to try for themselves. “Sometimes the most quiet seasons are the most powerful ones.” Junior mused. “When the time’s right, you’ll understand why I’ve been so lowkey.”
Err, Junior, your fans might understand. But Mummy Dearest? She’s never been one for being understated. Indeed, there’s only one way KP could ever be “lowkey”.…. if she borrowed Tom Hiddleston’s costume for an Avengers’ fancy dress party.
Tom Hiddleston as Loki in Marvel’s Avengers franchise
MEG-A FAIL? TUESDAY
The world has rarely seemed more divided. And this week we were once more forced to debate one of the most polarising questions of recent years. Nope, not “Nigel Farage: supervillain or, um, just a regular villain??”
But an even more controversial debate: Is The Duchess of Sussex’s baking and crafting Netflix show…. 1. a giant dollop of sugary-sweet, wholesome, guilty-pleasure TV? Or, as one (seemingly sour) critic declared…. 2. “Basic, humourless and nauseatingly-fake”. In other words: An overbaked slice of ego pie, with a sideof brain numb-ery, a garnish of phoneyism and a sprinkle of patronisation?
Yes, the second series of With Love, Meghan dropped on the streamer on Tuesday and early reviews have been marmite, to say the least. It failed to hit the Top 10 in UK or US on Day One, yet at the same time the never-disheartened Meghan has claimed her tie-in As Ever products have been selling so fast she had to order “a million” marmalade jars just to meet demand*. (*Okay, Harry! Fess up! Where are you hiding them all?)
Meghan and Chrissy Teigen get ready to stir things up on the Netflix show (Image: Netflix)
There has, of course, been some juicy bitesize morsels of gossip, peppered in between the toothaching-earnestness of her oh-so-homely show (that’s, um, filmed in a rented house). Apparently smitten Harry was the first to say “I love you” (shocker). Archie and Lilibet use the American names for vegetables – because Meghan does most of the cooking. And poor Megs had a mix up with Fahrenheit and Celsius on the night Harry proposed – leading to a roast poultry disaster.
The latter is deliciously ironic. She burnt the chicken the night they got engaged. But, yet, it was only after Megxit….that their goose was finally cooked.
YOU’RE DREAMING WEDNESDAY
Working for a celebrity is never as glamorous as many think. After all, many a put-upon assistant could probably outdo Stephen King in the horror story stakes. But this week former Voice of an Angel Charlotte Church really took the biscuit.
For she’s been advertising for a maintenance and landscaper to work at her wilderness/self care/new age/wellness resort “The Dreaming” in Wales. The advert sounded interesting at first: “Spend your days outdoors caring for the land, supporting the retreat, and becoming part of our community,” she states on her site.
Charlotte Church enjoying the magic of her wellness retreat, The Dreaming, in Wales’ Elan Valley(Image: Rekha Garton)
But then came the kicker….“In exchange for food, board, and time immersed in the magic of this place.” Uh-huh. No salary. No pension. Just a enchanting dinner of veggies from the garden of her fairytale retreat. She is quite literally offering ‘magic’ beans in lieu of cold-hard cash.
Don’t get me wrong, your resort does look like something out of a storybook, Charlotte. But unless you’re throwing in some unicorn rides and a pet dragon, I’ll stick to a spell at my desk in return for the magical ability to pay off my credit cards, thanks.
WANDS AT DAWN THURSDAY
Talking of magic….things got witchy (but with a b) when it came to the new Harry Potter TV series this week.
Chris Columbus – the Home Alone director, not the 1492 explorer – was at the helm of the first three Potter movies with Daniel Radcliffe and co, back in the early noughties. But he wasn’t exactly enchanted after seeing the first pictures from the London set of the new HBO TV series. In fact, he was sounding very, er, Slytherin about it all. So what was his snakey remark?
WHO WORE IT BEST! Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in the original Harry Potter films
Hot Fuzz star Nick Frost as Hagrid in the new HBO TV series (Image: PA)
“So, I’m seeing these photographs … and he’s wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid,” he begins. “Part of me was like: What’s the point?” (Ouch!). “I thought everything was going to be different, but it’s more of the same.” (Double ouch!) “It’s very flattering for me, because I’m like, that’s exactly the Hagrid costume that we designed.” (Getting a tad passive aggressive are we Chris?). “So, part of it is really exciting…” (Yes?) “And part of it is sort of deja vu all over again.” (Oooh – burn!). That’ll sting more than Kevin McCallister’s aftershave faux pas.
PH-WOAR FRIDAY
Forget Time Magazine’s Most Influential People or Forbes’ 30 Under 30 – by Friday, social media was obsessed with the results of a new and far more important hotlist: The Hottest Actors Over 50.
Naturally it was my journalistic duty to study it in detail, after its release by AARP, the US equivalent of Age Concern. Idris Elba, 52, came top, Pedro Pascal, 50, second, and The Pitt’s Noah Wyle, 54, came third – 30 years after first raising heart rates as John Carter in ER. George Clooney, 54, Denzel Washington, 60, and Keanu Reeves, 60, were also in the Top 10
A completely randomly selected photo of Idris Elba. Ahem. (Image: Daily Mirror)
So far, so good. But I did have one concern – Idris aside, the list lacks Brits. Therefore, as balanced, accurate reporting is the core principle of my craft, I have decided to generously and selflessly take on the burden of redoing this list properly.
It will take many, many hours of unpaid, intense scrutiny (of shirtless Google images), plus days of meticulous research (watching movies). But for the sake of good journalism, I guess I’ll grin and bear it.
*FYI, CHARLOTTE: this is the kind of digging I will do for free.
PICTURES OF THE WEEK:
You could scroll Instagram for hours but let’s face it: we are never, ever, ever going the find a better photo than this one, this week.
It’s the moment Taylor Swift fans never thought they would see: The break-up song queen shaking off her penchant for skinny British Indie boys – and announcing her engagement to her all-American hulk of an NFL player Travis Kelce.
Travis Kelce’s and Taylor Swift announced their engagement by posting this shot on Instagram (Image: taylorswift/Instagram)
It took mere nanoseconds of ‘Tay-Tay’ posting about this picture-perfect chapter of her Love Story before it went viral. And – sadly – only slightly longer, before things also turned a little toxic.
For Loose Women’s Jane Moore and Nadia Sawalha were a smidge on the grumpy side about the giant, massive, beautiful, diamond ring Travis designed for Tay. “‘I don’t understand what the ‘design’ element is,” whined one. “Because it’s just a great big diamond on a ring.”
Oh, yeah, how truly awful. What a wrong ‘un. I mean, who would ever want the love of their life to give them a Titanic-sized diamond? What a monster.
Travis reportedly helped to design the engagement ring, described as being in the ‘old mine brilliant cut’ style(Image: taylorswift/Instagram)
What was even worse about the Loose Women’s mean girl comments is that they weren’t even true. If they’d actually taken a second to look a bit closer they’d see there’s actually a delicate “T” design on the band.
Perhaps you should’ve gone to Specsavers, ladies. After all, feelgood stories are few and far between. So there’s only one catty remark I want to hear about Taylor’s engagement …. What this guy thinks.
Self-dubbed “crazy cat lady” Taylor Swift with one of her beloved and pampered moggies
Jess A Quickie
I really hope the newly-announced Knight Rider movie is planning to bring back its original star. After all, he was a leading talent of his generation, a true trailblazer and the hottest thing on screen in the early 80s. Although, I suppose…. If K.I.T.T does win a part, will they have to let The Hoff back too?
The car’s the star, David Hasselhoff! The world’s coolest car K.I.T.T in Knight Rider…..and some actor sidekick from Baywatch. Ahem. (Image: NBC via Getty Images)
