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Inside ‘The Last of Us’ star Isabela Merced’s bag: Lip oil, aura-cleansing water and a beef stick
Paige DeSorbo Leaves ‘Summer House’ As Bravo’s Biggest Star Of The 2020s So Far
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‘A betrayal of the voters’: DeSantis sides with Musk against Trump as Republican megabill splits the party down the middle
Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gabriel SIGNS new contract, Rodrygo ‘number one’ winger target, Sesko talks advancing
ARSENAL are looking ahead to a busy summer transfer window after another trophyless season.
Gabriel has SIGNED a new contract at The Emirates, the club has announced this morning.
The Gunners have reportedly made Brazil and Real Madrid winger Rodrygo their ‘number one’ target on the wing this summer.
Elsewhere, reports suggest Arteta’s side are the only club holding direct talks with Benjamin Sesko, while other clubs only hold an interest in the striker.
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Original Factory Shop launches closing down sale at another store – see the full list of locations at risk
THE Original Factory Shop is set to call time on another store with a number of sites at risk of closure.
A branch in Middlewich is now the latest store to be marked for closure.
A closing down sale has been launched with up to 50% off some lines in the store.
Locals have branded the closure in the Cheshire town as “another blow” for the high street.
A concerned shopper warned there would be “nothing left” in the area as “everything is closing down”.
While another said: “Your store was a highlight of my days during a really tough time when I lived in Middlewich.”
And a third added: “This shop will be greatly missed.”
The exact date of when the store has not been confirmed yet. but The Sun will update this piece when we find out more.
Up to 11 TOFS stores are already to set to close this month, including sites across Worcestershire, Durham and Cumbria .
Meanwhile, another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been placed up for sale.
The Original Factory Shop has told The Sun that negotiations are ongoing with landlords – making it unclear whether these shops will remain open.
It comes as part of a major restructuring carried out by new owner Modella Capital with a number of loss making stores having to close as result.
A spokesperson told The Sun: “Closing stores is always a tough decision, and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible.
“This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future.”
They added: “These negotiations are commercially sensitive and so we cannot comment on which stores are affected.”
You can see the full list of store closures here:
- Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire – June 26
- Perth – June 28
- Chester Le Street, County Durham – June 28
- Arbroath, Angus – June 28
- Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire – June 28
- Pershore, Worcestershire – June 28
- Normanton, West Yorkshire – June 28
- Peterhead, Aberdeenshire – June 28
- Shaftesbury, Dorset – June 28
- Staveley, Cumbria – July 12
- Middlewich – TBC
The following stores are also up for sale:
- Nairn
- Market Drayton
- Troon
- Blairgowrie
- Castle Douglas
What’s been happening with The Original Factory Shop?
Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores.
Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, having also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith‘s high street shops.
It is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones, and has brought in advisers to look at potential options for Hobbycraft.
At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS.
Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business.
They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords.
TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a “number of loss-making stores will have to close” as part of the restructuring.
It said at the time: “Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible.
“This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future.”
The Original Factory shop has already shuttered more than a dozen stores over the past 12 months.
RETAIL PAIN IN 2025
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Brentford name Mbeumo price, Osimhen boost, Red Devils ‘join race’ for Spanish wonderkid
MANCHESTER UNITED are set to undergo huge change during the summer transfer window.
The Red Devils are interested in Bryan Mbuemo, with the Bees reportedly waiting for a fee of around £70 million for one of their star players.
Elsewhere, United have been given a boost in the race for Victor Osimhen, as his move to Al-Hilal is ‘about to collapse,’ says Fabrizio Romano.
In other news, Man Utd have joined the ‘hotly-contested’ race for Real Betis wonderkid Jesus Rodriguez.
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‘Do right thing Donald Trump’ – Enormous ‘Free Palestine’ message scrawled in sand at Doonbeg as plea issued for US pres
AN enormous 350-foot wide message reading “Free Palestine” was scrawled in the sand at a beach in front of US President Donald Trump’s golf resort in Co Clare this week.
A trio of activists wrote the temporary message in response to Israeli attacks in Gaza killing over 50,000 people, including 15,000 children.
Sean Corcoran, who worked alongside two friends to create the sand art on Doughmore Strand in Doonbeg, called for a ceasefire in the region, adding: “Do the right thing Donald Trump.”
He told RTE: “Israel’s actions are being made possible by the USA and other countries who continue to supply them military equipment.”
Sean continued: “I chose the Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg as a poignant location for this installation. I thought I would use the privilege I am afforded in this democracy to voice my opinion.
“I believe a turning point has been reached and politicians will need to start responding to growing public outrage.
“The USA and other countries need to stop supporting Israel.
“We all need to insist on a ceasefire. Do the right thing Donald Trump.”
Each letter in the sand art, which Sean’s friends James Corcoran Hodgins and Caoláin Power assisted him with, stood at about 40 foot tall.
But Sean, who is a regular visitor to the US on art projects, admitted that the message at Donald Trump’s golf course in Ireland could land him in trouble if he tries to return to America.
He said: “If the Trump administration decided that my opinions and actions on the sand are anti-Semitic, it’s possible that I would be detained or deported if I try to return.”
The travel advice for Irish people heading to the US in general has not changed, Simon Harris previously confirmed.
However, the Tanaiste said that this advice will be kept “under constant review”.
He added that people have seen “scenes from across America in terms of protest”, specifically when it comes to Palestine, which has brought up concerns.
He said: “It’s important when you go to any jurisdiction to consider the local situation, the local laws, to consider if what is acceptable in Ireland is acceptable in the country that you are visiting and to also know, specifically in relation to the United States, that Ireland has a very large diplomatic presence there.”
TRAVEL RISK
The Union of Students in Ireland, which represents over 350,000 students, has urged students over the risks of “activism” while travelling to the US on a J1 Visa this summer.
The USI said: “While activism is a vital part of student life and a right that should be protected, it is important that students fully understand the possible consequences for their visa status, including the risk of deportation, and take steps to safeguard their participation in such activities.”
Separately, A US- and Israeli-backed group handing out aid in Gaza said all its distribution sites were closed until further notice.
The group urged residents to stay away from these venues “for their safety” after a series of deadly shootings.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said that a reopening date would be announced at a later time.
Kirsty Gallacher hits back at fans who say she looks ‘good for 49’ saying ‘it really p***es me off!’
KIRSTY Gallacher has today hit back at fans who say that she looks “good for 49”.
The popular presenter, who is well known for her passion for fitness, has vented about how this type of comment “really p***es” her off.
In a new interview, Kirsty, who turned 49 earlier this year, used the opportunity to share how much it annoys her when she is talked about in this way.
Reflecting on her age, she told Top Sante magazine “I don’t know how on earth I’m 49. I just think, ‘Where did my 30s go?’.
“I can barely remember them because they were manic, and I was working full-time with two kids.
“I got divorced in my late 30s and ended up finding life hard for a few years, and then suddenly, you get to this age and wonder how you got here.”
But Kirsty added: “One of the best things about being this age is you’re wiser and you know yourself better.”
However, there is one thing about getting older and looking good that annoys her.
“It p***es me off and upsets me when people say I look ‘amazing for 49’,” she vented.
“Am I meant to look like a granny instead? I’ve never understood that.
“I know people don’t mean it in a nasty way, but age is age.
“No one knows what age anyone is anymore because we all have healthier lives and live longer.”
Kirsty added: “I just think instead of saying, ‘Oh gosh, you look great for 49’, just say, ‘You look great! How do you do that?’.
“And I’ll tell you that I eat healthily and I look after myself. You know what I mean? Let’s just stop nitpicking about age.”
Kirsty revealed how she keeps her well honed body in shape: “It’s very important I eat well to fuel my workouts.
“Protein is so crucial, so it’s a difficult one as an animal lover.
“I’ve been a vegetarian off and on all my life, but I think being a vegetarian makes me quite unwell sometimes, so eating meat is sort of one of those things where I’ve always gone back and forth, purely for my health.”
Continuing, the healthy star said: “I eat quite a lot of fish and, occasionally, have some red meat.
“But if I didn’t need to eat meat, I wouldn’t.
“For me, it’s all about buying meat responsibly now, because my boyfriend and children eat meat, and I certainly wouldn’t stop others from doing so.”
KIRSTY IN LOVE
As well as her passion for staying fit and healthy, Kirsty also has another love, and that’s for her boyfriend Darren Clayton, 39.
The smitten couple have been dating for nearly two years, after meeting in 2023.
Recently speaking about her man and their relationship to The Sun, she said: “He is a lovely man, he’s wonderful and so supportive.
“We met in September 2023, so it’s coming up to two years.
“I met him with Gabby Logan through an event her husband Kenny was running for our dear friend [former rugby union player] Doddie Weir, who sadly passed from motor neurone disease.”
“I’m an ambassador for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, so me and Gabby did a walk from Bisham Abbey to Paris, and I met Darren that day.
“He loosely knew Kenny, as they both run events management companies. I went: ‘Ooh, you’re nice.’
“You think that romantic ideal of love at first sight doesn’t exist. But it did when I met him.
“I liked his aura and his charisma. Then I got to know him and he’s brilliant.
“He asked me out in Paris – Gabby and I were on the Eurostar, giggling like schoolgirls.
“I was there when she met Kenny, too. Isn’t it wonderful that our friendship is still going strong?”
Kirsty also discovered on the trip that there was a slight age difference between her and Darren.
“Yes, he’s 10 years younger,” she said. “It’s hilarious.
“I heard him talking and he mentioned his age and I thought: ‘Oh, god, I really fancy him, but maybe there’s too many years difference.’
“He didn’t know what age I was either. But then it was like ‘bang’ and it didn’t matter.”
Taylor Sheridan Had To Save ‘Yellowstone’ Season 3 From a Real Mutiny After Actors Refused To Work
Taylor Sheridan nearly faced a meltdown on Yellowstone Season 3 when key actors started pushing back and even considered walking off. With creative tensions rising (especially during that brutal Season 2 storyline), some cast members began to fret over dark scenes and long-term commitments. Instead of caving, Sheridan stepped in hard, rewriting, reassuring, and reasserting his vision […]
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