As they say, new year, new me, and it appears Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is taking that mantra to heart after losing Super Bowl 59 to the Philadelphia Eagles with his new haircut. Mahomes was recently spotted in public with a new hairstyle. His signature mohawk is gone, and he now has short, […]
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Ja Morant is one of the most exciting players in the NBA, and he is a big reason why the Memphis Grizzlies are one of the best teams in the league this year. Morant is averaging over 20 points per game, and the Grizzlies are currently in second place in the Western Conference as we […]
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The Boston Bruins are continuing to evaluate all of their options ahead of the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline — and one of them could lead to pending restricted free agent Morgan Geekie getting a change of scenery. The Bruins lost each of their last two games before the 4 Nations Face-Off and now sit […]
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Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal deservingly won the AL Cy Young last season after a dominant campaign, helping take his ball club to the playoffs. Last August, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge praised Skubal, calling him the best pitcher in the big leagues: “He’s the best pitcher in the game right now. … When […]
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TECH giant Meta has announced plans to build the longest sea cable in the world – which will span longer than the circumference of the planet and cost $10billion.
The Facebook owner said that Project Waterworth will involve a 50,000km subsea mega cable connecting the US, India, South Africa and Brazil.
Meta, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, will provide “industry-leading connectivity” to five major continents as well as help its artificial intelligence projects.
The tech titan, headed by Mark Zuckerburg, said in a blog post: “Project Waterworth will bring industry-leading connectivity to the US, India, Brazil, South Africa, and other key regions.
“This project will enable greater economic cooperation, facilitate digital inclusion, and open opportunities for technological development in these regions.
“For example, in India, where we’ve already seen significant growth and investment in digital infrastructure, Waterworth will help accelerate this progress and support the country’s ambitious plans for its digital economy,” they claimed.
Meta’s new 31,000-mile cable will also have 24 fibre pairs to give it higher capacity, meaning faster speed internet.
The announcement comes despite growing concerns about foreign cyber attacks.
In the UK, we have about 60 undersea cables which carry 99% of data connecting to the outside world.
Over 95 per cent of the world’s internet traffic is transferred though undersea cables and there are currently at least 600 sub-sea cable systems known to the public worldwide.
Military alliance NATO launched a mission in January this year to increase surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea after damage to cables last year amidst Russia’s War in Ukraine.
A UK parliamentary committee has also issued a call for evidence about the UK’s resilience in the face of disruption, pointing to particular concern over “Russian and Chinese capabilities to hold undersea infrastructure at risk”.
In 2018 during his first term, President Donald Trump placed sanctions on a Russian company for allegedly providing “underwater capabilities” to Moscow with the aim of monitoring the underwater network.
Modern cables can transmit 100 terabits of data per second – enough for millions of simultaneous calls.
Global internet traffic could slow dramatically if multiple major cables were damaged simultaneously.
Ship anchors remain the most common cause of cable damage, accounting for around 70% of breaks.
It can take up to three weeks to repair a single broken cable using specialised ships.
The average undersea cable survives for about 25 years before needing replacement. A single cable break near a crucial junction could disrupt communications for entire regions.
Banking systems rely heavily on these cables – a major outage could freeze trillion-dollar markets.
Most cables are surprisingly thin – about the width of a garden hose despite crossing entire oceans.
Military communications could be severely compromised if strategic cable routes are disrupted.
Underwater animal attacks from sharks for example have decreased since protective shielding was improved, though bites still occur.
Meta said that it would lay the new cable system up to 7,000 meters deep and “use enhanced burial techniques in high-risk fault areas, such as shallow waters near the coast, to avoid damage from ship anchors and other hazards”.
It comes after company boss Mark Zuckerburg said last month that he was ending professional factchecking on Facebook and Instagram.
Meanwhile, in July last year, large parts of Tonga, in Oceania, were left without internet access after the undersea internet cable connecting the island network suffered significant damage.
THE SIMBA Hybrid Firm Pillow is designed to provide extra support for side sleepers like me.
I gave it a try, and despite its hefty price tag, I was pleasantly surprised to be a massive fan — I’ve explained why below.
Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow, £159
I wanted to put Simba’s award-winning pillow sleep tech to the test to see what everyone is raving about.
Simba has a bounty of awards for its pillows and no shortage of 5-star reviews from happy shoppers under its belt.
I wake frequently in the night due to not being able to find a comfortable position — I’m something of a wiggler.
So I was thrilled to be offered the chance to try Simba’s Hybrid Firm pillow, designed with sleep tech that claims to adjust to suit any sleep position (we’ll see about that).
I have to confess before this review I was sleeping on poor-quality pillows of varying firmness and generally not prioritising how comfort or support could increase the quality of my sleep.
I was keen to see if Simba’s sleep tech is really that good.
Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow, £159
As The Sun’s Home and Garden eCommerce writer, it’s my job to test products to see if they’re worth adding to your basket — especially if, like the Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow, they come with a hefty price tag.
I tested it for a week, with no late-night indulgences (cheese, I’m looking at you) or intense evening workouts that might unfairly influence the quality of my sleep.
I wanted to evaluate the pillow under ordinary, everyday conditions.
For me, it’s not just about how it performs on a perfect day, but whether it can deliver consistent support and comfort for the ebb and flow of a typical day in my life.
My pillows pre-Simba were not of a premium price point, so this was an eye-opener to see if paying more does pay for a good night’s sleep.
How much is the Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow? The Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow retails for a staggering £159.
Who’s it best for? Its adjustable firmness is suitable for back, front and side sleepers. So, however you sleep, this pillow can be altered to your desired comfort.
What I liked: The firmness is a definite game-changer, because it gave me the support I needed as someone who wriggles in my sleep.
What I didn’t like: The price. It is such a brilliant pillow and despite recommending it to my friends and family, it doesn’t suit everyone’s budget.
The Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow’s price point is eye-watering; there’s no doubt about it.
But it’s an investment piece and I did have to do a bit of girl math to validate its price.
If my calculations are correct, it costs 29p per day for a year to sleep on Simba’s Hybrid Firm pillow — doesn’t sound so bad now, right?
I tried to find a fault, but it does what it says on the tin.
Admittedly, I didn’t know I was a firm pillow fan — which now explains my previous need to have three or four pillows on top of each other to feel supported.
And despite being reluctant to use only one pillow for the week, one is enough — if it’s a quality one.
This pillow is firm but adjustable and I love it, even with its premium price point.
I can’t fault the delivery of the pillow; I was notified via my chosen communication channel of its arrival — left safely on the porch while I was in the office.
It was also very well sealed in Simba branded plastic wrap, so if you’re hiding this purchase from your partner, be warned because the packaging isn’t discreet.
It also came in a pillow storage bag, which feels quite luxurious, and the novelty wasn’t lost on me — I love little touches like that.
Simba is a B-corp which means as a company it adheres to a set of rigorous standards to ensure it is doing its bit as a company to be better sustainably.
So if you are a conscious shopper, it is something to consider.
Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow, £159
It’s a whopper of a pillow — it might be tricky to squeeze it into some pillowcases.
I managed to cram it into one, but long term it might not be the best for the pillow’s shape.
However, it does have a removable cover that can be slung in the wash, so it doesn’t really require a pillowcase; but this depends on your preference.
The thickness of this pillow was reassuring, but I was still cynical that it would be enough by itself to improve my sleep.
Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow, £159
A few sleeps in, gone are the days of my princess and the pea pillow set-up.
One pillow is enough, as long as it’s the Simba Hybrid Firm.
Despite this being described as firm, the boffins at Simba have given the user complete control of their desired firmness.
The pillow has three layers of unique stuffing that can be removed and adjusted, and one side is squishier than the other to provide further room for flip-flopping.
During the week I didn’t remove any of the layers and kept the pillow as it was, only because I loved how it felt and didn’t need to adjust.
Being a bit of a sceptic, I thought some of the pillows’ attributes were clever marketing lingo, but I’ve got to give it to Simba; this pillow was comfy in all positions I found myself in.
Whether it was because of the Simba Renew down-like fibre for squishiness or Aerocoil micro springs supporting the gymnastics I do in my sleep, I slept like a log and it has changed my opinion on pillow price points.
I can’t lie, it is a hefty investment and as a frugal spender, I would be on the fence, but having experienced it, I am more open-minded towards its price.
I do reckon the slightly cheaper Simba Hybrid pillow’s price point will be more tempting for shoppers, but in my Simba Hybrid pillow review I explained why it might not be worth the £109 price tag.
The main difference is that the Simba Hybrid Firm has removable multi-layers, while the Simba Hybrid has tiny Nanocubes – also removable, but the cubes mould to the pressure applied with little resistance.
I reckon if you’re on the fence about which to choose, head over to Simba and start a live chat with a helpful advisor, they can help pick the best pillow for your budget and needs.
In short, yes, but each Simba pillow has been designed differently – so it is important to read each pillow’s care guide before washing.
The Simba Hybrid and Simba Hybrid Firm both have un-zippable quilted covers that can be popped in the wash but as mentioned, the pillow’s stuffing is completely different and will come with separate care instructions.
Keeping your pillow clean is a great way to extend its lifespan, so I would highly recommend slinging it in the wash every so often.
I would also keep an eye on any discolouration, smell and plumpness.
This is down to preference and I did put a pillowcase on out of habit because I like my bedding to match.
The Simba Hybrid Firm is slightly on the larger side I did have to cram it into a pillow case, which only just fit.
However, the Simba Hybrid pillows don’t need a pillowcase; each pillowcase is quilted and removable and the design isn’t ugly, so would look nice on a bed.
There’s no skirting around the obvious — it is expensive.
but if you’re willing and can afford to buy it, I’d struggle to see how you could find fault in the Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow.
I regularly keep an eye on Simba sleep deals, and it does discount its accessories range from time to time, so keep checking to grab yourself a deal.
If you are serious about improving the quality of your sleep, the Stratos cool-touch kept me cool (I am a big fan of this FYI), and the micro-springs generously supported my wriggles. I also love the customisation options.
I didn’t give it full marks because it is spenny, but it is deserving of that rating, and it truly improved the quality of my sleep.
A WOMAN has been charged over the death of a five-year-old girl who died nearly 50 years ago.
The 66-year-old woman has been charged with manslaughter over the death of a child in 1978.
Five-year-old Andrea Bernard went to hospital after she was assaulted in Ashley Road, Thornton Heath, on June 6 1978, the Metropolitan Police said.
She was treated at a hospital in Croydon before being transferred to a specialist burns unit in East Grinstead, Sussex, but died from her injuries on July 13 that year.
The force launched an investigation into her death in September 2022 and, on Tuesday, Janice Nix, 66, of Rodenhurst Road, Clapham, south west London was charged with manslaughter.
She is also accused of cruelty to another child who was aged eight at the time.
Nix will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
Cops said she was charged with manslaughter and also child cruelty in relation to offences towards another child.
The Metropolitan Police said: “Detectives from the Met’s Cold Case Homicide Team have charged a woman following the death of a five-year-old girl in 1978.
“Janice Nix, 66 (26.08.58), of Rodenhurst Road, SW4, was arrested and charged with manslaughter on Tuesday, 18 February, following the death of Andrea Bernard.
“Andrea and Nix were known to each other
“Nix was also charged with child cruelty in relation to offences towards another child, who was aged eight at the time.
“She is due to appear before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 19 February.
“It is reported Andrea was assaulted at an address in Ashley Road, Thornton Heath on 6 June 1978 and was hospitalised.
“She was initially treated at hospital in Croydon before being transferred to a specialist burns unit in East Grinstead.
“Tragically, as a result of the injuries Andrea sustained, she died on 13 July 1978.
“The offences were reported in September 2022 and an investigation was launched.”
EASTENDERS fans have become convinced a legendary star is set to return for a family reunion on the show’s 40th anniversary.
As the soap celebrates a landmark this week, the BBC are pulling out all the stops with a string of cameo appearances from faces gone by, heartbreaking storylines and a killer mystery that’s been keeping fans guessing since Christmas Day.
Now, as several tales come to a head, fans believe they have cracked the case of another appearance – with the return of the legendary Zoe Slater.
The character, played by Michelle Ryan, was the secret daughter of Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace), and had been raised as one of the Slater sisters, completely unaware of her real identity.
She was tragically born after Kat was molested by her uncle Harry, with the family keeping the dark secret away from her so she could live a normal life.
The truth eventually spilled out in an iconic episode where Zoe screamed at Kat “You ain’t my mother!!” prompting Kat to yell back “Yes I am!”
Fans thinks that Zoe will make a return to the Square for the 40th anniversary for the first time in 20 years, pointing at ‘giveaway clues’ that have convinced them.
Among them is a shot focusing on the photo frame shot of the Slater sisters on Kat’s mantlepiece, and Jessie Wallace’s recent appearance on Lacey Turner’s podcast.
Speaking on Reddit, one fan wrote: “I’m convinced Zoe is coming back. I’ve seen little hints dropped the last few weeks on social media and in Jessie’s conversation with Lacey on her podcast, and tonight was a dead giveaway — the way the camera focused directly on Michelle Ryan in that framed Slater photo, that’s no accident.
“She’s totally coming back this week. That was a deliberate teaser.”
“I suppose a red herring is possible, but for the love of God EE, please don’t let us down on this one as well and not do it after all this,” they continued.
“It’s way overdue. We haven’t had Little Mo back, we haven’t had Carol back, we’ve got to have Zoe.”
To top it off, Michelle made a rare post on Instagram celebrating her time on Eastenders, reposting shots from her official photoshoot when joining the series.
“I was just sent these two photos from the square that were taken when I was 17/18, that’s early 2000’s!” she wrote.
“They were actually never used for cards to be signed (although I’m being told that some people have them, 
I didn’t realise).”
“Wishing everyone on the square a very Happy 40th Birthday! What an achievement for a show to run for that long!,” she said.
“Many great memories. Congratulations to everyone 
(Don’t read into the song chosen, it’s playing in the cafe)”
First appearing in 2000, Zoe remained in the Square for five years, before leaving in 2005 shortly after the 20th anniversary celebrations.
In scenes that aired across that landmark point, Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) was killed off for a second time, after Zoe, wife Chrissie Watts and Sam Mitchell plot against him.
In a big confrontation, Zoe thought she dealt him a fatal blow when she clobbered him over the head with the Queen Vic bust.
However, after she left, he regained consciousness, and Chrissie finished the job.
After that, Zoe left Walford and headed to start a new life in Ibiza, and hasn’t been seen since.
But with mum Kat still very much in the Square, and playing central roles in the series 40th anniversary celebrations, it could be the perfect opportunity to return.
Here's where you may have seen Michelle Ryan since she left the BBC soap in 2005
She has also leant her voice to a string of podcast story series, including Lady Christina, The Eighth of March, and Doctor Who: Once and Future
GARDAI expect to make “significant progress” in their investigation into the fatal shooting of a young man in a gangland-related incident in Dublin last year, an inquest has heard.
Joshua Itseli, 20, was shot dead while sitting in a vehicle on Knocknarea Road in Drimnagh in the early hours of May 6, 2024.
Detective Inspector Tony Collins told a sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Tuesday that there was an ongoing investigation into Mr Itseli’s death which he claimed was “quite extensive.”
He told the coroner, Clare Keane, that he expected significant progress would be made in the investigation over the next six months.
Det Insp Collins applied for an adjournment of the inquest under Section 25 of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings are being considered in the case.
Asked by the coroner if he could provide any detail about the progress of the investigation, Det Insp Collins replied that there were “a number of lines of inquiry.”
However, he explained that he did not wish to elaborate on the matter due to the ongoing investigation and its sensitive nature.
The deceased’s mother, Mado Batondoko, also gave evidence of formally identifying her son’s body to gardai at the Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall two days after his death.
Dr Keane revealed that the results of a postmortem had confirmed that Mr Itseli had died as the result of a gunshot wound to the head.
The coroner granted the application for an adjournment of the inquest and fixed August 28 for the court to be updated on the progress of the investigation.
Following Mr Itseli’s death, it was reported that the deceased was part of a group travelling to carry out an attack on the home of rival drug dealers with a pipe bomb when they were ambushed.
However, gardaí are also trying to establish if Mr Itseli was accidentally shot by one of his associates or if he was set up by his own gang.
The deceased, who came from Blanchardstown, Dublin was travelling in a stolen vehicle which was rammed at around 12.15am before a semi-automatic AR-15 machine gun was fired up to 20 times.
The victim was known to gardáí as someone involved in the local drugs trade and was before the courts on drug-dealing charges.
He had been detained twice in the summer of 2023 for possession of crack cocaine with an estimated street value of over €30,000.
Three males who were arrested near the scene of the murder shortly after the deadly attack were questioned but later released without charge.
A firearm recovered by gardai as part of the investigation into Mr Itseli’s death as well as a number of cars seized were taken for forensic examination.
One of the three arrested who were wearing bulletproof vests, is the individual who gardaí regard as the main suspect for discharging the AR-15 weapon.
Media reports last August claimed this male had been the victim of a savage attack just weeks after he returned to Ireland from England where he had fled in the aftermath of Mr Itseli’s killing.
It is understood the suspect had become estranged from his former colleagues in a gang of young criminals in the area.
THE FAMILY of a mum and her two sons held captive by Hamas in Gaza are in “turmoil” as the terror group claimed they are dead and their bodies will be sent back to Israel.
Ariel Bibas, five, and his baby brother Kfir, two, were snatched with their mother Shiri, 33, during the terrorist group’s bloody rampage on October 7.
Their father Yarden, 35, was also taken after Hamas brutes smashed him over the head with a hammer.
Shiri’s despairing face as she was kidnapped clutching her two children became a symbol for the horror of Oct 7.
And meanwhile Kfir’s adorable smile gave hope as the whole world pleaded for their safe return.
But now Hamas appear to have confirmed the worst – saying the trio’s dead bodies will be released along with six living hostages on Thursday.
Israel have yet to confirm the identities of those to be released.
The Bibas family released a statement shortly after Hamas’ claim saying they are “in turmoil”.
“Until we receive definitive confirmation, our journey is not over,” the family said.
Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and the boys’ father, was freed earlier on February 1.
He spent 484 days in Gaza’s terror tunnels on his own, as he was quickly separated from his family.
Relatives had not had proof of life for months even for Shiri and the boys.
And they had been fearing the worst when the terror group claimed that she and the children had been killed in an Israeli air strike and all other child hostages were released.
But there was no proof that they were dead so the family clung to the slim hope that they were alive as they campaigned for their freedom.
That hope was extinguished with confirmation that the mother and boys – who had been on the list for release in the first six-week phase of the ceasefire – were dead.
The family sheltered inside their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas fiends rampaged through southern Israel on October 7.
They kept anxious relatives elsewhere in Israel updated by text message as gunmen stormed through neighbours’ homes.
At 9.43am accountant Yarden messaged his sister, occupational therapist Ofri Bibas Levy, 38, to say: “They’re coming in.”
She never heard from him again.
A short time later a horrific video emerged of Shiri looking utterly terrified and crying as she clung to her two sons while Hamas gunmen led them away from the family home.
Moments later Yarden was smashed over the head with a hammer and with blood streaming down his face was hauled to Gaza, also captured on camera and posted online.
On the one year anniversary of the massacre – when relatives were still praying for the family’s safe return – Ofri told The Sun: “The last year has been a nightmare.
“I could never imagine something like that would happen to me and my family.
“We live every day with a constant feeling of fear – and uncertainty.
“It’s the not knowing which is the worst – are they alive? Are they dead? Are they being tortured?
“Did they get to eat today, something to drink? When was the last time they even saw sunlight?”
After the terror group claimed that Shiri and the boys were dead, she said: “It was a real shock to hear that but after a few days we thought okay, they say that, but we don’t know for sure.
“And even if there is a 1% chance of that not being true, we decided as a family that we’re going to keep fighting and keep demanding and keep shouting for them.
“That keeps us able to still hope in some way.”
Photos from brighter times before October 7 show a typical, happy family, the young boys laughing and smiling as they play with each other and their parents.
In one cute snap, the parents and their sons cuddle up on a sofa all wearing Batman outfits.
Before they received the tragic news, Ofri said: “Ariel is a fully energetic boy who loves tractors and vehicles and superheroes and playing with any kind of water.
“His red head gets a lot of attention everywhere he goes. But he’s also very shy.
“Kfir was a sweet baby, very cuddly and he loved to be tickled. He was very cute.
“Yarden and Shiri are the most amazing parents.”
Heartbreakingly, two-year-old Kfir never celebrated a birthday outside of Gaza.
The family had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for months to strike a ceasefire deal which would see the hostages return home.
They were delighted when it was finally signed but had mixed emotions because they still had no idea if the family was alive.
Israel announced it will receive the bodies of four hostages from Hamas on 20 February.
They did not release their names but said the families had been informed.
Tragically for the Bibas family, it was later confirmed that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir were among the dead.
ON OCTOBER 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel, marking one of the darkest days in the nation’s history.
Terrorists stormed across the border from Gaza, killing over 1,200 people — most of them civilians — and kidnapping 250 others, including women, children, and the elderly.
The coordinated assault saw heavily armed fighters infiltrate Israeli towns, kibbutzim, and military bases, unleashing indiscriminate violence.
Innocent families were slaughtered in their homes, and graphic footage of the atrocities spread across social media, leaving the world in shock.
And as well as attacking people in their homes, they stormed the Nova music peace festival – killing at least 364 people there alone.
The massacre triggered a swift and massive retaliatory response from Israel, escalating into a full-scale war.
The attack not only reignited long-standing tensions in the region but also left deep scars on both sides of the conflict, setting the stage for the 15 months of devastation that followed.
