How did Meredith Vieira’s husband Richard Cohen die?
Huge car brand to rival Tesla with futuristic EVs dropping next year boasting automated-driving & ‘sporty styling’
TESLA is set to face some very stiff competition in 2026 – as Honda looks to drop two ultra-futuristic EVs that will rival their two biggest sellers.
The Japanese giants unveiled two wedge-looking motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week – called the 0 Saloon and 0 SUV.
Naturally, these could go up against the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y – the US car maker’s stylish saloon and crossover SUV respectively that have both become regulars on the road across the UK and beyond.
The two Honda designs, much like Tesla’s offerings, look almost identical although both remain in their prototype phase and will come into production by 2026.
The Saloon, which may just be a concept-style name for now, will be Honda’s flagship model of the 0 Series, which they highlight for its “low height and sporty styling” which sets the Saloon “apart from other EVs”.
The 0 Series cars, which will begin with the saloon and SUV as well as five other models worldwide by 2030, will be developed using a “Thin, Light and Wise” approach – which includes automated driving for the 0 Saloon.
This is said to allow the driver to take their eyes off the road and perform a ‘second task’ while they’re in heavy traffic or on motorways.
However, through over-the-air updates, Honda is looking to become the first automaker to enable eyes-off driving in all situations – with the help of AI, naturally.
Honda says the 0 SUV will be the first of their new 0 Series cars to be introduced in North America, before it goes on sale in Japan and Europe.
Described as a mid-size EV SUV, it boasts a blocky design and estate, or wagon-style, rear.
In terms of cabin features, the 0 Series will come with ‘3D gyro sensors’ to “enable dynamic control at the will of the driver on various road surfaces” – which could mean touchscreen controls, perhaps.
Mechanically, the 0 Series will come with a battery that is six per cent thinner than those on Honda’s current range of EVs, and around 100kg less in weight.
A range of 300 miles has been mentioned for the saloon, but there’s no word on the starting price, power, or charging speeds for either model.
Coming sooner is a micro EV that could seriously shake up the cheap electric car market.
The little-known Hong Kong brand XEV is introducing its compact Yoyo Pro to the UK, poised to compete with models such as the Citroen Ami.
Technically classed as a quadricycle – the same as other L7e vehicles such as buggies and quad-bikes – the Yoyo Pro is all electric with a stonking 50 mph top speed and a range of 93 miles.
Created in Italy and made of just 57 components, the Yoyo Pro makes extensive use of 3D-printing for its bodywork and cabin.
Autoexpress claims its price will sit around the £15k mark, which pits it against the Dacia Spring – the cheapest EV in the UK at £14,995.
Elsewhere, the best-selling cars in the UK of 2024 have been revealed – with the aforementioned Tesla Model Y breaking into the top five.
Indeed, it is the only EV to feature in last year’s top 10, with the model’s fresh battery seemingly helping it overcome its sharp slump in sales.
However, it was Ford who came out on top, with the popular manufacturer’s Puma snapped up more than any other model for the second year running.
Harvard-educated Elon Musk biographer says billionaire is going mad: ‘I legitimately believe…’
A Harvard-educated lawyer expressed concern about Elon Musk’s mental health. In a post shared on X, Seth Abramson identified himself ...
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Air Force vs San Diego State prediction, odds, pick for College Basketball
It’s time to continue our College Basketball odds series with an Air Force-San Diego State prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Air Force-San Diego State. The conference schedule in college basketball on Wednesday night includes this Mountain West matchup in San Diego. The San Diego State Aztecs have to think they have restored […]
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Mike McDaniel reveals harsher punishments needed for tardy Dolphins players
The Miami Dolphins were one of several teams that had a disappointing 2024 NFL season. Miami finished the regular season with a record of 8-9 and barely missed making the playoffs. The Dolphins dealt with a ton of adversity, including a scary concussion suffered by QB Tua Tagovailoa that caused him to miss multiple weeks. […]
The post Mike McDaniel reveals harsher punishments needed for tardy Dolphins players appeared first on ClutchPoints.
‘Bloody nippy’ cries Scots TV presenter as she strips down to bikini for brave cold water plunge
DANNI Menzies stripped down to a bikini as she braved the icy cold water at a Scottish loch.
The former A Place in the Sun star, 36, took to Instagram to share an update with her 134,000 followers.
The bubbly blonde filmed herself taking a dip in the water – despite plunging temperatures.
In a clip shared with fans, Danni said: “It was -12C here last night so this is going to be interesting.”
The telly presenter can be seen removing a white bathrobe before she enters the freezing water.
Danni shows off her stunning figure in a tiny red bikini paired with a black beanie and sunglasses.
She later remarked: “That was bloody nippy!
“I had no idea what the water temperature was but I can tell you two minutes was plenty.
“Scotland delivering with the weather today.”
The country was blanketed with snow overnight as Scots remains in the grip of a polar plunge.
Danni’s followers flocked to the comments to react to her brave stunt.
One wrote: “You’re mental.”
Another said: “Very, very brave Danni.”
A third weighed in: “Seriously impressed.”
A fourth commented: “You are a soldier, didn’t even flinch.”
A fifth put: “At one with nature.”
Her festive fun comes after she opened up about freezing her eggs as she shared a major update about her fertility journey.
She posted a video following an appointment with a fertility clinic as she vowed to answer questions from her fans about the process.
In the clip, Danni from Kenmore, Perthshire, said: “Always a funny one sharing such personal things on social media, however I also think it’s important to do so.
“There’s a lot of stigma around starting later and freezing your eggs and I don’t think it’s something we should shy away from!
“So I’ll be giving little updates on this over the next few months while I prepare and do one round of egg freezing.
“If you’ve got any questions about it please do drop me or comment or DM and I’ll do my best to share anything that might be useful for you along the way.”
EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy lands another job away from BBC soap as she joins Traitors star in hit comedy
EASTENDERS icon Natalie Cassidy has landed a role that will see her away from Albert Square.
The actress, who first starred in BBC soap from 1993, has joined the second series of BBC drama Boarders, alongside Traitors US presenter Alan Cumming.
The series focuses on five talented black inner-city teens who gain scholarships to the prestigious St. Gilbert’s boarding school.
The second series, which will air later this year, sees Traitors star Alan as Alan, a man with high standards of the students at St. Gilbert’s whilst Alan is Sharon Hail, a teacher at a rival school.
Whilst Natalie hasn’t spoken out about her role in Boarders, Alan told Deadline: “I’ve always said that letting people know you are a fan of theirs is a good idea.
“And, so it was with Boarders. I mentioned this to the producers — who also happen to produce The Traitors — and very soon after, I found myself on the set having such a fun time.”
Last year Natalie hinted at Sonia exiting the BBC soap after her on-screen character was charged with murdering Debbie (Jenny Meier).
In August BBC viewers watched as she was arrested in the Queen Vic for the murder, whilst pleading her innocence.
Last month, it was reported Natalie would leave the BBC soap for a short spell to film a new project for Channel 4.
She is fronting a four-part series titled What’s The Big Deal?, focusing on current trending consumer products.
A source said of her hiatus: “Natalie will be taking a short break, just like many of her co-stars do when they have another project
“Bosses always try to let stars spread their wings and if they can make it work with the often punish-ing soap schedule, then they’ll do it.
“Natalie’s really excited to tackle the project for Channel 4. This is another string to her bow.”
Sonia Fowler’s biggest EastEnders storylines
Sonia Fowler has featured in EastEnders since 1993, and after starring in thousands of episodes, has been featured in storylines ranging from teenage pregnancy to a cancer scare. Here are some of her biggest.
- Teen Pregnancy and Birth of Chloe Jackson (1999-2000)
Sonia discovered she was pregnant at the age of 15. Viewers were shocked by the sudden birth, as the teen went into labour without even realising she was pregnant. Martin Fowler turned out to be Chloe’s father. Sonia initially decided to give the girl up for adoption. - Death of her boyfriend (2002)
Sonia’s boyfriend, Jamie Mitchell, was hit by a car driven by her baby’s father. Jamie had just bought an engagement ring for his girlfriend before being struck down by the thoughtless Martin, who was texting while driving. Although the Jamie was rushed to hospital, docs said his liver was irreparably damaged, and he ended up dying with Sonia by his side. - Marriage to Martin Fowler and Family Tensions (2004-2007)
In a shock twist Sonia went on to marry the man responsible for her previous boyfriend’s death. Their relationship was marred by conflicts and infidelity, and they went on to split up after just three years. At one point in their marriage Sonia was taken hostage by Sarah Cairns, who became obsessed with Martin after he flirted with her during a drunken night out. The couple went through struggles again when the adoptive parents of their daughter were killed in a car crash, leaving them responsible for Rebecca. Because of the tension in their relationship Sonia ended up cheating on her husband with one of her co-workers, nurse Naomi Julien. - Custody Battle for Rebecca (2005-2007)
Baby Chloe, who was renamed Rebecca, was kidnapped by her mum early in life before being returned to her adoptive parents. After Neil and Sue Miller died they awarded Martin full custody of the child because of Sonia’s extra-marital affair. The mum was left distraught to be cut out of her daughter’s life. - Gastric Band Surgery and Weight Struggles (2014-2015)
Sonia became insecure about her weight and arranged to have a secret gastric band surgery in Bulgaria. She later collapsed at an exercise class after suffering complications from the operation. - Discovery of Bex’s Suicide Attempt (2019)
Sonia’s daughter Rebecca tried to take her own life in a heartbreaking storyline which left viewers in tears. She found Bex unconscious after taking an overdose, and was devastated. Sonia blamed herself for pushing her daughter to breaking point, as she had tried to force her into going to Oxford despite Bex saying she didn’t feel ready for university.
Delivery chaos as Lush shoppers left waiting weeks for deliveries
SHOPPERS have been left fuming after waiting up to two weeks for orders from Lush amid delivery delays.
Customers are still awaiting their parcels after placing orders during the retailer’s popular post-Christmas sale.
The cosmetics giant is famed for its annual Boxing Day sale and customers were quick to bag 50% of its bestsellers.
But furious shoppers have been left empty handed with thousands understood to be affected by the issue.
Angry shoppers have resorted to complaining to the retailer on social media.
One customer said on Facebook: “I’ve placed an order twice on Boxing Day and once on December 30 but nothing has arrived yet and their customer service has been pretty useless.”
Another said: “Mine was ordered on Boxing Day and I’ve still got nothing.”
A third said: “I ordered on Boxing Day and no order number has since been given but money has been taken and I’ve got no response to my emails.”
Another angry shopper said on X (formerly Twitter): “Can you please ship my package.
“It has been like 10 days since i ordered! I can’t do this anymore!”
Lush confirmed to The Sun that it’s battling a backlog of orders due to a surge in demand and delivery delays due to bad weather.
A spokesperson said: “In the same way as all Lush products are handmade, all Lush orders are also hand picked, packed, and dispatched by people.
“An incredibly busy festive and sale period, coupled with distribution networks already in disarray due to adverse weather conditions before and after Christmas, has left our dedicated teams with a backlog but they are working around the clock to fulfil all the orders as quickly as humanly possible.
“We are grateful for the patience of our customers at this incredibly busy time.”
Lush confirmed that all outstanding orders will still be delivered, though it is unable to provide a specific time frame or say when delivery times will return to normal.
This is not the first time Lush has come under fire for its handling of its annual Boxing Day sale.
Last year, The Sun revealed how a website crash caused payments to be taken for orders that could not be fulfilled.
In response to thousands of complaints, Lush temporarily shut down its online chat and closed its customer service helpline.
The cosmetics chain ended up refunding thousands of affected customers and issued goodwill gift vouchers as an apology.
SAVE WHEN SHOPPING AT LUSH
THERE are several ways in which shoppers can save money when shopping at Lush:
- Lush app reward: Download the Lush app and log in to receive a exclusive and early access to a host of new products.
- Free standard Delivery: Spend over £50 online to qualify for free standard delivery.
- Lush delivery pass: Purchase a Lush Delivery Pass for £15 to receive 12 months of unlimited standard delivery with no minimum spend. Consider the environmental impact before opting for frequent deliveries.
- Bring it back scheme: Return five clean, empty Lush black pots to any Lush store in exchange for a free fresh face mask.
- Post-Christmas sale: Watch out for Lush’s annual post-Christmas sale for significant discounts.
- Freshness sale: Check for Lush’s Freshness Sale, which offers discounts on select items, including seasonal or discontinued products.
- Buy naked products: Opt for naked (packaging-free) products like shampoo bars, which can be more economical in the long run compared to their packaged equivalents.
- Sign up for the email list: Subscribe to Lush’s email list to stay informed about potential sales, new products, and other promotions.
What are my rights?
There are several ways to reclaim your money if your item is not delivered.
Claim against the retailer
If your parcel does not arrive by the date agreed, you can make a claim against the retailer.
And if you didn’t select a particular delivery date or window at checkout, you are entitled to a refund if the item doesn’t show up within 30 days.
When buying online, if there isn’t an option to select a specific delivery date, try to add a note stating “time is of the essence” and that you need it by a specific date.
Follow this up with an email asking the company to commit to this timeframe.
It will give you extra refund rights if something goes wrong.
Cancel and buy again
With anything you buy online or over the phone – apart from items that have been personalised such as with your initials – you have the right to a refund within a 14-day window.
This cooling-off period applies even if there is nothing wrong with your purchase. The clock starts the day after you receive delivery.
The only other exception is for electronic items where the seal on the box has been broken.
But when refunding you for the item, companies only need to reimburse the cost of the cheapest delivery option.
So if you paid for a premium “next day” or “named day” service, you may not get all of your money back.
Seek damages
If your purchase is damaged when it arrives, it is the retailer’s responsibility to then refund you.
Sometimes if you or the courier are in a rush, you might not have time to properly remove the item from its packaging and inspect it before signing.
Most of the time you are just signing to accept delivery rather than confirm the condition of your purchase – but to cover yourself, add “not examined” when you sign.
Pay by credit card
Using a credit card gives you an extra layer of protection under the Consumer Rights Act.
Section 75 protection can help claw back your cash in the event that something you buy arrives faulty or undelivered.
A lesser-known protection offered to those who make purchases with a debit card could also help in these circumstances.
Chargeback lets you ask your bank to reverse a payment if there is an issue, like not getting what you paid for.
We’ve previously explained how to reclaim your cash using these methods.
Deadline for booking cheap Easter and summer breaks revealed and it’s very soon
TO get the holiday rental you want, Vrbo have all the deadlines you need to avoid being disappointed.
If the January blues are hitting hard and you want an amazing holiday to look forward to, you better book it now.
Vrbo, the online marketplace for vacation rentals, have given their deadlines by which holidaymakers should book their getaways, and it’s sooner than you think.
With January slipping away already, Vrbo recommends booking a trip for Easter in the next few weeks with the latest date being March 3.
If you decide to look for a deal by late January, over half of homes should still be up for grabs for the Easter break.
Booking after March 3 means that less than 30 per cent of homes on Vrbo are expected to be available for over the Easter break.
So not only will you have less choice, but you can expect more expensive options too.
For those of you hoping to have a sun-soaked trip abroad this year, there’s good and bad news.
The good news is there’s still time to find the perfect holiday, the bad news is that the deadline is shorter than if you’re planning a staycation.
Vrbo has identified mid-February as the best time to book summer trips when 50 per cent of properties are still expected to be available on the site.
Don’t hang around though because by late April, more than 70 per cent of summer homes will have been snapped up in the most popular holiday locations.
Melanie Fish, a spokesperson for Vrbo says: “It’s a mistake to treat holiday homes like hotels.
“With space for only one group at a time, there’s more competition to book homes, especially those with standout amenities in top locations.
“When you find that dream house – beachfront, game room, bunk beds, and a pool steps from the ocean – don’t wait.
“A week or two can make the difference between being just steps from the beach or on the other side of town.”
On the Vrbo website, Faro in Portugal, and the Balearics and Las Palmas in Spain prove to be most popular. So to have the most choice of properties, it’s a good idea to book in January.
If you’re planning to stay in the UK this summer, the pressure is still on as properties in the likes of Cornwall, Devon and Cumbria are likely to be snapped up by March 24.
Norfolk is delayed until April 7 and North Yorkshire until May 5.
Vrbo have also offered up some very handy holiday home booking tips – the first being to book an October trip to save cash.
Everyone knows summer holidays are the high season so October is the best time to go away.
During that month, average daily rates are the lowest, such as Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Gloucestershire.
Or take a trip over to Florida in cities like Lakeland and Winter Haven as the weather remains mild.
On the Vrbo website, there’s a way to score discounts for longer stays as well.
Find homes with the “Monthly discount” and “Weekly discount” filters to save an average of 10 per cent on selected weeklong bookings.
Trying out properties under the “New listing discount” filter means you’ll be among the first three guests at a new property and save 20 per cent. (Price excluding taxes and fees).
Meet Randal Kolo Muani, the Tottenham and Man Utd target who’ll forever be haunted by the goal he DIDN’T score
EVEN Randal Kolo Muani admits that his World Cup final miss will haunt him forever.
But a move to the Premier League could be a big step in burying that memory and reigniting his career after he was frozen out at Paris Saint-Germain.
Tottenham are leading the chase for the France international, 26, with Manchester United also in the hunt.
And they hope RKM can reproduce the form that made him a star at Eintracht Frankfurt, rather than the moment that he is best remembered for outside Germany.
It was 3-3 in stoppage time at the end of extra-time in the most incredible World Cup final of all time when Kolo Muani had the chance to win it for France.
As he bore down on Argentina’s goal, he had captain Kylian Mbappe to his left, ready to become the first player to score four times in the biggest game in international football.
But Kolo Muani went for goal himself and Emi Martinez kept the ball out with the left leg, earning his team a penalty shootout which they won to clinch the trophy for the third time.
RKM said: “I could have lobbed him, I could have given the ball to Kylian, but in the moment, I didn’t see him.
“After when you see the video, you see that there were other options, but it’s too late, you cannot do anything. It still sticks it in my throat and it’ll be there for life.”
To be fair to Kolo Muani, he didn’t seem to allow the disappointment to affect the rest of his breakout season for Eintracht.
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Having been signed on a free transfer from French club Nantes in the summer of 2022, he returned from Qatar and picked up where he had left off.
Kolo Muani racked up 10 more goals and three more assists in the Bundesliga and fired Eintracht to the German cup final, ending the campaign with 23 goals and 17 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions.
Erik Peters, who covers Eintracht for leading German media outlet Bild, said: “Kolo Muani had an incredible season.
“From his very first game, when he came on as a substitute and scored against Bayern Munich, he looked special.
“He was so quick, with his long legs, and had great skills.”.
One of Kolo Muani’s standout moments is a painful memory for one of the managers who could soon be in charge of him.
Ruben Amorim was boss of Sporting Lisbon when Eintracht came to Portugal in December for a winner-takes-all clash in the final round of Champions League group games.
And it was Kolo Muani who grabbed the winner as the German side came from behind to win 2-1, thus clinching a place in the last 16 and sending Sporting into the Europa League.
You can make a good argument that Kolo Muani would be better suited to Amorim’s system of play at United than Ange Postecoglou’s set-up at Spurs.
At Eintracht, he was mainly used as the front man in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
And if Postecoglou sees the Frenchman more as an option out wide, he will be making a mistake – according to Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
The Palace head coach left Eintracht at the end of 2022-23.
Shortly after Kolo Muani made his own move to PSG, Glasner still gave him a glowing reference – but warned he would be wasted if played on the wing.
Glasner said: “For me, he isn’t a wide player.
“I needed to see a Kolo Muani who scored goals, and out wide, he made lots of assists, but he scored very little.
“So he needed to be in the middle.
“Kolo Muani was also our No9, but he had a lot of freedom. I couldn’t ask for him to wait in the box for the ball to come. He needed to find spaces in the defence.”
BITTER FAREWELL
But the happy memories that Eintracht fans have of Kolo Muani were overshadowed by the manner of his departure to PSG.
To some, it was understandable that the Frenchman wanted to play for one of the biggest clubs in Europe in the city of birth – he, Arsenal’s William Saliba and Mbappe are all from the French capital’s north-east suburbs.
But the way he forced the move left a bad taste in the mouth.
After returning from the World Cup, Kolo Muani had changed his agent and teamed up with Moussa Sissoko, whose client roster included Ousmane Dembele.
Back in 2017, Dembele went on strike at Borussia Dortmund before moving to Barcelona.
Kolo Muani did the same when PSG, having already signed Dembele, stepped up their efforts to sign him as well.
The transfer went right to the wire on deadline day in September 2023, but in the end Eintracht were able to squeeze 95m Euros (nearly £80m) out of PSG.
It was an incredible fee but little compensation at the time for the Eintracht fans, who branded Kolo Muani greedy.
‘Cash doesn’t change character, it just makes it visible’
At the first game after his rancorous exit, they displayed a banner that read: Kohle Muani (Kohle is German for money) – cash doesn’t change character, it just makes it visible.”
Some still feel that Kolo Muani is a decent bloke who was just badly advised.
But it’s fair to say that there is plenty of schadenfreude in Frankfurt that things have not worked out for him at PSG.
Boss Luis Enrique repeatedly defended Kolo Muani as he struggled to gel with Mbappe and Dembele, despite them being established as France’s front three.
But with RKM being shifted out wide at times and amid rumours of a row with Mbappe, the big-money signing’s form flatlined, with the last of his six Ligue 1 goals in 2023-24 coming on February 10.
NOT A ONE-HIT WONDER
Enrique seems to have given up on Kolo Muani this season, giving him just two starts in the league before leaving him out of the squad completely and making him available for transfer.
Anyone who takes him will want to see the frontman who scored three times as France topped their Nations League A group – and who looked like one of the hottest talents in the world in 2022-23.
Peters said: “In Frankfurt, they know that the price they got for Muani was inflated because PSG wanted him so badly.
“But they don’t think he is a one-hit wonder.
“The Premier League, with the pace of the game and the importance of transitions, could be the perfect place for him.”
But even if Kolo Muani ends up scoring past Villa goalkeeper Martinez, it won’t make up for that World Cup final moment.
