While Patrick Mahomes III dominated headlines leading up to Super Bowl LIX, his father, Patrick Mahomes Sr., made waves of his own after a Bourbon Street altercation with fiery former MLB pitcher John Rocker. Mahomes Sr., who played for six teams during his decade-long MLB career from 1992 to 2003, gained viral attention after his […]
The post The alleged reason the Patrick Mahomes Sr. vs. John Rocker fight is off appeared first on ClutchPoints.
SCOTTISH politics is the centre of the world for many people, including a lot of the 1,700 or so folk who turned up at Glasgow’s SEC venue this weekend.
Sir Keir Starmer was there yesterday, closing a Scottish Labour conference where bigwigs were frankly in a bit of a daze after the ups — and now the downs — of the past year.
But as important as Scots leader Anas Sarwar’s plight may be — he has a Holyrood election to fight next year — the PM has bigger fish to fry than dealing with the woes of the Scotland wing of his party.
Quite apart from the UK economic turmoil, recent events and Donald Trump’s wild attacks on Volodymyr Zelensky have threatened to upend world order and security.
A big section of Starmer’s speech focused on Ukraine, ahead of a big week for the PM. He flies to Europe and to Washington this week for talks on Russia, including with Trump.
Frankly, he could have done without a trip to a rainy Clydeside to read out some words written for him on quite a few subjects he has little intricate knowledge of.
That was evident in the press “huddle” after the speech — an off-camera quizzing by reporters — where Mr Sarwar stood dutifully by Starmer, ready to jump in if questions got heavy on Scots details.
That happened twice, on Grangemouth and polling.
People still want change, they no longer think that guy who appeared on stage yesterday is the man to deliver it
Chris Musson
On public opinion, Starmer insisted that he didn’t get up every day and “rummage” through polls. A nice line, but it’s only true because he has someone to do that for him.
And looking at public opinion — and what the PM has on his plate — now seems to be a mutually convenient point in time for Scottish Labour and Keir to take a break from each other.
According to YouGov, his popularity rating — the balance between those with a positive and negative view — has gone from -14 in August to -40 now.
A poll out yesterday asked people if the actions of Starmer or Sarwar had more influence on them when considering how they’d vote in the 2026 election. More than twice as many said Starmer.
Conference fringe discussions were peppered with questions to Labour panellists about how to counter this Starmer drag.
Because a year ago, he was an asset to his party in Scotland, and received a rapturous response at the Scottish Labour gathering.
Twelve months later, he was in the same venue, on the same stage, saying many of the same things. But the hall wasn’t even nearly full.
The applause may have been warm, but many Scottish Labour figures are only too aware that the asset has become a liability — a danger to their hopes — in the eyes of many who voted for them last July.
It’s hard to believe it’s only been seven months, given how much bad news the new UK Government has managed to squeeze in.
Starmer was the future just seven months ago, but he already looks like yesterday’s man
Chris Musson
Winter fuel payments, increasing employer’s National Insurance after pledging no tax hikes, refusing to honour promises to compensate Waspi pensioner women.
Inflation is up, GB Energy has been created and, despite the PM tying it directly to cutting energy prices, the company’s chair had said that’s not its job.
Starmer pointed to some of his popular policies yesterday, such as the increase in the national living wage, or boosting workers’ rights.
But they’ve been drowned out amid the noise. And the big problem is that big promise: Change.
There was the small print during the election campaign, of course. It would take time. Things would get worse before they would get better. But who reads the small print?
Above all, Labour underestimated people’s impatience Having seen what they think is the same old story, they have drifted to Reform UK or back to the SNP.
Sarwar and Scottish Labour may have flattered themselves into thinking they made a significant difference at the General Election and weren’t just hanging on the coattails of the UK party.
But greater forces are at play, notably the story unfolding at Westminster.
There is, however, a captivating story to be told about Scotland, and about the SNP’s failures after nearly 18 years in government — 19 by the time of next year’s election.
Scottish Labour needs to turn the focus to that. Indeed, Starmer made a start yesterday, as did Sarwar in his speech on Friday.
The SNP want the 2026 election to be as a verdict on Starmer.
Scottish Labour needs to turn the focus back to the SNP.
EVER wondered what politicians are saying to each other in those odd moments when they’re lapping up applause?
Well, wonder no more. Because after Scottish Secretary Ian Murray’s conference speech, someone left the mics on.
Murray had told the audience he was tired and at risk of nodding off, with his second child born last month.
Anas Sarwar joined Murray for the applause, and here’s what we picked up . . .
Sawar told him: “Well done.”
Murray said: “I didn’t fall asleep, I’m still awake.”
Gesturing to the speech printout being clasped by Murray, Sarwar said: “Put that down there, there we go.”
Murray then rubbed his belly and joked to a photographer: “Should I put my belly in?”
An alarmed Sarwar told him: “Are you going to wave at your ministers? There we go.”
People still want change, they no longer think that guy who appeared on stage yesterday is the man to deliver it.
The good news for Scottish Labour is that, as the last year has shown, voters can change their minds very quickly.
There’s still the chance of a bright tomorrow for Sarwar, but he has to grasp it.
Starmer was the future just seven months ago, but he already looks like yesterday’s man.
Over the next year at least, Starmer will be judged on his first year as much as anything else. That period is also crucial to Scottish Labour.
So he should go off and fry those bigger fish. Perhaps he’ll come back stronger.
For now, he and his Scottish party are better off apart.
Register now for our free weekly politics newsletter for an insightful and irreverent look at the (sometimes excruciating) world of Scottish Politics.
Every Thursday our hotshot politics team goes behind the headlines to bring you a rundown of key events – plus insights and gossip from the corridors of power, including a ‘Plonker’ and ‘Star’ of the Week.
Sign up now and make sure you don’t miss a beat. The politicians would hate that.
HAVING your thermostat in the wrong place could be needlessly driving up your energy bills by hundreds of pounds.
The average household on the Ofgem price cap is forking out £1,738 a year on gas and electric, and prices are predicted to go up in April.
Should the price cap rise again this Spring, it will mean houses have been hit with three consecutive hikes since last October.
Luckily, there are ways you can drive down costs now, starting with putting your thermostat in the right place.
Thermostats work by detecting the warmth of a room, switching on when the temperature drops below a certain amount.
But have yours in the wrong room or part of your property and it will get an inaccurate reading and could turn on when you don’t need it to.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “Deciding where to place your thermostat is important because it can affect how well your heating works.
“Placing it in a room that is colder than the rest of the house, such as a hallway, is a bad idea as it will turn on and off at the wrong times.
“For example, if you open the front door and let in cold air, then the thermostat may tell your heating system to send out more heat as it thinks the whole house is below your desired temperature.”
It’s not just your hallway you’ll want to avoid having your thermostat in – avoid warm spots at all costs too so you can keep toasty.
Ben added: “Having a thermostat near to a radiator, window or in direct sunlight will also skew the readings.
“These spots are warmer, so the thermostat may switch off before the whole space has been heated to the target temperature.”
Where should you actually put it though? The room that you use the most, most likely your living room, Ben explained.
“This is where it’s easiest to control the temperature, and in an area of good airflow.”
It’s not just the location of the thermostat that’s key if you want to lower your energy bills either.
Having it at the right temperature could save you an extra couple of hundreds of pounds.
Ben explained: “The Energy Saving Trust recommends heating your home to between 18 to 21 degrees Celsius during winter.
“Turning down your thermostat by just one degree can reduce your energy bill by up to 10%.”
Turning down the flow temperature of your boiler could save you around £325 a year.
Ian Palmer-Smith, supplier and heating service director at Domestic & General, told The Sun many combi boilers come with this temperature set wrong.
The boiler heating flow temperature should be about 70 degrees and the water side flow temperature roughly 60.
Dial them down in seconds and watch your energy bills drop.
Putting furniture like sofas in front of radiators will drive up your energy bills too.
Instead, make sure any upholstery is a few centimetres away so any hot air can flow freely throughout the room.
You could try using reflective foil on your radiators too.
These sheets reflects heat back into the room and limit the amount that can escape outside.
Around 26million households on Ofgem‘s price cap have seen their energy bills rise in recent months.
The price cap, which changes every three months, affects those on standard variable tariffs (SVTs) but not if you’re on a fixed deal.
The current cap means the average household on a dual-fuel tariff is paying £1,738 a year for their gas and electricity.
You may be paying more or less than this based on your usage as the cap just sets a limit on what energy suppliers can charge per unit of gas and electricity.
Cornwall Insight, which is usually accurate in its predictions, has forecast the price cap to go up to £1,823 a year from April.
Dr Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, said it is predicting the cap to rise due to the cost of wholesale gas in Europe spiking.
Ofgem will officially announce the price cap for April to June by February 25.
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.
IT has been a difficult year so far for retail and that trend is set to continue as more shops will shut their doors in March.
Shoppers have watched as many of their favourite chains have abandoned the high street in recent years.
With changes to employment costs set to come into force in April it seems unlikely that this year will be any different.
Several major retailers have warned that the increase to employer National Insurance rates and minimum wage will force them to put up prices and abandon plans for expansion.
The British Retail Consortium has estimated that the Treasury’s hike in employer National Insurance Contributions from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
The increases come at a time when the high street is already struggling.
Major shops have recorded months of reduced footfall and have seen less money land in their tills due to the cost of living crisis.
As costs have risen customers have been forced to cut back their retail spending.
Meanwhile, increases in rent and bills have forced several chains to restructure and close locations.
This year has already seen some high profile names including Monki and The Entertainer close stores.
Other retailers may shut shops as they have a similar store nearby that is performing better or they may want to move to a location where they will have a higher footfall.
Here are all the shops we know are closing stores in March 2025.
Trespass will close its store at Highcross shopping centre, Leicester, for good on March 31.
It is not known why the shop is shutting.
The store has launched a closing-down sale with items on offer for up to 60% off.
The news comes just weeks after Trespass announced its branch at the Hillstree Shopping Centre, Middlesbrough, would shut.
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
Yellow and black signs which read “everything must go” have been posted on the store’s windows.
The Middlesborough store was opened less than two years ago.
The outdoor clothing specialist, which has 300 stores, announced it would axe six sites from its estate in July 2023.
The closure of branches in Norwich and Sutton Coldfield followed.
Fashion chain New Look will close several of its stores this month as it significantly reduces its store footprint.
The popular fashion chain will close its branch at the Team Valley Retail World in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, on March 9.
Its St Austell store in Cornwall will close on March 4.
The chain has already shut stores in the Carillon Court Shopping Centre in Loughborough, Essex, and Porth in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The news comes after reports emerged that the fashion retailer is accelerating plans to close nearly 100 stores, following challenges linked to the tax changes announced in the Autumn Budget.
Approximately a quarter of the retailer’s 364 stores are at risk when their leases expire.
This is equal to about 91 stores, which will have a significant impact on its 8,000 strong workforce.
New Look has also announced that it is winding up its business in the Republic of Ireland.
The fashion chain has 26 stores in the republic and employs 347 people, of whom 32 are full-time.
WHSmith is set to close a store in Accrington, Lancashire on March 15.
The popular store is set to shut due to its lease expiring.
WHSmith has already shut stores in Bolton, Bournemouth and Boscombe in recent weeks.
The company said it was disappointed to be pulling out of Bolton town centre.
The popular store shut due to redevelopment plans, according to bosses.
The stationery chain has also earmarked shops in Essex, West Midlands, Norfolk, Newport and Suffolk for closure next month.
WHSmith is actively seeking to offload its high street estate in order to focus on its fast-growing travel business of shops in airports and train stations.
It has over 1,100 stores across the UK, including over 520 high street shops.
It is working with advisers at Greenhill Investment Boutique.
It is hoped that a deal can be reached within three months, according to sources.
Investors have not wanted WHSmith to spend any more money on its high street arm, which has no real growth prospects.
Disability charity Scope is considering shuttering 77 of its 138 shops.
Last month the charity’s bosses said the difficult decision is being considered in light of declining footfall on high streets and spiralling costs.
Chief executive Mark Hodgkinson said: “Despite our teams’ best efforts our shops are collectively now losing money when taking account of all of their costs. A number make strong profits but there are loss making shops too.
“We will be putting forward proposals to close some of our shops, in stages, over the next 18 months.”
Under the proposal the first 41 shops could close by March 31.
A further 31 shops would close between April 1 and March 31, 2026.
The final phase of five more shops would close when leases came up for renewal or when there is a break.
Select Fashion has begun to close a dozen stores, with the majority of shops impacted in the North East of England.
The 12 stores are set to close in February and March in the following locations:
It has already shuttered branches in Wolverhampton and Kidderminster in January.
The British fashion brand – which has 105 stores – fell into administration in 2019.
At the time, the retailer blamed tough high street conditions and was later bought out of administration by Genus UK Limited.
But it entered into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) last summer.
A CVA is a way for a company to restructure by negotiating its debts, such as cutting rent costs with landlords.
It is a common way for struggling businesses to try and stay afloat.
Chains including Caffe Nero and The Body Shop have previously entered into one.
Bakery chain Greggs is set to pull down the shutters of one of its Cambridge stores for the last time on March 31.
The shop is set to shut as part of the Greggs estate strategy, which will see the chain open more stores this year.
It already has over 2,500 shops across the UK including 500 with franchise partners such as petrol stations.
Staff at the Cambridgeshire shop will be relocated to nearby branches where possible.
The nearest shop is located in Station Square.
The Cambridge store is not the first Greggs shop to shut this year.
A Greggs store in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, closed for good on January 18.
The branch reportedly closed due to a dispute over rent, according to the Bucks Free Press.
Meanwhile, a Greggs shop on Foleshill Road, Coventry, shut forever on January 4.
Dobbies garden centre has confirmed a second wave of closures across the UK.
The news comes after the gardening specialist closed 16 stores as part of a restructuring plan late last year.
Locations impacted in this round of closures include stores in Havant, Aylesbury and Northampton.
At least three more sites are now set to close over the coming months.
Its branch in Northampton will be taken over by British Garden Centres, a family-run business.
Action is expected to be completed by March.
Closure dates for the Northampton and Aylesbury stores have not yet been confirmed.
The news comes after a restructuring plan was given the go ahead by the courts in December last year.
The retailer shut a total of ten larger sites as part of the plans, with two stores confirmed to be taken over by other gardening chains.
At its peak Dobbies was the biggest garden centre operator in the UK and had up to 77 stores.
Craigdon Mountain Sports will shutter its branch in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire at the end of March.
The outdoor shop sells footwear, snow gear, bags and accessories.
The reason for the closure is not yet known.
The independent company, which also has stores in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, has launched a huge closing down sale as it attempts to shift its remaining stock.
The business said “many” of the Inverurie store staff will be transferred to its Aberdeen site and its website remains operational.
SUSANNA Reid was forced to issue a stark apology after a war reporter swore live on Good Morning Britain.
Just over an hour into Monday’s ITV daytime series – which saw the anchor return to screen after a half-term break – she called out the “offensive gesture.”
It came as Susanna, 54, was speaking to journalist John Sweeney.
He was being interviewed from a live video link to Kyiv, wearing his infamous “lucky” orange beanie hat, after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky told how he would resign if it would foster a peace deal amid the country’s war with Russia.
His remark came as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s Russia held peace talks without Kyiv at the table.
Zelensky’s remarks and vow – which he made in return for a guarantee of Nato membership – came after Trump branded him a “dictator” for not holding an election during the war.
On GMB today, reporter John discussed the weekend updates – which also saw Putin blitz Ukraine with 267 drones in the biggest-ever bombardment on the eve of the war’s third anniversary.
A separate screen then panned to injured Ukrainian soldiers in a clinic, who were seen trying out new prosthetic limbs in a rehab session after being injured in the conflict.
Susanna’s co-host Richard Madeley then asked him “how shocked” the people of Ukraine were about Trump’s change in attitude towards the country.
John blasted the POTUS’ remarks as “disgusting” and continued to talk about the “titanium clinic” – which fits soldiers with bionic limbs – for recovery.
He continued: “There’s a bloke there that has lost both arms and one leg and so he’s got two plastic hands.
“And I said what do you think about Trump?” before he said: “I don’t want to swear.”
He added: “The Ukrainians have done some technology that the muscles in the stump in his arm can now control this thing [the hand.]
“And it’s slow and he’s learning, but he said ‘wait wait wait’ and he gave Putin the finger.
“And it made me cry.”
Susanna said: “Oh,” before gaining composure and said: “I understand it made you feel personally the power of that.
Current presenters:
Former presenters:
“We do have to apologise for that gesture on breakfast TV.
“It is still considered a highly offensive gesture John, and of course there are children watching.”
John then replied: “I am very sorry Susanna.
“I am an old war reporter – and sometimes I forget where I am.”
Richard then added: “Well, you’ve apologised now,” as they continued to chat.
John told how former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had just arrived – as the camera swirled around to capture the ex Tory MP.
He then told how he would try to get an interview with him before GMB wrapped for the day.
Those watching at home were left divided at Susanna’s scolding.
One took to X to muse: “Did I miss an unfortunate hand gesture?”
A second put: “Prim & proper Susanna Reid tells off John Sweeney over a Ukrainian soldier who had lost multiple limbs in the war for using his prosthetic hand to make a ‘finger gesture’.”
A third commented: “Show men with arms and legs blown off and describe that in detail, show the devastation caused by war but DO NOT under any circumstances , show the bird, there are children watching. They can handle people being blown up but no hurty hand signs.”
Another wrote: “@johnsweeneyroar giving the finger on #GMB
Brilliant, John.”
Another posted: “Absolutely hysterical and totally warranted.”
MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly getting “weekly” updates on Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres’ availability.
The Red Devils are hoping to bring a new frontman to Old Trafford in the summer, which is expected to bring about the permanent departure of Marcus Rashford.
United are long-term admirers of both Osimhen and Gyokeres, who are plying their trades with Galatasaray and Sporting Lisbon respectively.
And according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League big boys are receiving regular updates on the duo.
He wrote in his Give Me Sport column: “There are a lot of rumours about Manchester United as they’re attentive to several situations including Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres.
“But the budget is going to be crucial to understand what they can really do in the summer in terms of spending, investments and limitations for Financial Fair Play.
“So there is nothing concrete or advanced yet, they are just being informed on the situation with weekly updates.
“Sources close to the story guarantee that all rumours on Man United scouts travelling to follow Osimhen’s progress at Galatasaray are wide of the mark.
“As they don’t even need to ‘check’ on this kind of player.
“They like him, but the financial package will make the difference. The same as for Gyokeres.”
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
Nigeria international Osimhen has been in fine form for Galatasaray since joining them from Napoli last summer.
The 26-year-old already has 20 goals to his name this season, in which he’s also racked up five assists.
Gyokeres, meanwhile, has a stunning 35 goals and eight assists to his name in 37 appearances this campaign.
United will be back in action on Wednesday night, welcoming Ipswich Town to Old Trafford.
GARVAN JONES’ four-point haul proved decisive as OFFALY fell foul of the new rules against FERMANAGH.
A late ‘three man up’ call went against the Faithful and was key in Ederney with the Ernesiders winning 1-13 to 3-6.
Declan McCusker and Cillian Bourke traded early goals but Fermanagh outscored Offaly by nine points in the remainder of the half despite playing into the breeze.
McCusker and Darragh McGurn controlled the middle as Offaly had no answers.
That was until the second half when Dylan Hyland and Cormac Egan struck goals.
The match hinged on a decision where Hyland picked up a ball at midfield and referee Kevin Falloon deemed he crossed halfway.
Jones struck with a 13m free to put two points between the sides — meaning that Daire McDaid’s late point was not enough for Offaly to salvage a draw.
Meanwhile, LONGFORD snatched a last-gasp 2-11 to 1-12 victory over WATERFORD at Pearse Park.
The Midlanders at half-time thanks to two Aaron Farrell goals.
But the Déise were excellent after the break and took the lead with 66 minutes on the clock after two James Power scores.
However, Aaron Carey’s free from outside the arc and an injury-time Daniel Reynolds score snatched victory for the Leinster side.
THE Vatican has issued an update on Pope Francis’ health after being described as in a critical condition over the weekend.
The Pontiff is said to have had a peaceful tenth night in hospital after being admitted earlier this month with double pneumonia.
A statement from The Vatican read: “The night went well; the Pope slept and is resting.”
He is still receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and had blood transfusions on Saturday following a respiratory crisis.
The Pontiff has not suffered any more of these crises since then.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Avoiding spoilers today feels almost impossible. If not your friends, the Internet will ruin a film you have been waiting ages to watch and sometimes, it’s just curiosity that kills the cat. Unfortunately for Christopher Nolan, something similar happened while he was striving to make it big in Hollywood. A fan of Quentin Tarantino’s work, […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
The post Bhopal: PM Modi inaugurates the Global Investors Summit 2025 #Gallery appeared first on Social News XYZ.
