Latest news with #Co-op
The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Reality star with soap actress sister reveals heartbreaking split from gardener fiance – 12 months after getting engaged
DANIELLE Mason has revealed she's split from her gardener fiance, Lee Dopson, just 12 months after the pair got engaged. Reality star Danielle, 42, whose sister is EastEnders actress Advertisement 6 Danielle Mason has revealed she's split from her gardener fiance, Lee Dopson Credit: Supplied 6 She announced the heartbreaking news in a Thursday Instagram Story Credit: Instagram She wrote against a plain background: "I'm entering a new chapter and no longer in a relationship with Lee. "Grateful for the past, focused on the future. Appreciate your understanding and kindness." The break-up comes exactly a year after the My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star gave an She revealed the pair met by chance in their local Co-op, where he helped her pick up some dropped change. Advertisement read more on DANIELLE Mason They soon struck up a romance that culminated in a Greek holiday proposal. Danielle said at the time: 'I feel as though I've met my soulmate. 'He proposed a week ago while we were on holiday in Greece and I can't wait to marry him. We're thinking about having a big white wedding – but we might end up eloping to Vegas if the planning all gets too much.' Danielle had spoken candidly about her turbulent romantic history, including a volatile nine-year relationship with traveller and MMA fighter Tony Giles - father of her two children, Rudy, 13, and Delilah, 11 - and a brief fling with reformed criminal and ex-Broadmoor inmate Ben Hatchett. Advertisement Most read in Reality 'It lasted for months and all I can say is that it was a mistake,' she admitted of the 2021 relationship. 'I look back on it and wonder what the hell I was doing.' Danielle Mason gets engaged during sun soaked holiday At the time of their engagement, Danielle said she felt finally ready to settle down with a "kind, considerate" man. She praised Lee for everything from packing her lunches to helping with her car and bonding with her children, who both have autism and ADHD. Advertisement The former glamour model said: 'He treats me so well. He'll make me sandwiches for a packed lunch when I'm working and buys me flowers constantly… "It's the first relationship where I've felt safe and secure.' Dnaielle, who previously earned up to £10,000 per glamour shoot and rubbed shoulders with stars like Orlando Bloom, now runs a cleaning business and social media brand, Miss Mason Cleaning. She also works as a TV presenter and entrepreneur. Advertisement In last year's interview, she reflected on her past with humour and honesty: 'I was cra**ing myself with the thought of getting my tits out, but the money was really good.' Danielle Mason's very normal job She is the little sister of EastEnders star Jessie Wallace who became one of the hottest stars of the cult TV series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding after appearing in season two in 2012. And for eight years before that, Danielle Mason had already enjoyed a lucrative career as a Page 3 pin-up who jetted across the world for glamorous photoshoots earning as much as £10,000 a pop. But since appearing in the 2019 Channel 5 documentary The Gypsies Next Door, the 40 year-old has swapped reality TV and topless modelling to become a full-time cleaning expert. The mum-of-two now has regular clients she does cleaning and housekeeping for. She also films cleaning hacks under the brand name Miss Mason Cleaning (MMC) on Instagram and TikTok - and it has led to influencer partnerships with brands including Dyson. 6 Lee popped the question during a Greece holiday last year Credit: Supplied 6 She previously described Lee as her "soulmate" Credit: Supplied 6 Danielle's big sister is EastEnders star Jessie Wallace Credit: Instagram Advertisement 6 The Page 3 model shot to fame on My Big Fat Gypsy Weddings where she marroed traveller Tony Giles Credit: Channel 4
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How Bruce Springsteen Gave Us a Roadmap for Surviving Trump
A DAY AFTER DONALD TRUMP called Bruce Springsteen a 'pushy, obnoxious JERK' who 'ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT,' I found myself in Manchester, England, for one of the opening shows of Springsteen's 'Land of Hopes and Dreams' tour. It was a birthday surprise for my husband, Jim. And as we mingled on the floor of Co-op Live Arena, we talked with some American fans about why Springsteen's tidy yet devastating critique of the Trump administration as 'corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous' had drawn such a positive public reaction—and such an unsurprisingly churlish one from the president himself. I speculated that it was a combination of things, including the way Springsteen presented his argument as a patriotic defense (and not a condemnation) of 'the America I love.' Then, too, many Americans are simply hungry for some unequivocal pushback. But for me, the real power of Bruce's remarks could be found in one line: 'We will survive this moment.' Survive. The concept hit me with a wave of relief. It was a courageous affirmation of the exceptional nature of America when I needed to hear it most. Even as he acknowledged the ways the president has undermined democracy, and the failures of our system of checks and balances to protect the country from a demagogue, Springsteen was saying there is an innate resilience in the American people. Surviving is what we do. And he said this at a time when that core belief has been shaken. Springsteen has always been attuned to trouble in America, and he had an early understanding of Trump's appeal. In September 2016, he told Rolling Stone that he thought the country was paying a price 'for not addressing the real cost of [American] deindustrialization and globalization.' Trump's solutions were 'fallacious,' he noted, but they offered hope to people who had been deeply hurt by these economic changes. I read those comments during Hillary Clinton's debate prep at the Doral Arrowwood Resort in Westchester County and found their truthfulness devastating. It was one of the few moments during the 2016 campaign that I thought we were going to lose. Another time was when Springsteen echoed these same themes during a performance of the song 'Long Walk Home'—which he now calls his 'fighting prayer' for America—at a rally for Clinton the night before the election. The alienation and disappointment conveyed in the song seemed too overwhelming for our campaign to overcome. And, indeed, we didn't overcome them. Fast-forward eight years and here was Bruce again, now assuring us that we will, eventually, make it back home. I choose to trust his gut more than my own. The country is going through a lot. Just know that we're right there with you—a source of sense and solace in crazy times. Become a free or paid Bulwark subscriber today. FOR A FULL DECADE AND OVER THREE presidential campaigns, I have aided efforts to keep Donald Trump out of office—only to see him emerge as the winner of the 2024 election with more support than ever. Not everything we did to try and stop him was a mistake. That is a simplistic way of looking at one of the most vexing political problems America has faced since the Civil War. Nevertheless, our efforts to defeat him failed. Keeping Trump from being re-elected to a cataclysmic second term was the singular focus of Resistance 1.0. For the better part of a decade, it kept everyone aligned and helped us to organize around a clear goal. But now, we are no longer engaged in a debate; we are under assault. More Americans buy into his MAGA vision than ever, even as our arguments—that Trump would do everything from wreck the economy to ruin democracy—are being vindicated by his actions. What more is there to say? To combat Trump 2.0 effectively, we need a new direction. Finding one has not been easy. The lack of a North Star for anti-Trump forces is one of the reasons it feels like Resistance 2.0 has floundered, or at least has failed to take real shape. My own failure to imagine a new approach has kept me on the sidelines of politics since the election last fall. I largely stopped doing television appearances and writing or even tweeting about politics. After thirty years working in the field, including five presidential campaigns and twelve years in the White House, I should have had something more sophisticated to contribute than 'Yeah, Democrats should do more podcasts.' But I didn't. And so, I have said very little. I needed something to feel certain about. The idea of surviving 'this moment' gave me that certainty. What Bruce said sounded to me like a new North Star. I am a believer in the power of a winning attitude in politics. The best presidential campaigns are built on it. If the candidate and staff expect to win, it affects every decision, producing leaders who are certain of what they believe in and what they are elected to do. That's what Bruce provided. Join now If we keep in mind during this second and more damaging Trump administration that we will eventually win, our mission becomes clearer: We must do what we can to protect America and limit the damage until we get to the other side. It's important and courageous for Springsteen to rebuke Trump, particularly when so many people in positions of power are busy kowtowing to him. Because every time he stands up to Trump—whether it is with the 'corrupt, incompetent, treasonous' comments, or opening his set with 'No Surrender' after Trump threatened him with an investigation, or mixing up the lyrics of 'Wrecking Ball' from 'come on, take your best shot, let me see what you've got' to 'let me feel what you've got' to let Trump know his online attacks had not left a mark—Springsteen is also sending a lifeline to those of us who feel wholly alienated by Trump's debasing of American values. We are not alone, he is saying. We can get through this. It was that implicit commitment, his belief that America will make it through this 'dangerous time' (and the lyrics of 'Land of Hope and Dreams' where Bruce promises to 'stand by your side') that reduced me to tears of relief for three straight songs on the floor of the Co-op Live arena. It gave me a sense of agency I had not felt since Trump won the election in November. When Trump controls the White House, MAGA Republicans are running Congress, and we cannot count on the president even to follow court orders or the Constitution. It is hard to imagine any meaningful way Democrats can hold him accountable—but having faith America will make it through is a powerful act of resistance. If we don't hold on to the belief that democracy will survive, we risk resigning ourselves to authoritarian rule. Faith in our democracy will help guide us through the rest of this administration. Because Trump will not be president forever. Share DONALD TRUMP IS AN ARCHETYPICAL Springsteen villain. He is the con man who preys on the vulnerable, the guy who ruined the boardwalk in 'Atlantic City,' the 'Rainmaker' who makes vulnerable people believe 'white is black and black is white,' and, perhaps most aptly, the rich man who wants to be king from 'Badlands,' which goes on to describe a king who will not be satisfied till he rules everything. But just as any Springsteen villain is never the focus of a song but the obstacle to be overcome, the Land of Hopes and Dreams tour isn't just about Trump. It's about how America survives him. After opening his show with a litany of all the Trump administration has taken from us, an utterly defiant Springsteen spent the rest of it singing about the great things in America we will never let Trump own. It felt like he was telling the American people: We will define what it means to be an American, not Trump. The set list consists of songs that are decades old, in some cases, but have lyrics that resonate today. Because I am an obsessive fan, I kept notes on my phone of the lines Bruce seemed to give a special emphasis when he sang them. They add up to a kind of hymn to encourage us to hold on to faith in America now. It goes like this: You will need a good companion for this part of the ride A little revenge and this too shall pass I walk the way I wanna walk Maybe everything that dies someday comes back Tell me, in a world without pity, do you think what I am asking is too much? He steals what he will never own Hold tight to your anger, don't fall to your fears I make my way through this darkness, I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me Certain things are set in stone—who we are, what we'll do and what we won't I have made my vows to those who have come before May the truth ring out from every small-town bar This train, faith will be rewarded. It is not a great time to be an American abroad. I was reminded of this when the security agent at the Manchester airport told me, 'You can go ahead and put the eagle away.' He was pointing at the logo of my American passport. There was an edge in his voice that suggested he had been hoping for some time that America would get its comeuppance. That America will always be the country that elected Donald Trump twice is humbling. The repercussions of those elections will be felt for decades to come. My Springsteen hymn is my way of holding on to the faith that it's within our power to preserve the best part of America—even now. This is not all a buildup to say, 'I have seen the future of the Resistance, and its name is Bruce Springsteen.' (That said: Bruce, if you're reading this. . .) But it's clear that Americans depressed over Trump need inspiration to keep fighting. We've already seen some talented, committed leaders fill the void, like Senator Cory Booker with his history-making filibuster (Jersey is killing it!); America's first pope, Leo XIV from Chicago, who almost certainly would not have been selected had Trump not won; and Harvard University's ingenious response to the administration's attacks: the offer of free online courses on civic engagement and the Constitution. And so, I will do as a fan told me after the show, paraphrasing a lyric from 'Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?' I will spread the word that 'the dope is that there is still hope.' I will survive and fight for what comes next. I am not putting the eagle away. Share The Bulwark
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Why are they making celebrities out of cyber criminals?
The past few weeks have painted a bleak picture of Britain's digital defences. Empty shelves at M&S, supply chain disruptions at Co-op, and systems offline at Harrods. It's like a dystopian episode of The Great British Bake Off, except instead of soggy bottoms, we're dealing with compromised servers. Enter Scattered Spider, a loose collective of predominantly English-speaking hackers, many reportedly teenagers, who may have brought Britain's biggest retailers to their knees. The National Crime Agency has confirmed it's investigating this group's potential involvement, marking the first time authorities have publicly named them as suspects. Here's where things get awkward. CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity giant, has been producing impressive figurines of various hacking groups, complete with dramatic packaging and "Know them, find them, stop them" taglines. But as BBC Technology Correspondent Joe Tidy astutely points out, are we inadvertently glamorising these groups? There's something deeply uncomfortable about turning cybercriminals into collectible merchandise. It's like creating action figures of bank robbers - technically educational, but potentially sending mixed messages. The irony isn't lost on anyone. We're making celebrities out of criminals while simultaneously trying to catch them. While figurines make conversation starters, the real excitement lies in the cutting-edge technologies being developed to combat these threats. Take Heriot-Watt University's ground breaking Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub. Professor Gerald Buller's team is developing quantum encryption that's near unbreakable, using quantum mechanics to create security keys that change every time someone tries to crack them. Cybercrime costs UK businesses £27bn annually. What's particularly fascinating about groups like Scattered Spider is their demographic, often teenagers communicating through Discord and Telegram, who possibly live in suburbs near the retailers they're targeting. Joe Tidy's direct communication with the hackers reveals criminals who are articulate, strategic, and frustratingly ordinary. They're not cartoon villains, they're people who've chosen criminal applications for their technical skills. As the UK aims to become a quantum-enabled economy by 2035, quantum technologies will form the backbone of next-generation cybersecurity infrastructure. Unlike current encryption relying on mathematical complexity, quantum security uses physics itself as protection, theoretically impossible to breach without detection. The combination of traditional investigative work and breakthrough technologies like quantum encryption offers our best hope for creating a digital environment where groups like Scattered Spider become museum pieces. Perhaps we should focus less on action figures and more on the real-world heroes developing technologies that make criminal enterprises obsolete. After all, the best way to deal with villains isn't immortalising them in plastic, it's building a world where their methods don't work. I'll be first in line for my figurine of Professor Gerald Buller. Annie Diamond is the deputy managing director of specialist technology, science and energy PR agency Hot Tin Roof Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Public consultation on electric vehicle charger and double yellow lines by shops
A public consultation has been launched on the implementation of an electric vehicle (EV) charger and double yellow lines outside a row of shops. The developments would be brought in outside the strip of stores on Highfield Road in Farnworth, which includes Co-op, Premier and more. Bolton Council granted planning permission in July last year for an EV charger and its associated infrastructure such as line markings and electrical equipment. The plans would see two existing double parking bays turned into four EV charge parking bays. As part of the permission, the highways department would need to "carry out a review of Traffic Regulation Orders in the locality where necessary". The proposed yellow lines and parking bays (Image: Bolton Council) Now, a proposed traffic order has been uploaded to the council's website, outlining separate parts for the EV parking place and for double yellow lines. Read more: Raft of new double yellow lines to deal with 'anti-social parking and driving' Read more: Road could be made one way after safety concerns Read more: 'We have this serious issue of cars driven in an irresponsible way' - police respond In its reasoning, it says: "A planning application has been received and has been approved for two electric vehicle charging points outside the shops on Highfield Rd, an area which has a demand for on street parking but also has a turnover with visitors due to the varied nature of the business premises. "This proposal will introduce the associated restrictions, amending existing restrictions to accommodate the new bays. Highfield Road shops (Image: Google Maps) "To secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic in pursuance of the Authority's duty under S.122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984." The council says that any objections or representations should state the grounds they are made on and be sent either by email to highways@ or in writing to Highways and Engineering Division, 3rd Floor, Paderborn House, Civic Centre, Bolton BL1 1UA, no later than June 13. It asks anyone who does so to quote the reference 'TRO303992/JF/web' in all correspondence. This comes after a raft of new double yellow lines was brought in across Farnworth and Kearsley. The development comes as part of a bid to cut antisocial parking and driving. Some of the areas where restrictions were approved include around Kearsley West Nursery and Primary School in Primrose Street.
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Fonterra Announces 2025/26 Farmgate Milk Price, Continued Strong FY25 Earnings
Press Release – Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says Fonterra is committed to delivering strong shareholder returns through both earnings and the Farmgate Milk Price. . Normalised* profit after tax: NZ $1,158 million, up 11% · Normalised continuing earnings per share: 70 cents per share, up 13% · Return on capital: 11% down from 11.9% · FY25 full year forecast earnings range: 65-75 cents per share · 2024/25 season forecast Farmgate Milk Price: $10.00 per kgMS · 2025/26 season opening forecast Farmgate Milk Price: $10.00 per kgMS Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd today provided its Q3 business update, announcing strong profit after tax of $1,158 million, up $119 million on this time last year. As a result of these strong earnings, the Co-op narrowed its year-end earnings range to 65-75 cents per share, at the upper end of the guidance provided in March of 55-75 cents per share. At the same time, Fonterra announced an opening forecast Farmgate Milk Price for the 2025/26 season of $10.00 per kgMS, driven by stable near-term market demand. CEO Miles Hurrell says Fonterra is committed to delivering strong shareholder returns through both earnings and the Farmgate Milk Price. 'We've delivered strong shareholder returns through FY25, including a 22-cent interim dividend, and as we get closer to the end of the year, we are focused on maintaining this momentum. 'Our forecast Farmgate Milk Price for the current season is driven by strong demand for our milk price reference products and our range is unchanged at $9.70-$10.30 with a midpoint of $10.00 per kgMS. We're also pleased to tighten our year-end forecast earnings within the existing range, given the strength of our third quarter performance,' says Mr Hurrell. 2025/26 season opening Farmgate Milk Price 'Looking at the season ahead, we expect this demand to continue for now, but we acknowledge the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and the potential for a wider series of outcomes across the season. Therefore, our opening forecast Farmgate Milk Price for the 2025/26 season of $10.00 per kgMS sits within a wide forecast range of $8.00-$11.00 per kgMS. For the current season, the milk price of $10.00 per kgMS equates to around $15 billion into the New Zealand economy. The majority of this flows into regional New Zealand where it plays a strong role helping to sustain local communities. Business performance Fonterra's focus on optimising its product mix has driven a Q3 normalised profit after tax of $1,158 million, equivalent to 70 cents per share, with operating profit of $1,740 million, up $267 million on last year. 'This result reflects the scale and ongoing strength of our Ingredients channel, and volume growth in our Foodservice and Consumer channels with each channel increasing its third quarter performance compared to the same period last year. 'Our rolling 12-months Return on Capital is 11%, which is above our previous target for FY25 and within our long-term target range of 10-12%,' says Mr Hurrell. 'Our full year forecast earnings range of 65-75 cents per share assumes flat earnings in Q4 of FY25 due to the seasonality of our milk collections, the higher input prices for our Consumer and Foodservice businesses, ongoing investment in our ERP system and an increase in costs associated with shaping the Co-op post divestment to execute our strategy. 'We are heading into year end with a strong balance sheet and full year debt metrics on track to be below the Co-op's target range,' says Mr Hurrell. Strategic delivery Miles Hurrell says a priority for Fonterra this year has been the implementation of its strategy, which deepens the Co-op's focus on its high-performing Ingredients and Foodservice businesses. 'Last year, we announced a step-change in our strategic direction, including a decision to divest our global Consumer and associated businesses. 'This step was grounded in an understanding of how we best create value for farmer shareholders and ultimately for New Zealand. 'We have been thoroughly testing the terms and value of both a trade sale and initial public offering (IPO) as divestment options. This work is on track as planned and we will seek farmer shareholder approval to divest through a vote in due course. 'Given the confidence we have in our strategy, we have strong conviction that a divestment is the right choice for the Co-op and its owners. 'Our financial results show we have an impressive business as a global B2B dairy player, powered by our home-base of New Zealand milk and operations. 'If we divest our Consumer business, we will still be a Co-op with global reach and scale, and a diverse product mix sold to customers in more than 100 countries. 'By focusing on our core strengths and the sales channels that deliver the highest returns, we have the confidence to target an average Return on Capital of 10-12%, which is above our 5-year average. This is alongside paying farmers the highest sustainable Farmgate Milk Price, which we are always committed to,' says Mr Hurrell. Fonterra continues to target a significant capital return to shareholders and unit holders following divestment.
