6 days agoNews TalkComments Off on “The more she misses him”: Angelina Jolie Allegedly Often Regrets Her Decision With Brad Pitt Who Has No Desire to Live Their Romantic Past
Angelina Jolie was the one who filed for divorce from Brad Pitt just two years after their marriage in 2014. They had been in a relationship officially since 2006 when they first confirmed it with the announcement of expecting their first child together. According to a 2018 insider source, Jolie allegedly regretted her decision to […]
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6 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Maduro warns against accepting electronic gifts after pager blasts
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has urged citizens not to accept gifts of electronic devices after pagers and other communication devices exploded in Lebanon. During a speech at an event promoting Venezuelan culture and crafts, the president cautioned citizens to be vigilant with their phones due to a series of blasts that occurred in Lebanon on […]
6 days agoNews TalkComments Off on How Gary Neville’s ‘World of Man Utd’ regeneration could look as Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepares to demolish Old Trafford
GARY NEVILLE’S “World of Manchester United” could look a world away from their current Old Trafford home.
SplashGary Neville wants to turn Old Trafford into a ‘World of Manchester United’[/caption]
Jack Hill The TimesMinority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans to demolish the stadium to build a new home ground[/caption]
Former defender Neville is part of a task force looking at the future of the site, which has been United’s home since 1910.
Revealing his own plans for the club’s home venue, he told The Athletic this week: “What I want to see is a world of Manchester Utd around that stadium – of opportunity, hope and belief.
“It sounds Disneyfied, but I don’t mean a theme park. I mean where people visit that area and think, ‘Wow’.
“In five, six or seven years, I want United to have the best stadium and training ground in the world, plus doing the right things on the football side.
6 days agoNews TalkComments Off on I was told my missing girl was ground into kebab meat, I won’t believe it, I’m begging you to help me uncover the truth
THE mother of missing schoolgirl Charlene Downes has revealed she will never give up fighting for the truth.
Karen Downes says she has accepted her daughter is dead but hopes one day she might get the answers she needs.
CollectSchoolgirl Charlene Downes went missing in 2003[/caption]
Focus FeaturesHer mum Karen Downes hasn’t given up hope finding out what happened to her daughter[/caption]
It has been almost 21 years since Charlene vanished. But despite two trials and a lengthy investigation, including lurid claims that Charlene’s remains were chopped into kebab meat, her final whereabouts remains a mystery.
Mother of four Karen, 59, who lives in Blackpool, says: “Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my Charlene.
“I never sleep. I can’t carry on with life. I am still stuck on that day.
“Since she disappeared, I have had a candle burning in my window – and it still burns today. I hope and pray for justice.
“I never for a moment believed she was dismembered and hidden into kebab meat but it’s a claim which has followed us around.
“There have been so many awful rumours about what happened to her and as her mum it is hard to take.
“I just want closure, for her and for the rest of the family.”
Private investigator Jen Jarvie, part of a crack team specialising in cold cases, last year announced a review into the disappearance of the Blackpool teen, who would be 35 now.
But the investigation has so far brought no new information.
Karen and her husband Bob are now pinning all their hopes on the new investigation and say they have completely lost faith in the police.
Karen says: “I get my hopes up every time there is a review or someone new takes over the case. But it’s all for nothing.
“Every time, we hit a brick wall and I am no nearer to knowing where she is than the day she disappeared.”
Charlene was only 14 years old when she left the family home on November 1 2003 to meet with friends.
Karen says: “I had a job delivering leaflets at the time and I came across Charlene on the promenade, with her older sister.
“We chatted for a bit and I made her promise she’d be home on time.
“I could never have known that was the last time I’d ever see her. I bought fish and chips later that night for the whole family, but Charlene never came home for hers.
CCTV footage shows the last sighting of Charlene with her sister before she disappearedMr Beanz in Blackpool where it is believed that 14 year old Charlene Downes body was chopped upSWNS:South West News Service
“I kept her portion for a couple of days, wrapped up in the fridge, praying she’d come home
“The police got involved and at first, Charlene was dismissed as a runaway. There were rumours she’d fallen victim to Child Sexual Exploitation.
“She’d been pushing the boundaries, smoking and staying out late. But to me, she was still a child, she loved Darren Day and Hello Kitty. She was a typical teenager.
“Those first few weeks were hellish, there were bogus sightings which turned out to be nothing.
“Every time a body was found, I was sick with nerves. I was even interviewed myself. I even turned to mediums in the search for answers but I never got any.”
Karen revealed her family has been torn apart by Charlene’s disappearance.
She says: “I lost my son, Robert, in December 2021. He was only 30 and never got over the loss of his sister.
“He used to climb out of his bedroom to look for her in the early days. Her disappearance cost him his life.
“It also killed my mum. She couldn’t cope with it. I hope they’re all together in heaven. It’s my only comfort.
“I have eight grandchildren now who bring me so much joy and yet I can’t help thinking how happy I would be if Charlene had her own children and what she would be like.
My candle will burn at my window until justice is done
Karen Downes
“Life is always ‘what if?‘
“I have a six-year-old granddaughter who really reminds me of Charlene and it is bittersweet. She lives on through her yet it’s a reminder of what we have lost.”
Cops believe Charlene was murdered within hours of disappearing in Blackpool city centre.
Her murder uncovered a dark side of the faded seaside town after a police report revealed Charlene was one of 60 girls – some as young as eleven – who had been groomed by takeaway workers. The girls were given food and cigarettes in exchange for sex acts.
Detectives allege that Charlene has been strangled and dismembered, and that her killers joked about having turned her flesh into kebab meat and her bones into tiling grout – after she threatened to blow the whistle on them.
In 2007, Iyad Albattikhi, then 27, who ran the Funny Boyz takeaway in Blackpool, was charged with Charlene’s murder. His landlord and business partner Mohammed Reveshi was charged with helping him dispose of her body.
They went on trial in May 2007 when the jury was played taped conversations in which it was alleged Iyad had joked that he killed the girl, that she was ‘chopped up’ and her body had ‘gone into the kebabs’.
The jury failed to reach a verdict and a retrial was also dropped after a police watchdog found the investigation by Lancashire Constabulary was ‘handled unprofessionally’ and plagued by a ‘catalogue of errors’.
Serious doubts were also uncovered over the way transcripts were made.
Both men were paid £250,000 each in compensation. One of the men’s lawyers accused the police of “incompetence, manipulation and lies”.
OTHER THEORIES OF WHAT HAPPENED TO CHARLENE DOWNES
Here we take a look at the two other theories of what happened to the tragic teen.
RAYMOND MUNRO
Not everyone is convinced of the kebab story – with many believing she was murdered by someone else.
Ronay Crompton, from the Justice for Charlene Downes campaign, has recently joined up with Dr Kirsty Bennett, a lecturer at Leeds Trinity University specialising in cold cases.
Together they hope to discover what really happened to Charlene.
Speaking in a new documentary for Shots TV Ronay said: “There’s a number of reasons why I don’t believe that Charlene has gone in a kebab or has been ground up.
“One of the main reasons is the absolute lack of any forensic evidence to suggest that.
“From what I have heard from experts, to grind a body through a mincer and not leave any DNA anywhere is near on impossible.”
And in a previous doc on Channel 5, it was revealed that a convicted sex offender, Ray Munro, had been staying at the family’s home at the time of her disappearance.
Munro, a friend of Charlene’s dad, had pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual abuse of ten-year-old children.
Social service reports there was an incident between Charlene and Munro on the day she disappeared.
Munro has never been arrested by police over the incident.
PARENTS TROLLED
Karen and Bob Downes have been dealing with the loss of their beloved Charlene for the last 21 years.
The family were quizzed extensively by police before eventually being cleared.
However, Karen 58, says they get accused of taking their daughter’s life and “targeted” by people online and in person.
The distraught mum even said husband Bob, 61, has been punched and hit by a car on purpose.
Karen told the MailOnline: “It is disgusting what people say and do.
“All they point the finger at us. I get abuse online, but Bob has it much worse. He will go into a pub and will be targeted.
“He has been called a murderer, a paedophile and accused of pimping out his daughters.
“He has never done that and there is no evidence that he has ever done that.
“One time he was threatened and was told that if he came in the pub again, he would end up dead like Charlene.
“He is always approached by people and has been punched several times.
“He has even been hit by a car while walking home from the pub. Once he was struck in the leg and the other time in the side.
“It is a disgrace. We have done nothing wrong.”
Karen is now pleading with the public to come forward with any information they might have.
“On the 21st anniversary, I would appeal as always for someone to come forward,” she says.
“Someone knows the truth.
“My candle will burn at my window until justice is done. I hope one day soon we can lay her spirit to rest.”
After a planned retrial was abandoned in 2008, Karen began to give up hope of ever finding the truth and came close to suffering a nervous breakdown.
There has been no meaningful progress on the case since.
Karen adds: “Looking back, I feel so guilty that I didn’t see the signs with my daughter.
“I could -and should – have been a better parent. Nobody can blame me more than I blame myself. Yet I am still a grieving mother. I still need justice.
“Deep down I have to accept that my darling daughter is dead, but without a body, I will always have a glimmer of hope.
“I will never stop fighting for justice. For all our sakes, we need the truth.”
Neil Jones - The SunRobert and Karen Downes hope to still uncover the truth about Charlene[/caption]
SWNSJustice has never been served for Charlene[/caption]
6 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Mike Tyson finally reveals why he’s fighting Jake Paul in frank fight purse admission ahead of crossover clash
MIKE TYSON has finally revealed why he’s fighting Jake Paul – and it has nothing to do with the mega payday he’ll receive for the bout.
The boxing legend will lace up his gloves in November at the ripe old age of 58 for a controversial crossover clash with the YouTube sensation.
APBoxing legend Mike Tyson will throw down with YouTube sensation Jake Paul in November[/caption]
GETTYMany fight fans believe the 58-year-old has taken the fight because he needs the money[/caption]
EPABut the former undisputed heavyweight champ insists that couldn’t be any further from the case[/caption]
Iron Mike looked like a shell of the man who struck fear into the hearts of heavyweights in the late ’80s and early ’90’s when he returned to the ring for a Covid clash with Roy Jones Jr in November 2020.
Money is at the top of many fight fans’ lists of reasons why the near-pensioner-aged Tyson has decided to throw down with the 27-year-old.
But the weed mogul recently said: “I could be waiting on a check every day from cannabis.
“That’s bulls*** for me. I’m a man; I want to go out there and I want to expose myself to risk.
“Sometimes I want to see who I really am. I want to see what I’m really made out of. I want to perform in front of the world.
“To me, that’s all I ever knew how to do since I was 14.
“This fight is not going to change my life financially enough. This is just what I want to do.”
The addictive feeling of having his hand raised has also played a huge factor in the former undisputed heavyweight champion’s decision to return to the ring.
“I’m a glory junkie,” Tyson admitted. “I love people thinking about me all day.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
“I’d rather live a short life of glory than a long life of obscurity. It’s just who I am.
“This is all I started fighting for—to get all this f***ing status.
“I’m going to be chasing it for the rest of my life. I know that.
“I’m never going to get what I want, because I’m one of those gluttons for pain. I can never get enough.”
The whopping 31-YEAR age difference between Tyson and Paul was the root cause of the outrage surrounding the Texas tussle.
And Tyson set alarm bells ringing this month by admitting his gruelling training camp is taking its toll on his body.
In a frank admission to USA Today, he said: “It’s hard to walk right now.
“But two months from now I’m going to be perfect. The fight is won in the gym.
“Listen, I’ll do anything that will help me.
“I’m going to enjoy my time here tonight with all my childhood friends, and the hell with Jake Paul.”
ReutersMike Tyson training ahead of Jake Paul bout, https://twitter.com/MikeTyson[/caption]
6 days agoNews TalkComments Off on The family staycation in iconic Titanic town steeped in history that’s home to navy & views of ‘Ireland’s Alcatraz’
THE tiny styrofoam container in the picture used to be a regular sized coffee cup.
Two years ago it was put in an onion bag, attached to the outside of a submersible and taken to the wreck of Titanic.
The gorgeous seaside spot is steeped in historyThe picturesque town was the last port of call for the titanicDr Michael Martin shows off a cup that shrunk on the Titan submersibleCollect image through journalist
The diver was Irishman Rory Golden and that same Titan submersible, on another ocean floor voyage in 2023, tragically imploded taking five lives.
Rory had gifted the cup to Dr Michael Martin, a Titanic authority and a man who knows more about the Co Cork harbour town of Cobh than any history book, even the ones he wrote himself.
On a visit, Dr Martin showed us this little cup as he told of Cobh’s Titanic history.
For two hours in April 1912, the ill-fated liner stopped at Cobh — then known as Queenstown — and, after seven got off and 123 boarded, sailed away on that terrible journey to the bottom of the ocean.
So why wasn’t the cup crushed?
‘Ah,’ said Dr Martin, ‘because it’s an open vessel and the pressure under was equal on every part, so it shrank.’
Cobh, 20km from Cork city, is bustling.
Brightly painted independent shops and homes decorate the coastline, all overlooked by the magnificent St Colman’s Cathedral.
We were delighted to be able to stay at the town’s Commodore Hotel, facing the harbour, which opened way back in 1854.
It’s at the heart of the town, sewn through its history, and has views onto Spike Island and Haulbowline, home of the Irish Navy.
My wife and kids, 13 and 11, fortified by cosy beds, sea air and a feast from the Georgian hotel’s O’Shea’s Bistro, slept heavily before waking to an unexpected sight.
An enormous cruise liner, not much more than a stone’s throw away, was passing our window and docking close by — able to do so because this is the second deepest harbour on earth.
We headed to sea ourselves that day, taking the short ferry jaunt from close to the hotel to Spike Island.
The beautiful Commodore Hotel has views of the famous Spike IslandCollect image through journalistThe Titanic Memorial Garden is part of a free and public park in the town
Down the centuries, it has been everything from a monastic community, a British naval fort, a convict transportation point and the grimmest of prisons.
A wander through the imposing punishment cells in ‘Ireland’s Alcatraz’ reveals where even petty thieves, destitute from famine, were locked up before transportation. It will leave you cold.
UNPOLISHED GEM OF IRISH HISTORY
The compelling tour of Spike Island has a 5-star TripAdvisor rating, and no wonder.
This place is an unpolished gem of Irish history and no Rebel County exploration should be without it.
In the town itself, the history is well told by the passionate Dr Martin on his daily Titanic Trail walking tour, yet there’s even more at the Cobh Heritage Museum.
Emigration stories are personalised here, details of folk who left for so many reasons mapped out among premium exhibits.
Twenty minutes north east takes you to Midleton, where history can be heard, seen, touched and tasted, too.
TASTE EXPERIENCE
A tour of the old distillery, the Jameson Experience, fills the senses, and more than 100,000 visitors a year can’t be wrong.
The part this place played, and continues to play, in keeping quality Irish whiskey — Jameson, Powers and more — flowing worldwide makes for an extraordinary tale.
We loved wandering among the huge oak whiskey barrels, and had to chuckle at the subtle way the tour guide threw shade on how the Scots make their versions.
And don’t miss the vault for a peek at the limited editions.
These bottles sell for €45,000 and more, yet get snapped up by collectors.
Go: Cobh
STAY THERE: We stayed in the Cork International Hotel, 10 minutes from the city with a free shuttle to the airport
Commodore Hotel, Cobh, has views of Cobh Harbour, Spike Island, Haulbowline
DO THERE: Cobh Heritage Centre has exhibitions telling the story of the town, including the famine era and Titanic.
The Titanic Trail: Guided Titanic Tour of Cobh, last port of call for the ship.
The Jameson Experience, Midleton: Tour revealing the significance, heritage and craftsmanship of the iconic Jameson brands. It’s 23km from Cork city.
Emerald Park: Ireland’s only theme park and zoo, Ashbourne, Co Meath.
We checked in that night at the spotless and ultra-efficient 4-star Cork International Hotel near the city’s airport, booking the boutique cinema to enjoy a family film.
Our suite was an ideal choice with two bathrooms and enormous indulgent beds that — after a huge steak dinner — whisked me off to a mighty sleep.
And, with state-of-the-art everything, not a peep from an aeroplane could be heard.
Our trip to Cork was part of a lap of Ireland we had planned for a while.
COASTLINE TRIP
We hugged the eastern coastline from Antrim to Cork on the way down and took in west-coast sights on the way back up.
I relished our stop at Meath’s superb Emerald Park — formerly Tayto Park — along the way.
On the menu were wild rides and a stroll through the on-site zoo, home to 250 curious creatures from across the globe.
If you want to impress the youngsters, join them on the fearsome Cú Chulainn Coaster or maybe Na Fianna Force in the recently opened Tír Na nÓg section, part of a well-spent €22million investment.
But if you take the Viking Voyage water ride at Ireland’s only theme park, be advised that as you disembark, giddy and with wet pants, you’ll be wondering if this was your best decision of the day.
The whole trip was an adventure, an education and a first-class staycation all in one.
The Jameson Experience is Middleton showcases limited edition bottles that retail for €45,000Collect image through journalistCobh is a great staycation spot for history buffsCollect image through journalistJason stopped off at Emerald Park to test out the new rollercoasters that opened this yearCollect image through journalist
6 days agoNews TalkComments Off on New Pirates of the Caribbean theme park set to open on exotic holiday island
A PIRATES of the Caribbean theme park could be set to open on a very stunning tropical island.
The island of Saint Vincent has revealed the plans, after it was used as as filming location for the films.
GettySome parts of the movie franchise were filmed on the island of Saint Vincent – and it is set to open a theme park[/caption]
AlamyThe theme park will celebrate the Pirates of the Caribbean films[/caption]
Since 2003, the Pirates of the Caribbean films have become family favourites, with Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley’s adventures on the high seas spanning five movies.
Carlos James, minister for tourism for the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, has promised the park will provide a huge boost to the popularity of the island nation.
He told Planet Attractions: “We’re looking at scouting lands closest to the beach to accommodate a state-of-the-art theme park, which will include a restaurant, pool, and more.
“This year, we will also explore and conceptualise designs for a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed park at Wallilabou.
“It is important that we look at how we can further develop our tourism product offering.
“We have to ensure that we have all of the right services and sites that meet quality standards to ensure that people who come to the destination can really see the true benefit of our product.”
The plans are set to be put in place in 2025, although not a lot is known about what the park would actually feature, in terms of rides and attractions.
However, it will offer a new way for fans of the films to get a taste of the pirates’ lives, with other attractions already showing off the swashbuckling side of Saint Vincent.
One such tour invites visitors to head to the actual set of the popular movie.
On the tour, they can “see an abundance of props and costumes that remain onsite” while also dressing up to look like a real pirate.
Other tour stops include Fort Charlotte, the fishing village of Layou, Barrouallie, Wallilabou Recreational Park, and Buccama Beach.
The tour is described by Viator as “a must-do for fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies”.
However, there’s plenty to do on Saint Vincent for people who haven’t heard of Jack Sparrow as well.
In addition to its many stunning beaches, the island has sights like the Dark View Waterfalls – two spectacular falls, one above the other, that tumble down sheer cliff faces and plunge into natural pools.
Getty - ContributorSaint Vincent is also home to some stunning tropical beaches[/caption]
Sea kayaking, volcano hiking and nature trails are also available for those looking for adventure.
Virgin Atlantic has flights from the UK to the island, taking around 11 hours with a stop in Barbados.
They also offer holiday packages, with return flights and seven nights from £,1,078pp.
It’s not the only Caribbean island with a huge theme park.
Perfect Day at CoCo Cay, a Bahamas island owned by Royal Caribbean, has its own theme park and water attraction on it.
What is a cruise around the Caribbean like?
TV present Jonathon Wilkes revealed to The Sun what its like to go on a Caribbean cruise.
Onboard the P&O Cruises’ ship, Britannia, we were sailing from Barbados round the Dutch Antilles islands and on to Grenada, St Vincent in the Grenadines and home from St Lucia.
The Caribbean really is a golfer’s paradise. While many of the courses in the UK are closed in January, it is bliss to be able to play a different course each day in sunshine.
As the ship didn’t sail until 10pm, we all went into the buzzing old fort area for sushi before going back on board for a Caribbean pool party with Britannia’s resident band, Pulse, leading the dancing.
On our last full day we arrived in St Vincent in the Grenadines, where we had booked a trip via the ship’s shore excursion manager.
Within five minutes we were in the sea. Panto and real life seemed a world away.
A lunch of conch fritters and callaloo soup beckoned at the Plantation House. Callaloo, I discovered, is a dark green, super-leafy, thick Caribbean vegetable.
6 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Aaron Sorkin calls Biden dropping out of presidential race a ‘West Wing’ moment as cast visits White House
Martin Sheen and others from the cast of “The West Wing,” the hit drama about a liberal president and his staff, were invited by first lady Jill Biden for an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the show.
6 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Tammy Slaton Sends Support to Fans Struggling With Weight and Mental Health
Tammy Slaton took a minute to offer some words of encouragement to her friends online. “If you’re new here, my name is Tammy. Some of my friends call me Queen Tammy. You can too if you want,” the 1000 Lb. Sisters star, 38, said in an Instagram video shared on Thursday, September 19. “Here on […]
