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Warner Bros. has once again rejected Paramount’s latest hostile bid, according to media reports.

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Warner Bros. has once again rejected Paramount’s latest hostile bid, according to media reports.

The board of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has unanimously rejected Paramount Skydance’s latest attempt to acquire the studio, saying its revised $108.4 billion hostile bid is a risky leveraged buyout that investors should reject.

In a letter to shareholders on Wednesday, the WBD board said Paramount’s offer depends on “an extraordinary amount of debt financing” that increases the risk of closing.

It reaffirmed its commitment to streaming giant Netflix’s $82.7 billion deal for film and television studios and other assets.

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However, some investors pushed back at Warner Bros. Matthew Halbower, CEO of Pentwater Capital Management, said the media giant’s board had “made a mistake” by not considering Paramount’s bid.

On Wednesday, Hellbower described the deal on CNBC as “economically sound.”

Paramount’s financing plan would leave the smaller Hollywood studio with $87 billion in debt after the acquisition closes.

The Warner Bros. board informed shareholders on Tuesday, after voting against a $30-a-share cash offer, that the deal would result in the largest leveraged buyout in history.

The letter was accompanied by a 67-page amended merger filing that contained Paramount’s rejection of the offer.

The Warner Bros. board deemed the Paramount deal ‘inadequate’.

The amended Paramount offer “is inadequate, particularly given the inadequate value it provides,

the lack of certainty in Paramount Skydance’s ability to complete the offer, and the risks and costs to be borne by WBD shareholders if Paramount Skydance fails to complete the offer,” the Warner Bros. board wrote.

Paramount, which has a market value of about $14 billion, proposed using $40 billion in equity, which would be personally guaranteed by Oracle’s billionaire co-founder Larry Ellison, whose son David is Paramount’s CEO, and $54 billion in debt to finance the deal.

Warner Bros’s board said its financing plan would further weaken its credit rating, which S&P Global already rates at the junk level, and put pressure on its cash flow, increasing the risk that the deal will not close.

Netflix, which offered $27.75 per share in cash and stock, has a market value of $400 billion and an investment-grade credit rating.

The decision keeps Warner Bros. on track to pursue a deal with Netflix, even though Paramount amended its bid on Dec. 22 to address earlier concerns about the lack of a personal guarantee from Ellison, who is Paramount’s controlling shareholder.

Paramount and Netflix are competing to win control of Warner Bros and its prized film and television studios and its extensive content library.

Its lucrative entertainment franchises include Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Friends and the DC Comics universe, as well as iconic classic films like Casablanca and Citizen Kane.

Netflix appreciates

Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters welcomed Warner Bros.’s decision on Wednesday, saying it recognised the streaming giant’s deal as “the superior proposal that will deliver the greatest value to its shareholders, as well as consumers, creators and the broader entertainment industry”.

Warner Bros. Chairman Samuel Di Piazza told CNBC that the company is not currently in talks with Paramount but is open to a transaction with the Ellison-led company and that both deals have a path to regulatory approval.

“From our perspective, they have to put something on the table that’s compelling,” he said, referring to the Paramount offer.

Wednesday’s filing said Warner Bros.’s board met Dec. 23 to review Paramount’s revised proposal and noted some improvements, including Ellison’s personal guarantee and a higher reverse termination fee of $5.8 billion, but found “significant costs” were associated with Paramount’s bid compared to the Netflix deal.

Warner Bros. will be forced to pay a $2.8 billion termination fee to the streaming service.

Warner Bros. will also have to pay $1.5 billion in fees to its lenders and incur approximately $350 million in additional financing costs for abandoning its merger agreement with Netflix. Overall,

Warner Bros. said it would incur about $4.7 billion, or $1.79 per share, in additional costs to end its deal with Netflix.

The board reiterated some of the concerns raised on December 17, such as that Paramount would impose operating restrictions on the studio that would harm its business and competitive position.

including blocking plans to spin off the company’s cable television networks into a separate public company, Discovery Global.

Warner Bros. said that Paramount offered “inadequate compensation” for the loss to the studio’s business if the deal did not close.

The board wrote “despite clear direction” on the shortcomings in its bid and potential solutions, Paramount “repeatedly failed to present the best offer” to Warner Bros. shareholders.

The jockeying for Warner Bros. has become Hollywood’s most-watched acquisition battle, as studios vie for a bigger move amid growing competition from streaming platforms and volatile theatrical revenues.

While the headline price of Netflix’s offer is lower, analysts have said it presents a clearer financing structure and less execution risk than Paramount’s bid for the entire company, including its cable TV business.

Ross Baines, an analyst at eMarketer, said, “WBD doesn’t want to sell to Paramount, so it will continue to reject Paramount as long as it is able.”

“But this process is not over…Paramount will have the opportunity to make further efforts.”

Harris Oakmark, Warner Bros.’s fifth-largest investor, previously told Reuters that Paramount’s revised offer was not “substantial”, noting that it was not enough to cover the breakup fee.

Paramount has argued that its bid would face fewer regulatory hurdles, but a combined Paramount-Warner Bros. entity would create a formidable competitor to industry leader Disney and merge two major television operators and two streaming services.

The valuation of Warner Bros.’s planned Discovery Global spin-off, which includes cable television network CNN, TNT Sports and the Discovery+ streaming service, is seen as a major sticking point. Analysts have valued the cable channels at up to $4 per share, while Paramount has suggested only $1.

Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about further consolidation in the media industry, and US President Donald Trump has said he plans to consider this landmark acquisition.

On Wall Street, Warner Bros. Discovery is up 0.3 per cent in afternoon trading amid news of the rejected bid. Netflix is ​​also up 0.3. Meanwhile, Paramount is down 0.1 per cent.



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Observe as American soldiers board an oil tanker flying the Russian flag while helicopters circle the vessel.

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Observe as American soldiers board an oil tanker flying the Russian flag while helicopters circle the vessel.

WATCH: US troops board Russian-flagged oil tanker; helicopters hover near the ship

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday that the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back operations to board two “ghost fleet” tanker ships.

Noem claimed that the motor tanker Bella I and the motor tanker Sofia were last docked in or en route to Venezuela during these operations.

In a post on Twitter, Noem warned narco-terrorists that her best team is ready to find and eliminate them to protect the American people.

The United States released footage showing a helicopter hovering over the ship as armed soldiers were lowered onto the deck.

The soldiers boarded the ship and took control of it.

where they boarded and took control of the ship.“ In two pre-dawn operations today,

the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back, carefully coordinated boardings of two “ghost fleet” tanker vessels –

one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean.

“Both ships – motor tanker Bella I and motor tanker Sofia – were either last docked in Venezuela or on their way there,”

she said. The US seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker belonging to Venezuela and imposed sanctions on the ship M/T Sofia.

According to US Southern Command, Bella-1 violated US sanctions and M/T Sofia was operating in international waters and conducting illegal activities.”

President Trump’s bold and visionary leadership enabled the U.S. Coast Guard tactical teams worked closely with their counterparts at the Department of War.

Department of Justice and State to use their specialised expertise to conduct these operations and conduct two safe, effective boardings within hours of each other.

One of these tankers, the Motor Tanker Bella I, has been trying to elude the Coast Guard for several weeks, in a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to escape justice.

The tanker even lost its original flag and painted a new name on the hull. Added. In a post on X,

Noem praised the military and said that the “gallant crew of the USCGC Monroe” pursued the ship and helped board the “Ghost Fleet”.“

The heroic crew of USCGC Monroe pursued this ship through high seas and through dangerous storms –

keeping diligent watch, and defending our country with the determination and patriotism that Americans are proud of.

These brave men and women deserve the gratitude of our nation for their selfless devotion to duty.” He said,

“The criminals of the world are on alert. You can run, but you cannot hide.

We will never waver in our mission to protect the American people and disrupt the funding of narco-terrorism wherever we detect it.

This is our nation’s greatest fighting force. It is America’s first force at sea.”

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What would happen if you refused to serve in the UK when WW3 broke out? UK | news

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What would happen if you refused to serve in the UK when WW3 broke out? UK | news

often refused to fight for Britain

During World War I, people would wave white feathers at men in the streets – as a symbol to shame those who refused to stand up and fight for their country. These ‘conscientious objectors’ often refused to fight for Britain in the 1914–1918 conflict against Germany for moral reasons. And as a result, ‘The White Feather Campaign’ was organised by women to publicly present men not in uniform with a white feather, as a symbol of cowardice.

It feels as if, with global tensions rising, the threat of another global conflict is closer than in the past – and the prospect of compulsory military conscription, especially for young men, may be very real. 2026 is mere days old, but the US has already invaded Venezuela and is holding urgent security meetings over threats to use its military to occupy Denmark’s sovereign territory, Greenland.

The prospect of WW3 is not something anyone relishes, but as Vladimir Putin’s push into Ukraine continues – and the US clashes with Iran over the Israel-Palestine conflict and threats to take nuclear weapons – it’s fair to say that the threat of a new global conflict feels more real than ever.

Ministers have said the UK needs to be prepared for ‘war in our homeland’, placing greater emphasis on a society prepared for the outbreak of conflict as well as pandemics, extreme weather and other national emergencies such as cyber attacks or infrastructure failure.

We don’t know exactly what recruitment would look like today, but we do have some historical precedents from the last global conflict, World War II.

Those who were conscientious objectors were sent to tribunals to have their cases heard. They had to go to court to argue their reasons for refusing to join, and if their cases were not dismissed, they were given exempt status and offered a non-combat job to aid the war effort.

The Parliament’s website explains: “Conscientious objectors had to appear before a tribunal to argue their reasons for refusing to join. If their cases were not dismissed, they were given one of several categories of exemption and given non-combat jobs.”

Even today, the rights of conscientious objectors are recognised by European courts.

A report on recruitment released in March 2025 by the UK Government outlines how it operates in other European countries in relation to the National Service today.

It states: “Most countries oblige men to serve, while offering women the opportunity to volunteer if they wish. Many countries also offer alternative civilian options for conscientious objectors. Some use a lottery model, meaning only a small proportion of eligible men are required to serve.”

It states: “The European Parliament’s Research Service briefing on compulsory military service states that all EU Member States with active conscription systems have recognised the rights of conscientious objectors through national legislation.”

For example, in Finland, men are required by law to serve, but conscientious objectors may be given non-military service.

In Greece, it is similar, with minimum conditions: “less than 12 months of military or 15 months of civilian service for conscientious objectors.”

Of course, while you may be offered a non-combat role should World War III break out, that won’t stop people on the street from waving white feathers at you.

As explained by the Peace Museum via the University of St Andrews: “The women of the ‘White Feather Campaign’ were militants in more ways than one: with passive aggression, they tried to shame men into joining and fighting in the war, believing that military participation was necessary and right.

“The symbol they used took some well-known peace imagery – the classic white dove – and twisted it to fit their public campaign. It is important to remember that, in their militarism, many of these women felt that they were ultimately working towards global peace: in their view, joining the ‘war effort’ was the best way to end the First World War. Their views were in sharp contrast to the moral pacifism of conscientious objectors, who sought a means to resolve the conflict. As argued against violence.

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Greenland? Colombia? Six countries where the “Don-Roe doctrine” could lead to Trump

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Greenland? Colombia? Six countries where the “Don-Roe doctrine” could lead to Trump

President Trump is not ruling out the possibility of a further U.S. expansion, intervention, or occupation efforts in the Western Hemisphere. The army’s success in looting Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from Caracas over the weekend Face drug trafficking charges in US,

He has already received threats of capture Greenland. And Canada predicted that the governments in Cuba and Colombia would fall. Now, Mr Trump is again making similar remarks and raising new questions about what he plans to do next.

Mr. Trump said on Saturday that under his administration, “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never again be questioned”—dubbing his approach the “Don-Roe Doctrine,” a spin on a 19th-century foreign policy concept.

It is unclear whether the president will follow through on his threats against other countries.

Here’s the latest on countries and territories that have been the subject of the president’s interventionist comments:

greenland

Mr Trump has long desired Greenland and said it was necessary US national security He said one thing again on Sunday.

“We need Greenland as a national security situation. It is very strategic. Russian and Chinese ships are currently encircling Greenland, he stated. “We need Greenland from a national security perspective.”

Mr Trump added, “Denmark will not be able to do that; I can tell you that.” “To increase safety in Greenland, they added another dogsled.”

White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said administration officials were discussing “a range of options”, including using military force to acquire Greenland. said on Tuesday,

The President also nominated Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry Last month he served as special envoy to Greenland to represent U.S. interests on the island, which is an autonomous region of Denmark. “It is an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the United States,” Landry said in a social media post addressed to Mr Trump.

In March, Vice President JD Vance visited Greenland and told a reporter while there that “what we think is that the Greenlanders are going to choose through self-determination to become independent from Denmark, and then we are going to negotiate with the Greenlandic people from there.”

The leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly said the vast Arctic island is not for sale and will decide its own future.

A post Saturday from Katie Miller, wife of top White House aide Stephen Miller, showed Greenland covered with the American flag along with the comment “soon”, which has led some to wonder whether a merger is on the horizon.

When CNN asked Stephen Miller on Monday if he could deny that the United States planned to take over Greenland by force, he responded, “There’s no need to think or talk about a military operation in the context that you’re asking about.” No one is going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.”

Mr. Trump told reporters on Air Force One over the weekend that, although nothing was imminent, “We’ll worry about Greenland in about two months.” Let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days.”

Jens Frederik Nielsen, Prime Minister of Greenland scolded Mr Trump In a social media post, the merger suggestions were called “fantasies” and wrote: “Enough is enough.”

On Tuesday,leaders of europe “Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively by working with NATO allies, including the United States, while upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will never stop defending them,” the government stated.

iran

growing opposition There has been tension in Iran for more than a week regarding the poor economic situation and such reports have also come Dozens of people have died In response, hours before the Venezuelan operation began, Mr Trump posted on social media that if Iran “violently executes peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States will come to their defence.” He said America is “closed and loaded”.

The president said of the demonstrations in Iran on Sunday, “We are watching it very closely. Should they resume their past practices of killing people, I believe the United States will retaliate strongly.

America executed air strikes in June against its major nuclear facilities, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, in an effort to destroy Iran’s nuclear enrichment capability.

Cuba

Returning to Washington on Sunday, Mr. Trump told reporters, “It looks like Cuba is ready to fall,” adding that he did not know “if they are going to hold up.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments Saturday indicate Cuban leaders should be concerned: “If I lived in Havana and was in the government, I would be at least a little concerned.” A day later, on NBC News’ “Meet the Press”, he said of Cuba, “They’re in a lot of trouble.”

Rubio did not detail any plans for Cuba or its leaders, but said, “We clearly dislike the Cuban regime, which, by the way, was supporting Maduro.”

Rubio highlighted the close ties between Venezuela and Cuba, noting that Maduro relied on Cuban bodyguards for protection and saying that they were in charge of the Venezuelan government’s “internal intelligence.” The Cuban government reported that the military operation to capture Maduro resulted in the deaths of 32 Cubans.

For now, Mr Trump is content to see how things are going on the island.

“I don’t think we need any action in Cuba,” he said, adding that Cuba “has no income now – they get all their income from Venezuela, and Venezuelan oil. They’re not getting any of it. And Cuba is literally ready to collapse.”

Last year, Cuba’s oil imports from Venezuela fell 15% to 27,400 barrels a day. reuters It also said that Mexico’s supply to Cuba has fallen 73% to just 5,000 bpd in the same period from January to October.

Colombia

The president appears to have less patience for Colombian President Gustavo Petro, whom he accuses of illegal drug production and trafficking.

“Colombia is also very sick, run by a sick man who loves to make cocaine and sell it to the United States, and he won’t be doing that for very long, let me tell you,” Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday. Asked whether he was threatening a military operation in Colombia, the president responded, “That works for me. You know… they kill many people.”

The Trump administration has claimed that cocaine production has increased during Petro’s presidency, and Treasury Secretary Scott Besant sanctions announced Petro in October because he “allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity.”

Petro has accused the US of violating international law by attacking alleged drug boats, which have now killed at least 115 people, and suggested some innocent civilians may have been killed in the attacks. The US refutes the claim that any of the boat attacks killed innocent civilians.

Petro – Joe Once belonged to a guerrilla group – warned Mr Trump against taking action in his country, writing on X that he had “sworn never to touch a weapon again,” but “for the Motherland I will take up weapons I do not want.”

Canada

While Mr Trump has talked about this before, making Canada the “51st State”, they have not raised it again since the Venezuela operation.

But Mr Trump has imposed punitive tariffs against Canada, raising tariffs to 35% in August, although a large portion of the goods are exempt because they are covered under the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

In October, Mr Trump threatened to end trade negotiations with Canada after an anti-tariff ad using Ronald Reagan’s voice ran in Ontario. Ontario Premier Doug Ford removed the ad, saying, “Our intention was always to start a conversation about what kind of economy Americans want to build and what the impact of tariffs will be on workers and businesses.”

Panama Canal

Mr Trump argued early in his term that the US should gain control of the strategic Panama Canal – drawing criticism from the government of Panama. America inspected the construction of the canal in the early 20th century and controlled it for decades but began ceding the canal and surrounding lands back to Panama in 1979.

He claimed in March he was “reclaiming the Panama Canal,” referring to a deal by a US-led consortium to buy a controlling stake in the company that operates ports near the canal. The President of Panama accused Mr Trump of “lying again”.

What is the Monroe Doctrine?

In 1823, James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, presented to Congress an outline of America’s policy toward its neighbours in the Western Hemisphere. It was initially intended to ward off European colonialism, but the Monroe administration also wanted to increase America’s influence and trade alliances.

During the Cold War, the US cited the Monroe Doctrine to defend against the expansion of communism in Latin America.

The phrase “Don-Roe Doctrine” first appeared on the cover of the New York Post last year.



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Two sides of sombre, the singer shining in sadness

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Two sides of sombre, the singer shining in sadness

Ian Youngs, culture reporter

Getty Images Sombre sings into a microphone on a leaning stand in front of a red background in a shiny dark jacket at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.getty images

Fresh-faced alt-pop singer Sombre has landed third place on BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026 list, which showcases the biggest new music artists for the next 12 months.

Going viral on TikTok, selling out a headline tour, appearing on Jimmy Fallon with a song about her ex (then finding her 15 missed calls), being enthusiastically endorsed by Taylor Swift, having hit films in the US and UK… Every time Sombre gets a big break, a bigger break soon follows.

Sombre’s nomination for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards in just a few weeks could be her next and biggest success yet.

Even at this stage of his career, this will not be the 20-year-old player’s first award.

In September, she won the Moonman Trophy at the MTV Video Music Awards and gave a performance aimed at introducing the public to her musical persona.

Or personality.

Getty Images The sombre half-open black shirt and black leather trousers hold a microphone stand and look moody on stage next to a guitarist at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.getty images
Sombre kicked off his MTV VMAs performance in rock god mode in September…
Getty Images The man in the sombre black suit is holding a microphone on stage, surrounded by several female dancers wearing short dresses with their hair blowing in the wind as they dance.getty images
…before switching to her dazzling pop star persona

Dressed in leather trousers and a black shirt half open to the chest, he launched into an angst-filled Back to Friends with a rock band covered in dry ice, in a set modelled after a dirty club, looking every inch the moody indie messiah.

Then, after quickly donning a shimmering black jacket, she was carried up onto the stage by scantily clad dancers, who twirled around (and against) her as she sang the distinctive disco 12 to 12 under a giant glitterball while Ariana Grande jumped up and down in approval.

That mash-up highlighted two sides of Sombre.

On one hand, he is a troubled indie artist who composed a comprehensive album filled entirely with songs—truly full—centered on themes of heartbreak and emotional pain.

On the other hand, he’s a flawless pop star who gives those songs catchy melodies and great production and delivers them with swagger in a cool suit.

He fills the void left by Jeff Buckley and Harry Styles.

Also included in the mix are excerpts from Matty Healy from The 1975, Jim Morrison from The Doors; and Justin Hawkins from The Darkness.

However, in today’s genre-fluid music landscape, you don’t have to pick a side. It’s possible for Dr Buckley and Mr Styles to be both cool and pop.

Getty Images A silver astronaut holds up the MTV VMA Moon Man trophy at the sombre 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.getty images
Sombre wins Best Alternative Video at the MTV VMAs

Sombre has named Buckley and Radiohead among his musical heroes and said that he has “always been an “alternative music” guy.”

In fact, their MTV award was named “Best Choice” for the video for Back to Friends.

All kinds of alternative music have always captivated me, he says.

“But at the same time, I grew up listening to pop radio in the car or with my parents, and my favourite pop act would be – if it’s even considered pop, I think it’s considered pop – Daft Punk.

“With my natural tastes and upbringing, I found it to be a perfect fit between the poppy hooks and production in some of it and my instrumentation and indie approach to writing.

“A lot of my songs are guitar-heavy. I can never make a full-blown pop song. It always has to have that alternative touch.”

Sombre, wearing a brown jumper, holds a microphone stand with both hands and looks away from the camera

New Yorker Shane Buss became sombre when he posted his first song, Gorgeous Wistful Caroline, on TikTok in 2022, at the age of 16.

He recalls, “I woke up the next day and it was viral, and almost every record label was in my inbox.” “So, as crazy as it sounds, it was an overnight success.”

However, it took three years to go from overnight success to mainstream success, and the path was not always straightforward.

They signed to Warner Records but had lost their way creatively by the end of 2024.

“I was 18 years old. I had just dropped out of high school when I signed a label, and, you know, I didn’t really know what I was doing. And I still don’t know…

“It’s always a strange experience when music transitions from being a hobby to becoming a business or a job.” Do you know what comes to your mind? I didn’t have any backup plan. Therefore, success is not a requirement for this endeavour.

last point

With his career on hold, Sombre was preparing for the possibility of moving back in with his parents, going back to school, and becoming Plain Shane again.

He says, “It was very slow going and it was having a creative effect on me because I started trying to make what I thought people wanted to hear, or what I thought would be beneficial, but that wasn’t working. That never works.”

“So I said, [Forget] this… I’m going to make exactly what I want to make right now. And that was Back to Friends.”.

PA Media Sombre performing on The Graham Norton Show in November 2025 in a half-open white shirt and black jacket with decorative embroidery, leaning on a microphone stand with one hand.pa media
Sombre performed on the BBC’s Graham Norton Show in November.

Sombre says writing not to please others but from the heart opens up everything.

And it was from the heart. Back to Friends is about the pain of spending a night with someone she considers merely casual and meaningless.

More content flowed in, all on the same theme of unrequited or lost love.

He says, “These songs are just about relationships and some of my experiences as a young person with love, loss, and life in between.” “It came out effortlessly.”

This brief description understates the painful sadness simmering beneath the surface of his songs.

Now you are breaking my spirit, my beloved,” Sombre lamented in Crushing, the opening track of her debut album, I Barely Know Her.

Lines from other songs are “You were never mine but I was always yours” (I wish I knew how to leave you); “I try to go on dates but none of them are you” (Canal Street); and “I don’t want any other man’s children to have eyes like the girl I’ll never forget” (With clothes removed).

When Sombre made his TV debut last May singing Back to Friends on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he posted on TikTok that he’d come off the set to watch 15 missed calls from the girl who gave him all that inspiration by rejecting him.

What did his messages say? He said, “I just saw you on Fallen.” I changed my mind.’

“You know, that’s how it goes. The first thing I did was [show] that a career is getting serious. So I think he saw that.”

Like his songs, this is just his side of the conversation. Did he react or did he move on?

“I’ve moved on. There was no reaction from me and it’s in the past, you know?

“My experiences are now reflected in my art, and that is the only place they exist.”

dating game

Putting your most personal feelings out for public consumption has other unintended consequences.

In May, Sombre posted a clip of that line from Undressed with the caption: “Real question: How do I re-enter the dating scene after writing this song?”

How’s that going?

“Not good, man, not good,” he replies with a sarcastic smile. “I’m figuring it out.”

And after striking gold from a relationship experience, how did he find fresh inspiration to re-enter the field of songwriting?

He replied, “It is not a problem.” I am currently living a highly inspiring and dynamic life, so I am not experiencing significant difficulties.

“I’m travelling the world, doing what I love, seeing new places, meeting new people. So it’s not too hard.”

The action will continue in 2026 with more sell-out tours, TV slots, awards shows, and accolades — and hopefully, for her sake, some songs about falling in love, too.

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Our kids waited too long for the same diagnosis as Jessie Nelson’s twins

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Our kids waited too long for the same diagnosis as Jessie Nelson’s twins

Charlie Brown Danny-Ray Brown is wearing a tiara and a pink princess dress, and holding a cane, while she sits in a wheelchair in a room inside the house.Charlie Brown
Danny-Ray Brown couldn’t move her legs at the age of five months, when she started showing the first signs of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Parents of babies born with the life-limiting, rare condition report receiving their diagnosis several months late, despite initial warnings about their symptoms.

Danny-Rae Brown was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) seven months after her first symptoms and now has to use a wheelchair, while Lucian Neal was diagnosed at six weeks old despite showing symptoms in his mother’s womb.

SMA is a progressive muscle-wasting disease that can lead to death within two years if not treated.

Their parents’ comments come days after former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson revealed her twins, whom she gave birth to prematurely last May, have SMA and will “probably never walk.”

The Welsh Government said it follows the advice of the UK National Screening Committee, which does not currently recommend routine newborn screening to detect SMA.

It added, “We are working to improve the diagnosis of rare conditions and will consider any future recommendations from the committee.”

Currently, the NHS offers blood spot tests when a baby is five days old for nine rare but serious conditions.

SMA UK, a charity that supports people affected by the condition, is asking the NHS to add SMA to the list – as screening is only carried out on people who have a sibling with the condition.

Charlie Brown Charlie Brown stands shoulder to shoulder with his family, including Dani who is in a wheelchair. He is posing in front of the camera smiling. They are standing on a sandy beach with the shore and shallow waves behind them. Charlie has a green hoodie and short brown hair, next to him is a woman wearing a cream hoodie and black leggings with white Crocs. She's wearing a mint green jacket and a white onesie with colorful dinosaurs on it, holding a baby in her arms. Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown said he believes if Dani was examined and treated at birth, she could walk

Dani’s dad, Charlie Brown, from Blackwood, Caerphilly, said she started showing symptoms at five months old but was diagnosed at 12 months.

“People weren’t paying enough attention,” he said. bbc radio wales breakfast,

“He was failed by the NHS because of how long it took to diagnose him.

“Dani’s legs were not moving; even from the neck down, she was unable to move anything,” he said, adding that she was treated too late.

“If she had been examined and treated at birth, she probably would have been walking, running, playing and becoming your normal baby.”

Mr Brown said Dani is now wheelchair-dependent, “completely debilitated” and at constant risk of illness as the muscle wasting has worsened.

Chief: “No one would ever choose this life. I don’t think anyone would want to put this life on anyone. You wouldn’t put it on your worst enemy.”

What is spinal muscular atrophy?

A graphic showing symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The background is purple and the white text has five bullet points. The headline reads: Symptoms of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Under this it is said:

According to the NHS, SMA is a rare genetic condition that can cause muscle weakness.

There are four types of SMA, depending on what age symptoms begin and how they affect sitting, standing, and walking.

Most types of SMA are caused by an altered gene that is passed on to a child by their parents.

Blood tests can be used to confirm an SMA diagnosis, and there is currently no cure for the condition.

Jesy Nelson is wearing a black top, has long reddish brown hair and is looking at the camera with lip fillers. Behind that is a bright purple room.
Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson reveals her twins have been diagnosed with SMA

On Sunday, Nelson said in an Instagram video that her twin girls, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster, have been diagnosed with the condition.

He described it as “the most serious muscle disease.”

“It affects every muscle in the body, from the legs to the arms to breathing to swallowing,” he said.

In the video, Nelson said her daughters’ legs don’t seem to move as much as they should, and they’re struggling to eat properly.

Samantha Williams Samantha Williams and her young son Lucian Neal in a hospital room. Lucien is lying on the bed, his body and head resting on a large pillow. He is looking at his mother, Samantha, who has blonde hair and is smiling at him.samantha williams
Samantha Williams said she was told she was an “over-protective mother” when she raised concerns

Samantha Williams, from Crumlin, near Pontypool, said Lucian was diagnosed with SMA when he showed symptoms in the womb when he was six weeks old.

“I was completely ignored. I started going to the GP at four weeks old. By five [weeks old], “He stopped moving everything,” she said.

“I’ve been told I’m an overprotective mother, which is really disappointing.”

Lucian is now two years old, and Williams said he is “doing really well” but “would be even better if they listened to me.”.

Samantha Williams Lucien stands on a piece of support kit inside a room. The device wraps his torso, hips, knees and legs so he can stand upright.samantha williams
Williams said Lucian’s symptoms first appeared in her womb

In 2018, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) reviewed screening for SMA and decided against adding it to the list because, at the time, there was strong evidence on treatment and cost-effectiveness. Limited,

In February 2025, the UK NSC approved an “in-service assessment”—a pilot screening program— to gather UK-specific data.

But the rollout has been delayed because the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) could not find researchers until NHS England formally agreed to deliver a pilot – which is a prerequisite for starting the testing programme.

NHS England said it currently supports further evaluation, adding that it is determined to have a one-shot treatment for all children and their families as soon as possible.

A spokesperson said, “The NHS Generation Study is also evaluating whether genomic sequencing could be more widely adopted as part of standard newborn screening in the NHS, including testing for SMA.”

‘timing is everything.’

Giles Lomax, chief executive of the charity SMA UK, said: “Without early diagnosis and treatment, children with the most severe forms of SMA can experience rapid and irreversible muscle weakness, leading to severe disability and, in some cases, life-threatening complications.

“Today, we have effective treatments for SMA. But timing is everything. The evidence is clear: babies who are diagnosed and treated before symptoms appear have significantly better health outcomes.

“Many people can meet developmental milestones that would not have been possible without early intervention. Once symptoms begin, the damage to motor neurones cannot be undone.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said, “We follow the advice of the UK National Screening Committee, which does not currently recommend routine newborn screening to detect SMA.

“The in-service evaluation in Scotland will help inform a recommendation from the UK NSC on whether screening for SMA should be included as part of newborn blood spot screening programmes across the UK.”

According to SMA UK, an estimated 47 children in the UK will be born with the condition in 2024, although one in 40 have the altered gene that can cause the disease.

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Musk must urgently deal with Grok AI’s ability to generate sexually explicit images, the government warns. | Science, climate, and technology news

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Musk must urgently deal with Grok AI’s ability to generate sexually explicit images, the government warns. | Science, climate, and technology news

Grok, which is being used to generate.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has said Elon Musk’s ex must urgently deal with its built-in artificial intelligence, Grok, which is being used to generate “absolutely appalling” fake erotic images.

Ofcom expressed “serious concerns” on Monday. With the social media platform’s AI tools, it can be used to create “nude images of people” and “sexualised images of children.”

Since the year began,

According to analysis by news agency Reuters, there are also several cases where Grok created sexually explicit images of children.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. File Image:PA
image:
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. File Image: PA

“What we are seeing online in recent days is absolutely appalling and unacceptable in a civilised society,” Ms. Kendall said.

“No one should have to go through the ordeal of seeing their own intimate deepfakes online.

We cannot and will not tolerate the proliferation of these degrading and humiliating images, which disproportionately target women and girls.

More from Science, Climate and Technology

“X needs to deal with this urgently. Ofcom is right to treat this as an urgent matter, and I fully support them in taking any necessary enforcement action.

Sky News has seen many users share their disgust after a deepfake bikini was shared without consent on the app.

Whistleblowers on TikTok draw attention to security concerns related to artificial intelligence.

A statement shared on X’s official security account said: “We take action against illegal content on the platform.”

A post on the Grok

“XAI has security measures in place, but improvements are ongoing to completely prevent such requests,” it added.

Is AI bigger than COVID?

On Friday, French ministers informed prosecutors of sexually explicit material generated by Grok on X, saying the “sexual and sexist” material was “clearly illegal.”.

Can X be compelled to act?

Under the Online Safety Act, which began to be fully enforced in July, it is a crime to share intimate photos of someone without their permission, even if created using AI.

The Act allows companies that enable deepfakes to be shared online to be fined up to £18m, or 10% of their eligible worldwide revenues, whichever is greater.

This also applies if Company X is based outside the UK but has many UK users or has the potential to harm UK users.

The European Union has a similar regulation, called the Digital Services Act (DSA), and can also fine companies.

Indeed, it was necessary to establish the defences of Keir Starmer and other leaders just last month.

Are we too dependent on AI?

Read more:
Why is the Trump administration so angry about Europe’s online rules?

In December, theTrump administration sanctioned British and European online security campaigners It was accused of censoring the “American point of view”.

However, in the United States, some groups are also calling on authorities to take action against xAI.

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) wrote to the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Justice Department, and all attorneys general on Monday, demanding immediate action.

 

“XAI is knowingly and recklessly putting people at risk on its platform and hoping to avoid accountability just because it is AI’,” said Ben Winters, director of AI and data privacy at the CFA.

“AI is like any other product; the company broke the law and should be punished.”



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Trainee drivers may have to wait up to six months before taking the test

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Trainee drivers may have to wait up to six months before taking the test

 

Getty Images A young woman sits in a yellow car, wearing a seat belt, holding her keys out the window and smiling.getty images
Trainee drivers may have to practise for up to six months before they are allowed to sit their practical test.

The BBC can reveal that learner drivers in England and Wales can take up to six months between sitting their theory and practical tests.

As part of its wider road safety strategy, the government will unveil the measure on Wednesday and invite consultations.

Changes to driving laws aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads by 65% ​​and the number of children under 16 killed by 70% over the next decade.

Nearly one-fifth of all deaths or serious injuries in crashes in 2024 will involve a young car driver.

The government believes that the minimum period between sitting the theory test and the practical test will help learner drivers develop their skills, including driving in a variety of conditions.

The Department of Transport will consult on the minimum learning period of three or six months.

This will include any informal learning undertaken with parents or guardians as well as formal lessons with a driving instructor.

Evidence from other countries suggests that a minimum learning period can reduce collisions by 32%. Currently, learner drivers can take lessons from 17 and book a practical test as soon as they pass a theory test.

Young people under the age of 25 take most driving tests in the UK. In 2024–25, about 55% of tests were conducted by drivers aged 17–24.

Learner drivers currently face a waiting time of about six months Due to the backlog caused by the Covid pandemic, they had to give their practical exams anyway. The backlog is expected to last until the end of 2027.

The proposed changes could prevent teenagers from taking the test a few days after they turn 17, meaning the youngest drivers would have to be at least 17 and a half years old.

graduate driving licence

There are strong campaigns in the UK to introduce a “Graduate Driving Licence” (GDL). Different countries have different types of GDLs, such as prohibiting newly qualified drivers from carrying passengers or driving at night.

GDL’s supporters include some parents of youth who have died on the streets.

Sharon Huddleston started the campaign to launch GDL eight years ago after her daughter Caitlin died in an accident at the age of 18.

Sharon Huddleston, with blonde hair and glasses, looks sadly into the camera. On the wall behind him is a photo of him with his two children.
Sharon’s daughter Caitlin died in a car driven by a novice driver

Sharon supports the proposed minimum learning period but added, “We also need safety precautions after testing.”

the driver involved in the murder,

Sky Mitchell, the driver involved in the murder, had only completed his test four months prior.

Sharon believes Caitlin “would still be here” if the UK had introduced graduated driving licences, which would have prevented newly qualified, young drivers from carrying passengers their own age.

“All the girls [in the car] were 18 years old,” she said.

“This is the strongest element of the graduated driving licence that will save many young lives.”

The AA welcomed the measures announced by the government but said not introducing a GDL was “a missed opportunity”.

Its chairman, Edmund King, told the BBC that “all the evidence, from Australia, from Canada, from other countries” shows that limiting the number of passengers of the same age in a car for six months “will save lives”.

He said of the learning period, “It will help, but the question is, does it go far enough?”

The road safety strategy will also include proposals to lower the drink-driving limit in England and Wales to bring it in line with Scotland. The limit will be even lower for novice drivers, which is already in place in Northern Ireland.

The BBC revealed in October that further research on headlight glare will be included in the strategy.

Twenty-one-year-old Alissa Fielder, from Surrey, passed her test as a teenager, but a year ago she crashed while trying to overtake a lorry on a motorway. No one was injured, but his car was wrecked.

“I was too late to check the blind spot and all the cars in front stopped,” he said.

“If I had maybe taken a few more lessons, I would have known that you can’t really take that long.“

Alisa is sitting on the driver's seat of the car. She has long black hair and is wearing a furry coat
Alyssa took a driving assessment four years after getting her licence to see what skills she could improve.

After the accident, Alyssa did not drive for a year. She has since undertaken an informal assessment with the charity IAM RoadSmart to boost her confidence and find out what she needs to work on.

“I was not driving to the best standards and that is why I crashed.”

Alissa said the process of becoming a better driver should continue even after a person passes the test. “Maybe you need to take more lessons from a professional.”

Local Transport Minister Lillian Greenwood said young people make up only 6% of all drivers, but they are involved in almost a quarter of fatal and serious collisions.

“Inexperience puts drivers, passengers and other road users at greater risk,” he said.

The proposed learning period is “about helping young drivers develop the confidence they need to stay safe and giving them more time to build their skills and gain experience in different driving situations.”.



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Humanoid robots will be installed at a US factory, according to Hyundai.

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Humanoid robots will be installed at a US factory, according to Hyundai.
Humanoid robots will be installed at a US factory, according to Hyundai.

Hyundai Motor Group says it will create human-like robots at a manufacturing plant in the US state of Georgia, joining the list of companies racing to use the new technology.

The South Korean firm on Monday showcased Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The announcement follows companies that are planning to deploy humanoid robots on their factory floors, including Amazon, Tesla and Chinese carmaking giant BYD.

Hyundai plans to deploy the robots at the same plant that was involved in a massive immigration raid in 2025 that led to the arrest of hundreds of workers, including at least 300 South Korean citizens.

Atlas humanoids will begin operation in 2028 and will gradually add more functions, Hyundai said. The company owns a majority stake in Boston Dynamics, the technology company famous for Spot the Robot Dog.

Atlas, which is designed for general industrial use, is being developed to work with people and manage machines autonomously.

robots will help reduce physical stress

Hyundai said the robots will help reduce physical stress for human workers, handle potentially dangerous tasks, and pave the way for wider use of the technology.

The company did not say how many robots it would initially deploy or how much the project would cost.

Speaking at CES, Hyundai vice president Jehoon Chang acknowledged concerns that human workers could lose their jobs to robots. However, Reuters reported that he emphasised the need for humans to train the robots for other roles.

Monday’s announcement came as Hyundai said it would invest more than $20 billion (£15.5 billion) in the US in 2025, supporting President Donald Trump’s plans to boost manufacturing in the country.

The company said it would expand car production in the US and invest in autonomous driving technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

Elon Musk’s electric car maker Tesla has also invested heavily in its humanoid robot Optimus.

Hyundai’s battery plant in Georgia, which it operates in partnership with electronics giant LG, is one of its major facilities in the US.

In September 2025, US immigration officials raided the plant.

Workers were shackled by their feet in scenes that sparked outrage in South Korea.

President Lee Jae-myung and Hyundai Chief Executive Jose Munoz warned that the raids could deter foreign investment in the US.

Later that month, Washington and Seoul reached an agreement to release the detained workers.

Trump said he opposed the raid and that the US has an “understanding” with the world about the need to set up special facilities and bring in experts to train local workers.

Munoz said in November that the White House had personally called him to apologise for the raid.



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Mickey Rourke informs fans that he is not responsible for the “disrespectful” $100,000 eviction fundraiser related to ants and art news.

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Mickey Rourke informs fans that he is not responsible for the “disrespectful” 0,000 eviction fundraiser related to ants and art news.

Hollywood star Mickey Rourke has told fans he is not behind an “outrageous” fundraising website set up to support him – and urged well-wishers to try to get their money back, as the total raised has reached almost $100,000.

oscar The named actor and former boxer shared a video statement on Instagram saying he was “really disappointed” and “confused” by the page titled “Help Mickey Rourke Stay in His Home”, which was set up on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe over the weekend.

“Someone has set up some kind of foundation or fund for me to donate money to, like, charity, and that’s not me,” Rourke told his 488,000 followers. He said he didn’t know who was behind it.

“If I needed money, I wouldn’t ask for donations without any nonsense.”

The GoFundMe page said Rourke was facing a “very real and urgent situation: the threat of eviction from his home.”

The page organiser is listed as Lia-Joel Jones, an assistant to Rourke’s manager, Kimberly Hines, and its description says it was set up with her full permission “to help cover immediate housing-related expenses” and prevent eviction.

Rourke is “going through a very difficult time right now”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported the fundraiser, Jones told the outlet that Rourke is “going through a very difficult time right now” and that it was “incredibly touching how many people care about him and want to help.”

In his video, while sitting with his dog, Lucky, Rourke denied any involvement with Page and declared his intention to consult with his lawyer to fully understand the situation.

Mickey Rourke condemned the Go Fund Me page in a video shared on social media. Photo: @mickey_rourke_/Instagram
image:
Mickey Rourke condemned the GoFundMe page in a video shared on social media. Photo: @mickey_rourke_/Instagram

The 73-year-old admitted that he has done a “really terrible job” at managing his career but said that after years of therapy, he has “worked very hard” and is “not as wild a man” as he was in his past.

The actor was best known for films including 9 1/2 Weeks, Rumble Fish, and The Pope of Greenwich Village in the 1980s, and he continued to act in the 1990s, while also pursuing his boxing career. In 2008, he starred in The Wrestler – a performance that earned him BAFTA and Oscar nominations for Best Actor.

In 2025, he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK but was kicked out of the house due to “use of inappropriate language” and “instances of unacceptable behaviour.”.

From the very beginning, she stirred up controversy in the house by making former Dance Moms star JoJo Siwa cry with her comments about her sexuality.

Rourke stated that the COVID pandemic.

In his video, Rourke stated that the COVID pandemic and the Hollywood boom in 2023 had “killed” his finances, and he was previously in a “bad situation” with his rent.

Read more from Sky News:
Was the US attack in Venezuela legal?
Chalamet and Buckley among Critics’ Choice winners

However, he described the fundraising page as “very embarrassing” and told fans, “Don’t give any money, and if you’ve given money, get it back…”

“I would never ask strangers or fans or anyone for money. It’s not my style. You can ask anyone who knows me. It’s disrespectful, and it’s really embarrassing.”

He told fans he was “grateful for everything I have – I have a roof over my head, I have food to eat… everything’s fine,” adding, “Take your money back, please; I don’t need anyone’s money and I wouldn’t do it that way. I’m so proud.”

Sky News has contacted representatives for Hines and Rourke for comment.

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