THE Government is trying to flog half-built warships amid claims it can-not afford to finish them.

Military top brass invited Norway to buy £1billion frigates HMS Belfast and Birmingham, which are midway through construction.

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Selling half-built warships would give Defence Secretary John Healey and the Treasury breathing space to find the time to pay for them, a source said[/caption]

Selling them would give Defence Secretary John Healey and the Treasury breathing space to find the time to pay for them, a source said.

But they added that the Navy would have to wait years to get its promised eight vessels if Norway jumped the queue.

They said: “The Royal Navy only has eight frigates, the smallest number in its history.

“It desperately needs these new Type 26 frigates as soon as possible.

“But the MoD budget is under so much pressure that selling the half-built hulls to Norway would give the Treasury breathing space to find the time to pay for them.”

It comes after the Strategic Defence Review warned the Navy needed a “cheaper, simpler fleet”.

The MoD said Norway was “one of the UK’s most important allies”.

A Norwegian source said: “The government of Norway is in the final phases of making a decision, but no date has been set.”

Paul Edwards - The Sun

The Government is trying to flog half-built warships amid claims it can-not afford to finish them[/caption]

COLDPLAY’S Chris Martin and his actress fiancée Dakota Johnson have split up after eight years together.

Rumours about their relationship had been swirling for months and it has now been confirmed Dakota, 35, and Chris, 48, have gone their separate ways.

The Mega Agency

Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson have split[/caption]

A source told the Mail: “Their relationship has been over for a long time, they just haven’t been able to figure out to make it official. Dakota held a flame for them to be together because she loved him so much and loved his kids so much.”

The source said they tried the age old technique of spending time away from each other but the absences didn’t lead to their hearts growing fonder.

“Dakota is devastated that she isn’t going to be around his kids as much anymore, but wants them to know that she is always there for them,” the insider continued.

The pair were pictured holding hands in January at the Babulnath Temple, Mumbai, where Coldplay were touring.

It followed Dakota, who is the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, working on new romance movie Materialist with co-stars Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal in New York.

Chris famously split from actress wife Gwyneth in March 2014 after ten years of marriage.

He reportedly got engaged to Dakota last March and she called his kids with Gwyneth, 51, her “step-children”.

Chris is dad to daughter Apple, 19, and son Moses, 17.

The Fifty Shades of Grey star declared that she loves Chris’s kids “like her life depends on it.”

She said:  “I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart.

“How do I feel about motherhood? I’m so open to that.

“I’ve gotten to this place where I really want to experience everything life has to offer.

“And especially being a woman, I’m like: ‘What a magical f***ing thing to do. What a crazy, magical, wild experience.

“If that’s meant to happen for me, I’m totally down for it.

“We’re not here for very long, so if I’m meant to be a mother, bring it on.”

Dakota also has the seal of approval from Gwyneth, who attended her 30th birthday party.

She said about Chris and Dakota: “I love her.

“I can see how it would seem weird because it’s sort of unconventional.

“But I think, in this case, just having passed through it iteratively, I just adore her.

“I always start to think of the —what else can you bring in, instead of being resistant to or being made insecure by?

“There’s so much juice in leaning in to something like that.

“It’s not like there’s a finish line: ‘Oh, we consciously uncoupled; we’re done.’

“It’s a lifelong commitment to constantly reinvent your relationship with your ex, which you do presumably because you have children together.

“I don’t see a reason to do it if you don’t have children together. Some people do.

“But I think we put all the hard work in at the beginning. I would say very rarely is it difficult now.

“We’ve learned how to communicate with each other. We love each other. We laugh.

“We have the best of each other. It’s really nice. It makes you feel like you don’t have to lose.”

 

SNOOKER icon Ronnie O’Sullivan has confirmed a major decision… by creating a YouTube channel.

O’Sullivan, 49, has been treating snooker fans to his greatness with a cue for years.

PA

Ronnie O’Sullivan has announced he has joined YouTube[/caption]

Reuters

The seven-time world champion released a video to go with the launch[/caption]

But now the Rocket will be able to spread that joy even more after announcing his latest venture as a YouTuber under the username: @RonnieOSullivan508.

The seven-time world champion published his first video on the platform on Wednesday afternoon.

Announcing the move on social media, he said: “Finally gone and got a YouTube page…

“I will be uploading all sorts here from some of my favourite shots and matches to me cooking to me meeting and chatting to some interesting people.

“Hope you guys enjoy it!!”

In the 25-second shorts video, backed by the song Dreams by Izabel & Waverly, O’Sullivan did not say a word.

Instead, it showed him in hitting a 147 in practice while in Saudi Arabia before the World Championship.

The channel had previously shown a clip of him making his 1000th professional century at the 2019 Players Championship final.

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However, that clip was seemingly swiftly removed.

Regardless, the solo video on the channel proved popular with fans as it was watched 4.7k times.

The video was also liked more than 500 times on its first day, and has already served to connect his fan base around the globe.

Fans were also very supportive of the move, with one saying: “Love you so much Ronnie. I am one of your biggest fans. Welcome to YouTube Legendary Snooker Lord. Greetings and sending lots of love to you from Turkey.”

A second said: “Watched you in Manchester two years ago and was amazing, you will do so well on YouTube and hopefully keeps you going!!!”

A third said: “About time you set a page. Keep it up.”

Another said: “Congrats Ronnie. Greetings from Moldova.”

A fifth said: “Hello Ronnie! Loved watching you since I was a kid. All the best for the future of the channel!”

O’Sullivan made it to the semi-finals of the most recent Snooker World Championship.

There, he suffered a crushing 17-7 defeat to eventual first-time champion Zhao Xintong.

The Rocket has already invested in programs for the next generation, including a snooker academy in his name in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking about his future, the snooker icon said: “I think I’m going to be moving out of the UK this year. A new life somewhere else.

“I’ll still try and play snooker but I don’t know what the future looks like for me really.

“I’m moving away soon so I’ll just see how it goes. There’s a lot of more important things in life to worry about than a game of snooker.

“For me, it’s a big part of my life, but I’ve got to try and figure out what my future looks like, whether it’s playing or not.

“I’ll be moving away to the Middle East but we’ll see how it goes. I might be back in six months, who knows?”

IVAN TONEY has told Bruno Fernandes: You’re wrong about the Saudi Pro League.

Manchester United captain Fernandes rejected a mega-money move to Al-Hilal, claiming he wanted to carry on playing at the highest level.

But former Brentford striker, who won the Asian Champions League with Saudi side Al-Ahli in his debut season, said: “That’s his decision. He maybe thinks it’s different to me.

“He obviously hasn’t seen the league. The standard is high. I always say this, people always judge it on not seeing it, you know?

“And you have to see it first hand to have your own opinion.

“If people went there and went to some games, they’d soon realise.

“I know it’s a good standard. You would never knock it once you’ve been there. It is tough.”

But Toney has backed former Brentford team-mate and United target Bryan Mbeumo to be a success at Old Trafford – or at any big club that signed him this summer.

Toney told talkSPORT: “He scores goals, he knows where to put the ball for other players, he’s got a similar penalty technique.

“He is a top top player, and he deserves to play for top top clubs.”

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England boss Thomas Tuchel decided Toney’s first season in Saudi Arabia was worthy of a recall to the Three Lions’ squad.

The former Bees star scored 23 league goals for Al-Ahli, two behind the SPL’s leading marksman, Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr.

Toney is confident that if he keeps producing the goods, he can book himself a place on the plane to next summer’s World Cup.

Toney, 29, said: “it’s disappointing not to beat Ronaldo, but hopefully next season.

I always think positive. Because if you think negative, then the negative things are going to happen.

“if you’re playing well, if you’re scoring, there’s only one decision. The manager’s seen that hence why he’s brought me back.

“I’m a player that plays in Saudi. If that’s a problem to people, then so be it, but I’m a Saudi player now and I just have to focus on playing football.”

ENGLAND football ace Marcus Rashford appears to have found a real smasher in semi-pro padel star Jaki Palm.

The Manchester United star, 27, was this week pictured chatting to the Swedish beauty and a female pal in St Tropez.

BackGrid

Marcus was this week pictured chatting to the Swedish beauty and a female pal in St Tropez[/caption]

She was seen in the French resort gazing attentively at the forward who had several chains around his neck.

Jaki is based in Dubai is understood to have connected with Rashford when he visited in April.

A source said: “Marcus went to have rehab for a hamstring injury in Dubai and was introduced to Jaki.

“She then joined him with his mates and another woman in St Tropez for a holiday. It’s all very casual but Jaki has told her friends she’s grown close to him.

“She’s being very coy about it. But Marcus is playing the field like young men his age. He is just having fun in the Premier League off-season and he’s had a rough time with his hamstring so to see him having a laugh is what the doctor ordered.”

Jaki describes herself as an entrepreneur and often shares sexy selfies on her Instagram account, which has 10,000 followers.

She also creates content that she says gives her followers “a front row seat to my padel journey.”

On a subscription site for fans, Jaki wrote: “From epic rallies to behind-the-scenes chaos — follow me for laughs, skills and everything padel.”

Padel, a cross between tennis and squash, is one of the world’s fastest-growing racket sports.

Marcus, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, was last linked to Love Island: All Stars’ Grace Jackson.

She opened up about their complex relationship on the ITV show earlier this year.

She said: “We weren’t dating but we were chatting a little and texting. It’s difficult because he can’t go out and just go on a normal date.

“All these f****g United fans were like commenting, thousands of comments on my pictures, like, ’cause they loved me.

“When the article came out (about them) he scored two goals and he hadn’t scored for ages, so they said, ‘You fixed him’.”

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Marcus spent last season on loan at Aston Villa[/caption]

SUPERMODEL Kate Moss risks a run in with pal DJ Fat Tony at a celebrity birthday bash — days after she snubbed his wedding day.

The catwalk great, 51, hugged celeb hairstylist Sam McKnight at this 70th celebration at La Mome in London, where Tony was also a guest.

Shutterstock Editorial

Kate Moss hugs celeb hairstylist Sam McKnight at this 70th celebration[/caption]

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Sam McKnight and DJ Fat Tony[/caption]

The Sun told how Kate decided to skip his wedding to Stavros Agapiou on Saturday after learning her former pal, PR Fran Cutler, was on the guest list.

The 51-year-old British icon was lined up as a bridesmaid, alongside Towie star Gemma Collins and actress Claire Sweeney.

Kate and Fran got to know each other in the 1990s when Fran would plan parties for Jude Law and Sadie Frost — who were good pals with Kate.

But their high-profile friendship ended in 2018, after Fran was said to have accidentally sent Kate a photo of her with a critical comment.

A source said: “Kate snubbing Fat Tony’s big day was the talk of the wedding.

“He wanted to have Kate there.

“But after she found out Fran was going, she said she couldn’t make it.

“Tony is said to have known for a while that Kate wouldn’t be going if Fran was.

“She was really missed and the guests were talking about it.”

Also seen at Sam’s star-packed party were designer Stella McCartney, beauty tycoon Charlotte Tilbury, telly presenters Davina McCall and AJ Odudu and former EastEnders star Patsy Palmer.

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Davina McCall and former EastEnders star Patsy Palmer[/caption]

Shutterstock Editorial

AJ Odudu and beauty tycoon Charlotte Tilbury[/caption]

Shutterstock Editorial

SUPERMODEL Naomi Campbell is bead-dazzled as she looks brilliant in baubles for Dazed magazine.

The London-born catwalk queen tells the mag’s Celebration Issue that, even at 55, she still strives to be better.

She said: “I never said I was perfect.

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Naomi Campbell showed off her stunning figure in a plunging white dress for Dazed[/caption]

Ib Kamara

Naomi covers the magazine’s Celebration issue[/caption]

“I’m a work in progress. I can’t please everybody.

“All that I do is transparent and I am very loyal to the people I love.

“I care about the people I love.

“I value my long relationships.

“In friendships, I don’t have time for the word ‘frivolous’.

“I don’t associate with that word, it’s not who I am.

“When I care, I care… but don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.”

Naomi began her modelling career when she was just eight-years-old.

She went on to become the first black woman to grace the cover of Vogue France and Time magazine in America.

Naomi has spent decades on catwalks around the globe but last month she opened up about being nervous before taking to the stage with Usher.

The supermodel made a surprise cameo during night two of Usher’s ten date residency at London’s O2.

Sporting a glittering silver mini dress, Naomi turned the superstar’s stage into a runway as he sang his 2004 hit Bad girl.

Speaking during hair and make-up Naomi said: “Would you believe me if I said I’m nervous?

“Well. I’m nervous, I’m now thinking no no no.

“But it’s good having nerves, you can use it to get over the hill so to speak.”

Admitting she only said yes due to her close bond with the Love In This Clubs singer, Naomi, continued: “Why do I get talked into these things?

“I say yes and then after I’m like ‘oh no, I don’t want to do it’.

“We do things for people that we love.

“We do things for our friends that go way back.

“This is one of those moments.”

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Naomi on stage during night two of Usher’s ten date residency at London’s O2[/caption]

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FOUR men accused of torching a Ukrainian-owned firm in the UK did so on behalf of Russia’s Wagner Group, a court has heard.

Goods including Starlink satellite equipment were being sent out to Kyiv from the targeted industrial estate unit.

Around £1million in damage was caused when it was set alight in Leyton, East London, in March last year.

Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, Jakeem Barrington Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, are said to have started the blaze.

The Old Bailey was told that CCTV placed them driving to the scene in English’s Kia Picanto.

Jurors heard Rose and Mensah were seen climbing a wall to approach the warehouse, while Mensah also livestreamed the arson.

Prosecutor Duncan Penny, KC, said they were paid agents motivated by “good old-fashioned greed”.

He added: “They did not act alone . . . they were recruited by and directed by two others who have since admitted their role in the aggravated arson.

“This was deliberate and calculated criminality at the behest of foreign influence.”

Mr Penny said “they may have been ignorant” that they had been recruited on behalf of the Vladimir Putin-controlled Wagner Group.

The four deny aggravated arson.

The trial continues.

AP

Four men accused of torching a Ukrainian-owned firm in the UK did so on behalf of the Putin-controlled Wagner Group, a court has heard[/caption]

FORMER fire-breather Sophie Lee said she’s going to prove that Love Island is not just about looks after being left scarred for life following a terrifying accident.

The brave star, 28, hopes to use her time in the villa to spread awareness about body positivity. 

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Instagram

The influencer was left scarred for life after a fire breathing accident[/caption]

Instagram

Sophie revealed the ‘real reason’ why she turned down Love Island in the past[/caption]

Sophie’s life was changed when she was just 22, after a fire-breathing accident left her with significant burns. 

The incident took place whilst she was performing in Chicago, when an air-conditioner blew the flames she was expelling back towards her. 

Sophie told The Sun and other press that the ITV2 dating show is more than just about bikini bodies and glam looks.

She said: “[It should be about] all beauty. Even my Mum, she asked me, ‘What if this bombshell comes in? How you gonna feel about that?’ I’m like, ‘Well, this is what I signed up for, love!’ They’re gonna be stunning.”

The influencer revealed the real reason why she turned down the opportunity to appear on Love Island in previous years.

She shared: “Body confidence for me has been something I’ve worked on.

“This is a show, which is why I had to make this a big choice of mine, in terms of thinking about all these things: am I ready? Am I in a part of my life where I’m confident? That’s why previously, when I’ve been approached to do the show, I said no, because I wasn’t ready.”

Motivational speaker Sophie said she has spent the last few years working on herself and rebuilding her confidence.

“I didn’t feel good in myself. I still had a lot of inner work to do on me,” she continued.

“Now, I’m in a part of my life where I feel like I’m the woman that I’m meant to be.

“I’m proud that I can say, ‘I’m confident, I feel beautiful.’ I think beauty is not just about what you look like.

“You can wear a bin bag but feel beautiful.

“It’s more about how I’m feeling on the inside, and right now, I feel like I’m at my best.

“I feel like I’m in a part of my life where I can handle rejection. I can handle if things aren’t for me, because they’re just not my person, that’s OK.”

The star, from Manchester, previously opened up to The Sun about the terrifying incident. 

She said: “The air-con was too strong so when I blew the fire out it blew back to me. It set me on fire. I just remember being in so much pain, I blacked out for a little bit. It’s crazy.

“It happened in front of everyone and I had to get on with it as professionally and quickly as I could. As soon as I got into the ambulance, I was in bits.”

She added: That was a scary, scary time. I couldn’t breathe by myself, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t really see, it was scary. I was pretty out of it but on day two I looked in the mirror and just cried.”

Sophie spent a month in an intensive care clinic in America, before battling with a tumour which began growing on the side of her face. 

Becoming an activist 

Sophie has used her own experiences to become an activist, spreading awareness about unfair beauty standards and the importance of body positivity.

She said: “Life since the accident is definitely something I didn’t expect because I just see myself as someone who went through something and thought my story could help others.

“My aim was never to get awards or receive that type of attention. With the platform I have now, I feel like I have not only a responsibility to others but a responsibility to myself to be a better person everyday and to always be evolving.

“If people were to take a message from my story I’d say that beauty is always skin deep and your life is perfect just as it is.

“You just need to be yourself and accepting of life’s roller coaster so love your perfectly imperfect life.”

She has worked extensively with Katie Piper’s charity and even wrote a book entitled In My Skin. 

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IF your garden is looking a bit of a mess and you want to ensure it looks fresh, you’ve come to the right place. 

It turns out that there’s a nightmare pest that may be living in your garden – and it could be the reason why your grass and plants are ruined.

Getty

You may spot aphids clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular[/caption]

The Ins & Outs Podcast

Pollyanna Wilkinson, right, shared how to banish the pest without harming your garden[/caption]

Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth.

They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black.

You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap.

But while there’s no need to be alarmed, it’s best to identify the problem as soon as possible – and luckily, a gardening whizz has come to rescue with a wallet-friendly solution.

Speaking on her podcast, The Ins & Outs, Pollyanna Wilkison responded to a listener who had written into the show how to banish the common pest from their birch tree.

The gardening designer said: ”We’re getting a lot of questions about how to get rid of aphids and it’s a tricky one.

”Because on the one side, I want to say to you aphids are actually amazing forage for loads of really important insects – ladybugs, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps all eat aphids.

”They will be eaten by these guys if you leave them alone.”

However, if you’re dealing with ”an absolute infestation”, there’s something you can use – and it’s already in your kitchen.

According to Pollyanna, green-fingered Brits can use washing-up liquid – which you can snap up for around 65p from your local supermarket.

She explained in the podcast: ”The best thing you can do is put some washing-up liquid in a spray bottle and spray everything.

”That’s not going to hurt anything.

”Whatever they breathe through, it blocks it and then they die.”

”We’re not here for the pesticides – the washing-up liquid will do it absolutely fine.”

The gardening whizz also recently shared the common decoration she hates – hanging baskets.

“Hate them. I effing hate hanging baskets. 

“And the reason I hate them is much the same reason that I hate small pots.”

She shared the first reason for this is that she doesn’t think they are “very attractive as a vessel.”

Pollyanna explained on the episode: “You can tend to see the plastic inside because it’s got a plastic liner, because otherwise, obviously the water is going to go through. 

“And I don’t like seeing plastic in the garden.

“And also the body of soil that a hanging basket holds – unless it’s those amazing ones outside the Ritz, which are just the most extraordinary thing I’ve ever seen, but those are the sides of a beach ball –  it’s just, it’s this tiny little dish of mud.”