The car maker which owns Peugeot, Fiat and Chrysler, said that its sales fell 27 percent.
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Stellantis CFO: ‘Performance is below our potential’ in North America as sales collapse 42%
Bayern Munich and former £49.5m Premier League star’s younger brother impresses for Chelsea kids in EFL Trophy
CHELSEA fans are hopeful Richard Olise can emulate his older brother and become a Prem star.
The 20-year-old caught the eye in a 3-0 defeat to Charlton in the EFL Trophy on Wednesday.
Richard is the younger brother of former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise.
Michael, 22, joined Bayern Munich for £49.5million in the summer and has already netted five goals in eight games.
And the future looks bright for his sibling, a right-sided defender in the mould of Reese James.
Olise joined the Chelsea youth setup at the age of just 8.
He has progressed through the academy and has been involved in England’s Under-18s.
Olise picked up a valuable 90 minutes against the Addicks, almost setting up Jimmy-Jay Morgan with some neat interplay down the wing.
It could be a pivotal year for the fullback, who signed a one-year contract extension at Stamford Bridge this summer.
He is contracted with the Blues until next May, with the club having an option for a further year.
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Blues fans are desperate for the 20-year-old to kick on this season in the Premier League 2.
He has made four appearances so far this term, scoring against Fulham earlier this month.
One fan wrote on X after Wednesday’s game: “Another Olise…Hope he will become as good as Michael.”
Another said: “Richard Olise [is] having a great start to the season in a system that functions in a similar way to the first teams.”
While a third commented: “Wasn’t sure Olise was gonna make the step up but this year, he’s been immense.”
Richard hopes to emulate his brother’s remarkable rise from the EFL to the Champions League.
Chelsea ratings vs Newcastle
CHELSEA were dumped out the Carabao Cup by Newcastle.
The 2-0 loss came after the Blues made 11 changes to their starting line-up.
SunSport’s Craig Mahood reveals which players might have done enough to keep their place next time.
Filip Jorgensen – 6
Nervy start when flapping at an early cross and a couple of wayward kicks going out.
Struggled in parts with the ball at his feet including a pass straight to Tonali in the first half. Not much to do in the second half.
Axel Disasi – 6
Looked uncomfortable for large spells at right-back in duels with Joelinton in the first half and couldn’t sort his feet out when scoring an own goal.
Didn’t have much defending to do after the break but offered little in attack.
Tosin Adarabioyo – 6
Best of the back line but not a difficult task. Looks like a player is there if he can get more minutes as marshalled Isak well for much of the contest.
Benoit Badiashile – 5
Shocker of a pass to Veiga for Newcastle’s opener before being booked for a foul on Krafth.
Terrible touch right on half time let Gordon clear and fortunate Willock missed from close range.
Marc Cucurella – 6
Huffed and puffed down the left-hand side and defended reasonably well against Gordon for most of the night.
Tried to link with Mudryk but a frustrating night meant he didn’t get as involved.
Enzo Fernandez – 6
Chelsea skipper saw plenty of the ball but didn’t create much of note on it.
Looked to be missing the creative spark that would normally play alongside him in there.
Renato Veiga – 6
Largely anonymous in the middle as kept possession moving but was caught on it for the opening Newcastle goal, though not really his fault.
Stung the palms of Pope late on but didn’t create much in that position.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 5
Should’ve scored in opening 90 seconds with glorious chance.
On the fringes of the game throughout and struggled to get involved. Hooked before the hour.
Mykhailo Mudryk – 7
Quiet first half hour before bursting clear of Krafth later in half. Appeared to gainconfidence in the second half and was a threat when he did get the ball on the left.
His final ball missing a few times but would’ve had an assist or two on another evening. Chelsea will be hoping this isn’t a flash in the pan.
Joao Felix – 5
Another one that showed very, very brief flashes. Should’ve scored when clean through with 15 minutes to go which might’ve changed the game.
Frustrations of a difficult night shown when booked for dissent in closing stages.
Subs
Noni Madueke – 6
Replaced ineffective Dewsbury-Hall for the final half hour.
Claimed for a penalty when pushed over by Gordon. Was a threat when in possession but struggled against Newcastle’s low block.
Replaced ineffective Dewsbury-Hall for the final half hour.
Claimed for a penalty when pushed over by Gordon. Was a threat when in possession but struggled against Newcastle’s low block.
Michael spent three years at Selhurst Park after signing from League One side Reading in 2021.
During that time, the winger scored 16 goals and provided 25 assists in 90 appearances.
In a club statement following his big-money move to Germany, Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “We are hugely proud of what Michael has achieved at Crystal Palace, a club where he has developed greatly as a player.
“We respect his desire to further test himself at the highest level of world football.
“I would like to personally wish him the very best for his next adventure with Bayern Munich in Germany which I’m sure we will all follow closely.”
Shoppers flock to buy £1.49 B&M ‘winter essential’ – that combats condensation and fights musty odours
WITH autumn finally here, that means two very annoying things – our homes are colder and our windows are wetter.
So if you’re currently battling to banish the condensation on your windows, then fear not, we’ve got you covered.
Windows often serve as condensation hot spots, even in homes fitted with double or triple glazing.
But luckily for you, there’s a £1.49 buy from B&M that will ensure your windows are dry and condensation free in no time at all.
Shoppers are flocking to get their hands on the new Clear Air Moisture Damp Traps.
The Damp Traps were once £1.98 for a pack of two 400 bags, but have now been slashed to just £1.49, saving you 49p.
The Moisture and Damp Traps combat condensation by absorbing excess moisture and humidity.
They also fight musty odours, ensuring your home smells fresh this autumn.
If that wasn’t enough, these cheap buys will also prevent damage to walls and fabrics caused by moisture and improve air quality too.
They’re highly efficient and for less than £1.50, are great value for money.
They can be used all over your home and are ideal for use in utility rooms, kitchens, offices, cupboards, wardrobes and more.
Not only this, but they can also be used in caravans and boats too.
Posting on social media, on B&M Bargains, Extreme Money Saving Deals and More, a private Facebook group with 705,800 members, an anonymous user shared a snap of the bargain buy.
Alongside the post, the B&M shopper asked: “Sorry for the silly post but I got these from B&M and I don’t understand how to use them.
What is condensation?
Condensation is water droplets that form on a window when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface.
Condensation occurs when:
Air cools
Warmer air can hold more moisture than cooler air. When moist air touches a cold surface, like a window, the water vapour in the air turns into liquid water droplets.
Windows are colder than walls
Windows are often colder than insulated walls, so condensation is more likely to occur on them.
Windows are poorly insulated
Poorly insulated windows can lead to condensation, especially if they are made of aluminium, which conducts heat quickly. If left untreated, it can lead to mould and other serious problems.
“Can someone who’s used them show me a photo as I thought I’ve followed the instructions but it’s not collecting anything.”
To this, many B&M shoppers reassured the user that the ‘winter essential’ ‘takes time’ to collect moisture.
Cheap condensation hacks
1. Use Salt or Cat Litter
– Place bowls of salt or silica-based cat litter in areas prone to dampness. These materials are excellent at absorbing moisture from the air.
2. DIY Dehumidifier
– Create a simple dehumidifier using a plastic container with a lid. Punch holes in the lid, fill the container with silica gel or activated charcoal, and place it in humid areas.
3. Ventilate When Cooking and Showering
– Open windows or use extractor fans when cooking or showering to let moisture escape. Even a small gap can make a significant difference.
4. Wipe Down Windows
– Regularly wipe down windows and other cold surfaces with a dry cloth to remove condensation. This prevents moisture from accumulating and causing mould.
5. Use Houseplants
– Certain houseplants, like peace lilies and spider plants, can help absorb moisture from the air. They also improve indoor air quality.
6. Keep Lids on Pots
– When cooking, keep lids on pots and pans to reduce the amount of steam released into the air.
7. Dry Clothes Outside
– Whenever possible, dry clothes outside or in a well-ventilated area instead of using indoor drying racks.
8. Open Curtains and Blinds
– During the day, open curtains and blinds to allow sunlight to warm up windows and reduce condensation. Sunlight also helps to reduce mould growth.
9. Use Towels Wisely
– Keep towels and other fabrics away from walls and windows to prevent them from absorbing moisture and becoming damp.
10. Seal Cracks and Gaps
– Use inexpensive weatherstripping or caulk to seal any cracks or gaps around windows and doors. This helps to keep cold air out and warm air in, reducing condensation.
One person said: “I use these in my caravan and now in my house, great to soak up moisture.”
Another added: “They take time to start collecting moisture.”
A third commented: “Leave them and in the next week or so you will start to see water collecting in them.”
Whilst someone else shared: “I put mine on windowsills.”
Laura Vaughan’s MAFS diary: Kieran needs to DUMP heartbroken Kristina – and QUIT the show alongside another couple
ANONYMOUS letter week hit our screens on Married At First Sight last night.
The episode really did keep me on the edge of my seat.
What could go wrong with a bunch of people in predominantly unhappy marriages, giving other people advice about their relationships?
Well…
If you are as obsessed with Married At First Sight as I am, you need to keep reading, as I’ve got some thoughts…
We saw Kieran and Kristina’s letter, and even Ice Queen herself (me), did shed a tear.
It is very difficult to see that they do really like each other and respect each other but it’s just not working.
We just haven’t seen enough as to why it’s not working.
That’s the only thing I’m confused about.
It seemed to be going so well and I don’t know if it’s because they got lost in the edit, but Kieran has checked out of this relationship and he needs to call time on it now.
You can see Kristina’s heart breaking in front of the nation.
I really hope that he doesn’t take her all the way to the end, exit the process without the drama.
I don’t think they’re here for it.
We’re forgetting that it sounds like Kieran has been through an abusive relationship before, so honestly I don’t think he was ready for this process.
I feel like he needs to invest in himself and get some help.
If you’re not emotionally ready, it’s not fair to inflict that on anyone else.
Adam and Polly
I also hope that Adam and Polly just call time on this now.
It doesn’t look like home stays are going to go well for them. It’s not going to work.
You’ve had a good run in the experiment, you’ve got quite a lot of screen time, are you just learning what you don’t want in a relationship, rather than what you do want?
We saw that Adam had enough.
Polly was saying at the start she doesn’t think she’s pressured him to be sexual or change the intimacy that they’re having.
Polly… you literally did punch a punching bag in the last episode, and joke, if he doesn’t put out, this is what is going to happen to him.
I do feel like there was a lot of pressure on Adam.
But it was actually nice to see Polly take some accountability and step back and think actually this has been what I want, because she feels so hurt from the initial comment about not finding her attractive and felt that she had all the cards to play with.
Whether this epiphany with Polly will change how she is with Adam.
I don’t know. She does like to attack arguments like a bull in a china shop.
Amy and Luke
I really do feel for Amy because I do think that what she has heard is that she feels like Luke is calling her boring and she’s not as fun.
But I will say, I do feel a little sorry for Luke.
If I remember rightly, when he said to Lacey about the photo, he wasn’t saying he wants Amy to be how Lacey is with other people, he just wants a little more spice in his relationship.
Sacha’s letter
Then we had Sacha’s letter. I’m going to say Sacha because I don’t know how much Ross actually put into that.
Luke had a very one sided letter, exactly like I had from Jordan from last season.
I said exactly what Luke said – there is no advice here, this is a personal attack on my character.
Sacha does attack a little bit. She did positions her opinion as facts.
You have got involved in other people’s business.
Let’s not forget Luke did not want to be involved in Hannah’s drama, I don’t know, maybe that’s changed and maybe he’s playing up to the cameras, it does happen to the best people in there.
Especially if you’re not getting enough screen time.
Amy and Luke were quite quiet because of what everything else was going on in the season. Maybe Luke’s like ‘we’ve got to change this’.
The last dinner party is going to be a very small affair, I’m banking on that right now.
GB News fined £100,000 by Ofcom for breaking impartiality rule over Rishi Sunak programme
GB NEWS has been fined £100,000 for breaking impartiality rules over a programme featuring Rishi Sunak, Ofcom has said.
The TV watchdog said the then-PM had a “mostly uncontested platform” on the People’s Forum Q&A show.
But the channel’s boss Angelos Frangopoulos said the fine was a “direct attack on free speech and journalism in the United Kingdom”.
He said: “We believe these sanctions are unnecessary, unfair and unlawful.
“The programme was designed to allow members of the public to put their own questions directly to leading politicians.
“GB News chooses to be regulated and we understand our obligations under the Code.
“But, equally, Ofcom is obliged by law to uphold freedom of expression and apply its rules fairly and lawfully.”
The hour-long show on February 12 saw voters grill the then-prime minister. H
But it received more than 500 complaints – with Ofcom ruling that other political views should have been given “due weight”.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
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Amy Dowden’s Strictly partner JB Gill is under ‘massive pressure’ after partner swap, says JLS star Aston Merrygold
STRICTLY Come Dancing alumni Aston Merrygold has admitted JLS bandmate JB Gill is under “massive pressure” amid his recent partner swap ahead of this weekend’s routine.
The Everybody In Love hitmaker, 36 – who battled for the show’s Glitterball Trophy in 2017 – spoke out on Thursday’s Lorraine as he offered some sage advice to his best mate, 37.
It came after Strictly Come Dancing bosses confirmed JB‘s partner Amy Dowden would be replaced both for rehearsals and for their Idols Week routine.
The Welsh dancer, who has Crohn’s Disease and has been battling cancer, missed the results show last week after she collapsed and was rushed to hospital.
The medical drama – which happened shortly after the live episode aired – has since seen BBC star Lauren Oakley, 33, step in as Amy‘s replacement.
The new duo’s upcoming dance – a Couple’s Choice routine to a Bruno Mars track – was then revealed on Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two.
Now Aston, who was partnered with It Takes Two star Janette Manrara, has told of the issues his mate might now face.
He told Lorraine Kelly‘s stand-in host Ranvir Singh: “It is, it is him and Lauren.
“For him, obviously having to switch partners last minute, that whole thing is going to obviously play a big part on pressure.
“Sending lots of love to Amy as well,” before giving a wave to the camera.
When asked what more his Beat Again bandmate could bring to the table, Aston said: “I think for J now it’s bringing out the personality a bit more.
“I think we have only scratched the surface of JB.”
Admitting everyone is. more “reserved” at the start of their Strictly journey, he added: “I think now it’s time for J to be ‘right, now I can have some fun with this.”
ALL CHANGE
Amy’s Strictly replacement Lauren – who was not given a celebrity partner this year – recently broke her silence on being a stand-in.
She took to her social media to send Amy her best wishes.
Re-sharing the BBC‘s statement about her replacement, Lauren added: “Sending you so much love and well wishes @amy_dowden.
Strictly 2024 pairings
Here's who is matched with who this series...
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
“Hope you’re back on the dance floor as soon as possible!
“I will look after @jbgill for you this week, I hope we make you proud!”
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
On Saturday, we were first to report how Amy was attended to by paramedics at Elstree Studios and taken away in an ambulance.
At the time, an East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called just after 9pm on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.
“An ambulance was sent to the scene. One patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet Hospital for further care.”
A statement from Amy’s spokesperson read: “Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution.
She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern.
“We request Amy’s privacy in matters of health is kindly respected.”
Her replacement comes amid fears she will now be forced to quit this year’s instalment completely.
Meanwhile, X Factor singer JB broke his silence in the Results Show after Amy’s exit.
Tulisa Contostavlos discovers root cause of 12-year health battle that left her in ‘horrific pain and fearing for face’
AFTER a 12-year long health battle that left her in “horrific” pain and fearing for her face, Tulisa Contostavlos has finally discovered its root cause.
The former X-Factor judge, 36, battled agonising swelling in her face and felt like her “cheek was on fire”.
Taking steroids to dull the pain and swelling and resorting to fillers to “balance out” her face, Tulisa admitted she would ask herself “What the hell is going on with my face?”
The singer – who’s rumoured to be in talks to appear in I’m A Celebrity – says she finally got to the root cause of her health battle last year, after a scan “three chronically infected cysts” in her cheek.
Tulisa says the chronic infection in her face could have triggered the host of health issues she’s been battling for years.
“For years they were testing me for sarcoidosis, immune disorders, and now it explains all the symptoms that I was getting.”
The TV star even believes the cysts may have caused Bell’s Palsy – a condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face.
“They could have been growing over the years and actually triggering Bell’s Palsy.”
Tulisa experienced her first attack after suffering a sudden burst of inflammation in her cheek at the age of 24.
“They could have been the burst of inflammation,” she said.
Tulisa opened up about her health battle on Olivia Attwood‘s podcast So Wrong It’s Right.
She was probed by Olivia about speculation over plastic surgery that’s surrounded her over the past few years.
“To be fair, I haven’t had any surgery up until – confession – recently,” the former X-Factor judge said enigmatically.
“All the time before there was no surgery, only fillers and other issues that I had.”
Tulisa first opened about being diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy in 2020, saying it was probably triggered by nerve damage from a serious horse riding accident.
The TV star told Olivia she had her first attack at the age of 24.
“I was sat at home and I had this huge burst of inflammation on my cheek, as if I had an abscess in there.”
Tulisa was given antibiotics and steroid injections to treat the swelling, which diminished – but then her “whole face just dropped”.
“My face remained like that for seven months. I didn’t go out, I just hid in the house,” she said.
When asked about what could have caused this, Tulisa said: “For me it was the trauma of the inflammation but no one knows what caused this cheek to blow up.”
Left with “mild swelling” seven months onwards, Tulisa admitted to using fillers in attempt to “balance out” her face, causing her to be locked in a “vicious cycle”.
The N-Dubz star had no new attacks for the next couple years, but she once again started noticing “low level swelling in the same cheek”, which started to get worse.
She recalled: “I would have tingling sensations like little ants crawling in my face, my cheek was numb.
“I started seeing doctors all around the UK [telling them] ‘something’s wrong with me, what’s wrong with my face’.
“It was scary.”
At the time, Tulisa chose to dissolve all the filler on the left side of her face, only injecting it in the right side in attempt to mirror and balance out the swelling.
“This went all the way up until this year.”
The swelling was “at its worst” when the singer reunited with N-Dubz for a sell-out tour last year.
“I constantly felt like my cheek was on fire. I’d have good days and bad days and on some days, I’d take steroids, which would bring it down.
“When I was doing that N-Dubz run it was at its worst, so you might see an interview, I look normal. And then you see another interview, it’s like, what the hell is going on with my face?”
What is Bells Palsy?
BELL’S palsy is a temporary weakness or lack of movement that usually affects one side of the face.
It can last months at a time, but it is usually easily treated with steroids.
As well as changes to one side of the face, other symptoms include:
- A drooping eyelid or corner of the mouth
- Drooling
- Dry mouth
- Loss of taste
- Dry or watering eyes
- Difficulty closing one eye
A 10-day course of steroids, eye drops and ointments, and surgical tape to help keep eyes closed can all be used to treat it.
Symptoms usually clear up within six months.
If you or your child has symptoms of Bell’s palsy, you should ask your GP for an urgent appointment or call NHS 111.
However, call 999 if somebody’s face droops on one side, they cannot left up both arms and keep them there, or they have difficulty speaking, as these could be signs of a stroke, which is a medical emergency.
Source: NHS
A specialist Tulisa was seeing noticed “dark shadows” in her face during scans.
Though other doctors has dismissed the marks as filler or benign cysts, he advised that she get them removed in case they were the root cause of her inflammation.
Tulisa saw a maxillofacial surgeon, who said: “What I’m going to do, if you’d allow me, is to go in for an explorative op and just see what I can find.”
“I was like ‘please do it. I’ll do anything. Please. I can’t take it any longer’,” Tulisa recalled.
‘So, he went in. I’ll forget, I woke up and he said we’ve got some good news.
“We found three chronically infected cysts in your face. I basically had these cysts that were sat all around my cheek, swelling up with infection.”
The cysts were cocooned in scar tissue and would get inflamed and swell up.
“One of them actually popped as he went in that’s how infected it was.”
The specialist wasn’t sure what had caused the cysts, but he told Tulisa “they weren’t filler”.
She believes the painful cysts had exacerbated the health concerns she’s battled over the years such, as sarcoidosis and immune disorders.
“And I’ve had all these health problems for years – sarcoidosis, immune disorders and this explains all the symptoms that I was getting and could have been causing Bell’s Palsy because in total there was, I think, six of them,” Tulisa told Olivia.
“They could have been growing over the years, actually triggering the Bell’s.”
She recalled how her face “instantly” looked less swollen after the op.
Tulisa still has two more cysts next to her nose and in her cheek, which she’ll also get removed in the next few months.
She hopes her face will go “back to normal” afterwards.
Tulisa shared that she no longer has filler anywhere in her face except her lips – saying the lingering swelling is giving her face a “plump-cheeked look”.
Millions of pensioners WON’T see State Pension rise by full £473 next year despite triple lock – how to top up your pot
MILLIONS of pensioners will see their weekly state pension payments rise next year after the Chancellor confirmed it will increase by 4.1% next year.
As a result more than 12 million pensioners will receive up to an extra £470 per year.
But the exact amount you will receive will depend on whether you receive the old version of the benefit or the new full state pension.
The state pension increases every year in order to keep pace with the rising cost of day-to-today items such as food and household bills.
It will rise next April under the triple lock guarantee.
The triple lock promises that each year the state pension will be put up in line with whatever is highest of wages for May to July, 2.5% or September’s inflation figure.
Employee wages grew by 4.1% in the three months to July, while the UK’s rate of inflation was 1.7% in September.
That means that the state pension will rise by the earnings figure.
New state pension
It has been confirmed that the state pension will increase from £221.20 a week to £230.30.
Over the course of a year this would take payments from £11,502 to £11,975 – a £473 increase.
But only those who receive the full new state pension will get this amount.
To get the full state pension, you need to have 35 years of national insurance contributions.
Only half of people who claim the new state pension received the full amount last year, according to Royal London.
Retirees on the new state pension who have more than 10 years of contributions but less than 35 years will see their payments increase by less.
They will still get the 4.1% boost but the total amount of state pension they will get will continue to be lower.
For example, someone with just ten years of national insurance contributions or equivalent credits would get around £63.20 a week.
How does the state pension work?
AT the moment the current state pension is paid to both men and women from age 66 - but it's due to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046.
The state pension is a recurring payment from the government most Brits start getting when they reach State Pension age.
But not everyone gets the same amount, and you are awarded depending on your National Insurance record.
For most pensioners, it forms only part of their retirement income, as they could have other pots from a workplace pension, earning and savings.
The new state pension is based on people’s National Insurance records.
Workers must have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance to get the maximum amount of the new state pension.
You earn National Insurance qualifying years through work, or by getting credits, for instance when you are looking after children and claiming child benefit.
If you have gaps, you can top up your record by paying in voluntary National Insurance contributions.
To get the old, full basic state pension, you will need 30 years of contributions or credits.
You will need at least 10 years on your NI record to get any state pension.
This adds up to £252.80 a month – or £3,033.60 a year.
When their state pension increases by 4.1% in line with the current earnings data then their payments will rise to £65.79 a week.
Each month they would get £263.16
Per year this works out at £3,157.92 – a difference of £124.32.
You can check your national insurance record on gov.uk.
To calculate how much state pension you would receive, divide £221.20 by 35 then times it by the number of years of contributions you have.
Old state pension
If you are a man who was born before April 6, 1951 or a woman born before April 6, 1953 then you will get the old state pension.
If you were born on or after these dates you will receive the new state pension instead.
The old state pension pays £169.50 a week.
Each month that adds up to £978, or £8,136 over the course of a year.
When it rises by 4.1% next year the monthly payments will rise to £176.45 a week or £705.80 a month.
Each year it will pay £8,469.58 – a difference of £333.58.
To get the full old state pension you also need a certain number of qualifying years of national insurance.
If you are a man you usually need 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1945 and 1951.
If you were born before 1945 then you need 44 qualifying years.
What are the different types of pensions?
WE round-up the main types of pension and how they differ:
- Personal pension or self-invested personal pension (SIPP) – This is probably the most flexible type of pension as you can choose your own provider and how much you invest.
- Workplace pension – The Government has made it compulsory for employers to automatically enrol you in your workplace pension unless you opt out.
These so-called defined contribution (DC) pensions are usually chosen by your employer and you won’t be able to change it. Minimum contributions are 8%, with employees paying 5% (1% in tax relief) and employers contributing 3%. - Final salary pension – This is also a workplace pension but here, what you get in retirement is decided based on your salary, and you’ll be paid a set amount each year upon retiring. It’s often referred to as a gold-plated pension or a defined benefit (DB) pension. But they’re not typically offered by employers anymore.
- New state pension – This is what the state pays to those who reach state pension age after April 6 2016. The maximum payout is £203.85 a week and you’ll need 35 years of National Insurance contributions to get this. You also need at least ten years’ worth to qualify for anything at all.
- Basic state pension – If you reach the state pension age on or before April 2016, you’ll get the basic state pension. The full amount is £156.20 per week and you’ll need 30 years of National Insurance contributions to get this. If you have the basic state pension you may also get a top-up from what’s known as the additional or second state pension. Those who have built up National Insurance contributions under both the basic and new state pensions will get a combination of both schemes.
Meanwhile, if you are a woman you usually need 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1950 and 1953.
If you were born before 1950 then you will need 39 qualifying years.
Additional state pension
Many people who get the basic state pension also qualify for additional state pension.
This is extra money on top of the old state pension payment.
To qualify you must be a man born before April 6, 1951 or a woman born before April 6, 1953.
There is no fixed amount you will get from the additional state pension.
How much you will receive depends on:
- How many years you paid national insurance on your earnings
- Whether you were contracted out of the scheme
- Whether you topped up your basic state pension (this was only possible between October 12, 2015 and April 5, 2017
The additional state pension is made up of three schemes.
You may have contributed to more than one depending on:
- How long you have been working
- Whether you chose to top up your state pension
You may be eligible for the second state pension if you were employed or claiming certain benefits from 2002 to 2016.
Or you may be entitled to State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) if you were employed from 1978 to 2002.
Finally, you could be entitled to State Pension top up if you reached the state pension age before April 6, 2016 and opted in between October 12, 2015 and April 5, 2017.
You do not need to apply to claim the additional state pension.
If you are eligible for it you will automatically get it when you claim your state pension.
The amount you are given should also rise by 4.1% from next April.
How to top up your state pension
Claim missing credits
You may be able to fill in gaps in your national insurance record for free by claiming missing credits.
You may have earned them even though you were not paying national insurance because you were claiming benefits while you were ill or unemployed.
If you are eligible you may get credits automatically or you have to apply for them.
You may be eligible for missing national insurance credits if:
- You are looking for work
- Ill, disabled or on sick pay
- On maternity, paternity or adoption pay
- A parent or guardian
- You are a carer
- Grandparent or other family member caring for a child
- On working tax credit
- On universal credit
- On a training course
- On jury service
- The partner of a person in the armed forces
- Wrongly imprisoned
Make voluntary contributions
If you have gaps in your national insurance record you can also top them up by paying voluntary contributions.
You can usually pay voluntary national insurance contributions for the past 6 years.
The deadline is April 5 each year.
If you want to make voluntary contributions for the 2016-17 or 2017-18 tax year then you have until April 5, 2025 to pay.
You can sometimes pay for gaps from more than 6 years ago, depending on your age.
If you are a man born after April 5, 1951 or a woman born after April 5, 1953 then you can make up for gaps in your record from further back.
You have until April 5 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between tax years April 2006 and April 2016 if you are eligible.
After April 5 you’ll only be able to pay for voluntary contributions for the past six years.
You can check your national insurance record here.
There are two types of national insurance contributions – class 2 or class 3.
The type of voluntary contribution you are eligible to pay depends on whether you were employed or self-employed, the amount of money you earned and if you receive benefits.
For the 2024-5 tax year voluntary class 2 contributions cost £3.45 a week, while voluntary class 3 contributions cost £17.45 a week.
If you want to fill gaps in your record from previous years you will pay the rates that were set during that tax year.
Defer when you claim it
Another option to increase the amount you will receive each week from the state pension is to defer when you claim it.
The amount you will get in the state pension will increase every week you defer, as long as you defer for at least nine weeks.
Your state pension increases by the equivalent of 1% for every nine weeks you defer.
This works out as just under 5.8% for every year.
The extra amount is paid with your usual state pension payment.
For example, if you are entitled to the full new state pension of £221.20 a week but you defer for a year you will get an extra £12.82 a week when you claim it.
This example assumes that there is no annual increase in the state pension.
You do not get your state pension automatically and need to claim it.
You should get a letter no later than two months before you reach state pension age, which will tell you what to do.
If you want to defer, you do not have to do anything as your pension will be automatically deferred until you claim it.
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England rugby star Joe Marler slammed as ‘disrespectful’ after calling to BAN ‘ridiculous’ Haka
JOE MARLER has received a backlash for calling to ban the Haka.
The experienced England international, 34, was writing on social media ahead of the Red Roses’ match against New Zealand at Twickenham this Saturday.
Ahead of matches, it is customary for the All Blacks to perform their famous Haka.
The Haka is a culturally significant war dance in Maori tradition.
Marler, however, has claimed that it is “ridiculous” and should be axed.
He wrote on X on Tuesday: “The haka needs binning. It’s ridiculous.
“It’s only any good when teams actually front it with some sort of reply. Like the league boys did last week.”
Last Sunday, England’s rugby league national team faced Samoa in Wigan.
After Samoa performed their traditional Siva Tau pre-match routine, Mikey Lewis found himself head-to-head with Gordon Chan Kum Tong.
Marler received a backlash for his post, with one social user responding: “Have a bit of respect for other cultures.”
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Following the responses, Marler temporarily deactivated his X account.
The Harlequins star went on to return on Wednesday morning, posting: “Context is everything. Just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture. Some wild responses.”
He went on to add in a further post: “Also needed to satisfy my narcissism.”
Marler has been recovering from a broken foot sustained in the summer and will not feature in this Saturday’s first Autumn International.
He is in the 36-man squad, however, and could be called upon by head coach Steve Borthwick in the coming weeks.
Autumn Nations Series fixtures
Saturday, November 2
- 3.10pm: England vs New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium
- 5.40pm: Scotland vs Fiji, Murrayfield
Friday, November 8
- 8.10pm: Ireland vs New Zealand, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, November 9
- 3.10pm: England vs Australia, Twickenham
- 5.40pm: Italy vs Argentina, Stadio Friuli
- 8.10pm: France vs Japan, Stade de France
Sunday, November 10
- 1.40pm: Wales vs Fiji, Principality Stadium
- 4.10pm: Scotland vs South Africa, Murrayfield
Friday, November 15
- 8.10pm: Ireland vs Argentina, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, November 16
- 3.10pm: Scotland vs Portugal, Murrayfield
- 5.40pm: England vs South Africa, Twickenham
- 8.10pm: France vs New Zealand, Stade de France
Sunday, November 17
- 1.40pm: Italy vs Georgia, Stadio Luigi Ferraris
- 4.10pm: Wales vs Australia, Principality Stadium
Friday, November 22
- 8.10pm: France vs Argentina, Stade de France
Saturday, November 23
- 3.10pm: Ireland vs Fiji, Aviva Stadium
- 5.40pm: Wales vs South Africa, Principality Stadium
- 8.10pm: Italy vs New Zealand, Allianz Stadium, Turin
Sunday, November 24
- 1.40pm: Scotland vs Australia, Murrayfield
- 4.10pm: England vs Japan, Twickenham
Saturday, November 30
- 3.10pm: Ireland vs Australia, Aviva Stadium
Ex-Pentagon UFO whistleblower reveals ‘high-res pic of alien mothership’ as he dubs ‘craft’ a ‘huge floating mini city’
A FORMER Pentagon official has revealed a freaky photo of an alleged massive alien mothership and described it as a “huge mini city floating in the sky.”
Luis Elizondo previously ran the military’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, and is a U.S Army counterintelligence specialist.
Surreal pictures of the supposed space-craft appears to show a distinctive disc shape, with a beaming light emanating from it’s bottom in Romania.
The shape is universally recognised as what we understand an alien UFO would look like, as it hovers menacingly in the air over a road.
The mysterious “mothership” has been debuted at a private event in Philadelphia on October 28, by the former official at the Pentagon.
Luis Elizondo’s claims of a ship the size of a “huge floating mini city” have drawn up fresh speculation from UFO believers and equal dismissal from critics.
Luis chose his words wisely at his secretive event, instead using his “evidence” to speak for him.
He said: “Guess what we caught in Romania in 2022? By the way, the U.S Embassy,’ as Elizondo told attendees at the paid event, gesturing to the photo: ‘That.’
“‘There’s a whole lot more here folks.
“We’re having pilots, military pilots and civilian pilots in Eastern Europe and in the Middle East, report what unimaginably seems impossible
“I just want to give you kind of a small taste of what’s going on “behind the scenes.””
The startling claim directly links the U.S government to a deliberate alien cover-up, that he was exposing at the bizarre presentation.
LUIS’ CLAIMS HAVE DRAWN STRONG BACKLASH
These claims have drawn intense speculation from critics.
Veteran US Air Force Staff Sergeant, Jeremy McGowan, witnessed a sensational UFO encounter in the Middle East decades ago.
Despite this, he has cast strong doubt on Luis’ credibility.
Jeremy said: “This unfortunate situation with Lue follows my experiences with him nearly exactly.
“I witnessed him exaggerate or outright fabricate information that simply wasn’t true.
“I’ve been on the receiving end where Lue has pulled out his cell phone and shown me what he described as highly classified video.
“For him to think I would believe he would simply carry classified info on an unsecure civilian cell phone is just insulting.
“And it wasn’t just me, multiple podcast hosts were shown video Lue attributed to things they were not.”
In the mid-90s, while serving as a member of the JSOC J2 Security Team for “Ellipse Foxtrot,” Jeremy says he was a witness to unusual aerial lights.
According to reports, tickets to Luis’ revelatory event at The City Winery, a Pennsylvania wine bar, cost between $30-$50 (£23-38).
CRITICS THINK THEY HAVE FOUND THE TRUTH
It did not take long for other internet sleuths to poke holes in Luis’ outlandish statements.
John Greenewald Jr, a government transparency advocate, tracked the photo back to September 2023, in a Facebook group called “Mysterious Ancient Discoveries”.
This higher resolution pic appears more likely to have originated as the reflection of an indoor chandelier reflected in window glass.
The Facebook picture has over 180,000 likes and 23,000 comments, suggesting the public were aware of the snap.
Further examination of the pic allegedly showed that it was not actually linked to the U.S Embassy, as Luis claimed.
The photo background appeared to show the Arad Power Station, a coal-fired plant.
America’s Embassy is roughly 400 miles to the southeast of Arad, and is actually placed in the capital city Bucharest.
LUIS HAS MORE EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER
On October 30, two days after his paid event, Luis clarified that any misinformation involved in his presentation was the fault of his “friend in the government” who reportedly supplied the image.
Luis has been criticised by the UFO community, who have accused him of using them as pawns in a money-making scheme.
One Reddit on the forum e/UFOs, one user remarked, “Lue is 100% using us as pawns to line his pockets.
“His most recent book was no.1 seller in the nation.”
According to Luis’ X account, he has five more speaking engagements lined up for November.
The tagline on the promotional poster reads “WE ARE NOT ALONE”.
