News

THE UK’s biggest water company has been thrown a lifeline to stop it running out of cash by Christmas.

Troubled Thames Water yesterday said it had secured a loan of up to £3billion.

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Thames Water said it had secured a loan of up to £3billion[/caption]

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UK’s biggest water company was thrown the lifeline to stop it running out of cash by Christmas[/caption]

The new debt will give it the necessary breathing space to continue talks with other investors about injecting fresh cash into the business.

Chris Weston, the firm’s chief executive, said it was the “best option”.

If Thames Water — which supplies 16million households — does not find a long-term answer and runs out of cash, it will be transferred into temporary Government ownership.

Regulator Ofwat said safeguards are in place to protect water supplies.

Thames — which will be in almost £18billion of debt by the end of March — has asked existing creditors to put in £1.5billion to extend its resources to next October.

A further £1.5billion in loans can be accessed if it succeeds in its appeal against regulator Ofwat on how much it can put up bills.

Ofwat said in July the supplier could only raise bills by 22 per cent, but the firm wants a 53 per cent rise.

Castle Water, co-founded by Tory treasurer Graham Edwards, is involved in investment talks.

Infrastructure investor Brookfield, private equity giant Carlyle and Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, who controls Northumbrian Water, are also weighing it up.

Stuff bought

CASUAL clothing brand White Stuff has been bought by the South African owner of Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight.

White Stuff, which has 113 shops and 46 concessions in UK department stores, has gone to TFG London, part of Johannesburg-listed THE Foschin Group.

Good week

AFP

Elon Musk’s fortune was boosted by a whopping £20bn[/caption]

ELON Musk after his fortune rose by £20billion in one day when the share price of TESLA jumped on bold sales forecasts.

Bad week

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Mercedes-Benz chief Ola Kallenius revealed a profits slump[/caption]

OLA Kallenius, boss of Mercedes-Benz, which revealed that profits had slumped by over half.

A NEW find at Home Bargains has parents across the UK buzzing with excitement as it’s scanning for only £30.

Savvy mum Rachael Anfield Whyte shared her discovery of the Dreamer Cosmetic Trolley, dubbing it the “perfect gift for little girls” this Christmas.

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This pink glittery cosmetic trolley is scanning for just £30 at Home Bargains[/caption]

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It comes with all the beauty tools needed for a glam makeover[/caption]

The eye-catching cosmetic trolley, priced at just £30, is a dream come true for kids who love all things glam.

Rachael, whose six-year-old daughter has a passion for makeup and a love of pink, couldn’t resist the sparkling trolley.

Sharing her bargain find on popular Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, se wrote: “My little girl who’s six is obsessed with her big sister’s makeup, and she’s also pink mad.

“Spotted this in Home Bargains – so cute!

“It’s £30, which I thought was a bargain when most online are tiny for the same price!”

Rachael even added a photo of the trolley’s contents, highlighting the range of items that make it a fully-equipped beauty kit for aspiring young makeup artists.

The Dreamer Cosmetic Trolley is packed with everything needed for a glam makeover on the go, including a glitter eyeshadow palette, lip glosses, a nail polish set, and even fun accessories like nail stickers and body gemstones.

Its spacious compartments leave room for additional products, so little ones can grow their collection over time.

Designed for playdates, parties, or just a bit of dress-up fun at home, the trolley has built-in features like a pull-up handle and rolling wheels, ensuring kids can transport their beauty kit wherever they go.

The design includes a built-in mirror and foldable compartments, adding a grown-up feel to this pint-sized beauty salon on wheels.

As the holiday season approaches, Rachael’s recommendation could be a game-changer for those searching for an affordable yet exciting gift.

The post saw flood of positive comments from fellow parents eager to grab the trolley for their own children.

One user wrote: “We are on a hunt for this.”

Another commented: “I bought something very similar to this in Smyths for £60.

“When I seen this in home bargains I nearly cried, definitely a good deal!”

A third added: “I need this!”

It comes as Home Bargains shoppers are rushing to buy an “amazing” beauty gift set that’s scanning at tills for £8 instead of £31.

The “ideal stocking filler” features several L’Oreal products.

Home Bargains has slashed the cost of its L’Oreal Blemish Buster Gift Set from £38.99 to just £7.99.

That’s over 80 per cent off meaning customers save £31.00.

WHIZZING along the water holding on for dear life wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for a peaceful cruise to the Norwegian fjords.

We boarded the RIB (rigid inflatable boat) just a hundred metres or so from the MSC Virtuosa, our cruise liner home for the week — kitted out in waterproof overalls and goggles as we soaked up the views of the fishing villages and wildlife surrounding the seaside town of Maloy.

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The breathtaking Langfoss waterfall is worth a stop[/caption]

This is just one of the dozens of excursions MSC Cruises offers on a week-long Norwegian Fjords voyage.

I’m one of 6,000 guests on board the sold-out ship — 330 metres long and 19 decks — with Kelly, my wife, and our daughters Savannah, 13, and Scarlett, ten.

We are first-time “cruisers” and I have to admit I was slightly overwhelmed when I first boarded as there’s just so much to do on and off the enormous ship.

The day trips, expertly organised by the cruise team, offer a hassle-free way to see the highlights of the surrounding areas on one of four port stops.

And they really do make a Norwegian Fjord cruise the experience of a lifetime.

At our first stop, in Haugesund, the breathtaking Langfoss waterfall awaited us, voted one of the top ten most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

I had expected a tranquil trickle of water surrounded by tourists posing for Instagram photos.

But instead we were greeted by a ferocious torrent of water falling from 600 metres above our heads.

For our day-long visit to Flam we jumped on a coach to the Stegastein viewpoint where tourists can walk out on a special gangway suspended some 650 metres above the fjord below.

Our final stop took us to Kristiansand which is on the southern tip of the country.

We hadn’t booked an excursion for this stop so were free to explore solo.

Picking up a map, we headed to the local nature park.

A wrong turn paid off, leading us to most beautiful lake where swimmers were taking advantage of the good weather.

Wide of the mark

Do remember your swimming kit when you leave the boat as there are plenty of beaches and lakes to enjoy a quick dip.

The delight of a cruise holiday is that you are taken to the heart of some beautiful spots — without the hassle of airports, trains and hire cars.

All those preconceptions of cruises being for the retired are wide of the mark.

Our fellow holidaymakers were families and couples of all ages and with so much flexibility this is a perfect solution for a multi-generational holiday.

Our room on our “home from home” the MSC Virtuosa had a double bed, bunk beds for the kids and a balcony offering fresh air and incredible sea views.

Not that we spent much time there as there were five swimming pools, Jacuzzis and a staggering 21 bars to enjoy — five of them serving tipples outside.

If you do want to take full advantage of those bars it’s best to purchase a drinks package before you board as it can work out a lot cheaper.

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Chill out by the on-board pool[/caption]

For dinner we were assigned to the Il Campo restaurant and to avoid overcrowding, passengers are offered one of three sitting times.

Or you can head to one of the speciality restaurants, including the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse.

Mexican, Vietnamese, tepanyaki and sushi are also on offer.

If you just fancy grabbing food at your convenience, the Marketplace Buffet serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and late-night snacks until 1am.

Evenings are spectacular with passengers encouraged to dress up for theme nights including White Night and Sunshine Night.

Attire is superp-smart for the Gala Night with some passengers even donning tuxedos and cocktail dresses.

Booking is essential for evening entertainment in Le Grand Theatre where we saw stunning singing and dancing with Abba and Michael Jackson tributes standing out.

And special mentions go to stand-up comedian Tucker, who had us in stitches, as well as hypnotist Chris Caress, whose power of persuasion saw several guests lose all their inhibitions.

We may have been first-time cruisers this time round — but we will back for more.

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Kristiansand Town Square has colourful buildings[/caption]

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Ryan with his family in the fjords[/caption]

ISRAEL has launched missiles into Iran with numerous explosions heard from the capital Tehran.

The region has been bracing for Israeli response to Iran’s attack earlier this month.

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The explosions come after the region braces for Israeli response to Iran’s attack earlier this month[/caption]

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The IDF say it is ‘conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran’[/caption]

The Israeli military said it is “conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran” in response to the region and its proxies “relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th”.

Iran’s state TV said several strong explosions were heard around the capital.

Blasts were also heard in the Damascus countryside and central region.

Witnesses in Tehran confirmed hearing loud explosions.

“It was so loud and the sky became red,” said an Iranian resident in Tehran, who asked not to be named. 

Reports in the US claim the White House was warned shortly before the strikes began.

The IDF confirmed on X: “In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran.

“The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th—on seven fronts—including direct attacks from Iranian soil.

“Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.

“Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.”

Israel has been planning a response to a ballistic-missile barrage carried out by Iran on October 1, Tehran’s second direct attack on Israel in six months. 

Iranian authorities have warned Israel against launching an attack, saying any strike on Iran would be met with a stronger retaliation.

A few days ago secret plans showing Israel’s preparation for a potential revenge strike on Iran were leaked, US officials confirmed.

The intel leak, described as “deeply concerning”, comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran as the Middle East stands on the brink of all-out war.

The alleged documents, marked as “top secret”, are said to contain US intelligence analysing Israel’s inevitable retaliation plan against Iran.

Tehran went all out and launched an unprecedented blitz – attacking Israeli territory with some 200 ballistic missiles.

It was believed to be revenge for the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the chief of Iran’s biggest – and most powerful – terror proxy Hezbollah.

Parts of the leaked document, dated October 15 and 16, reportedly contain satellite imagery appearing to show Israel’s preparation of munitions and military drills, according to the New York Times.

Others describe the assessment of the Israeli Air Force exercising long-range ballistic and air-to-surface missiles – believed to be planned for a potential strike against Iran.

The documents also suggest Israel was conducting covert surveillance on Iran using advanced drone technology.

The Sun is not directly quoting or showing the information from the leaked documents.

MORE LATEST IN THE MIDDLE EAST WAR

Hezbollah fired a salvo of more than 100 rockets into Israel, killing at least one person and injuring others in the northern region of the country.

Footage shared by the IDF shows a building destroyed by the rocket attack that was launched from Lebanon targeting innocent Israeli people.

Posting the clip on X/Twitter, the IDF said: “Hezbollah fires rockets indiscriminately, and this is the result.”

Israel launched its ground operation in Lebanon earlier this month to weaken Hezbollah and push the terror group away from the border to allow displaced Israelis to return.

In response, IDF struck multiple targets inside Lebanon which they claim are Hezbollah strongholds.

Some of the buildings struck were Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters and an underground weapons workshop in Beirut< Israel claims.

The Israeli military also issued fresh evacuation warnings for civilians staying in Beirut’s southern suburb.

IDF Col. Avichay Adraee said: “You are in the vicinity of Hezbollah facilities, which the IDF will operate against in the near future.”

Israel is now at war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon – both Iran-backed militant groups.

The IDF have been striking parts of northern Gaza, claiming they are aiming to wipe out Hamas brutes.

But the strikes have also killed scores of Palestinians who were present in the densely populated area.

More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war so far, according to Gaza-run health centres.

The figure also includes Hamas terrorists.

FEELING ravenous? Then tuck in to a money-saving bottomless meal deal.

For breakfast, lunch and dinner, find an all-you-can eat offer.

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Weekday buffets start at just £10.99 for adults and £7.99 for kids at Pizza Hut[/caption]

But choose wisely. Many apply a 90-minute limit, and you need to be realistic about how much you want to eat.

Here’s our pick of the deals that give you more for your money.

SLICE THE PRICE: Pizza Hut’s buffet lunches will save you a crust.

Weekday buffets start at just £10.99 for adults and £7.99 for kids, with unlimited salad.

You can currently get the deal for £10 with the code 10BUFFET. On weekends and bank holidays, the unlimited deal is £15.99 for adults and from £7.99 for kids.

FLAT RATE: Love pancakes? Head to Bill’s between 3pm and 5pm each day to eat as many as you like in 90 minutes for £9.50.

For an extra sweetener, mark your diary for November 8 when the buttermilk beauties are £5 all day, with two flavours to choose from — chocolate and ice cream or fresh fruit with syrup.

SALAD DAYS: At Harvester you can pile your plate from the unlimited salad bar.

Just buy a dish worth at least £6.99 to get your pick from the pasta salad, coleslaw, sweetcorn and lettuce, as well as dressings and toppings.

It’s a great way to enjoy an extra treat without feeling too full.

BREKKIE BARGAINS: It isn’t just about the roasts at Toby Carvey. Head there for breakfast — you can tuck into an all-you-can-eat feast for £6.99 or £7.49 at weekends.

Just pick up the items you want from the buffet.

There are vegetarian and kids’ options too, all served until 11am.

WING IT: Sign up to the TGI Fridays rewards app to be able to get an endless supply of chicken wings — or a vegetarian version.

The offer is available all week and you can have your plate refilled as many times as you like during a 90-minute dine-in for £15.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

Deal of day

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Save a huge £65 on this rose Cuisinart multi-temp kettle[/caption]

MAKE the perfect brew with the rose Cuisinart multi-temp kettle, down from £100 to £35 at Cuisinart.co.uk.

SAVE: £65

Cheap treat

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The Autumn Friends duvet set from Dunelm is now only £8.40[/caption]

SNUGGLE in the Autumn Friends duvet set from Dunelm, down from £12 to £8.40 for a double

SAVE: £3.60

Top swap

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This plush velvet Charlotte chair is £139.50 from Matalan[/caption]

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Or rest easy on the Homcom tufted wingback option[/caption]

SIT back on this plush velvet Charlotte chair, which is £139.50 from Matalan.

Or rest easy on the Homcom tufted wingback option, £81.99 at Robert Dyas.

SAVE: £57.51

Shop & save

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This Lego Classic medium brick box features 484 pieces[/caption]

BUILD big with the Lego Classic medium brick box, featuring 484 pieces. It’s £18.75 down from £25 at Sainsbury’s.

SAVE: £6.25

Hot right now

GET an extra 20 per cent off book box sets at The Works. The offer takes a box of five Worst Witch books down from £12 to £9.60.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

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He made a bigger effort to own his mistake on the field than he did to get Jalen Hurts down on the ground. 

Dodgers TV voice Joe Davis’ third World Series call for FOX pits baseball’s most historic franchises. He fields questions from The Post’s Steve Serby.

There was no need to wonder how Garrett Wilson felt about his performance in Week 7.

The Giants blocked a last-minute field goal to clinch a win against the Seahawks earlier this season, so they don’t need any reminders on the devastating momentum swings that such a play creates. 

A sect of wacko-cultists with no vocal cords exists in a post-Rapture hellscape littered with zombie-vampires -- just like modern-day Ohio!