News

DISNEYLAND’s multi-million renovations have started – transforming one of the main lands.

The Walt Disney Studios Park is set to double in size under the new plans.

Disney

Disneyland Paris has started work on its massive renovation[/caption]

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Disney

A new Frozen and Lion King land are going to open too[/caption]

Currently home to rides such as Crush’s Coaster, the land opened in 2002, ten years after Disneyland Paris opened (then called EuroDisney).

Announced at Disney‘s huge D23 event this year, Walt Disney Studios Park will be renamed Disney Adventure World.

The €2billion (£1.7billion) plans have started at the park, with a new entrance being added.

Replacing the park’s Disney Studio 1 is World Premiere, opening in spring 2025.

Disneyland’s president  Natacha Rafalski told Blooloop: “In spring 2025, that creative vision will reach the park’s entrance when our entrance building reopens as World Premiere, inviting guests into a glamorous film premiere in the heart of Hollywood before arriving in the full splendour of the park.”

And also opening will be the new Frozen land in 2026, along with a word-first Lion King land.

Mr Rafalski added: “Disney Adventure World will be the culmination of an ambitious creative vision, evolving from what we call ‘how it’s done’ soundstages to celebratory theatres and adventures that come to life in immersive areas.”

The new Frozen Land will be the third of its kind in the world, following Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo’s Disneyland.

The Kingdom of Arendelle inside the all-new attraction at Disneyland Paris.

Water-based performances will take place on the central lake with a Frozen Ever After boat ride, similar to the one in Disney World.

New Frozen-themed rooms will open at the Disneyland Hotel too.

Fan will also be able to meet Anna and Elsa, as well as visit immersive shopping and dining experiences.

And the Lion King attraction will be a world first.

Images show a log flume ride down Pride Rock as Rafiki the monkey looks on.

Mufasa, Simba, Timon and Pumba will all feature.

A Tangled ride will also open at the new Adventure Way in Disneyland Paris

Last year, Disney announced they would spend a whopping £47billion over the next ten years.

Other new additions to the Disney theme parks and cruises include

• Encanto-themed ride at Animal Kingdom in Disney World
• New villians land at Disneyland California
• Disney’s biggest cruise ship Disney Adventure
• Spider-man ride at Shanghai Disneyland

Here’s how to do an adult-only trip to Disneyland Paris.

And we went inside the new Disneyland Paris hotel which opened last year after a huge renovation.

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The works are to cost a whopping £1.7billion[/caption]

REGIS Prograis came to the attention of British fight fans when he travelled to London in 2019 to take on Josh Taylor in the final of the World Boxing Super Series.

He’s facing off against England’s Jack Catterall on October 26, 2024 — here we get to know the American boxer’s wife Raquel.

Instagram / raquelprograis

Regis Prograis has been married to Raquel for over a decade[/caption]

Regis Prograis is an accomplished American southpaw best known for his achievements in the light welterweight division.

The professional boxer chose his own nickname, “Rougarou” — Louisiana French for ‘werewolf’ — to pay homage to his grandfather, who is of Native American descent.

He is married to Raquel Prograis.

Who is Raquel Prograis?

Very little has been reported about Raquel, so a full biography of her life, or a complete timeline of her relationship with Reigs, is currently unavailable.

The couple prefers to keep their private information out of the public domain.

Their meeting was reportedly serendipitous, having first crossed paths through a mutual client.

Who that client was or what business they had with either of the pair was not disclosed.

Despite initial language barriers — Regis didn’t speak Portuguese and Raquel was not fluent in English — their connection proved strong enough to lead to marriage.

Marriage

Regis and Raquel tied the knot in December 2012, but details of their big day have not been reported.

On top of being the partner of a professional boxer, Raquel has carved out her own identity as a YouTuber with over 1,000 subscribers.

Her channel is called Raquel’s Mini Luxury and the content she posts is centred on fashion, shopping and lifestyle.

She writes: “Hey my name is Raquel I’m Luxury addicted, in love with everything Lux.

“I upload videos with unboxing, reviews and more, twice a week, with one bonus.”

Family life

Regis and Raquel have three children together — two daughters and a son.

Their son Ray was born on October 20, 2013, with daughter Khalessi following on August 10, 2016.

Instagram / raquelprograis

The couple share three kids together — two girls and a boy[/caption]

In November 2020, the boxer shared a video of Raquel giving birth to their third child, a girl, in a pool — but her name is yet to be reported.

Support system

Raquel has been a constant source of support for Regis throughout his boxing career.

Her presence ringside and her role in managing family life while Regis trains and competes demonstrates the strong partnership they share.

This was particularly evident in November 2020 when Regis was preparing to fight Juan Heraldez, while Raquel was due to give birth to their second daughter.

Family values

Despite being married to a public figure, Raquel seems to prioritise her family’s privacy — especially when it comes to their children.

Her role in maintaining family stability no doubt contributes significantly to Regis’ career and his ability to focus on boxing.

While much of her life remains private, her presence and support have undoubtedly been significant factors in Regis’ success.

A MAJOR sporting event is set to come off free-to-air TV for the first time in its history.

The 121-year-old cycling competition will leave ITV after Warner Bros Discovery and Eurosport secured exclusive rights to broadcast it.

As a result, viewers will be forced to pay to see the most watched annual sporting event in the world, from the 2026 edition onwards.

The competition being stripped away is the Tour de France.

The new Eurosport deal, announced on Friday, will bring an end to ITV4’s coverage of the most famous cycling race on telly.

ITV is set to broadcast its 25th edition of the Tour de France for the final time next year.

Nearly 150 million people in Europe watched the race in 2024, with 700 million hours of live television tuned into in total, according to Statista.

It ends ITV‘s 25-year reign as chief broadcasters of the Tour de France, after the network took over the UK rights from Channel 4 in 2001.

The new Eurosport agreement runs until at least 2030 and also covers prestigious races like La Vuelta and the Classics.

There was no detail on whether highlights are included in the agreement.

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Cycling lovers can watch Eurosport from £6.99 per month at Discovery Plus.

But British cycling fans aired their dismay at news which signals the end of nearly 40 years of free-to-air coverage.

One wrote: “I like Eurosport coverage, but this is worrying…”

A second said: “The Tour de France needs to be free to air. And how will we cope without Gary Imlach?

A third replied: “Without ITV’s Tour De France coverage, I never would’ve become a cycling fan.”

Another added: “Losing free TV access it a real mistake. It will be massive and ruin UK cycling for years and decades to come.”

The current ITV coverage is fronted by fan favourite Imlach, Ned Boulting, and David Millar.

ITV has been contacted for comment.

HEARTBREAKING tributes have poured in for a 14-year-old boy who was found dead after he went missing on his way to school.

Logan Slater from Brighouse, West Yorkshire, vanished after leaving his home at around 7.45am on Monday. 

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Touching tributes have poured in for Logan[/caption]

The teen’s body was discovered on land off Beechwood Park, Brighouse, two days later on Wednesday.  

The circumstances surrounding Logan’s death are still under investigation as authorities work to determine the events that led to the tragic end. 

Heartfelt tributes have flooded in for the youngster.

His devastated parents shared on social media: “I just wanted to inform you all and those who don’t already know, that unfortunately we have lost our little boy Logan, who was recently missing.

“When we found our boy it was too late and he had already gone.

“He is a HUGE part of our family and deeply loved by many.

“He will live forever in our hearts and thoughts.

“We have been inundated with support and condolences which is greatly appreciated.

“We will take the next few weeks to try and process our losses.

“Thank you for all your kind words and messages.”

One pal wrote: “R.I.P Logan slater forever 14.

“Many came to pay there respects for you.

“You are missed by so many.

“Forever in our hearts gone but not forgotten the heavens have gained a beautiful angel.”

Richard Horsfield, headteacher at Brighouse High where Logan was a pupil, said the teenager was a valued member of the school community.

Rugby-fan Logan was said to have had a wide circle of friends and good relationships with staff.

He said: “It was a particular pleasure to see his love and enthusiasm for PE, especially within rugby, grow in the years he spent with us.

“We will continue to think of his family and all of his friends at this very sad time and will do all we can as a close knit school to support them.

“We are grateful for the time we spent with him and deeply saddened that the time came to such an abrupt end.”

Mr Horsfield added that specialist support would be available to students.

West Yorkshire Police said in a statement: “As a number of calls had been made to the police to report this missing person, a mandatory referral is being made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, to review the actions taken by West Yorkshire Police.”

RYAN Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story proved a big hit on Netflix, with millions of people watching it around the world.

Following the series’ global success, the filmmaker has teased bonus episodes of the show which follows two brothers who shot and killed their parents after years of abuse.

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Monsters:The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has been a huge success for Netflix[/caption]

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Ryan Murphy has teased bonus episodes[/caption]

Monsters:The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was released on Netflix on September 19, 2024.

The Ryan Murphy series follows the Menendez brothers from the days leading up to the murder of their parents Jose and Kitty, to the moment they’re transported to separate prisons after being sentenced to life without parole.

However, it doesn’t cover their time in separate prisons, the appeals they’ve submitted over the years, or their reunion.

The series attracted so much attention that supporters of the Menendez brothers launched a new campaign to get them freed.

On October 24, 2024, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announced that he would ask a judge to consider resentencing Lyle and Erik.

The DA’s recommendation could see the two men released from prison by the end of 2024.

Possible bonus episodes of Monsters

Filmmaker Ryan said that he and Monsters co-creator Ian Brennan were both shocked that the show received so much attention.

Speaking to Variety, he said: “Ian and I are in absolute amazement and shock that this has happened, to be quite honest. 

“When we were writing the Menendez Story – we’ve been working on this for two years – nobody was talking about the Menendez brothers. 

“We never thought anybody ever would again.”

Ryan then said that following the show’s success, and if the Menendez brothers are released, he would consider filming bonus episodes.

It wouldn’t be a full series, just two extra episodes that would show Lyle and Erik’s time in jail, their appeals,and their freedom.

Ryan said: “It’s been discussed, I’ll tell you that much. Everyone has been interested in that. 

“I think everyone wants to see how this story ends because this story is not over.”

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Ryan Murphy is seen here with the leading cast of Monsters[/caption]

AP

Leading actor won’t return to Monsters

Monsters stars Cooper Koch as Erik, Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle, Javier Bardem as José, Chloë Sevigny as Kitty Menendez.

However, one of these leading cast members has said they won’t be part of the bonus episodes, which would mean Ryan would need to recast.

Cooper, who played the younger Menendez brother, has revealed he is “ready to let the show go”.

Also speaking to Variety, the actor said:: “I think we told the story. We did it.”

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Actor Cooper Koch won’t return for bonus episodes of Monsters[/caption]

“I think I’m ready to go on to the next thing.

“I’ve loved talking about it and I’ve loved advocating for them and I’m really excited for them to get out hopefully, but in terms of being Erik again, I think I’m ready to let that go.”

Since the release of Monsters, the star has been praised for his portrayal of Erik. 

He even visited Lyle and Erik in prison, and he has been supportive of the brothers to be resentenced.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

BUKAYO SAKA is one of three Arsenal stars who missed training on Friday ahead of their clash with Liverpool.

The Gunners welcome the Premier League leaders to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

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Bukayo Saka was one of three Arsenal stars to miss training on Friday[/caption]

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The Gunners trained at London Colney on Friday ahead of their clash with Liverpool[/caption]

A win for the hosts would see them close the gap to their opponents to just a single point.

However, they would slip seven points adrift with a second league defeat in a row.

To add to Mikel Arteta’s woes ahead of the match, he looks set to be without three key men this weekend.

Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber were all absent from Friday’s session at London Colney.

The trio are all being assessed before Sunday but are currently doubts for the match.

Calafiori was forced off against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night after injuring his knee.

Meanwhile, Timber has missed the last three matches after being taken off at half-time against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.

As for Saka, he has not trained since picking up a thigh injury on international duty.

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The winger limped off during England’s defeat to Greece before returning to Arsenal to be assessed.

Arteta now looks set to be without seven first-team players on Sunday if Saka, Calafiori and Timber all miss out.

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Riccardo Calafiori was forced off with a knee injury against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday[/caption]

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Jurrien Timber has missed Arsenal’s last three matches through injury[/caption]

Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with an ankle injury alongside long-term absentees Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney.

William Saliba will also miss out through suspension as he serves a one-game ban.

The defender was sent off in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.

ROMAN Kemp has revealed his bitter feud with one James Bond star who ‘nearly made him cry’ after an extremely rude meeting.

Presenter Roman, 31, who began his career aged just 21 with his own Capital FM show, told how one actor from the franchise left him close to tears.

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Roman Kemp has revealed his bitter feud with one James Bond star[/caption]

Speaking to Peter Crouch on his Therapy Crouch podcast, the TV and radio star recounted the awkward encounter.

When the former footballer asked who his best and worst interviewees had been, Roman replied: “One person nearly made me cry. I was only young and it was for James Bond.”

While the name of his antagonist was bleeped out, The One Show host assured it was not Daniel Craig and had been someone who is “terrifying in his films”.

He added: “He is like that in real life and I sat there and I asked him this question, and it wasn’t even a bad question, and then he sat and he thought.”

Putting on a German–Austrian accent for his impression, Roman continued, “And then he just went, ‘Okay. For the rest of this interview, I’m going to ask myself the questions that I believe that I should be asked.’

“I was silent for the whole time.”

Beneath a clip shared to TikTok, fans shared their conviction that Roman had been speaking about Christoph Waltz, who played villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Spectre and No Time To Die.

Spectre was released in 2015, just a year after Martin Kemp‘s son started out in the industry.

One commented: “Bet it was Christoph Waltz he definitely gives that sort of energy.”

Another added: “You didn’t need to bleep it, it was obviously Christoph Waltz.”

Someone else said: “I mean he’s literally trying to do a bad Austrian/German accent so that should tell you who it was.”

One more concluded: “The impression kind of gives away who it is.”

Christoph’s representatives have been contacted for comment.

Roman, who is the youngest child of Spandau Ballet’s Martin and Wham! singer Shirlie Holliman, stepped down from his job as Capital Breakfast presenter in March after a decade with the station.

In an exclusive chat with Bizarre, he lifted the lid on why he exited the role, revealing he felt like work was ruling his entire life.

He said: “In a way, you get your life back.

“I went through a period of spinning too many plates and I think you come to a point where you want to know if your work is controlling you too much.

“My work was controlling my happiness.

“I had no time to work out what made me happy.

“I was working constantly.”

In fact, despite being more grateful than ever for his glitzy career, Roman tells me it’s the little things that give him most joy.

He said: “I was in a privileged position where someone made me breakfast every day.

“Now I make my own breakfast, which I love.

“Once I got to 30, I was like, ‘I don’t want work to control my life.

“Work is a secondary part of my life’.”

Reflecting on his new chapter, he added: “It feels like I now have a world I never knew existed.

“It was so much fun, but you are in your own bubble.

“It has been hard turning down work, but you have to make those decisions to get better and I know I had to for myself.”

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Fans are convinced it’s Christoph Waltz[/caption]

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He recounted the awkward encounter to Peter Crouch on his Therapy Crouch podcast[/caption]

FORMER Premier League referee Peter Walton has warned Arsenal that officials are aware of their tactics.

The Gunners currently sit four points behind leaders Liverpool and three off champions Manchester City in the race for the title.

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Arsenal’s clever set pieces earned them a huge win over Spurs[/caption]

ITV

Prior to the Reds travelling to the Emirates on Sunday, Walton has claimed that refs are becoming increasingly aware of their corner-kick routines.

Mikel Arteta‘s side are well-drilled at set-pieces and are often instructed to block opponents to allow for the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes to attack Bukayo Saka’s delivery at the back post.

But Walton, who was a Prem ref from 2003 to 2012, has suggested that set-piece coach Nicolas Jover might need to come up with a new plan as refs are cottoning on to their tricks.

He wrote in The Times: “In my day, Chelsea were good at blocking opponents off the ball, but then referees and the media drew attention to their tactics and they were much more likely to be caught.

“I sense a similar process has happened recently with Arsenal’s set pieces.”

But so far the tactic is still working for Arsenal and they have scored three goals from set pieces this season.

Only Aston Villa, Brighton, Leicester and Everton have netted more.

Last term, they were the highest scorers from them with 20 goals.

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Arsenal already have an issue to resolve when it comes to referees as they have had a player sent off in three of their last six league games.

The North Londoners have had 18 red cards since Arteta took over in December 2019 – SIX more than any other team.

One more this season will be their 108th red of the Premier League era – a joint-record alongside Everton.

NEARLY 500 artefacts from ancient Babylon have been uncovered by archaeologists, with some in pristine condition despite being over 3,000 years old.

The inventory of items, which include pottery, ancient seals and cuneiform tablets, offers a rare glimpse into the evolution of one of the world’s earliest civilisations.

Facebook/Iraq Government

Babylon was an ancient city in the land that is now known as Iraq[/caption]

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Facebook/Iraq Government

Cuneiform is one of the oldest known forms of writing, and was used for more than 3,000 years, up until the 1st century AD when it vanished[/caption]

Facebook/Iraq Government

Some of the artefacts have been incredibly well preserved[/caption]

Cuneiform is one of the oldest known forms of writing, and was used for more than 3,000 years, up until the 1st century AD when it vanished.

Experts believe it disappeared mostly because it did not have an alphabet, and instead relied on a syllabic system that required the knowledge of many symbols in order to write.

The excavation site has been divided into two sectors, named A and B.

Sector A covers an area of approximately 6,000 square meters and features two archaeological layers.

“The first layer dates back to the Sassanian period, which was removed as a result of excavation and natural factors,” Iraq’s General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage wrote in a Facebook post.

“As for the second layer, it dates back to the ancient Babylonian era.“

The Sasanian Empire of the 3^rd through 7^th centuries was a Persian ruling elite that covered Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Egypt and parts of Syria.

The second layer, that the heritage organisation speaks of, hosts some of the best-preserved parts of the site which have not been so tarnished by erosion and human activity.

In Sector B, which covered a larger area of 9,000 square meters, researchers found a snapshot of urban life in the Old Babylonian period, which spanned roughly from 1894 to 1595 BC.

Two residential units were discovered in the dig, led by archaeologist Quhtan Abbas Hassan Aboud.

“478 artifacts were also found, including pottery jars, cuneiform texts, and cylindrical seals,” the organisation wrote.

“Work is still ongoing to complete the scientific excavation work according to the specified period.”

The texts, inscribed on clay tablets, often functioned as early legal documents.

Some were even encased in a clay outer shell, which experts believe could have been the original envelope.

Cylindrical seals were used to roll impressions into clay, and served as a form of signature, or product branding. 

Facebook/Iraq Government

Cylindrical seals were used to roll impressions into clay, and served as a form of signature, or product branding[/caption]

Facebook/Iraq Government

Two residential units were discovered in the dig, led by archaeologist Quhtan Abbas Hassan Aboud[/caption]

A look at the 27 Yankees players set to take on the Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, starting with Friday's Game 1.