Andy Buchanan will run with new-found conviction in his first race since smashing the Australian marathon record last year.
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ASX200 and gold sets fresh record high as trader bank on February rate cut from RBA
Gold miners are glistening on the Australian stock market after the precious metal hit a fresh record high as the US dollar pushed lower and traders sought safety amid concerns over Trump’s tariff measures.
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Rising ice-skating star Spencer Lane makes chilling post just hours before Washington DC plane crash
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Man’s body found inside home in Morwell, Victoria
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Tesco shoppers rush to store to clear shelves of luxury chocolate packs down from £7.50 to just £1.50 in ‘best bargain’
SHOPPERS are raving after a savvy customer found luxury chocolates on offer for just £1.50.
Chocoholics who have munched through their Christmas stock are now flocking to their local Tesco store to scoop Lindt’s Lindor 70% chocolate truffles.
The mouthwatering treat has been slashed from its original £7.50 price.
One excited Lindt fan posted the special offer on Facebook with the caption: “Possibly the best bargain I’ve ever found. £1.50 for a box of Lindor in Tesco.
“Bought two boxes and left the four remaining for someone else.”
Bargain hunters flocked to the comments to hail the find.
“My fave…keep your eyes peeled please,” one wrote, tagging a pal.
A second weighed in: “My favourite.”
A third added: “Mmm, bargain!”
“Discover our sumptuous selection of Lindor Dark 70% Chocolate Truffles,” the item’s description reads.
“Inside this dark brown box lies luxuriously smooth and intense dark chocolate truffles, hiding irresistibly creamy, melt-in-the-mouth, dark chocolate centres perfect for treating yourself, or your loved ones.”
Meanwhile, Tesco fans are also rushing to scoop an Easter favourite.
The supermarket has brought back Kinder Bueno mini eggs that combine milk chocolate with a gooey hazelnut centre.
It’s not the first time the sweet bites have been on sale at a major retailer, but it hasn’t stopped fans giving them all the love.
One commented: “I eat the whole bag in seconds, they’re amazing”.
A second proudly stated: “I got myself eight bags. They are so good!”
PRICE OF CHOCOLATE SOARS
Experts have warned of chocolate price hikes due to a global shortage of cocoa.
Cocoa production in West Africa accounts for around 70% of global supply but harvests fell by 11% last year.
Prices hit a record high in March following El Nino weather conditions, pests and diseases affecting crop yields.
The crisis led to bean costs per ton hitting £7,800 – up 350% from September 2022, and issues aren’t abating any time soon.
A spokesperson for Mondelez, which owns Cadbury, recently said cocoa and dairy costed “far more” than they have done previously, on top of high energy and transport costs.
This has led to it having to increase the price of certain products, including Mini Eggs, while shrinking other items and keeping their price the same.
Sophie Jewett, owner of York Cocoa House, a chocolate factory, previously told The Sun: “We need to be rethinking how we consume and source things. The era of cheap chocolate is over.”
How to save money on chocolate
We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…
Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.
Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.
Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.
Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.
They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.
Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.
So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.
‘Scared’ travelers back at Ronald Reagan airport hours after crash killed 67 as AA staff say they’ve been ‘kept in dark’
TRAVELERS are terrified to fly and airport workers are left without answers at the Washington DC airport near where a midair collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet killed 67 people.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is up and running again after a Black Hawk chopper crashed into an American Airlines flight preparing for arrival just before 9 pm on Wednesday.
The American Airlines plane, carrying young families and elite figure skaters, was en route to the DC airport when it was smashed into three pieces that plunged into the frigid waters of the Potomac River.
No one on either aircraft survived, making it the deadliest US air crash in nearly a quarter century.
Officials still haven’t identified the reason behind the sudden crash, despite American Airlines CEO Robert Isom throwing blame on the helicopter and Donald Trump pointing the finger at unqualified workers due to diversity and inclusion efforts.
After closing for 14 hours following the collision, DCA reopened at 11 am on Thursday.
It comes as…
- All 64 passengers are feared dead with at least 28 bodies pulled from river
- CCTV captures moment of the crash
- Chilling audio reveals the final moments of flight
- World champion figure skaters confirmed to be on board
- Figure skater shared final, tragic picture from inside the plane before takeoff
- Husband reveals wife’s final text from doomed jet
- Rescue efforts hindered by freezing & dark conditions with 12 hours before severe weather comes
- American Airlines CEO blames Black Hawk pilots
- Trump blames Obama and Biden’s DEI polices at FAA for crash
- American Airlines pilots and crew named
- Passenger names beginning to be released, including teens, parents, and coaches
The airport was a somber scene as displays showed canceled flights and travelers were visibly on edge.
“I’m flying out, it’s pretty tragic,” Abhi, a 25-year-old traveler told The U.S. Sun at the airport.
“I fly regularly and so it does make me feel a little bit more aware than I usually do when I’m flying.
“So, definitely I feel a little bit more aware and scared, but you got to keep going and got to move on you know.”
A Maryland resident named Carlos Estrada told The U.S. Sun he was waiting for his sister’s flight to arrive from Arkansas after it was rerouted to New York.
“She’s very concerned, she’s been texting me the whole time,” Estrada said.
“It makes me uneasy. We’re all here hurting in some way.”
As the investigation into the tragedy continues, American Airlines workers have been left scrambling for answers.
“They’ve kept us in the dark,” an American Airlines worker who asked to remain anonymous told The U.S. Sun.
“We don’t know much about who was onboard.”
Washington DC plane crash victims
A mid-air collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and a military helicopter on January 29, 2025, left dozens presumed dead. The victims include:
- Captain Jonathan Campos, 34
- First Officer Samuel Lilley, 29
- Flight attendant Ian Epstein
- Flight attendant Danashia Brown Elder
- Spencer Lane, 16
- Christine Lane, 49
- Jinna Han, 13
- Jin Han
- Evgenia Shishkova, 52
- Vadim Naumov, 55
- Alexandr Kirsanov
- Angela Yang
- Sean Kay
- Peter Livingston
- Donna Smojice Livingston
- Everly Livingston, 14
- Alydia Livingston, 11
- Inna Volyanskaya
- Asra Hussain Raza, 26
- Michael Stovall, 40
- Jesse Pitcher, 30
- Elizabeth Anne Keys, 33
- Wendy Jo Shaffer
- Kiah Duggins
- Black Hawk crew chief Ryan O’Hara
The 33-year-old employee said airport workers are trying to carry on with their usual tasks despite the airline not officially identifying the employees on board.
“We’ve been going about our business, helping passengers check in their bags and stuff like that, but as far as names we haven’t been told [anything].”
American Airlines hasn’t returned The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
The airline worker said the collision was “tragic,” adding, “It’s something you wish wasn’t true.”
“We all came in this morning shocked, just in disbelief. You feel for the victims and their families.”
He noted the airport’s eerie emptiness when he arrived for his morning shift.
“I’ve never seen the airport this deserted before,” the worker said.
“Now more people are starting to arrive to catch their flights, but this morning there was barely anybody here except the airport workers.
“It was scary.”
At least 38 flights were delayed going in and out of DCA on Thursday, while over 500 were canceled, according to FlightAware.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Hundreds of emergency workers continue to search the wreckage from the water to recover the bodies of the crash victims.
There were 64 American Airlines passengers onboard the flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington DC when disaster struck.
Three soldiers on the Black Hawk died when the military helicopter smashed into the passenger jet at a low elevation.
Horrifying footage showed the moment the twin-engine Bombardier CRJ700 jet collided with the US Army helicopter, causing a bright flash to light up the sky.
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk fact file
A SIKORSKY UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed into an American Airlines plane carrying 64 people on January 29. The collision happened as the jet was about to land at Reagan national airport.
Army personnel have used Black Hawk helicopters since the late 1970s.
Black Hawk helicopters don’t just transport troops; the flying machines are used in search and rescue missions, and deliver supplies to war-torn nations.
Here are some facts about the helicopter:
- Cost: Between $5.9 million and $10.2 million.
- Top speed: 183mph.
- Range: 1,380 miles.
- Engines: Powered by two electric engines that have 2,000 horsepower each.
- Length: 50 feet one inch.
- Height: 16 feet 10 inches.
- Troop capacity: Up to 11 fully equipped soldiers.
The official reason for the crash remains a mystery as the black box data from both aircraft have yet to be recovered.
The Federal Aviation Administration revealed the airport’s air traffic controller tower was reportedly short-staffed at the time of the crash, according to the The New York Times.
A preliminary report said the tower was operating with a third of its recommended staff for years.
During the crash, the controller guiding the plane to land was doing two jobs at once, according to the FAA.
Chilling audio recordings captured the tower’s final attempts at communicating with the military helicopter.
SKATERS AND THEIR COACHES MOURNED
While officials have not formally identified any victims yet, tributes and condolences have been posted across social media.
One of the first tributes to emerge was in memory of US figure skater Spencer Lane, 16.
Lane posted what turned out to be a final Instagram photo showing he was on the ill-fated flight.
It was then revealed the plane was full of skaters, coaches, and their families all returning from a training camp in Wichita.
Among the group was a husband-wife duo Evgenia Shishkova, 52, and Vadim Naumov, 55, who coached up-and-coming skaters.
The pair garnered international acclaim as the 1994 ice skating world champions.
Also on board were a pair of sister figure skaters and their parents.
Everly Livingston, 14, and her younger sister Alydia, 11, posted a photo on their joint Instagram account from US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita just days before the crash.
It would turn out to be their last public post.
EXPERIENCED PILOTS AT THE HELM
Tributes also poured in for the captain and first officer flying American Airlines flight 5342.
Captain Jonathan Campos, 34, and First Officer Sam Lilley, 28, had over eight years of flying experience between them.
Campos was remembered as a “skilled and dedicated pilot with an undeniable passion for flying” by Epic Flight Academy, where he was a flight instructor.
“Our deepest condolences go out to Jonathan’s family, friends, and all those who lost their lives or were impacted by this devastating tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement obtained by local NBC affiliate WFLA concluded.
Lilley was recently engaged and getting ready for a wedding this fall, his father Timothy shared in a Facebook tribute.
“I was so proud when Sam became a pilot,” Timothy Lilley wrote.
“Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again but my heart is breaking.”
How DC’s notorious Reagan Airport was plagued by plane crashes & near-misses before deadly American Airlines crash
THE deadly American Airlines crash follows a flurry of near-misses and smashes at Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport – including a 1982 crash that killed 78 people.
President Donald Trump confirmed all 67 people had died after a jet and an Army helicopter collided midair and then plunged into the Potomac River in DC on Wednesday night.
Reagan’s airspace is often filled with various domestic flights as well as military aircraft that operate terrifyingly close together on a daily basis.
A mere 24 hours before the collision on Wednesday, another jet tried to land but had to make a second approach after a helicopter appeared near its flight path, according to an air traffic control audio recording.
Other recent incidents at the airport include a near-collision in May 2024 that involved an American Airlines plane that was cleared for takeoff – just as an incoming King Air plane had been cleared for landing on a nearby runway.
And a month prior, another chilling close call occurred between JetBlue and Southwest planes that were close-to-collision on a runway.
The Reagan airport, in 2024 alone, experienced at least eight near-midair collisions, according to Federal Aviation Administration data seen by the The New York Times.
The FAA has frequently warned that such a shortage of air-traffic controllers along the eastern seaboard has forced it to limit the amount of flights it can allow through the area.
In a press conference, Senator Mark Warner said on Thursday: “We have raised this issue continuously; we’ve got very busy airspace.”
In January 1982, the airport became a scene of despair after an Air Florida Flight 90, a Boeing 737, took off before plummeting to the ground – hitting the 14th Street bridge before smashing through the icy Potomac River.
The tragedy left 78 people dead, with out of the 79 on board the flight, only five survived, and on the ground four people were killed in vehicles on the struck bridge.
The National Transportation Safety Board said following the crash that numerous errors had been made by airline staff, contributing to its downfall.
The Government Accountability Office said in a 2021 report that there were a whopping 88,000 helicopter flights within 30 miles of Reagan – including about 33,000 military flights, over a three-year-period until in 2019, Reuters reports.
And lawmakers have recently lobbies for expansion of the perimeters of the airport to allow additional flights to arrive and depart.
In 2023, it was proposed to add 28 round-trip flights a day out of the airport.
The already concerned FAA warned at the time that adding these extra flights would put pressure on the system, according to The New York Times.
Following the terrifying near-miss in May 2024, Senator Tim Kaine said while speaking in Congress: “Thank God a collision and catastrophe was averted.
“But more and more planes on this busiest runway in the United States is just going to increase the chance of a significant incident.”
The Coalition to Protect America’s Regional Airports also said: “[Reagan] is currently at capacity and at risk of being seriously overburdened should there be changes to the slot and perimeter rules.
“Moreover, any changes to the slot and perimeter rules threaten to undermine the access of regional airports and their communities to the DC area, as well as increase delays, traffic, congestion and noise, and safety concerns.”
Wednesday’s crash was preventable, according to Transport Secretary Sean Duffy.
He said: “I would say that the helicopter was aware that the plane was in the area.
“We are going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point, but what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.”
President Trump earlier questioned how the smash happened on a “clear night” and also said the crash “should have been prevented”.
President Trump addresses a mourning nation
By Georgie English, Foreign News Reporter
PRESIDENT Donald Trump started his White House address to the nation with a moments silence to honor those who died in the American Airlines crash.
Trump labelled the aviation accident a “real tragedy” as he said America is now going through an “hour or anguish”.
Following on from comments from officials at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport earlier today, Trump said he believes there are no survivors.
“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions,” the new president added.
“As one nation we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly.”
Trump then started to hit out at the two former leaders of the US and his Democratic rivals Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
He said: “I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first.”
Trump vowed to restore “the highest standard of air traffic” and said the US will only hire the “smartest and the brightest” going forwards.
He went on to blast the Federal Aviation Administration’s rules on who can work in air traffic control and government diversity efforts.
A reporter then asked if he was blaming part of the crash on diversity hires with Trump replying by saying he is just using “common sense”.
Speaking on the crash directly, Trump claimed the plane’s pilot did “everything right” and followed a route taken by pilots for decades.
He appeared to place some of the blame on the military helicopter saying it was going at an angle that was “unbelievably bad”.
But confirmed investigations are ongoing.
He wrote on Truth Social: “The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport.
“The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.
“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn.
“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane.
“This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
Hundreds of emergency workers continue to work tirelessly to recover bodies and the wreckage from the water as investigations begin into the cause of the tragedy.
In a solemn press briefing from The White House on Thursday, Trump held a moment of silence for the victims and their families .
He then gravely reported that all 64 on board the plane arriving from Kansas and the three in the Black Hawk were killed.
The newly-inaugurated leader said the disaster – now America’s deadliest in 24 years – is an “hour of anguish for our nation” and “a tragedy of terrible proportions”.
He said: “This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions.
“As one nation we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly.
“This has really shaken a lot of people, including people very sadly, from other nations.”
Chilling moment tattoo-covered cocaine gang kingpin is arrested in his pants by cops
THIS is the shocking moment a tattoo-covered cocaine gang kingpin is arrested in his pant.
Kent Police bodycam footage shows John Horn, 38, flop down on his sofa and scramble for a pillow to cover himself.
The wide-eyed thug, sitting only in a pair of black boxers, listens as an officer tells him he’s under arrest for conspiring to supply drugs.
A woman appears to walk downstairs as Horn looks up at police with a blank expression.
Horn casually answers “yep” and rubs his face when read his rights.
He was arrested in Ramsgate on March 21 last year after cops uncovered he was leading a group distributing cocaine.
Horn used fellow dealer Oliver Eyles, 36, to help manage his operation, which was based in Thanet.
Five members of the gang were dragged to Canterbury Crown Court today.
Each of the defendants had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine.
Horn slapped with six years and six months’ behind bars, while his right-hand man Eyles, was jailed for five years and six months.
Meanwhile associate Joseph Shuttleworth, 35, will be caged for two years and four months.
Jason Tse, 41, was sentenced to three years and 10 months imprisonment for his involvement.
Finally, Christopher Palmer, 34, was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Nicola Emery said: “Organised crime groups are often run like businesses with each member having clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
“John Horn sat at the very top of this particular criminal network and whilst he rarely handled any drugs himself, it was very clear he played a leading role in the supply of cocaine to users across east Kent.
“He thought that by having other criminals do his dirty work for him, it would reduce the risk of him being arrested and sent to prison.
“Unfortunately for Horn and the other members of his group, we knew exactly who they were and what they were up to.
“This is a significant result in Kent Police’s ongoing fight against the supply of Class A drugs, with those responsible receiving sentences that will see them behind bars for a long time.”
Ultra-rare 1972 TVR Vixen with blistering V8 engine and with only 66 miles on the clock could be yours for £65,000
AN ULTRA-rare 1970s TVR Vixen is set to go under the hammer for just £65,000.
The eye-catching model has just undergone an £150,000 restoration and is just one of a handful of the S4 Vixen 1300 built on the M-Series chassis.
The motor’s exterior is finished with an elegant black with chrome detailing over a black interior.
The two-litre Pinto engine was ripped out and replaced with a 289ci V8 engine and boasts an array of impressive features.
These include a fresh steel crank and rods, forged pistons, big-valve alloy heads, sports cam and alloy water pump.
This car will be auctioned on February 22 at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, by Iconic Auctioneers.
“Project Heaven has confirmed that the current cost to replicate this amazing TVR would be over £150K,” reads the listing.
“The odometer shows that the car has barely covered 66 miles as of date.
“The car been upgraded with light flywheel, new alloy radiator, new Super T10 gearbox, rebuilt Salisbury 4HU diff, new Bailey Morris upgraded driveshafts, new rear uprights, new coil-overs all round, new vented brake discs and calipers operated by twin adjustable-bias master cylinders.
“It was also fitted with custom-made roll-cage, Sparco competition seats and Sabelt harnesses, GPS speedo, new wiring loom, and Turrino polished alloy-rim tubeless wire wheels.
“The car is a perfect companion for the open roads as well as out on the circuit.”
This comes as another Escort Cosworth with just over 2,000 miles on the clock sold for a record-breaking £200,000 at an auction in November.
The retro motor was one of the standout sales at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC, Birmingham – with over 100 cars changing hands for eye-watering sums of money that weekend.
At the time, the Ford was described by auction house Iconic Auctioneers as “unlikely to be surpassed in terms of its originality”.
While this Escort was exchanging hands for an eye-watering sum of money, we were lucky enough to meet Ford superfan Stuart – whose Ford Capri was one of the highlights of the entire show.
Indeed, Stuart’s owned 12 different Capris over the years, with his current Mk3 a particular cracker.
Speaking to Sun Motors, he said: “I’ve had three Mk1’s, two Mk2’s, and many Mk3’s, and I’ve got this one.
“Cut me in half, I’m Ford. I’m Ford all over. I’ve always liked Capri. I’ve always loved them.”
Elsewhere, an ultra-rare McLaren Senna XP, just one of ten in existence, is up for auction.
The powerful motor has just 47 miles on the clock and carries a 4.0L twin-turbo V8.
Plus, a glam 1950s supercar complete with a blistering V8 engine and futuristic magnesium bodywork has been listed on auction for £5.5million.
Images show the aerodynamic 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Super Sport or SS, in a stunning blue and white livery in pristine condition.
