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BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 will take place NEXT WEEK.

Last year, England goalkeeper Mary Earps claimed the top prize to make it back-to-back SPOTY wins for the Lionesses after team-mate Beth Mead took home the award in 2022.

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Mary Earps was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2023[/caption]

Team GB star Keely Hodgkinson is the hot favourite in 2024 after storming to gold in the 800m at the Paris Olympics.

The Atherton native also claimed the European title in Rome – two months before competing in France.

Hodgkinson dominated the 800m scene in 2024, breaking the British national record and becoming the sixth fastest woman in history.

Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler is also in the running for Sports Personality of the Year after finishing runner-up at the World Darts Championship in January catapulted him into stardom and one of the sport’s leading competitors.

Since his stunning performance at Alexandra Palace, Littler has won ten PDC titles in his first year on the professional circuit.

The 17-year-old is looking to become the youngest winner of the prestigious accolade for more than 60 years.

England and Real Madrid footballer Jude Bellingham is also amongst the star-studded names in contention to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

SunSport brings you the full shortlist and all the details you need ahead of this year’s blockbuster event.

When is BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024?

• BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 will take place on Tuesday, December 17.
• Coverage will begin from 7pm GMT.
• The event will be held from the home of BBC Sport in MediaCity, Salford.

What TV channel is BBC Sports Personality of the Year on and can it be live streamed FREE?

• BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be broadcast live on BBC One.
• You can live stream the event for free via the BBC iPlayer app/website.
• Alternatively, you can stay up to date with all the latest from the MediaCity by following SunSport’s live blog.

Who are the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 nominees?

Here are the six nominees for the iconic award:

• Keely Hodgkinson
• Joe Root
• Jude Bellingham
• Sarah Storey
• Alex Yee
• Luke Littler

What other awards can be won on the night?

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year award is one of eight awards that can be won on the night.

• Sports Personality of the Year
• World Sport Star of the Year
• Helen Rollason award
• Young Sports Personality of the Year
• Unsung Hero
• Coach of the Year
• Team of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement award

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE action returns to the big screens TONIGHT – and there are several blockbuster matches for fans to sink their teeth into.

Earlier, Liverpool continued their perfect record in the competition with a win in Girona, as Mohamed Salah’s penalty was the difference between the two sides.

Later tonight, fellow Premier League giants Aston Villa travel to Germany for a thrilling clash with RB Leipzig.

Plus, SunSport will have all the latest from the remaining seven games, including Atalanta vs Real Madrid and Shakhtar vs Bayern.

• Start times: 5:45pm/8pm GMT
• Live stream: discovery+/Amazon Prime Video
• TV channel: TNT Sports/Amazon Prime Video

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Follow ALL the action from Matchday Six with our live blog below…

I’M A Celebrity fans have insisted they spotted a clue that Danny Jones was destined to win the show DAYS before he was crowned the King.

The McFly star was crowned the champion of the 2024 edition of the ITV jungle reality show after beating off fierce competition from Coleen Rooney and Richard Coles.

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I’m A Celebrity fans think they have worked out why Danny Jones was guaranteed to win[/caption]

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The star beat Coleen Rooney[/caption]

But in the days leading up to his victory, eagle-eyed viewers think they have worked out why he was always secured a victory sparking rumours of a ‘fix’.

Ahead of their final days in camp, ITV viewers appeared to grow increasingly suspicious after pointing out how the singer appeared to be handed more airtime over his co-stars.

Whilst there were still four stars in the camp, Danny found himself given a secret mission which resulted in him being the focus of the day’s events.

As he attempted to hide a number of figurine jungle rangers around the camp, viewers watched him run around the jungle as opposed to his fellow campers.

Fans now think his amount of airtime was as a result of him being a runaway winner thanks to the amount of votes he was accruing.

Writing online, one fan stated: “The reason he is getting the screen time is because he’s topping the vote and can’t be caught.”

Another went on to add: “Yes. The last couple of eps have made it clear he’s way ahead IMO.”

It led a third to pen: “He has to be the most obvious winner for many years tbh.”

Just a day after the final, ITV revealed the voting percentages for the show’s final which suggested that Danny was a runaway winner.

The 38-year-old, won with 55.21 per cent of the vote, while runner-up Coleen Rooney scored 44.79 per cent.

The musician is now said to be in talks for massive new TV roles following his success in the jungle.

He is already a judge on The Voice UK, alongside his bandmate Tom Fletcher, but insiders said telly bosses are keen to sign him up for more shows.

ITV bosses are keen to secure Danny long-term as one of its main players, alongside family favourites including Joel Dommett and Bradley Walsh.

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Danny was crowned the winner after 23 days in camp[/caption]

SHOCKING footage shows the moment a terraced house was blown to bits in a huge explosion with 60 firefighters battling the blaze.

The blast blew off the roof and sent glass and bricks flying across Ley Street in Ilford, east London, as a bus and cars were driving down.

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A dramatic fire in Ley Street, Ilford, East London was caught on camera[/caption]

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A terraced house had its roof blown off and flames engulfed the first floor[/caption]

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A 32-metre ladder was used to fight the fire from above[/caption]

Firefighters were seen spraying water onto its roof even two hours after the alarm was first raised at 4.09pm.

By then, flames could still be seen rising as smoke billowed out.

In footage posted online, one pedestrian was seen running to avoid the spray of debris from shattered windows.

The entire first floor and loft conversion of the property were engulfed in flames at its height.

In total, eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters responded to the fire, which was under control by 6.23pm.

Pictures from the scene showed a bus stranded on the street while firefighters tackled the blaze.

Fire crews will remain on the scene throughout the evening with the cause of the explosion under investigation.

A 32-metre ladder was used to fight the fire from above while a drone was deployed to give firefighters an aerial view of the house.

Residents are continuing to be told to avoid the area with the road being closed while the incident is being investigated.

Station Commander Darren McTernan said: “Firefighters worked hard to bring this fire under control. Crews will remain on scene throughout the evening.

“Ley Street remains closed between Eastern Avenue and Vicarage Road, impacting traffic in the surrounding area, so please continue to avoid the area if you can.

“One of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as a water tower to help fight the fire from above. 

“The Brigade’s drone team were also deployed to the incident, offering the Incident Commander an aerial view of the scene.”

A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at 4.08pm on December 10 to reports of a fire at a residential property in Ley Street, Ilford.

“We have attended alongside the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.

“We remain at the scene and cordons are in place.”

YOU really have to spare a thought for Caoimhin Kellehe – he must be the only pi**ed off person under Arne Slot at Liverpool.

Despite helping his team storm to the top of the table in both England and Europe over the last two months, winning 10 games and drawing two, the Irish keeper was booted out of the team the moment No.1 keeper Alisson was fit.

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Ex-Man Utd midfielder Donny van de Beek conceded the penalty[/caption]

Kelleher, who has made it known he wants to leave Merseyside, was forced to sit on the bench here in Catalonia and, predictably, watch Alisson prove why he is surely the best keeper in the world.

On a night when Slot’s team under-performed, Alisson proved there was no rustiness in his game with five key saves. 

Slot’s surprisingly toothless attack was helped by VAR on the hour when it spotted that former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek had stood on the heel of Luiz Diaz.

Mo Salah, who barely got a kick all night, delivered a textbook penalty meaning that of Liverpool’s last 23 goals, 20 of them have come in the second half.

Alisson has delivered some exceptional performances for Liverpool in the Champions League over the years.

He will never beat the stoppage time save from Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik in December 2018 which kept Liverpool in the Champions League – and they went on to beat Tottenham in the final.

But Alisson has proved that six years later, he has got even better and the only worry are his dodgy hamstrings.

There were also moments against the third best team in Spain last year when the 32-year-old was just as good with his feet, playing tight passes with his defenders and at one stage, delivering a brilliant chip over the head of an onrushing player.

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Despite Kelleher’s fine displays – his only blip was against Newcastle six days earlier – and Alisson was always going to be parachuted back into the team.

And he now finds himself back in a team that have still only lost once all season.

Four points clear in the Premier League and now looking certain to finish in the top eight of the Champions League.

This means they will miss the play-off round with two matches to be played in February.

Crucially, the second leg of the games will be played before Liverpool’s scheduled Prem trip away to Manchester City on February 23.

While Slot’s team will be able to put their feet up in that week, City – potentially – have a play-off game.

Nevertheless, it looks as though City are out of the title race and Liverpool will take some stopping in all competitions.

Slot also has the added bonus that he will be able to rest any players with aches and strains for the remaining group matches against Lille and PSV Eindhoven in January

But the Dutchman will be mildly concerned about the performance from his team.

In a crowd of around 10,000 – restricted as Uefa do not allow temporary seating – there were just 492 Liverpool fans .

To qualify with points, fans had to have been to 27 European away matches including Spartak Moscow in September 2017. Talk about dedication.

One player making his 235th Liverpool appearance was Joe Gomez and remarkably, he is still looking for his first goal.

He was denied the moment he must be dreaming of in the fourth minute when Paulo Gazzaniga, who had stints at Spurs and Southampton among others, showed good reactions to push a header over the bar.

Gazzaniga then kept out a well-hit drive from Darwin Nunez who was then guilty of wasting a couple of other chances in the first half, particularly one before the break. It was exactly the sort of performance from Nunez which makes him such a frustrating player.

The best chance of the first game – until the goal – came in Girona’s first attack. 

Unfortunately for the home team, fell to Daley Blind although it will come as no surprise to Manchester United fans that he completely missed the ball from six yards.

Alisson saved the follow-up from Alejandro Frances and then threw out a desperate arm to avoid being beaten at his near post by Miguel Gutierrez.

The Brazilian kept out an effort from an offside-looking Bryan Gil but his finest moment came before the break when he used both his hands to keep out a decent strike from former Watford midfielder Yaser Asprilla. 

Just seconds into the second half, Alisson was at it again, saving at his near post to keep out Arnaut Danjuma

Girona’s defence certainly had few problems dealing with the Liverpool attack who looked to have run out of ideas when Diaz fell to the ground after tangling with Van de Beek.

French referee Benoit Bastien told Diaz to get up as he thought it was a dive.

Yet after Andy Robertson’s shot had been saved for a corner, VAR checked over the clash.

Bastien was called over to the screen and did not take long before pointing to the spot and Salah stuck away the penalty by sending the keeper the wrong way

Liverpool avoided any late dramas for yet an 18th win in 21 matches for Slot.

When he landed on Merseyside, at no stage did he think it would be this easy.

A RECORD-BREAKING undersea road tunnel is due to be the world’s longest and deepest and it cost a whopping £36 billion to build.

The incredible mega-project will help cut a 21-hour journey by half through a 16-mile crossing.

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The Rogfast Tunnel is set to become the longest underwater subway in the world[/caption]

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The tunnel will be 16-miles long[/caption]

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It will help cut a 21-hour journey across Norway by half[/caption]

Dubbed The Rogfast, this tunnel will stretch across Norway and help connect two important cities.

The incredible undersea subway will run between the municipalities of Randaberg and Bokn in Rogaland county.

A large body of water separates these two spots and requires locals to use ferries to get across.

This route would help to connect the southern city Stavanger to the more northern city Bergen, according to World Highways.

Stavanger is crucial for its North Sea oil industry and Bergen is also known for oil and fishing.

The E39 motorway, which goes along this route, stretches 680 miles and takes around 21 hours to drive across.

The Western roadway runs between the southern city of Kristiansand and Trondheim in the north.

This remarkable tunnel will help millions of people who live southwest of these two major cities commute and travel.

The underwater route will go through a rock beneath a fjord.

Despite being the longest and deepest subwater tunnel, it will just take around 35 minutes to drive through.

The Rogfast will cut just 30 miles off of the motorway route but save 11 hours by replacing the seven ferries that exist across the fjord.

This huge project is underway and the Norwegian government will cover around 40% of the whopping £36 billion cost, according to The B1M.

The rest of the value will come back through an approximate £30 toll that will be charged to use the subway.

6,000 vehicles are expected to use the incoming tunnel eachday.

The unparalleled tunnel is not due to be completed for years, after work started in 2018.

RECORD BREAKERS

This route has overtaken another Norwegian underwater tunnel to become the longest in the world.

The 15 mile long Lærdal tunnel currently holds to top spot but will lose its record-breaking status once The Rogfast is complete.

This tunnel currently links the cities Aurland and Lærdal together.

It also provides drivers with a ferry-free route between the capital Oslo and Bergen.

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The underwater road will help connect a huge motorway[/caption]

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It will become the longest underwater tunnel in the world when it is complete[/caption]

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The tunnel will connect Bokn and Randaberg[/caption]

QUIZ show brainbox Anne Hegerty might be about to land a surprising job – with a role in a sitcom.

The Chase’s Governess said: “I’d love to be on a TV show or a film.

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Anne Hegerty might be about to land a surprising job – with a role in a sitcom[/caption]

“I know various people who are trying to get things off the ground.

“One of them is the guy on The Chase, he’s written a sitcom with a part for me.

“It would be brilliant to get that made.

“I’d also like to be in a Marvel movie as a fat old supervillain!”

Explaining what happens when she finally leaves The Chase, Anne added on A Very Tall Man podcast yesterday: “The Governess goes back in the box, the costume goes back to the wardrobe department.

“The Governess is ITV’s intellectual property.”

It sounds like she already has a plan B teed up, anyway.

MIRREN’S CRACK AT DRUGS ROLE

SHE’LL always be best remembered for playing the late Queen Elizabeth II, but Dame Helen Mirren’s latest role couldn’t be further from the beloved royal.

I can reveal the Oscar-winning actress will appear as a drug-dealing gangster in a new TV show by Guy Ritchie.

The Mega Agency

Dame Helen Mirren will appear as a drug-dealing gangster in a new TV show by Guy Ritchie[/caption]

Her character, Maeve Harrigan, oversees a shadowy business empire from her giant mansion in the Cotswolds.

A TV insider said: “Fans of Dame Helen won’t believe their eyes when they see her tackle her new role, and not just because it couldn’t be more different to the Queen.

“It also sees her take on a TV project, which is rare for her these days, given that she’s a firm star in the Hollywood movie firmament.”

When bosses announced the new Paramount+ series last week they simply called it the “New Guy Ritchie Project”.

I understand it also goes by two other names, The Associate and The Fixer, though executives have yet to nail down what it will be called by the time it drops next year.

But both names have firm undertones of the criminal underworld that features in the show.

Dame Helen will star opposite Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza, who the titles of the show refer to. He represents the criminal Harrigan family.

Hailing from Ireland, they include former James Bond Pierce Brosnan as the clan’s patriarch, Conrad Harrington.

Other A-listers taking part include Paddy Considine, Joanne Froggatt and Anson Boon.

But it’s still obvious who the queen is in that cast list . . . 

KICKING UP A BUS, AL

THERE are always some spectacular magic tricks on the Royal Variety Performance – but nobody expected to see a Carr turned into a bus.

That’s just what host Alan Carr does, however, during the glittering showcase, which airs on Sunday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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Alan Carr at the Royal Variety Performance[/caption]

Alan and co-host Amanda Holden appear at the end of a segment from the musical Starlight Express which features the whole troupe on wheels.

So Amanda also slips on some rollerskates, while Alan makes an appearance as a replacement bus service, much to the surprise of the show’s creator Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Thankfully, he saw the funny side . . . mainly because, unlike the rest of us, Lord Lloyd-Webber knows he’ll never end up stuck on one in his life.

A PURL OF A JOB FOR TOM

DIVER-turned-TV star Tom Daley has confirmed my story that he’s fronting a new knitting contest for Channel 4.

I revealed in October that he was being teed up to present Game Of Wool next year on the back of his high-profile love of the craft.

Social Media - Refer to Source

Tom Daley has confirmed my story that he’s fronting a new knitting contest for Channel 4[/caption]

The eight-part show will see ten knitters challenged to make a sculptural piece out of wool, ranging from the usual clothing to jewellery, home accessories and even furniture.

Tom said: “I am very excited, and slightly nervous, to be taking on my first ever hosting role on a project that encompasses everything I’m passionate about.

“I adore all things knitting and encourage everyone to pick up some knitting needles and give it a go.

“I cannot wait to see the creations our knitters will weave together.

“I hope this inspires people at home to get involved too.”

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A LEAGUE Of Their Own will return to Sky Max and NOW on January 9.

Panel regulars Jamie Redknapp, Romesh Ranganathan, Micah Richards and Jill Scott will all be back alongside star guests including Tyson Fury, Luke Littler and Maya Jama.

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CHEF’S JUDGE DREAD

FORMER Ready Steady Cook host Ainsley Harriott believes that being a TV judge has become harder as audiences are more sensitive.

So there’s no chance he’d fancy replacing Gregg Wallace on MasterChef, despite being a regular guest on the show.

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Ainsley Harriott believes that being a TV judge has become harder as audiences are more sensitive[/caption]

Ainsley said: “That is a tough gig, isn’t it?

“I think judging food or judging anything is harder.

“People talk about woke this, woke that but no, it’s now. This is society.”

Ainsley, who appeared as the expert on Celebrity MasterChef earlier this year, added: “That programme has been successful for many, many years.

“There’s a reason why. The format is fantastic.”

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THIS Morning’s Cat Deeley risked a late curfew on a school night for the daytime show’s Christmas bash.

The host wore a cream coat with blue jeans for the party at James Blunt’s pub, the Fox and Pheasant in Chelsea, London.

Alison Hammond dressed for the weather in a black puffer jacket while other stars up for a party included Josie Gibson, Ben Shephard and Dermot O’Leary.

The gang raised a toast to departing show boss Martin Frizell who is celebrating his last Christmas with the programme after quitting last month following ten years as the editor.

Familiar faces including Phil Vickery, Alice Beer, Ashley James and Vanessa Feltz all glammed up for the do.

The cosy pub in upmarket Chelsea, offered a secluded and festively decorated setting in which the big names could unwind over a three-course meal and drinks.

THE hunt is on for Assad’s sadistic brother “The Enforcer” who killed nearly 2,000 people in a gas attack and ran drug factories.

Maher Hafez al-Assad was known as the most cutthroat within the Assad family, with his own father believing he would be too erratic to lead Syria.

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Bashar al-Assad’s sadistic brother Maher is infamous for killing hundreds of people[/caption]

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Maher pictured next to his brother Assad (right)[/caption]

Since 2011, Maher has been dubbed as Assad’s “enforcer” – siding the tyrant in orchestrating the major government crackdown in March that year.

This included the first poison gas attack in the war – dubbed the Ghouta chemical attack – that was referred to as the worst war crime of the century.

The US said it killed 1,429 people – 426 of which were children.

Two opposition-controlled areas in the suburbs around the capital Damascus were struck by rockets containing the deadly chemical agent sarin.

After inspectors from the United Nations Mission inspected the horrific site where the attacks occurred, they concluded there was “clear and convincing evidence” that sarin was used.

Tyrant Bashar al-Assad’s forces were blamed for the attack by the Arab League and the European Union.

At the time, the Commander in Chief of all Syria’s armed forces was Assad – but Syria’s elite forces under him were commanded by his younger brother Maher.

Maher was head of the Republican Guard – which was responsible for the defence of the Damascus and the Commander of the elite Fourth Armoured Division.

This contributed in forming the core of Syria’s security forces – up until the collapse of Assad’s regime a mere few days ago.

He favoured the crackdown against the the Damascus Spring – when political and social debate in Syria reached its boiling point after the death of President Hafiz al-Assad in 2000.

Maher has also been named in UN reports and implicated of orchestrating the killing of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.

In 2011, when the major government crackdown began, Maher was feared by the masses, with the President tyrant’s brother considered to be a regime hardliner.

As well as heading the Republican Guard and the Fourth Division, Maher exercised great control over Syria’s intelligence service that was feared by many.

Unlike other areas of the Syrian military that were made up of conscripts, Maher chose elite troops who wouldn’t hesitate to carry out his terrifying orders – no matter what they were.

Therefore the power-hungry brother had control of the three main pillars of the Syrian security who were all loyal to him.

Sitting with such authority meant, at one point, he held more power and influence than President Assad.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights claims that since the government crackdown of 2011, over 157,000 people remain under arrest or have been forcibly disappeared.

This includes a shocking 5,274 children and 10,221 women.

Many claim this is mainly the doing of Maher – who made it his mission to crush the uprisings.

At the time, Former US Ambassador to Syria Richard Murphy told media: “Maher is spoken of as tough, mean or cruel depending on who you talk to.

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Maher has been dubbed as Assad’s “enforcer” since 2011[/caption]

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The young Assad brothers (pictured first and second from top left) with their parents and siblings[/caption]

“He is seen as the ‘enforcer’ for the regime, the one who oversees the dirty work of the regime.”

During the Syrian civil war, video footage was captured which activists and watchers claim shows Maher shooting unarmed protesters himself, the LA times reports.

The protesters were demanding the fall of the Assad government in a suburb of Damascus.

And soldiers who turned on Maher claim they were given orders by him to use brutal – and fatal – force against unarmed protesters.

One defecting sniper said that during the protests in the southern city of Daraa, they were “ordered to aim for the head or heart from the beginning.”

They added: “We were not given specific numbers but told to kill as many as possible as long as there were protests.”

His bloodthirsty tendencies began to be recognised by the world, and after he continued to oversee the deadly crackdown of Syrian protests, the US and European Union announced sanctions against him.

Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Maher’s actions during the uprising neared “savagery” and pressured Assad to rid Maher from command of the military and send him into exile.

In April 2011 the US placed sanctions on Maher for being a facilitator of human rights violations in the country.

And two weeks later the EU too sanctioned the bloodthirsty brother for being the principal overseer of violence against demonstrators during the Syrian uprising.

Throughout the years following, Maher continued to work alongside his brother in exercising brutal control of Syria.

And, as the commander of the Fourth Armoured Division, he directly involved himself in the production, trafficking and export operations of Syria’s multi-billion dollar drug empire, smuggling mostly Captagon.

Captagon is a co-drug of amphetamine and theophylline – and is believed to be used by the regime – until Assad was overthrown -to exert pressure on the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia.

Maher looked to reintegrate Syria into the Arab world which would have secured concessions, allowing Assad’s regime to keep its position after over a decade of conflict.

Maher’s elite Fourth Division, Air Force Intelligence and the Republican Guard have been relied on for the production and distribution of Captagon, according to COAR.

Local militias and foreign armed groups of various affiliations were also relied on, reports claim.

It was evident to the US and UK just how advanced the network was, leading to sanctions being imposed on certain Syrian individuals involved in the trade in March 2023.

The US Department of Treasury accused Maher and his Fourth Division of financing “illicit revenue-generation schemes, which range from smuggling cigarettes and mobile phones to facilitating the production and trafficking of Captagon”.

The Syrian regime denied involvement in the drug’s production and distribution to the Gulf states.

In November 2023 France issued an arrest warrant for Maher on charges of complicity in crimes against humanity and complicity in war crimes – which the country upheld in June 2024.

Following the Syrian opposition offensives that led to Assad to be overthrown and exiled, Maher’s whereabouts remain unknown.

CRAIG DAVID says his debut, chart-topping album is the “gift that keeps on giving”.

As he belted out hit after hit from Born To Do It — which next year celebrates its 25th anniversary — it is easy to see why he is one of our best loved singers.

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Craig with The Sun’s Ellie Henman backstage at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard[/caption]

And when he plays me two tracks from his upcoming new album Commitment, it’s clear the hitmaker has not lost his touch.

As we chat backstage at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard, Craig tells me: “When I went out and performed, I could see in people’s eyes when I hit certain songs.

“Rendezvous, Rise & Fall, 7 Days — they got the full package.

“I see people’s eyes widening and remembering where they were and what was going on, what they were doing when those tracks came out.

“Rewind was 26 years ago but it feels like yesterday.”

When Craig came on stage at the O2 on Sunday night for the second of his secret Barclaycard Out Of The Blue performances, the atmosphere peaked — with kids and adults of all ages word perfect to every single track.

It’s testament, I tell Craig, to his songwriting abilities that he created music that transcends time.

“It means the world to me,” Craig adds. “It truly is the gift that keeps giving.

“I’m humble, I came from a council house in Southampton.

“I just wanted to make the best music and be out there and get on Top Of The Pops.

Silky smooth vocals

“You’re like, ‘Wow! I’m on the other side of the TV screen.’

“The kid in me is always giggl­ing and enjoying those moments.”

There is a lot more for the multi-award winner to enjoy in the coming months.

His 11-date Commitment tour kicks off in Leeds on February 2 with his ninth studio album ­following in the summer.

I pinch myself as Craig and his manager Colin Lester secretly play me two tracks from the ­collection — including lead single Commitment, which is a collaboration with Tiwa Savage.

The R&B star’s voice still sounds remarkable and, from across the table, Colin tells me: “I honestly believe this is Craig’s best record since Born To Do It.”

I agree, with the second track — I promised to keep its name secret — a nailed-on hit.

Romantic and catchy, it shows off Craig’s silky smooth vocals at their best.

“It touches my heart when I hear this song,” he says.

“That’s the litmus test that I’ve had with any of my songs.

“There’s some tracks where I think, ‘I love this’, and there’s other songs where I play them constantly.

“I was like that with Rewind. When I was leaving the studio and I put my headphones on, walk­ing home listening to this new song, I knew it was the one.”

His track with Tiwa will, I have no doubt, blow up on social media and be remixed across all the clubs in Ibiza next summer.

“Tiwa is an incredible artist,” Craig adds.

“When I’d finished Commitment, I felt like the song needed her. It’s an Afro beat type of song and that’s her world. She lives, eats and breathes it.

“I reached out and I wasn’t sure if she’d be up for it but she was.

“I gave her the licence to do her own thing. I told her not to feel constrained by the song I’d sent and asked her to do her own verse.

“She came back with it and I was like, ‘Yo! This is the one.’”

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Craig is looking ahead to the tour which will see him play venues across the UK[/caption]

The album is now completed and ready to go.

Craig explains: “Unless something comes in at the eleventh hour, it’s finished.

“It was a good eight months of locking it in.

“I started at the top end of the year. And then I went out to Ibiza Rocks because the season started, so there were a lot of festivals and pool party stuff going on.

“It was hard to get it done but it feels good.”

Craig’s legacy in the industry is not just down to his ability to create amazing tunes — including appearing on a remix of Jorja Smith’s Lately in October.

It’s also due to how genuinely kind he is.

When I sat down to speak with him, he started by asking about my career and life, before recording a personal video for my super-fan mum and offering me the chance to bring her to see him on tour.

After telling a friend how much I liked him, I was reminded of when an old colleague was flown out to interview him in Los Angeles.

He personally drove her back to the airport and saw her safely on her way.

All of this unprompted and without agenda.

Craig is just a genuinely lovely man.

The fact he is still working with Colin, the absolutely wonderul boss of Jem Music Management, is testament to that too.

“I went to meet Craig in Southampton and he warned me I’d lose the wheels of my car,” Colin explains.

“I signed him to Wildstar Records that day. When I met Craig, I also met his grandmother and mother, they are such lovely ladies. I told them I couldn’t promise him success. But what I could promise is that me and everybody that works for me would work 24/7 to make sure the best happens for him.

“I said I would always do the right thing.”

Smiling over at Colin, Craig replies: “You’ve honoured that all the way through my career.

“My grandmother was so protective of me, and Colin allowed her to relax. He’s a good man. He’s really looked after me.”

With the album wrapped, Craig is looking ahead to the tour which will see him play venues across the UK including in ­Cardiff, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Birmingham.

He will finish with a huge show back at London’s O2 Arena, where we are sitting now.

“I know how it feels to watch an artist perform and they sing all the notes you wanted them to sing,” Craig says.

“I really like to honour that when I go on stage. If I’m going to sing 7 Days, I’m going to perform it like you know it.

“I honour the songs. It brings it all back to commitment.

“Everyone has paid hard- earned money to come to these shows, they’ve paid for hotels and trains — it’s huge for people.

“I’ve made this commitment to my fans and I’m going to keep it.”

Paris’s opera plans

PARIS HILTON struck an all-white pose outside of the Today show in New York.

The heiress was in the Big Apple to promote the one-off special of her Simple Life TV series with mate Nicole Richie.

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Paris Hilton was in NYC to promote the one-off special of her Simple Life TV series[/caption]

The new show, Paris & Nicole: The Encore, will see the pair returning to Arkansas and creating an opera based on their Sanasa song.

Nicole said of teaming up again with Paris: “We were talking about it and we decided, you know what, it’s been 20 years, we are excited to do it and celebrate a reunion.”

Paris added: “Nicole and I always like experiencing things that we have never experienced before.

“The opera world, obviously, is very new to us. But that’s what makes our shows funny.”

Rod’s feeling well chuffed

HE has made no secret about being a model train fanatic.

And after spending over £70,000 moving his incredible set from the US to his home in London, Sir Rod Stewart has now shown off his layout to Railway Modeller magazine.

He admits he’s got lots of work still to do. Rod said: “I’m not happy with the lights – we’ve got to work on that. We’re going to add uplights on some of the buildings and skyscrapers.

“Then we’re going to have thunder and lightning, everything but rain put in for effects.”

Rod’s model set, which is based on a 1940s scene in America, features 275 metres of track – and it took him 23 years to build.

Gun fired by irate Megan

IT’S all over for Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly.

The pair are said to have split just weeks after she revealed they were expecting their first child.

According to our pals in the US, Transformers actress Megan gave the rapper the boot after finding something “upsetting” on his phone.

He had been on holiday in Colorado when it all kicked off and left the trip early.

As they are so hot and cold, I’m sure they will soon be back together.

Cyn’s nailed on

CYNTHIA ERIVO picked up the first of what is likely to be many awards for her role as Elphaba in Wicked.

Let’s hope she didn’t break one of those fabulous nails as she was handed the Actress Award at the 7th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television in Los Angeles.

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Cynthia Erivo won the Actress Award at the 7th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television in Los Angeles[/caption]

Cynthia, who stars with Ariana Grande in the new film, is also nominated for a Best Actress gong at the Golden Globes on January 6.

We’ll be bringing you all the gossip from the night after the swanky bash – including who has the worst hangover and who gave the best speech.

Gaga channels Bowie ‘N Freddie

LADY GAGA has opened up about her forthcoming seventh record and confessed it’s her darkest to date.

She said: “The album is kind of an exercise in chaos. It’s different sides of who I am as a person – whether that is who I am with my friends, when I am depressed or when answering questions about life.

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Lady Gaga has opened up about her forthcoming seventh record and confessed it’s her darkest to date[/caption]

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Gaga has revealed that one song has ‘big Freddie Mercury sweeping vocals’[/caption]

“But to me there is some kind of chaos in all of the ways we try to analyse ourselves and try to figure out who we are.”

Of the album’s lead track, Gaga added: “Disease is kind of the beginning of that. Some of the joy of recording was like, ‘OK, what does my inner demon sound like?’.

“I wanted something big. Putting Queen-style background vocals in these harder hitting records, that is definitely something that is a bit of my style.

“One song in particular has these big Freddie Mercury sweeping vocals and some David Bowie guitars. You pull from things that you love.”

The record is out in February, so just two months till we hear it . . . 

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The record also has David Bowie guitars[/caption]

Medical unions are demanding better health funding as data confirms people unable to get into busy or closed GP clinics are heading to emergency departments.