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Idris Elba will join the prime minister to launch a new anti-knife crime coalition in Downing Street on Monday. 

The actor and musician, 52, will attend what is set to be the first annual knife crime summit with Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday morning.

As an anti-knife crime campaigner, he will help bring together community groups and victims’ families who have first-hand experience that can be used to change policy.

With the help of the coalition, which will include his Elba Hope Foundation, the government hopes to halve knife crime over the next 10 years.

It is currently in the process of banning ninja swords and strengthening the law on online knife sales.

As well as community leaders and grassroots organisations, the coalition will include tech companies, sports groups, and representatives from the NHS, education sector, and the police, the government said.

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Ahead of the summit, Elba described the coalition as a “positive step toward rehabilitating our communities from the inside out”.

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King Charles ans Idris Elba.
Pic: PA
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The King met with Idris Elba in July. Pic: PA

Earlier this year, he met the King to discuss more ways to reduce youth violence – particularly through the King’s Trust.

When the Luther star was a teenager, he received a £1,500 grant from what was then the Prince’s Trust to attend the National Youth Music Theatre.

In January, he launched his own initiative, Don’t Stop Your Future, when he called for an immediate ban on zombie knives to speed up the previous government’s plans for one later this year.

Idris Elba launches his Don't Stop Your Future campaign in Parliament Square in January. Pic: PA
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Idris Elba launched his Don’t Stop Your Future campaign in Parliament Square in January. Pic: PA

Review into online knife sales

As the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Keir says he “saw first-hand the devastating impact knife crime has on young people and their families”.

Describing it as a “national crisis that we will tackle head-on” he reiterated Labour’s promise to halve offences over the next decade.

A rapid review into how knives are sold and delivered to under-18s online is being led by Commander Stephen Clayman, the national policing lead for knife crime.

As part of the new coalition, he will report back to the home secretary by the end of the year.

He warned that “knives are far too easily accessible” and that he hopes to work with “government, retailer and the third sector to find ways we can bring meaningful, long-term change”.

Home Secretary Ms Cooper described the coalition as “crucial” and promised: “We will not sit back while precious lives are being lost and young people’s futures destroyed.”

The launch of the coalition and summit is part of the government’s 10-year plan on knife crime and builds on the Home Office’s Young Futures programme, which is working to offer young people a path away from violence.

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Snoop Dogg says he hopes to open burger van at Celtic Park

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Snoop Dogg says he hopes to open burger van at Celtic Park

Snoop Dogg says he hopes to set up a burger van at Celtic’s stadium and wants to serve fans himself.

The US rapper, 53, has described the football club’s supporters as “special” and the best fans in European football.

And Snoop, who played Glasgow‘s OVO Hydro arena in 2023, has also said he strongly identifies with the club’s mascot Hoopy the Hound.

He said a fast-food van at Celtic Park would become a foodie “Paradise” which is a nickname for the ground in the Parkhead area of the city.

Celtic Park. Pic: AP
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Celtic Park. Pic: AP

Snoop told the Sunday Mail: “I would love to bring a pop-up burger [van] to a sports stadium to show fans that food at stadiums can be good.

“It’s got to be Celtic Park, man. The secret to a good burger is the love in the preparation. The ground beef has got to be mixed with some secret spices, then add a good quality cheese and some maple-cured bacon.

“The Celtic fans are gonna love it, and to make sure they are just right, Snoop is going to be serving them himself.”

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But he said he would not be taking his culinary ventures to Rangers – Celtic’s Old Firm rivals at Ibrox.

The Drop It Like It’s Hot star told the paper: “Am I going to bring my burgers to Rangers as well? Nah, I think we will give that a miss.”

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The musician has previously spoken of investing in Celtic, similar to Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds’s involvement with Wrexham FC.

Snoop has already published a cookbook and claims to have spoken to chef Gordon Ramsay about a possible venture in Glasgow together.

The keen sports fan worked as a correspondent for NBC at the Paris Olympics last year, and has launched two youth football leagues, as well as being a vocal advocate for pay equality for female athletes.

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Dawn French apologises for ‘mocking tone’ in video about Israel-Hamas conflict

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Dawn French apologises for 'mocking tone' in video about Israel-Hamas conflict

Dawn French has apologised and taken down a video she posted about the war in Gaza after facing backlash.

The popular actress and comedian said she apologised “unreservedly” after posting a video in a “mocking tone”.

In the original 40-second clip, the Vicar of Dibley star said: “Complicated, no, but nuanced. But bottom line is no.”

Then, using a different tone, she went on: “Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us, yeah but no.

“But we want that land… and we have history… No.

“Those people aren’t really even people, are they really? No.”

On Saturday afternoon, she issued an apology, saying that in an effort to convey “an important message” she had “clumsily used a mocking tone”.

“My intention was NEVER to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on 7 October 2023,” she posted on X and Instagram.

She said her intention was to “point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leader on ALL sides of this atrocious war”.

French faced criticised after her initial post.

Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman said she was “saddened” by it.

She said: “This mocking voice ‘bad thing’ of October 7 that Dawn (who I revere by the way) appears ro [sic] be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack.”

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MP Rosie Duffield responded to Oberman’s post, saying: “One can, and should hate what is happening in Gaza and also condemn the hideous events of October 7th.

“It is agonising to see events unfold, and requires extremely careful, measured and well-considered comments and actions. This is not that.”

Some social media users tried to pressure M&S, who French voices adverts for, over the incident.

In October 2023, Hamas led other militant groups in a cross-border attack, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 people hostage.

Since then, Israel has launched a number of large-scale campaigns in the region, including in Gaza where over 54,000 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave.

Many of these are said to be women and children.

Israel claims to be targeting militants and blames collateral deaths on Hamas fighters positioning themselves in densely populated areas.

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Sir Rod Stewart ‘devastated’ after cancelling more US concerts as he recovers from flu

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Sir Rod Stewart 'devastated' after cancelling more US concerts as he recovers from flu

Sir Rod Stewart says he is devastated to have to cancel a series of US concerts, blaming lingering flu for the decision.

It affects four shows in Nevada, along with a further two in California, which he plans to reschedule.

They were due to take place over the next eight days.

“So sorry my friends. I’m devastated and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I’ll be back on stage and will see you soon,” he wrote in a message on Instagram.

Sir Rod, 80, has been struggling to recover from flu and this week had already cancelled two concerts at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, he disclosed that his doctor had “ordered” him to take “a bit more rest”.

The star is in the midst of his epic One Last Time Tour.

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Sir Rod, who was recently put on vocal rest, is due to play the legends slot at Glastonbury later this month.

In May, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards (AMAs).

Rod Stewart performs during the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas
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Sir Rod performing at the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas. Pic: Reuters

In a sign of how seriously the singer takes his health, last month he was also spotted in Italy attempting to avoid conversations to preserve his voice.

He wore a message attached to a lanyard which read: “Sorry. Cannot talk. Having vocal rest.”

In 2024, he promised he would not retire but confirmed his 2025 European and North American shows would bring an end to his “large-scale world tours”.

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The performer, best known for songs including Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, Every Beat Of My Heart, and Maggie May, said he plans to focus on more intimate venues instead.

Sir Rod has faced other health challenges in the past.

In May 2000, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had surgery. In 2017, he underwent successful treatment for prostate cancer.

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