Justice officials said Thursday they are suing Apple, saying its devices and software constitute a monopoly and generate huge profits at the expense of customers.

“Every step in Apple’s course of action built and strengthened the moat around its smartphone monopoly,” the lawsuit said.

The U.S. Department of Justice and 15 states allege it used strong demand for its iPhone and other products to drive up prices and hurt smaller rivals in the first major antitrust effort against Apple.

For example, it is claimed that Apple is making it more difficult for competing payment apps and smartwatches to work with iPhones.

Instead, it prioritizes Apple Pay and Watch, rather than PayPal or Garmin, for example. Shares in both companies rose today on news of the lawsuit.

Another major complaint concerns messaging. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said users who try to message owners of other brands of smartphones end up experiencing issues such as videos not being sent.

Apple shares are having their worst day since August 2023 – down 4 percent at one point – on a day when the stock market hit record highs across the board.

Apple joins a list of major tech companies indicted by U.S. regulators, including Alphabet’s Google, Meta Platforms and Amazon.com under the administrations of both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

The lawsuit accuses Apple of five key areas in which it has denied rival companies full access to its technology – in an effort to stifle competition.

In addition to messaging apps, smartwatches and digital wallets, Apple has been accused of blocking competition so-called ‘super apps’ and cloud streaming gaming apps.

Apple is said to be making it harder for competing messaging apps and smartwatches to work with iPhones.

Officials also say it has blocked access to its contactless technology that enables mobile payments – meaning iPhone owners can only use the Apple Pay service.

Meanwhile, App Store rules surrounding game streaming services have hurt competition.

Super apps are apps that combine multiple functions, such as calling, messaging and payments, in one place, making it easier to switch between smartphone platforms. They are common in China and include WeChat.

The Justice Department cited an email chain from Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder who died in 2011, in which he said it “wasn’t nice to see” how easily consumers could switch from iPhones to Android phones and promised to protect developers ‘force’ its payment systems in an effort to capture both developers and consumers.

The case could drag on for years. If the DoJ wins or Apple makes concessions, Apple’s rivals will initially benefit.

But it would also mean better and cheaper apps and products made by third-party companies like Spotify or tracking gadget Tile.

“Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate antitrust laws,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

Garland said monopoly power is classified by the Supreme Court as “the power to control prices or exclude competition.”

He said: “As outlined in our complaint, Apple has that power in the smartphone market.

“If there’s no doubt about it. Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly.”

The Justice Department alleges that Apple uses its market power to get more money not just from consumers, but also from developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses and merchants.

The 88-page lawsuit, filed in U.S. federal court in Newark, New Jersey, said it aimed to “free the smartphone markets from Apple’s anticompetitive and exclusionary conduct and restore competition to lower smartphone prices for consumers , reduce costs for developers and preserve innovation for the future.”

The case takes direct aim at the digital fortress Apple has built around the iPhone and other popular products like the iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.

They have created what is often called a ‘walled garden’ – where the carefully designed hardware and software can flourish together seamlessly, while the consumer has to do little more than turn on the devices.

But the complaint is that this prevents other companies from working together so seamlessly.

The strategy has helped make Apple one of the largest companies in the world, with annual revenues of nearly $400 billion and, until recently a market value of more than $3 trillion.

Shares of Apple are down 7 percent this year, while most of the stock market has soared to new highs.

It has led to longtime rival Microsoft – the target of a major Justice Department antitrust lawsuit a quarter-century ago – taking the title of the world’s most valuable company.

Apple is already subject to antitrust investigations and injunctions in Europe, Japan and Korea, as well as lawsuits from corporate rivals such as Epic Games.

One of Apple’s most lucrative businesses – the App Store, which charges developers commissions of up to 30 percent – ​​has already survived a lengthy legal challenge under US law by Epic.

Although the lawsuit found that Apple had not violated antitrust laws, a federal judge ordered Apple to allow links and buttons to pay for apps without using Apple’s in-app payment commission.

“We believe this lawsuit is flawed on the facts and the law, and we will vigorously defend ourselves against it,” Apple said in a statement.

• A legendary jockey has died at the age of 93
• Cliff Clare won more than 1,500 races
• He retired from horse racing at the age of 62

By Ollie Lewis

Published: 5:53 AM EDT, March 20, 2024 | Updated: 2:49 PM EDT, March 20, 2024

Ekin-Su Culculoglu’s team has called on Celebrity Big Brother viewers to stop writing offensive messages about her.

The Love Island star, 29, was criticized by fans for her ‘hysterical’ crying during Thursday night’s episode when Marisha Wallace nominated her in face-to-face nominations.

She stormed off to bed as theater star Marisha followed her to apologize – while fuming over why she nominated her.

But Ekin-Su’s family and friends have now asked fans to stop criticizing her, saying it was difficult for them to read ‘hateful comments’ and ‘threats of physical abuse’.

In a statement on social media, they wrote: “Last night was a very sad episode to watch. Ekin-Su has always taken care of her with heart and soul and last night we saw that.

“What made last night a thousand times harder is seeing and listening to hateful comments, trolling, name-calling and threats of physical violence. No one deserves this behavior and reading about what we did last night.

‘@bbuk is a reality entertainment program edited to entertain us as viewers. We see one hour out of 24 hours every day and the show is a social experiment known to heighten emotions.

“We would like to thank those of you who supported Ekin-Su. The love and kind words have not gone unnoticed!

“Please remember: In a world where you can be anything, be kind. Always sweet, Team Ekin-Su x’.

After Marisha nominated her, Ekin-Su stormed off to bed while theater star Marisha followed her to apologize – while fuming over why she nominated her.

In her nomination, Marisha said: ‘I know if I make it to the final, I can’t beat you. I know that if you go to the final with me, you will win the public vote.

As Ekin-Su was visibly seething, she added, “I know that when we go head-to-head, you have a huge following, you’ve played these games before, you know how to win, and if I want to win this , if I If I ever got a chance, I wouldn’t have a chance against you. I know that for sure.’

After Ekin-Su fumed, “I knew this was going to happen, this condemned me because I had been in a show before.

“You’ve been close to me this whole time, so you’ve been fake to me this whole time.”

She then shouted that Marisha could “have the crown,” referencing her earlier comment about winning the show.

She then started crying, but viewers quickly labeled them as crocodile tears.

One said: ‘Ekin-Su fake crying into the teddy bear for sympathy THIS WOMAN #CBBUK.’

A second said: ‘Ekin-Su cried because her friend Marisha nominated her when Ekin-Su nominated her FRIEND Louis ten minutes before… #CBB #CBBUK.

A third said: ‘Not Ekin-Su hugging her teddy bear and crying like she’s a nine year old who has had her Nintendo DS confiscated #CBBUK.’

A fourth said: ‘Why is Ekin-su crying so much now #CBBUK.’

Another viewer wrote, “I swear ekin-su was an actress. why is she so bad at fake crying #CBBUK.”

Someone else said: ‘ekin-su fake crying for sympathy #CBBUK.’

The confrontation came after housemates were led to the Kissing Booth, where they nominated face-to-face before sealing each vote with a kiss.

Ekin-Su, David Potts, Fern Britton, Levi Roots and Louis Walsh will be the next housemates to face the public vote ahead of Friday night’s double live eviction.

Louis received eight nominations from Bradley, Colson, David, Ekin-Su, Fern, Marisha, Nikita and Zeze.

Ekin-Su received four nominations from Bradley, Fern, Marisha and Zeze. David, Fern and Levi all received two nominations.

David was nominated by Levi and Louis. Fern was nominated by Ekin-Su and Nikita. Levi was nominated by Colson and David.

AirUp has launched three leak-proof bottles with a straw and a new mouthpiece for instant flavor activation – much to the delight of fans.

AirUp shot to fame last year with its unique bottles that can be filled with still or sparkling water, but trick the brain into thinking the contents are flavored, thanks to aroma pods.

And yesterday, the German company launched its latest Gen2 Tritan Renew Bottle in two new colors, Lavender Purple and Cobalt Blueberry, in addition to its signature Charcoal Gray shade.

They feature a new ActiveOn mouthpiece, which eliminates the need to manually activate the pod (unlike the original design) and prices range from £36.99 for a 600ml bottle to £46.99 for the 1 liter bottle.

The news immediately sent fans into a frenzy, with one commenting: 'I got my new bottle today and I was amazed at the results.'

While AirUp launched in Britain in 2021, its popularity reached new heights last year among gym-goers and students alike, with one teacher estimating he was bringing '£300' worth of bottles to class every day.

Announcing the new products on Instagram yesterday, AirUp wrote: 'The bottle that solves hydration and taste means you no longer have to make difficult decisions about choices that offer the best balance between health and taste – you can have both!'

The bottles are sold as bundles of three pods, which flavor 15 liters of water and last approximately 10 days (based on an average consumption of 1.5 liters per day).

While the aromas are produced in Germany, the bottles are made in Austria using 100 percent renewable energy – and the company plants a tree for every order.

The product can be filled with still or sparkling water, but tricks the brain into thinking that the contents are flavored, thanks to aroma pods.

The pods release scents through the nose as you sip, and pass down the throat to the brain, where they manifest as taste.

The pods are available in different flavors, including passion fruit, elderflower, coffee, virgin mojito and cola.

AirUp was founded by Lena Jungst and Tim Jager and arrived in the UK in 2021.

German entrepreneur Jungst says the bottles 'invite people to experiment a little with taste. It is a new way to perceive taste; nothing like this existed before.'

The product itself is widely praised by parents who struggle to get their children to drink water regularly (NHS guidelines suggest children should drink six to eight cups of water a day), as the taste encourages them to hydrate more.

A number of enthusiastic customers flocked to share their thoughts, with one pen writing: 'I bought one and I love mine', while another said: 'I'm getting the new blueberries'.

Elsewhere, one mother said the bottles are still popular with schoolchildren, saying: 'It's a must have among W's classmates.'

Fans who use the bottles at the gym also seemed delighted with the new launch, with one writing: 'Gym grind with AirUp all day'.

Meanwhile, the AirUp website has received hundreds of rave reviews from customers, with the bottles receiving an overall rating of 4.54.

Beyoncé shared the love with her fans on Valentine’s Day. 

The pop icon, 42, took to her Instagram on Wednesday to share sizzling snaps of herself in risque Western gear to promote the two country music singles she dropped during the Super Bowl.

Rocking a barely-there sheer black lingerie bodysuit with a matching bra and panties, the Alien Superstar hitmaker looked incredible in the sultry series.

By adding stockings and a bejeweled belt to the mix, she posed like a supermodel alongside her tuxedo-clad husband, Jay-Z.

Beyoncé added a few more eye-popping pics to the carousel, captioning the set: ‘Happy Valentine’s Day to you, sending lots of love.’

The epic photo dump came a few hours after she shared a stack of snaps in the same vein: the icon wearing jaw-dropping wardrobes. 

Beyoncé showcased her famous curves in a custom plunging mini dress fully embroidered with lace side panels in Swarovski crystals.

In keeping with the theme, the Break My Soul hitmaker accessorized with a bolo tie and a pair of black thigh-high boots.

Beyoncé wore her platinum blonde locks in big bouncy curls and opted for full glamour with a pallet of bronze make-up.

The mother of three, who shares children Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir with Jay- Z, later added a  wool coat, stylish sunglasses and a naturally, a black cowboy hat.

The pictures were taken at the Wynn Las Vegas ahead of the game, where her multi-million dollar advert was shown. 

Beyoncé moved through various personas in the minute-long Super Bowl commercial, attempting to ‘break the internet’ with over-the-top performances.

And just like she did in eight years ago, the Grammy-winning musician blew fans away as she dropped two new singles.

As she announced an upcoming album, a country-genre follow-up to 2022’s Renaissance, she also released two new singles in tandem.

Beyonce shared the full Verizon commercial online and wrote in a caption, ‘@verizon #ad.’

She followed up the post with another video outtake — one that showed her driving an old yellow taxi car through a desert.

The Texas license plate on the vehicle read, ‘HOLD ‘EM.’

The scene opened with Knowles turning the key in ignition with a red fishnet gloved hand.

The shot then switched to her stepping on the gas while wearing a white sandal that showed off a red pedicure.

Eventually a group of late-aged men dressed in country-inspired attire appeared with baffled expressions on their faces.

One slowly pointed to a billboard, where an exaggerated caricature of Beyonce was seen in red cowboy boots, lingerie, and a cowboy hat.

While lying on her side, she held up one waving hand, and in black font against a yellow background were the words ‘Texas Hold ‘Em.’

Bluesy guitar strums from the first notes of her new song played before the screen went black with ‘act ii, 3.29’ surfacing in the same white font used to promote her wildly successful Renaissance album.

Fan reactions to the music on social media were swift, with the once-in-a-generation artist’s fans — known collectively as the Beehive — taking to X and other platforms.

One person used a photo of NeNe Leakes in a post on X and wrote, ‘Beyonce said drop the new music and they’re still playing this [Super Bowl] game like nothing happened ??’

Singer Kesha even joined in the discourse, writing in a post, ‘BEYONCE?!!!!!!!’

Someone else shared a photo of Beyonce dancing during a past concert and said: ‘GIRL F**K THAT FOOTBALL GAME BEYONCE IS COMING BACK.’

Another hardcore supporter of the beauty’s declared that she knew the star was up to something.

‘I’m like, Bey DOES NOT do commercials, what she launching?’ the person wrote, adding a crying laughing emoji.

The singer, who’s been hinting at the direction of her new music with recent country-inspired looks, showed off her trim waist, wearing a silver bikini top and tiny heart-shaped metal bottoms attached to a belt in the new artwork for her song.

In Texas Hold ‘Em she croons: ‘This ain’t Texas / Ain’t no hold ’em / So our lays our cards down, down, down, down.’ 

‘I’ll be damned if I can’t slow-dance with you/ Come pour some sugar on me, honey too/ It’s a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown/ Don’t be a b****, come take it to the floor now, woo, ha.’ 

Meanwhile on 16 Carriages the singer reflects on life’s struggles.

‘Sixteen carriages drivin’ away/ While I watch them ride with my dreams away/ To the summer sunset on a holy night/ On a long back road, all the tears I fight.’

‘It’s been thirty-eight summers, and I’m not in my bed/ On the back of the bus and a bunk with the band/ Overworked and overwhelmed/ I might cook, clean, but still won’t fold/ Still workin’ on my life, you know.’

The surprise drop comes after her mom Tina Knowles showed some love to both her superstar daughter and pop sensation Taylor Swift over their recent tours being a boon to the US economy.

‘This is so awesome!’ Tina wrote alongside a photo of Beyonce performing. 

 ‘To b able to stimulate the economy is no small feat! @beyonce And ! @taylorswift ! Just being young women and being able to say this, is so awesome!!! 

‘Proud of them both!’

Meanwhile, Jay-Z revealed how his status with his 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy – whom he shares with Beyonce – has recently been upgraded during a hilarious preview of his interview with Gaye King on Wednesday.

The couple’s eldest child used to be a bit embarrassed by her parents, like any young whippersnapper, going so far as to infamously shush her parents in the audience at the 2018 Grammy Awards.

The couple’s eldest child used to be a bit embarrassed by her parents, like any young whippersnapper, going so far as to infamously shush her parents in the audience at the 2018 Grammy Awards. 

With her fashionista status practically bestowed upon her at birth, and stealing the spotlight on stage at Beyonce’s recent Renaissance Tour, it also appeared Blue’s stardom superseded her own parents’ fame. 

But now it looks like Blue has turned a corner and finds her mom and pops ‘cool’ enough to ask them for their advice, according to the ‘Empire State of Mind’ hitmaker.

‘She used to be frontin’ on me a little bit,’ Jay-Z explained to Gayle with a huge smile. ‘But 1707968429 I catch her. I catch her in the corner, you know? Now she asks me if this is cool, if her sneakers [are cool].’

Gayle chimed in to clarify, ‘She wants your advice?’ to which Jay-Z responded, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.’

‘There was a time where she was like, “Daaaaad”,’ he continued, doing an impression of Blue covering her face in embarrassment.

‘I’m cool. I don’t know what you sayin’,’ he hilariously recalled telling Blue. ‘I’m cool! You got cool parents! At your house, your parents are cool.’

Often seen in stylish outfits at public events and award shows alongside Jay-Z and Beyonce, Blue has become one of the most popular fashionistas around.

In 2018, at the tender age of six, she also became the youngest person to ever appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her feature on ‘Brown Skin Girl.’

Blue took all her talents on the road with her mom’s Renaissance Tour over the summer. 

She could be seen dancing flawlessly right by Beyonce’s side, proving she nailed the difficult choreography. And she rocked the amazing outfits just as well. 

Following her eldest daughter’s first performance for a private show in Paris last May, Beyonce gushed about Blue and her performing skills.

‘My beautiful first born, I’m so proud and thankful to be your mama,’ the ‘Formation’ singer captioned an Instagram post. ‘You bring us so much joy, my sweet angel.’

During a previous interview with Vogue, the ‘Partition’ singer gushed that her eldest daughter ‘is very smart’ and later explained, ‘When I tell her I’m proud of her, she tells me that she’s proud of me and that I’m doing a good job.’ 

‘It’s too much sweetness. She melts my heart. I believe the best way to teach them is to be the example,’ she added, referencing all of her children. 

The couple’s twins, Sir and Rumi Carter, arrived on June 13, 2017. 

The annual love holiday Valentine’s Day – when women receive boxes of chocolates, diamond jewelry and red roses – fell on Wednesday this year.

And Hollywood stars were quick to take to social media to spread loving notes to their loyal followers first thing in the morning.

Many of these lovely ladies took off their clothes to flash their lingerie or bikinis, which seems to have become a Valentine’s Day tradition in recent years.

Others just left cute red heart emojis as they posed with their family, pets and friends. 

And some – like Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian – showed off their pink and red themed baked goods. 

Comedienne Kathy Griffin did not seem as excited about the holiday, however, as she tweeted: ‘I’m getting divorced. F*** Valentine’s Day and f*** all of you. Did I say that? Thank God I have three shows this weekend. I’m going to make every member of the audience my personal Valentine regardless of sexual orientation.’

One of the first women to get their notes out was Jennifer Lopez as she presented herself in red lingerie in a flashback image. 

She also posted a photo with husband Ben Affleck and her twins Max and Emme.

Catherine Zeta-Jones was seen with her longtime husband Michael Douglas as they cuddled for the camera. 

Julia Roberts was seen kissing husband Danny Moder as she called the Hollywood camera man her ‘forever Valentine.’ 

Zooey Deschanel had a sweet Valentine note for Drew Scott. 

Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14.

It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, through later folk traditions, has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

Kelsea Ballerini was being hugged by her boyfriend Chase Stokes as she said he was her ‘bestie.’

He also shared a post for Kelsea, and said it had been on year of loving her. 

Lisa Rinna of RHOBH called her LA Law husband Harry Hamlin her ‘forever Valentine’ as he was seen in a boat on a lake 

Saint Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday in any country. 

Many parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day on July 6 in honor of Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and on July 30 in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni). 

Mark Wahlberg looked cute as he snuggled up to his model wife Rhea while wishing her the best. 

Teresa Giudice of RHONJ was seen kissing her husband and ‘soul mate’ by a swimming pool. 

Ryan Seacrest’s girlfriend Aubrey Paige proudly posed with her American Idol star boyfriend. They were snuggling during a selfie. 

Cindy Crawford shared a handsome photo of her husband Rande Gerber who co-launched Casamigos tequila with George Clooney. ‘Lucky to have you as a partner in life and excited about our new adventures. I [heart] you!’

Victoria Beckham was seen kissing husband David at sunset as he said, ‘to an amazing wife, mummy & best friend. I love you.’ 

Eye For Eye actress Blanca Blanco has posed in a heart-print bikini for Valentine’s Day.

The Washington native was seen in the little swimsuit while by the beach during a tropical vacation as she let her abs do the talking. 

The TV and movie star wore her long chocolate colored locks down in natural curls and had no makeup on but added earrings in images taken in the Caribbean by DailyMail.com.

The Tale Of Tails star also shared her most recent diet hack with DailyMail.com which involves indulgent desserts.

‘I love sweets, I could eat something sweet every single day,’ the Breaking The Mold author told DailyMail.com.

‘So a friend told me about this incredible hack that I have been using. And it works!’

Turns out Blanca can have her cake and eat it too, so to speak. 

She said it is all about replacing ingredients.

‘I often make chocolate chip cookies at home, it is my favorite ever since I was a child. I used to add in all the ingredients on the package.

‘Now I use other  ingredients.’

Blanca said that instead of using sugar, she uses zero calorie sugar like Stevia.

‘There are many options these days and it feels a bit like cheating but there are some really healthy options like Stevia and they taste great.

‘I also use gluten free flour, low salt, very pure, organic vanilla extract, Keto Chocolate Chips and unsweetened apple sauce.’

Another hack? ‘I love backed apples and I used to use real sugar, but now I use Stevia and cinnamon. It is a great treat and not very fattening at all.’ 

Last month she shared her diet hack.

‘On days I feel lazy I break up my workouts to two 10 minute workouts a day,’ she shared. ‘I know it sounds silly but if you run on the treadmill for 10 minutes you do work up a sweat. So I do that in the morning. Then later in the day I will do sit ups for another 10 minutes. So that is a 20 minute workout. It really does help and if you do it every day you can lose a pound a week.’

She said she is just like everyone else when it comes to workout burnout.

‘A lot of people think I love to go to the gym, and the truth is I sometimes really don’t, as in sometimes I would love to stay home and binge watch Netflix,’ she told DailyMail.com.

‘I usually work out for one hour a day, five days a week. I do it for my mental health, because it makes me feel so positive. Even those two 10 minute workouts rev me up and shoots up my endorphins.’

Demi Lovato opened up about her relationship with her fiancé, Jordan Lutes, while appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show. 

While appearing on the daytime talk show’s Valentine’s Day episode, the pop star, 31, sang her partner’s praises as she reflected on ‘instantly’ forming a crush on the Canadian singer, 32, upon their first meeting and what would be her ‘dream date.’

When asked how they met, the Grammy nominee was practically blushing as she described fatefully crossing paths at a recording studio.  

‘It’s really hard to meet people these days,’ she told the host. ‘So to be able to walk into a creative space, and find someone that you instantly had a crush on!’

She went on to admit to texting her texts that the ‘hottest guy’ just walked into the studio, before asking for their advice on what to do. 

After starting off as friends for several months, the duo quickly fell in love, before becoming official after she pulled off a grand romantic gesture in her backyard on his birthday. 

Later during the episode, Barrymore had Lutes ask his love some questions, including what ‘something really weird that’ they do when ‘no one else is around.’

‘There’s so many things that come to mind,’ she gushed. ‘The best part of being with Jordan is that we are able to be our goofiest selves together.’

Lovato gushed that her ‘favorite thing’ is when they do random silly dances while brushing their teeth.

As for their dream date, she said ‘anywhere’ with Lutes ‘is great.’ 

Pivoting from questions about their relationship, the performer then inquired if she would ‘rather eat pickles, drink pickle juice or freeze the pickles into popsicles.’ 

‘You know I am a big fan of the pickle juice popsicles, I may have to go with those,’ she mused.

Christina Aguilera showcased her newly slender frame in new images by Dennis Leupold shared to Instagram on Tuesday evening.

The star has dropped a substantial amount of weight in the past few months and seems thrilled to be showing off the change.

The singer looked incredible in the tiny outfit that had a sweetheart neckline as she added white over-the-knee boots.

The 43-year-old singer wore the look for her show in Las Vegas.

There was also a photo with her partner Matthew Rutler as well a sweet image of her small purse dog. The star was then seen with Megan Fox and boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly as well as Jason Derulo.

‘About this weekend,’ was all she wrote in her caption as she noted she was in Las Vegas. 

In January, Aguilera marked her return to Las Vegas after 2019’s 10-month The Xperience with Burlesqueier.

It is an intimate show at the Venetian’s Voltaire Belle de Nuit, a newly opened venue.

Taxpayers can check the veracity of any DGGI/CBIC communication by using the 'VERIFY CBIC-DIN' window on the CBIC website.

GST Violations: The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has recently noticed that some persons with fraudulent intent are preparing and sending fake summons to the taxpayers who may or may not be under investigation by the DGGI.

The fake summonses that are sent may appear genuine because they have a Document Identification Number (DIN), but these DIN numbers are not issued by DGGI to these entities. To address this problem, DGGI has taken serious steps by informing and filing complaints with the police against those involved in preparing and sending false and fraudulent summons.

CBIC has issued Circular No. 122/41/2019-GST dated November 5, 2019 regarding generation and citation of DIN on notices issued by CBIC officials to taxpayers. To raise taxpayer awareness, taxpayers can verify the authenticity of any communication (including subpoena) from the Department by using the 'VERIFY CBIC-DIN' window on the CBIC website or through the DIN Utility Search at the online portal of Directorate of Data Management (DDM), CBIC.

Individual taxpayers who receive summonses from DGGI/CBIC formations that appear suspicious or possibly fake may immediately report them to the concerned jurisdictional DGGI/CBIC office for verification so that necessary action can be taken against those responsible for these fraudulent activities .

Ricky Gervais' former career as an aspiring pop star has resurfaced online, leaving fans both shocked and awestruck by his previous image.

The Office creator, 62, Ricky began his attempt at a singing career in 1983, during his final year as a student at University College London, Gervais and university friend Bill Macrae formed the new wave pop duo Seona Dancing.

They were signed by London Records, which released two of their singles; More to lose and bitter heart. The songs did not reach the UK Singles Chart.

Ricky has always been outspoken about his love of music – previously calling himself “a frustrated, failed musician” – and while he didn't break the charts, he left fans swooning when an '80s performance resurfaced on Thursday.

Tickled fans wrote: 'Look at those cheekbones. What a fashion plate!… Jesus, what? Omg, I thought he always looked like a 50 year old… Yo wtf?! I never knew this until now!… Whoa!… Halloy breeding! This is REAL… He's got a bit of Bowie swagger.”

While super fans of Ricky will be all too aware of his early career path, a large number of Instagram users were surprised by the funny man's earlier career.

Despite his limited success in music, he achieved greater fame the following year with his BBC spoof documentary series, The Office in 2001.

Ricky sheds light on the fact that music is seeping into his TV work as he uses every channel to showcase his work as a “frustrated, failed musician.”

His most iconic creation – The Office's David Brent – is also a failed musician, with Ricky releasing a mockumentary film in 2016 following the fictional boss's failed attempts to break the charts.

Additionally, David Bowie's cameo on the second season of his hit show Extras in 2006 saw the esteemed artist break out in song – composed by Ricky.

In 2016, during a performance with Graham Norton, he said: 'I sneak a song into everything I do. I wrote a song for The Simpsons, I wrote a song with David Bowie for Extras. I'm a frustrated, failed musician.'

Graham then showed a promo shot from his Seona Dancing days – and insisted he appeared shy because of his current appearance.

He said, “It's called Seona Dancing, let's move on. I'm not ashamed of it [the throwback picture]I'm embarrassed [my current look]. Everyone's like, 'What the hell happened?' I'll tell you what happened: Pizza happened'.

While his music career was failing, the superstar recently made history with his latest accolade, winning the first Golden Globe in the new category of Best Performance in Television Stand-Up Comedy.

The British comedian previously insisted he had no chance of winning, but triumphed over Trevor Noah (Where Was I); Chris Rock (selective outrage); Amy Schumer (emergency contact); Sarah Silverman (Someone You Love) and Wanda Sykes (I'm an Entertainer).

He was not present at the ceremony in Beverly Hills on Sunday evening, where comedian Jim Gaffigan accepted the award on his behalf for Ricky's Netflix special Armageddon.

While Ricky is no stranger to a Hollywood award, having previously won three Golden Globes for his work on The Office and Extras, his latest win has undoubtedly raised eyebrows among his fellow celebrities.

Not only has the comic angered several stars by labeling Hollywood as “disgusting, pill-popping, sexually deviant scum,” but he has also come under fire for his Armageddon special, in which he makes fun of terminally ill children.

Before the ceremony, Ricky told his followers on X, formerly Twitter: 'I've been nominated for another Golden Globe tonight. This time for my Netflix special Armageddon. I won't win, but it's nice to still be in the mix and keep the flag flying.”

After his shock win, he shared a selfie with his cat at home in London, explaining his absence from the US awards ceremony.

He wrote, “Thank you so much for all your sweet comments and kind words about my Golden Globe win. Best fans in the world. I'm playing a 200 seater in King's Cross tonight doing new material. The glamour. Have a nice day!'

Although he was congratulated by many followers, he was also not without criticism.

Among those who have taken to the comic for its jokes is British disability charity Scope.

During the Netflix special, Ricky pokes fun at Make-A-Wish requests, saying, “I always say yes [to their requests]. And I always start the video the same way. I say, “Why didn't you want to get better? What, are you fucking retarded too?”

Kate Garraway has revealed she has received a 'beautiful letter of condolence' from the Prince and Princess of Wales following the tragic death of her husband Derek.

The presenter, 56, made an emotional return to Good Morning Britain today – just three days after laying her husband Derek to rest.

Derek Draper became seriously ill during the early part of the pandemic in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before being discharged. He died on January 3 after prolonged symptoms of the coronavirus.

During the show, the mother-of-two explained how the Prince and Princess of Wales and King Charles have been in touch to pay their respects.

She explained: 'Catherine and William sent a lovely letter.

“I know Catherine herself was in the hospital, so I really appreciated that.”

The couple's letter of condolence comes after the Princess of Wales left hospital last week following a planned abdominal operation.

The Prince and Princess of Wales aren't the only royals to have reached out to Kate Garraway following Derek's death.

She continued, “And I had a letter from the king, who knows much about sorrow.

'Because there is someone who knows about grief and also knows about that kind of anticipatory grief where you know that something is about to happen and will happen and maybe inevitably will happen at some point, but how different it is when it does happen.'

However, the presenter then said that she had made 'a kind of confidentiality statement' about the contents of the letters from the royal family.

She added, “I just think it's sweet of them to reach out to me, but it's nice to know that those people understand those emotions. I think it connects us all.”

In June 2023, Kate Garraway was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle. The honor recognized her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.

During the moving Investiture ceremony, Kate's late husband Derek watched from the sidelines in a wheelchair.

Late last year, Kate revealed that she had planned to attend the Princess of Wales's carol service at Westminster Abbey, but Derek's health had unfortunately deteriorated.

Speaking on a GMB broadcast, the mum-of-two said: 'I was going to take my dad who had been looking forward to it for so long.

'But unfortunately we ended up back in the hospital with a new crisis. It will be wonderful to watch it with everyone.'

Discussing Derek's funeral service and final days, Garraway said how their 17-year-old daughter Darcey told him, “Dad, if you can't do this, everything will be okay.” Let yourself go if you have to go.”

In the heartbreaking interview, she said Darcey whispered to her father: “Don't worry about us, don't worry about mommy. We'll be fine, because you live on through us.'

Garraway said she had similar conversations with him and a “chance to hold his hand, smell his skin” and tell him “we're here” — adding that “some people don't understand that.”

The presenter also revealed that her daughter had been 'extremely brave' and introduced herself as a pall bearer after four horrific years for the family.

The 56-year-old, who will co-host the program with Ben Shephard from Thursday, spoke from her home via videolink just three days after his funeral.

Garraway thanked her colleague Susanna Reid for compiling a book of condolence from viewers, praising the “incredible love” she has received.

Garraway also said her “emotions are at 110 percent” after the funeral, and spoke of the “outpouring of love for everyone who supported me.”

She said she was told Draper had 24 hours to live, a month before he finally died.

Garraway also discussed her daughter Darcey's role as a pallbearer at the service, saying: 'Darcey came into the room when we were talking about it. [funeral plans] and said: Please let me carry the coffin.

“And I thought, crikey, that's a practical challenge, anyone who's ever done it, it's tough. And she said I wanted to do it and basically insisted on doing it, and I loved that she was carrying her father.”

Of Darcey and son Billy, 14, she added: “Because of their grief, we are in the foothills, we know there is still a long way to go.”

She continued, “They didn't want to pressure him to continue. I don't think he felt that, I think he kept going because he wanted to be here.”

Meanwhile, Garraway confirmed she will return to the station on GMB on Thursday and joked: “I'm going to look out for a hairdryer.”

She said she will also remove the fake eyelashes and fake tan, adding: “Don't worry, I'll look a lot more respectable.”

Garraway continued, “I'm looking forward to getting out into the world and reconnecting with everyone.

“Thanks for having me back, but please be patient, I may be a little rusty. I think there is a new king. Have I caught up?'

Garraway also said she has received “extraordinary” messages of condolence from unexpected sources.

She told GMB: 'I had the most beautiful letter from David and Victoria Beckham – handwritten, very good handwriting… that was Darcey's observation.

'And from the royal family – Catherine and William sent a lovely letter, and I know Catherine herself has been in hospital.

'Even the king, because there is someone who understands sadness, that anticipatory sadness where you know something is about to happen and how different it is when it does happen.'

Garraway started the interview by saying: 'Good morning, welcome to my home, we have Rab here and Mark and Simon, who of course you know very well, and so do I.

'The first thing they said was: 'Shall we shoot it like this, because it is neater'. And I said, 'I think it's a little late for that now.' Let's just take the shit into our own hands and get on with it. So here you are, Lego and chaos. Nice to talk to you.'

Speaking about the book of condolence, Garraway told Reid and fellow presenter Richard Madeley: 'They (the crew) arrived with this this morning. I believe Susanna, you were part of this. This is yours, beautifully done, thank you. Messages for Derek. And it's a strange thing.

'By the way, I also have three baskets full of messages, cards from viewers, from the crew there, and I'm sure you've sorted through a lot of them here. It's just great. It feels like my emotions are at 110 percent.

'The incredible love we all have as a GMB family. It's just great, and ITV in general. I think we're very, very lucky – you're already going to make me cry, so let's try to take a few minutes to think about it – the love that we have as a family, which is people watching at home.

“You are the home that makes us so connected, and we have always been connected in all our joys and all our fun and the challenges of life that poor Derek has faced and our family has too.

“But when I get these messages it makes me cry because I feel so grateful, and I'm also aware that there are people this morning who don't have that feeling of love and just want to share it with you.”

She also praised Draper's “spirit and fight to keep going” and said her children Darcey and Billy had been “extraordinary throughout.”

Garraway continued, “It feels like five years and two minutes since Derek was in a positive situation before the cardiac arrest that took him from us.”

She added that people asked why she returned to work so quickly, but said: “Life has to begin. We have to pick ourselves up and move on.

“That's what Derek would want me to do. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.'

Garraway would “like to keep busy and get back to work,” and also hopes to return to her show on Smooth Radio. The plan for now is for her to return full-time, but ITV has given her the opportunity to take time off as and when she needs it.

Draper's funeral – which was attended by former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, musician Sir Elton John and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, among others – took place last Friday at the Church Of St Mary The Virgin in Primrose Hill, north-west London.

Ahead of Garraway's return to GMB, a post on the show's X account yesterday said: 'Tomorrow Kate Garraway will be joining us for the first time since the death of her beloved husband Derek. Watch from 6am on ITV.'

In a short video accompanying the post, which featured a series of images and clips of the couple, an ITV voiceover said: 'Kate Garraway has shared the story of caring for Derek over the past four years, highlighting the struggle that thousands face.

A JAPANESE space team has revealed how they plan to use powerful lasers to blast junk from space.

The team at SKY Perfect JSAT Corp has spent years developing their world's first laser cannons that could solve the growing problem of debris in Earth's atmosphere.

6

6

6

It is claimed that these revolutionary lasers will be powerful enough to disrupt the way pieces of trash orbit the Earth.

SKY Perfect JSAT Corp's new venture, called Orbital Lasers, has said that these laser beams can vaporize part of the surface of any space junk.

By vaporizing some of the surface of the debris, they can then determine the direction in which it orbits the Earth.

Still focused on the debris, the lasers can then direct the beams to slowly guide the debris toward Earth.

If you do this in a careful and controlled manner, the debris will reportedly burn up as it reaches Earth's atmosphere.

Orbital Lasers claim that their project is the safest way to deal with space debris because it avoids physical contact with other objects.

Because the debris slowly enters our planet's atmosphere, where it immediately burns up, it is harmless and no longer a problem.

The project was officially launched on January 30 in Tokyo, where it said the first lasers will be ready for sale in 2025.

“The issue of space debris is now considered an environmental problem as important as global warming and marine plastic pollution,” Orbital Lasers said in a statement.

“SKY Perfect JSAT and Orbital Lasers address this concern seriously and strive to contribute to the improvement of a sustainable space environment.

“This milestone follows the announcement in June 2020 to design and develop the payload of the world's first space debris removal satellite using laser technology, in collaboration with the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN).

“As a result of these advances, a startup has emerged from SKY Perfect JSAT.”

The group added: “Orbital Lasers will not only focus on the removal of space debris, but also aims to further utilize and develop its laser technologies.

“By integrating space-based LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology into satellites, the company aims to become the world's first commercial provider of high-precision ground surface information through the use of Satellite LiDAR.”

The European Space Agency (ESA) has said that more than a million pieces of debris from discarded parts of satellites and spacecraft are orbiting the Earth.

Late last year, a UN report revealed that about 75 percent of objects in Earth's orbit are “junk.”

If this space debris collides with important satellites, it could have negative consequences for society.

The report explains: “Given that these objects are moving at speeds of more than 25,000 kilometers per hour, even the smallest debris can cause significant damage.

“Every piece of debris becomes an obstacle in the orbital 'highway,' making it increasingly difficult for functional satellites to avoid collisions.”

Space experts and enthusiastic researchers have been trying to find a solution to the problem for years, but to no avail.

Some startups envision methods using satellites with robotic arms or devices with wires that can scoop up debris.

In 2018, a space team from Britain tried to grab a defunct satellite using a giant net. A year later they used a harpoon.

Although both attempts were successful, these methods are limited to removing larger pieces of debris.

To date, there has been no viable implementation of potential solutions to the problem.

6

6

6