New York State

The adult Elephant Seal which hauled out along the Garden Route near Mossel Bay, has returned to the ocean.

Ten of the 11 Sassa employees accused of wrongfully pocketing monies from the agency have been granted bail.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with survivors of devastating floods that killed at least 78 people in the Eastern Cape.

The Center for World University Rankings has ranked the top universities in the world, and 12 South African institutions have made the list.

Sundowns have dropped Lucas Suarez from their Club World Cup squad as they clear space for a new South American striker.

Dewey actor Erik Per Sullivan won’t be in the Malcolm in the Middle reboot, but he gave Bryan Cranston a good reason for his absence.

MAURA Higgins has been’confirmed’ for a huge reality show after being replaced on Love Island USA.

It was revealed last week that Maura, 34, had been replaced as a host on Love Island USA – but she’s already moving on with her bid to break America.

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Maura has been named as one of the stars of the upcoming series of The Traiters USA, after the cast list leaked online.

It comes after The Sun revealed Irish beauty Maura was set to appear on the show.

SUN Racing’s Saturday tips are below.

Back a horse simply by clicking their odds.

LONGSHOT

NORTHERN TICKER (3.35 York)

He has few miles on the clock and followed two wins with a good third at Redcar when last seen.

EACH-WAY THIEF

FINANCER (2.25 York)

He was a good third at Thirsk last time and Tim Easterby has a good record in this race.

MAELSTROM (3.35 York)

He made it three wins in a row at Haydock last time and likes this trip.

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Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

THIS weekend is very much the calm before the Royal Ascot storm – but I still reckon I’ve managed to unearth a tasty punt.

I’m hoping to warm up for the big meeting with a decent eachway run from Blue For You in the 7f handicap at York.

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The stage is set for a huge week at Royal Ascot – but I reckon I can find a winner to boost our coffers before then[/caption]

My selection is handicapped to go well for David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope.

To be honest I don’t often get this yard right, but I think Blue For You is worth taking a risk on as an animal who loves the track.

Blue For You usually goes over a mile, and was a winner at York in July of last year off 95.

Having not scored since, he’s on 95 again now, and he had a perfectly decent run over 7f at Haydock in April.

He’s hard to predict but a few quid each-way is, in my opinion, well worth it.

Elsewhere at York I wonder if some headgear will spark up Chillingham? Time will tell… but I’ll give him a go each-way too.

Meanwhile, the Greyhound Derby final is here and it’s the defending champion against a fellow Irish champion in a right old smashup.

That’s what we get in the climax of the coveted £175,000 Starsports Greyhound Derby at Towcester on Saturday night, which promises to be an absolute belter.

De Lahdedah, handled by Liam Dowling, bids to become just the fifth greyhound in history to achieve back-to-back successes.

And remember those that have done so are names from yesteryear that will always live long in the memory of dog loving fans.

Think Mick the Miller (1929-30), Patricias Hope (1972-3), Rapid Ranger (2000-1) and my personal favourite Westmead Hawk (2005-6).

But to score, De Lahdedah will have to destroy Graham Holland’s Bockos Diamond, who aims to make history and do something only Toms the Best has ever achieved, and that’s to land the Irish and English Derby.

This is a proper race, and after ITV duties at York I’m dashing straight to Towcester to enjoy the moment.

I hope you will be there to. Those in charge have put on loads of entertainment and music throughout the day.

It will be a party atmosphere. So come on down and say hello.

If you can’t get to watch the race live on track, then remember all the action can be seen on the Gone to the Dogs live channel.
You’ll find it with a simple ‘Google’ search.

And if you are a dog lover, don’t forget there is a Just Giving page to support the rehoming of greyhounds.

Any support is always welcome and it’s something the game takes very seriously.

So who will win? And is this a two dog race?

Well the answer to the latter question is clearly no. We have all been around too long to dismiss the unexpected.

As is always the case in greyhound racing, though, the draw is crucial and Bockos Diamond is plotted up in the black and white stripes of Trap 6, with kennel companion Cheap Sandwiches next to him in the orange of Trap 5.

That also happened in the semi-finals, when Bockos Diamond destroyed Cheap Sandwiches for early pace.

The former doesn’t always get out as quickly as he did that day, in an impressive 3.95s. But Trap 6 seems to be the spot where he traps best.

Cheap Sandwiches also chased home Bockos Diamond in his Irish Derby victory, where the latter dashed better early pace despite not getting an electric start.

Some have a theory that the inside of the track is the place to be at Towcester, and that means De Lahdedah will have plenty of supporters.

He’s in the white jacket of Trap 3, and that box holds no terrors for him, although he landed his semi-final from the blue of Trap 2.

De Lahdedah will need luck in the early stages, as he’s a strong stayer who lacks early dash.

He does, however, have tremendous track craft and he’ll keep plugging away.

If Bockos Diamond gets away I can’t see him being picked up, but we are talking narrow margins here.

It just promises to be a wonderful event, and greyhounds are beautiful animals to watch in fluent motion.

Their long, powerful legs, deep chest, flexible spine and slim build allow them to reach speeds of 40mph.

Bockos Diamond will need to use all those attributes at 9.15pm tonight. Shine bright Bockos, like a diamond.

FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.

---

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

PIZZA Hut is rolling out new digital ordering screens across all 136 of its dine-in restaurants, a move that could make over 100 staff members redundant.

The pizza chain, which employs 3,000 staff, is set to cut 120 front-end roles as part of the shake-up.

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Other chains such as Wetherspoons and Nando’s have already installed similar screens or offer QR code ordering from the table[/caption]

The new terminals at the front of restaurants will make it quicker for customers to order.

A letter to staff at risk of redundancy said: “Over the coming months we are introducing new customer-facing technologies across our restaurants, including digital ordering through QR codes and the installation of in-store kiosks.

“These changes are designed to enhance the customer experience and allow guests to be more self-sufficient when dining with us.”

Other chains such as Wetherspoons and Nando’s have already installed similar screens or offer QR code ordering from the table. 

Emily Curtis from DC London Pie, which owns Pizza Hut UK’s dine-in restaurants, explained that the decision to cut jobs is due to more than 60% of in-store orders now being placed digitally.

She said the company has invested heavily in new technologies to keep up with changing customer preferences.

“As part of this journey, we are adapting our staffing model, particularly in our front-of-house teams,” she added.

“While these decisions are never easy, they are necessary to ensure we continue meeting customer expectations and stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.

“We are committed to supporting affected team members and will work closely with those impacted to help them find new opportunities within the wider Pizza Hut network.”

The dine-in arm of the restaurant was rescued by private equity firm Directional Capital, which created DC London Pie Ltd to take over the franchise.

It saved 3,000 jobs and saw the closure of one restaurant.

It is separate to the delivery side of the chain, which is owned by Yum! Brands, the US firm that owns KFC. 

Pizza Hut first arrived in the UK in 1973 and quickly became a favourite with diners.

At its height, the chain operated over 260 restaurants nationwide, employing 10,000 staff and welcoming three million customers each month.

Some of its most notable creations include the introduction of the pan pizza in 1980, the stuffed crust in 1995, and the re-launch of the pan pizza as the grand pan in 1998.

Pan pizzas are baked in a deep, oil-coated dish, giving the crust a deliciously crispy, golden edge and a lightly fried texture on the bottom.

Like many businesses, Pizza Hut faced challenges during the coronavirus pandemic. 

To manage its financial difficulties, the company entered into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) – a deal with lenders to cut costs and stay afloat.

At the time, Pizza Hut had over 240 locations across the UK but was forced to close 29 branches as part of the restructuring plan.

HOSPITALITY WOES

The hospitality sector has struggled to bounce back after the pandemic, facing challenges including soaring energy bills, inflation and staff shortages.

In January 2023, Byron Burger fell into administration with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.

Around 12 branches were saved in a rescue deal with Tristar Foods, which is owned by Calveton.

The Restaurant Group (TRG), which owned Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito and Wagamama, shut dozens of sites in the same year.

It then went on to sell its Frankie & Bennys and Chiquito brands to Cafe Rouge owner The Big Table group in September 2023.

Italian restaurant chain Prezzo also closed dozens of sites in the same year.

In April 2024, Tasty, the owners of Italian restaurant Wildwood and Dim T, a pan-Asian restaurant, announced plans to exit 20 loss-making restaurants.

In the same month, Whitbread revealed plans to slash its chain of branded restaurants across the UK.

Meanwhile, TGI Fridays was forced to close 35 locations immediately after falling into administration last October.

However, 51 restaurants were rescued through a last-minute pre-pack deal with private equity firms Breal Capital and Calveton UK.