Month: October 2026

The breathtaking island is about a four-hour flight from the UK and boasts heaps of history, culture, TV links and a new hotel that is going to be a hit with rock fans

There are few better places where you can move effortlessly between sunshine, sea and centuries of history than the stunning island of Malta. Friends and family had recommended it to me as the perfect holiday for a mix of sightseeing and relaxation, and it certainly delivered.

As a small island, Malta packs a punch, offering tourists everything they want right on their doorstep. There are few bigger mood killers than a day tour entailing hours and hours cooped up in the car, but Malta’s size means you can hop from place to place in no time at all.

You can easily get a boat to Gozo or the Blue Lagoon in half a day, drink in the incredible sights of Malta’s shoreline, and be back in time to hit the pool before dinner. Meanwhile, Valletta, the EU’s smallest capital, is easily accessible by car or bus, and you need only a few hours to soak up the famous yellow architecture, pretty alleyways and sea views.

The city blows you away with its vivid colours as you arrive. Valletta may be modest in size, but it is extraordinary to look at, boasting a rich history closely connected to the UK. It played a major role in World War Two and became a favourite destination of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Even today, a British influence is visible on the streets, with our famous red postboxes and iconic Victorian architecture everywhere you go.

Despite being only 0.3 square miles, Valletta offers plenty for a day trip; it boasts 320 historic sites, from the famous St John’s Co-Cathedral to Fort St Elmo. Not only that, it has been the backdrop for several hit Hollywood films, including Assassin’s Creed and Napoleon, making the city a treat for film buffs. At every turn, you are greeted by grand churches and colourful balconies, and all with a jaw-dropping coastline backdrop. A mere few hours was the perfect amount of time to explore before settling down with an Aperol Spritz.

Just a few miles along one of Malta’s most vibrant stretches of coastline lies St Julian’s, a perfect spot for those who like to swim and sunbathe during the day and head out at night. If Valletta is Malta’s historic beating heart, St Julian’s is its party spirit. As it gets dark, restaurants spill onto terraces and the waterfront fills up for sunset drinks.

Nestled nearby in the beautiful St George’s Bay is the Hard Rock Hotel Malta, which opened its doors this summer and could quickly become Malta’s go-to destination. Boasting stunning panoramic sea views, a state-of-the-art gym, a luxury spa area, and eleven (that’s right) swimming pools, it has truly thought of everything. Forgotten your sunscreen? That’s okay, because the hotel even has its own huge shopping centre and supermarket, with everything you could possibly need just a few steps from your room.

The swim-up bar at Hard Rock Hotel was also a particular highlight; I loved basking in the water with a chilled glass of wine while people-watching down onto the beach below. It made the lazy afternoons flow perfectly into the evenings, with sunbathing by the water giving way to sunset drinks on the terrace as guests soaked up the views at all points of the day.

Inside, music memorabilia gave a personal touch, while the hotel’s luxury amenities almost tempt you to forgo exploring. The hotel also boasts a wide range of stylish restaurants and bars serving impeccable food and cocktails from around the world. The experience could be a little overwhelming, but as someone who typically prefers a smaller, boutique stay, I loved the convenience that the Hard Rock Hotel offers when you have only a few days to enjoy. The spacious rooms were also gorgeous with sea-themed decor and a large balcony, and the best part is you’re guaranteed a sea view, with both sides of the hotel offering a stunning glimpse at the Maltese coastline.

If you do want to venture a little further afield for dinner, Cristiano Ronaldo’s restaurant TATEL is a must. Expect beautiful views of the bay’s sparkling waters and a menu that served up some seriously delicious fare (don’t miss out on the iconic Basque Cheesecake).

That’s why Hard Rock Hotel’s location is ideal. The comfort, convenience and style summed up my stay in Malta – everything you need is right in front of you. Exploring doesn’t have to be an ordeal when a morning in ancient streets can be quickly followed by a slow afternoon by a gorgeous pool. You have the beach, the sights, delicious food and drinks all at your fingertips. After a day of sightseeing, returning to the hotel and settling down for a terrace drink felt like part of the holiday rather than a break from it.

Travellers looking for a cost-effective and peaceful Mediterranean escape that offers more than beaches would do a lot worse than enjoy Malta’s ideal combination of history, culture, food and contemporary island life right on your hotel doorstep.

Book it

• Rooms at the Hard Rock Hotel Malta start from £210 a night, based on two adults sharing a Superior Room. Book at hotel.hardrock.com/malta.

Chancellor John Healey is facing a funding gap of up to £35bn and must set out “credible” spending plans in his first Budget on 28 October, an influential think tank has warned.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said that if the government wants to increase defence spending to 3% of national income by 2030 and lift health spending without squeezing other departments, it will need a “top-up” of billions of pounds.

Higher inflation, caused by the Iran war, could eat into what the government hoped to spend on public services, meaning Healey will have to choose between spending cuts, tax rises, or a mixture of both, the IFS warned.

The Treasury declined to comment on “rumour and speculation”.

The IFS urged the government to ensure its spending plans are credible, as opposed to proposing unrealistic future cuts to make the Budget add up.

The government is under growing pressure to show financial markets that it has a tight grip on finances as the cost of borrowing rises.

The IFS cautioned Healey about making any spending announcements in the 28 October Budget speech he has no intention of honouring.

“A ‘steady-as-she-goes’ Budget is not an option available to the chancellor,” said IFS director Helen Miller.

“Choosing to stay the course with the inherited tax and spending plans would mean allowing inflation to blow departments’ spending plans off course.

“Simply pencilling in implicit cuts that he has no intention of delivering would make the Budget a work of fiction,” she added.

Speaking ahead of the annual International Monetary Fund meeting this week, Healey said: “The consequences of conflict in the Middle East and Europe are hitting countries worldwide, leading to higher prices at the pumps and more expensive mortgages at home.

“But Britain and our allies can face up to these challenges together.”

He said his Budget “will build on this approach with fiscal discipline helping to deliver economic resilience” and give people “breathing space”.

Miller told the BBC’s Today programme that Healey has inherited spending plans for government departments where spending growth would slow in the coming years.

“[It] already looked likely that he would have to make spending cuts just to live within those,” she said. “Now, along comes the Middle East war, inflation goes up and those spending plans look very tight indeed.”

Added to that, the chancellor has said he wants to get defence spending up to 3% of national income. Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, Healey resigned as defence secretary in June in a battle with the Treasury over military spending.

Miller said: “You put all that together, if he wanted to do all of that within current spending plans he’s looking at having to cut some other services by something like £35bn.”

The chancellor does not have to address spending totals in this Budget, and may choose to leave such decisions until future events – for example, next year’s Spring Statement or Spending Review – by which time the outlook for the economy could look very different.

But the IFS warned not addressing it would cast doubt on the credibility of the government’s plans.

Previous chancellors have relied on a similar strategy of pencilling in unrealistic future spending plans to ensure that they meet the fiscal rules on the day – only to change the plans further down the line.

Miller said Healey’s focus on fiscal discipline was a “good first start but what he needs to do is not just say he’s going to cut borrowing in coming years but actually deliver on those plans.”

HE’S Towie’s handsome long-serving lothario who’s charmed a long list of show stunners over the years.

But you can’t break hearts for a decade on a major reality show and not cop any flack for it.

And Dan Edgar has been on the receiving end of some stinging barbs from former show star Olivia Attwood, who once branded him “boring” and a “coward” on account of his love-life drama with Chloe Sims.

The Essex charmer famously cooled things off with Chloe amid cheating allegations in 2019 and he went on to reunite with on-off girlfriend Amber Turner.

Chloe later told us that the way Dan handled the split “bulldozed” her confidence and led to a cruel pile on from trolls.

Despite brushing off Liv’s criticisms publicly, sources say it left Dan bristling and his decision not to follow Olivia on social media is telling.

Now the follicly-blessed 36-year-old is determined to prove Liv wrong with current girlfriend Chloe Lewis, 35, who he hard-launched in August and has appeared in fun, loved-up snaps with ever since.

An insider told The Sun: “Towie fans will remember it was Olivia who told Chloe that Dan had cheated on her with another woman.

“That led to the implosion of her blossoming romance with Dan, and while Liv was sticking up for her mate, Dan just thinks she’s a trouble maker.

“The ‘boring’ jibe has also never been forgotten by Dan. That was a bit of a sore spot for him, he thinks it was a low blow.

“As a result he still doesn’t follow Olivia on social media to this day, and unsurprisingly she doesn’t follow him either.

“It’s been made a bit awkward though since Olivia started dating Pete Wicks as Dan is still mates with Pete.”

Mum-of-one Chloe Lewis left Towie after four years in 2018, just months before the drama that would kickstart the simmering feud.

She doesn’t appear to have taken offence to Olivia’s past comments about Dan as she remains on the documentary-maker’s social media friends list and even shares the same management.

Our insider said: “It’s a bit of an elephant in the room but it’s safe to say the four of them won’t be going on double dates anytime soon.”

When contacted by The Sun, Dan’s rep denied any beef, saying: “Dan is genuinely surprised by these claims as he has never had an issue with Olivia.

“They’ve had very little interaction over the years, and he certainly doesn’t hold any negative feelings towards her. There’s no feud from Dan’s side, and he wishes her nothing but the best.”

As for Olivia, her issues with Dan stem from the way he treated Chloe Sims during their fling in 2019 on a cast trip to Thailand.

ITV golden girl Liv was a member of the cast at the time and ripped into Dan for ghosting Chloe every time the going got tough, a view shared by viewers who likened him to someone going to ground in witness protection.

Olivia’s boyfriend Pete Wicks once had his own close relationship with Chloe Sims and their friendship secretly spilled into romance on a number of occasions.

It was around this time that Dan, fresh from his split with girlfriend Amber, hooked up with Chloe.

The love triangle, and its murky timeline, sparked confusion and saw Dan and Pete clash in heated scenes.

Liv has made past comments about Dan’s penchant for fading out romances rather than having an honest and frank discussion about the issues getting in the way.

There have been digs about his passivity, with it said that if he wasn’t so good-looking his partners wouldn’t tolerate his behaviour.

Olivia’s past assessment that Dan wasn’t mature enough for Chloe Sims led to fans likening him to Peter Pan, the boy that never grew up.

Pete, whose friendship with Dan has been turbulent over the years, has had a few tongue-in-cheek comments too, once joking that laidback Dan is so chilled that his heartrate remains below 40bpm no matter what drama is unfolding.

Last year, Dan experienced another failed relationship when he and Ella Rae Wise ended their 18-month partnership, despite having a “great sex life”, and it looked like Dan was destined for the single life.

That is until former Towie star Chloe Lewis caught his eye at mutual pals Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Mallett’s Majorca wedding last summer.

Romance rumours began to swirl in the months that followed as the pair dropped crumbs online, before they enjoyed a joint holiday in Marbella this August, sharing kisses and confirming their relationship.

They had their first official engagement as a couple when they attended a Primark event together last month.

The star-studded bash also had Pete on the guestlist and the trio posed together for a picture, suggesting the frosty relations between Dan and Liv hasn’t affected his and Pete’s friendship. Unlike Dan and Liv, the two do follow each other on Instagram.

There have been a number of smitten social media pictures of Chloe and Dan together since, with the latter now willing to be less subtle about his feelings and seemingly keen to prove to the naysayers that he can be serious and is ready to grow up.

The Sun has contacted a representative for Dan for comment.

Cromore Retreat in Northern Ireland’s Portstewart has just opened a series of the kind of bubble domes that have been setting Instagram and TikTok alight this year

If you’ve been on Instagram or TikTok this past year and your algorithm has a travel slant, there’s a very good chance you’ve seen the bubble tents.

There are countless wanderlusty clips of people twirling around in large inflatable dome tents that look as if they’ve been blown out by a giant with an oversized pot of bubbles. They are striking, beautiful structures, standing three or four metres high, often on top of rolling hills or in the middle of woodland.

But to my eyes, there is also something a little insubstantial, let alone gimmicky, about the translucent tents that had left me wondering if they were more Temu yurt than Glastonbury tipi. So when I visited Portstewart in Northern Ireland at the beginning of this week, and was given the opportunity to stay in a bubble of my own, I was intrigued and a little skeptical.

The bubbles in question are set up on the grounds of the Cromore House, built by the town’s founder John Cromie back in 1776. From the outside at least, the considerable property appears to be empty today, having recently ceased operating as a care home. If anything, the lack of movement at the grand house was a benefit. For the duration of my trip, I didn’t see a soul, which left me feeling cut off from the world in exactly the right way.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

The outside

With the lockbox keys, I let myself into a private, wood-fenced area with trees lining the perimeter and a dome in the centre. “Won’t they see you naked?” my wife had asked when I explained that the accommodation walls were completely see-through. Happily, ‘they’ may as well not have existed, so private and snugly tucked away are the bubbles.

The location is perfect. A 40-minute walk out through the woods takes you to the highly rated Portstewart Arms, where perfect pints of Guinness go for £5, or you can stay on-site and enjoy a steam in the communal sauna.

The inside

Inside the bubbles is where the action really is. On a brisk October day, I was relieved to find the dome warmed to a very snug 22 °C thanks to a ground-source heat pump. My particular accommodation, the McDonnell Suite (named after a former estate owner), consisted of three domes squashed together.

One is occupied by the shower and toilet, which are wisely hidden from the rest of the dome by a partition wall and from the outside world by some tastefully opaque section of dome. It comes complete with an information-rich smart tablet and a high-tech touchscreen mirror.

The central bubble stands in for the living room. A low coffee table sits between two armchairs, a comfortable spot for reading. There’s also a tea and coffee area with a Nespresso machine and a fridge stocked with a breakfast hamper from Chestnutt’s Farm in Portrush. As in Covid, there is a joy in the isolation that comes with bubbles. Instead of trooping over to a breakfast buffet, Cromore Retreat guests are given everything they need for a solitary and delicious start to the day: soda bread, strawberry jam, granola, absurdly creamy butter, and a little bottle of particularly thick milk.

Hungry after an afternoon’s surfing, I ripped this open a good 14 hours early and tucked in, in the third and final wing, the bedroom. Here you will find a wide four-posted bed with curtains around the side but no roof, allowing you to wall yourself in and watch the stars twinkling through the tree canopy above.

At the end of the bed is a large standalone tub in which I ate my way through the breakfast box while enjoying a long, needlessly indulgent soak.

The final feature, and arguably the stand-out, is the private hot tub that sits outside the dome. To my shame, I did not bubble in it, forgoing the ultimate indulgence of a solo jacuzzi on a Monday evening in favour of a second bath and then a quite flawless night’s sleep.

The verdict

I was entirely wrong. There is nothing gimmicky or insubstantial about these see-through domes. They are pure, indulgent, slightly silly fun, right until you check out and step into the bubble-bursting Northern Irish drizzle.

Book it

Stays cost from £235 a night, with breakfast hampers costing an additional £20. Go to cromoreretreat.com/book

MILWAUKEE — The Dodgers have a big hole in the middle of their batting order, and it’s not Shohei Ohtani.

If anything, Ohtani has reemerged as an offensive force in the cleanup spot, singling, walking and scoring the Dodgers’ only run Sunday in a 2-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

The problem is with the guy hitting in front of Ohtani.

Will Smith walked in four plate appearances, marking just the second time he’s reached base in the postseason. In the four division series games against the Atlanta Braves, he had a single in 16 at-bats, striking out seven times. He’s hitting .053 in the playoffs — only Cleveland’s Ángel Martínez has a lower average among players with at least nine at-bats.

But there’s not much the Dodgers can do about it. They are built to win with pitching and Smith, the catcher, is the guy they rely on to guide those pitchers through games.

Dalton Rushing, who started just five fewer games behind the plate than Smith this season, is injured and not on the roster. Hunter Feduccia, who did make the team, caught just 15 complete games this season and isn’t an option to start in the playoffs.

“I’m not going to put Feduccia in place of Will Smith,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “That’s just not going to happen.”

So Roberts and the Dodgers are left to muddle on with Smith regardless of how much he struggles offensively. That’s because he’s far more valuable crouching behind the plate than standing next to it.

“I don’t even know how he’s performing offensively,” said Tarik Skubal, who took the loss Sunday. “Catchers, I think it’s the most important position on the field. They’re the ones calling pitches, dictating game flow, rhythm, all that type of stuff. I’m going to trust those guys always.”

Smith appears to be executing his catching duties very well, since opponents have scored just 10 runs and are hitting .160 against the Dodgers this postseason. Only Tampa Bay, which has played two fewer games, has done better.

As for what Smith thinks, that’s unknown because the Dodgers did not make him available to the media Sunday. But since he’s not coming out of the lineup, the next-best solution might be moving him to another spot in the order.

That worked with Ohtani, who had as many strikeouts as hits in the first two games of the division series, when he batted second. Since being dropped in the order, he has reached base four times in three games, stolen a base and scored twice.

“There’s always lineup construction. I can think it through. He’s not swinging the bat well,” Roberts said of Smith. “It’s hard because of the body of work, he just has that knack to get a hit, to get a big hit.”

That’s exactly what happened last fall when Smith’s two-out, 11th-inning home run in Game 7 of the World Series helped the Dodgers win a second straight title.

Smith was on the injured list for 86 days this summer because of neck disk inflammation, returning for the final month when he slashed .290/.400/.548. He has cooled off considerably in October, just as he did last year, when he returned from a right hand contusion three games into the playoffs and got just two hits in his first 14 at-bats.

He recovered to bat .400 in last year’s NLCS win over Milwaukee, then broke a 4-4 tie with his winning homer against the Toronto Blue Jays. Just as important, though, Smith caught all but 11 innings in the Dodgers’ final 15 postseason games — including two 11-inning games and another that lasted 18 innings.

Smith rarely has hit well in the postseason, batting just .206 in 18 series, which may explain Roberts’ lack of panic. Plus, Roberts knows his All-Star catcher has helped him win three World Series rings, and if the Dodgers are to get another, it will be on the strength of their pitching, not their hitting.

And that side of Smith’s game is as strong as ever.

“To be honest, that’s not where my focus is with Will,” Skubal said of his catcher’s hitting. “My focus is what he’s doing behind the dish and he’s very important. He’s very important to the entire pitching staff.”

US, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand among countries urging citizens to avoid travel to Kingdom.

Several countries have warned their citizens against travel to Saudi Arabia following a series of Houthi attacks on airports in the kingdom.

On Monday, Australia and New Zealand became the latest to issue advisories against travelling to the kingdom, following similar warnings from the United States, Canada, the UK, South Korea, and Japan.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australians should avoid King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and “reconsider” travel to other Saudi airports.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade urged citizens not to travel to the Saudi capital’s main gateway and the provinces of Najran, Jazan and Asir for any reason, and to avoid “non-essential” travel to Saudi Arabia as a whole.

The US embassy in Riyadh on Sunday advised US citizens to reconsider travel to the kingdom, citing the threat of attacks by Iran and the Iranian-backed Houthis.

Global Affairs Canada issued an advisory against non-essential travel to any part of Saudi Arabia.

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended that its citizens in Saudi Arabia leave unless they are on essential business and advised anyone planning to travel to the kingdom to cancel their trip.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office urged citizens to avoid travel to Jeddah and Dammam, and to all airports apart from Medina International Airport, except for essential reasons.

The warnings come as Saudi Arabia reels from five attacks on its airports in less than a week.

One person was killed and 11 others were injured on Sunday when a projectile struck King Khalid International Airport, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

A Houthi strike on the same airport on Saturday killed 13 people and injured more than 300 others, marking the deadliest attack on Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for all four strikes on Saudi airports before Sunday’s attack, which has yet to be claimed by any group.

King Khalid international airport and King Fahd international airport in Dammam remain closed following the attacks, causing significant disruption to aviation across the Middle East.

The attacks have also disrupted flights to and from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

More than 150 flights were cancelled and 374 flights were delayed at the Jeddah airport on Sunday, according to the flight tracking website Flightradar24.

Brendan Sobie, an independent analyst and consultant in Singapore, said it was too early to predict the ramifications of the attacks for aviation across the region and beyond.

“As has been the case with the Iran war and the impact from that crisis on the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, the impact of this latest crisis really depends on how long it lasts, how long Riyadh airport remains closed, and how long and to what extent are the restrictions once it reopens,” Sobie told Al Jazeera.

Main opposition Congress party announces rally to the top court to demand removal of the chief election commissioner.

Phillip and Rochelle ended up on a blazing argument during the latest episode of Big Brother but fans of the ITV2 reality show are convinced they know the real reason behind their row

Another argument has blown up inside the Big Brother house between an unlikely duo.

The House of Power kicked off during Sunday’s (October 11) episode and it didn’t take long before a row broke out between Phillip and Rochelle.

During a conversation with house guest Gemma Collins, Phillip and Rochelle opened up about Twinks moving into the house as one of the new arrivals alongside Catrin.

Phillip explained: “I said her [Twinks] ‘you’ve come into our house, our house’. I said ‘don’t you f****** forget it’. However, Rochelle disagreed saying: “You didn’t f****** say it like that’.”

A furious Phillip hit back, saying : “Don’t call me a liar” before adding “You’ve got too much to f***ing say for yourself, you f****** nosey t*** and you can f*** off away from me”. However, Rochelle insisted: “I haven’t called you a liar.”

The row didn’t last long and they quickly made up much to the amusement of their fellow housemates but some fans have been left wondering if Phillip is “turning on” Rochelle because he heard the crowd chanting “Get Rochelle out” during Friday’s (October 9) live eviction which saw Pauline forced to the leave the house.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “Phillip turning on Rochelle after he heard the get Rochelle out chants. More faces than a town clock that one.” Another added: “I think Phillip heard the ‘get Rochelle’ out chants.”

A third person said: Phillip heard the crowd saying ‘get Rochelle out’ now he thinks if I turn on her people will love me, well no.” A fourth agreed: “Philip heard the ‘get Rochelle chants’ and is now turning on her.”

However, some fans are convinced Phillip will go on and win the entire series, with one viewer writing on social media: “Honestly Phillip for the win” and someone else posting: “Love Phillip he owns it, says how it is, he’s funny and he cheers the housemates up as well. Phillip to win for me.”

The argument between the friends comes just days Rochelle said her and Phillip were “the Beckhams” because they were “better together” in reference to celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham.

Elsewhere in the episode, Big Brother shared the House of Power rules explaining: “Housemates, as you know, this week is all about the power. Soon, the house will be split into two teams. In your teams, you’ll take on a series of tasks. At stake – power in the house. “

Celebrity house guest Gemma then had pick two team captains, she chose Sam and Rob, and they then had to decide who they wanted on their teams in preparation for the head-to-head battles that lie ahead.

The winning team gets power of the house until the next game and are the only ones allowed to use the kettle, toaster, air fryer, hot tub and hair appliances.

The losing team must do all the cleaning, are only allowed two minutes in the shower each and aren’t allowed to sit on the sofa.

Big Brother airs Sunday to Thursday on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm

Olympic and defending world champions will be competing at the Shanghai Velodrome for the 2026 Track World Championships this week, and you can watch it on the BBC.

There are 22 titles at stake and this is the first track cycling qualifying event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The championships, taking place between 14 and 18 October, will see riders compete for the coveted rainbow jerseys in a range of disciplines, with events split between endurance and sprint.

Great Britain finished second in 2025 with the Netherlands taking top spot with nine gold medals. Harrie Lavreysen was once again the dominant force for the Dutch team, winning an incredible four gold medals in the Keirin, Sprint, 1km Time Trial and the Team Sprint.

GB will be without one of their most decorated track cyclists, as reigning Madison world champion Katie Archibald hung up her cleats in May this year to pursue a career in nursing. Olympic team sprint champion Katy Marchant also announced her retirement last month.

They do, however, boast a strong team including eight riders who have won world titles and eight Olympic medallists.

Rust red and burnt sienna speckle the green mountain rising from Lake Iseo. Golden autumn sunlight shimmers on the water. Monte Isola, Italy’s largest lake island, is a peak of sheer cliffs and dense forest, dotted with old fishing hamlets and hillside villages, each as pretty as the terraced villas of Lake Como and Garda, but with far fewer visitors. I arrive at the small port town of Peschiera Maraglio – where striped wooden boats jut from the water like the gondolas of Venice – on a ferry from Sulzano, a five-minute hop across the water.

“Only three people on the island are allowed to own a car: the priest, the doctor and the mayor,” says Chiara, my tour guide from Brescia. Residents can zip up and down the steep island roads on mopeds, and a small fleet of van-sized buses trundle around throughout the day, but nearly all cars are forbidden and visitors have to explore on foot or bike.

Even bikes are banned from boats at the weekend. Not that it matters: the harbour front is lined with bike rentals (from €4 an hour for a standard bike). I’m normally a nervous cyclist, but car-free roads raise my confidence. Plus, most other visitors have the telltale front-wheel wobble of novice riders. This isn’t the place for Lycra and personal bests; the smooth-as-silk, quiet roads are for slow pedalling, and neck swivelling to take in another gorgeous view of Lake Iseo.

The circular lakeside route winds past olive groves tumbling to the shore. I thought I’d need base layers and gloves this far into autumn, but I’m in shorts and a T-shirt and already working up a sweat in 24C sunshine. I pedal through the lakeside hamlet of Sensole in the island’s south-west and stop in Menzino, just along the shore. There’s a cafe-bar catering to cyclists, so I fuel up with an espresso con lake view.

The view from the western side of the island is somewhat marred by a huge concrete factory on the mainland, so I keep my head down on the pedal to Siviano, the island’s capital. The shambling streets are sleepy; the stacked skyline of orange, lemon and magnolia villas is punctuated by the looming facade of Santi Faustino e Giovita church and a medieval stone tower. Monte Isola has been inhabited since the Roman era. Venetian rule in the 15th and 16th centuries left the main towns resembling those on Garda and Como: hillside terraces of wooden-shuttered pastel villas. In the late 18th century, Monte Isola found its main industry: net making. At Retificio La Rete Srl, a small shop and net factory at Siviano’s port, fishing nets have been handwoven for centuries, along with nets for basketball hoops, football goals, shopping bags and hammocks.

At the northern tip of the island, I get the best views of Lake Iseo’s craggiest mountains. The south of the lake is chalk-white bell towers against gently undulating hills, draped in franciacorta vineyards. The north is where jagged peaks scrape the sky, plummeting to the emerald-green lake water. Just off the shore, a speck of an island (Isola di Loreto) is topped with a grand, castle-like building, which Chiara says is privately owned. A flotilla of kayakers from Marone make their way towards the private dock, slipping across the glass-still water.

In Carzano, I pause to admire thepink-and-white facade of San Giovanni Battista church, before cycling along the more functional stretch of road along the eastern shore. The traffic-free spell is broken by an old Fiat Punto, apologetically crawling along the road. Maybe the driver is the doctor or priest.

I complete my circle back in Peschiera Maraglio, where a late lunch of lake fish awaits at La Foresta restaurant. To begin, pickled tench so vinegary it makes my mouth water and a chub carpaccio that tastes like fresh lake water; followed by the island staple of dried, salted sardinas on grilled polenta. “Sardina is not a sardine; it’s actually a type of shad fish,” Chiara explains. “In the middle ages, when Monte Isola had to pay tax to Venice, they didn’t understand how money worked, so they paid in salted sardinas instead.”

As the last ferries leave for the evening, it feels as if I have Peschiera Maraglio to myself. Accommodation is private holiday apartments or restaurants with rooms. At Decio, a modern bistro dominates the ground floor, with a handful of sleek bedrooms above. The glass front shows off an uninterrupted lake view and the room is bathed in orange light at sunset. I spend the evening perched on a stool outside L’Isola dei Sapori, a no-frills alfresco spot where sparkling franciacorta wine is perfectly chilled, and snacks of local salami, olives and fish dishes combine for a light dinner.

The next day, I forgo my bike and lace up my hiking boots. The steep trail to the top of the island begins with the enclosed cobbled streets of Peschiera Maraglio and wends into thick chestnut forest. I pocket a particularly beefy conker, unable to resist the childhood urge for a blinder. My legs start to burn against the gradient – the trail is 450 metres of climbing. Rocks and twisting roots burst through the forest path and there’s a sheer drop to one side, but the glimpses of Lake Iseo between the trees are worth every wheeze.

After an hour, the trees thin out and I emerge at Santuario della Madonna della Ceriola. The striking white sanctuary was built in the 13th century, on the remains of a pagan temple and early Christian chapels. A vast golden altar and detailed frescoes adorn the interior, but it’s the panoramic view outside that really makes the hike worthwhile. The ferry to Sulzano is a toy boat, leaving a white tail of wake.

From up high, I see that autumn colours are already creeping into the forest. I wipe the sweat from my eyes. This view is only going to get prettier as the season evolves, and the prize conkers are yet to fall.

The trip was arranged by Visit Brescia. Bike rental starts at €4 an hour. The ferry from Sulzano to Monte Isola is €2.60 each way. Trains run from Brescia to Sulzano from €4.10. Rooms at Decio start at €90 B&B

Chinese foreign ministry cites national sovereignty and Taiwan separatist activities as reasons behind the measures.

China has sanctioned Paraguay’s communications minister and Belize’s foreign minister over ties to Taiwan.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the announcement on Monday, citing the safeguarding of China’s national sovereignty and opposition to Taiwan separatist activities as the reasons behind the measures, which went into effect the same day.

The measures against Paraguay’s Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca include the freezing of their assets in China and the denial of entry visas to Hong Kong and Macau.

The sanctions also prohibit Chinese organisations and individuals from engaging in transactions, cooperation or other activities with the ministers.

The Foreign Ministry said that “certain anti-China politicians” who are “driven by self-interest” have pushed their nations to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Beijing said the ministers had “taken a series of egregious actions and statements”, which are “damaging China’s core interests”.

Paraguay and Belize are two of 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

China views Taiwan as its territory, a view the island’s government strongly rejects.

The measures come two days after Taiwan’s National Day celebration.

In a National Day speech outside the Presidential Office on Saturday, Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te said the island “cherishes peace” and will “not give up our freedom”.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office condemned Lai’s speech, saying it “disregards facts, ⁠distorts the truth, misleads the public, and reveals ulterior motives”.

In January, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to achieve the “reunification” of China and Taiwan, calling the goal “unstoppable”.

Diplomatic relations

Paraguay’s Communications Minister Villate marked Taiwan’s National Day with a social media post, saying: “Paraguay reaffirms its relationship of friendship and cooperation, based on shared values and principles: the self-determination of peoples, human rights and democracy.”

The Belize embassy in Taiwan also posted a message on its Facebook celebrating the 37th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

“Together, we look forward to a future of growth, opportunity, and lasting friendship,” the embassy wrote.

Last month, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung visited Belize. His ministry said the two sides had agreed to deepen ties.

Taiwan’s other allies in the Americas include Guatemala and Haiti. It also has formal diplomatic ties with three Caribbean islands.

The United States does not have ⁠formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but Washington is bound by law to provide the island with the means to ‌defend itself.

Earlier this month, the US delivered two fighter jets to Taiwan as the island seeks to build its defence capabilities to deter a feared attack from China.

A team of paramedics battled to save a man’s life on 999: On the Frontline tonight, after his heart stopped beating twice, resulting in him requiring CPR

A 67-year-old man saved by paramedics after his heart stopped twice has appeared in the Channel 4 series 999: On the Front Line.

The incident was caught on camera for a new episode of 999: On the Front Line, which aired on Sunday (October 11) evening. South Western Ambulance Service paramedic Lloyd and colleague Charlie were called to an address in Bristol after a carer reported a man experiencing breathing difficulties.

“He’s not breathing,” the woman told the 999 operator, “He was struggling to breathe, and then he just started gasping for breath”. At that point, the operator instructed the caller on how to give the man chest compressions, as CPR was needed, while paramedics raced to the scene.

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The 67-year-old man named Roy, who is paralysed from a car accident 25 years ago, stopped breathing when the medics arrived.

Lloyd told the camera, “When we first saw Roy, it didn’t look good; he was not breathing, and as soon as we were at his side, we could tell he didn’t have a pulse, which told us, essentially, he is clinically dead.”

A second team of paramedics joined Charlie and Lloyd, and the team managed to successfully restart Roy’s heart as they all battled to keep him stable.

“It’s really important we act fast because every minute that passes, Roy’s chances of survival drop drastically,” Charlie said.

At one point, Roy managed to open his eyes as the ambulance crews were also joined by a doctor and a critical care medic from Great Western Air, who also arrived at the scene.

The team successfully removed Roy from his flat and safely into an ambulance. However, he soon lost consciousness once more as paramedics tried to save his life.

“For the second time tonight, the team gets Roy’s heart beating once again,” the show narrator told viewers while Roy was rushed into the hospital.

Roy made a full recovery after a blockage in his airway ultimately sent him into cardiac arrest. He spent 11 days in the hospital. I would like to say to everyone in involved in the whole process a very big thank you and well done to everyone.”

999 On The Front Line airs on More4 on Sundays at 9:00 PM, with past and current episodes available to stream on-demand via Channel 4

It wasn’t a baseball game, it was a sucker punch.

Ouch! Ooof! What?

Who are these Milwaukee Brewers?

What happened to that docile small-town bunch that was once embarrassingly soft? What happened to the team with great stats but none of the swagger, a team that the Dodgers swept last October in a playoff series that wasn’t that close?

The Dodgers entered the National League Championship Series at Milwaukee’s American Family Field on Sunday knowing the Brewers had the best record in baseball, the best batting average in baseball, the best bullpen in baseball, and still…

They had to be convinced this wasn’t the same Brewer team that had famously rolled over one short year ago.

Well, um… duck!

In a first round that portended a lengthy and bloody fight, the Dodgers clutched to a 1-0 lead after three innings with ace Tarik Skubal on the mound and Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski headed for the showers.

Then they lost it.

They lost to a rare Brewer home run. They lost to a trademark Brewer bunt. They lost to four stifling Brewer relievers.

In the end, they lost the series opener 2-1 to a relentless Brewer effort filled with all the muscle and hustle of their football-toting neighbors up in Green Bay.

This time, when they were knocked down, the Brewers didn’t stay down.

This time, the Brewers swung back and swung harder and eventually landed a stunning blow deep into the Dodgers’ psyche.

This time, it’s clearly going to be different.

This time they tied the game in the fourth inning on a Brice Turang home run, then took the lead an inning later on a perfect example of the manufactured attack that is pure Brewerball.

Garrett Mitchell walked, rookie Cooper Pratt laid down a sacrifice bunt and light-hitting Luis Lara banged the next pitch up the middle to score Mitchell from second for the 2-1 lead.

From there, the league’s best bullpen held the Dodgers to two singles in the last four innings, with the Dodgers stranding two runners on base in two of them. On a night they ended three innings with double plays and have still not focused their postseason hitting efforts, the final inning epitomized the frustration.

With two outs against closer Trevor Megill, Kyle Tucker drew a seven-pitch walk and kid pinch-hitter Josue De Paula drew a walk, and the sort of heroics the Dodgers have displayed for the previous two postseasons were all set up for Mookie Betts.

And he promptly lofted the second pitch to center fielder Mitchell, who made the catch and screamed and flexed with the sort of hearty celebration that usually comes from the Dodgers.

A different day indeed.

Last season in the NLCS, the Dodgers won the opener by this exact same score and the series was never really close. Don’t expect the Brewers to follow the same path, but also don’t expect this to be easy.

Milwaukee’s Brice Turang celebrates with third base coach Matt Erickson after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning against the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Dodgers should get the equalizer in this best-of-seven series Monday afternoon with October superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto facing relatively untested Logan Henderson.

But who knows? If the Brewers are going to act like this for a week, the Dodgers could be in big trouble.

The two-time defending champs aren’t panicking. But they’re not happy either. And if you listen closely, perhaps you can pick up a scent of worry.

“Yeah, you can’t go into a long series against a team that has the best record in baseball and expect to just win four,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s going to be a long series. We knew it coming in. We had our chances, but they made plays, pitches when they needed to.”

And the Dodgers, particularly one man in the middle of their order and behind the plate, failed to do the same.

Will Smith grounded into a double play and went hitless in three at-bats and is now one for 19 in the postseason.

“Yeah, he’s not swinging the bat well,” said Roberts, who remains hopeful. “He just has that knack to get a hit, a big hit.”

More of a lost cause is Shohei Ohtani, who banged out a single in three at-bats and is three for 16 in the postseason.

The Brewers seem better able to handle slumps from their stars because they’re all about the business of creating runs from what unselfish soul finds himself in the spotlight.

When asked about the key to this culture, Turang said, “I think the buy-in factor with everyone buying into what we’re trying to accomplish and kind of our style of play. Then not only that, like guys are getting more experience, they’re learning the game — even for me, still learning, getting experience. That’s a big factor in this.”

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski celebrates after striking out Kyle Tucker in the fourth inning Sunday in Game 1 of the NLCS.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Spoken like a guy who believes his team is on the verge of taking the next step. Turang said the key is what happens when they are faced with adversity — like Sunday night.

“Then not giving up when we are behind in the game and knowing that we can do it, we can make up runs,” he said. “This group is really, really good with that.”

As for the Dodgers, they know they’re really, really good at just about everything. But they know that time could be quickly running out on their chance to once again show it.

“We’ve just got to reset,” Roberts said. “We’ve got our guy going tomorrow, who we trust undoubtedly, and we’ve got to win a baseball game.”

This October, against this newly rumpled and roughneck version of the Milwaukee Brewers, that’s apparently going to be easier said than done.

Documentary draws on 24 anonymous Israeli sources accusing military of killing Palestinians in Gaza using AI systems.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an investigation into the anonymous sources featured in a documentary alleging that Israel’s military killed civilians in Gaza using AI-powered targeting systems.

The award-winning film, NAZA, draws on testimony from 24 unnamed Israeli military whistleblowers accusing the army of using the systems to kill numerous civilians in the besieged territory.

“I demand that the chief of general staff, the head of the Shin Bet, and the attorney general launch a comprehensive investigation into the participants in the film ‘Naza’ and prosecute them for serious information security violations, criminal libel, and harm to Israel’s diplomatic and security interests,” Netanyahu said on X on Saturday evening.

“The film presents a false, misleading, and biased narrative that defames the State of Israel and the [Israeli military] internationally, severely damaging Israel’s standing,” he added.

In a statement last month, the Israeli military said it “categorically” rejected the whistleblowers’ allegations, calling some of their assertions “absurd’ and contradictory.

It insisted that the selection and approval of strikes “are made by human personnel only”, in line with the military’s guidelines.

Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has called for legal action against the participants to be considered and ordered an investigation into suspected leaks of classified military information used in the film’s production.

NAZA takes its name from the Israeli military term for civilian casualties expected in air strikes, an abbreviated form of the Hebrew phrase for “collateral damage”.

The film was awarded a special jury prize at the Venice International Film Festival and received a historic 25-minute standing ovation.

It has also triggered a political storm in Israel.

The film’s directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, have been accused of “treason”. Netanyahu and Culture Minister Miki Zohar have threatened to revoke their Israeli citizenship.

Last week, the head of Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate, Tzipi Hotovely, awarded the creators of another film, NAZA: The Real Story, certificates of recognition for countering the “blood libels” made in the original NAZA film.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, NAZA: The Real Story features testimony from soldiers refuting the original claims.

In contrast, 43 Israeli rights groups defended the filmmakers of NAZA and denounced the threats being directed at them, according to Israel’s Channel 12 news.

Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, and other Palestinian groups attacked southern Israel, killing 1,139 people and taking about 240 captive.

Since then, Israel has killed at least 74,000 Palestinians, including at least 21,000 children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.

Time returned for a ‘hard-hitting’ third series of the BBC One prison drama starring David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran

BBC One viewers were left “shocked” following a violent ending of the new prison drama Time.

Time has returned for a third series, consisting of three episodes, set inside a young offender institution called Alderwick, bringing together David Tennant as officer Bobby Bailey and Siobhan Finneran as prison chaplain Marie-Louise O’Dell.

Written by Jimmy McGovern and co-writer Samuel Bailey and directed by Paul Whittington, Time follows Marie-Louise, who arrives at the institution having lost her faith, where she meets Veteran officer Bailey, a man in the midst of his own crisis.

Away from his day job, Bobby drinks while staring vacantly at the TV as his relationship with his wife, Erica (Vinette Robinson), comes under intense strain.

Back inside the prison, Bobby and Marie-Louise lock horns over how to handle Ushindi, formerly Christopher (Chukwubuikem Molokwu ), a young man with a stammer who has recently reconnected with his birth mother.

Meanwhile, two teenage offenders, Peter (Ollie McNulty) and James (Louis McCartney), struggle through the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration, but they are hiding significant secrets.

The most jaw-dropping scene came at the end of episode one, as a mediation meeting between Ushindi and seriously violent offender Patsy Flynn (Louis Shelton) goes horribly wrong, leaving viewers in shock.

Despite the brutal final act of the first episode, Time viewers were left wanting to see what happens next to Patsy and vowed to binge-watch the whole series on BBC iPlayer.

Taking to X, one viewer wrote: “What an ending to EP1, gonna have to binge the lot tonight! #bbciplayer #time”, while a second agreed: “2 more episodes on iPlayer, now #Time.”

“Don’t think I’ve been so traumatised since I saw Scum about 45 years ago #Time”, confessed one viewer.

“#Time.. wow, the best yet. Fantastic writing and acting by all involved. A really shocking watch”, said one impressed viewer of the series.

“What was grim but utterly brilliant! Nobody does hard-hitting drama like the BBC. #Time”, added another.

The next episode of Time airs on BBC One at 9pm on Monday (October 12), while the final episode broadcast on Sunday (October 18) at 9pm.

Time continues on Monday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer, with all episodes available now on iPlayer

England are set to add the first name to Stephen Fleming’s backroom team, with Eric Simons joining as Test bowling coach.

Former South Africa head coach Simons is a long-time ally of Fleming, having worked alongside him in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Chennai Super Kings.

Simons’ new role will be confirmed on Monday, when England announce the latest round of central contracts.

New Zealander Fleming is assembling a backroom team for his first series in charge, against South Africa in December.

The shake-up in the staff comes as England once again split head-coaching responsibilities across formats. Fleming is in charge of the Test side and Brendon McCullum leads the white-ball teams.

When McCullum was Test coach, England used a number of fast-bowling consultants, including James Anderson, David Saker and Tim Southee.

Saker will be part of the England staff for the one-day tri-series in Pakistan this month, alongside long-term McCullum assistant Jeetan Patel, Mike Yardy and Carl Hopkinson.

Southee and fielding coach Sarah Taylor, who have been with England throughout the home summer, might rejoin the team later in the winter.

Kevin Pietersen has been appointed as a batting consultant to the white-ball teams in the run-up to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa.

Former England batter Pietersen will not be on the tour of Pakistan, but is due to join the squad for the white-ball tour of Australia and then in South Africa for the three one-day internationals in the country of his birth in January.

Marcus Trescothick took interim charge of the Test team for the series against Pakistan. His future in the England set-up has been the subject of speculation and is yet to be confirmed.

Simons, 64, played 23 one-day internationals for South Africa in 1994 and 1995.

He also worked with Fleming at the Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 and the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket.

Simons had two years in charge of the South Africa team between 2002 and 2004 and a spell as India’s bowling coach.

Latest missile launch appears to be a show of force since South Korea’s hypersonic missile test-fire, Seoul says.

North Korea has fired multiple ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast, South Korea’s military says.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said one of the missiles flew more than 900km (559 miles) from the Pyongyang area on Monday. The joint chiefs did not specify how many missiles were detected.

Japan’s coastguard said on Monday that North Korea had fired two unidentified projectiles, believed to be ballistic missiles, which appeared to have already fallen.

South Korea’s presidential office said that Pyongyang’s repeated missile launches violate United Nations Security Council resolutions, urging an immediate stop.

Monday’s missile launch adds to heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as both countries have been conducting weapons tests.

Escalating tensions

JCS spokesperson Jang Do-young said the latest missile launch appears to be a show of force since South Korea’s hypersonic missile test-fire.

On Thursday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung oversaw the country’s first test-firing of a hypersonic missile, a rare public showcasing of a missile test by a South Korean president.

Lee’s office said the hypersonic weapon, once fully developed, would enhance South Korea’s ability to strike key targets by surprise in the “Korean Peninsula theatre of operations”.

On October 3, North Korea also tested a hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to evade missile defences in South Korea and Japan.

Last week, Seoul demanded an apology after a landmine blast wounded three soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea. A joint South Korean-UN investigation concluded that two landmines were planted by North Korean forces about a year ago. Pyongyang dismissed the claim and accused South Korea of provocation.

Prior to the border mine blast, Seoul said it was conducting “preliminary coordination efforts” to facilitate dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington.

Lee pledged to reopen dialogue with North Korea in his first speech after taking office in 2025.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to flaunt his nuclear weapons programme, while rejecting US and South Korean offers to resume stalled diplomacy.

Talks between Kim and US President Donald Trump abruptly ended in 2019. Kim Jong Un’s government continues to demand that Washington abandon its “hostile” policy towards Pyongyang and drop demands for North Korea’s denuclearisation as a condition for talks.