Oct. 21 (UPI) — Tropical Storm Melissa is moving slowly through the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday, meaning portions of Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica were expected to see major flooding through the week, the National Hurricane Center said.

Melissa was about 305 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and 335 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, the NHC said in its 8 a.m. EDT update. The storm had remained virtually stationary since the agency’s previous update 3 hours earlier.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving west-northwest at 2 mph.

A hurricane watch was in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince. A tropical storm watch was in effect for Jamaica. Those elsewhere in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba should monitor the progress of Melissa, the NHC said.

A decrease in speed and a gradual turn to the northwest and north are expected in the next few days, according to the NHC, which said it expects Melissa to approach Jamaica and the southwestern portion of Haiti later this week.

The NHC forecasts that Melissa will strengthen into a hurricane Friday afternoon.

Haiti and the Dominican Republic can expect 5 to 10 inches of rain through Friday, the NHC said. More heavy rainfall is possible after Friday, but forecasters aren’t confident in predictions because of the uncertainty of Melissa’s speed and direction. Areas of significant flash flooding and mudslides are possible.

Across Aruba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected through Friday. Flash and urban flooding will be possible across Puerto Rico through at least Friday.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the season, and it’s the first in the Caribbean. This season has seen few storms, which has warmed the Caribbean Sea. Now, the warm water is fuel for stronger, more dangerous storms.

Following the September assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, United States President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have shaped their political agenda by blaming the left for political violence.

“Political violence, it’s just a statistical fact that it’s a bigger problem on the left,” Vance said while guest-hosting The Charlie Kirk Show podcast on October 15 in the aftermath of Kirk’s killing. About a minute later, he added, “Right now that violent impulse is a bigger problem on the left than the right.”

A Vance spokesperson did not answer our questions. When referring to left-wing violence, a White House spokesperson recently pointed to a September 28 Axios article about a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a nonprofit policy research organisation.

Democrats, calling your political opponents Nazis has consequences.

Study: Left-wing terrorism climbs to 30-year highhttps://t.co/30NvIj9nzC

— Abigail Jackson (@ATJackson47) September 28, 2025

The study found that “2025 marks the first time in more than 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks outnumber those from the violent far right”. The study also showed that for the 30 years before 2025, right-wing attacks had outpaced left-wing violence.

“The rise in left-wing attacks merits increased attention, but the fall in right-wing attacks is probably temporary, and it too requires a government response,” the authors wrote in the study.

Vance’s statement oversimplified political violence and drew from part of one study of a six-month period. The federal government has no single, official definition of “political violence”, and ascribing ideologies such as the left wing and the right wing is sometimes complicated. There is no agreed upon number of left- or right-wing politically violent attacks.

Research before 2025 largely points to higher levels of right-wing violence over longer periods of time.

Trump has used the administration’s statements about rising left-wing violence to label antifa as a domestic “terrorist threat”, and administration officials also said they will investigate what they call left-wing groups that fund violence.

Although political violence is a small subset of violent crime in the US, it “has a disproportionate impact because even rare incidents can amplify fear, influence policy and deepen societal polarisation”, sociology professors at the University of Dayton, Arthur Jipson and Paul J Becker, wrote in September after Kirk’s assassination.

In an email interview with PolitiFact, Becker said the report in question “indicates there MAY be a shift occurring from the Right being more violent but 5 vs 1 incidents in 6 months isn’t enough to completely erase years of data and reports from multiple sources showing the opposite or to dictate new policies”.

Study examined three decades of political violence

The CSIS, a national security and defence think tank, published a September report examining 750 “terrorist” attacks and plots in the US between 1994 and July 4, 2025.

The report defined “terrorism” as the use or threat of violence “with the intent to achieve political goals by creating a broad psychological impact”.

The authors wrote that it is difficult to pinpoint some perpetrators’ ideologies, which in some cases are more of what former FBI Director Christopher Wray called a “salad bar of ideologies”. For example, Thomas Crooks, who allegedly attempted to assassinate Trump in 2024, searched the internet more than 60 times for Trump and then-President Joe Biden in the month before the attack.

The full CSIS report gave a more complete picture of politically motivated violence:

• Left-wing violence has risen from low levels since 2016. “It has risen from very low levels and remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers.”
• Right-wing attacks sharply declined in 2025, perhaps because right-wing extremist grievances such as opposition to abortion, hostility to immigration and suspicion of government agencies are “embraced by President Trump and his administration”. The report quotes Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader pardoned by Trump, who said, “Honestly, what do we have to complain about these days?”
• Left-wing attacks have been less deadly than right-wing attacks. In the past decade, left-wing attacks have killed 13 people, compared with 112 by right-wing attackers. The report cited several reasons, including that left-wing attackers often choose targets that are protected, such as government or law enforcement facilities, and target specific individuals.
• The number of incidents by the left is small. A graphic in the report showing the rise in left-wing attacks in 2025 as of July 4 is visually striking. It is based on a small number of incidents: four attacks and one disrupted plot.

Studies have not uniformly agreed on some attackers’ ideological classifications. The libertarian Cato Institute categorised the person charged in the shooting deaths of two Israeli embassy staffers in May 2025 as “left-wing”, while the CSIS study described the motivation as “ethnonationalist”. Ethnonationalism is a political ideology based on heritage, such as ethnic identity, which can create clashes with other groups. The Cato study counted only deaths, while the CSIS analysis was not limited to deaths.

“While Vance’s statement has a factual anchor for that limited timespan, it selectively emphasises one short-term slice rather than the broader trend,” Jipson, of the University of Dayton, told PolitiFact. “In that sense, it can be misleading: It may give the impression that left-wing violence is generally now more dangerous or prevalent, which is not borne out by the longer view of the data.”

The Cato analysis, published after Kirk’s death, said 3,597 people were killed in politically motivated US “terrorist” attacks from January 1, 1975, through September 10, 2025.

Cato found right-wing attacks were more common than left-wing violence. This research has been highlighted by some House Democrats.

Wrong again, JD. The data is clear: for decades, right-wing extremism has been the greater threat.https://t.co/TkxBZ08Xjg https://t.co/PCWv4EuP4H

— House Homeland Security Committee Democrats (@HomelandDems) October 15, 2025

Cato wrote that during that period, “terrorists” inspired by what it called “Islamist ideology” were responsible for 87 percent of people killed in attacks on US soil, while right-wing attackers accounted for 11 percent and left-wing “terrorists” accounted for about 2 percent. Excluding the September 11, 2001 attacks showed right-wing attackers were responsible for a majority of deaths. Measuring homicides since 2020 also showed a larger number by the right than the left.

Our ruling

Vance said, “Political violence, it’s just a statistical fact that it’s a bigger problem on the left.”

He did not point to a source, but a White House spokesperson separately cited an article about a study that examined political violence from 1994 to July 4, 2025. It found that, in the first six months of 2025, left-wing attacks outnumbered those by the right. It is based on a small number of incidents: four attacks and one disrupted plot.

The study also showed that for 30 years before 2025, right-wing attacks had outpaced left-wing attacks.

The study detailed that the left wing “remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers”. Research before 2025 largely points to higher levels of right-wing violence over longer periods of time.

The statement contains an element of truth because left-wing violence rose in the first six months of 2025. However, it ignores that right-wing violence was higher for a much longer period of time.

We rate this statement Mostly False.

Chief correspondent Louis Jacobson contributed to this fact-check.

TWO-THIRDS of young people jetted off without travel insurance – because more than half didn’t think anything would go wrong.

A poll of 2,000 adults found another 58 per cent of these Gen Z and Millennial travellers have skipped getting covered because it costs too much.

But that risk doesn’t always pay off, as 29 per cent of all holidaymakers have had to make a claim after things went awry either before or during their trip.

The average claim came to around £4,500, with top reasons including cancelled holidays due to unforeseen circumstances like illness.

Nearly half (48 per cent) have had to use their policy because of long travel delays, while 45 per cent needed help following a medical emergency overseas.

Emily Barnett, travel insurance expert at Compare the Market, which commissioned the research, said: “Taking out travel insurance should be as instinctive as booking your flights, giving you protection against unforeseen circumstances, for example should you need to cancel before you depart.

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“With the busy winter travel season upon us, whether it’s skiing in the Alps or a visit to the Christmas markets, it’s never been more important to make sure you have suitable cover in place before you set off.”

It also emerged 41 per cent have claimed for delayed or damaged baggage, while 40 per cent needed their policy after being targeted by thieves abroad.

Others have had to rely on insurance after their hotel or travel company cancelled on them, while 38 per cent made a claim to access medication during their trip.

However, 16 per cent didn’t realise their policy needs to match the specific requirements of their holiday – as some trips, such as winter sports, need specialist cover.

And this rises to nearly a third (31 per cent) among those aged 18 to 24.

When it comes to travel worries, the biggest fear among those polled is facing a medical emergency away from home (37 per cent), followed by losing luggage (21 per cent) and missing their flight (19 per cent).

The findings have inspired a striking photo series from Compare the Market, titled ‘What Happened on Holiday’, designed to highlight the importance of booking insurance at the same time as your trip.

Emily Barnett added: “We’re urging Brits to protect their trips early to give themselves peace of mind, so they can focus on making memories instead of mishaps.”

IT’S good enough for Thomas Tuchel and Sarina Wiegman, and it’s every football fanatic’s dream stay.

Think signed England memorabilia on the walls, a private, outdoor heated cinema, and a training session to put any baller to the test with an experienced FA coach.

Earlier this month, I checked into the all-new ‘Stay Like The England Teams’ Suite – an immersive fan experience at Hilton at St George’s Park, the official training ground of the England Football Teams.

I stayed in the same room the England managers like to stay in when they’re preparing for the world’s biggest tournaments at St George’s Park, and it’s adequately named ‘Suite Caroline’ in partnership with Hilton as part of a partnership with The Football Association.

Ahead of next summer’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, football super fans can feel what it’s like to really be Harry Kane.

With everything available, you get to live in the luxury of the likes of Alessia Russo for a night.

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After having your bags taken to your room, and arriving at the self-same entrance the Lionesses use, you already feel like a superstar ready to give the social media intern a fist bump and grab a Lucozade for an extra energy boost.

You’ll need it present when you sign your contract and pose for a polaroid photo, commemorating the day you joined up with the squad for the first time. 

Once you’re all signed on, it’s up to ‘Suite Caroline’, with a red carpet leading you into a real footballing paradise of a room. 

Scan your room key and enter the hallway, lined with shirts of Harry Kane, Alex Scott and Ian Wright, signed of course, and from iconic moments in Three Lions history.

The luxe room spread beyond you features a sofa that transforms into a bed for extra guests, with an England coffee table, a mini-fridge stocked with refreshments, and a vast flat-screen TV – which I flicked straight onto the highlights of Tuchel’s latest flawless victory. 

To your left is the bedroom, packed with more memorabilia, including a Harry Kane boot, an England Nike football, two England T-shirts, Two Hilton x England bath robes, an eye mask, and slippers—all yours to keep.

It’s a true credit to Hilton’s footballing experience though, that even this incredible bedroom wouldn’t be the main attraction to fans.

That of course, is the private, outdoor, heated cinema opposite your room – decked out with a choice of footie cult classics, from Bend it Like Beckham, to GOAL, to She’s The Man.

Don’t fancy a movie? Load up the PS5 and whack open FC26 to take on your rivals for the day overlooking the very pitches where Bellingham and co. rifle shots into the top corners in training.

As part of the stay, guests will enjoy player-inspired meals at the hotel (more on that later) and will have an exclusive opportunity to train like their favourite players, with a training session at the National Football Centre, led by experienced FA coaches.

So, as Sun Sport’s answer to Cole Palmer, I was escorted by buggy to Hilton’s St George’s Park pitch, changed into my boots, and got ready to put my skills to the test.

It’s safe to say the coach didn’t go easy on me, and as someone who has watched the world’s best train, he knew how to put me through my paces.

Gone were the days of a lap of the pitch, this was an intense, on-ball session that tested my passing, dribbling, first-touch, and of course, my shooting.

Exhausted, sweaty, and grateful to my coach for the day, I’d earned my shower, a bit of time to decompress and some recovery time.

I wasn’t sure, however, that I’d earned a shower THIS nice, in such a stunning bathroom.

Perfectly lit, with a range of soaps in smells and flavours that could only be concocted by a botanist, the rainfall shower kept me enclosed for way longer than planned.

I was helped by the fact that I was provided with a high-end Bluetooth speaker for a sing-along that was England international initiation worthy – Price Tag by Jessie J if you must know.

Refreshed and rejuvenated, in the best of spirits – dinner called for just that, the best of spirits – this time in the form of a glass of white wine.

Available is a myriad of food options, perfect whether you’re an aspiring pro player looking to load up on protein for recovery, or if you’re well past it and fancy the well-earned taste of local meats cooked to perfection.

I opted for a ‘powerhouse striker‘s’ choice, a grilled fillet of beef with roasted garlic mash and glazed baby vegetables with red wine jus – though it must be said the Captain’s Chicken Goujons on the Junior Kick Off almost tempted me in.

After heading back to my room to watch GOAL! in the outdoor cinema, I enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep in a huge, cosy bed and dreamt a little more of linking up with Cole Palmer to score the winner in the World Cup Final for England next summer. 

The next morning bought the kind of recovery the England stars get to enjoy regularly, with use of the on-site gym, spa, and pool – used by a range of England teams when they stay on-site. 

An 11am check-out meant it was time to return to my reality of being a sports journalist rather than being one of the stars I spend so long writing about, but I was glad to finally know how it must feel to be one of the most talented in the country at something.

The suite is the latest in Hilton’s ‘Stay Like’ specials, inviting guests to relax like their favourite stars in immersive suites.

The ‘Stay like a footballer’ experience is available on selected dates from November-January 2026 for £650 (for four).

Previous suites have included Stay Like Wicked at the New York Hilton Midtown, the Stay Like An Infinite Icon at the Beverly Hilton in LA, and the Stay Like McLaren Racing at The Trafalgar St James’ in London.

For more details on the suite, see: https://stories.hilton.com/emea/releases/stay-like-the-england-teams-in-the-ultimate-football-themed-hotel-suite

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Talking of themed stays, Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot checked into the UK’s coolest hotel room – with racing simulators, a cocktail bar AND you can take the dressing gown home.

Plus, for more Hilton hotels, check out the swanky stay in London with free Peloton bikes in the bedrooms and a rooftop cocktail bar.

A few months ago, my younger daughter, Darby, and I were settling into our seats at the local AMC. As the previews rolled, she gasped. “I know that voice,” she said. “That’s Aidan. Mom, that’s Aidan.”

I looked up just in time to see a familiar shock of brown curls. It was indeed Aidan Delbis, former member of the Falcon Players at Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescenta, a kid I had seen perform alongside my daughter in countless student plays.

Only now he was seated at a kitchen table with Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone as the words “Bugonia” and then “directed by Yorgos Lanthimos” flashed across the screen.

“Did you not know?” I asked my daughter. CV is a fine public school with a good theater program, but it isn’t exactly an incubator for nepo babies and aspiring stars. That one of their own had stepped off last year’s graduation stage and into a major film production should have been very big news long before a trailer hit theaters.

“No,” she said, furiously messaging various friends. “But now they will.”

Now they will indeed. When he joined the cast of “Bugonia,” Delbis didn’t just become a part of Lanthimos’ highly anticipated remake of Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 black comedy “Save the Green Planet!” He also entered the mythology of which Hollywood dreams are made: A 17-year old sends in his first-ever open-call submission and lands a major role in a very big movie.

With a script by Will Tracy and obvious Oscar potential, “Bugonia” had its world premiere in August at this year’s Venice Film Festival before launching onto the festival circuit, including screenings in Toronto and New York, in preparation for its release this Friday. A slightly absurdist, darkly funny thriller with political undertones, it revolves around the kidnapping of a pharmaceutical company’s CEO, Michelle (Stone), by wild-eyed conspiracy theorist Teddy (Plemons) and his loyal cousin Don (Delbis).

From left, Emma Stone, Aidan Delbis and Jesse Plemons in the movie “Bugonia.”

(Atsushi Nishijima / Focus Features)

Teddy believes Michelle is an alien sent to destroy Earth. Don believes in Teddy. Though he falls in with Teddy’s plans, he often questions them, serving as a continual reminder that even within Teddy’s paranoid view of the universe, there is such a thing as going too far. Don is, in many ways, the heart of the film.

He is also, like the actor who plays him, autistic.

Delbis — who chooses to self-describe as autistic rather than neurodivergent — is not someone who has long nursed dreams of stardom. He took drama classes all through high school, but it wasn’t until his junior year, Delbis says, “that I started to get more into the process. I found the general process of acting, of understanding and investing in different personalities, to be fun and sometimes scary.”

Still, he says, “I wasn’t really sure that I wanted it to be my main career. But it so happened that this happened while I was in high school, and here we are.”

Here is the Four Seasons on a very rainy October afternoon where Delbis, now 19, has just finished his first solo photo shoot and is sitting, fortified by Goldfish crackers (his go-to-snack), for his first long one-on-one interview. He went to some of the film festivals and just returned from “Bugonia’s” London premiere, where he signed autographs on the red carpet and enjoyed flying first class. His parents, Katy and David Delbis, are seated nearby, as is his access and creative coach, Elaine Hall.

Delbis is a tall, good-natured young man who speaks with a distinctive cadence and in an unwaveringly calm tone. Aside from a habit of repeating himself as he searches for what he wants to say next, he seems more comfortable discussing his experience with filmmaking than many of the dozens of more experienced actors I have interviewed in this very hotel over the years.

“We should try to be more empathetic to people with different worldviews because you never really know what those people are going through,” Delbis says. “The movie feels very relevant to that theme.”

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

“It all started,” he says, “when my mom was friends with this agent, April, and one day she sent Mom an audition that seemed pretty promising, so I submitted for that. And they really liked it and called me back.”

It actually started a bit further back than that. With Plemons and Stone already cast, Lanthimos had decided that he wanted a nonprofessional actor to play Don.

“We went really wide in trying to find someone really special,” the Greek-born director of “The Favourite” and “Poor Things” says in a phone interview. “With these two experienced actors, I wanted to bring in a different dynamic. As we looked at people, I felt that the character would be more interesting if he was neurodivergent.”

Casting director Jennifer Venditti put out an open call, which April Smallwood of Spotlight Development saw and sent to Delbis’ mother, Katy.

“A happy-go-lucky young man, neurodivergent — it practically described Aidan,” Katy says in a later interview. La Crescenta may not be an industry hub, but, like many in L.A., the Delbis family has a Hollywood connection. Aidan’s older brother, Tristan (who is also neurodivergent), works at a movie theater; father David is about to retire after years at the Writers Guild Health Fund; and Katy, a self-described “creative,” has done some acting herself. But no one saw film-acting as a potential career for Aidan, who was set to take a gap year after high school. And, Katy says, she had no idea what sort of movie it was for. “It said for a ‘big film,’ but they always say that.”

She thought of it a bit like the time Delbis, a member of the high school track team, decided he also wanted to try out for basketball. “As I drove him to the school,” Katy said, “I told him that he might not get on since there were a lot of kids who had been playing basketball for years, which he had not. He said, ‘Mom, I just want to see what it’s like.’”

Now Delbis wanted to see what it would be like to audition for a “big film.”

Aidan Delbis in the movie “Bugonia.”

(Atsushi Nishijima / Focus Features)

He had recently performed the Vincent Price monologue from “Thriller” for the school talent show, which Katy filmed on her phone, so Smallwood submitted that. Venditti called Smallwood the next day and met with Delbis over Zoom. Thus began a monthslong process of meetings, rehearsals and auditions.

“We focused on him right away,” Venditti says. “He seemed to have it all. And he was very committed.”

“I was really unaware of how big a project it was,” Delbis said. “I had never seen a film by Yorgos.”

In March, Lanthimos, Stone and Plemons were in L.A. for the Oscars, so they all met with Delbis and came away impressed.

Lanthimos thought of casting a neurodivergent actor in a part because it would bring a natural clarity and unfiltered unpredictability to the role. He didn’t consider it any more challenging than working with any other actor. And when he met Delbis, Lanthimos says, “I just thought: That’s him.”

“Just from watching that first tape, you could see there was something so magnetic about him,” said Stone during a recent phone interview. (She is also a producer on the film.) “Don is the audience’s window, the one who can see through the charade.”

Still, there were many more steps to take.

“It’s a big leap for any nonprofessional,” Stone says. “It’s a big part in what is essentially a three-hander.”

From left, director Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Aidan Delbis and Jesse Plemons at the Venice Film Festival, where “Bugonia” had its world premiere in August.

(Alessandra Tarantino / Invision / AP)

For an autistic actor, it’s an even bigger leap. As talented as Delbis might be, he also had to be able to handle the pressures, boredom and chaos of a film set. Venditti reached out to Hall. The founder of the Miracle Project and mother to a now-adult neurodivergent son, Hall is an acting coach who has worked for more than 20 years to increase the presence and understanding of neurodivergent and disabled people. She is often asked to gauge the ability of actors to take on a certain role — their ease with the material, their physical stamina, their level of independence and their emotional accessibility.

Delbis, she says, ticked all the boxes. He loves horror films, he was on the track team and he was, at the time, about to travel without his parents on a school trip to Sweden.

He is, as he says himself, “a low-key guy,” so Hall gave him some exercises to help him portray more extreme emotions and prepare him for when other cast members might do the same. (One subsequent rehearsal involved a scene in which one of the actors screamed repeatedly.)

Often, Hall says, perfecting these exercises can take weeks; Delbis, working with his mother, did it in a weekend. She also helped him prepare for his meeting with and then chemistry read with Plemons.

Delbis says he was “a bit nervous, though I don’t know why.” He did not recognize Plemons’ name or his face. “I had watched ‘Breaking Bad,’ but I didn’t realize Jesse played Todd. Halfway through [the read], I told him he looked like Todd and he said, ‘That’s because I played him.’ I’ve seen him in other things since then,” Delbis adds. “He’s a very solid actor.”

More important, he says, “Jesse seemed to me to be a very cool guy.”

That feeling is mutual. “When we brought Aidan in, I was excited and a little nervous,” Plemons says during a phone call from London. They started with one of the more extreme scenes from the film. “I was finding my feet too. When it became apparent that he was going to be fine with the darker scenes, I said, ‘This is him; this is Don.’”

While all this was happening, Delbis was finishing his senior year, which included a starring role in a production of “Almost Maine.” “It was not overly hard,” he says, but sometimes it was a lot. “I did one read and then I had to go to rehearsal for the play.”

Venditti remembers that day very well. “Here we were being so careful, treating him like he was fragile and not wanting to overload him,” she says laughing, “and he’s just calmly multitasking.”

When Delbis got the role in May, he and his family signed a nondisclosure agreement, which is why none of his friends knew his news after graduation, and Delbis and his family flew to the U.K. to begin filming. It was a tough secret for his parents to keep. But “any time it looked like I might slip,” Katy says, “Aidan shut me down.” He celebrated his 18th birthday near the set outside of Windsor, where production ran for three months before moving for two weeks in Atlanta.

Hall was hired to be Delbis’ on-set access and creative coach, a job she believes she has invented, meant to make the experience for neurodivergent and disabled actors easier. She suggested that Lanthimos and Tracy simplify Delbis’ script pages, stripping down the description of action “so he wouldn’t get stuck thinking he had to do exactly what was on the page,” she says, which they were happy to do.

“We didn’t want to put any limits on him,” Lanthimos says.

Delbis chose most of his costumes (except a beekeeping suit, motivated by the plot, which he says “was very hot”), which mirrored his own wardrobe preferences down to the horror film t-shirts and mismatched socks. Even the food Teddy and Don eat during the film reflects Delbis’ taste: mac ’n’ cheese, taquitos, spaghetti.

Hall ensured Delbis had extra time before filming, during which she could help him prepare with rehearsal and centering exercises. She visited the set before he arrived so she could tell him exactly what to expect and worked with the production team to ensure that he had his own space between takes. “They built us a little house, with horror posters on the wall and stuffed animals that looked like his cats,” she says. As there were no Goldfish available in the U.K., the production had them flown in.

“Having Elaine there was amazing,” Venditti says. “The idea of having someone to act as eyes and ears of what people are actually experiencing on set, I think it’s groundbreaking. I don’t know why we haven’t done it before.”

Delbis spent a fair amount of time with Plemons, who Hall said occasionally stepped in to help if she had to be away from set.

“We did a decent amount of goofing around,” Delbis says. “The bond that developed between us occurred quite naturally. I consider Jesse a friend.”

For his part, Plemons enjoyed being around someone who spoke his mind.

“I so appreciated Aidan’s inability to tell a lie,” Plemons says. “On a set, you spend so much time waiting around, and he would say, ‘What are we doing? What is taking so long?’ Which was exactly what I was thinking. He’s a very smart, sensitive, self-assured guy, and if you’re unclear in what you’re saying, he will let you know.”

“Aidan is just so funny,” says his “Bugonia” co-star Emma Stone. “We spent a lot of time together in a basement and Aidan had so many jokes about that.”

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Stone says that while she and Delbis had a friendly rapport, she hung back a little when they weren’t shooting. “I didn’t want to form the same kind of bond Aidan had with Jesse because [in the film] it’s them against me and I didn’t want to do too much to mess with that.”

But, the two-time Oscar winner says, “Aidan is just so funny. He was on a jag during the kidnapping scene. We spent a lot of time together in a basement and Aidan had so many jokes about that.”

“I went through all of ‘Bugonia’ thinking I had never seen Emma in anything,” Delbis says. “Then I realized my parents had shown me a clip of a woman getting very involved in a birthday card — ‘Pocketful of Sunshine’ — and that was from ‘Easy A.’”

When he was filming, Delbis was all business. Several of the takes which he ad-libbed made it into the film and Delbis is proud of that.

“Despite being in more extreme situations than I’ve been in, there’s something of Don’s emotion and struggles that did feel very familiar to me,” he says. “Feelings of great distress and helplessness and conflictedness and confusion. I have felt that in classes in high school.”

“Aidan has great instincts,” Lanthimos says. “In a scene toward the end [of the film], he was so moving, it was the first time I have ever teared up on set.

There were difficult days — one moment with Plemons, Delbis says, took many takes. “It was hot AF and involved me getting more worked up that I am used to getting,” he remembers. But he appreciated Lanthimos’ willingness to let him try things. “In one scene, Jesse throws a chair and I thought that seemed pretty cool. So at the end of the day, they let me throw a chair. I hope that makes it into the outtakes reel.”

He was also very pleased when the crew threw him a s’mores party at the end of filming. “There was a fire pit on set that looked perfect for s’mores,” he says. “And I told them that, so it was my idea to have a s’mores party.”

Delbis is happy with how the film turned out, including his performance. “I think I looked pretty baller in that suit,” he says of one scene. Though he doesn’t have an opinion on the authenticity debate — whether autistic actors should always be the ones to play autistic characters — he thinks it’s “cool that writers and directors are starting to be more conscientious and give more realistic and respectful depictions of neurodivergent people and characters.”

He is more concerned that audiences understand what he thinks is the most important message of the movie.

“We should try to be more empathetic to people with different worldviews because you never really know what those people are going through,” he says. “The movie feels very relevant to that theme. God knows, people aren’t always willing to be tolerant.”

Published on
22/10/2025 – 14:33 GMT+2

Italian banking group UniCredit has delivered a robust third quarter, underscoring its position as one of Europe’s stronger lenders.

“UniCredit delivered yet another set of record results, with net revenues up 1.2% and costs down 0.1% versus last year,” said CEO Andrea Orcel in a statement.

Net profit came in at €2.6 billion in the third quarter, up 4.7% year-on-year, and above a company estimate of €2.4bn.

Over the first nine months of the year, the bank’s net profits rose by 12.9% to €8.7bn.

“These results reflect disciplined execution, and I am confident that we will continue to build sustainable value for all stakeholders,” said Orcel.

UniCredit also reaffirmed full-year 2025 net profit guidance at €10.5bn and said it planned to distribute at least €9.5bn to shareholders.

Why this matters

In a European banking sector facing low growth, investor pressure, and regulatory hurdles, the results are significant for several reasons.

First, UniCredit’s combination of revenue growth, cost control, and low credit impairments suggests a resilience not always seen among its peers.

Second, the reaffirmation of strong guidance signals management confidence in execution through to year-end despite macroeconomic uncertainties in European and global markets.

Thirdly, the capital position and shareholder-return commitments indicate that the bank is in a position to manage risk and reward investors.

Europe’s banks are navigating reduced margins, regulatory costs, and lacklustre loan demand. Against that backdrop, UniCredit’s cost-income ratio of 37% in the quarter is a standout.

The lender also noted that its medium-term ambitions remain unchanged, standing by a net profit target of above €11 billion for the full-year 2027.

What to watch

Key to delivery will be how UniCredit handles a potential slowdown in areas such as net interest income, which fell 5.4% year-on-year in the quarter, and how it sustains its cost-efficiency edge.

The impact of wider economic weakness in Italy, Germany, and Central and Eastern Europe, all countries with strong UniCredit presence, remains a risk.

Additionally, conversion of its medium-term plans into reality will require continued disciplined execution. This is especially the case as the bank pursues strategic initiatives such as life insurance policy changes in Italy and its takeover of Commerzbank.

UniCredit has built a 26% stake in the German lender over the last year, although Orcel’s advances are facing fierce opposition from the government in Berlin.

THE Eurostar is getting a major upgrade with up to 50 new double-decker trains.

Eurostar has revealed a €2billion (£1.7billion) investment in double-decker trains that would become the first ever to operate through the Channel Tunnel and on the UK network.

So far, the operator has confirmed it will have 30 double-decker trains, but could add a further 20 in the future.

The new fleet, built by the Alstom Group, will be called Eurostar Celestia.

The trains will each measure 200 metres long, and will be used across the five countries Eurostar currently operates in – the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.

They are also set to be used for new destinations such as Geneva in Switzerland and Frankfurt in Germany.

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On board each train, there will be around 540 seats – a 20 per cent increase compared to the number of seats on the Eurostar’s current trains.

Though if running in a 400 metre formation, as trains do currently through the Channel Tunnel, then there will be around 1,080 seats per service.

According to the operator, Eurostar Celestia will also have a “bespoke design to capture the unique, premium experience Eurostar customers expect”.

The name of the new fleet was decided by Eurostar staff and is derived from the Latin word ‘caelestis’, which means ‘heavenly’.

“It evokes the stars and the essence of travel, perfectly capturing the spirit of a company that links a constellation of cities across Europe,” Eurostar added.

The decision follows Eurostar’s aim of handling 30million passengers each year in the future.

The first trains are expected to join Eurostar’s fleet in January 2031, with services launching in May 2031.

The operator plans to launch six trains initially, which will run alongside Eurostar’s current fleet of 17 e320s.

In total, the fleet will grow to 67 trains – 30 per cent more than runs today.

The entire fleet would also be maintained at the Temple Mills depot in London, which would undergo an €80million (£69.6million) redevelopment to create space for the new trains.

In addition, 350 new jobs would be created at the depot.

The trains will be an all-electric fleet too, making them more sustainable.

Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO, Eurostar said: “We’re particularly proud to bring double-decker trains to the UK for the very first time.

“Customers can expect a very special new train with Eurostar Celestia, which will offer exceptional comfort, a unique Eurostar experience and new surprises to be revealed.

“This is a golden age for international sustainable travel – and Eurostar is leading the race.”

Henri Poupart-Lafarge, CEO of Alstom, said: “This new-generation train, designed to meet the demands of international very high-speed traffic, embodies our vision of sustainable and competitive European mobility.”

The announcement comes as the Office of Rail and Road is set to meet on October 31 to make a decision on whether space should be created for a competitor operator at Temple Mills, such as Virgin or Gemini.

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Recently, Virgin also announced that if it were to get approval to run cross-channel services, it would launch routes from two huge cities in the north.

And in other train news, the UK capital is set to welcome new £700million train line linking west and north of the city.

The political cartoon by Auth (Commentary, Aug. 2) was very appropriate. It’s too bad the cartoon had to be cropped for space, as I am sure that just behind the two elephants were two donkeys and many, many people, all laughing their heads off at “Noah” Bush standing there on the deck of the ark. We all know what happened to those who thought they were too wise to enter the safety of the ark. Perhaps the animals that the real Noah allowed aboard the ark had misgivings too, but they entered and settled down to ride out the storm, and in the end they were better off than those who stood outside and laughed.

Those who were unwilling to ride with Noah were doomed, just as are those who now think they are too wise to ride with “Noah” Bush (and Dan Quayle).

CLIFFORD L. LILLO, Torrance

Former Ireland star Conor Murray says the “shackles are off” as he launches a new BBC Sounds podcast – the Ireland Rugby Social.

Murray, who won international 125 caps, will join BBC Sport NI’s Gavin Andrews to give his unique insight into the mindset of a professional athlete as Ireland gear up for the autumn internationals and the 2026 Six Nations.

Each week, Murray will sit down with players, coaches and rugby insiders to dive into the sport’s biggest stories as Ireland face New Zealand, Japan, Australia and South Africa this autumn, before the Six Nations kicks off next year.

With five Six Nations titles and two United Rugby Championships with Munster, the three-time British and Irish Lion is uniquely placed to go beyond the headlines – and he says: “I can say what I want.”

“As a player you are always worried about protecting the team or the coach, or saying something the coach might not agree with after,” said Murray.

“But now the shackles are off. Now you can speak your mind and say things how you see it.”

Every Tuesday there will be podcast with a special guest who will offer their own insight into their life in rugby, whether that is playing, coaching or a role you may not know about.

Additionally, throughout November and Six Nations there will be a second podcast reflecting on the game that’s just been played and a look ahead at what is to come.

“Rugby has been such a big part of my life for so long, so I think staying connected to it is probably a good idea,” Murray added.

“I can give some insight, get some guests with some interesting stories – stories that you maybe haven’t heard before.

“I know the guests we have will be able to relax and tell us their true thoughts and stories.”

You can catch a first teaser episode here, or search Ireland Rugby Social on BBC Sounds to listen to every episode and subscribe.

Hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters clashed with Irish police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Dublin on Tuesday, setting a police vehicle on fire and launching fireworks at officers.

BRISTOL is the best place to live in Britain.

Ok I might be biased as it has become my adopted home after moving here 12 years ago from London.

But it has everything the capital has to offer – just less busy and hectic.

Banksy has made it famous with his brilliant and funny graffiti.

His seminal painting of the naked man hanging out of the window of his mistress, takes pride of place at the bottom of the city’s Park Street.

And if you wander around the docks – once a thriving hub of trade at the heart of the Industrial Revolution – you can spot his iconic Girl with the Pierced Eardrum.

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The city, with a population of 500,000, has just been named as one of the top 50 destinations to visit in the world because of its street art.

It ranks alongside stargazing in New Zealand for an experience according to the experts at Lonely Planet which said: “No city in Britain uses its urban landscape as a canvas quite like Bristol, with some of the best street art anywhere in Europe.”

I even have a graffiti mural on the side of my house, painted by a brilliant Italian artist that was done as part of Upfest, Europe’s biggest graffiti festival.

Dozens of other homes and shopfronts in the city are also adorned with all sorts of quirky and irreverent artwork.

But it is not just the street art scene that makes Bristol great.

It has everything from sport, to music, theatre, architecture, and some of the best restaurants in Britain.

It’s host to the mighty Bristol City and Bristol Bears football and rugby teams, as well as Gloucestershire Cricket Club.

And arguably England’s most famous cricketer, WG Grace, lived and played on the city’s many grounds.

Other famous residents included Archibald Leach – better known as movie star Cary Grant.

Bristol was also where “drum n’ bass” was invented, is home to brilliant bands Massive Attack and the Idles, and in its Bristol Beacon has a world class music venue which has hosted everyone from the Beatles to Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Coldplay, and Adele.

Its Motion and Lakota nightclubs are also world famous.

And the people, with their West country burr, are some of the friendliest on the planet.

Many are also radical freethinkers who are at the front of counter culture, and lead the way on environmental and equality issues.

A group famously banded together to pull down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston and throw it in the harbour.

The statue was pulled out later and put in a museum.

Its famous Clifton Suspension Bridge – built so the posh residents of Clifton could cross Avon Gorge and get away from the smog for a walk in the countryside – is one of the most iconic bridges in the world.

It was built by Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, whose genius also gave the world the Great Western Railway with its long and complex tunnels, and the then fastest steamship in the world, the SS Great Britain.

On still days, residents are often treated to the spectacle of hot air balloons floating over the city.

The ubiquitous orbs end up landing randomly, including once on a cricket pitch in the middle of a match.

The annual Balloon Fiesta also attracts thousands of visitors.

And one of the greatest advantages of the city is its location and how quickly you can get to some of the best countryside in the UK.

In less than three hours’ drive you can be on the sandy beaches of Cornwall or the rugged coastline of West Wales, with masses of beautiful countryside in between.

There is also a glut of brilliant places to eat with cafes, bars and food shacks, and three Michelin starred restaurants.

One of my favourites is a newly-opened kiosk on the waterfront – near the famous Old Duke jazz pub which has live music every night – called Soft Buoys selling grilled cheese sandwiches and mind blowing ice creams and affogato.

Bristol has a lot going for it, which is why it is believed to have a higher retention rate of university students going on to live in the city than anywhere else in the country. 

Bristol University is one of the best in the world and it is just completing a mega new Enterprise campus near the train station, Temple Meads.

I could go on but you get the picture. 

It has its bad sides too, as does any big city, but they are too few to bemoan and the benefits massively outweigh them.

It definitely rains less than Manchester.

So yes I agree Bristol should be on the list of the top 50 destinations in the world to visit next year.

Just don’t all come at once or it might get too hectic and it would be like living back in London.

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If you are looking for a place to stay in the city, then there is a central Bristol hotel with a riverfront restaurant and revamped rooms.

Plus, great UK city breaks for half term with the kids – that are cheaper and easier than London.

In St Albans, Hertfordshire you can wander medieval streets, browse boutique shops, sip something warm in cosy pubs, and soak up the festive vibes at the 1,000-year-old market

A city that is a surprisingly short train ride away from London has a millennium-old market and some of the oldest pubs in the UK.

Such is the speed of the connection from St Albans to St Pancras in London, locals affectionately refer to it as the Shinkansen or Bullet Train of Hertfordshire.

But it’s not just ease of transport that makes the cathedral city worth visiting. In fact, one could argue that as the golden leaves begin to fall and rooftops frost over, St Albans is the picture-perfect spot for a short break.

There you can wander medieval streets, browse boutique shops, sip something warm in cosy pubs, and soak up the festive vibes at the 1,000-year-old market.

Here are six reasons to visit St Albans:

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The magical St Albans Cathedral

The jewel of the city, St Albans Cathedral, is the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain. Step inside and you’ll find the Shrine of St Alban, Britain’s first saint and after whom the city was named, which has been a focal point for visitors and pilgrims alike for over 1,700 years.

It has the longest nave of any cathedral in England, at 85 metres long, and visitors can climb 211 winding steps to the top of the spectacular Norman Tower, where they may spot the tall buildings of the City of London.

Simply magical during the colder months, the Cathedral’s programme is packed with seasonal events and activities to enjoy, including stunning candlelight concerts, creative workshops and awe-inspiring exhibitions.

Its popular Live Nativity Trail, which on Saturday, December 13, features actors reenacting characters from the Christmas story and bringing the nativity scene to life for families and people of all ages. The fun and festive trail guides visitors around the Cathedral grounds, encountering shepherds, wise men, angels, innkeepers, and even a somewhat grumpy King Herod. Also on 13 December is the popular Carols on the Hour.

The great outdoors

Wrap up warm and embrace the beauty of the season with an invigorating walk, leisurely stroll, cycle or dog walk — St Albans is packed with picturesque, cobbled streets and has an abundance of gorgeous places to enjoy the fresh air.

Venture to Nomansland Common and Heartwood Forest for woodland or take The Alban Way trail, a flat and traffic-free disused section of the Great Northern Railway, ideal for cyclists and walkers.

Named after the Roman City on which it stands, Verulamium Park boasts over 100 acres of parkland just steps from the city centre. It features an ornamental lake, a rare Roman mosaic and hypocaust, café, and more.

And just a five-minute walk from the city centre is Clarence Park, home to an old-fashioned bandstand, but if you’re more of a sports enthusiast, then Clarence Park is also the home of St Albans City Football Club, which always has a great buzz on match days.

Delicious food and drink

After a long walk, there’s nothing quite like a hearty pub lunch with roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings, a customary pint or a glass of red and a blazing open fire. Whether it’s The Cock Inn, The Peahen, The Boot, The Six Bells, The Lower Red Lion or Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (reputed to be one of England’s oldest pubs), there are plenty of traditional hostelries across St Albans where you can while away a winter afternoon in the company of good friends, excellent food and a welcoming atmosphere in front of the flames.

Fine dining restaurants including Thompson St Albans and Lussmanns Sustainable Kitchen offer award-winning, refined, flavour-filled dishes from the finest seasonal ingredients, matched with meticulous service.

For sweet treats and stop-offs, get your taste buds tingling at wonderful bakeries dotted throughout the city centre. You can try Proto Artisan Bakery brimming with the most delicious twists of Real Sourdough Bread such as cranberry and walnut.

To help discover the best eating and drinking in the city, a new food and drink Map has been created by St Albans City Centre BID, listing 120 locations including the finest dining on offer.

Historical pubs

You can become fully immersed in the fascinating history of hostelries — the term for a traditional coaching inn. From November, St Albans Museum and Gallery will present Inns and Alehouses in Victorian St Albans, an exhibition inspired by the 1884 song The City Pubs, composed by ‘Baron’ Martin and first performed at the annual dinner of the St Albans Licensed Victuallers’ Association.

The lively composition lists the many pubs, inns and taprooms of the city (some still open today) and provides a fascinating glimpse into a time when St Albans boasted nearly one hundred commercial drinking establishments.

The exhibition explores the diverse venues that shaped social life in the late nineteenth century — from bustling beerhouses to traditional taverns — shedding light on the reasons behind their success or decline as the city moved into the twentieth century.

Something for film and theatre fans

Film enthusiasts can head to the Art Deco Odyssey Cinema which dates to 1908 and shows an incredible range of titles that can be enjoyed from plush seats with your choice of drinks, snacks and delicious food plates.

OVO’s production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol returns this year at two brand-new venues, including the enchanting walled Vintry Garden, overlooking the Cathedral in St Albans. This open-air venue offers a unique festive experience that immerses audiences in the spirit of Christmas past, present and yet to come.

Spectacular shopping and ancient markets

St Albans is a great shopping destination where old meets new with charming independent boutiques offering cutting-edge and unusual items set in beautiful, Medieval buildings and three large shopping areas playing host to well-known brands.

Support small businesses at the award-winning St Albans Charter Market, established over 1,000 years ago. Every Wednesday and Saturday, shop for everything you could possibly want and enjoy the buzz and energy of the legendary market through the quirky cobblestone streets that are at the heart of the St Albans story.

The Second Sunday Market specialises in local food and drink and sustainable arts and crafts while at St Albans Vintage Market you can find all manner of antiques, vintage, brocante and architectural salvage. St Albans Vegan Market brings a big variety of vegan street food, artisan bakers, craft brewers, ethical jewellers, sustainable chandlers, local artists, zero-waste champions, environmental charities and loads more.

The Australian LGBTQIA+ nightclub that faced backlash for aiming for “90% plus” male customers despite its Chappell Roan-inspired namesake has announced a rebrand. 

Last week, Kevin Du-Val, the owner of Sydney’s Palms On Oxford, and its manager, Michael Lewis, announced they would be opening a new bar in early December called PINK PONY, which they describe as “unashamedly inspired by its namesake song that resonates so profoundly within our community.”

However, they said the club was created “specifically for 18-35 (state of mind) gay men who love to dance and get sweaty to high-powered dance music in a safe space.”

In an interview with Gay Sydney News, Lewis reiterated the demographic they are targeting, adding: “Of course, the girls will be welcome. But it would certainly be our desire that it is predominantly gay boys, and when I say predominantly, I’m sort of talking 90 percent plus.”

“Obviously, we’ve got legal hurdles,” he continued, “in terms of how much we can vet the crowd while still complying with the law.”

Shortly after the news was announced, Lewis and Du-Val faced massive backlash on social media, with many slamming the pair for being dismissive of queer women – especially since its namesake is inspired by a song written and performed by one of the biggest lesbian pop artists.

Following widespread condemnation, the owners issued a lengthy apology, with Lewis also telling The Guardian Australia that the venue’s name would be changed.

On 21 October, the club’s Instagram account announced that the venue’s new name would be TRIBE @ 231 Nightclub. 

“A bold new chapter in Sydney’s nightlife is about to begin. TRIBE @ 231 a nightclub created by members of the LGBTQI+ community for the LGBTQI+ community, is officially opening its doors in the heart of Darlinghurst — and it’s ready to electrify,” the statement revealed.

“Oxford Street has always been a cultural beacon for the LGBTQI+ community. TRIBE @ 231 is our love letter to that legacy — a place to dance, connect, and celebrate queer joy in all its forms… TRIBE @ 231 aims to energise the soul of Sydney’s queer nightlife and be loud, proud and without limits. Find Your TRIBE @ 231.” 

Shortly after announcing the news, one Instagram user inquired if it will be “welcoming to all members of the LGBTQIA+ community? Or just Gs between the ages of 18-35?”

In response, the venue affirmed that TRIBE @ 231 will welcome all members of the LGBTQIA+ community, adding that “at the end of the day, vibe of venue, the music and those it resonates with will dictate the crowd.”

As of this writing, the venue has yet to share the official date for its grand opening. However, they confirmed that it will be open for business sometime in December.

The charming Victorian town has been named one of the prettiest in the UK, and it’s easy to see why it’s so well regarded

A charming Victorian market town nestled beside a national park ranks among Britain’s most beautiful destinations. Located just 90 minutes by car from Greater Manchester, Ilkley in West Yorkshire has earned widespread recognition for its stunning appeal.

Positioned on the fringes of the Yorkshire Dales, Ilkley triumphed over coastal rivals in Cornwall and East Sussex to secure fifth place in The Telegraph‘s ranking of Britain’s most picturesque towns. The newspaper enlisted specialists to evaluate communities based on “pleasantness of their shop fronts, historic architecture, low traffic and litter, stunning viewpoints and plentiful greenery, culminating in a score out of 50.”

Ilkley secured an impressive overall rating of 44 out of 50, earning perfect tens for panoramic vistas and green spaces. It also scored nine out of 10 for retail frontages, eight for period buildings and seven in the minimal traffic and rubbish category, reports the Express.

The Telegraph highlighted Ilkley’s “excellent views”, which are “guaranteed at almost every turn”, owing to its hillside position overlooking the River Wharfe without a tower block in sight. The community also boasts “wide and leafy streets”, especially the Grove, which features a “broad pavement, bandstand, cherry trees and handsome shopfronts”.

Ilkley’s remarkable selection of independent retailers receives praise, alongside its “swish cinema,” park, brewery, and “artisan food market.” Arguably the most renowned establishment in Ilkley remains Betty’s Cafe Tea Rooms, celebrated for its signature Fat Rascal fruit scones and indulgent afternoon teas.

The Ilkley branch is particularly special, as the shop features a dedicated chocolate counter, offering a treasure trove of handcrafted treats. It also has its own brewery, Ilkley Brewery, and tap room, which serves Italian-inspired food, including pizzetta sandwiches and roasts on Sundays.

But it’s not just the town itself which lends it to being ‘pretty’. It also has some incredible countryside right on its doorstep.

There’s the wild and windswept Ilkley Moor, perfect for a bracing hike. It features many intriguing rock formations, including the interestingly named Cow and Calf rocks.

You can also head to Middleton Woods, which is covered by a blanket of orange leaves every spring. Ilkley does have something that sets it apart from other towns, however.

Its Art Deco lido, which the Telegraph described as the town’s “jewel,” has an original cafe and sun terrace. The Telegraph recommends heading there for the best views, looking out towards Ilkley Moor.

It has been a hotspot for visitors for decades, having opened in the 1930s. TimeOut ranked it as one of the best outdoor pools in the UK, and is often bustling with activity during the summer, as it tends to open from May to September.

But if it’s a bit too cold to venture into the outdoor pool, Ilkley Lido is also home to a 25m indoor pool. But if you’re feeling brave, the River Wharfe is also a safe bathing water area.

Among the small army of prospects who’ve eyed the California governorship, none seemed more qualified than Toni Atkins.

After serving on the San Diego City Council, she moved on to Sacramento, where Atkins led both the Assembly and state Senate, one of just three people in history — and the first in 147 years — to head both houses of California’s Legislature.

She negotiated eight state budgets with two governors and, among other achievements, passed major legislation on abortion rights, help for low-income families and a $7.5-billion water bond.

You can disagree with her politics but, clearly, Atkins is someone who knows her way around the Capitol.

She married that expertise with the kind of hardscrabble, up-by-her-bootstraps backstory that a calculating political consultant might have spun from whole cloth, had it not been so.

Atkins grew up in rural Appalachia in a rented home with an outdoor privy. Her first pair of glasses was a gift from the local Lions Club. She didn’t visit a dentist until she was 24. Her family was too poor.

Yet for all of that, Atkins’ gubernatorial campaign didn’t last even to 2026, when voters will elect a successor to the termed-out Gavin Newsom. She quit the race in September, more than eight months before the primary.

She has no regrets.

“It was a hard decision,” the Democrat said. “But I’m a pragmatic person.”

She couldn’t and wouldn’t keep asking “supporters and people to contribute more and more if the outcome was not going to be what we hoped,” Atkins said. “I needed sort of a moonshot to do it, and I didn’t see that.”

She spoke recently via Zoom from the den of her home in San Diego, where Atkins had just returned after spending several weeks back in Virginia, tending to a dying friend and mentor, one of her former college professors.

“I was a first-generation college kid … a hillbilly,” Atkins said. She felt as though she had no place in the world “and this professor, Steve Fisher, basically helped turn me around and not be a victim. Learn to organize. Learn to work with people on common goals. … He was one of the first people that really helped me to understand how to be part of something bigger than myself.”

Over the 22 months of her campaign — between the launch in January 2024 and its abandonment on Sept. 29 — Atkins traveled California from tip to toe, holding countless meetings and talking to innumerable voters. “It’s one thing to be the speaker or the [Senate leader],” she said. “People treat you differently when you’re a candidate. You’re appealing to them to support you, and it’s a different conversation.”

What she heard was a lot of practicality.

People lamenting the exorbitant cost of housing, energy and child care. Rural Californians worried about their dwindling access to healthcare. Parents and teachers concerned about wanton immigration raids and their effect on kids. “It wasn’t presented as a political thing,” Atkins said. “It was just fear for [their] neighbors.”

She heard plenty from business owners and, especially, put-upon residents of red California, who griped about Sacramento and its seeming disconnection from their lives and livelihoods. “I heard in Tehama County … folks saying, ‘Look, we care about the environment, but we can’t have electric school buses here. We don’t have any infrastructure.’ ”

Voters seemed to be of two — somewhat contradictory — minds about what they want in their next governor.

First off, “Someone that’s going to be focused on California, California problems and California issues,” Atkins said. “They want a governor that’s not going to be performative, but really focused on the issues that California needs help on.”

At the same, they see the damage that President Trump and his punitive policies have done to the state in a very short time, so “they also want to see a fighter.”

The challenge, Atkins suggested, is “convincing people … you’re absolutely going to fight for California values and, at the same, that you’re going to be focused on fixing the roads.”

Maybe California needs to elect a contortionist.

Given her considerable know-how and compelling background, why did Atkins’ campaign fizzle?

Here’s a clue: The word starts with “m” and ends with “y” and speaks to something pernicious about our political system.

“I hoped my experience and my collaborative nature and my ability to work across party lines when I needed to … would gain traction,” Atkins said. “But I just didn’t have the name recognition.”

Or, more pertinently, the huge pile of cash needed to build that name recognition and get elected to statewide office in California.

While Atkins wasn’t a bad fundraiser, she simply couldn’t raise the many tens of millions of dollars needed to run a viable gubernatorial race.

That could be seen as a referendum of sorts. If enough people wanted Atkins to be governor, she theoretically would have collected more cash. But who doubts that money has an unholy influence on our elections?

(Other than Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who spent much of his career fighting campaign finance reform, and members of the Supreme Court who green-lit today’s unlimited geyser of campaign spending.)

At age 63, Atkins is not certain what comes next.

“I’ve lost parents, but it’s been decades,” she said. “And to lose Steve” — her beloved ex-college professor — “I think I’m going to take the rest of the year to reflect. I’m definitely going to stay engaged … but I’m going to focus on family” at least until January.

Atkins remains optimistic about her adopted home state, notwithstanding her unsuccessful run for governor and the earful of criticisms she heard along the way,

“California is the place where people dream,” she said. “We still have the ability to do big things … We’re the fourth-largest economy. We’re a nation-state. We need to remember that.”

Without losing sight of the basics.

No sooner had the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a World Series spot against the Dodgers than the torrent of memes, posts and tweets flowed, all with some version of this one-liner: Finally, Shohei Ohtani is on the plane to Toronto.

On a December day two years ago, as Ohtani navigated free agency: three reports surfaced: there was a private plane flying from Orange County to Toronto (true); Ohtani had decided to sign with the Blue Jays (false); and Ohtani was on a flight to Toronto (false).

When the jet landed, surrounded by reporters and photographers and even a news helicopter, an entire country fell into despair. The gentleman on the plane was not Ohtani.

He was Robert Herjavec, a star on “Shark Tank” and a prominent Canadian businessman with homes in Toronto and Southern California.

“It is my only claim to fame in the sports world: to be mistaken for someone else,” Herjavec said Tuesday.

Herjavec said he hopes to attend at least one World Series game in Los Angeles and another in Toronto. He is not the Dodgers’ $700-million man, but he said he would enjoy meeting Ohtani.

“I’m very disappointed,” Herjavec said with a laugh, “he hasn’t reached out to me for financial advice.”

He is no different than the rest of us, Ohtani’s teammates included. Watching Ohtani play calls to mind the words Jack Buck used to call Kirk Gibson’s home run: I don’t believe what I just saw.

“To me, as a layman and a couch athlete, the ability to throw a ball at 100 mph and then go out and hit three home runs?” Herjavec said. “It’s mind boggling.”

To be a successful businessman takes talent too, no?

“That’s the beauty of business,” he said. “I always say to people, business is the only sport where you can play at an elite level with no God-given talent.”

On that fateful Friday, Herjavec and his 5-year-old twins were en route to Toronto, and normally he would have known what was happening on the ground before he landed. However, he had turned off all the phones and tablets on board so he could play board games with his children in an effort to calm them.

“I gave them too much sugar,” he said. “They were wired.”

Upon landing, Canadian customs agents boarded the plane, in a hopeful search for Ohtani. Herjavec and his kids got off the plane, descending into a storm of national news because the Blue Jays are Canada’s team.

I asked Herjavec if he ever had disappointed so many people at any point in his life. He burst out laughing.

“That is such a great question,” he said. “That is my crowning achievement: I let down an entire nation at one time.”

The Blue Jays have a rich history. In 1992-93, they won back-to-back World Series championships, the feat the Dodgers are trying to duplicate.

The Jays have not appeared in the World Series since 1993, but that is not even close to the longest or most painful championship drought in Toronto.

The Maple Leafs, playing Canada’s national sport, have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967. That would be like the Dodgers or Yankees not winning the World Series since 1967.

“Speaking of letting people down,” Herjavec said.

The difference between Americans and Canadians, he said, is that Americans expect to win and Canadians believe it would be nice to win.

He counts himself in the latter camp. He can call both the Dodgers and Blue Jays a home team, but he is rooting for Toronto in this World Series.

“I have to,” he said, “because I’ve already disappointed the entire country once.

“I’m hoping, with my moral support, this will redeem me to Canadians.”

Airport officials were left facing a real ‘mystery’ after discovering a plane that had veered off the runway onto a patch of grass, and the pilot was nowhere to be seen

Airport officials were baffled to discover an abandonded plane “resting nose-down in the grass next to a runway” this week.

Bizarrely, the pilot was nowhere to be seen, and it became clear that the damaged plane, a small 1972 Cessna Skyhawk, had veered off the runway after having made a hard landing on Tuesday.

The empty Cessna N20392 was discovered at approximately 5am at Naples Municipal Airport in Florida, while the airport’s traffic control tower was closed from 10pm right up until 6am.

As staff were left to decipher the mystery, yet more questions emerged after security personnel reported spotting two people leaving the plane at the airport shortly after the plane landed right in the middle of the grassy field. They appeared to be unharmed.

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Airport communications director Robin King said, via FOX4: “We came in at about five o’clock this morning and realised we had an aircraft in the middle of the field. Our security released two people from the airfield overnight. They were fine. They walked away, and that’s really all we know.”

FlightAware data shows that the plane circled several times over Fort Myers and again in Naples before touching down at Naples Airport, in Florida, just after 2:40 am. An airport runway had to be shut down after the unexpected discovery was made; however, normal airport operations resumed after the disabled plane was removed from the field at approximately 6:30am.

In a separate interview with WINK News, King said: “It’s unusual. It’s really unusual, and it was a mystery.” The pilot has since been identified as 24-year-old Brianna Brown, who, as reported by Local 10, “returned around midday”, by which point the aircraft had been removed from the scene by a crew and placed in a hangar for inspection. Brown has since spoken with the Naples Police Department, as well as a member of the airport operations team.

Lt. Bryan McGinn, a spokesperson for the Naples Police Department, issued the following statement: “We have since learned that the pilot slid off the runway … the pilot stated they notified staff.”

According to King, it appears that Brown rented the plane, which she flew from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, in the Fort Lauderdale area. Police officers have since filed an incident report, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified by airport authorities. King said: “The FAA will be investigating. It’s totally out of our hands at this point, and so we’re going to find out why it happened.”

Brown, of Fort Lauderdale, wasn’t injured during the incident and is understood to be cooperating with the investigation. At the time of writing, it’s unclear whether or not Brown or the other person on board, who has not been identified, faces any charges.

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Oct. 22 (UPI) — House Democrats are launching a probe of allegations that President Donald Trump is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars from the Justice Department in compensation for investigations conducted against him before he won a second term .

House Judiciary Committee Democrats announced in a statement Tuesday that ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., was launching an investigation into the president’s “shakedown of taxpayers.”

The announcement of the investigation was announced in response to a New York Times report that said Trump is demanding the Justice Department pay him some $230 million in compensation.

Trump submitted at least two administrative complaints, the first in 2023 and the second in 2024, seeking compensation, ABC News also reported.

The first administrative claim seeks damages for purported violations of his rights in connection with the investigation into alleged ties between his 2016 election campaign and Russia.

The second seeks claims over allegations is in connection with the August 2022 FBI raid of his Mar-a-Lago residence and subsequent investigation and prosecution on charges that he mishandled classified documents after he left office following the completion of his first term.

Asked about the reports during a press conference at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said he wasn’t aware of the amount being sought but stated he should be compensated.

“I was damaged very greatly and any money I would get, I would give to charity,” he said.

Trump also acknowledged the unprecedented nature and potential ethical issues, stating “I’m the one who makes the decision.”

“And that decision would have to go cross my desk and it’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself,” he said.

House Judiciary Committee Democrats chastised Trump, accusing him of “robbing America blind.”

“This is exactly why the Constitution forbids the president from taking any more from the government outside of his official salary,” they said in a statement. “This is Donald Trump First, America Last — the Gangster State at work, billionaires shaking down the people.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., described it as Trump “extorting his own Justice Department” and as “unprecedented, unfathomable corruption.”

“Eye watering conflicts of interests,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a statement. “More corrupt self enrichment.”