US, Australia sign rare earth, mineral agreement as China tightens supply | International Trade News
US President Donald Trump said the deal had been negotiated over the last four to five months.
Published On 20 Oct 2025
United States President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have signed an agreement on rare earth and critical minerals as China tightens control over global supply.
The two leaders signed the deal on Monday at the White House.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Trump said the agreement had been negotiated over four or five months. The two leaders will also discuss trade, submarines and military equipment, Trump said.
Albanese described it as an $8.5bn pipeline “that we have ready to go”.
The full terms of the agreement were not immediately available. The two leaders said part of the agreement had to do with processing of the minerals. Albanese said both countries will contribute $1bn over the next six months for joint projects.
China has the world’s largest rare earths reserves, according to the US Geological Survey data, but Australia also has significant reserves.
The two leaders also planned to discuss the $239.4bn agreement, reached in 2023 under then-US President Joe Biden, in which Australia is to buy US nuclear-powered submarines in 2032 before building a new submarine class with Britain.
US Navy Secretary John Phelan told the meeting the US and Australia were working very closely to improve the original framework for all three parties “and clarify some of the ambiguity that was in the prior agreement”.
Trump said these were “just minor details”.
“There shouldn’t be any more clarifications, because we’re just, we’re just going now full steam ahead, building,” Trump said.
Australian officials have said they are confident it will proceed, with Defence Minister Richard Marles last week saying he knew when the review would conclude.
China’s rare earth export controls
Ahead of Monday’s meeting between the two leaders, Australian officials have emphasised Canberra is paying its way under AUKUS — a trilateral military partnership between the US, Australia and the United Kingdom, contributing $2bn this year to boost production rates at US submarine shipyards, and preparing to maintain US Virginia-class submarines at its Indian Ocean naval base from 2027.
The delay of 10 months in an official meeting since Trump took office has caused some anxiety in Australia as the Pentagon urged Canberra to lift defence spending. The two leaders met briefly on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.
Australia is willing to sell shares in its planned strategic reserve of critical minerals to allies including Britain, as Western governments scramble to end their reliance on China for rare earths and minor metals.
Top US officials last week condemned Beijing’s expansion of rare earth export controls as a threat to global supply chains. China is the world’s biggest producer of the materials, which are vital for products ranging from electric vehicles to aircraft engines and military radars.
Resource-rich Australia, wanting to extract and process rare earths, put preferential access to its strategic reserve on the table in US trade negotiations in April.
Troubled Infrared Pod For Navy Super Hornets Get New Vote Of Confidence
Lockheed Martin has received a new full-rate production contract, valued at $233 million, for Block II IRST21 infrared search and track sensors to go into pods for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air National Guard fighters. For the Navy, in particular, this is a notable move forward given the reliability and quality control issues the service has faced with its podded configuration of the IRST21 for years now.
The Navy officially declared initial operational capability (IOC) with its version of the IRST21, also known by the designation AN/ASG-34A(V)1, back in November 2024. Limited operational evaluations, including as part combat operations in the Middle East, had been ongoing since at least 2020.
The Navy’s pod, developed for use on the service’s the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets consists of a modified FPU-13/A drop tank with the IRST sensor in a redesigned front section, as you can learn about more in this past TWZ feature. Air Force F-15C/D Eagles, which are now in the process of being retired, and F-16C/D Vipers, have been flying for years with IRST21s integrated into modular, multi-purpose Legion Pods from Lockheed Martin. Legion Pods with IRST21s are part of the sensor suite for the Air Force’s new F-15EX Eagle IIs, as well. Though they have the same IRST sensor at their core, which allows for shared contracts like the one announced today, the Navy and Air Force efforts are distinct, with major differences in the respective pod designs.
The Navy’s pod, developed for use on the service’s the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets consists of a modified FPU-13/A drop tank with the IRST sensor in a redesigned front section, as you can learn about more in this past TWZ feature. Air Force F-15C/D Eagles, which are now in the process of being retired, and F-16C/D Vipers, have been flying for years with IRST21s integrated into modular, multi-purpose Legion Pods from Lockheed Martin. Legion Pods with IRST21s are part of the sensor suite for the Air Force’s new F-15EX Eagle IIs, as well.
As designed, the ASG-34A(V)1 has long been set to offer a valuable new way for Navy Super Hornets to spot and track airborne threats. IRST systems offer particular advantages when it comes to detecting stealthy crewed and uncrewed aircraft, as well as missiles, designed to evade traditional radars. IRSTs also scan passively, so they do not send out signals that can alert an opponent to the fact that they are being tracked, and are also immune to expanding adversary electronic warfare capabilities. The information from IRSTs can also be fuzed with that from radars, datalinks, and other passive sensors to provide major synergistic capabilities.
When carried by a Super Hornet, “the IRST acts as a complementary sensor to the aircraft’s AN/APG-79 fire control radar in a heavy electronic attack or radar-denied environment,” according to the Pentagon’s Office of the Director of Test and Evaluation. “It operates autonomously, or in combination with other sensors, to support the guidance of beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles.”
IRST systems, in general, have experienced a renaissance within the U.S. military amid a steadily growing ecosystem of stealthy aerial threats, especially emanating from China. IRST technologies are also evolving, including with the emergence of systems that can be distributed around an aircraft using smaller individual sensors, which are also sometimes less complex and costly.
The Navy’s particular efforts to field this capability for its Super Hornets, which trace all the way back to 2007, have faced hurdles. The service only formally initiated work on the improved Block II IRST21 in 2018, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a Congressional Watchdog. A Block II prototype pod first flew on a Super Hornet the following year.
Quality control and reliability issues continued to dog the program afterward, as you can read more about here. Following the IOC declaration, a full-rate production decision was expected to come in January 2025, but was delayed.
“The program reported that it would not reach a full-rate production decision by its baseline schedule threshold in January 2025 due to delays incurred during flight testing,” according to a GAO report published in June 2025. “IRST officials told us that operational tests were delayed by 2 months due to software defects that caused IRST pods to falsely report overheating.”
“Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) officials told us that the defect was relatively easy to fix and would likely have been addressed during developmental testing had the program allocated more time for that testing,” the GAO report added. “The program now expects a full-rate decision in June 2025. This is the second time the program breached its baseline schedule in the past 3 years.”
GAO’s June 2025 report also said that DOT&E remained of the view that “the pods were extremely unreliable.”
“These officials said that the program improved pod reliability as it made software updates but only managed to achieve 14 hours mean time between operational mission failures – short of the 40 hours required,” the report said. “As such, DOT&E officials said that deploying the IRST pods without improving their reliability would transfer risk to the Navy’s fleet. Program officials noted that IRST initial capability was achieved without any noted limitations.”
“IRST Block II operational flight test events demonstrated tactically relevant detection ranges against operationally relevant targets and the ability to translate these long-range target detections into stable system tracks to facilitate weapons employment,” DO&TE had said in its own most recent annual report, covering work done during the 2024 Fiscal Year. “The Navy must continue to improve the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet’s operating software and address existing deficiencies to effectively integrate IRST into aircraft fire control solutions.”
“IRST Block II demonstrated significant reliability problems during operational testing. Throughout the test period, IRST Block II suffered from hardware and software deficiencies, which required the aircrew to restart the pod multiple times,” that report added. “Troubleshooting and repair often exceeded the abilities of Navy maintenance crews and required assistance from Lockheed Martin. Many of these problems were discovered during integrated and operational test after the Navy completed a minimal developmental test program with the representative hardware.”
It is curious to note that there has been no commensurate reporting of reliability or other issues with the IRST21/Legion Pod combination that has been seen flying on Air National Guard F-15s and F-16s for years now. At the same time, whether or not the Air Force has experienced any troubles with those IRST pods is not entirely clear.
To what degree remaining issues on the Navy side have been addressed and/or mitigated is also unclear, and TWZ has reached out the service, as well as Lockheed Martin, for more information.
The decision now to move ahead with full-rate production of the IRST21 is certainly a new vote confidence, especially when it comes to the Navy program.
Contact the author: [email protected]
Helen Flanagan, GK Barry and Amy Dowden look incredible as they lead glamour at Pride of Britain
CELEBRITIES have stepped out in their finery for tonight’s Pride of Britain Awards.
Looking sensational while hitting the red carpet, the likes of GK Barry, Amy Dowden and Helen Flanagan, Maura Higgins, Tasha Ghouri and many others have posed up a storm ahead of the emotional night.
The Pride of Britain Awards is an annual event that honours unsung heroes from up and down the United Kingdom.
The awards celebrate individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage, bravery, and achievement.
They are awarded to those who have overcome adversity or made a significant difference in their communities.
Stepping out on Monday night for the event, many famous faces gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Read More about Celebrities
Helen Flanagan left onlookers stunned as she wowed in a black and white ensemble.
The very chic gown she donned was black with white edging and accents.
Sailing down to the ground, the sleek fitted dress was adorned in sparkling diamantes that glimmered beneath the lights.
Helen wore her blonde locks in an up-do and posed up a storm with her hand on her hip.
The dress had an ample amount of drama to it, and sailed down to the ground, trailing behind her.
Love Island and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! beauty Maura Higgins stole the night in a completely sheer lace number.
Another Love Island alum, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu dared all in a very risque ensemble.
The stunning star wore a cut out black frock, which bared her hips and midriff.
She looked sensational in the corseted black gown, which was see-through and left little to the imagination.
Though the dress was made from lace and incredibly fitted, Maura’s frock boasted of a huge billowing train which jolted out from her bottom.
GK Barry was one of the first arrivals of the night, and turned heads in a sexy black lace gown.
The lace dress featured a high neck and sailed all the way down to the ground.
GK, whose name is Grace, wore her blonde locks in a sleek up-do.
Another early arrival of the night was Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden.
The Welsh dancing sensation wore a striking purple frock for the occasion.
Ashley James was next to arrive, looking sensational in a metallic frock.
Posing for the cameras before heading inside to watch the prestigious and heartwarming ceremony, Ashley smiled as she displayed her stunning dress.
With a sweetheart neckline, the strapless silver gown had a corset-style upper and ruching on the midsection.
Love Island‘s Tasha Ghouri also brought the glamour on Monday night.
Stepping out in a strapless powder blue dress, Tasha looked amazing as she showed off her leg thanks to the thigh high split.
The dress had a drop waist and was ruched to one side, with the thigh high split showing off Tasha’s endless pins as the dress trailed behind her.
The Only Way Is Essex hunk Joey Essex also attended the star-studded evening.
He rocked a black suit with a white shirt, and looked ultra suave in the process.
Freddy Brazier and his pregnant ex-girlfriend looked content as they cosied up to one another on the red carpet.
He wore all green, while she opted for a lemon figure-hugging gown that displayed her bump.
Television starlet Carol Vorderman looked sensational in a sleek and slinky black gown.
Standing on the red carpet the former Countdown siren smiled sweetly as she showed off her slender curves in the understated frock.
Montana Brown channelled her inner autumn goddess as she wore a burgundy frock on the red carpet.
Looking amazing as she posed outside of the event, the former Love Island starlet held a black clutch bag as she rocked a neutral makeup look on Monday night.
Laura Kenny followed Montana’s lead in a wine-coloured frock.
The former professional track and road cyclist who specialised in track endurance events, showed off her toned pins as she posed on the red carpet.
EastEnders star Louisa Lytton made a statement in a fitted black dress, featuring a sweetheart neckline and red statement sleeves.
The stunning brunette completed the look with a red lip as she beamed on the red carpet.
Love Island’s Faye Winter wore a powdery lilac gown for the occasion.
The silk frock had a structured mid section, a lace upper, no straps and a mini train.
She wore her blonde locks down and in a wavy style, with her makeup kept glowy and bronzed.
Liberty Poole, also from Love Island, left little to the imagination in a plunging silver gown.
Showing off her cleavage, Liberty looked stunning as she wore the revealing dress with cutout sections.
Yet another Love Island alum, Gabby Allen, rocked a dazzling frock.
Showing off her slender figure, Gabby stunned onlookers as she pouted while donning a dark purple lipstick.
Emily Andre, Junior Andre, Princess Andre and Peter Andre attended the glitzy event.
Posing for a family snap on the red carpet, the foursome looked ultra glamorous and suave as she beamed for the cameras.
Recent Love Island stunners Yasmin Pettet, Toni Laites and Shakira Khan attended as a trio.
Yasmin wore all black, Toni wore a white frock, and Shakira stunned in gold.
I stayed at the London hotel with flower-themed rooms and famous market nearby
AWAY from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, Room2 Chiswick is greener hotel spaces, with chic and trendy comfort.
Here’s everything you need to know – from room rates to dining options at the hotel’s restaurant.
Where is the hotel?
Found right next to the greenery of Chiswick Common, in West London, this hotel is difficult to miss with its sustainable and contemporary exterior, inspired by the arts and crafts movement.
The hotel is just a 5 minute walk from Turnham Green station.
What is the hotel like?
A cosy modern hotel just off the high street of London’s well heeled Chiswick.
There’s a big emphasis on sustainability and Room2 claims it is the world’s first carbon-neutral hotel- or ‘hometel’, as it calls itself.
Read more on hotel reviews
The apartment style rooms are suited to short stays as well as longer ones.
What are the rooms like?
Our pastel-toned studio room was fairly compact, but the clever layout meant that there was still enough room for a sofa.
I particularly liked the decorative ornaments, most of which were from local artists and designers.
Every room has a kitchenette and mini dining table for whipping up your own meals.
Thoughtful touches include a glass bottle for fresh milk that you can fill at the bar.
Snug rooms are available starting from £97 per night.
What is there to eat or drink there?
Winnie’s, the in-house bar and cafe, relies on local and seasonal ingredients.
The menu is largely geared towards brunch – we tucked into a hearty full English breakfast with sourdough bread and juicy Cumberland sausages.
Make sure to sample the ‘zero-waste’ cocktails with the hotel’s homemade coffee liqueur or honey, all served and made at the rooftop bar.
What else is there to do at the hotel?
With Chiswick as a base, the banks of the river Thames are within walking distance, and make for a great morning stroll during the spring months.
The local area is bursting with independent shops and restaurants, all at your doorstep, it would be a shame not to explore.
Additionally, Chiswick Flower Market is a popular attraction, with its local authenticity and stunning flowers.
On the Room2 website, there is a feature in which you can input your interests and details about your trip before it generates suggestions of local gems and attractions tailored to your specific wants and needs.
Is the hotel family friendly?
Yes, the hotel welcomes all including families, with the suggestion of a Lounge, Suite or Studio room as to allow for a comfortable amount of space.
Is the hotel accessible?
Yes, the hotel is accessible as it is compliant with the guidelines on their website. For other inquiries you are encouraged to contact the hotel.
Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here.
CS Setty: Room For Growth
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty took over as chairman of the State Bank of India, named Best Consumer Bank, in August of last year. He discusses SBI’s digital journey, the trajectory of its consumer banking businesses, and the challenge posed by AI and fintechs.
Global Finance: The State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest bank, posted solid returns in 2024. How did you achieve this, and is it repeatable?
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty: Our strong fiscal-year 2025 performance stemmed from a disciplined growth strategy, prudent risk management, and leveraging our diversified portfolio. We saw healthy credit growth across the retail, SME, and corporate segments. Most importantly, we achieved these returns while improving asset quality, led by robust underwriting, rigorous credit monitoring, and recovery efforts. We balanced loan book expansion with strong low-cost deposits, ensuring stable margins. This was underpinned by cost efficiencies from digitalization. We are confident that these results are sustainable as they rest on the pillars of consistency, productivity, and resilience. As India’s economy continues to expand, we see opportunity for SBI to grow while maintaining our capital position, technology edge, and customer trust.
GF: What are the latest consumer banking milestones SBI has reached on its digital transformation journey?
Setty: SBI’s digital journey is spearheaded by our flagship You Only Need One [YONO] platform, which offers both mobile and branch banking.
YONO has surpassed 90 million registered users, with over 65% of savings account openings and over 40% of personal loans sourced digitally. We also have 140 million registered users on our Retail Internet Banking platform, besides 7.2 million registrations on WhatsApp Banking, which is currently being offered in six languages.
This scale demonstrates our success in driving digital inclusion; we are bringing millions of customers, from urban millennials to rural users, onto digital banking. Initiatives like YONO Business, YONO Global, video-KYC onboarding, and end-to-end loan processing are redefining convenience. The next phase is embedding generative AI for hyper-personalization and predictive engagement, making digital not just a channel but the core of our customer experience.
All these efforts underscore SBI’s digital transformation journey. From an institution with over 200 years of legacy, we have reinvented ourselves as a future-ready, digital-first bank.
GF: How is SBI improving customer experience in consumer banking? What role does AI play?
Setty: Enhancing customer experience is central to everything we do at SBI, driven by an unwavering customer obsession that shapes our decisions and priorities. To improve service quality, we measure customer experience using various metrics and are simplifying processes to reduce turnaround times. Our omnichannel and multilingual approach ensures seamless transactions across platforms.
By using analytics and AI, we are moving toward an anticipatory customer service approach rather than merely pushing generic offers as a reactive approach. Branches are being reimagined as advisory hubs while routine services are being migrated to digital channels. Our mission to be the Bank of Choice is built on trust and rests on delivering superior, personalized experiences at every touchpoint.
GF: Where do you see growth in the coming year for consumer banking and the geographies SBI serves?
Setty: Domestically, SBI already has unparalleled reach, but we see significant headroom to grow further in consumer banking across India’s length and breadth. The growth in consumer banking will primarily come from proactively fulfilling the evolving needs of people as the middle-income classes grow and scaling of firms creates new wealth and redistribution opportunities.
SBI’s retail personal loan book grew in the range of 11% to 14% in the last few quarters owing to robust growth in housing loans. Retail credit, particularly home loans and personal loans, will remain our growth engines. We are also expanding in semiurban and rural geographies, supported by financial inclusion initiatives and government schemes.
Internationally, we see potential in markets with large Indian diaspora populations, and digital expansion through YONO Global roll-out is enabling us to serve geographies where we do not have significant physical presence. We are deepening our reach by selling more products per customer and widening it by entering new markets across the globe.
This two-pronged approach gives us confidence that SBI will continue to expand vigorously, both at home and abroad.
Newcastle v Benfica: Eddie Howe says Jose Mourinho is a visionary
“As a younger coach, I really admired the teams he built at Chelsea, in particular.
“He is definitely a visionary – someone that broke the mould in terms of how you manage in different ways to do things, and then following his success through different clubs, leagues. Incredible, really, what he’s achieved in his career.
“It’s always a great opportunity for any club to go up against one of his teams. I’m looking forward to the challenge immensely and I think it’s going to be a great game.”
Mourinho considers himself “a little Magpie” on account of his bond with former Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson.
The Portuguese shadowed Sir Bobby at Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona as an interpreter and assistant in the 1990s.
Mourinho has spoken glowingly about Newcastle over the years and said he “loved” the club before this game.
“I have heard Jose’s words about Newcastle and I absolutely echo them myself,” Howe said.
“They are great words about Sir Bobby and the role he played in his career. That’s really nice to hear, but the line stops tomorrow.
“When the game kicks off, we want to win. We are desperate for the points. It will be a competitive game between two great clubs.”
Newcastle lost 2-1 to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday and will run a late check on influential midfielder Sandro Tonali, who is suffering from illness.
“We will give him every opportunity,” Howe said. “He wasn’t there at training today and he’s such an important player, so we will use all the hours we have.”
Protests to free detained Nigerian separatist leader broken up by police
Police operate in central Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday to prevent a march for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, a British political activist and founder and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Photo by Emmanuel Adegboye/EPA
Oct. 20 (UPI) — Police in Nigeria broke up several protests calling for a separatist leader who has been detained for more than four years to be freed and cleared of terrorism-related charges on which he has been held.
Protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatist party, had tear gas fired at them by police in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, according to reports.
Witnesses said they saw police officers block major roads in Abuja and fire multiple rounds of tear gas at protesters who had gathered near the Transcorps Hilton Hotel in order to break up the protest.
Ahead of Monday’s protest, Nigeria Police Force spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin announced a nationwide security alert urging the protesters to avoid inciting violence, carrying weapons or engaging in other illegal acts.
“The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining public peace in accordance with constitutional provisions,” Hundeyin said in a statement.
“All groups, whether in support of or opposed to the ongoing agitation for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, are expected to comply strictly with the provisions of the court order” authorizing the protest, he said.
Kanu has been held since 2021 on charges of terrorism, which followed Nigeria outlawing the IPOB, whose goal is to establish a separate state of Biafra for the Igbo people.
In 2022, Kanu was discharged and acquitted but the ruling was overturned in 2022 and he has remained jailed ever since.
Monday’s protest was organized by Omoyele Sowore, who publishes the Saraha Reporters news website and has long sought Kanu’s release.
Sowore reported on X that at least 13 people had been arrested and detained during the initial protest, which was relocated to the nearby federal capital territory police command “where the police responded by attacking us right in front of the command.”
Among those arrested during the protest were members of Kanu’s family and his lawyers, Sowore said.
German Governing Coalition’s Internal Divisions Threaten Reform Agenda
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing challenges in implementing key policies on pensions and military service, raising concerns about political instability in Germany. Merz’s conservative party and the center-left Social Democrats formed a coalition five months ago to ensure stability after a previous coalition’s collapse. However, this new coalition has a slim parliamentary majority and has experienced internal tensions since its formation, particularly after Merz became the first chancellor to fail re-election in the first voting round.
While coalition leaders maintain a good working relationship, they struggle to manage their lawmakers. Many conservatives are dissatisfied with the compromises made, which conflict with their campaign promises. Merz, lacking prior government experience, has adopted a hands-off approach to internal conflicts. Political experts caution that the coalition may not implement significant changes if it continues along its current path, driven by distrust among parties, differing ideologies, and the challenges Germany faces.
The coalition must act quickly as Germany’s economy is facing its third year of decline and security issues with Russia complicate matters, especially given uncertainties with the United States as a security partner. Proponents argue that the bill for voluntary military service, which may lead to reintroducing the draft, is crucial for strengthening Germany’s armed forces. However, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s timeline for implementation by 2026 now appears uncertain.
Political turmoil in Germany follows a string of French government collapses, raising concerns about political paralysis and increased support for far-right parties. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is gaining popularity as support for the conservatives and Social Democrats wanes. Conservative youth lawmakers threatened to withhold support for a pension bill that freezes pensions until 2031, arguing it fails to address financing issues amidst an aging population.
Meanwhile, disagreements about military service proposals between the coalition parties created additional tensions. A proposed compromise was rejected by Pistorius, which prompted some cancellations in joint events. Analysts believe that while the coalition is likely to reach new agreements, they may be fraught with complications and eroded trust. Merz is criticized for not intervening in coalition disputes and for focusing on foreign policies, which has contributed to a significant drop in his approval ratings, making him one of the least popular chancellors recently.
With information from Reuters
U.K. royals and government face pressure to formally strip Prince Andrew of his titles
LONDON — He won’t call himself a duke anymore, but that is not enough for many of Prince Andrew’s critics.
Buckingham Palace and the British government were under pressure Monday to formally strip Prince Andrew of his princely title and sumptuous home after new revelations about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
After discussions with his elder brother King Charles III, Andrew agreed on Friday to stop using titles including Duke of York. It was the latest effort to insulate the monarchy from years of tawdry headlines about Andrew’s suspicious business deals, inappropriate behavior and controversial friendships.
But he still technically holds the title of duke, bestowed by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. And as the son of a monarch, he remains a prince.
Andrew’s statement relinquishing some of his royal titles came after emails emerged showing he had remained in contact with Epstein longer than he previously admitted, and days before publication of a posthumous memoir by Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who alleged she had sex with Andrew when she was 17.
Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, urged the king to go further and “remove the title of prince, too.
“He shouldn’t be able to call himself one,” Roberts told The Times of London newspaper.
Civil suit
Andrew, 65, has long denied Giuffre’s claims, but stepped down from royal duties after a disastrous November 2019 BBC interview in which he attempted to rebut her allegations.
Many viewers saw an entitled prince who failed to show empathy for Epstein’s victims and offered unbelievable explanations for his friendship with the late sex offender.
Andrew paid millions in an out-of-court settlement in 2022 after Giuffre filed a civil suit against him in New York.
While he didn’t admit wrongdoing, he acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking.
‘Angry and aghast’
Some opposition politicians said Andrew should formally be stripped of his dukedom through an act of Parliament.
Scottish National Party lawmaker Stephen Flynn said the government should use legislation to remove titles from both Andrew and Peter Mandelson, a member of the House of Lords who was fired as British ambassador to Washington in September over his past friendship with Epstein.
“The family of Virginia Giuffre, whose life was destroyed, are angry and aghast,” Flynn said. “The public across these isles are angry and aghast and they both deserve to know that some (members of Parliament) share their outrage.”
The government said it supported the palace’s decision over Andrew’s titles but should not act unilaterally. Under the U.K.’s constitutional monarchy, the crown does not interfere in politics and politicians stay clear of issues related to the royal family.
“Our thoughts have to be with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, those who suffered and continue to suffer because of the abuse that they experienced at his hands, but these are matters for the royal family,” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the BBC.
Some also want Andrew evicted from Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle where he lives alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who will no longer be known as the Duchess of York.
Questions have been raised about how Andrew pays for the house, which he rents on a long lease from the Crown Estate, a portfolio of properties that is nominally owned, but not controlled, by the monarch.
Royals brace for more revelations
The palace is bracing for more embarrassing revelations, just as the king prepares for a state visit to the Vatican this week where he is due to pray beside Pope Leo XIV.
Giuffre’s book, “Nobody’s Girl,” is published on Tuesday and details three alleged sexual encounters with Andrew. She died by suicide in April at the age of 41.
In an extract published in advance, Giuffre says the prince acted as if he believed “having sex with me was his birthright.”
Giuffre also claims in the book that Andrew’s team tried “to hire internet trolls to hassle me.” She said that Andrew insisted the lawsuit settlement include a one-year gag order to prevent allegations from tarnishing the late queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Meanwhile, London’s Metropolitan Police force says it is “actively looking into” media reports that Andrew in 2011 sought information to smear Giuffre by asking one of his police bodyguards to find out whether she had a criminal record.
Lawless writes for the Associated Press.
Why Cleveland-Cliffs Stock Popped Today
You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ
from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to
get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources,
and more. Learn More
Prep Rally: St. John Bosco has a big advantage at this position
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. I’m Eric Sondheimer. With two weeks left in the football regular season, teams are trying to wrap up league titles. But one thing we’ve already learned: St. John Bosco’s collection of receivers are second to none.
Carson Clark of St. John Bosco catches 62-yard touchdown pass and leaves Logan Hirou of Santa Margarita chasing him.
(Craig Weston)
When you have four top receivers and spread the ball to each, you are close to unbeatable. That’s what St. John Bosco has with receivers Madden Williams, Carson Clark, Daniel Odom and DJ Tubbs. Each caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Koa Malau’ulu in a 27-14 win over Santa Margarita last week. Here’s the report.
Upon further reflection, this has to be the best receiving group ever for St. John Bosco, which is 8-0. When Malau’ulu has time to throw and the Braves mix in a little running, their offense is something else. Williams, a Texas A&M commit, has improved every season. Odom, an Oklahoma commit, and Clark, a San Jose State commit, patiently waited their turns. And Tubbs, only a sophomore, is a future college commit.
Los Alamitos won its eighth consecutive football game and first in the Alpha League with a 41-22 win over Edison.
The player drawing rave reviews is running back/defensive back/punter Lenny Ibarra, who’s committed to Army and rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns while repeatedly refusing to go down unless tackled by multiple players. One opposing coach sent me a text: “Ibarra=Skattebo,” referring to the former Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, known for his punishing running.
Los Alamitos closes the regular season with games against San Clemente this week and a showdown against Mission Viejo on Oct. 30.
Caden Jones of Crean Lutheran continues to be one of the best athletes in Southern California. The starting point guard for the basketball team, he’s also a terrific quarterback. He passed for 314 yards and five touchdowns in a win over La Habra.
Crespi took control of the Del Rey League race with a 31-16 comeback win over Salesian. Somto Nwute had three sacks for the unbeaten Celts (8-0).
It was a big week for freshman quarterbacks. Ezrah Brown of Orange Lutheran was 17 for 17 passing for 368 yards and three touchdowns in a win over JSerra. Ford Green of Westlake passed for 287 yards and three touchdowns in a double overtime win over Newbury Park. Westlake, 0-10 last season, is 8-0. Marcus Washington of Cajon passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Redlands East Valley.
Long Beach Wilson defeated Long Beach Poly for the first time since 1991.
The Southern Section is scheduled to announce the site for its Division 1 championship game on Monday, and the speculation is a return to the Rose Bowl, where St. John Bosco and Mater Dei played in 2022, drawing almost 16,000.
Here’s a list of top individual performances from last week.
Here’s this week’s top 25 rankings by The Times.
Here’s this week’s complete schedule.
What a week it was for City Section football.
Garfield running back Ceasar Reyes set a school record with 420 yards rushing and four touchdowns in win over South Gate
(Nick Koza)
Ceasar Reyes of Garfield turned in the greatest performance by a running back in Bulldogs history, rushing for 420 yards in 42 carries and scoring four touchdowns in a 39-28 win over South Gate that clinched at least a share of the Eastern League title. Here’s the report. It’s now time for the game that draws the largest regular season crowd: the East Los Angeles Classic. Garfield faces Roosevelt on Friday at East Los Angeles College.
Palisades improved to 8-0 and clinched at least a share of the Western League championship by holding off University 19-17. University had the ball on the Palisades eight-yard line with 49 seconds left when a lost fumble cost the Warriors a potential huge upset victory.
King/Drew defeated Dorsey 17-16 to set up a Coliseum League title decider on Friday night at Crenshaw.
Eagle Rock is going to be the Northern League champion after defeating Franklin 42-28. Quarterback Liam Pasten passed for 290 yards and four touchdowns and Melion Busano rushed for 92 yards and one touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and had an 81-yard kickoff return.
Here’s this week’s top 10 City rankings by The Times.
‘The Lion’ roars at Eagle Rock
Senior Melion Busano of Eagle Rock has become one of the best running backs in the City Section after never playing football until sophomore year.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
Melion Busano has become one of the best City Section running backs at Eagle Rock in his senior season, and how he even started playing football in his sophomore year is a story itself.
Here’s the report.
Lessons from Max
Loyola’s Max Meier (97) rushes against Gardena Serra at SoFi Stadium.
(Craig Weston)
Stanford-bound Max Meier of Loyola lost his home to the Palisades fire and lost his best friend, Braun Levi, to a suspected drunk driver. The lessons he has learned this year alone and his attitude of giving his all every day is something inspirational.
Here’s the report.
The Southern Section flag football playoffs begin this week, with unbeaten JSerra (23-0) seeded No. 1 in the Division 1 bracket.
Here’s the complete brackets.
JSerra owns two wins over No. 2-seeded Orange Lutheran, the defending Division 1 champion. This is a much more balanced Division 1 bracket, with lots of challenges ahead for all 16 teams. JSerra hosts Trabuco Hills on Thursday and Orange Lutheran hosts Redondo Union. Nine of the 16 teams are from Orange County.
Dos Pueblos quarterback Kacey Hurley.
(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)
Ventura County is represented by a top opener, with Oxnard playing at Camarillo. Dos Pueblos is another title contender, hosting Etiwanda.
Girls volleyball
Sierra Canyon is seeded No. 1 for the Southern Section Division 1 girls volleyball playoffs.
Here’s the link to complete pairings.
Notes . . .
Long Beach Poly’s football team has forfeited a nonleague game against Tustin because of an ineligible player, dropping to 3-5. . . .
Newport Harbor’s water polo team won the North-South challenge championship, defeating Cathedral Catholic 15-11 in the final, avenging its only defeat during a 25-1 regular season. . . .
Wrestler Michael Kase from Chaminade has committed to Cal Poly. . . .
Kicker AJ Salo of Chaminade has committed to the University of Chicago. . . .
Junior swimmer Chloe Teger of Villa Park has committed to North Carolina State. . . .
Redondo Union will be hosting a terrific group of girls basketball teams Nov. 24-29, including defending state champion Etiwanda. . . .
Tajh Ariza (right) and Malachi Harris of Westchester celebrate after winning the City Section Open Division title on Friday night.
(Nick Koza)
Tajh Ariza, the 6-foot-9 senior who had transferred from Westchester to St. John Bosco, has now left St. John Bosco and will enroll at a prep school. Ariza is committed to Oregon and was the co-City Section player of the year last season at Westchester. . . .
Junior infielder Sam Pink of Great Oak has committed to San Diego State for baseball. . . .
Cornerback Jayden Crowder from Santa Margarita has committed to USC. . . .
At the Orange County cross-country championship, Woodbridge junior Aidan Antonio set a course record at 13:56. Irvine senior Summer Wilson won the girls sweepstakes race in 15:47.3.
From the archives: Miller Moss
Former Bishop Alemany quarterback Miller Moss in 2019. He led Louisville to an upset of No. 2 Miami.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
It’s been a long journey for former Bishop Alemany and USC quarterback Miller Moss. Last week, he helped Louisville upset No. 2 Miami.
Good grades and good patience have always been the impressive qualities displayed by Moss. He missed his senior year in 2020, which was the COVID season. He spent 2021 through 2024 at USC. After leaving USC, there was little doubt he’d have success wherever he ended up. Louisville offered a new beginning.
Here’s a story from 2020 on his decision to choose USC out of high school.
Here’s a story from 2024 when Moss fulfilled a dream, being named the starting quarterback at USC.
Recommendations
From Nebraska, a story on how transfers are changing high school sports.
From ESPN, a story about a lawsuit in Ohio trying to allow high school athletes to profit off NIL.
From Footballscoop.com, a story on a coach in Pennsylvania having to resign under parental pressure after disciplining players.
From the Los Angeles Times, a story on former Loyola and UCLA quarterback Jerry Neuheisel.
Tweets you might have missed
Until next time….
Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.
Did you get this newsletter forwarded to you? To sign up and get it in your inbox, click here.
Secret prosecutor roster found in Unification Church raid
Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja arrives for an arrest warrant hearing on allegations of bribery and political funding at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on September 22. Photo by Jeon Heon-kyun/EPA
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (UPI) — South Korea’s special prosecutor has launched an internal probe after investigators found a confidential roster of law enforcement officers inside a Unification Church office during a recent raid — a discovery that has intensified a widening corruption case linking religion, politics and the state.
The list, first reported by The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, contained the names and assignments of police officers temporarily working at the Special Prosecutor’s Office. Such documents are normally restricted even within the agency.
Officials said they are investigating whether a retired police officer, identified only by the initial A, leaked the file to church officials.
An special prosecutor’s spokesperson said the office is “verifying how the document was obtained and whether any ongoing investigations were affected.” If confirmed, prosecutors say, the breach would mark one of the most serious leaks of investigative information in years, potentially allowing suspects to anticipate raids or destroy evidence.
Indictments for embezzlement, political-fund violations
The leak inquiry comes just days after prosecutors indicted Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han and two senior aides, Jung Wonju and Yoon Young-ho, on charges of embezzlement and illegal political donations.
According to charging documents filed Oct. 10, Han and Jung allegedly diverted money from church accounts earmarked for missionary work to finance luxury purchases and covert political activity.
Between May and August 2022, about 500 million won (about $380,000) was allegedly used to buy designer jewelry and handbags for Han, disguised through falsified expense reports. One transaction dated May 9, 2022, shows Jung instructing a finance officer to spend 42 million won on jewelry “for Hak Ja Han.”
Another section of the indictment cites roughly 900 million won ($700,000) moved from the “2027 Project Support Fund” into accounts controlled by Jung without approval from the church’s finance board. Prosecutors believe the funds were used for non-religious or political purposes, violating internal rules.
Donations to ruling party before 2022 election
Investigators also allege that the Unification Church, directed by Yoon Young-ho, its former secretary-general, channeled money to all 17 provincial branches of the ruling People Power Party around the time of the 2022 presidential election.
According to the special prosecutor’s findings, Yoon called regional leaders to a meeting in early March 2022 and instructed them to distribute “missionary support funds.” Roughly 2.1 billion won ($1.5 million) was withdrawn from church accounts, and 144 million won (about $105,000) was later delivered through split donations made under individual members’ names.
Prosecutors say the arrangement violated the Political Funds Act, which bars corporate or religious entities from contributing to political organizations.
A special prosecutor’s official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing, said the case “shows signs of coordinated funding activity at a national level.”
Church denial
In a written statement, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification — the church’s official name — denied wrongdoing, asserting that “all expenditures were legitimate and related to global missionary work.” Han’s defense team said she would cooperate fully while seeking to have the charges dismissed as “politically motivated.”
Han was indicted under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and the Political Funds Act. Jung was indicted without detention. Their first hearings are expected later this month at the Seoul Central District Court.
Broader implications for institutions, trust
The twin controversies — alleged embezzlement and the suspected leak of a classified roster — have raised alarm over the integrity of state institutions, as well as the political reach of major religious movements.
Legal commentators in Korean media have warned that, if verified, the leak could amount to obstruction of justice or a violation of the Public Official Information Protection Act, both of which carry heavy prison terms.
Local editorial writers have described it as a test of transparency — whether the rule of law can withstand influence from powerful organizations that straddle the line between religious authority and political power.
The Special Prosecutor’s Office said it has strengthened internal data-security protocols and restricted access to sensitive records.
As public media funds officially dry up, local radio stations struggle | Media News
For Scott Smith, the cuts to the Corporation For Public Broadcasting are existential.
He is the general manager of Allegheny Mountain Radio, which he runs alongside programme manager Heather Nidly. The funds were slashed as part of United States President Donald Trump’s vast tax cut and spending bill that was signed into law in July. As a result, the station, which has been on air for more than four decades, lost 65 percent of its funding.
“We are here to serve our communities and to fulfill our mission of giving them news, giving them entertainment, giving them emergency alerts and giving them school closings. We do lost and found pet notices. We do funeral announcements. We have a listing of community events that is read multiple times a day. We do weather forecasts. We’re a critical part of the community,” Smith told Al Jazeera.
The rescissions bill that Trump signed allows the US Congress to claw back funding that had been approved and pulls back $9bn in funding, including $1bn from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CFB). At the end of September, those funds officially dried up.
The money had already been allocated by the previous Congress to fund public media for 2026 and 2027. Now stations are scrambling to find ways to fill the holes.
The Trump administration has gone after news organisations that have presented any critical coverage of him, including the Wall Street Journal, after its coverage of a suggestive letter purportedly written by Trump to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his birthday. In September, he tried to sue The New York Times for allegedly being a “virtual mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party.
His leverage over public media is significant because that is partially funded by federal tax dollars. The White House first signed an executive order to defund public media in May. That was quickly blocked because funding decisions are made by Congress, not the White House.
Next, Trump pressured Congressional Republicans to put forth the rescissions bill that fulfilled the mission of his previous executive order. To justify his call for cuts, in May, the White House released a list of segments from NPR and PBS programmes that it says had liberal bias, as it included many segments about the experience of the trans community.
The White House also cited a report alleging PBS favoured Democrats. That report was from the openly partisan Media Research Center, which has a stated goal to promote conservative values.
A key, but overlooked, problem with the cuts is that they overwhelmingly harm stations that do not even cover the White House or much national politics at all.
Allegheny Mountain Radio (AMR) is one of those stations. Comprising three affiliates for three counties straddling the West Virginia and Virginia border, on their airwaves, listeners will find gospel, folk and country music, as well as coverage of local football games and town hall meetings.
AMR carries NPR’s national newscast and, more importantly, serves as the on-the-ground voice when severe weather hits.
Unlike in other regions of the county, there is no other alternative to get real-time local news. The nearest local news station is several hours away, separated by winding country roads. When there’s severe weather, AMR is the only way locals get vital information like road closure announcements because of floodwaters.
“Just a few years ago, we had a deluge of rain coming down and flooding parts of the county. At that point, when something like that happens, the radio station really is the only way to get that information out quickly to our listeners and let them know where it’s happening,” AMR programme manager Nidly told Al Jazeera.
AMR is in a part of the country where cellphone signal and wireless access are sparse because of its proximity to what is called the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) near the Green Bank Observatory, which limits the use of radio frequency and other signal methods so that they do not interfere with their equipment. This requires special equipment to point radio signals away from the observatory.
With the region’s low population density, there’s a limited business case for a station. But there is a case for public service. The community depends on AMR for emergency alerts – even on a personal level. During major storms, Smith said, people have shown up at their stations when their phones stopped working, asking if AMR could broadcast a message to let their family and friends know they were safe.
Despite their strong community focus, these stations may not benefit from the same level of donor support seen by larger public stations across the country, due to limited local enterprise and resources.
It is trying. In order to stay afloat, the station is actively soliciting donations on its website.
While small community stations – like those serving Bath and Pocahontas Counties in West Virginia, and Highland County, Virginia, through AMR – don’t produce national newscasts or air segments that ruffle feathers in Washington, they are still the ones that are most at risk of being hit hardest.
“Small stations like ours are the ones who will suffer because of these cuts. We feel like we are the baby that got thrown out with the bathwater because there’s so much emphasis on the talking points around NPR and PBS. It’s like the rest of us, the small community stations, have absolutely been forgotten in this equation,” Smith told Al Jazeera.
The cuts, however, hit stations across the US in big markets too. WNYC in New York City lost 4 percent of its funding. WBUR in Boston, San Francisco’s KLAW, and KERA in Dallas, Texas, all saw 5 percent cuts.
Stations like these have large donor bases or “listeners like you”, as their hosts say during pledge drives. Big market stations might be able to make up the difference, says Alex Curley, a former product manager at NPR who recently launched a platform called Adopt A Station, which shows which public media stations are at most risk of losing funding.
“When you think about stations that rely on federal funding for 50 percent or more of their revenue, it’s not because they’re asking for a handout. It’s a literal public service for those stations,” Curley told Al Jazeera.
But in counties where the population is sparse and industry is limited, that donor base is not as plentiful. That’s the case with AMR.
“We are in a very rural area. We are an area where there are not a whole lot of businesses. So that amount of income simply cannot be made up through extra donations or extra underwriting,” Smith added.
In a July Substack post, Curley, who was involved in NPR station finances until he left the network in 2024 amid layoffs, said that 15 percent of stations are at risk of closure. His website has provided some reprieve.
“I only expected maybe a few dozen people to visit the site. My biggest hope was to get a couple of donations that went towards a station at risk. It’s [the website] been shared thousands of times. I’ve even heard from stations that were identified as being at risk of closing. They told me they’re getting an influx of donations from out of state through the site. It’s been an incredible response,” Curley said.
However, he argues, this is a temporary fix.
“The real danger will be in six months, a year, two years, when people have forgotten about public media. These stations basically are losing federal funding forever. Donations in the short term are really great, but in the long term, they’re going to have to figure out ways to keep donors engaged and to keep donations flowing to them, or they might close,” Curley added.
“Public radio is also a lifeline, connecting rural communities to the rest of the nation, and providing life-saving emergency broadcasting and weather alerts. Nearly 3-in-4 Americans say they rely on their public radio stations for alerts and news for their public safety,” NPR’s Katherine Maher said in a statement on July 18 following the Senate vote.
“In fact, while the Senate considered amendments, a 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska, prompting three coastal stations to start broadcasting live tsunami warnings, urging their communities to head to high ground,” Maher said.
Maher declined Al Jazeera’s request for an interview
PBS faces similar pressures, and many of its stations are also at risk of closure, according to Adopt A Station’s data.
“These cuts will significantly impact all of our stations, but will be especially devastating to smaller stations and those serving large rural areas. Many of our stations, which provide access to free, unique local programming and emergency alerts, will now be forced to make hard decisions in the weeks and months ahead,” PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement after the Senate vote.
Kerger did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for additional comment.
The push to defund public media isn’t a new one for the GOP. Republicans have long argued that the media is not a core function of government. In 2012, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said he would eliminate subsidies to PBS – during a debate moderated, ironically, by then PBS NewsHour anchor Jim Lehrer.
In the 1990s, then House Speaker Newt Gingrich promised to “zero out” funding for CPB, arguing it should be privatised. And in the 1980s, Ronald Reagan attempted to slash $80m from public media – roughly $283m today – though Congress blocked the move.
Following global cuts
Cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are the latest wave of the White House cutting back on government-funded media arms, including reductions to the US Agency for Global Media, led in part by senior adviser Kari Lake.
Lake is a former Phoenix, Arizona, news anchor known for denying the 2020 election results in which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden for the presidency. She is also known for promoting baseless conspiracy theories and for refusing to accept her own defeat for governor and senator bids in Arizona in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
She has been behind the agency effectively shuttering Voice of America (VOA), which has not published any new stories or uploaded new videos to its YouTube page since mid-March.
Last month, a federal judge in Washington blocked the firing of workers at VOA, which affected more than 500 staffers. The Trump administration called the decision “outrageous” and vowed to appeal.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which broadcasts in 27 languages across 23 countries, faced challenges similar to VOA. However, the European Union has helped keep the network up and running with $6.2m in emergency funding.
Representatives for the US Agency for Global Media did not respond to our request for comment.
Looming threats to free expression
These cuts come alongside other threats to freedom of expression in the private sector. Soon after the funding cuts were signed into law, Paramount announced the cancellation of The Late Show. The host, comedian Stephen Colbert – a longtime critic of the president – had only days earlier called out Paramount, the show’s parent company, for settling a lawsuit with Trump.
The suit stemmed from Trump’s claim that an interview with his 2024 presidential rival Kamala Harris was doctored. Although the network had initially called the lawsuit meritless, it ultimately settled for $16m. Colbert called the settlement a “big fat bribe”, noting that Paramount had a then-pending merger with Skydance Media – owned by David Ellison, son of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, a key Trump ally. The merger has since been approved. Paramount has said that the decision is purely financial in nature.
Months later, following stand-up comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s comments on Charlie Kirk’s death, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr appeared on a right-wing podcast to criticise the remarks and urged Disney – the parent company of ABC, where Jimmy Kimmel Live airs – to cancel the show.
Nexstar Media Group – one of the largest TV station operators in the US, and which is waiting on an FCC approval of its merger with Tegna – announced it would no longer carry the programme. Disney subsequently suspended the show, though the decision was short-lived, as it returned to the airwaves within a week.
The White House did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
Kelvin Fletcher concerned as farm faces new disaster that could ‘devastate’ land
In next week’s episode of Fletcher’s Family Farm, Kelvin and Liz are hit with yet another farming emergency, having been forced to move off the property after a fire broke out
Kelvin Fletcher and his farming family are facing yet another disaster on their Cheshire land in an upcoming episode of their ITV show. The ex Emmerdale star and his family are back with a third series of Fletchers’ Family Farm – however, the show started on a sombre note when their farmhouse was destroyed by a blaze.
Unfortunately, the Fletchers’ troubles don’t stop there – with Kelvin learning in next week’s episode that their oat crop could be “devastated” by an infestation. Showing the cameras his oat field in the show, Kelvin admits that he’s “worried” about the crop after it loses his colour.
After enlisting the help of agronomist Ben, who has been helping the family with their soil, he discovered that leatherjackets have taken hold of the soil. Leatherjackets are the larvae of some crane flies, which can embed in lawns and soil before eating the roots.
READ MORE: Kelvin Fletcher’s wife Liz shares update after tragic farmhouse blazeREAD MORE: Kelvin Fletcher’s wife Liz makes exciting announcement after family heartbreak
“Ah, look at that – is that a leatherjacket?” Ben says as he goes through the soil. “A leatherjacket is like a little grub and they come in rings in the field and you’ll find there are bare patches in the field where they have just mauled and eaten the seed.
“There – there’s a leatherjacket,” he tells a disappointed Kelvin. “They’ll eat the root system of your grass and now your oats. These can be quite a problem.”
When Kelvin asks whether they will “decimate the crop”, Ben replies: “They really can be devastated but generally speaking, they’re in circles across the field.” Despite the alarming news, Kelvin and wife Liz will need to wait to see whether the leatherjackets have fully invaded the field.
“Ben won’t know the extent of the leatherjacket invasion until the crop is more established,” he tells the show. “If gaps or rings start appearing across the field, it’s usually an indicator that it has spread across the field.”
It’s not all bad news for farmer Kelvin and his first oat crop – Ben confirms that the oat seeds have taken hold in the soil. Elsewhere in the upcoming episode, Kelvin and Liz challenge their kids to make scarecrows to keep the birds and bugs at bay, while Liz comes up with a plan to whip chaotic chickens into shape.
It comes after Kelvin, Liz and their four kids were forced to leave their farm after a fire broke out while they were on holiday. Episode one saw the emotional couple go through the remains of the fire, with Kelvin admitting that all of his clothes had been destroyed.
“The way the year has got off to a busy start, but it hasn’t all been plain sailing,” he said. “While the animals have been thriving, at the end of last year, an unexpected and devastating disaster hit our farmhouse.
“The fire we think has started around there, and then it’s honestly gone up through the roof, and the roof’s completely gone.”
Fletchers’ Family Farm continues on Sunday at 11:30am on ITV1 and ITVX.
Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage.
Javier Rodriguez Soler: Scaling What Already Works
Javier Rodríguez Soler is head of Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) and Sustainability at BBVA, named Best Corporate Bank. He discusses the bank’s growth, AI integration, and decarbonization.
Global Finance: BBVA had solid returns in 2024. How did the group achieve this, and is it repeatable?
Javier Rodríguez Soler: 2024 was an exceptional year for BBVA, driven by strong business activity and disciplined execution. We posted €10.1 billion in profit, up 25% from the previous year, with a ROTE of 19.7%. In CIB, results were equally robust; revenues rose 27% to €5.8 billion and attributable profit grew 30%, to €2.8 billion. This confirms the strength of our industry-based coverage model, which allows us to build deeper relationships with corporate and institutional clients across different geographies.
Is this level of performance sustainable? I believe it is. The first half of 2025 already shows resilience, with nearly €3.2 billion in revenues and double-digit growth in every unit. The combination of digitalization, global reach, and disciplined execution gives us confidence that this performance is not just a one-off but the result of a sustainable long-term strategy.
GF: Where do you see growth in the coming year for your product offerings and geographies served?
Soler: Our 2025-2029 plan is designed to scale what already works: an industry-focused model with global reach. Growth will come from both products and geographies.
Cross-border activity is very important for us, given our strong presence in Latin America and Europe, especially in markets such as Mexico, Spain, and Turkey. As our clients expand internationally, we want to be there and support them in that journey.
We’re also reinforcing our presence in key markets such as Brazil, the US, the Middle East and Asia, capitalizing on client flows and strengthening coverage teams. With disciplined risk management and targeted investment in talent and AI, we can offer more tailored and forward-looking solutions that help clients grow sustainably.
GF: How is BBVA addressing the growing competition in corporate lending from fintechs and private credit providers?
Soler: We don’t see fintechs and private credit providers as rivals, but as catalysts to rethink corporate lending. Instead of competing head-to-head, we look for synergies. We bring client reach, structuring expertise, and global capabilities; they bring agility and specialization.
For example, our alliance with KKR, signed in 2024, supports the decarbonization of the economy by creating sophisticated financing structures. And through our agreement with Olea in trade finance, we are better positioned to serve clients with international supply chains, especially in Asia. These partnerships show that collaboration is the way to deliver greater value to clients.
GF: What are the latest corporate banking milestones BBVA has reached on its digital transformation journey?
Soler: We are now going beyond digital transformation into the era of artificial intelligence (AI). While digitalization was about processes, AI—especially generative AI—goes beyond and has the potential to help bankers work smarter: being more productive, answering faster, and personalizing solutions.
Tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini are already part of our bankers’ daily workflow. Building on that, we are now developing what we call the “AI Banker”: intelligent platforms—some already live—that go beyond digitalizing processes to proactively support client interaction, decision-making, and value creation. This is a big leap forward in how we serve clients and differentiate ourselves.
GF: Do you foresee 2026 being radically different from 2025 regarding corporate banking?
Soler: I expect corporate banking to evolve quickly, not just in what we do but in how we do it. Technology, data, and AI are reshaping client expectations at great speed.
Clients now look for partners who can guide them through complexity, not just provide financing. Our industry-based coverage model, combined with our global footprint, gives us the insight and scale needed to deliver. Advisory, structured finance, and transaction banking will remain growth areas as companies adapt to new regulation, technology, and sustainability demands.
Grand Sumo Tournament: Wrestlers charm Britain with Royal Albert Hall takeover
Though rich with detail, the aim of the game is enticingly simple – make your opponent touch the ground with any part of his body which isn’t the sole of his foot, or push him out of the ring, or dohyo, altogether.
Rikishi train intensely from a young age in order to master the precise rituals and 82 different winning techniques, or kimarite, but it was through their adventures outside of the dohyo that they stole the hearts of old and new British fans.
Because the 40 rikishi who travelled to compete in London crammed plenty of quintessentially British traditions into their visit.
Accustomed to taking on board up to 10,000 calories per day in pursuit of their ultimate competition weight, in London they swapped their usual high-protein chankonabe stew for fish and chips and pints of Guinness in between tours of Harrods and photo opportunities outside the Houses of Parliament.
Wrestlers were seen visiting Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross, made famous by the Harry Potter series, and some even made it as far as Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
Most-loved, though, were the photos snapped of the huge frames of the rikishi getting around the capital in black cabs, red buses – and even by bike., external
Colombia recalls ambassador to United States amid diplomatic spat | Politics News
Colombia announced the move after US President Donald Trump called President Gustavo Petro an ‘illegal drug leader’.
Published On 20 Oct 2025
Colombia has said it has recalled its ambassador to the United States, after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut off aid and made disparaging remarks about the Colombian president over the weekend.
The South American country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that Ambassador Daniel Garcia-Pena had already arrived in Bogota to meet with President Gustavo Petro, whom Trump called an “illegal drug leader” on Sunday.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
The growing feud between the two countries has centred on US strikes in the Caribbean on vessels that the Trump administration alleges are transporting drugs, mostly from Venezuela. Those strikes, which have killed dozens of people and are widely viewed as a violation of US and international law, have drawn strong criticism from Petro.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump said aid to Colombia would be cut off and threatened that if Petro did not take more steps to combat the drug trafficking in the country, the US would do the task itself, “and it won’t be done nicely”.
Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said on Monday that he viewed those remarks as “a threat of invasion or military action against Colombia”.
“I can’t imagine closing down some hectares [of drug production sites] unless it’s in that way, unless it’s by invading,” he added.
The US also announced over the weekend that it had struck a vessel from Colombia on Friday, alleging that it was helmed by a left-wing rebel group involved in the transport of drugs. The Trump administration has not provided evidence regarding those claims.
Petro responded in a series of social media posts, stating that one of those killed in the attack was a Colombian fisherman named Alejandro Carranza, who did not have any ties to drug trafficking.
“US government officials have committed murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters,” he wrote.
EU moves to ban Russian energy imports by 2028 | Russia-Ukraine war News
A draft regulation approved by European Union energy ministers would phase out Russian import contracts by January 2028.
Published On 20 Oct 2025
European Union states have agreed to halt Russian oil and gas imports by 2028, severing an energy link they fear helps fuel Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Almost all EU energy ministers voted in favour of the draft regulation, which applies to both pipeline oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), during a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
It would require EU members to phase out new Russian gas import contracts from January 2026, existing short-term contracts from June 2026 and long-term contracts in January 2028.
The proposal must now be approved by the European Parliament, where it is expected to pass.
The plan is part of a broader EU strategy to curb Russian energy dependence amid the war in Ukraine – and follows persistent calls by United States President Donald Trump for European states to stop “funding the war against themselves”.
‘Not there yet’
Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s energy minister, called the proposal a “crucial” step to make Europe energy independent.
“Although we have worked hard and pushed to get Russian gas and oil out of Europe in recent years, we are not there yet,” Aagaard said. His country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency.
The EU has already brought down Russian oil imports to just 3 percent of its overall share, but Russian gas still makes up 13 percent of gas imports, accounting for more than 15 billion euros ($17.5bn) annually, according to the European Council.
Nevertheless, these purchases make up a relatively small portion of Russia’s overall fossil fuel exports, which mostly go to China, India and Turkiye, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
The EU countries importing the most Russian energy are Hungary and Slovakia, followed by France, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Hungary and Slovakia – which are diplomatically closer to Moscow – both opposed the latest EU initiative, but it only needed a weighted majority of 15 states to pass, meaning they could not block it.
“The real impact of this regulation is that our safe supply of energy in Hungary is going to be killed,” Budapest’s top diplomat, Peter Szijjarto, was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
The text approved on Monday allowed specific flexibilities for landlocked member states, which include Hungary and Slovakia.
In addition to the trade restrictions, the EU is negotiating a new package of sanctions against Russia that would ban LNG imports one year earlier, from January 2027.
The EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, Kaja Kallas, said earlier on Monday the new sanctions package could be approved as early as this week.
Tiny UK town with world’s most famous Bonfire Night warns tourists to stay away as trains axed and roads shut
TOURISTS and holidaymakers have been warned to stay away from the world’s most famous Bonfire Night this year amid safety fears.
The advice has been issued by a multi-agency group, including police, ahead of the popular annual celebration.
The group behind the Lewes Bonfire have called for the public not to attend unless they live locally, with trains axed and roads shut.
Dubbed the bonfire capital of the world, the town of Lewes holds the world-famous event each year.
As part of the torch-lit procession, the societies also push a giant effigy of a controversial figure through the town’s streets.
Last year, a depiction of Nigel Farage, holding a pint and a cigarette, was paraded through the streets.
The procession attracts thousands of visitors with transport, accommodation and even drinks difficult to come by on the big night.
The event begins with a torch-led procession, before bonfires are held across the town.
Firework displays are also conducted towards the end of the evening.
Ahead of the event on November 5, a multi-agency group has issued a series of advice for the public.
Transport restrictions
Transport restrictions are also being put in place to prevent visitors from attending the event.
In a statement, the group, which includes Sussex Police and the British Transport Police, said: “We ask that you do not attend Lewes Bonfire unless you are local because the crowds and narrow streets can present unique safety challenges.
“The decision to bring in travel restrictions has been made in the best interests of safety, by limiting the number of people attending.
“It is hoped that those who are inconvenienced will understand that and have time to make alternative arrangements where possible.
“It is recognised this will impact motorists and train passengers who are not planning to attend the event.”
Locals have been reacting to the news on Facebook.
One said: “Lewes is in lockdown for the bonfire, so you can’t get there.”
Another posted: “The more you tell someone not to do it the more they do.”
For the last several hundred years, Lewes Bonfire has taken place in the small Sussex town.
The event marks both Guy Fawkes Night and the memory of 17 martyrs from the town who were burnt at the stake for their religious beliefs.
There are thought to be more than 3,000 bonfire society members who take part in the procession each year, while up to 80,000 people have been known to watch the town’s parade.
The population of Lewes town is just more than 17,000.
A series of road closures will also be in place from 4.45pm on November 5, with residents advised to get any vehicles to their homes before 4pm to avoid disruption.
From 5pm that day, no trains will stop at Lewes, Falmer, Cooksbridge, Glynde and Southease.
The last trains back from London Victoria to these stations will leave at 3.24pm and 3.54pm.
These station closures will remain in place until the start of service on November 6.
Jessica Alba, 44, shows off sand-covered booty in thong bikini on Australia trip after debuting new romance
JESSICA Alba shared some cheeky snaps from her latest holiday after debuting her new beau.
The actress, 44, is currently soaking up the sun in Australia, enjoying an envy-worthy vacay including trips to the beach.
Jessica shared some photos to her Instagram from the trip, looking as gorgeous as ever.
In the first pic the beauty is smiling laying on her front on a beach towel.
The ocean laps in the background, as others share the sand with the star and enjoy some time in the water.
Her skimpy leopard print and red floral bikini hugs her body, as sand clings to her thighs and booty.
She finished off the look with a simple black sun cap and shades.
Jessica also posted a photo of her legs and bikini bottoms while laying down.
It perfectly shows off her flat stomach and sun-kissed skin.
Dispersed between her beach pics, Jessica posted a series of quotes expressing gratitude for every moment in life – including those that seem more mundane to experience.
“One day I will be near the end,” read a poignant text post.
“And realize that all of it was the point.
“The ordinary and the exxtraordinary.
“Trips across the world.
“And trips to the grocery store.
“Sitting on boats applying sunscreen.
“And laying in bed putting lotion on my legs.
“Before I go to sleep.
“Dancing in the rain and singing in the shower.
“Staying out late to waste the next day hungover.
“And staying in and feeling rested.
“Sunday morning at the farmer’s market.
“Long road trips with people you love.
“And crying at a red light in your car alone.
“All of it is the point.”
Fans of the star flocked to the post’s comment’s sections to praise her outlook on life, as well as let her know she looks amazing.
“Talented and beautiful, inside and out,” said one user.
“She’s been working on her [peach emoji],” and “you are the creator of your reality, and life can show up no other way for you than that way in which you think it will,” replied others.
Alba’s positive attitude comes just after her and her new beau Danny Ramirez made their relationship official to the public.
The pair were first spotted sharing a kiss back in May of this year in London’s Regent Park.
In February, Jessica filed for a divorce from her husband Cash Warren.
They were together for 16 years before the split.