A Christmas lover has highlighted a festive event that they think could be the ‘most underrated’ in London

It’s not long now until Christmas celebrations kick off across the country, with festive markets, ice rinks, and the like returning to many cities and towns. In London, there will be no shortage of family-friendly events for anyone looking to get into the festive spirit.

2025 also sees the return of a festive fayre that’s been described as “the most underrated Christmas market in London.” The Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre returns for two weekends in December, running between December 5-7 and 12-14.

One previous visitor who shared high praise for the event recommended the ticketed event in a social media video. Posting on TikTok as @travelfromessex, the blogging duo wrote: “If you are planning on hitting a London Christmas market this year make it Hampton Court Palaces Festive Fayre!

“In our opinion it’s the most underrated Christmas market in London! Running on 5-7 & 12-14 December 2025, book your ticket now. You can wander the palace & grounds during your visit too! It makes you feel like you have travelled back in time. Enjoy festive stalls, food & drinks as well as live entertainment.”

The post racked up over 5k likes, and viewers loved the recommendation. Someone replied: “Oh I can’t wait for this!!!” A viewer praised: “Looks amazing.” Another fan said: Definitely need to go!”

According to Hampton Court Palace’s website, the fayre features over one hundred artisan producers, with Henry VIII’s palace serving as the backdrop. The event page states: “Experience a ‘truly magical day’ at this year’s Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre.

“This much-loved Christmas shopping event is back for two unforgettable weekends, hosted entirely in the stunning Great Fountain Garden of Henry VIII’s famous palace. There is no better way to kick off a festive season to remember!

“Don’t miss an unforgettable festive day out with your loved ones. Eat, shop and be merry at this spectacular palace. Visit on Fridays to save on entry. Return on the second weekend to discover even more independent stallholders, with members visiting for free. Included in your ticket, why not also explore the grand palace, 60 acre gardens and famous maze.” Adult tickets start from £28.

Hampton Court Palace has thousands of reviews on TripAdvisor, with many mentioning the festive fayre. For example, one previous visitor said: “This place, in my opinion, is simply magical. It is just a privilege to walk around this stunning place. We kicked off our festive activities by visiting the Palace, the Christmas fayre, followed by ice-skating.

“Yes, a lot of things are expensive, but I considered this as a treat; we ate several times from the wonderful stalls. We are Royal Palaces Members so enjoyed benefits there of course. We all came away with smiles on our faces. Lovely staff.”

Another wrote: “We have membership to the royal palaces, but this was our first year attending the 3 day Festive Fayre event. It was absolutely wonderful.

“The courtyards are filled with stalls, offering everything from craft gins and beers, to wonderful trinkets and gifts and every cuisine under the sun. Once the sun started to set, the fairy lights in the courtyards made the experience even more magical.”

From paddling in Lake Windermere to scenic cruises, our wholesome Lake District escape had something for the whole family to enjoy: kids, grandparents and even our dog

The goal was a five-day UK getaway that three generations of our family would enjoy, so we ditched our usual Cornwall hotspot and instead headed north to the Lakes.

We stayed in Ada’s Hideaway, booked via Sykes Cottages, a tucked‑away barn conversion hidden in the rural countryside of Stainton near Sizergh, just a few miles from Kendal in Cumbria. It’s part of a cluster of luxury cottages on a working farm, meaning gentle agricultural life just adds to its charm (expect to hear livestock or see farm vehicles). From the back garden we had rolling views across fields and could see horses in adjacent paddocks – a quiet, pretty glimpse of country life that felt like a real treat.

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Because it is off the beaten track, having a car is essential as there isn’t anything on the doorstep. We stocked up at the local supermarket (there’s a Lidl and Asda in Kendal) as we wanted to keep costs down by making our meals every night – plus with young kids, we find evenings in, where they can run around the house and play games, is the easiest option.

What to do around Lake Windermere

One day we headed out to Fell Foot, a National Trust site on the southern tip of Lake Windermere. It’s a dream for families – huge lawns for picnics, shallow lake waters for paddling and swimming, and the option to hire boats or give paddleboarding a go. Visiting in warmer weather, the children loved trying out the water activities and paddling with Charlie, our cockapoo. After a row around the lake and plenty of splashing about, we tucked into a picnic, but there’s also a lovely café on site.

Another day we parked near the Beatrix Potter museum in Bowness and strolled down to the pier, where you can hop on a cruise that’s not only child‑friendly but dogs can also travel for free. We took the 75-minute ‘red’ package that goes via Ambleside. Gliding across the lake watching the kids wave at passing boats while their nan enjoyed the views of the striking peaks made it the perfect activity for all generations.

On a previous trip to Windermere we booked onto a different boat trip from the Jetty Museum, which we highly recommend too as it has an excellent café and a large car park – but we had our furry friend with us on this visit, and they’re not allowed on these restored boats.

Why it works for families

The Lake District is famous for its scenery, but what struck us most was how easy it was to include everyone. From dog‑friendly attractions to gentle walks, boat trips and open green spaces, nothing ever felt stressful. We could plan big adventures or simply slow down with ice creams by the water.

Ada’s Hideaway was an excellent place to base ourselves, and evenings spent here were relaxed and low‑key – board games, family meals and a glass of wine once the kids were tucked up. If your ideal break is part-cosy cottage, part-lakeside fun and part-quiet countryside reset, this really delivered.

How much does it cost?

Stays at Ada’s Hideaway start at £602 for seven nights. Book via Sykes Cottages.

For other options for Lake District cottages, have a browse of Holidaycottages.co.uk or Rural Retreats.

Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl triumphed in the women’s B individual pursuit to claim a third gold for Britain on day two of the Para-Cycling World Championships.

The duo, who set a new world record in qualifying, paced their effort superbly to overcome a two-second deficit and beat New Zealand’s Emma Foy and Jessie Hodges, rounding off a fine day for the British team in Rio de Janeiro.

Earlier in the evening Jody Cundy claimed his second gold in as many days by winning the inaugural men’s C4 sprint title, while James Ball and Steffan Lloyd claimed gold in the men’s B 1km time trial.

Cundy, 47, led from start to finish as he held off Belgium’s Jarno Thierens and Australia’s Michael Shipley to win his 23rd world track gold medal.

Ball and his pilot Lloyd were equally as impressive as they finished over a second clear of Australia’s Kane Perris and Luke Zaccaria, with Italy’s Stefano Meroni and Francesco Ceci in third.

Kadeena Cox collected a silver in the women’s C4 kilo behind Australia’s Tara Neyland after being unable to maintain her blistering start.

Fin Graham secured his second medal of the week with a bronze in the men’s C3 1km time trial and Lizzi Jordan and pilot Dannielle Khan caught Poland’s Karolina Karasiewicz and Dominika Putrya to earn a bronze in the women’s B individual pursuit.

However, there was disappointment for Blaine Hunt, who crashed out in the men’s C5 elimination race.

The British team now has four golds, three silver medals and five bronze medals overall.

Oct. 17 (UPI) — New York Republican Party leaders on Friday voted unanimously to disband the state’s Young Republicans chapter after a group chat involving some of their members included racist and antisemitic comments.

The 2,900 pages of messages posted on Telegram also involved Republicans in Arizona, Kansas and Vermont, according to a Politico report. The messages from January to August included calling for gas chambers, expressing love for Adolf Hitler and endorsing rape.

On Tuesday, the chairman of the Kansas Republican Party deactivated the Kansas organization.

New York’s executive committee suspended the authorization of men and women 18 to 40 to operate in the state, Politico website and The Hill reported.

“The Young Republicans was already grossly mismanaged, and vile language of the sort made in the group chat has no place in our party or its subsidiary organizations,” New York GOP chair Ed Cox said in a statement.

Cox sent a formal notice to the National Federation of Young Republicans.

“Unlike the Democrat Party that embraces anti-Semitic rhetoric and refuses to condemn leaders who call for political violence, Republicans deliver accountability by immediately removing those who use this sort of rhetoric from the positions they hold,” he said. “This incident was immediately condemned by our most senior New York Republican elected leaders.”

The New York group’s Facebook page is not longer available.

Five people linked to New York participated in the chat, including Peter Giunta, a former leader of the state group and Bobby Walker, the vice chair.

Giunta is no longer chief of staff to state Assemblymember Mike Reilly and Walker’s offer to manage state Sen. Peter Oberacker’s congressional bid was pulled. They both apologized for their remarks but questioned whether the chat was altered.

“I love Hitler” is one of the messages associated with Giunta.

“I’m ready to watch people burn now,” Annie Kaykaty, a member of the Young Republicans’ national committee, who is also from New York, wrote.

A photo obtained by HuffPost shows Giunta and Kaykaty posing with President Donald Trump at a campaign event in 2024.

Vermont state Sen. Samuel Douglass was revealed as a chat participant.

Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler, who are House members serving New York districts, condemned the chat.

Democrats denounced their association with the Young Republicans.

“Disgraceful New York Republicans Mike Lawler and Elise Stefanik have been palling around with these racist, antisemitic and bigoted ‘Young Republicans’ for years,” Jeffries wrote Tuesday on X. “Their silence exposes what’s always been true – the phony outrage was nothing more than performance.” Alex Degrasse, a senior adviser to Stefanik, said she “calls for any New York Young Republicans responsible for these horrific comments in this chat to step down immediately,” in a statement to ABC News.

Stefanik fired back at violent rhetoric from Democrats, calling Zohran Mmadani, the party’s New York City candidate a “raging antisemite” on X.

Vice President JD Vance said those messages should not face career-ending punishments.

“The reality is that kids do stupid things,” Vance said in an interview on The Charlie Kirk Show on Wednesday. “Especially young boys, they tell edgy, offensive jokes. Like, that’s what kids do. And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke — telling a very offensive, stupid joke — is cause to ruin their lives.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday called for a congressional investigation of antisemitic and racist comments.

In 1935, the Young Republican division officially became the Young Republican National Federation.

Welcome to Bunker Talk. This is a weekend open discussion post for the best commenting crew on the net, in which we can chat about all the stuff that went on this week that we didn’t cover. We can also talk about the stuff we did or whatever else grabs your interest. In other words, it’s an off-topic thread.

The caption to this week’s top shot reads:

TIRANA, ALBANIA – SEPTEMBER 16: View of the interior of the Minister of Internal Affairs’ office within Bunk’Art 2, a Cold War-era museum located near the Ministry of Interior in Tirana, Albania, showcasing the design, security features, and atmosphere of the period, offering insight into the secretive operations of the Albanian government during the Cold War, on September 16, 2024, in Tirana, Albania. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Also, a reminder:

Prime Directives!

• If you want to talk politics, do so respectfully and know that there’s always somebody that isn’t going to agree with you. 
• If you have political differences, hash it out respectfully, stick to the facts, and no childish name-calling or personal attacks of any kind. If you can’t handle yourself in that manner, then please, discuss virtually anything else.
• No drive-by garbage political memes. No conspiracy theory rants. Links to crackpot sites will be axed, too. Trolling and shitposting will not be tolerated. No obsessive behavior about other users. Just don’t interact with folks you don’t like. 
• Do not be a sucker and feed trolls! That’s as much on you as on them. Use the mute button if you don’t like what you see.  
• So unless you have something of quality to say, know how to treat people with respect, understand that everyone isn’t going to subscribe to your exact same worldview, and have come to terms with the reality that there is no perfect solution when it comes to moderation of a community like this, it’s probably best to just move on. 
• Finally, as always, report offenders, please. This doesn’t mean reporting people who don’t share your political views, but we really need your help in this regard.

The Bunker is open!

There you are, sitting in traffic in your car, listening to Taylor Swift on Spotify because it’s easier than subjecting yourself to a new, more challenging artist. An ad pops up in your stream. It’s serious stuff, evidenced by the dystopian tone of the narrator: “Join the mission to protect America,” the serious man’s voice commands, “with bonuses up to $50,000 and generous benefits. Apply now … and fulfill your mission.”

It’s an Immigration and Customs Enforcement recruitment ad, part of the Trump administration’s investment of $30 billion to add more than 10,000 deportation officers to its ranks by the end of the year. You would have been spared the outrage if only you had paid for Spotify’s ad-free tier of service, but there’s no way the audio streamer is getting your money now. You’ll be switching to, say, Apple Music. Maybe Tidal?

The experience of being subjected to recruitment ads for a domestic military force, assembled by a power-hungry president, has generated intense backlash that’s culminated this week in calls for boycotts of streaming services and platforms that have featured ICE spots. They include Pandora, ESPN, YouTube, Hulu and Fubo TV. Multiple HBO Max subscribers bemoaned on X that they were subjected to ICE recruitment videos while watching All Elite Wrestling: “Time to be force-fed ICE commercials against my will for two hours again #WWENXT,” @YKWrestling wrote.

Recruitment ads — Uncle Sam’s “I Want You” poster comes to mind — are an American staple, especially in times of war. But the current recruitment effort is aimed at sending forces into American cities, predicated on exaggerated claims that U.S. metro areas are under siege and in peril due to dangerous illegal immigrants, leftist protesters and out-of-control crime rates. The data, however, does not support those claims. The American Immigration Council found that from 1980 to 2022, while the immigrant share of the U.S. population more than doubled (from 6.2% to 13.9%), the total crime rate declined by over 60%.

Yet there’s a far scarier doomscape on the horizon if ICE’s recruitment efforts are successful: a mercenary army loyal only to Trump, weaponized to keep him on the throne. If that sounds more dystopian than the aforementioned Spotify ad, consider that the administration has spent more than $6.5 million over the past month on a slew of 30-second commercials aimed at luring in police officers.

The ads aired on TVs in more than a dozen cities including Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta and opened with images of each specific metro area’s skyline. Then came the commanding narration: “Attention, Miami law enforcement!” It’s followed by the same messaging that is used in ICE ads across the country: “You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city, safe. But in sanctuary cities you’re ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free — Join ICE and help us catch the worst of the worst. Drug traffickers. Gang members. Predators.”

But are the ads working? It’s hard to say since transparency isn’t a hallmark of the MAGA White House. For what it’s worth, a Sept. 16 press release from the DHS claimed that it had received more than 150,000 applications in response to its campaign and had extended 18,000 tentative job offers.

As for the power of consumer-led boycotts, there’s hope. More than 1.7 million Disney, Hulu and ESPN subscriptions were reportedly canceled between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23 during Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary suspension by ABC (Disney is ABC’s parent company). The network pulled the show after the host’s comments related to Charlie Kirk’s assassination angered MAGA supporters and the Trump-appointed FCC chair appeared to threaten the network. But after a week with a significant increase in cancellations — a 436% jump compared to a normal week — Kimmel was back on the air.

As of today, Spotify appears unmoved by the pressure to pull those intrusive ICE ads. “This advertisement is part of a broad campaign the US government is running across television, streaming, and online channels,” a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement this week. “The content does not violate our advertising policies. However, users can mark any ad with a thumbs up or thumbs down to help manage their ads preferences.”

Thumbs down. Frowny emoji. Cue the dystopian narrator for a counter ad: “Join the mission to protect America: Cancel Spotify.”

Federal authorities are now pursuing a misdemeanor charge against David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union California, who was arrested during the first day of a series of immigration raids that swept the region.

Prosecutors originally brought a felony charge of conspiracy to impede an officer against Huerta, accusing him of obstructing federal authorities from serving a search warrant at a Los Angeles workplace and arresting dozens of undocumented immigrants on June 6.

On Friday, court filings show federal prosecutors filed a lesser charge against Huerta of “obstruction resistance or opposition of a federal officer,” which carries a punishment of up to a year in federal prison. The felony he was charged with previously could have put him behind bars for up to six years.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles declined to comment.

In a statement, Huerta’s attorneys, Abbe David Lowell and Marilyn Bednarski, said they would “seek the speediest trial to vindicate David.” The lawyers said that “in the four months that have passed since David’s arrest, it has become even clearer there were no grounds for charging him and certainly none for the way he was treated.”

“It’s clear that David Huerta is being singled out not for anything he did but for who he is — a life-long workers’ advocate who has been an outspoken critic of its immigration policies. These charges are a clear attempt to silence a leading voice who dared to challenge a cruel, politically driven campaign of fear,” the statement read.

The labor union previously stated that Huerta was detained “while exercising his First Amendment right to observe and document law enforcement activity.” Huerta is one of more than 60 people charged federally in the Central District of California tied to immigration protests and enforcement actions.

Two recent misdemeanor trials against protesters charged with assaulting a federal officer both ended in acquittals. Some protesters have taken plea deals.

In a statement Friday, Huerta said he is “being targeted for exercising my constitutional rights for standing up against an administration that has declared open war on working families, immigrants, and basic human dignity.”

“The baseless charges brought against me are not just about me, they are meant to intimidate anyone who dares to speak out, organize, or demand justice. I will not be silenced,” he said.

Huerta was held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles for days, prompting thousands of union members, activists and supporters to rally for his release. California Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla also sent a letter to the Homeland Security and Justice departments demanding a review of Huerta’s arrest.

A judge ordered Huerta released in June on a $50,000 bond.

The case against Huerta centers on a June 6 workplace immigration raid at Ambiance Apparel. According to the original criminal complaint filed, Huerta arrived at the site around noon Friday, joining several other protesters.

Huerta and other protesters “appeared to be communicating with each other in a concerted effort to disrupt the law enforcement operations,” a federal agent wrote in the complaint.

The agent wrote that Huerta was yelling at and taunting officers and later sat cross-legged in front of a vehicle gate to the location where law enforcement authorities were serving a search warrant.

Huerta also “at various times stood up and paced in front of the gate, effectively preventing law enforcement vehicles from entering or exiting the premises through the gate to execute the search warrant,” the agent wrote in the affidavit.

The agent wrote that they told Huerta that if he kept blocking the Ambiance gate, he would be arrested.

According to the complaint, as a white law enforcement van tried to get through the gate, Huerta stood in its path.

Because Huerta “was being uncooperative, the officer put his hands on HUERTA in an attempt to move him out of the path of the vehicle.”

“I saw HUERTA push back, and in response, the officer pushed HUERTA to the ground,” the agent wrote. “The officer and I then handcuffed HUERTA and arrested him.”

According to a statement from SEIU-United Service Workers West, SEIU California State Council, and the Service Employees International Union, “Huerta was thrown to the ground, tackled, pepper sprayed, and detained by federal agents while exercising his constitutional rights at an ICE raid in Los Angeles.” Video of his arrest went viral.

“Despite David’s harsh treatment at the hands of law enforcement, he is now facing an unjust charge,” the statement read. “This administration has turned the military against our own people, terrorizing entire communities, and even detaining U.S. citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights to speak out.”

Acting U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli, posted a photo on the social media site X of Huerta, hands behind his back, after the arrest.

“Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are — if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted,” Essayli wrote. “No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties.”

In an interview with Sacramento TV news oulet KCRA last month, Essayli referred to Huerta as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “buddy” and said he “deliberately obstructed a search warrant.”

While speaking with reporters in June, Schiff said Huerta was “exercising his lawful right to be present and observe these immigration raids.”

“It’s obviously a very traumatic thing, and now that it looks like the Justice Department wants to try and make an example out of him, it’s all the more traumatic,” Schiff said. “But this is part of the Trump playbook. They selectively use the Justice Department to go after their adversaries. It’s what they do.”

Khalil Mack unspooled his elbow wrap and removed his brace as he spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since sustaining his injury last month. Does Mack, the Chargers’ star outside linebacker, believe he can play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts?

“For sure,” he said.

That will ultimately be up to general manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh, Mack said. The 34-year-old, in his fourth season with the Chargers, said he’s “slightly ready to go” if his number is called upon, just days after his 21-day activation window opened Tuesday.

Mack was listed as questionable Friday, along with wide receiver Derius Davis, linebacker Troy Dye, offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer and linebacker Denzel Perryman. Running back Hassan Haskins also was listed as questionable after practicing all week.

Offensive tackle Joe Alt (ankle) was listed as doubtful for Sunday. Alt practiced Thursday and Friday.

“I’m not going to say I can or can’t,” Alt said Wednesday when asked whether he’d play. “We’re just going to continue to progress and see where it means for me going forward.”

Defensive back Elijah Molden (thumb) did not practice all week and was also listed as doubtful. Wide receiver Quentin Johnston (hamstring) is set to play after missing last week’s win over the Miami Dolphins.

The sitcom star is thought to split his time between London and a quaint Scottish village, with which he has a ‘very special relationship’

A tiny Scottish village captured the heart of Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne. Worlds away from the Essex residence of his character in the beloved television programme, the 46-year-old actor is previously thought to have abandoned city life and relocated to Helmsdale on the eastern coastline of Sutherland.

Hailing originally from Nottingham, the sitcom star, who has also featured in the Catherine Tate Show and Dad’s Army, was believed to divide his time between his working commitments in London and a calmer, more serene lifestyle in the picturesque yet isolated village.

Discussing his passion for the Highlands, Horne previously revealed on That Gaby Roslin podcast that he “would very much like to live there. I am all things Scotophile.”

During another interview, the actor told the Sunday Post, calling Scotland “the best country in the world. My shoulders drop and I feel free. It is where my heart lies and hopefully one day I will have a place of my own there so I can retreat as and when I need to.”

He added: “I love the peace and tranquillity and the people. The food is wonderful, the weather is nowhere near as bad as everybody says and midges don’t like me, so that’s good.

“Most of my downtime when I’m not working is now spent in Scotland.”

Helmsdale, a picturesque village on the North Coast 500 (NC500) route, offers a breathtaking 516-mile journey through the stunning beauty of the Scottish Highlands, reports the Daily Record.

Chatting with the Sunday Post, he shared: “I have a very special relationship with Helmsdale. It’s partly because of discovering it when I was in the Highlands because of my ancestry through my great-great-grandparents who were from Huntly.”

He further added: “That makes me one-eighth Scottish, although I wish I was more.”

The village’s roots can be traced back to 1814 and are deeply intertwined with the 19th-century herring boom, which brought prosperity to many coastal Scottish communities.

The once bustling harbour still remains in use by local fishermen and is a favourite spot for a scenic walk. Nearby, there’s a small shingle beach offering incredible views across the Moray Firth.

The village is also home to the Emigrants statue. A poignant reminder of the town’s darker past, the landmark pays tribute to those who were forced to leave their homes and travel far and wide to start a new life.

Today’s visitors can drop by The Timespan Heritage Centre, a popular community hub that houses not only a local history museum but also a contemporary art programme, herb gardens, a shop, a bakery and a cafe.

Helmsdale could also be the ideal location for those partial to a drink or two. The charming village is conveniently located near the Old Pulteney, Clynelish, Glenmorangie and Dornoch Distilleries.

Mathew also previously named Glasgow as his ‘favourite city’ and has a special fondness for the city of Edinburgh, where he first made his comedy debut at the Fringe Festival in 2000.

Hamas has handed over the remains of an additional captive it recovered in the ravaged Gaza Strip, as the Palestinian group urges mediators and the international community to pressure Israel to open border crossings and allow aid in.

The armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, said in a statement on Friday that its fighters handed over the remains at 11pm local time (20:00 GMT), without elaborating on where the body was retrieved.

According to the group, the remains were pulled out earlier in the day and were those of an “occupation prisoner”, suggesting they belonged to an Israeli rather than one of the captives of several other nationalities also taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed a short while later that Israel had received the coffin of a captive after it was handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas in Gaza.

The coffin will be transferred to Israel’s Ministry of Health’s National Center for Forensic Medicine, where a formal identification process will be conducted before the family is informed.

The Israeli military requested that “the public act with sensitivity and wait for the official identification”. It also added that “Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages”.

Hamas has said it’s committed to the terms of the United States-mediated ceasefire deal, including the handover of captive bodies still unaccounted for under Gaza’s ruins. It has repeatedly said it has returned all the bodies it was able to recover, but needs help locating remaining captives trapped under the rubble following Israeli strikes.

“There are still 18 bodies held inside Gaza,” said Al Jazeera’s Hamda Salhut, reporting from Amman on Friday. “Hamas says that they’re waiting for the assistance they need in the help in the form of heavy machinery and teams on the ground.”

Israel is ‘not cooperating’

Former Israeli ambassador Alon Liel said the return of the bodies of the dead captives is being treated very emotionally in the country, creating pressure on the government.

He said many Israelis believed that Hamas was cheating on the ceasefire agreement by not returning all the bodies of the deceased captives. “There is a lot of anger,” Liel said.

In a statement earlier on Friday, Hamas said some captives’ remains were in tunnels or buildings that were later destroyed by Israel, and that heavy machinery was required to dig through rubble to retrieve them. It blamed Israel for the delay, saying it had not allowed any new bulldozers into the Gaza Strip.

Most heavy equipment in Gaza was destroyed during the war, leaving only a limited number as Palestinians try to clear massive amounts of rubble across the bombarded territory.

Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, said Israel is “not cooperating with countries that are lending help to possibly look for those remains”.

“Turkiye, for example, was ready to send 81 experts in the retrieval of bodies, and Israel has not allowed it to enter. It has also not allowed it to provide equipment that could possibly facilitate that,” Odeh said.

On Friday, two bulldozers ploughed up pits in the earth as Hamas searched for captives’ remains in Hamad City, a complex of apartment towers in Khan Younis. Israeli forces repeatedly bombarded the towers during the war, toppling some, and troops conducted a weeklong raid there in March 2024.

US President Donald Trump has warned Hamas that he would greenlight Israel to resume the war on Gaza if the group does not live up to its end of the deal and return all captives’ bodies, totalling 28. So far in the past days, Hamas handed over the remains of nine captives, along with a 10th body that Israel claims was not that of a captive.

The return of the 10th dead captive on Friday comes as Gaza’s civil defence said more than 10,000 slain Palestinians remain trapped under debris and rubble across the enclave. Only 280 have so far been retrieved.

Hamas has urged mediators to ensure the increased flow of essential aid into Gaza, expedite the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and start reconstruction. Despite the ceasefire deal agreed last week, Israel has yet to allow the entry of aid in scale and is still operating in about half of the Gaza Strip, as attacks continue in some areas.

For more than two years, India’s northeastern state of Manipur has been beset by violence between two ethnic groups, the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo.

With nearly 260 people killed and about 60,000 displaced, the Indian government has taken control of the state in a bid to restore order.

In what has been described as a civil war, both sides accuse the other of committing atrocities.

New Delhi has pledged to disarm the warring factions and restore peace to the region.

101 East examines how the ethnic conflict in Manipur is affecting the lives of common citizens on both sides of the divide.

Coronation Street Becky Swain works on getting close again with her ex Lisa Swain next week, amid her plan to ‘oust’ Carla Connor out of the family on the ITV soap

Becky Swain gets to work on winning over her ex Lisa Swain on Coronation Street next week.

A new preview reveals the moment the pair grow closer again, as they reminisce about the past and discuss the moment that tore them apart. Becky faked her death four years ago and fled to Spain, with it revealed someone was after her.

DI Costello helped cover it all up and now it’s been teased the pair are hiding much more, and that Becky is “a villain”. Corrie boss Kate Brooks has revealed that we’re yet to see just what Becky is fully capable of, but she’s out to “oust” Carla Connor from the family.

Lisa was ‘widowed’ after Becky’s fake demise four years ago, and in the past year she’s grown close to new partner Carla. Just months ago the pair got engaged, only for Becky to rock up – and now it’s clear she’s out to ruin it all.

READ MORE: EastEnders fans ‘work out’ who Okie’s dad is as he opens up – and it’s ‘someone we know’READ MORE: Emmerdale preview teases Robert’s predicament over Aaron and Kev ahead of bombshell

While it’s not known what she has up her sleeve, we do know she’s desperate to have her wife and their daughter Betsy Swain back. She wants the family back together again, and Carla is stopping that.

Carla’s existence alone proves difficult for Becky’s agenda, never mind the fact Carla is clearly suspicious of her ‘rival’. So perhaps with Carla in Ireland, we’re about to see Becky make her first move.

In a new preview clip, Becky spends some time alone with Lisa amid trouble with Betsy after her arrest. The pair are on the sofa having enjoyed a curry and a glass of wine.

Lisa is a little tipsy, and the pair are debating whether or not to watch Game of Thrones “like they used to”. Becky very quickly reminds Lisa of the life they once had, and how they’d spent nights often at home with a takeaway and watching the telly.

Lisa is thoughtful as she remembers this well, but she quickly points out the reason it all stopped was because Becky died, or at last she thought. Becky guilt trips Lisa with a comment about it not being fun and games for her, having to hide out from criminals.

As she tells Becky how hard it was without her, Becky tells her she wishes she could turn the clocks back to a time that they were together as a family, wishing she could have stopped everything that led to her fleeing. Caught up in the emotions, Lisa agrees with her that she too wishes they could go back.

As Lisa appears emotional, Becky strokes her hair, leading to Lisa grabbing her hand and placing it against her face. This, and the fact that Lisa misses the way things were, leaves Becky smiling, no doubt believing she may have a chance of winning Lisa back.

But what will Lisa do, and is the moment on the sofa not what it seems? After all, Corrie boss Kate hinted Swarla, Carla and Lisa, could survive the drama with Becky, with twists ahead for the newcomer – but how far will Becky go to get what she wants?

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITV X. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok, Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.

The National Labor Relations Board has sued California to block a law that empowers a state agency to oversee some private-sector labor disputes and union elections.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 288 into law last month in response to the Trump administration’s hampering of federal regulators. It gives the state’s Public Employment Relations Board the ability to step in and oversee union elections, charges of workplace retaliation and other issues in the event the federal labor board is unable, or declines, to decide cases.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, argues the law usurps the NLRB’s authority “by attempting to regulate areas explicitly reserved for federal oversight.”

The lawsuit echos the NLRB’s challenge to a recent New York law that similarly seeks to expand the powers of its state labor board.

NLRB attorneys contend in the lawsuits that the laws create parallel regulatory systems that conflict with federal labor law.

The NLRB is tasked with safeguarding the right of private employees to unionize or organize in other ways to improve their working conditions.

Lawmakers in New York and California said they passed their bills to fill a gap, because the NLRB has been functionally paralyzed since January, when President Trump fired one of its Democratic board members. The unprecedented firing of that member, Gwynne Wilcox, left the board without the three-member quorum it needs to rule on cases.

Wilcox has challenged her firing in court, arguing that appointed board members can only be fired for “malfeasance or neglect of duty.” But her removal was upheld by the Supreme Court for now, until her case can make its way through lower courts.

Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, last month called AB 288 “the most significant labor law reform in nearly a century.”

The California Public Employment Relations Board typically has authority only over public sector employees. But when the new law goes into effect on Jan. 1, workers in the private sector who are unable to get a timely response at the federal level can also petition the state board to take up their cases and enforce their rights.

The state’s labor board can choose to take on a case when the NLRB “has expressly or impliedly ceded jurisdiction,” according to language in the law. That includes when charges filed with the agency or an election certification have languished with a regional director for more than six months — or when the federal board doesn’t have a quorum of members or is otherwise hampered.

The NLRB’s paralysis has put hundreds of cases in limbo, with the agency currently lacking the ability to compel employers to bargain with their workers’ unions, or to stop unfair treatment on the job.

However, the agency’s acting general counsel — Trump appointee William Cowen — has said that only a fraction of cases require decisions from the typically five-member board and that the agency’s work has been largely unaffected, with regional offices continuing to process union elections and unfair labor practice charges.

Three of the world’s top-rated racehorses – Ombudsman, Delacroix and Calandagan – will meet in a blockbuster Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Ombudsman, number one in the rankings, swooped late to beat Delacroix (rated joint sixth) in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes before the tables were turned in the Juddmonte International – and the pair now meet for a third time.

King George winner Calandagan, who is joint ninth in the global rankings, joins them, along with last year’s Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics who races for the first time in a year.

The Champion Stakes (16:05 BST) headlines five top-level Group One contests on a seven-race card on Qipco British Champions Day – the country’s richest raceday with a total of £4.35m prize money on offer.

Ombudsman’s stablemate Field Of Gold will run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for trainer John Gosden, whose strong hand on the day also features Gold Cup victor Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup.

Owners Godolphin ran a pacemaker to assist Ombudsman in the Juddmonte at York and do so again in the £1.3m Champion Stakes, with Devil’s Advocate supplemented at a cost of £75,000.

French challenger First Look is another supplementary entry while other leading contenders include Dante and Great Voltigeur winner Pride Of Arras and Almaqam, who beat Ombudsman earlier in the season.

About 1,400 workers will be cut from the agency, which is responsible for overseeing the US nuclear weapons stockpile.

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced that it will furlough about 1,400 workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) starting next week due to the ongoing shutdown of the US government.

A spokesman at the Department of Energy, of which the NNSA is a semiautonomous branch, said on Friday that nearly 400 workers would remain at the agency, which is responsible for overseeing the US nuclear weapons stockpile.

President Trump’s energy secretary, Chris Wright, said “enough is enough” in a post on X on Friday, as he announced the planned furlough of NNSA workers.

“Starting next week, we’re going to have to furlough thousands of workers that are critical to modernizing our nuclear arsenal because of [Chuck] Schumer’s disastrous Shutdown,” Wright said in his post, referring to the US Senate’s Democratic party leader.

On Thursday, Democrats in the Senate voted against advancing a Republican bill to extend funding to federal agencies for a 10th time, and continuing the government shutdown that has now lasted for 17 days.

Starting next week, we’re going to have to furlough thousands of workers that are critical to modernizing our nuclear arsenal because of Schumer’s disastrous Shutdown.

Enough is enough!https://t.co/0jSorVkdkZ

— Secretary Chris Wright (@SecretaryWright) October 17, 2025

Republicans have blamed Democrats for the deadlock, as they continue to block the funding legislation to force Republicans to negotiate on healthcare subsidies.

Federal employees categorised as “essential” continue to work without pay during government shutdowns until they can be reimbursed when it ends.

Approximately 750,000 of the US government’s more than two million federal employees have been furloughed so far, along with tens of thousands of federal contractors.

The NNSA’s federal staff oversee approximately 60,000 contractors, who maintain and test nuclear weapons at national laboratories and other locations across the US.

The agency also works to secure dangerous nuclear materials around the world, including in Ukraine, where there is an escalating risk of nuclear disaster due to Russia’s invasion, according to the United Nations.

Nuclear weapons control expert Daryl Kimball, who is the executive director of the Arms Control Association, a nonpartisan organisation promoting arms control, criticised next week’s potential cuts to NNSA staffing.

“If the Trump administration really thinks the NNSA’s functions are important – and many of them are essential for nuclear facility safety and security – I am sure they can find the funds to keep the workers on the job,” Kimball said.

“Or else, they might want to rethink their position on the federal government shutdown,” he added.

Speaking to the Bloomberg news organisation on Friday, Energy Secretary Wright warned that modernisation of the US’s nuclear weapons programme will be slowed by the shutdown.

“We’re just getting momentum there … To have everybody unpaid and not coming to work, that will not be helpful,” he said.

The Energy Department said Wright would visit the National Nuclear Security Site in Nevada on Monday to discuss the impacts of the shutdown.

Earlier this year, NNSA employees were among hundreds of employees in the Energy Department who received termination letters as part of Elon Musk’s short-lived efforts to slash government expenditure through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The Trump administration quickly scrambled to rehire the majority of the axed employees, issuing a memo days later rescinding the firings.

George Santos, serving a prison term on charges of fraud and identity theft, had been held in solitary confinement.

United States President Donald Trump has said that he will commute the sentence of former Republican Representative George Santos, who was serving a prison sentence for fraud and identity theft.

In a social media post on Friday, Trump acknowledged that Santos had made mistakes. But he celebrated Santos as a strong supporter of the Republican Party and noted that family and friends had raised concerns over the former lawmaker’s conditions in prison.

“George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

“At least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!”

Trump added that Santos has been “horribly mistreated”, citing his isolation behind bars: “George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time.”

Santos became a well-known political figure after his election victory in 2022, when he flipped New York’s 3rd Congressional District from Democratic control to Republican.

Election observers noted it was one of the first times an openly gay Republican had won a seat in the House of Representatives.

But news reports quickly revealed that Santos had fabricated key details of his life story, and by December 2022, investigators had started to delve into his business dealings.

After a congressional committee found evidence that Santos had violated federal law, including by deceiving donors and stealing from his own campaign, the House of Representatives voted to expel him. Santos was less than a year into his term.

By 2024, Santos had entered into a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid a trial over the allegations. He was sentenced in April for deceiving donors and misleading 11 people, including members of his own family, into giving money to his campaign.

But Santos, a vocal Trump supporter, quickly began a push for the president to commute his prison time, claiming that his punishment was politically motivated.

Trump has also depicted himself as a victim of unjust persecution at the hands of political enemies. He is known to use the power of presidential pardon on behalf of his supporters.

At the beginning of his current term, for example, Trump controversially pardoned nearly all of those charged with participating in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. That attack was part of a bid to violently overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost.

Santos and his allies have also drawn attention to his placement in solitary confinement. Though cells meant to maximise isolation are common in US prisons, critics argue they constitute “cruel and unusual punishment”, given their connection to mental health issues and heightened risks of suicide.

Santos entered the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, on July 25. He has written several columns about his experience with solitary confinement since then, reiterating his appeal for Trump to show mercy.

“I am not asking for special treatment. I am asking to be treated as a person – with attention, dignity, and the care any human deserves when in distress,” he wrote in an opinion column.

“And yes, I renew my plea to President Trump: intervene. Help me escape this daily torment and let me return to my family.”

A BBC star’s nepo daughter has revealed her addiction battle on her new single.

The singer has opened up for the first time about struggling with addiction, ADHD and substance abuse.

Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar‘s daughter, Madeleine Dunbar, 37, whose artist’s name is Minx has explored her past in her new music video.

The artist took to Instagram with an image of herself spread across a lime satin bedspread with beer cans rolled into her hair as curlers

In the image she is surrounded by lines of fake white powder, pill packets and bottles.

The artist said: “My name is Madeline Dunbar, My artist name is Minx.

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“I am a recovering addict. I am a NeuroSpice.

“Messy, Messy ADHD Queen and I am writing songs about it.

The camera then flips to Madeline’s cat and she jokes: “Oh that’s my cat Tony. I think he thinks I’m relapsing.

“Don’t worry baby boy we are not going back there. That is just my ADHD medication crushed up on a golden plate.”

Madeline then bursts into laughter and adds: “Anyways if any of this stuff resonates with you in the right place.

“I’m about to release a track called Dopamine on the 1st November.

“I think you’re gonna f**k with it.”

The singer describes her music as “high-energy pop rap with hip hop, house and Latin influences”, drawing inspiration from Madonna, Lady Gaga, Janelle Monae and Rosalia.

Lyrics from the song include: “And every time I think that I’m in control / You serve another cocktail of chemicals / And it’s nice, but I wonder”

In an earlier post the singer wrote: “Fully clean and sober writing songs about addiction is cathartic but sitting in front of my favourite vices (albeit fake substitutes) was a bit triggering.

“It also made me feel a great sadness for the person I once was and the people still suffering.

“This track is a foray into the desperation felt by anyone suffering with adhd or addiction or like me, both!

“The frenzied need to feel better to feel different to feel normal.

“The futile necessity of instant gratification because that low dopamine is REAL and makes you feel so f***ing empty and unenthused.

“If you or a loved one are struggling speak out and seek help. It can be done, we do recover.”

Madeline’s father Adrian is best known for his starring role in Line of Duty as Superintendent Ted Hastings, the head of an anti-corruption squad.

But the Northern Irish actor has actually enjoyed a varied acting career, which also includes movies.

Line of Duty has run for six seasons so far, with fans begging for a seventh series of the hit BBC One cop drama.

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Adrian is wed to his Australian actress wife Anna Nygh, after they got married in 1986 – as well as Madeline he also has a stepson with Anna.

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For those dreaming of a Caribbean holiday but can’t bring themselves to pay the hefty price – there are some cheaper alternatives in Europe that are closer and a fraction of the price

While the Maldives may be a dream destination for many – there’s now cheaper destination alternative that are much closer, and considerably cheaper.

The bucket list Caribbean island comes at a pretty expensive cost as the average one-week trip can cost anywhere from £1,700 per person and can go up to £6,500 for a stay in a five-star all-inclusive hotel during the peak season.

However now Brits can enjoy a luxury Maldive-style stay a little closer to home with these European spots for a fraction of the price. Here’s some inspiration for those planning their summer getaways for next year.

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Albania

Nicknamed the ‘Maldives of Europe’ thanks to its unspoilt white sandy shores and crystal-clear waters that grace its spectacular Riviera, this spot is a popuklar choice. Travellers can indulge in luxury accommodation without emptying their bank accounts, with seafront flats available from just £20 per night.

Thanks to a flurry of TikTok videos flaunting its crystal-clear waters and pristine white sands, Albania has become a hot topic for holidaymakers seeking a slice of the Maldives experience.

Rhodes

Rhodes offers a bustling waterfront where cruise ships dock and vendors sell mouth-watering Greek delicacies. Despite its popularity, it manages to avoid being overrun by crowds, although it does get busy during peak summer season.

With flexible dates, you can find direct flights from Manchester and London this March and April for less than £40. There are numerous budget-friendly hotels in the city, such as the Manousos City Hotel, which currently has rooms available from £25 a night.

Croatia

For holidaymakers wanting a picturesque location without committing to a long-haul flight, Croatia might be the perfect solution. Toni Hrelja, founder of Villsy.com, shared a local’s guide to Croatia’s most beautiful beaches, including hidden gems where the “crystal-clear waters and stunning scenery rival the Maldives.” Among them is Sakarun beach on Dugi Otok island.

You can fly direct from a slew of major UK airports, including Bristol, Manchester, and London: if you’re flexible with dates – you can grab return fares for as little as £60 in April.

Malta

Just over three hours from the UK and with direct flights from 18 regional airports, Malta is the year-round Mediterranean destination that delivers. It’s great for Brits as English is the official language and temperatures regularly hit 27C in September.

With over 300 days of sunshine a year, some of the finest beaches to be found anywhere in Europe and a calendar packed with world-class festivals and events, it’s the kind of place that’ll keep you coming back over and over again.

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In a rare public rebuke, the Los Angeles City Council pressed the city’s top lawyer to abandon her attempt to halt a federal judge’s order prohibiting LAPD officers from targeting journalists with crowd control weapons.

One day before “No Kings” demonstrations against the Trump administration were set to launch in L.A. and elsewhere, the council voted 12-0 to direct City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto to withdraw her request to lift the order.

Hours later, Feldstein Soto’s legal team did just that, informing the judge it was pulling back its request — around the same time the judge rejected it.

Since June, the city has been hit with dozens of legal claims from protesters and journalists who reported that LAPD officers used excessive force against them during protests over Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The lawsuit that prompted the judge’s ban was brought by the Los Angeles Press Club and the news outlet Status Coup, who pointed to video evidence and testimonials suggesting that LAPD officers violated their own guidelines, as well as state law, by shooting journalists and others in sensitive parts of the body, such as the head, with weapons that launch projectiles the size of a mini soda can at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour.

“Journalism is under attack in this country — from the Trump Administration’s revocation of press access to the Pentagon to corporate consolidation of local newsrooms,” Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who introduced the motion opposing Feldstein Soto’s legal filing, said in a statement. “The answer cannot be for Los Angeles to join that assault by undermining court-ordered protections for journalists.”

In a motion filed Wednesday, Feldstein Soto’s legal team sought a temporary stay of the order issued by U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera. She reiterated her earlier argument that Vera’s ban was overly broad, extending protections to “any journalist covering a protest in [the City of] Los Angeles.”

The city’s lawyers also argued that the ban, which bars the LAPD from using so-called less lethal munitions against journalists and nonviolent protesters, creates “ambiguous mandates” that jeopardize “good-faith conduct” by officers and pose “immediate and concrete risk to officer and public safety.”

In addition to Feldstein Soto’s request for a temporary stay, the city has filed an appeal of Vera’s injunction. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is taking up the appeal, with a hearing tentatively set for mid-November.

Council members have become increasingly vocal about their frustrations with the city attorney’s office. Two months ago, they voiced alarm that an outside law firm billed the city $1.8 million in just two weeks — double the amount authorized by the council. They have also grown exasperated over the rising cost of legal payouts, which have consumed a steadily larger portion of the city budget.

After Feldstein Soto’s motion was reported by LAist, several city council members publicly distanced themselves from her and condemned her decision.

In a sternly worded statement before Friday’s vote, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez wrote that the city attorney’s “position does not speak for the full City Council.”

“The LAPD should NEVER be permitted to use force against journalists or anyone peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights,” said the statement from Soto-Martínez, who signed Hernandez’s proposal along with Councilmembers Ysabel Jurado and Monica Rodriguez.

On Friday, the council also asked the city attorney’s office to report back within 30 days on “all proactive litigation the Office has moved forward without explicit direction from the City Council or Mayor since July 1, 2024.”

Rodriguez said that Friday’s vote should send a message that the city council needs “to be consulted as a legislative body that is independently elected by the people.”

“What I hope is that this becomes a more permanent act of this body — to exercise its role in oversight,” she said.

Carol Sobel, the civil rights attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiffs, welcomed the council’s action. Still, she said Feldstein Soto’s filings in the case raise questions about whose interests the city attorney is representing.

“Sometimes you say ‘Mea culpa, we were wrong. We shouldn’t have shot people in the head, despite our policies,’” she said.