Monday 28 September St. Wenceslas Day in Czech Republic

This is the same Good King Wenceslas, who is mentioned in a popular Christmas Carol written in 1853 about St. Stephen’s Day.

Wenceslas was born near Prague in 907 and was the son of the Duke of Bohemia. His father died in 921 and Wenceslas ruled from 922 when he was 15 years old. Raised as a Christian, primarily by his grandmother, Ludmila who had been baptised by the Greek missionaries Cyril and Methodius who brought Christianity to the region.

The reign of Wenceslas is marked by his support of the church, his aim to unify Bohemia and making peace with Germany.

These policies created enemies within his court and even his family. His brother Boleslav was one of those who plotted against him. Boleslav invited Wenceslas to a church consecration. On the morning of September 28th 935 (or 929, according to some historians), on his way to the mass, Wenceslas was attacked by Boleslav and was killed by supporters of his brother.

Having suffered a martyr’s death, Wenceslas was immediately considered a saint. This lead to a cult of veneration with several biographies being written and miracles attributed to him. He was even posthumously made a king by the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I which is why the carol refers to him as a king when in life he was a duke.

One dead as nor’easter storm pummels New York and New Jersey

The man has been identified as 56-year-old Leighton Brown, an employee of the New York City Housing Authority.

According to local news, he was walking through east Brooklyn neighbourhood working an extra shift when the deadly incident occurred.

“We mourn deeply for the loss of Leighton Brown, a NYCHA employee who faithfully served Brooklyn residents and who was known for his warm personality,” the Office of the NYC Public Advocate wrote on social media.

The nor’easter has caused widespread power cuts. More than 160,000 households, nearly all in the north-eastern US, have lost electricity, according to tracker PowerOutage.

More than 2,400 flights were delayed and another 1,199 grounded on Saturday, according to FlightAware.

A full moon was projected to worsen coastal flooding. Streets and homes were inundated with floodwater in the coastal New Jersey communities of Surf City and Manasquan on Saturday.

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Taylor Swift steals the VMA spotlight in a black and silver gown on red carpet ahead of big show

THE VMAs red carpet is known for daring fashion – and celebrities didn’t disappoint.

Stars like Taylor Swift, Teyana Taylor, Charli xcx, and Bebe Rexha lit the carpet on fire with skin-bearing outfits.

Taylor Swift showed off her newly-chopped hair in a stunning, slinky gown as she prepares to accept the first-ever Artist Director Honors award Credit: Getty
Charli xcx leaned into the vamp with a velvet two-piece set Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Bebe Rexha wore an all-black lace look with lace up knee high boots Credit: Getty
Actress Teyana Taylor wore a feathered Zuhair Murad gown Credit: Splash

Taylor Swift, who is set to accept the inaugural Artist Director Honors award, wore a slinky Tamara Ralph gown.

The pop star paired a sparkly silver skirt with a form-fitting black bodice and mesh side cutouts.

She also showed off her new collarbone length haircut with long, cascading earrings.

Presenter Charli xcx stepped out in an all-black velvet ensemble from Saint Laurent with dramatic, billowing sleeves.

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The low-rise column skirt and tiny top showed off her toned stomach, an a mesh insert covered her chest.

Lisa from Blackpink brought the drama in a floor-length, furry red cape Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Pop star Sombr rocked a bedazzled belt as he’s nominated for three awards Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Singer PinkPanthress, nominated for five awards, wore a Nina Ricci gown Credit: Getty
Tyla brought her signature glam look in a two piece snakeskin set from Mowalola Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

Other stars kept up the black theme.

One Battle After Another actress Teyana Taylor wore a plunging feathered gown from Zuhair Murad, while Bebe Rexha wore an all-black lace look with over the knee boots.

Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink turned heads in a form-fitting red gown and a dramatic furry red cape.

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The star is up for four awards tonight and will perform her single SaWaDiKa during the ceremony.

Presenter Rachel Dratch donned a structured metallic dress Credit: Getty
Sisters Paris and Nicky Hilton twinned in silver Credit: Getty

Sombr also kept up the fur theme with an oversized striped jacket over his bare chest.

The pop star accessorized with layered necklaces, black sunglasses, and a bedazzled belt that reads “sex”.

PinkPantheress, who is up for five awards tonight, looked ethereal in tiered Nina Ricci gown.

She paired the burgundy and polka dot dress with light, blushing makeup and a fishtail braid.

Singer Troye Sivan wore a high-necked Erdem suit Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Singer Normani opted for a full golden metallic gown with full flower embellishment Credit: Getty

Presenter Tyla brought the heat in a blue snakeskin two-piece bra and skirt set from Mowalola.

SNL alum Rachel Dratch wore a structured metallic dress, while sister duo Paris and Nicky Hilton twinned in silver, with presenter Paris rocking tall bedazzled boots and a sparkly mini dress with cut-outs.

Troye Sivan brought the drama in a high-necked Erdem suit with a draped black sash with white feathers.

Singer Normani also went for a metallic look with a large flower embellishment.

Singer Chloe Bailey left little to the imagination in a mirrored gown Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Actress Ella Bright wore a corseted black gown that matched her new dark hair Credit: Reuters
Reality star Lisa Rinna rocked a wild blonde pixie and gown with fake nipples Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Singer JoJo also wore a black column skirt paired with a bra Credit: Getty

Singer Chloe Bailey wore a body-hugging silver dress with intricate beadwork and mirrored embellishments.

The tight bodice on the dress left little to the imagination – including her nipple peeking out the top.

Off Campus star Ella Bright stepped out in a black corseted gown that matched her new dark hair.

Real Housewives star Lisa Rinna debuted a wild new hair look coupled with a white gown with fake nipples.

Singer JoJo paired a black column skirt and bra top for her VMAs appearance.

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Football gossip: Estevao, Haaland, Felix, Mitchell, Ampadu

Barcelona are monitoring Estevao, Erling Haaland attracts interests amid Man City uncertainty and Joao Felix could return to Europe.

Brazil winger Estevao Willian is becoming frustrated at his lack of game time at Chelsea, and Barcelona are keeping tabs on the 19-year-old’s situation. (Sport – in Spanish), external

Al-Nassr and Portugal forward Joao Felix is interested in a return to European football but the 26-year-old does not name a prospective club. (AS – in Spanish), external

Norway striker Erling Haaland, 26, is attracting interest from Arsenal and Real Madrid amid the uncertainty at Manchester City. (Football Insider), external

Newcastle United are keeping an eye on Rennes and Morocco defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, 20, but face competition from Everton, Brentford and Hull. (Teamtalk), external

Arsenal and Tottenham are monitoring Bayer Leverkusen’s Algeria midfielder Ibrahim Maza, 20. (Teamtalk), external

Chelsea are monitoring Crystal Palace‘s England left-back Tyrick Mitchell, 27, but may face competition from Manchester United and Liverpool. (Caught Offside), external

Leeds United have no plans to sell Wales defender Ethan Ampadu, 26, despite links with his former club Chelsea. (Football Insider), external

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Pope pledges action on clergy child abuse in meeting with French survivors | Child Rights News

Head of the Roman Catholic Church holds ’emotional’ two-hour meeting with seven abuse victims in French town of Lourdes.

Pope Leo XIV has thanked a group of survivors of clerical abuse “for their painful testimony” and “reaffirmed his commitment” to end harm by Catholic priests at a meeting in southwestern France, the Vatican said.

The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics is on a four-day visit to France.

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On Sunday, the pontiff visited the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, where he privately met seven survivors of child abuse, now adults, and promised to further efforts to reform the Church in the wake of the global sexual abuse scandal.

The group said in a later news conference that the meeting was emotional and touching.

“When he saw the state I was in, he took me into his arms,” survivor Jean-Marie Delbos said, adding, “It was an extraordinary moment.”

The 80-year-old was abused as a pupil at the nearby boarding school of Notre-Dame de Betharram, where staff have been accused of physical and sexual abuse over several decades.

The survivors said they felt heard and that they were impressed by Leo’s compassion and knowledge of their individual cases.

But they hoped the words would be accompanied by action.

Jerome Guillement, who has written about a priest abusing him as a teenager, said at the news conference that the pope understood the “systemic” nature of sexual abuse in the Church.

“From his point of view, the perpetrators are individuals, but what allows it to continue is the systemic dimension within the institution,” he said.

“He certainly believes that the Church has done a great deal in France, but he also believes that the Church in France still has a tremendous amount left to do.”

Pope Leo participates in a candlelight procession at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes as part of his four-day apostolic journey to France, in Lourdes, France, September 27, 2026 [Stephane Mahe/Reuters]
Pope Leo participates in a candlelight procession at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France, September 27, 2026, as part of his four-day apostolic journey to France [Stephane Mahe/Reuters]

Local leaders hoped Leo’s visit would help repair the Church’s standing after a 2021 independent inquiry found that some 330,000 French children had been abused by Catholic clergy and lay leaders over seven decades.

The pope told an estimated 150,000 people gathered for a Mass in a field near the famed Catholic shrine in Lourdes earlier on Sunday that the Church must have the courage to face its past.

Veronique Garnier, another survivor who met with the pontiff, said she had found the Mass, in which Leo referred to abuse without directly apologising for it, troubling and wondered why she had attended.

But she said she was encouraged by her meeting with Leo.

“I do indeed believe there is hope – hope that there can be change and truly listening to us at a deep level, rather than just superficially with beautiful words that are never followed by any real action,” she said.

Leo also spoke about the abuse scandals in a closed-door meeting with French bishops on Sunday, according to a Vatican-provided text.

He was expected to visit the northeastern city of Metz on Monday before returning to Rome the same day.

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