By 2027 passengers will be able to fly non-stop to Australia from the UK

Australia’s national carrier Qantas has revealed the first images of its ultra-long-range Airbus — the aircraft that will make aviation history by flying non-stop for 22 hours. The groundbreaking jet will connect Sydney directly to London and New York by 2027, setting a new global record for the longest commercial flight ever operated.

Currently being assembled in Toulouse, France, the aircraft’s major components — including the fuselage, wings and landing gear — have already been joined. Qantas showcased the milestone at its annual general meeting in Brisbane, describing the next-generation aircraft as a “game-changer” for international travel.

The A350-1000ULR will serve as the backbone of Qantas’s ambitious Project Sunrise initiative, designed to link Australia’s east coast with the world’s major cities without stopovers. Each flight will last up to 22 hours — saving travellers as much as four hours compared to current one-stop journeys.

The jet will soon move into a dedicated hangar for the installation of its engines and flight instruments, before beginning a rigorous testing programme in 2026. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson hailed the milestone as a defining moment for the airline’s global ambitions.

“Given Australia’s position in the world, Qantas has a long history of breaking aviation barriers. Project Sunrise will not only overcome the tyranny of distance, it will fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world,” she said.

“These flights will cut up to four hours off the journey and transform how people experience ultra long-haul travel, through science-backed design to minimise jetlag and maximise wellbeing.”

The aircraft’s record-breaking range is made possible by an extra 20,000-litre rear fuel tank and state-of-the-art onboard systems, ensuring maximum endurance, comfort and safety. When Project Sunrise launches in 2027, it will make possible what once seemed unthinkable — non-stop flights halfway around the world.

To address the physical challenges of such long-haul travel, Qantas has partnered with Australian designer David Caon and researchers from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre. Their team, which includes sleep scientists, developed tailored lighting patterns and meal timing strategies to help reduce jet lag.

Unlike the standard A350-1000 aircraft, which seat more than 300 passengers, Qantas’s version will carry just 238, providing travellers with more personal space and introducing a new “Wellbeing Zone” between Premium Economy and Economy. The area will feature stretch handles, guided exercise screens, a hydration station and light refreshments to keep passengers feeling fresh throughout the flight.

Project Sunrise takes its name from Qantas’s legendary “Double Sunrise” flights during World War II, which stayed airborne long enough to witness two sunrises in a single journey. With the new generation of aircraft, Qantas is rekindling that pioneering spirit — once again pushing the limits of air travel.

The airline also announced the launch of a new domestic travel class, Economy Plus, which will include extra legroom, priority boarding and dedicated overhead locker space. The upgrade will be available for purchase from February, with complimentary access for top-tier frequent flyers.

The first of 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft is expected to be delivered in late 2026, paving the way for commercial operations in early 2027. Qantas said its teams are “incredibly excited” about the project, calling it a “landmark moment for international aviation.”

Vit Krejci scored a career-high 28 points off the bench, Kristaps Porzingis added 20 and the Atlanta Hawks opened a four-game trip with a 105-102 victory over the Clippers on Monday night.

Jalen Johnson had 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Hawks overcame a 17-point deficit to win consecutive games for the second time this season. Krejci made a career-best eight three-pointers in 10 attempts.

Porzingis (illness) and Johnson (quad) both returned after missing Sunday’s 20-point home victory over the Lakers, while Trae Young (knee) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (back) remained out.

James Harden had 35 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the Clippers’ fifth straight loss. Ivica Zubac added 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn each scored 11 points for the Clippers, who were without star Kawhi Leonard (ankle) for a fourth consecutive game, while Bradley Beal (hip) was ruled out.

Krejci’s biggest three-pointer came with 36 seconds remaining and gave the Hawks a 105-98 lead. Harden converted a four-point play with 25 seconds remaining to get the Clippers within a possession but missed a tying three-point attempt with 12 seconds left.

The Clippers led 36-19 early in the second quarter before the Hawks erased the deficit with a 20-3 run to take a 42-41 lead with 4:09 remaining before the half. Krejci made four three-pointers in the run, including three consecutive at one point.

The score was tied at 52 at halftime after Krejci made six of Atlanta’s seven three-pointers over the first two quarters. The Hawks pushed in front 79-76 after three quarters.

Harden tied the score 92-92 with 5:01 remaining on consecutive three-pointers before another three-pointer from Krejci put the Hawks up 95-92 with 4:25 remaining. Harden scored 19 points in the fourth quarter on six-of-10 shooting and four of seven from three-point range.

Cambodia says the mine that wounded four Thai soldiers was a remnant of past conflicts, but Bangkok says the explanation is insufficient.

Cambodia has denied laying new landmines along its border with Thailand after Bangkok suspended the implementation of an enhanced ceasefire signed last month over an explosion that wounded four Thai soldiers.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence expressed regret at the landmine explosion the previous day in Thailand’s Sisaket province near the countries’ shared border, saying the blast had taken place in an old minefield.

The ministry said such unexploded ordnance was “remnants of past conflicts” and urged Thai soldiers to avoid patrols in mine-contaminated zones.

Despite the dispute, “both military forces on the front lines had communicated with each other, and, as of now, the situation remains calm, with no tension having been reported,” the ministry added.

Thailand and Cambodia signed their enhanced truce in Malaysia last month after long-running territorial disputes between the Southeast Asian neighbours led to five days of combat in late July.

The conflict, which killed at least 48 people and temporarily displaced an estimated 300,000, marked their worst fighting in recent history.

The enhanced ceasefire, signed in the presence of United States President Donald Trump, sought to build on an earlier truce brokered in July and included the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons.

It also called for Bangkok’s release of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war.

The Thai government on Tuesday insisted the Cambodian explanation was insufficient and said it was halting the release of the Cambodian soldiers, which had been slated for Wednesday.

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said his country’s decision would be explained to the US and Malaysia, the chair of the regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has facilitated the ceasefire process.

“What they [Cambodia] have said is not sufficient. We have to see what Cambodia’s stance is from now on,” he said.

The Thai military late on Monday said officials had inspected the landmine explosion site in Sisaket and found an explosion pit and three more antipersonnel mines.

Spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree said the explosion occurred in an area that Thai soldiers had previously secured. He said that since October 17, the soldiers had removed landmines and laid defensive barbed wire there.

But the wire was destroyed on Sunday, and the soldiers checking the site on Monday stepped on the mine, Winthai said.

“The evidence led to the conclusion that intruders secretly removed the barbed wire and laid the landmines in the Thai territory, targeting the personnel who conduct regular patrols there,” Winthai said, according to the Bangkok Post.

“The act shows Cambodia’s insincerity in reducing conflict and reflects hostility which violates the jointly signed declaration,” he added.

The military said a sergeant lost his right foot in the explosion and the other three suffered minor injuries from shrapnel or the impact of the blast.

There was no immediate comment from the US or Malaysia.

While the Thai-Cambodian truce has generally held since July 29, both countries have traded allegations of ceasefire breaches.

Analysts said a more comprehensive peace pact adjudicating the century-long border dispute at the core of the conflict is needed.

BBC Breakfast hosts Jon Kay and Sarah Campbell shared heartbreaking news on Tuesday

A BBC Breakfast star shared a devastating update after the tragic death of a “trailblazer” on Tuesday (November 11).

During today’s edition of the popular morning show, presenters Jon Kay and Sarah Campbell brought viewers the latest developments from across the UK and beyond.

They were accompanied in the studio by Emma Vardy, who delivered employment and salary updates, whilst Carol Kirkwood provided regular weather bulletins throughout the programme.

Later in the show, Jon and Sarah honoured Dorothy Lawrence, a journalist who masqueraded as a male soldier to reach the frontline during World War I.

“More than a century later, she’s finally received a headstone at her grave in North London,” Jon disclosed, before a moving segment was broadcast, reports the Express.

“Dorothy Lawrence wasn’t just forgotten about. A journalist determined to report from the trenches during the First World War, she was arrested, silenced and committed to an asylum for almost 40 years,” correspondent Tim Muffett revealed.

“During the First World War, women were not allowed to report from the frontline.”

Nevertheless, Dorothy was determined to alter that situation. She purchased a bicycle and travelled across the Channel, befriending British troops during her journey.

The journalist concluded that the only method she’d successfully reach the Western Front was to disguise herself as a man. After a gruelling ten-day stint in the trenches, Dorothy fell “very ill” and was forced to reveal her true identity.

She was promptly arrested, shipped back to Britain and instructed to keep quiet about her experiences until after the war.

“She was gagged until the end of the Armistice, and in 1925, she was put in an asylum, deemed mad, and died there in 1964. That’s not right. I think that’s terrible,” said army veteran Steve Davies.

Dorothy was laid to rest in an unmarked pauper’s grave in what is now New Southgate Cemetery & Crematorium in North London, one of over 40 owned and operated by Westerleigh Group.

Since then, Dorothy’s grave has been restored, with a special ceremony held to pay tribute to the journalist and officially unveil her headstone. As part of this project, Dorothy’s relatives were traced.

“She’s a trailblazer, isn’t she? Frontline female journalist, brave. 40 years confined to a lunatic asylum and died there unrecognised and unknown, no visitors. Very sad and this will make up for it, I hope,” expressed Dorothy’s great niece, Gill Barber.

Former Royal Engineer Angus Donaldson chimed in: “Amazing. She went to extremes to do what she did. We are eternally grateful for her service,” while Cliff Belsey concluded: “[She was] a very brave lady. Great respect… Very emotional and extraordinary.”

BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am

After launch there was the question of how to fill the days at sea.

“In my case, you eat,” says Larter. “Honestly, I’ve never had, either before or since, such a sustained spell of magnificent eating.

“The stewards loved us. They’d bring these great trolleys of wonderful food, and they knew we’d eat it.”

With copious amounts of food available and an Ashes series to prepare for, the players had to keep fit.

“We’d have an exercise session in the morning, then there were badminton courts netted off for us. We’d shove weights about, and jump up and down and things like that,” says Larter.

The England management wanted to take things a stage further.

By chance, Dexter found that British athlete Gordon Pirie was on board. Pirie won 5,000m silver at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.

“He was invited to organise us,” says Larter. “He turned up with his shorts on and decided the best exercise would be running around the boat.

“It’s quite a long way around one of those big boats, but I did what I was told.”

Not everyone in the touring party was as agreeable as Larter. Trueman, never shy of speaking his mind, had just bowled more than 1,100 overs in the English summer.

“Fred voiced an opinion which meant in no way was he running around,” says Larter. “That just wasn’t what we did to get fit. To get fit, we played cricket.

“Fred said he’d just bowled all those overs in the season, and he wasn’t going to run around a boat for anyone. The Gordon Pirie thing died off after that.”

For Larter, the trip was not just a first England tour, but a first time out of the country. On the upper deck he mixed with the wealthy travellers, lower down he encountered the Poms emigrating to a new life down under.

“We found the greatest reception came downstairs,” he says. “There were people emigrating or moving for all sorts of reasons. A lot of them were young, out to make new lives. It was interesting to meet them. There were more than a couple of decent bars and you could have a quiet pint.”

The journey was not a straight passage to Perth. Remarkably, England tuned up for a tour of Australia by hopping off in Sri Lanka to play a game in Colombo.

“We walked out on to the field and Ted Dexter said I would be opening the bowling,” says Larter.

“I marked out a run, ran in, and fell flat on my face. A real sprawler. I picked myself up, went back, came in again and did the same thing.

“I’d lost my land legs. They weren’t going where I wanted, because I’d been on the boat.

“Ted came across and said ‘what’s wrong?’. I said they don’t work! He took me off. Barry Knight had to finish the over.

“We were entertained and looked after by the British Army. They put on a big barbecue on the beach for us. How do you get to that from a small town in Suffolk? On the beach in Sri Lanka with all of these nice people. It was an eye-opener, just being there.”

Philadelphia Eagles win their third match in a row while the Green Bay Packers fall from the NFC North division lead.

Jalen Hurts has turned consecutive big plays into Philadelphia’s only touchdown to back a dominant performance by the Eagles’ defence in a 10-7 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay’s Brandon McManus was short on a 64-yard (53.5-metre) field goal on the final play of the game on Monday night.

Nursing a 3-0 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles needed just four plays to cover 80 yards and go in front 10-0, ending with a 36-yard catch by Devonta Smith from Hurts. The Packers answered with an 11-play, 75-yard march for a 6-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs to pull within 10-7.

The Packers got the ball back on their own 36 with 27 seconds left. Jordan Love passed to Bo Melton for 19 yards to the Philadelphia 46. Love spiked the ball to stop the clock, then was incomplete on a short pass, forcing the long field goal attempt.

The Eagles (7-2), who lead the NFC East by three and a half games over the Dallas Cowboys, won their third straight after back-to-back losses.

Green Bay (5-3-1) fell a half-game behind the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in the NFC North after losing two straight, scoring just one touchdown in each defeat.

Hurts completed 15 of 26 passes for 183 yards and a TD. Saquon Barkley carried 22 times for 60 yards.

Love connected on 20 of 36 passes for 176 yards. Jacobs finished with 74 yards on 21 carries.

Philadelphia got back-to-back long pass plays to go in front 10-0 with 10:35 remaining. On third and 7, Hurts hit Barkley with a quick toss to the left flat that he turned into a 41-yard gain to the Green Bay 36-yard line. Hurts then connected with Smith, who made a leaping grab over a defender at the goal line.

Green Bay answered on its ensuing possession, capitalising on a pass interference call for a first down at the Philadelphia 13. Jacobs’s touchdown cut the deficit to 10-7 with 5:49 left.

The Eagles punted on their next possession with Green Bay taking over on its own 10 with 2:18 remaining. On fourth and 1, Jacobs fumbled, and Philadelphia recovered at the Green Bay 35 with 1:26 left.

After a scoreless first half, the Eagles got on the board on their opening possession of the third quarter on Jake Elliott’s 39-yard field goal.

Neither team generated much offence during a mistake-filled first half. The Eagles had 125 yards total offence while Green Bay managed just 83 yards and was 0-for-5 on third-down conversions.

The Eagles wound up with a 294-261 edge in total yards.

FORGET the Oscars, the Met Gala or a Royal wedding.

This weekend saw the VIP event to rule them all, in the form of Kris Jenner’s 70th star-studded black-tie birthday party.

Make no mistake, every celebrity worth their diamonds can gather a gaggle of A-listers, but this event was something different.

The 007-themed bash collected some of the world’s biggest names in business and tech, movies and music for a night of total luxury and couture-costumed backslapping.

Hosted by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos at his and new wife Lauren Sanchez’s Hollywood megamansion, it was proof to the guests — and millions of fans now lapping up every detail they can via Instagram — that Kris Jenner is the unrivalled queen bee.

She is bigger in power and influence than any other fellow guest in attendance, including talk show legend Oprah Winfrey, tech pioneer Bill Gates, multi-platinum singer Mariah Carey, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg and Kris’s own daughter, Kim Kardashian.

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And getting on her guestlist is the equivalent of getting a glowing write-up in the Who’s Who of modern-day heavyweights.

Essentially, Kris can make or break you — but if she likes you, you’re really winning.

It’s a truth that was etched proudly across Meghan Markle’s face as she smiled her way into Kris’s exclusive birthday bash.

Flanked by her less enthusiastic husband Prince Harry, Meghan looked like the cat who had got the cream — which, for her, has been a long time coming.

Meghan may have rejected royal life before hightailing it to the US in 2020, but Buckingham Palace is a long way from Beverly Hills — and across the pond, Kris has more influence, cachet and showbiz know-how than any British monarch.

Since stepping down as senior royals, Meghan and Harry have done their best to ingratiate themselves in the up­per echelons of LA, mingling with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Beyonce and actress Kerry Washington.

But they have fallen out with the likes of power couples Victoria and David Beckham and George and Amal Clooney — both of whom have cut them from A-list social functions.

Grandiose pitches

Meanhwile, Meghan apparently pursued her own goal: An actual friendship with Kris, who, as well as holding influence, knows better than most about the art of rebranding.

Let’s remember, her family were once jokingly labelled “the Kartrashians”, known for flogging slimming teas on Instagram and attending the opening of an envelope.

But the joke’s now firmly on all their critics, since they turned themselves into the one of the most lucrative family brands the world has ever seen — one to rival a royal fold.

And it’s Kris who has masterminded the whole thing — a fact immortalised the day she was filmed cooing at Kim, “You’re doing amazing, sweetie!” while her daughter posed nude for a Playboy magazine shoot in 2007.

Back then, she had already launched the entire family on network TV with their own reality series, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, building on the infamy of Kim’s sex tape.

And though the family’s fame in the early days was easily mocked, they’ve since each cemented themselves as aspirational power players in their own right.

Kim and her sister Kylie Jenner are billionaire business moguls with their respective fashion and beauty lines SKIMS and Kylie Cosmetics, while Kendall Jenner is one of the biggest fashion models in the world.

As for Kourtney and Khloe, everything they touch also turns to gold.

Momager Kris still takes ten per cent of her family’s earnings and is well worth the levy, because having a steer and a nod from her is worth its weight in Hollywood opportunities.

Meghan’s long known this, but her efforts so far have mostly been met with muted interest.

Last year, she sent a batch of her home-made jam to Kris, and before that she and her own mum Doria Ragland previously rubbed shoulders with Kris and Kim at various charity dos.

But getting an invite to THE party of the year is the ultimate seal of approval for Meghan, and a sign that her and Harry’s luck might now be changing after all.

So far, they have been slammed by insiders for not following through on lucrative brand deals and mocked for constantly going back on grandiose pitches and promises.

In 2023, Spotify pulled the plug on their $20million audio deal after Meghan produced just 12 episodes of content for her podcast Archetypes, with one exec at the audio streamer labelling them “f***ing grifters”.

And even though Netflix has now produced two series of the universally mocked cookery and lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, it’s been reported that she and Harry are no longer the streaming giant’s golden couple.

Their $100million deal with the streamer has now been downgraded to a “first-look deal” with a reportedly massive pay cut.

In the past week, we revealed how Meghan is returning to acting with a role in the upcoming movie comedy Close Personal Friends.

Having shunned the showier side of showbiz post-royal life, it’s clear she now needs Hollywood’s endorsement more than ever — so getting through the door of Kris’s VIP-packed party is a pretty momentous achievement.

Devotedly loyal

Jeff Bezos’s role as host attests to Kris’ social standing. Not content with putting on their lavish three-day wedding in Venice which was attended by the Kardashian clan, the Amazon boss and his wife Lauren proved there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for their dear friend Kris.

So it only stands to reason that Jeff would be all-ears to any film or TV ideas Meghan might have for his Prime streaming service — provided she has Kris’s seal of approval.

Other heavyweights who donned their gladrags for Kris included Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who arrived carrying a perfectly wrapped, rectangular gift (prompting the internet to wonder just what a billionaire brings as a birthday present).

Bill has a lot to thank Kris for, as she recently invested in Phia, an AI shopping start-up co-launched by his daughter Phoebe.

Kris knows what The Godfather taught us long ago: Make sure people owe you enough to remain committed and devotedly loyal.

But the night wasn’t all about business deals, and it’s safe to say that every star who attended the function — many of them dressed in red — had a night to remember.

Maintaining the party’s James Bond theme, Kris brandished a tiny pistol — stressing the point that she’s the one who wields the power.

Dressed in a frilled, hot-red ballgown and dramatic black gloves, the mum-of-six proudly displayed her most expensive purchase — a new facelift, which reportedly cost between $150,000 and $230,000.

She unveiled the results earlier this year, saying, “This is ageing gracefully, my version.”

And she certainly looked delighted with herself on the night, as did her younger actor boyfriend, Corey Gamble, 45, who lovingly followed 70-year-old Kris around all night.

Among the other VIPs attending were Motown legend Stevie Wonder, Oscar nominee Naomi Watts, socialite Paris Hilton, rapper Snoop Dogg, singer Adele and fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger — while hitmaker Bruno Mars performed live.

The night was so eventful that police were called to the premises several times after neighbours complained about loud music.

Cameras were strictly forbidden, but the birthday girl did later post a carousel of photos on Instagram which showed red roses, sweeping scarlet drapery, flowing champagne, 007-themed lighters and poker chips.

It was all accounted for, and Kris was royally venerated like the modern-day monarch she has risen to be.

The rise itself is pretty spectacular, considering her modest beginnings.

Born in San Diego in 1955 to an aircraft manager dad and children’s clothing store owner mum, Kris briefly worked as an air hostess for American Airlines.

Her only “proper” job, she said it made her “see what hard work and great service looked like”.

While married to Hollywood lawyer Robert Kardashian, who represented OJ Simpson during his 1995 murder trial, she became the standard LA wife who knows all the right people and places, but still stands behind her more successful husband.

But after she divorced Robert and married Bruce Jenner, now Caitlyn, she became the former athlete’s manager and turned his faded Olympic career into lucrative brand deals.

Yet it wasn’t until she pitched her family to E! for reality TV glory that she really proved her mettle.

Coining the term momager, she has now leveraged a C-list family to Hollywood royalty.

The Kardashians now run some of the most exclusive rooms in the world — and for Meghan Markle, getting access to them is crucial.

Attending Kris’s party might just be the start of a beautiful friendship.

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And if Meghan really plays her cards right, she’ll finally hear those four words that mean so much: “You’re doing amazing, sweetie.”

In the meantime, Meghan — and the rest of Hollywood — know the drill: Curtsey, kiss the ring, and never say no to a Kris Jenner invitation.

In an open-air market in the Brazilian city of Belém, I had a problem. It was breakfast time and I wanted a drink, but the long menu of fruit juices was baffling. Apart from pineapple (abacaxi) and mango (manga), I’d never heard of any of the drinks. What are bacuri, buriti and muruci? And what about mangaba, tucumã and uxi? Even my phone was confused. Uxi, it informed me, is a Zulu word meaning “you are”.

But then I started to recognise names that I’d heard on my six-week voyage from the Andes to the mouth of the Amazon. There was cucuaçu. I’d picked one of those cacao-like pods in a Colombian village about 1,900 miles (3,000km) back upriver. And even further away, in Peru, there was açai: a purple berry growing high up on a wild palm. The Amazon, it seems, is vast and varied, but also remarkably similar along its astonishing length.

My six-week Amazon adventure had begun with a conference on sustainable tourism in Peru. It was 2023 and Belém, on the other side of South America, had been declared the location for the Cop30 conference. Determined to cut down on air miles, I set off downriver, heading towards Belém, using public river boats, all the time seeking out people who were working to preserve this incredible environment. I did night walks with guides who blasted powdered concoctions up my nose to make me “alert” (not that kind of concoction – herbal stuff). I swam across the river (then enjoyed lots of electric eel stories) and repeatedly had the disorienting experience of not knowing which country I was in. Until I reached Manaus, I met only a handful of visitors, but I was always wondering about tourism and its potential role in the Amazonian future.

The idea that tourism might help in the battles against the climate crisis and biodiversity loss is one fraught with problems. Flying is the most CO₂-intensive way of travelling. Tourism is a luxury. Surely the only way to save the planet is to stop privileged outsiders flying around the globe, especially for self-indulgent rainforest tours?

On the Mamori, a tributary of the great river in central Brazil, surrounded by the smoke from forest fires, I was given a salutary answer to this by a schoolboy. “My father is a rancher,” he told me. “We burn the forest to get grass to feed our cattle. In emergencies we can also sell the cleared land, but not the jungle. That’s worthless. But I don’t want to be a rancher, I want to be a tour guide.”

When I later met his school teacher, he confirmed that other local teenagers felt the same. “To be honest, this generation don’t want the hard physical work of clearing land; they’d prefer tourism jobs. The problem is we don’t get many visitors and never see any NGOs or nature projects.” The ranching life for these people is brutally hard and unrewarding. They want a way out, but are trapped in a cycle of deforestation.

Back in Belém, having downed my juice, I moved on through the market, looking for food. My local guide was Junior who recommended the local favourite: fried fish and açai berry sauce. “Açai is making good money for small farmers,” he told me. “They can grow it around their houses mixed in with other trees.”

In the Peruvian village where I had first come across açai, the people explained that the fruit had only ever been an “emergency” wild food for them, but they were happy to find that it now commanded good prices. Their old way of life, hunting river turtles, had ended because of declining numbers and a government ban. Poaching inside the national park had been the only alternative until açai saved them.

Junior and I went off to explore the various river islands beyond the Belém waterfront, heading for the tiny green atoll of Ilha do Combu. The little wooden ferry took us up a narrow creek lined with abundant vegetation and watchful kingfishers where we met Charles, who runs a small handicraft shop and sells his own açai. “It goes with anything,” he told me. “We can eat it with fish or make ice-cream.”

We walked through mixed groves of palms, cacao and dozens of other tree varieties. Up above, scarlet macaws clattered around and a family of giant fruit bats complained about the noise. This productive mosaic is a way to provide income and benefit nature. I picked up a beautiful seed the size of an egg. “Rubber,” said Charles, “We do collect it, but not in commercial quantities.”

In the second half of the 19th century, the discovery of rubber triggered a catastrophic series of events that still haunt the Amazon. Hailed as a wonder product, it started an exploitation stampede. Fortunes were made. At Iquitos, 2,700 miles upriver from Belém, merchants imported bottled drinking water from Belfast and sent their laundry to Lisbon.

For most Amazonian people, however, rubber was a disaster. Forced into ever harsher labour conditions, tribes became dispersed and broken, their languages and cultures mangled. After seeds were smuggled out to Asia in 1876 – via Kew Gardens, where they were germinated – the boom ended, but the aftermath was bitter resentment and suspicion.

Açai has not had the same impact, but is not without controversies. Overblown hyperbole about superfoods has dented its reputation. On Ilha do Combu, however, Charles wasn’t worried. Local demand was strong and prices good.

Next day, I took the ferry out to Ilha Cotijuba near the mouth of the river. The Amazon had one last novelty to impress me with. On the far side of the island I found a small cafe on a beach. The owner, Lena, served a delicious lunch: river fish baked in banana leaves, a pineapple ceviche and a dessert with some pale green berries that I’ve never seen before.

“Like açai,” she told me. “But different.”

Hidden away on those islands, the Amazon still holds secrets.

The trip was provided by sustainable tourism specialist Sumak Travel, which offers tailor-made trips to Brazil and the rest of Latin America

SACRAMENTO — Gianna Kneepkens scored 20 points and No. 3 UCLA used a big third quarter to pull away from sixth-ranked Oklahoma for a 73-59 victory Monday night.

Bruins star Lauren Betts had nine points on four-for-11 shooting, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots while committing seven of her team’s 16 turnovers. The Bruins (3-0) dominated on the boards, 59-43, in a game played at Golden 1 Center, home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.

Oklahoma got a scare with 9:16 remaining when senior center and leading scorer Raegan Beers went down awkwardly fighting for a rebound with Betts and grabbed at her right knee. She returned shortly thereafter and wound up with seven points and 14 rebounds.

Zya Vann had 13 points and six rebounds for Oklahoma (1-1) and Payton Verhulst finished with 16. She knocked down a three-pointer to end the third quarter and pull her team to within 59-48.

Angela Dugalic came off the bench to contribute 16 points and 15 rebounds for UCLA, which shot just eight for 22 from deep but created opportunities with hustle and effort plays such as crashing the offensive glass.

The teams faced off in the second round of the 2023 NCAA tournament with UCLA winning 82-73 to reach the Sweet 16. The Bruins have won the last three meetings.

Oklahoma had a week between its 84-67 season-opening win against Belmont on Nov. 3, marking the longest break between the first and second games to start a full season — excluding the COVID-19 year — since 2002-03.

Oklahoma hasn’t beaten a top-five nonconference opponent since topping No. 3 Duke in the 2001 national semifinal.

Up next for UCLA: vs. North Carolina in the WBCA Challenge at Las Vegas on Thursday.

Nov. 11 (UPI) — A mobile lounge, transporting passengers at Washington Dulles International Airport, crashed into a dock Monday, injuring 18 people inside.

The mobile lounge, also called a “people mover,” was carrying passengers to Concourse D, when it struck the dock as it was pulling up to the terminal around 4:30 p.m. EST, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The MWAA oversees Dulles Airport in Virginia and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where millions of passengers arrive every year to the Washington, D.C., area.

All of the passengers on the mobile lounge were able to get out using the stairs, according to the MWAA. A total of 18 people were taken to a local hospital for their injuries, which were described as non-life threatening.

Dulles International has 19 mobile lounges, which transport passengers between the airport’s main terminal and concourses to their aircraft. The vehicle, which is 54-feet long by 16-feet wide, can carry 102 passengers with 71 of them seated, according to the airport, which started using them in 1959.

Investigators are looking into Monday’s incident and have not said how the crash occurred, or if there was significant damage to the vehicle or the airport building.

Dulles remained open Monday and continued to operate as normal.

Jannik Sinner begins his ATP Finals title defence with victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime on home soil in Italy.

Italy’s Jannik Sinner began his bid to retain the ATP Finals title with a resounding 7-5, 6-1 win over injury-hit Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in their round-robin clash at a packed Inalpi Arena in Turin on Monday.

The pair were meeting for the fourth time since August, and eight days after their last clash, with the outcome the same as Sinner eased into the match before overpowering Auger-Aliassime, who needed medical attention during the second set.

Sinner extended his incredible indoor hardcourt winning streak to 27 matches, his last defeat on the surface coming against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 ATP Finals decider.

The 24-year-old is also in a battle with Carlos Alcaraz to end the year as world number one. Sinner must retain his title in Turin to have any chance, while the Spaniard can secure the prize by winning two more matches after victory in his opener.

Sinner began with intent by winning the first game to love and went on to give up just three points on serve in the opening set while forcing five break points, displaying an impressive mixture of sharp backhand and forehand shots down the line.

Auger-Aliassime hung in, smashing eight aces to Sinner’s one during the first set, often at just the right time as he saved four break points, but the Italian came through when it mattered, breaking to win the set.

“It was a very tough match until 6-5. I had some chances to break,” Sinner said.

“He played some very aggressive tennis, so I’m happy to overcome a very tough test today. Obviously, winning the first match is very important in this competition and this format.”

Sinner stormed into a 3-0 lead in the second, and his opponent took a medical timeout for a problem in his left calf.

“I hope it’s nothing too serious,” Sinner said.

“I wish him obviously a very speedy recovery, and hopefully he is back to 100 percent physically.”

Auger-Aliassime saved two break points to avoid losing touch completely before Sinner sank the Canadian with another break to leave the Italian serving for the match, which he did in style, hammering home an ace to clinch the win.

While the Canadian struggled in the second set, Sinner began to enjoy himself, playing some deft drop shots to the delight of his home crowd, who rose to their feet to acclaim the win.

On Sunday, German Alexander Zverev beat American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(6) in the other Bjorn Borg Group match. All four players in the group will meet each other, with the top two qualifying for the semifinals.

Tuesday’s action features the Jimmy Connors Group, where Alcaraz takes on last year’s finalist Taylor Fritz, with both players on one win each, and Italian Lorenzo Musetti faces Australian Alex de Minaur.

The official cause of death for Ace Frehley, the guitarist who was a founding member of hard-rock band Kiss, has been released, confirming details his family shared in October.

The medical examiner for New Jersey’s Morris County said in a report, published by TMZ, that Frehley died of “blunt trauma injuries” to his head suffered during a fall. His death was ruled an accident. The report listed injuries including a brain bleed and fractures to his skull.

Frehley’s death on Oct. 16 was announced by his family, which said he had recently suffered a fall. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” the family said in a statement at the time. Frehley was 74.

“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others,” the statement continued. “The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension.”

Frehley, known also for his Spaceman alter ego, died less than two weeks after canceling the remainder of his 2025 live performances due to undisclosed “onging medical issues.” He was also hospitalized in late September after suffering a “minor fall” in his studio, his tour manager John Ostrosky announced. Though the rocker was “fine,” doctors urged him to take time from the road to recover, prompting him to cancel his appearance at the Antelope Valley Fair.

The musician was among the original members of Kiss, playing with the band for about a decade, from 1973 — when he formed the group in New York with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss — until 1982, when he quit not long after Criss left.

The band, which had its final show in 2023, was known for flamboyant performances, and costumes and heavy makeup. Despite his relatively short tenure, Frehley proved instrumental in creating the band’s stomping and glittery sound, as heard in songs like “Detroit Rock City,” “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “Strutter” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” He was part of a reunion tour with the band from 1996 to 2002.

“He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history,” the band said of Frehley following news of his death. “He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

The 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is survived by his wife, Jeanette; his daughter, Monique; his brother, Charles; his sister, Nancy; and several nieces and nephews.

Times pop music critic Mikael Wood contributed to this report.

Margit Lake sneaked “multiple miniature bottles” of vodka onto the plane before it took off from San Francisco for London Heathrow, and had to be taken to hospital upon arrival

A United Airlines stewardess was ten times the legal limit to fly after downing a vast quantity of vodka on a transatlantic jet.

Margit Lake, 56, sneaked “multiple miniature bottles” of the spirit onto the ten-hour flight from San Francisco to Heathrow on 17 October. She drank some and needed to be taken to hospital after the Boeing 777 landed in west London.

A court heard the Californian flight attendant had low blood pressure and paramedics “smelt alcohol on her breath.” A blood test later revealed Lake had 216 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres in her blood — more than ten times the legal limit.

Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday Lake, who had worked for United Airlines for 26 years, resigned from her job following the misdemeanour.

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The legal limit for flight attendants in the UK is 20 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, the court was told. Wearing a black cardigan there, Lake admitted performing an aviation function when over the alcohol limit.

Ben Lansbury, defending, said Lake had been feeling “isolated”, was estranged from her family and “had been dealing with grief.” Mr Lansbury said: “She had the alcohol because she needed to calm down. It was something of a shock to her as to what happened. She deeply regrets what happened.

“Ms Lake has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous almost daily since the last hearing. She is supported by colleagues here in the UK and they sit in the back of the court.”

Magistrate Tony Delliston told her: “We are not going to commit this to the crown court. We can deal with this here. You are not going to prison. We are going to deal with this with a financial penalty.”

Lake was fined £1,461 financial penalty, a £584 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

• It comes as a TUI flight attendant was left seriously injured following a horror fall from a plane at East Midlands Airport after the flight steps were pushed away. The woman, a senior crew member who had over 36 years of experience, was closing the aircraft’s front door when she put her left foot on the steps. Despite her best efforts to hang onto the door, she fell through the gap and to the ground, breaking multiple bones, an Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) report has revealed. The incident occurred on December 16, 2024, with the flight bound for Lanzarote being delayed after the accident. The AAIB investigation found the step removal occurred despite the aircraft door being open.

As he tried to calm the concern after defeat at Nottingham Forest, manager Daniel Farke admitted Leeds United supporters could be described as “emotional”.

Which could go a long way to explaining why Joe Rodon has fitted in so well with them.

The Wales defender not only wears his heart on his sleeve, but displays it on his face.

You didn’t have to be a body language expert to see the 28-year-old’s City Ground frustration as Leeds managed to concede three goals for a second week in a row.

Nor what it has meant to be a match-winner in the Premier League after his first top-flight goals last month.

As Leeds’ former title-winning centre-back Jon Newsome puts it: “He wouldn’t make a very good poker player”.

But Rodon has become something of an ace in the pack at Elland Road, with his fan favourite status going beyond just simply showing what it means.

And you don’t make a near century of consecutive league appearances – and mentions alongside Norman Hunter as a result – for pure passion alone.

Instead, Rodon is showing why he had been tipped for the very top after breaking through at Swansea, and what Wales fans heading to Liechtenstein this weekend have known for some time.

“He has all the attributes to belong in the Premier League,” said boss Craig Bellamy. “When we were at Burnley [in the Championship], we wanted to bring him in. We felt he was a player for the high level.

“What we’re seeing now is that player.”

US president demands ‘full and fair’ retraction of BBC documentary that prompted resignation of two top executives.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn over an edited clip that has plunged the broadcaster into a public relations crisis and prompted the resignations of two top executives.

In a letter sent to the BBC, Trump’s legal team has demanded the retraction of “false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading, and inflammatory statements” contained in a Panorama documentary aired a week before the 2024 US presidential election.

The letter, written by Trump lawyer Alejandro Brito, gives the BBC until Friday to provide a “full and fair” retraction of the documentary and “appropriately compensate President Trump for the harm caused”, or face legal action in the US state of Florida.

“The BBC is on notice. PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY,” says the letter, which was widely circulated on social media.

The BBC did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.

The documentary, titled Trump: A Second Chance?, has been mired in controversy since the leak of an internal memo that criticised producers for editing Trump’s remarks to make it appear that he had directly encouraged the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.

In the documentary, Trump is shown saying, “We fight like hell”, directly after telling supporters, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol”.

Trump had actually followed his comments about going to the Capitol with a remark about cheering on “our brave senators and congressmen and women”, and made his “fight like hell” comment nearly an hour later.

The memo, written by Michael Prescott, a former adviser to the BBC’s standards committee, also accused the broadcaster of suppressing critical coverage of transgender issues and displaying anti-Israel bias within the BBC Arabic service.

The BBC’s director-general, Tim Davie, and its head of news, Deborah Turness, stepped down on Sunday amid the fallout of the controversy.

Trump welcomed the resignations in a post on Truth Social, accusing the BBC executives of being “corrupt” and “very dishonest people”.

BBC chair Samir Shah on Monday acknowledged that the clip was misleading and apologised for the “error of judgement”, but rejected claims that the broadcaster is institutionally biased.

Shah also said that the memo did not present “a full picture of the discussions, decisions and actions that were taken” by the standards board in response to concerns raised internally before the leak.

Trump’s legal threat is the latest in a flurry of actions he has taken to punish critical media.

Those moves include defamation claims against outlets including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and ABC News, funding cuts at NPR and PBS, and the removal of Associated Press journalists from the White House press pool.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) playoffs begin on Thursday with four teams – Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – slugging it out to decide which nation will progress to the FIFA intercontinental playoff tournament in March, which is the final hurdle for qualification into the World Cup 2026 in North America.

The four teams were the best runners-up across the nine African qualifying groups – and the playoff winner will keep alive their nation’s hopes of becoming the continent’s 10th representative at next year’s finals.

Here is all to know about the CAF playoffs:

Where are the African playoffs being held?

Morocco’s capital Rabat will host the African World Cup playoffs, using three different stadiums for the three matches.

Al Barid Stadium and Moulay El Hassan Stadium will be used for the semifinals.

The newly built Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which will host the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on January 18, will be the venue for the CAF playoff final.

What time do the African playoff matches start?

The two sudden-death semifinal playoffs will be played at the following times:

• Nigeria vs Gabon: Thursday, November 13 at 5pm (16:00 GMT) at Moulay El Hassan Stadium
• Cameroon vs Congo DR: Thursday, November 13 at 8pm (19:00 GMT) at Al Barid Stadium

The winner-take-all final will be played at the following time:

• CAF final (Teams TBD): Sunday, November 16 at 8pm local (19:00 GMT) at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

How was the draw made for the CAF playoff matches?

The draw was based on the current FIFA world rankings of the four teams as of October 17.

Nigeria was ranked highest (#41), followed by Cameroon (#54), Congo DR (#60) and Gabon (#77).

Based on the rankings, FIFA implemented a No.1 (Nigeria) vs No.4 seed (Gabon) matchup for the first semifinal and a No.2 (Cameroon) vs No.3 (Congo DR) second semi.

What does the African playoff winner still need to do for World Cup qualification?

The winner of Sunday’s CAF playoff must still overcome teams from other continents in a FIFA intercontinental playoff scheduled for March in Mexico to decide the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.

The intercontinental playoff will feature two teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and one team apiece from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

How many African nations have already qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Nine African countries have already qualified via direct entry from the CAF group stage: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia.

When and where is the FIFA World Cup 2026?

The tournament is being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The first match will be played in Mexico City on June 11, while the final will be staged in New Jersey, the US, on July 19.

Due to the expansion of the tournament – from 32 teams to 48 – the 39-day event is the longest in its history.

What are the African squads for the CAF playoffs?

⚽ Cameroon:

Goalkeepers: 
Andre Onana (Trabzonspor, Turkiye), Devis Epassy (Dinamo Bucuresti, Romania), Simon Omossola (Saint-Eloi Lupopo, Congo)

Defenders: 
Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui (Beijing Guoan, China), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders, US), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Jackson Tchatchoua (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Darlin Yongwa (Lorient, France), Flavien Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna, Spain), Aboubakar Nagida (Rennes, France), Malcom Bokele (Goztepe, Turkiye)

Midfielders: 
Frank Anguissa (Napoli, Italy), Martin Hongla (Granada, Spain), Jean Onana (Genoa, Italy), Yvan Neyou (Getafe, Spain), Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Arthur Avom (Lorient, France), Wilitty Younoussa (Rodez, France)

Forwards: 
Vincent Aboubakar (c) (Azerbaijan Neftci, Azerbaijan), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (New York Red Bulls, US), Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow, Russia), Christian Bassogog (Al-Okhdood, Saudi Arabia), Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United, England), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Diriyah, Saudi Arabia), Frank Magri (Toulouse, France), Danny Namaso (Auxerre, France), Patrick Soko (Almeria, Spain), Karl Etta Eyong (Levante, Spain)

⚽ Congo DR:

Goalkeepers:
Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege, Belgium), Timothy Fayulu (Noah, Armenia), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre, France)

Defenders:
Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian, Scotland), Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Steve Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw, Poland), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk, Belgium), Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland, England), Chancel Mbemba (Olympique de Marseille, France), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley, England), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United, England)

Midfielders:
Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Edo Kayembe (Watford, England), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier, France), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos, Greece), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille, France), Charles Pickel (Espanyol, Spain), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland, England), Mario Stroeykens (Anderlecht, Belgium)

Forwards: 
Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis, Spain), Samuel Essende (Augsburg, Germany), Brian Cipenga (Castellon, Spain), Meshack Elia (Alanyaspor, Turkiye), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids, Egypt).

⚽ Gabon:

Goalkeepers: 
Francois Junior Bekale (Hafia, Guinea), Loyce Mbaba (Stella d’Adjame, Ivory Coast), Lukas Mounguenou (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Demba Anse Ngoubi (Mosta, Malta)

Defenders: 
Aaron Appindangoye (Sivasspor, Turkiye), Jonathan do Marcolino (Bourg-en-Bresse, France), Jacques Ekomie (Angers, France), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Paris 13 Atletico, France), Yannis Mbemba (FC Dordrecht, Netherlands), Johan Obiang (Orleans, France), Mike Kila Onfia (Hafia, Guinea), Anthony Oyono and Jeremy Oyono (both Frosinone, Italy)

Midfielders: 
Oumar Samake Nze Bagnama (Stade Abdijan, Ivory Coast), Eric Bocoum (Gol Gohar, Iran), Guelor Kanga (Esenler Erokspor, Turkiye), Mario Lemina (Galatasaray, Turkiye), Didier Ndong (Esteghlal, Iran), Andre Biyogho Poko (Amed, Turkiye)

Forwards: 
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Olympique de Marseille, France), Teddy Averlant (Amiens, France), Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC, US), Alan do Marcolino (Lusitania Lourosa, Portugal), Randy Essang Matouti (Khenchela, Algeria), Noha Lemina (Yverdon Sport, Switzerland), Bryan Meyo (Oympique Lyonnais, France)

⚽ Nigeria:

Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)

Defenders:
Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France), Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Benjamin Fredericks (Dender, Belgium), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia)

Midfielders:
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkiye), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, US)

Forwards:
Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Olakunle Olusegun (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkiye), Moses Simon (Paris FC, France)

Emmerdale villain Celia Daniels won’t be around forever, with actress Jaye Griffiths teasing she was told her role on the ITV soap would be limited due to her dark storyline

Despite playing the latest villain on Emmerdale, actress Jaye Griffiths has shared her joy playing the ITV soap role – but warned an exit looms.

The star said there’s something “freeing” about her villainous character Celia Daniels, who fans were introduced to back in June, before her dark crimes and link to fellow villain and ‘son’ Ray Walters were unearthed last month. Jaye, 62, admits feeling challenged by the role, but says Celia’s lack of a conscience is great fun.

Speaking to The Mirror, she said: “It’s joyful. The reason Celia works is because she has no little voice in her head. You know that little voice that tells women, particularly, that you’re not enough, you’re too tall, you’re too short, you’re too fat, you’re too thin, you’re too old, you’re too young.

“That self-critical, nasty voice that stops us doing many things. Celia doesn’t have one of those. That is very freeing. If there are no consequences internally, if there’s no conscience, you can do anything you want.”

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Recently we’ve seen Celia and Ray drag teens April Windsor and Dylan Penders into their dodgy drug deals, while also trying to force poor April into sexual exploitation. It’s certainly a different type of role to what Jaye is used to, having played respectable characters in shows including Casualty, Silent Witness and Doctors.

“I usually get the upstanding, morally robust people,” she told us. “Celia, her compass is buried. She doesn’t need one, she just needs to make money.” While it’s all fun and games, the dark nature of Jaye’s latest plot has been draining to film.

She shared: “When you have to shut down all feelings, shut down any regard you have for the people you’re with, it’s exhausting. When we do rehearsals, particularly if I’m going to be violent, and you hear the crew go, ‘ooh’ and then you have to go, ‘oh, I’m nice, really, I’m not really a sociopath’, it’s very freeing, but very tiring. Empathy for your fellow humans is what makes life, life. So to not have that, I get very lonely sometimes.”

More could be revealed about Celia’s past too, as Jaye said she wasn’t always so evil. She told us: “Something very, very bad has happened to her. Not to excuse her, but it would explain everything. She didn’t come out of the womb like this.”

While Jaye is having the time of her life with the show, she confirmed an exit would happen at some point. “I knew it was finite from the start, which I am very sad about,” she confesses. “I would like to stay forever, but it’s such a strong arc.”

As the soap tackles modern slavery in its latest hard-hitting plot, missing character Bear Wolf’s link to the storyline being revealed is just the start. Jaye said of the topic: “It’s just utterly depressing that we treat our fellow humans like this.”

Jaye hopes viewers will recognise that Celia is a character, and not remotely similar to who she is away from the soap. “I want to remind people that it’s just pretend and I am really nice and I’m not a sociopath,” she said.

As for Celia’s magnificent wardrobe, Jaye explained a secret, gory detail about her character’s famous cravats worn in most scenes, while also confessing the farmer persona is just an act.

Jaye tells us: “I love my scarves. I love my hat. I love it more than anything that she just walks around with this stick. It is glorious. I think she went through a catalogue going, ‘what do farmers wear? Oh, great, I’ll buy that!’ She doesn’t do farm work, I don’t think she’s been in a field in her life. Do you know why she wears a cravat?

“Someone tried to cut her head off. So it’s very subtle, and it’s only halfway across, because obviously they didn’t succeed. I asked our execs if they would not tell scripts, because I don’t want it ever mentioned. It’s just a hint of a former life elsewhere where bad things happened to her.”

Celia’s meddling in the village is set to continue, as she comes between son Ray and his new love interest Laurel Thomas. “Laurel goes to kiss him, and he won’t kiss her. That breaks Celia’s heart, because that means she’s not a floozy, she’s not a one-off.

“He’s so serious about her, he won’t even kiss her. He likes her that much, and that is too real for Celia. So now the possibility is he might leave her, and I think that would come close to breaking Celia.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok, Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For once, Luka Doncic had to serve the punishment. For not hitting any half-court shots during his pregame warmup, Doncic had to drop to the court and give his coaching staff push-ups.

The exercise seemingly powered him up for the two-handed dunk to come.

Doncic dazzled in the Lakers’ 121-111 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday at Spectrum Center, scoring 38 points with seven assists, six rebounds and one emphatic third-quarter dunk to help the Lakers flush the memories of a blowout loss in Atlanta.

Austin Reaves returned from a three-game absence with 24 points and seven assists while Rui Hachimura scored 21 points with perfect three-for-three shooting from three-point range.

Reaves, who was out with a right groin strain, announced his presence by throwing a lob to Deandre Ayton for the Lakers’ first basket. After Charlotte (3-7) blitzed the Lakers with eight three-pointers in the first quarter to take a 40-36 lead, Reaves answered by scoring seven of the Lakers’ first 10 points in the second. He gave the team a jolt of energy by racing for a transition layup to beat the halftime buzzer, giving the Lakers (8-3) a two-point lead.

“He’s an All-Star-level player,” coach JJ Redick said before the game. “He’s, along with Luka, an incredibly dynamic offensive player. I think our depth increases, the lineup optionality increases, so not having him in the lineup really, really hurts us.”

The Lakers went 2-1 in games without Reaves, but the 20-point loss to Atlanta on Saturday was so striking that Redick was left questioning the identity of his team. The Lakers looked lifeless. Redick waved the white flag by the middle of the third quarter after the starting unit let the deficit balloon to 25.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots over Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges during the first half Monday.

(Chris Carlson / Associated Press)

With Doncic and Reaves back, the Lakers wouldn’t repeat their third-quarter woes.

The Lakers started the second half with an 11-4 run that forced the Hornets to call a timeout. Reaves then assisted a three-pointer from Hachimura that pushed the lead into double digits. Doncic hit a step-back three to put the Lakers up by 12. Doncic’s assist to Hachimura extended the lead to 17.

A driving, two-handed dunk was the exclamation point, stunning the Charlotte crowd as he hung on the rim and screamed. With two dunks this season, he already doubled his total from last year.

Doncic assisted a Reaves three with 8:01 remaining in the fourth quarter and Reaves put up his arms and threw his head back in relief. He had missed his first seven three-point attempts and finished two for 10 from three-point range.

Reaves’ return gets the Lakers one player closer to their full roster. LeBron James is scheduled to practice with the South Bay Lakers this week as he progresses through his return from right sciatica.

Rookie Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery) is also nearing his return as Redick estimated the forward could make his NBA debut during this road trip, which continues Wednesday at Oklahoma City and ends with a back-to-back set in New Orleans on Friday and Milwaukee on Saturday.