Nathan Aspinall 5-2 Alex Spellman

Luke Humphries 5-3 Michael Smith

Martin Lukeman 4-5 Jurjen van der Velde

Chris Dobey 5-1 Damon Heta

Stephen Bunting 4-5 Martin Schindler

Luke Woodhouse 5-2 Alexis Toylo

James Wade 0-5 Gerwyn Price

Ricky Evans 5-4 Stefan Bellmont

Daryl Gurney 3-5 Karel Sedlacek

Luke Littler 5-3 Connor Scutt

Josh Rock 5-0 Lisa Ashton

Glan van Veen 5-3 Wessel Nijman

Gary Anderson 5-4 Beau Greaves

Michael van Gerwen 4-5 Niko Springer

Jonny Clayton 3-5 Lukas Wenig

Danny Noppert 5-4 Cameron Crabtree

US Senate vote to end shutdown delivers reprieve to investors worried about AI valuations and weakness in US economy.

Stocks from the United States to Japan have risen sharply amid hopes that an end to the longest US government shutdown in history is imminent.

US lawmakers on Sunday moved to end a five-week impasse over government funding, a boost for investors unnerved by signs of growing weakness in the US economy and the sky-high evaluations of firms involved in artificial intelligence.

After a group of Democrats broke with the party leadership to join Republicans, the US Senate voted 60-40 to advance a bill that would fund government operations through the end of January.

The funding package still needs to win final approval in the Senate and then pass the US House of Representatives, after which it would go to US President Donald Trump for his signature – a process expected to take days.

Stock markets in the Asia Pacific made large gains on Monday, while futures in the US also rose in advance of stock exchanges reopening.

South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI led the gains, rising about 3 percent as of 4pm local time (07:00 GMT).

Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng also rose sharply, advancing about 1.3 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

Taiwan’s Taiex rose about 0.8 percent, while Australia’s ASX 200 gained about 0.75 percent.

Futures for the US’s benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq-100, which are traded outside of regular market hours, were up about 0.75 and 1.3 percent, respectively.

The reprieve comes as investors are concerned that AI-linked stocks may be wildly overvalued and that Trump’s sweeping tariffs could be doing more damage to the US economy than has been captured in headline data so far.

Nvidia, whose graphics processing units are integral to the development of AI, last month became the first company in history to reach a market valuation of $5 trillion, a day after tech giant Apple surpassed $4 trillion in market value.

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ official jobs report has been suspended since August due to the government shutdown, several other analyses have pointed to a rise in layoffs in October.

Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an executive outplacement firm, said in a report last week that layoffs surged 183 percent last month, making it the worst October for jobs since 2003.

A separate analysis by Revelio Labs, a workforce analytics company, estimated that the economy shed 9,100 jobs during the month.

Crop residue burning, along with emissions from vehicles, industries and construction, engulf the capital in smog.

Crowds have demonstrated in New Delhi as the Indian capital faces another winter engulfed in smog.

Pollution levels in New Delhi surged again on Monday morning as the city was immersed in a thick smog. The annual degradation of air quality in the capital to harmful levels has led to rare protests.

On Sunday, demonstrators mounted a rally at the city’s India Gate monument to demand action over the lethal pollution that envelops the area each year.

Crowds held up banners and chanted slogans while some disrupted traffic. Police officers detained some of the protesters by putting them on buses and dispersed others.

By Monday morning, the city’s air pollution index had surpassed 350, squarely landing in the range classified as “very poor” by India’s Central Pollution Control Board.

Anything below 100 is considered good or satisfactory, while an index of more than 400 is classified as “severe”.

Some areas of the Indian capital experienced an index of more than 400 early on Monday morning as a thick blanket of smog was trapped over the city amid falling temperatures.

The right to clean air is a basic human right.

The right to peaceful protest is guaranteed by our Constitution.

Why are citizens who have been peacefully demanding clean air being treated like criminals?

Air pollution is affecting crores of Indians, harming our children and… https://t.co/ViPZiO16lT

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 9, 2025

India has six of the 10 most polluted cities globally and 13 of the top 20. New Delhi is the most polluted capital city in the world, according to the Switzerland-based air quality monitor IQAir.

Air quality dramatically deteriorates in the city every year as the cold season approaches.

The smoke created by farmers burning crop residue in nearby states blows into the capital and is trapped by the cooler temperatures.

As it mixes with vehicle and industrial emissions, the resulting smog causes respiratory illnesses and has become a key factor in thousands of deaths each year.

Efforts to prevent the annual envelopment have struggled to have a significant effect.

The authorities have launched a tiered emergency system that restricts construction, bans diesel generators, and limits vehicle entry when pollution hits severe levels.

The government has also introduced crop-burning control subsidies with limited success.

A cloud seeding effort last month failed to trigger artificial rain and cut pollution levels.

“The right to clean air is a basic human right,” Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party, wrote in a post on X, criticising how the protesters were treated.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, environment minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party, said the government “will continue every possible effort” to prevent pollution.

BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent shared a devastating news update on Monday

A BBC Breakfast star issued a “danger” warning as tragic news was confirmed on Monday (November 10).

During today’s edition of the hit morning programme, presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay brought viewers the latest headlines from Britain and beyond.

Sports updates came from Jane Dougall in the studio, whilst Carol Kirkwood provided weather forecasts throughout the broadcast.

At the start of the show, Sally revealed that a typhoon had struck the Philippines, forcing one million residents to flee their homes. Tragically, two people have lost their lives.

“A powerful typhoon which struck the Philippines has now passed into the South China Sea, leaving at least two people dead and causing widespread flooding,” Sally announced, reports the Express.

“Typhoon Fung-wong hit the country’s east coast last night as a super typhoon, with winds reaching speeds of 143 mph. Nearly one million people were evacuated after warnings of a high risk of threat to life.”

BBC correspondent Jonathan Head highlighted the alarming situation in a pre-recorded report from Cabanatuan City in the Philippines.

“Well, the storm has actually long since passed but, as you can see, it’s still raining very heavily,” he said.

“The big concern for this community, and so many others that are low-lying in the Philippines, is actually these water levels are now rising very fast. That’s because the huge amounts of rain that were dumped by the typhoon have collected on the mountains, and they have soaked the terrain there.

“They’re filling up the rivers and that water is feeding down to cities like this one lower down.”

Jonathan continued: “We’ve really watched this water come up and we see people wading into their houses, retrieving possessions, furniture, pets as well.

“They now realise that even people who might have a second floor, this water might rise that high. It’s an illustration of the many different, unpredictable risks that come with typhoons.

“The challenge initially was to protect people from the ferocity of the storm as it passed through this area… There’s a lot of clearing up to do, but these rising water levels are a real concern.”

The correspondent concluded: “[Although] this typhoon appears to have left the country far less damaged than expected, there are still dangers that it has left behind.”

BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am

A British YouTuber was left stunned by the price of a small beer on his flight to Portugal after he had been delighted to get his ticket for just £17.99

A British YouTuber managed to fly from Manchester Airport to Portugal for a mere £17.99 – but the cost of a small beer on his flight left him stunned.

The content creator, known to his fans as Just Deano, jetted off abroad to spend a week filming in Albufeira, a seaside resort that’s a hit with Brits due to its affordable prices and sunny climate.

Kicking off his vlog, he quipped: “Terminal one I hear you say? Ryanair is in terminal three Deano. You’re a cheap skate! Well, this flight cost me £17.99… £17.99! And it is in terminal one because we are flying with easyJet.”

After breezing through security, Deano, whose flight was scheduled for the evening, decided to indulge in a pre-holiday tipple at Bar MCR.

However, despite planning to enjoy a pint of Guinness, he was appalled to see the iconic dark beverage being served in generic non-branded glasses.

With that in mind, he opted for a pint of Mahou lager instead, and raising his eyebrows, he remarked: “Airport prices of course – £7.40 a pint…”

Deano had loaded episodes of the Netflix series House of Guinness onto his phone for the flight, and was pleasantly surprised when everything ran like clockwork, a welcome change after recent travel nightmares.

Settling into his seat on the easyJet flight, he commented that the smoothness of his journey was “unusual for all the right reasons” and he even had an entire aisle to himself.

However, deciding to spoil himself with another beer, he later mused: “So, with everything going so well, I thought let’s treat myself to a couple of beers…

“The only reason I got two and not one is because it is €7 (approx £6) for one can of Birra Moretti and it is €10.95 (approx £9.50) for two.”

After sampling his pricey drink from a plastic cup, he remarked: “Lukewarm. What a shame. The only thing going wrong today is the lukewarm beer. So far.”

Upon his delayed arrival at Faro Airport, he then shelled out €21 (approx £18) for an Uber to his accommodation, before turning in for the evening.

Following the upload of his video, which you can view in its entirety here, numerous viewers from his 33,300-strong following were swift to weigh in on the costs.

One viewer commented: “Deano spent more on beer than the air travel.”

Another remarked: “Great video mate but I would not be paying 11euros for two small warm cans of lager.”

A third chimed in with: “Ridiculous the prices of beer on the plane I say I’m not going to every time but always do. Belter episode DEANO.”

One individual referenced the earlier Guinness glass controversy, stating: “Guinness in a non-Guinness glass should actually be illegal and I am not joking!”.

Finally, another supporter observed: “Weird your taxi is more than your flight. Yet the plane costs far more in fuel to fly there.”

In response to claims made in this story, a spokesperson for easyJet said: “A flight to Portugal and two beers for under £30 doesn’t sound like something to complain about.”

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. My name is Eric Sondheimer. High school basketball season is a week away from beginning, so let’s start discussing top players and top teams.

Mission League talent surge

Brandon McCoy has left St. John Bosco for Sierra Canyon.

(Greg Stein)

The Mission League has continued to have a surge in basketball talent through transfers and development of young players. Harvard-Westlake won consecutive state titles until Eastvale Roosevelt broke through last season and has won seven straight league championships.

Sierra Canyon will start out as No. 1 in the state in many rankings and polls with an influx of transfers, including St. John Bosco’s Brandon McCoy and JSerra’s Brannon Martinsen to team up with Maximo Adams, who previously played at Narbonne and Gardena Serra before starring for the Trailblazers last season.

Here’s a look at the talent and top teams in the Mission League.

The Trinity League is not far behind, led by Santa Margarita, which returns four starters and has Georgia Tech commit Kaiden Bailey, Washington State commit Brayden Kyman and Oregon State commit Drew Anderson. Mater Dei has Kansas commit Luke Barnett. St. John Bosco has one of the nation’s top seniors in 6-foot-9 Christian Collins. The Braves also have one of the nation’s top lacrosse players who’s also 6-7, Dominic Perfetti.

Missouri commit Jason Crowe Jr. is back to lead Inglewood. Crossroads has added two sensational sophomore transfers in Evan Willis from Mater Dei and Shalen Sheppard from Brentwood. Pasadena’s 6-11 Josh Irving is committed to Texas A&M. Gene Roebuck from La Mirada is a high-scoring junior guard.

Quarterback Wyatt Brown of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame shows off the thrill of victory in 44-28 Division 3 playoff win over Laguna Beach.

(Craig Weston)

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame needed a strong offensive performance to hold off Laguna Beach 44-28 in a Division 3 opener. Quarterback Wyatt Brown made plays and running back Noel Washington had three touchdowns to offset 413 yards passing and four TD passes from Jack Hurst. Here’s the report.

Here’s a look at Hurst, a 6-foot-4 junior quarterback who finished with 45 touchdown passes this season.

Five No. 1 teams lost in the first round of the playoffs. It was also a tough week for unbeaten teams, with Crespi, Torrance, Crean Lutheran and Rowland losing in the opening round.

Leuzinger might have pulled off the most impressive win over Crean Lutheran 34-17 in Division 2 behind the return of quarterback Russell Sekona, who had four touchdown passes after being sidelined with a hand injury. Los Alamitos rallied for a 35-28 win over Yorba Linda. San Juan Hills got a walk-off field goal from Kyle Donahue to defeat Downey 28-27.

In Chaparral’s 63-42 win over Chaminade, quarterback Dane Weber completed 24 of 31 passes for 360 yards and five touchdowns with one interception and ran for 106 yards and three touchdowns in win over Chaminade.

The Division 1 playoffs begin Friday: Orange Lutheran at St. John Bosco, Servite at Corona Centennial, Mission Viejo vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium, Santa Margarita at Sierra Canyon.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s playoff schedule.

Here’s a look at top individual performances.

Carson quarterback Chris Fields.

(Nick Koza)

No. 1-seeded Carson and quarterback Chris Fields begin the Open Division playoffs Friday against King/Drew. The other opening matchups have Kennedy at Birmingham, Garfield playing Palisades at site to be announced and Crenshaw at San Pedro.

Van Nuys pulled off the biggest upset in Division I with a victory over No. 4-seeded Banning, Kudos to coach Ken Osorio, who resurrected a program that didn’t have many wins or many players before he took over in 2023. Van Nuys is at Marquez on Friday. Another good quarterfinal matchup has Franklin at No. 1 Venice.

In Division II, Western League schools University and Fairfax meet for a second time. University lost the first time 21-20. Chatsworth upset No. 3 Roosevelt and now plays at No. 6 Marshall. In Division III, top-seeded Santee received 241 yards rushing and three touchdowns from Darnell Miller, pushing his season total to 2,485 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Ava Irwin (2) celebrates with her teammates after catching two TD passes in JSerra’s 25-20 victory over Orange Lutheran for the Southern Section Division 1 flag football title.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Perfection. It was achieved by the JSerra flag football team with a 25-20 win over Orange Lutheran to win the Southern Section Division 1 championship.

Three times JSerra faced the defending Division 1 champions. Three times JSerra found a way to beat Orange Lutheran. The Lions finish 28-0.

Here’s a look at the drama and celebration.

The City Section will hold its flag football championships Saturday at Garfield High.

Here are the updated City Section pairings.

The legend returns

Hall of Fame basketball player Gail Goodrich came to Sun Valley Poly High on Friday to have the school’s gym named after him.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Anges Times)

Gail Goodrich, one of the greatest basketball players in Los Angeles history, returned to town to have his alma mater, Sun Valley Poly, name its new gym, “The Gail Goodrich Sports Complex.”

Goodrich, 82, was emotional and appreciative. He’s one of the few athletes to have won a City title, NCAA title and NBA title with Poly, UCLA and the Lakers. He’s a basketball Hall of Famer and beloved by many Los Angeles sports fans.

Here’s a look at the ceremony and his humbleness.

Girls volleyball

Sierra Canyon players celebrate their five-set victory over Marymount in the Southern Section Division I semifinals Nov. 1,2025, in Chatsworth, CA. Sierra Canyon went on to win the girls’ volleyball title. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Sierra Canyon won the Southern Section Division 1 girls’ volleyball championship over Mater Dei. Here’s the report. Here’s a look at divisional champions.

Palisades knocked off Western League rival Venice to win the City Section Open Division title. Here’s the report.

Sierra Canyon received the No. 1 seed for the Open Division state volleyball playoffs that begin this week. Here are the pairings.

Water polo

Corona del Mar’s Sam Macias (20) fires in a goal at close range against Santa Margarita.

(Don Leach/Staff Photographer)

The Final Four is set for the Southern Section Open Division boys water polo semifinals Wednesday at Irvine’s Woollett Aquatic Center. It will be No. 1-seeded Newport Harbor facing No. 6 Mira Costa and No. 3 Corona del Mar taking on No. 4 Oaks Christian.

Here’s a look at Corona del Mar’s win over Santa Margarita to decide a Final Four berth.

Notes . . .

Harvard-Westlake basketball coach David Rebibo and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Ferkel have been elected to the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be June 28 at the Skirball Cultural Center in the Sepulveda Basin. . . .

Freshman Layla Phillips of Harbor Teacher Prep poses for a photo.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

The City Section has another freshman phenom to promote. Freshman Layla Phillips from Harbor Teacher Prep won the City Section girls’ golf championship, and it wasn’t even close. Here’s a profile on a player whose name is going to be known nationally. . . .

Moanikeala Finau from Diamond Bar won the Southern Section individual girls’ golf championship. . . .

A free heart screening for students and kids ages 10 to 25 will take place Thursday from 2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at La Mirada High. . . .

St. John Bosco closer Jack Champlin has committed to UC Irvine. . . .

Daniel Robles has resigned as football coach at Don Lugo. . . .

Joe Jurado, who criticized the Southern Section when his 9-1 Rim of the World football team failed to make the playoffs at an at-large team, has resigned as head coach. . . .

Sophomore defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou from Orange Lutheran has reclassified to the class of 2027. He’s 6 feet 7, 275 pounds. . . .

Dean Herrington has been let go as football coach at St. Francis. Here’s the report. . . .

St. Francis is advertising its position as paying its new football coach from $125,000 to $175,000. JSerra is advertising from $150,000 to $200,000. The Catholic schools think football is a wise investment. . . .

Terrance Smith is no longer the football coach at Ayala. . . .

Junior quarterback Deshawn Laporte of Burbank has committed to Delaware State. . . .

Johnny Dukes is the new basketball coach at Eastvale Roosevelt. . . .

Linebacker Ryder Barnes from Crean Lutheran has committed to Cal Poly. . . .

Former Sun Valley Poly assistant football coach Steve Smith is the new head coach at Reseda. . . .

The Southern Section cross-country prelims will take place Friday and Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College.

From the archives: Tyler Glasnow

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow with former Hart coach Jim Ozella, who coached him in high school.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Former Hart High pitcher Tyler Glasnow followed former Harvard-Westlake pitcher Jack Flaherty in coming to the Dodgers and becoming a world champion by contributing on the mound during the World Series. Glasnow was injured during last year’s World Series but finally came through for his home-town team.

Here’s a story from 2024 about Glasnow adding California cool to the Dodgers.

Recommendations

From the Washington Post, a story on former San Clemente quarterback Sam Darnold becoming an NFL MVP candidate.

From Westridgespyglass.org, a story on a high school journalist bringing to light how her school tried to keep quiet a volleyball match against Jurupa Valley.

From the Los Angeles Times, a story on the growth of former Los Alamitos receiver Makai Lemon, now a star at USC.

Tweets you might have missed

Until next time….

Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.

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Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump is pictured in this photo provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in Atlanta on August 24, 2023. Trump surrendered on a 13-count indictment for efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. Photo courtesy of Fulton County Sheriff’s Office/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 10 (UPI) — President Donald Trump is pardoning Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and dozens of other allies who have been accused of trying to subvert the 2020 election, according to U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin.

The list of 77 people pardoned by Trump was published late Sunday on Martin’s personal X account.

“No MAGA left behind,” he said.

The proclamation signed by Trump was dated Friday.

“This proclamation ends a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 presidential election and continues the process of national reconciliation,” the document states.

Those pardoned were tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including participation in what has become known as the fake electors scheme. The strategy involved the creation of false slates of pro-Trump electors in every battleground state that he lost to Biden, including Georgia.

Among those pardoned were four of Trump’s 17 co-defendants in a case concerning the effort in Georgia, including Kenneth Chesebro, the alleged architect of the scheme. Powell, Scott Hall and Jenna Ellis were the other three.

Trump, who was among those charged in Georgia, was specifically not granted a pardon.

“This pardon does not apply to the president of the United States,” the document states.

Others granted pardons include Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff during his first term, and former Trump adviser John Eastman.

On his first day of his second term in office in January, Trump issued pardons and commutations of sentences for more than 1,500 people convicted for their participation in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, including those who injured police officers.

He has also issued pardons to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, convicted on corruption charges, former Hunter Biden business partner Devon Archer and former Las Vegas City Council member Michele Fiore.

China has lifted export controls on computer chips vital to car production, the country’s commerce ministry said on Sunday.

Exemptions have been granted to exports made by Chinese-owned Nexperia for civilian use, it said, which should help carmakers who had feared production in Europe would be hit.

At the same time, China has also paused an export ban to the US of some materials that are crucial in the semiconductor industry and suspended port fees for American ships.

The moves mark an easing of trade tensions between Beijing and Washington after President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump agreed in October to reduce tariffs on each other and pause other measures for a year.

In October, the Dutch government took control of Nexperia, which is based in the Netherlands but owned by Chinese company Wingtech, to try to safeguard the European supply of semiconductors for cars and other goods.

In response, China blocked exports of the firm’s finished chips. However, it said earlier this month it would begin easing the ban as part of a trade deal struck between the US and China.

While Nexperia is based in the Netherlands, about 70% of its chips made in Europe are sent to China to be completed and re-exported to other countries.

When it took control of the company, the Dutch government said it had taken the decision due to “serious governance shortcomings” and to prevent the company’s chips from becoming unavailable in an emergency.

But when China blocked exports of chips from Nexperia, there were worries that it could create global supply chain issues.

In October, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (EMEA) had warned Nexperia chip supplies would only last a few weeks unless the Chinese ban was lifted.

Earlier this month, the EMEA’s director general Sigrid De Vries told the BBC that “supply shortages were imminent”.

Volvo Cars and Volkswagen had warned that a chip shortage could lead to temporary shutdowns at their plants, and Jaguar Land Rover also said the lack of chips posed a threat to its business.

But on Saturday, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic announced in a post on X that China had agreed to “the further simplification of export procedures for Nexperia chips” and it would “grant exemption from licensing requirements to any exporter” provided the goods were for “civilian use”.

“Close engagement with both the Chinese and Dutch authorities continues as we work towards a lasting. stable predictable framework that ensures the full restoration of semiconductor flows.”

In its statement, China’s commerce ministry called on “the EU to continue exerting its influence to urge the Netherlands to correct its erroneous practices as soon as possible.”

Prof David Bailey from Birmingham University’s business school told the BBC’s Today programme that the actions of China were a “wake-up call” for the motor industry.

“The Dutch government may well have had good reasons to try and take control but it hadn’t thought through the implications of that,” he said. “The retaliation from China was swift and it was brutal.”

He said there was a need to find alternative processing sites, “maybe in south east Asia, or Europe”, and for the industry to keep bigger stocks of its products in case of shortages.

Meanwhile, the suspension of a ban on exports of “dual-use items” related to gallium, germanium, antimony and super-hard materials to the US came into effect on Sunday and will be in place until 27 November, 2026.

The ban on the exports of goods and materials that can have both civilian and military uses was announced in December 2024.

China’s transport ministry also said port fees charged on US-linked ships would be suspended for a for a year, effective 0501 GMT Monday.

On Friday, China also announced the suspension of other export controls related to expanded curbs on some rare earth materials and lithium batteries.

TASHA Ghouri just debuted her new beau, as they made their first VERY public appearance.

The Love Island season eight alum and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, 27, travelled down to the live Strictly show on Saturday along with her new partner, YouTuber and animal lover Cam Whitnall.

The beauty competed on the programme last year, impressing the judges and public with her dancing skills.

However, Tasha’s dancing days played a role in the ending of her last romance, as her and her ex-boyfriend Andrew Le Page split up weeks after the show ended.

Merely five months later, Tasha and Cam met, but only yesterday they made their first appearance together in public – and it was a big one, on national TV!

The couple were spotted on camera sitting together in the front row of the audience, following a Charleston from Karen Carney.

keep dancing

Strictly’s Tasha Ghouri makes exciting return to the show

NEW HAIR, DON’T CARE

Tasha Ghouri undergoes hair transformation as ex Andrew moves on

It was a sweet moment for the pair, who are still in the early days of dating after only making things official last month.

A source said: “Tasha and Cam are in the early stages of dating.

“They have been seeing each other for around a month now and share so much in common, from a personal and professional standpoint.

“Cam is a great guy and has a lot going for him, Tasha has definitely been thrilled getting to know him and the feeling is mutual.”

One of these mutual passions is their love of animals.

Cam is the managing director of a non-profit charity called The Big Cat Sanctuary.

It’s the sanctuary’s mission to protect species’ of cat that are on the brink of extinction, and to rescue any cats in need of a better life.

His family also run Hertfordshire Zoo.

Meanwhile Tasha’s beloved dog, Luna, is a rescue she adopted from Spanish charity Alora Dog Rescue and Homeward Bound.

Luna was previously shared with her ex, Andrew.

The end of Tasha and Andrew’s relationship was far from pretty, involving accusations and shocking statements amid a public breakup.

Andrew claimed that Tasha was using Raya, celebrity dating app, while they were still together.

He also claimed she “couldn’t keep his name out of her mouth” after appearing on “one too many podcast” speaking about him and their relationship.

Shortly after the accusations and plenty of trolling online, the sunk couple release a set of emotional public statements about wanting to leave the past behind them and avoid unnecessary hurt.

Tasha’s read: “No one deserves to be torn down, especially when they’re already trying to heal.

“We’ve both made mistakes, we’ve both learned, and we’ve both grown.

“But the judgement and cruelty we are facing from people online has been hard.

“Please remember that behind every nasty post, every comment, every story, there are real people with real emotions.

“Always be kind.”

Andrew added: “Tasha and I want to address the noise around our breakup, as there’s been hate going around that neither of us ever wanted. 

“Things were said on both sides, but at the end of the day, no relationship is perfect, but ours still had some incredible moments I’ll always be grateful for. 

“I truly just want us both to move on and be happy.

“Wishing Tasha nothing but the best, and I’ll always be proud of her.”

Andrew is now dating actress and singer Hannah Peglar.

The pair are rumoured to have began dating back in August after his split from Tasha.

She’s known largely for her role as an extra in hit Netflix series Sex Education.

WIFE’S AGONY

Husband’s heart attack was start our of nightmare – vital mistake lost me £20k

MADDIE SCAM

I looked into the eyes of Maddie fraudster…Chilling move proved she was a sham

I once ate seven bowls of ragù bolognese over the course of a single weekend. I was in Bologna, to be fair, and on a mission – to get to the bottom of spag bol (yes, I know it should be served with tagliatelle). A few years earlier, I did something similar with a Polish stew called bigos (a sort of hunter’s stew). I wanted to learn about its variations, its nuances, and I wondered what you could find out about a place if you dived into one dish in particular. In the case of bigos, I gleaned that the Polish are prepared to wait a long time for things to be done.

My friend Tom suffers from a similar obsession (just last month he dropped a dozen scotch eggs on a bank holiday Monday) and so when he said he was heading to Paris to eat multiple steak frites, I wasn’t exactly surprised. He wasn’t just going for a laugh, mind you: Tom runs a pub in London called the Carlton Tavern, and had come to the opinion that his steak and chips could do with a bit of zhooshing up. Hence the recce in Paris. But a man travelling all that way to examine meat and potatoes cannot do so alone, so I volunteered my services.

A staple of French brasserie cuisine, steak frites came to prominence during the 19th century, when Paris was filling up with a new, urban working class who wanted, well, filling up. It’s now a standard on any prix fixe menu alongside coq au vin, duck confit and beef bourguignon.

Despite its simplicity, the dish hasn’t avoided philosophical attention. In his essay collection Mythologies, the heavyweight thinker Roland Barthes gave steak frites a proper considering. Just as a cup of tea is traditionally regarded as the remedy to all varieties of strife in some parts of the world (“Lost your job? I’ll stick the kettle on …”), it seemed to Barthes that steak frites was imbued with special significance. For the philosopher, the juicy beef was a sign of vitality and brio, and when paired with the humble chip, the result was practically a dialectic on a plate. Simply put, steak frites is more than the sum of its parts.

Taking advantage of the Eurostar Snap service, which allows you to select the day of travel but not the exact time, I bag myself a discounted return for just £90. And so, within three hours of leaving London, we find ourselves tucking into our first steak.

This homely outfit in the Marais has been going since the 1950s and cooks steaks over an open fireplace. The cut is entrecôte (AKA ribeye), which is served with sauteed potatoes and a green salad dressed with a classic vinaigrette. The steak is good, my medium rare (à point) is trumping Tom’s rare (saignant), the extra minute or so giving the fat a chance to render. There’s no sauce as such, but the mingling of dressing, meat juices and mustard makes a topping unnecessary. I ask the barman what he thinks of English wine. He says it’s a nice idea. €25, 8/10

A respectable amount of time later, we take on a rump on the other side of the Seine, on Boulevard Saint-Germain. Founded in 1880, Lipp is a classy joint – all vast mirrors and gleaming banquettes – and this particular lunchtime the place is abuzz. My slab (or pavé) of rump is fair to middling, but the fries aren’t as chipper as they might be. Once again there is no sauce, while the accompanying salad – some undressed lamb’s lettuce – brings little to the party. The best feature is the performance of our waiter, whose service manages to be exceptionally brusque yet unquestionably friendly. François explains that the 12 on his lapel conveys his standing in the pecking order. ‘‘I started at 23 and aspire to single digits,’’ he says. “And what happens when you get to one?” I ask. “You die.”
€25, 6.5/10

On François’ recommendation, we proceed to Le Pick-Clops, a laid-back bistro on the right bank of the river that is popular with students. Having learned that 2m bottles of wine are consumed in Paris each day, we do our bit to uphold this remarkable statistic by seeing off a carafe while waiting on our meal. The steak, when it comes, is onglet, or butcher’s steak, a cut that is typically dark and lean owing to the muscle’s working-class background. Here it’s served with a classically dressed green salad, a small gravy boat of blue cheese sauce and dauphinoise potatoes. There’s some chew on the beef but I don’t mind that, for it gives the dish’s other elements a chance to collaborate. On leaving, I ask the bartender where we should go next. He offers an enormous shrug and says: “Nowhere.” I give him a look designed to encourage elaboration. “Any place can do this dish,” he explains. “Don’t think about it. Just go.”
€15, 8.5/10

Match of the Day pundit Wayne Rooney believes Virgil Van Dijk’s disallowed goal against Manchester City should have stood, saying that Andy Robertson was not blocking Gianluigi Donnarumma’s vision or impeding his ability to try to make a save.

MATCH REPORT: Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool

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On Marajo Island, at the confluence of the Amazon River and Atlantic Ocean in northern Brazil, life ebbs and flows with the tides.

For more than four decades, Ivanil Brito found paradise in her modest stilt house, just 20 metres (65ft) from the shoreline, where she and her husband Catito fished, cultivated crops, and tended to livestock.

“I was a very happy person in that little piece of land. That was my paradise,” she says.

That paradise vanished during a violent storm in February 2024, when relentless waters surged through Vila do Pesqueiro town, eroding the coastline that had nourished generations. “Even though we didn’t move far, it feels like a completely different world,” says Ivanil from their new settlement less than a kilometre (half a mile) inland. “This is a mangrove area – hotter, noisier, and not a place where we can raise animals or grow crops.”

Vila do Pesqueiro, home to about 160 families, lies within the Soure Marine Extractive Reserve, a protected area under the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. Established to preserve traditional ways of life and sustainable resource management, the reserve now confronts the harsh realities of climate change. While fishing remains the primary livelihood, local cuisine and tourism provide supplementary income to the residents. Yet, intensifying tides and accelerating erosion threaten their existence.

For Ivanil’s son Jhonny, a fisherman studying biology at Universidade do Para, in the Marajo-Soure campus, these transformations are worrying. “The place where our houses used to be is now underwater,” he says. “For me, moving isn’t just about safety – it’s about protecting the place and the people who shaped my life.”

Meanwhile, residents like Benedito Lima and his wife Maria Lima have chosen to remain, despite their home now standing perilously close to the water’s edge. Leaving would mean surrendering their livelihood. “Every new tide shakes the ground,” Benedito says, gazing towards what used to be a safely distant canal. “This isn’t even the high-tide season yet.”

Climate adaptation here takes various forms. Some rebuild farther inland, while others adjust their daily routines to accommodate the sea’s advance. Community leader Patricia Ribeiro believes a collective resilience sustains Vila do Pesqueiro. “Our stories have always been passed down through generations,” she says. “This is our home, our ancestry. We want to stay here to protect what our families built. As long as we’re together, we won’t give up.”

As Brazil prepares to host the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in nearby Belem, communities like Vila do Pesqueiro exemplify what is at stake. Through its initiatives, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says it supports efforts to enhance resilience, protect livelihoods, and ensure these families can continue living safely on their ancestral lands.

This photo gallery was provided by the International Organization for Migration.

NEW YORK — No one could possibly be working harder right now on Broadway than Kristin Chenoweth, who is bearing the weight of a McMansion musical on her diminutive frame and making it seem like she’s hoisting nothing heavier than a few overstuffed Hermes, Prada and Chanel shopping bags.

A trouper’s trouper, Chenoweth has reunited with her “Wicked” compatriot Stephen Schwartz, who has written the score for “The Queen of Versailles.” The show, which had its Broadway opening at the St. James Theatre on Sunday, is an adaptation of Lauren Greenfield’s 2012 documentary about a family building one of the largest private homes in America in a style that blends Louis XIV with Las Vegas.

When the Great Recession of 2008 crashes the party, the Florida couple who are never satisfied despite having everything find themselves scrounging to make the mortgage payments for this unfinished (and possibly unfinishable) Orlando colossus. Not even the banks know what to do with this gargantuan white elephant.

The first half of the musical traces Jackie’s rise from a hardworking upstate New York hick to a Florida beauty pageant winner who escaped an abusive relationship with her baby daughter. Her dream of nabbing a wealthy husband comes true after she meets David Siegel (F. Murray Abraham, in vivid vulgarian resort mogul mode). He’s decades older than her but as rich as Croesus, having proudly transformed himself into the “Timeshare King.”

With David funding her every whim, Jackie discovers the joys of consumerism as her family expands along with her credit line. David adopts her first-born, Victoria (Nina White), a sulky adolescent who doesn’t appreciate her mother’s lavish ways. And the couple proceed to have six more children together before adopting Jackie’s niece, Jonquil (Tatum Grace Hopkins), a Dickensian waif who shows up with all her belongings stuffed into plastic bags.

The musical’s book, written by Lindsey Ferrentino (whose plays included the raw veteran recovery story “Ugly Lies the Bone”) deals only with Victoria and Jonquil, leaving the other kids to our imagination along with most of the pets that suffer the seesaw of lavish attention and thoughtless neglect that is the Siegel family way.

Jackie didn’t set out to build such a ludicrously gigantic residence. As she explains in the number “Because We Can,” “We just want the home of our dreams/And the house we’re in now,/Although it’s sweet,/It’s only like 26,000 square feet,/So we’re just bursting at the seams.”

This version of “The Queen of Versailles,” making the visual most of settings by scenic and video designer Dane Laffrey, that can make Mar-a-Lago seem understated, embraces the sociological fable aspect of the tale. To drive home the political point, the musical begins at the court of Louis XIV and returns to France near the end of the show after the French Revolution has bloodied up the guillotine with the powdered heads of callous aristocrats.

Jackie sees herself as a modern-day Marie Antoinette, but instead of saying “Let them eat cake” she has her driver bring back enough McDonald’s to feed an entire film crew. Chenoweth, who is as gleaming as a holiday ornament on Liberace’s Christmas tree, arrives at a canny balance of quixotic generosity and parvenu carelessness in her portrayal of a woman she refuses to lampoon.

Kristin Chenoweth and the Company of “The Queen of Versailles.”

(Julieta Cervantes)

The second half of the musical recaps what happens when the super rich face ruin — ruin not in the sense of going hungry but of having to stop buying luxury goods in bulk. With his timeshare empire hanging in the balance, Abraham’s David transforms from Santa Claus to Ebenezer Scrooge, belligerently withdrawing into his home office like a beaten general plotting a counteroffensive and treating Jackie like a trophy wife who has lost her golden sheen.

Ferrentino extends the timeline beyond the documentary to include what happened to the family in the years since the film was released and Jackie took to the spotlight like a Real Housewife given her own spinoff. The federal bailout worked wonders for the haves, like the Siegels, while the have-nots were left to fend for themselves — casualties of questionable mortgage practices and the “more, more, more” mantra of America. But no one escapes the brutal moral accounting, not even Jackie, after she suffers a tragedy no amount of retail therapy will ever make right.

“The Queen of Versailles” has grown tighter since its tryout last summer at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre, but it’s still an unwieldy operation despite the impeccable showmanship of Michael Arden’s direction. The problem isn’t the production but the musical’s shifting raison d’être.

The first act hews to the documentary in a flatly straightforward fashion. The making of the film becomes the invitation to tell Jackie’s story in the mythic terms she favors. The musical indulges her not with a smirk but with a knowing smile. It’s the culture that’s skewered rather than those who adopt its perverted values.

But not content to be a satiric case study in how the Siegel family story connects “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and “Dynasty” to the shallowness and cruelty of Donald Trump’s America, the show aspires to the level of tragedy. Achieving great emotional depth, however, isn’t easy when wearing a plastic surgery mask of comedy.

Kristin Chenoweth as Jackie Siegel in “The Queen of Versailles.”

(Julieta Cervantes)

Schwartz has composed an American time capsule of Broadway pop, with as much variety as “Wicked” though with less bombast and no real standout blockbuster numbers. The score moves from the zingy send-up of “Mrs. Florida” and “The Ballad of the Timeshare King” in the first act to the more maudlin “The Book of Random,” in which vulnerable Victoria gives vent to her suffering, and “Little Houses,” in which the modest lifestyle of Jackie’s parents (played by Stephen DeRosa and Isabel Keating) is extolled in increasingly grandiose musical fashion, in the second.

Strangely, one of the show’s most captivating songs, “Pavane for a Dead Lizard,” is about a reptile that starved to death because of Victoria’s negligence. The number, a duet for Victoria and Jonquil, doesn’t make importunate emotional demands and is all the more poignant for its restraint. (White’s Victoria and Hopkins’ Jonquil come into their own here, letting down the defensive armor of their recalcitrant characters.)

Melody Butiu, who plays the Siegels’ Filipina nanny and indispensable factotum, has a readier place in our hearts for all that she has had to sacrifice to support her distant family. Her material lack exists stoically in the shadow of the family’s monstrous excess.

In “Caviar Dreams,” Jackie proclaims her “Champagne wishes” of becoming “American royalty.” Chenoweth, whose comic vibrancy breaches the fourth wall to make direct contact with the audience, relishes the humor of Jackie without poking fun of her, even when singing an operatic duet with Marie Antoinette (Cassondra James). But the material never allows Chenoweth to emotionally soar, and the fumbling final number, “This Time Next Year,” requires her to land the plane after the show’s navigation system has essentially gone blank.

“The Queen of Versailles” is designed to bring out all of Chenoweth’s Broadway shine. She never looks less than perfectly photoshopped, but the production ultimately overtaxes her strengths. New musicals are impossible dreams, and this is a whopper of a show, daunting in scale and jaw-dropping in ambition. If only Chenoweth’s dazzling star power didn’t have to do so much of the heavy lifting.

An end to the shutdown?

Not for the Chargers, whose defense put the clamps on the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 25-10 victory before a sea of black-and-gold-clad fans and a national TV audience.

Neither team had many offensive highlights — or first downs, for that matter — but the Chargers did enough to win their third game in a row, something they hadn’t done since the first three games of the season.

You might call the Chargers inhospitable, seeing as the Steelers came into the game averaging 25.3 points. You might call the Steelers inhospitable for filling SoFi Stadium with Pittsburgh fans.

The Terrible Towels were everywhere, but there were precious few opportunities to swirl them. By the fourth quarter, thousands of those fans were streaming for the exits. The Steelers were held to 11 first downs, converted two of 11 third downs and generated 221 total yards.

Aaron Rodgers looked every bit of his 41 years. He was sacked three times, intercepted twice, brought down in the end zone for a safety and he finished with an anemic passer rating of 50.6.

The Steelers looked nothing like the team that forced six turnovers against Indianapolis the week before and handed the Colts just their second loss.

In the waning moments, Keenan Allen caught a pop pass and ran seven yards to become the Chargers’ all-time receptions leader (956), surpassing Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates.

Rodgers couldn’t establish anything close to an offensive rhythm, and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert took an all-too-familiar beating, playing behind an offensive line that has had 19 different combinations this season.

Herbert was sacked five times, a week after the Tennessee Titans got to him six times.

Chargers linebacker Bud Dupree dances after sacking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Steelers scored first with a 59-yard field goal by Chris Boswell in the opening quarter, but after that it was virtually all Chargers. Cameron Dicker had three field goals, and Ladd McConkey and Kimani Vidal scored touchdowns.

Rodgers threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson with 2 minutes 57 seconds remaining, but that was merely a cosmetic score that made the game appear a bit closer.

Herbert took a hit from behind in the second quarter, was slow to his feet and got both ankles taped on the sideline.

According to NBC, he came into the game having been pressured an average of 17 times per game, more than any other quarterback this season, and having absorbed an average of nine hits per game, second-highest for an NFL quarterback in the last 20 seasons.

The Chargers were coming off a win at Tennessee in which they lost left tackle Joe Alt, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury. The team traded for New Orleans offensive lineman Trevor Penning last week.

Even though they leaned into a bunch of quick-developing pass plays to get the ball out of Herbert’s hands quickly, the Chargers still saw their quarterback knocked down time and again. His passes were batted down at the line of scrimmage too, with one winding up back in Herbert’s hands for a reception (although that was wiped out by a Pittsburgh penalty).

The Chargers’ defense got to Rodgers as well, putting the first points on the scoreboard for the home team by sacking the future Hall of Famer in the end zone.

The Chargers next head to Jacksonville. The Jaguars, who got off to a 4-1 start, have lost three of four.

Jacksonville is the site of a horrible memory for the Chargers, who blew a 27-point lead there to suffer a one-point loss in a January 2023 playoff game.

Nov. 9 (UPI) — The U.S. Senate on Sunday night voted to advance a proposal that, if passed by Congress, would fund the federal government through the end of January, marking an important step toward ending the nation’s longest shutdown.

The Senate advanced the continuing appropriations bill in a 60-40 vote, with eight Democrats joining their Republican colleagues, after the Democratic caucus had maintained a strong resistance to passing a bill to reopen the government during 14 previous votes.

The bill was advanced as the 40-day government shutdown strained the United States, with many airports facing significant delays and flight reductions due to worker shortages and the food supplies of low-income households threatened by a lack of federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, who was among those who voted in favor of the resolution, said in a statement Sunday that the bill is not the same as the one Democrats rejected 14 previous times.

“Republicans finally woke up and realized their Groundhog Day needed to end. This bill is not perfect, but it takes important steps to reduce their shutdown’s hurt,” he said on X.

“Not only would it fully fund SNAP for the year ahead, but it would reverse the mass firings the Trump administration ordered throughout the shutdown.”

Along with Durbin, the other Democrats who voted in favor of the bill are: Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada.

Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine but who caucuses with the Democrats, also voted “yes” to the resolution.

Explaining his vote, King said the bill will “alleviate the crisis that is now occurring in SNAP, in food insecurity across the country.”

“Food pantries can’t do it by themselves,” he said in a video message published late Sunday to his X account.

The resolution still needs to be debated and passed by the Senate and House and then be signed by President Donald Trump for the government shutdown to end.

The resolution included a “minibus” package of legislation, which, if it is approved by the Senate, would then be amended to include a full year of government funding.

The deal also includes a vote on extending tax credits for people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act — agreement on which has been the linchpin in the 40-day federal government shutdown.

Durbin, in his statement, said it was now up to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to schedule the promised vote on the ACA tax credits for next month.

“And we will see to it that he makes good on his word for the millions of Americans worried they won’t be able to afford healthcare in January,” he said.

The resolution was advanced after it was reported Sunday afternoon that the Republicans had secured enough Democratic votes to advance it.

Some lawmakers had expressed hope that they might be able to end the shutdown after Senators discussed three bills that would fund the government for a full year.

Programs for veterans affairs and agriculture subsidies were released early Sunday, and a more complete funding measure for the legislative branch was released later in the day.

The extended shutdown has put SNAP benefits on hold and snarled air traffic at the nation’s busiest airports amid the ongoing impasse, which has stretched well into its second month.

Staffing shortages and flight cancellations have caused travel disruptions and forced many air traffic controllers to work without pay.

Senate Democrats have been holding out for a one-year extension of Biden-era subsidies for health insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on the federal Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.

The shutdown also prompted the Trump administration to cancel scheduled military flyovers at a handful of NFL games, including at the Washington, D.C., area stadium that hosts the Washington Commanders, where Trump attended the game Sunday between the Commanders and Detroit Lions.

Trump has expressed wishes to have the Commanders rename the stadium after him. ESPN reported that it would be discussed between the president and team ownership during the contest.

Yoon Suk Yeol ordered drone flights over North Korea to create pretext for martial law, prosecutors allege.

South Korea’s special prosecutor has indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on new charges related to his short-lived imposition of martial law last year, including aiding an enemy state.

Prosecutors opened a special investigation earlier this year to examine whether Yoon ordered drone flights over North Korea to provoke Pyongyang and strengthen his effort to declare martial law.

Prosecutor Park Ji-young told reporters on Monday that the special counsel team had charged Yoon with “benefitting the enemy in general” as well as abuse of power.

Yoon and others “conspired to create conditions that would allow the declaration of emergency martial law, thereby increasing the risk of inter-Korean armed confrontation and harming public military interests”, Park said.

Park added that compelling evidence had been found in a memo written by Yoon’s former counter-intelligence commander in October last year, which pushed to “create an unstable situation or seize an arising opportunity”.

The memo said the military should target places “that must make them [North Korea] lose face so that a response is inevitable, such as Pyongyang” or the major coastal city of Wonsan, Park said.

Yoon was removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April and is on trial for insurrection and other charges stemming from his failed martial law declaration.

If found guilty, he could be sentenced to death.

Yoon has said consistently he never intended to impose military rule but declared martial law to sound the alarm about wrongdoing by opposition parties and to protect democracy from “antistate” elements.

Seoul and Pyongyang have remained technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

EastEnders have announced that iconic character Sam Mitchell, played by Kim Medcalf, will be making a return in December, as they shared details in a huge statement online

EastEnders has announced that an iconic character will return to the BBC soap. Sam Mitchell will be making a return to Walford after two years when she left for Spain in 2023, just months after her long-awaited return to the show.

Sam had been off screen since 2016. She was previously played by original actress Danniella Westbrook, but now Kim is back to reprise her much-loved role in December.

The official EastEnders Instagram page shared a huge statement announcing that Sam will be back for a ‘short stint’ and shared a first look picture of the soap star.

The statement read: “First-look pictures of Sam Mitchell who heads back to Walford this Christmas as Kim Medcalf reprises her much-loved role in December for a short stint.

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“Whilst Sam has only been away from Albert Square for almost two years, Walford has changed immensely since she left, most notably with enemy and ex-murder accomplice Zoe Slater now residing there.”

Jogging fans’ memory on her story, they added: “Zoe and Sam have not seen each other for over 20 years, and whilst there is no doubt that Zoe has had difficult times, she never took any lawful responsibility for her role in Den Watts’ murder which Sam initially took the blame for.

“As the enemies come face-to-face for the first time, only time will tell if the pair are willing to put their troubles from the past aside, or if Sam has an ulterior motive for revenge…

“If her past behaviour is anything to go by, Sam will not receive a warm welcome from her family upon her return, but with a troubling situation causing concern for the estranged Mitchell sister, it soon becomes apparent that Sam needs her family now more than ever…”

Kim Medcalf said it was a ‘joy’ to be asked to return and that she ‘loves’ the character Sam. She said: “It’s such a joy to be asked to come back to EastEnders, especially as it’s the festive period and you know there will always be plenty of fireworks.

“I love the character of Sam, she always causes drama wherever she goes, but she also has that vulnerable side too, which is great to play. It’s also lovely being back on set with the fantastic cast and to see old friends and new faces.”

EastEnders Executive Producer, Ben Wadey, is also thrilled. He said: “I’m delighted to welcome Kim Medcalf back to EastEnders for a short stint later this year.

“It’s no secret that wherever Sam Mitchell goes, drama inevitably follows, and with ex-accomplice Zoe Slater back in the Square, only time will tell if there is space for forgiveness between the pair, or whether battle lines will be drawn.”

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Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy believes Jeremy Doku had “the best game he’s ever had in a Manchester City shirt” as Pep Guardiola’s side dominanted Liverpool in a 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.

MATCH REPORT: Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool

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US senators reach stopgap deal to end government shutdown, raising hopes for end to six-week-long impasse.

Airlines in the United States have cancelled more than 3,300 flights amid a top transport official’s warning that air travel could “slow to a trickle” due to the ongoing government shutdown.

The cancellations on Sunday came as Republicans and Democrats reached a stopgap deal on ending the shutdown after the impasse over the passage of a funding bill dragged into its 40th day.

Travel disruption has been mounting since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  last week ordered reductions in air traffic amid reports of air traffic controllers exhibiting fatigue and refusing to turn up for work.

Some 13,000 air traffic controllers, who are deemed “essential” employees under US government rules, have been forced to work without pay since the start of the shutdown on October 1.

A total of 3,304 US flights were cancelled and more than 10,000 flights were delayed on Sunday, according to data from flight-tracking website FlightAware.

More than 1,500 flights were cancelled on Saturday, following the cancellation of about 1,000 flights on Friday.

Under the FAA’s phased-in reduction in air traffic, airlines were ordered to reduce domestic flights by 4 percent from 6am Eastern Standard Time (11:00 GMT) on Friday.

Flights are set to be reduced by 6 percent from Monday, 8 percent by Thursday, and 10 percent by Friday.

In media interviews on Sunday, US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy warned that air travel could grind to a standstill in the run-up to the Thanksgiving holiday on November 27.

“As we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what’s going to happen is you’re going to have air travel slow to a trickle, as everyone wants to travel to see their families,” Duffy told Fox News.

“It doesn’t get better,” Duffy added. “It gets worse until these air traffic controllers are going to be paid.”

The period around Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times for travel in the US calendar.

An estimated 80 million Americans travelled during the Thanksgiving period in 2024, with airports screening a record 3.09 million passengers on the Sunday after the holiday alone.

As fears of travel chaos mounted on Sunday, US senators said they had reached a compromise agreement to restore funding for government operations through the end of January.

In a late night session, the Senate voted 60-to-40 to break the filibuster and advance the funding package after a group of moderate Democrats joined Republicans to support the resumption of government funding.

The funding plan still needs to be approved by the Senate and the US House of Representatives, and then signed into law by US President Donald Trump, before the shutdown ends.

It is also unclear whether travel disruption could persist after the government reopens.

The FAA said last week that decisions on lifting its flight reductions would be “informed by safety data”.

Al Jazeera has contacted the FAA for comment.

Richard Aboulafia, managing director at the consultancy AeroDynamic Advisory, said that if air traffic controllers have been skipping work due to pay, the disruptions should quickly dissipate once the shutdown ends.

But there are also suspicions among aviation analysts that the flight restrictions are an “arbitrary” measure designed to raise political pressure for an end to the government shutdown, Aboulafia said.

“The decision to restrict capacity was understandable if the facts and data support it,” Aboulafia told Al Jazeera.

“Secretary Duffy says the data does indeed support it, but he has not shared any of that data. People are right to be suspicious, particularly in light of other unnecessary cuts by the administration.”