chaos

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration are increasingly anxious that an ongoing standoff with Democrats over reopening the government may drag into Thanksgiving week, one of the country’s busiest travel periods.

Already, hundreds of flights have been canceled since the Federal Aviation Administration issued an unprecedented directive limiting flight operations at the nation’s biggest airports, including in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Washington, D.C.

Sean Duffy, the secretary of transportation, told Fox News on Thursday that the administration is prepared to mitigate safety concerns if the shutdown continues into the holiday week, leaving air traffic controllers without compensation over multiple payroll cycles. But “will you fly on time? Will your flight actually go? That is yet to be seen,” the secretary said.

While under 3% of flights have currently been grounded, that number could rise to 20% by the holiday week, he added.

“It’s really hard — really hard — to navigate a full month of no pay, missing two pay periods. So I think you’re going to have more significant disruptions in the airspace,” Duffy said. “And as we come into Thanksgiving, if we’re still in a shutdown posture, it’s gonna be rough out there. Really rough.”

Senate Republicans said they are willing to work through the weekend, up through Veterans Day, to come up with an agreement with Democrats that could end the government shutdown, which is already the longest in history.

But congressional Democrats believe their leverage has only grown to extract more concessions from the Trump administration as the shutdown goes on.

A strong showing in races across the country in Tuesday’s elections buoyed optimism among Democrats that the party finally has some momentum, as it focuses its messaging on affordability and a growing cost-of-living crisis for the middle class.

Democrats have withheld the votes needed to reopen the government over Republican refusals to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. As a result, Americans who get their healthcare through the ACA marketplace have begun seeing dramatic premium hikes since open enrollment began on Nov. 1 — further fueling Democratic confidence that Republicans will face a political backlash for their shutdown stance.

Now, Democratic demands have expanded, insisting Republicans guarantee that federal workers get paid back for their time furloughed or working without pay — and that those who were fired get their jobs back.

A bill introduced by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, called the “Shutdown Fairness Act,” would ensure that federal workers receive back pay during a government funding lapse. But Democrats have objected to a vote on the measure that’s not tied to their other demands, on ACA tax breaks and the status of fired workers.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, has proposed passing a clean continuing resolution already passed by the House followed by separate votes on three bills that would fund the government through the year. But his Democratic counterpart said Friday he wants to attach a vote on extending the ACA tax credits to an extension of government funding.

Democrats, joined by some Republicans, are also demanding protections built in to any government spending bills that would safeguard federal programs against the Trump administration withholding funds appropriated by Congress, a process known as impoundment.

President Trump, for his part, blamed the ongoing shutdown for Tuesday’s election results earlier this week, telling Republican lawmakers that polling shows the continuing crisis is hurting their party. But he also continues to advocate for Thune to do away with the filibuster, a core Senate rule requiring 60 votes for bills that fall outside the budget reconciliation process, and simply reopen the government with a vote down party lines.

“If the filibuster is terminated, we will have the most productive three years in the history of our country,” Trump told reporters on Friday at a White House event. “If the filibuster is not terminated, then we will be in a slog, with the Democrats.”

So far, Thune has rejected that request. But the majority leader said Thursday that “the pain this shutdown has caused is only getting worse,” warning that 40 million Americans risk food insecurity as funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program lapses.

The Trump administration lost a court case this week arguing that it could withhold SNAP benefits, a program that was significantly defunded in the president’s “one big beautiful bill” act earlier this year.

“Will the far left not be satisfied until federal workers and military families are getting their Thanksgiving dinner from a food bank? Because that’s where we’re headed,” Thune added.

There have already been numerous flight delays as the FAA slows down or stops traffic when it is short of controllers.

United States Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that there could be chaos in the skies next week if the government shutdown drags on and air traffic controllers miss a second paycheck.

Duffy made his comments on Tuesday as the US government shutdown dragged into its 35th day, matching the shutdown in US President Donald Trump’s first term as president and which was the longest at the time.

There have already been numerous delays at airports across the country — sometimes hours long — because the Federal Aviation Administration slows down or stops traffic temporarily anytime it is short on controllers. Last weekend saw some of the worst staff shortages, and on Sunday, flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey were delayed for several hours.

Duffy and the head of the air traffic controllers union have both warned that the situation will only get worse the longer the shutdown continues and the financial pressure continues to grow on people who are forced to work without pay. FAA employees already missed one paycheck on October 28. Their next payday is scheduled for next Tuesday.

“Many of the controllers said, ‘A lot of us can navigate missing one paycheck. Not everybody, but a lot of us can. None of us can manage missing two paychecks,’” Duffy said. “So if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos. You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it, because we don’t have air traffic controllers.”

Most of the flight disruptions so far during the shutdown have been isolated and temporary. But if delays become more widespread and start to ripple throughout the system, the pressure will mount on US Congress to reach an agreement to end the shutdown.

Normally, airlines strive to have at least 80 percent of their flights depart and arrive within 15 minutes of when they are scheduled. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said that since the shutdown began on October 1, the total number of delays overall has not fallen significantly below that goal because most of the disruptions so far have been no worse than what happens when a major thunderstorm moves across an airport.

But on Sunday, only about 56 percent of Newark’s departures were on time, and the Orlando airport reported that only about 70 percent of its flights were on time, according to Cirium.

As of midday Tuesday, there have been 1,932 flight delays reported across the US, according to www.FlightAware.com. That is lower than what is typical, although the FAA did say that flights in Phoenix were being delayed on Tuesday morning because of staffing shortages. Strong winds are also causing delays at the Newark and LaGuardia airports on Tuesday.

Transport for London (TfL) has announced a number of closures and service changes across the network in November, including the London Underground, London Overground and Elizabeth line

There’s set to be a month of travel chaos as Transport for London (TfL) announces a series of closures across its network for maintenance work. The disruptions will mostly take place over the weekends, with some starting from today (1 November), while others will affect late-night weekday commuters.

The Elizabeth line will face 11 disruptions throughout November, while services on the Mildmay line in East and North London will be altered. The DLR timetable will also be changed, with trains halted at various locations almost every weekend, reports My London.

Passengers are being urged to plan their journeys in advance and use the TfL journey planner to avoid confusion. Here’s the full list of planned track closures, including those set to cause disruption this weekend.

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London Underground closures

Bakerloo line

• Sunday, 9 November: No service from Stonebridge Park to Harrow & Wealdstone until 7.45am.
• Saturday, 29 November: Sunday, November 30: No service from Queen’s Park to Harrow & Wealdstone.

Metropolitan line

• Saturday, 15 November:Sunday, November 16: No service from Harrow-on-the-Hill to Uxbridge.

Northern line

• Saturday, 8 November – Sunday, 9 November: Trains will not stop at Angel station.
• Friday, 28 November – Saturday, 29 November: No service from Hampstead to Edgware during Friday Night Tube.
• Saturday, 29 November – Sunday, 30 November: No service from Golders Green to Edgware, including during Saturday Night Tube.

Piccadilly line

• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November: No service from Acton Town to Heathrow, including during Saturday Night Tube.
• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November: No service from Rayners Lane to Uxbridge.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Acton Town to Uxbridge.

London Overground closures

Liberty line

• Sunday, 23 November: No service from Romford to Upminster

Lioness line

• Sunday, 9 November: No service from Willesden Junction to Watford Junction until 7.45am.
• Saturday, 29 November – Sunday, 30 November: No service from Euston to Watford Junction.

Mildmay line

• Sunday, 2 November: No service from Willesden Junction to Richmond all day.
• Sunday, 2 November: No service from Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction until 9.30pm.
• Sunday, 9 November: No service Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Gospel Oak to Richmond and Shepherd’s Bush.
• Sunday, 16 November: No service from Camden Road to Stratford after 10.15pm.
• Saturday, 22 November – Sunday, 23 November: No service from Gospel Oak to Richmond and Shepherd’s Bush.
• Monday, 24 November – Thursday, 27 November: No service from Stratford to Camden Road westbound after 11.45pm.
• Wednesday, 26 November – Thursday, 27 November: No service from Willesden Junction to Stratford eastbound after 11pm.

Weaver line

• Sunday, 9 November: No service from Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford until 10.15am.
• Monday, 10 November – Thursday, 13 November: No service from Hackney Downs to Enfield Town and Cheshunt after 10.45pm.

Windrush line

• Monday, 3 November – Thursday, 6 November: No service from Highbury & Islington to New Cross, New Cross Gate and Clapham Junction after 9.15pm.
• Sunday, 16 November: No service from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction.
• Sunday, 16 November: No service from Highbury & Islington to Dalston Junction after 10.15pm.
• Monday, 24 November – Thursday, 27 November: No service from New Cross Gate to Crystal Palace and West Croydon after 11.30pm.
• Sunday, 30 November: No service from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction.

Elizabeth line closures

• Monday, 3 November – Wednesday, 5 November: Reduced service between Paddington and Maidenhead and at Heathrow Terminal 4 after 10pm.
• Monday, 3 November – Wednesday, 5 November: Trains will not stop at Acton Main Line, Hanwell and West Ealing after 10.30pm.
• Sunday, 9 November: Reduced service between Paddington and Maidenhead and at Heathrow Terminal 4.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Paddington to Abbey Wood and Stratford.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Hayes & Harlington to Heathrow.
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: Reduced service between Paddington and Maidenhead.
• Sunday, 23 November: No service from Liverpool Street (National Rail platforms) and Whitechapel to Shenfield
• Sunday, 23 November: No service from Paddington to Ealing Broadway until 7.45am.
• Sunday, 30 November: No service from Paddington to Ealing Broadway until 7.45am.
• Sunday, 30 November: Trains will not stop at Woolwich until 10am.
• Sunday, 30 November: Reduced service between Paddington and Maidenhead and at Heathrow Terminal 4.

DLR closures

• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November: No service from Tower Gateway to Shadwell
• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November: No service from Canning Town to Beckton
• Saturday, 15 November – Sunday, 16 November: No service from Canning Town to Stratford International.
• Saturday, 22 November: No service from Stratford International to Woolwich Arsenal.
• Saturday, 22 November: No service from Poplar to Beckton.
• Saturday, 22 November – Sunday, 23 November: No service from Tower Gateway to Shadwell.
• Saturday, 29 November – Sunday, 30 November: No service from Bank/Tower Gateway to Canning Town/Lewisham
• Saturday, 29 November – Sunday, 30 November: No service from Canary Wharf to Stratford.

Tram closures

• Saturday, 1 November – Sunday, 2 November No service from Wimbledon to Therapia Lane

BBC drama Shetland is returning to tv screens soon with Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell reprising their roles for series 10.

Fans of BBC’s hit crime drama Shetland are in for a treat as series 10 is set to hit the screens soon. This comes after it was announced some stars from the show are joining the cast of Vigil.

Viewers will see Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell return to their roles as DI Ruth Calder and DS Lorna Tosh McIntosh, who find themselves drawn to a remote village following the chilling murder of an elderly woman.

This week, the BBC unveiled a sneak peek trailer of what’s in store in the upcoming series, hinting at strained loyalties.

The brief clip reveals escalating tensions within the team as a colleague discusses the crime scene that DI Calder and McIntosh were summoned to.

He remarks: “I hear it was pretty bad up there.” To which DI Calder responds: “Yeah, about as bad as it gets.”

While the exact details of the incident aren’t revealed, it seems the victim has met a brutal end, reports the Daily Record.

One distressing scene features an elderly man appearing distraught as he questions: “Who did this to her?”

Another man, seemingly speaking to the DI in a separate scene, points out that the ‘obvious’ suspects will need to be investigated first, to determine their involvement in the crime.

A succession of faces then flash on-screen, implying these individuals could be implicated in the murder.

However, Ruth and Tosh might be barking up the wrong tree as a woman accuses them of seeking a ‘scapegoat’, followed by a shot of a young man breaking down in tears.

Before the teaser trailer concludes, a montage of nail-biting scenes flash on-screen, including people running, a woman being chased and a building exploding.

A synopsis for the series reads: “As Calder and Tosh are drawn to a remote village following the sinister murder of an elderly woman. As they begin to unravel life in this close-knit community, shocking, long-buried secrets rise to the surface with unexpected consequences for all – including the team.

“In the isolated hamlet of Lunniswick, the body of the retired social worker Eadie Tulloch has been out in the elements for a number of days.

“Suspecting the residents are holding back about their relationships with Eadie, Calder and Tosh begin to unravel a complicated web of lies. Worse still, there’s a personal link to the case for one of the team, testing loyalty to the limits.”

Alongside Ashley and Alison returning to their respective characters, viewers will also witness Steven Robertson, Lewis Howden, Steven Miller, Anne Kidd, Conor McCarry, Angus Miller and Eubha Akilade making their comeback to the BBC drama.

Additionally, Samuel Anderson joins the cast for series 10 as the new Procurator Fiscal Matt Blake.

Shetland will return on November 5, with the first nine series currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

ALASKA Airlines was forced to ground all planes across the US on Thursday after being hit by an IT outage.

It’s the second time in three months that the carrier has been forced to halt all operations.

The outage has since sparked widespread travel chaos across the US. 

More than 200 Alaska Airlines flights were delayed on Thursday, and more than 100 canceled, according to FlightAware data.

More than 300 flights heading out of Dallas and Chicago were delayed.

Over 140 planes jetting out of Seattle airport were delayed, according to FlightAware.

Federal aviation chiefs issued a ground stop for Alaska Airlines’ entire fleet just after 7:30pm local time on Thursday.

Passengers in Seattle airport were seen lounging on their suitcases in the terminal as they waited for information.

Luggage was piling up in the airport’s baggage reclaim area.

Airport staffers had to check labels to reunite passengers with their bags.

Others managed to get onto their planes but were left sitting on the tarmac.

Pilots told passengers on board jets they would be taking off but planes didn’t move.

“They were like, okay, we’re going to be taking off, it’s an hour fifty-eight to Burbank, and then we didn’t move,” Wilder McCullough, who was heading to California, told KOMO-TV.

Travelers in Austin, Texas, said gates were jammed, as reported by CNN.

Airline bosses have since spoken out and have apologized for any disruption.

“We apologize for the inconvenience,” the carrier posted on X.

“If you’re scheduled to fly tonight, please check your flight status before heading to the airport.”

Some travelers opted not to rebook canceled flights and decided to drive 16 hours to reach their destinations, as per the NBC affiliate KING-TV.

The outage is not a cyberattack and services are gradually being restored.

Passengers have been warned to expect delays on Friday.

Alaska Airlines was hit with an IT outage in July, which also sparked widespread chaos. 

The airline is the fifth largest in the US, with a fleet of more than 200 planes.

Meanwhile, the government shutdown is now in its third week.

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Federal officials have warned passengers to expect delays at airport security checkpoints.

Transportation Security Administration staffers are considered essential workers but they are not being paid as it stands.

The Trump administration is sending federal agents to San Francisco following weeks of threats from the president to deploy the National Guard to the Bay Area.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement on X confirming and criticizing the agents’ upcoming arrival. He called deployment a “page right out of the dictator’s handbook” intended to create the conditions of unrest necessary to then send in the National Guard.

“He sends out masked men, he sends out Border Patrol, he sends out ICE, he creates anxiety and fear in the community so that he can lay claim to solving that by sending in the [National] Guard,” said Newsom. “This is no different than the arsonist putting out the fire.”

Around 100 federal agents, including members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, are en route to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Alameda base, according to reporting from the San Francisco Chronicle. The Coast Guard and DHS did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

Trump has suggested for weeks that San Francisco is next on his list for National Guard deployment, after the administration sent troops to Los Angeles and Chicago and is battling in court to send them to Portland, Ore.

On Sunday, Trump told Fox News, “We’re going to San Francisco and we’ll make it great. It’ll be great again.”

Trump has suggested that the role of the National Guard in San Francisco would be to address crime rates. However, the National Guard is generally not allowed to perform domestic law enforcement duties when federalized by the president.

In September, he said that cities with Democratic political leadership such as San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles “are very unsafe places and we are going to straighten them out.”

Trump said he told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that “we should use some of these dangerous cities as training for our military, our national guard.”

Newsom urged Californians to remain peaceful in the face of the arrival of federal agents.

“President Trump and [White House Deputy Chief of Staff] Stephen Miller’s authoritarian playbook is coming for another of our cities, and violence and vandalism are exactly what they’re looking for to invoke chaos,” said Newsom on X.

The sending of federal agents to San Francisco comes as the Trump administration continues to crack down on immigration across the nation in an attempt to carry out what the president has proclaimed is the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.

It’s Halloween in Walford next week, and it’s a spooky time for the Slaters as Kat shocks the Square as she blurts out Zoe’s huge secret – but what is it?

Next week in EastEnders, the Square continues to reel from Zoe’s shock revelation, Julie and Nigel face more struggles, and it’s a spooky Halloween over in Walford.

The soap are still keeping quiet about what Zoe’s bombshell revelation is until later this week – but what we do know, is that whatever it is isn’t going to go down very well.

A few weeks back, we heard Zoe made the shock admission that Dennis Rickman was the father of her son, with Sharon left devastated. Nevertheless, she offered to help Zoe find her son.

But things have taken a back burner since Joel’s horrific attack on Vicki. Next week, Ian about Zoe’s son and seeing how much it means to Sharon, Ian transfers her some money to help…

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We start off the week in the Vic Quiz night, but Kat is distracted as Zoe’s revelation continues to play on her mind, although Alfie warns her to stay out of it. However, of course, Kat doesn’t listen and blurts out Zoe’s secret – causing commotion and Quiz Night comes to an abrupt end.

Kat later gives Zoe and ultimatum and things get worse at a spooky Halloween, when Alfie discovers a VHS tape from 1980s. Despite Kat attempting to keep the footage from Zoe, she later discovers it and throws everyone out of the Vic as a result. But what is on the video?

Elsewhere, Zoe accuses Kat for smashing a photo of the pair, but when she denies it, she later accuses Vicki of being responsible but Anthony steps in to calm her down.

Halloween week continues to get worse, as Zoe grows increasingly paranoid that someone is out to get her and accuses Anthony after arguing with him earlier in the week. He shares his concerns for Zoe with Kat, but it’s unclear whether she believes him. But what are the concerns?

It’s not all that’s kicking off in The Vic, as Kat overhears Vicki speaking to Ross – and makes a decision.

Suki and Eve are still looking to adopt, and despite Suki holding back at first, they go ahead and arrange a meeting with an adoptive family. However, the timing couldn’t be worse as Avani, Ravi, Priya and Nugget return from their holiday, as chaos ensues.

However, it seems like they later come round to the idea as they try to support the couple, who hit another hurdle as Eve panics when she learns she will need a reference from her mum to proceed.

Ravi has other problems on his hands, as he’s left feeling guilty about lying to Priya following their family holiday. He later meets with Okie and hands the business over to him after he assures him that Harry and Kojo have been released. But have they?

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Ryananair cancelled more fares last week, having already slashed certain Spanish routes. It announced that it’s Germany capacity will be reduced by 800,000 seats this winter, with 24 routes across nine high-cost German airports including Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen cut.

Jet2 and Ryanair are axing a combined 1.2 million airline seats this winter, leading to fears that travellers may face significant disruption.

The budget airlines have both announced that they’re cutting back on certain routes.

In September, Jet2 said it would have to cut 200,000 seats, from 5.8m to 5.6m, over the winter season because of “a less certain consumer environment” – this is despite viral success of its advertising campaing featuring Jess Glynn. The seat cut brings Jet2 to 5.6 million fares for the upcoming winter season, although this will still be 9% higher than a year earlier.

Ryanair cancelled more fares last week, having already slashed certain Spanish routes. It announced that it’s Germany capacity will be reduced by 800,000 seats this winter, with 24 routes across nine high-cost German airports including Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen cut. As a result, Ryanair’s overall capacity in Germany will fall below winter 2024 levels.

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Among the airports set to be impacted by the 1.2 million airline seat cull are Santiago, Tenerife North, Vitoria, Zaragoza, Asturias, Jerez, Vigo and 36 connections between regional Spain and the Canary Islands.

France has also been hit. Ryanair has dropped capacity at every French airport they operate with four airports essentially being wiped off their network map: Strasbourg, Bergerac, Paris-Vatry and Brive. While others, such as Béziers, have lost over half of their capacity season-on-season.

In light of this, Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, is warning Brits to consider one key thing ahead of the busy holiday season – travel insurance.

“With fewer scheduled flights and limited seat availability, airlines will have much less flexibility to rebook passengers when there are delays or cancellations. As a result, more Brits may need to rely on their travel insurance to cover unexpected costs and disruptions,” she said.

“Flight cancellations are also likely to push seat prices higher due to reduced availability. That’s why having the right travel insurance in place is more important than ever – helping you avoid steep, last-minute expenses and giving you peace of mind from the moment you book.”

According to internal data from MoneySuperMarket, winter travel insurance uptake decreases by a 49%, with purchases dropping significantly during the winter months compared to summer, with only 16.53% of total insurance sales occurring in winter months, compared to 32.38% in summer.

Alicia added: “There are plenty of scenarios during the winter months that can increase the chances of needing to make a travel insurance claim. From weather-related cancellations and seasonal illnesses to overbooked accommodation during peak periods, the risks are higher than usual.

“That’s why it’s always best to secure the right travel insurance as soon as your holiday is confirmed. It gives you protection from the moment you book and helps avoid costly surprises later—so you can enjoy your winter break with confidence and peace of mind.”

Gogglebox star Georgia Bell has opened up about the ‘chaos’ of filming the hit Channel 4 show

Recording Gogglebox proves utterly chaotic for Georgia Bell, with the mum frequently allowing her two youngsters to join her on the settee – and they don’t always play ball.

She told the Daily Star: “It’s good fun having the kids with me. But sometimes it is chaos. I have to tell my boyfriend to take them out.”

Georgia’s co-star and mate Abbie Lynn revealed: “It’s hard for a three-year-old to sit and focus on The Traitors. They’d rather have Bluey on. Mind you, they do love Britain’s Got Talent!”

Despite the difficulties of having children present during recording, Georgia remains delighted she’s included them, as the programme provides her with precious footage she can treasure forever.

She explained: “In years to come, I’ll be like, ‘Sit down boys, this is you two when you were so young’.

“Ralphie was only a few weeks old when he was first on the show and Hugh was a few months old. I just think it will be an amazing thing to be able to look back on when they’re older.”

Georgia and Abbie have featured on the programme for seven years and remain eager to continue, with Abbie declaring: “I will stay on the show until I die.”

Last year Georgia revealed that she had welcomed her second child, sharing a snap of the tiny tot whilst radiating happiness as she provided an update on how he was getting on. In the photograph, the tiny bundle was spotted tucked up in a white baby grow with little white fluffy socks and a sweet little collar round his neck to keep him cosy.

He was pictured having a snooze in a Moses basket wrapped in a soft woollen blanket as he slumbered peacefully after arriving into the world.

Penning the caption, Georgia revealed all the crucial details fans would have been desperate for.

“Ralphie James Newby,” she wrote, “our precious boy – born November 10th at 11:27pm, weighing 7lbs 10oz.

“Settling into the life of a family of 5, we all love you unbelievable amounts little one,” Georgia continued.

Followers were thrilled to discover that the Geordie star had finally welcomed her baby into the world after months of anticipation, but this wasn’t the first time it was suggested she had given birth.

FROM October 12, 2025, British travellers could be hit with delays thanks to the introduction of the new EU Entry-Exit System.

The use of EES will begin this weekend for the very first time, and holidaymakers believe they’ll be facing longer wait times as a result.

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When you use EES, the first time you travel you’ll need to register at a special machine called a kiosk where you will scan your passport.

The machine will then take your fingerprints and a photo – children under 12 will not need to give fingerprints.

You will also answer four quick questions on the screen about your trip, such as where you are staying and confirming you have enough money for your holiday.

The EES checks will happen when you arrive at your destination airport in the Schengen area – but not all of them.

Madrid will be registering arrivals from a single, early-morning flight on October 12, 2025.

In Germany, Dusseldorf Airport will have EES, but will only a small proportion of travellers will be required to go through the new system.

Meanwhile, Estonia, Luxembourg and now the Czech Republic say they are ready to check every arriving and departing traveller from their airports.

Depending on where British travellers fly into, will depend on whether or not they have an EES check, or continue with a passport stamp.

While EES is ready in certain places now, it’s a gradual process and is being rolled out over the course of 180 days, from October 12, 2025 to April 9, 2026.

But as it’s the first time the EES has been used for travellers, experts have warned there could eb “delays”.

 Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “I reckon there will be delays” while Tom Jenkins, chief executive of European travel association Etoa said it’s “a complete muddle”.

Tom Jenkins added: “If it all goes haywire, they can revert to inspecting passports.

“I don’t think it will be catastrophic because of that, it will just be tiresome.”

However, managers at the Port of Dover have insisted there will not be delays on Sunday, as traffic levels will be “manageable”, as reported by the BBC.

A government spokesperson said: “We are supporting ports and carriers to ensure EES registration is simple for anyone travelling to the Schengen area.”

For the first few weeks, only lorry drivers and coach passengers will have to register with EES at Dover.

Other traffic, including the thousands of car passengers who use the crossings, will be subject to the new system from November 1, 2025.

The same goes for those travelling through the Eurotunnel.

At the Eurostar entrance in St Pancras, EES registration will take place upon departure, overseen by French border officials.

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And from October 12, only passengers travelling in business and premium class will be subject to EES checks – for other passengers, they will begin in January 2026.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, said: “We recognise that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible.  

“The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration.” 

For more on EES and ETIAS, one travel expert revealed what to expect.

Meanwhile, Brits face £185 visa fee when visiting the US under new rules.

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Strictly Come Dancing’s spin off show It Takes Two came to a halt on Wednesday evening as Fleur East was forced to apologise for professional dancer Alexis Warr swearing live on air

Strictly Come Dancing’s spin off show It Takes Two came to a halt tonight, as Fleur East was forced to apologise halfway through George Clarke and Alexis Warr’s interview.

The pair took to the sofa to discuss their Strictly journey so far, and what they have coming up for this week’s Movie Week, but it seemed that Alexis got a little too excited, accidentally swearing live on air.

Speaking about their Paso Doble to Game Of Survival during week one, George opened up about how he felt during the nail biting first show.

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“I feel like the enjoyment came after it,” he said. “I feel like I blacked out throughout it. We got to the end of the routine, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, that was the best we’ve done it!'”

His professional dance partner Alexis added: “At the beginning, he hit his beginning position, and I knew right away he was locked in. I was like, ‘Yes George, yes George,’ and I almost forgot to go.

“I was like, ‘Oh wait, oh c***p, I have to move!’ I just noticed he was immediately locked in, in character. Yeah.”

Amid all the excitement, Alexis didn’t even realise she let the swear word slip, but of course, Fleur was on the ball, and apologised to viewers straight away.

“Sorry about the language we just had there,” the former X-Factor star said. “We just get very excited!” she laughed.

George’s appearance on the BBC Two spin-off show comes after he revealed that he was rushed to a physiotherapist last week after injuring his back in rehearsals.

The influencer opened up about hurting his back on his podcast, The Useless Hotline Podcast – inviting on Strictly professional dance partner Alexis Warr for the first time.

“I didn’t want it to be a thing on the night,” he said. “That’s why they asked in the VT, they were like, ‘Do you want to mention your back?’ and I said, ‘I don’t want it to be a thing.'”

He added: “I had a pinched nerve all week in my back. I had acupuncture half way through the week. I went to physio four times.” As for how he did it, George admitted that the injury happened after a handstand went wrong.

“I was like, ‘I’ll throw in a handstand or something.’ I like doing a handstand, if I keep my legs together I’d probably be better at it but it doesn’t feel fun when you do it that way,” he said.

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After George’s warning last night, Caroline was called into the Diary Room during tonight’s episode, as she was giving a formal warning by Big Brother for unacceptable behaviour

It was a dramatic night in Big Brother tonight, as the housemates were called to the Diary Room to nominate for the first time. However, it wasn’t the only time Caroline was called to the famous room, as she was given a formal warning by Big Brother.

Like George Gilbert, Caroline’s warning came after a comment she had made during a housemate game of spin the bottle. As she was pulled into the Diary Room, the voice of Big Brother told her: “Yesterday at 11:21pm during a game of spin of the bottle, you had the following conversations.

Big Brother recalled the conversation, in which Caroline asked which housemate she would sleep with if they were trapped on a desert island and she “might be able to make babies to get a new civilisation.”

READ MORE: Celebrity Big Brother star says run-in with Victoria Beckham still ‘triggers my PTSD’READ MORE: Big Brother fans robbed of dramatic eviction episode as Late and Live reveals cruel twist

Nancy then asked Caroline if it had to be a guy, as Jenny said she was pansexual. “Is she pansexual? Do you like pans?” Caroline asked, as Zelah told her to just ask Nancy who she was most attracted to.

Nancy then answered Zelah, as Caroline responded: “She’s a girl. No you’re not!” she then added: “But you haven’t got a willy. Is that really bad? But I was talking about…I’m so sorry Z. Is that bad? That was bad wasn’t it? Oh no, I’m dead now. Is that bad?’”

Zelah has been open about his transition with housemates – and Caroline told Big Brother she was “ashamed” of herself as she hung her head in shame in the Diary Room.

“Caroline, Big Brother thinks that your language in these instances was offensive and unacceptable and cannot permit you to use language in a way that could cause offence to your fellow Housemates and the viewing public,” Big Brother said, as they gave Caroline a formal warning, in which she agreed.

When asked if there was anything she’d like to say, Caroline added: “Sorry. It was a horrible thing I said. Horrible. I don’t know where it came from.

“I can’t excuse myself. If I had an excuse I’d say but I don’t have one. I’m sorry to everyone out there and I’m sorry to everyone in here. I will make sure I apologise profusely to everyone because I can see the disappointment in everyone’s eyes. I was having such a lovely time, more than lovely. I’ve gone and ruined everything. I can’t see a way back.”

Zelah was left in tears in the Diary Room, telling Big Brother: “I didn’t think it would affect me that much. That’s why I didn’t want to tell anyone from the get go, because once people know their true perceptions come out. But ‘she’s a girl’ was strong.”

“I’m so down for people asking questions, I think it’s really important, but sometimes my openness comes at the expense of my own feelings. I can’t remember the last time words hit me like that.”

It comes after George was given a warning by Big Brother during last night’s episode after a game of Truth or Dare in which he was asked about his least favourite thing about each housemate.

Big Brother told him: “At 11:26, during a game of Truth or Dare, when asked about your least favourite qualities of other Housemates, you said the following, ‘Sam, um too…’, you then went on to mimic Sam using both noises that mocked the way Sam talks and body language that included limp wrists.

“Do you understand how both your language and behaviour could be offensive to Sam, your Housemates and the viewing public?” George then confirmed he had apologised to Sam after making the comments.

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FRENCH Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned after less than a month in office.

Emmanuel Macron had only appointed Lecornu on September 9 – marking his fifth Prime Minister in the space of two years.

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Lecornu served as Minister for the Armed Forces since 2022 before being asked to serve as PM.

It comes as extremist parties continue to put pressure on France’s political establishment.

President Emmanuel Macron has faced a political crisis since he called an ill-advised snap election last summer.

His centrist bloc lost dozens of seats amid a spike in support for the far-right.

While a left wing coalition came first in the end, no party is anywhere close a majority in the French Parliament.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun

Happy Thursday. Your usual host, D.C. Bureau Chief Michael Wilner, is on assignment. So you’re once again stuck with me, California columnist Anita Chabria.

Welcome to another week of the onslaught and overload that is Trump 2.0. What should we talk about?

President Trump’s threat to use the military in more American cities? Secretary of “War” Pete Hegseth’s He-Man rant to top military brass?

Or what about the government shutdown?

In a week with enough drama to make the Mormon wives on Hulu seem tame in comparison, it’s hard to know whether all of it matters or none of it. Because, of course, we desperately want none of it to matter, since it’s all just too much.

But too much is never enough for Trump. So let’s break it down, starting with the big man himself.

A protester holds a sign outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on Sept. 28, 2025, in Portland, Ore.

(Mathieu Lewis-Rolland / Getty Images)

The ‘enemy within’

“I told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military,” the Commander-in-Beef said during his Kim Jong Il-style televised address to military leaders.

“San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, they’re very unsafe places and we’re gonna straighten them out one by one,” Trump said. “This is going to be a big thing for the people in this room because it’s the enemy from within and we have to handle it before it’s out of control.”

Yes, Los Angeles, you, with your whimsical opera whodunits and Hollywood ghost tours, are a threat to American stability. Knock it off or the National Guard will knock it off for you.

Those statements from Trump came minutes after Hegseth said to his military officers, “You kill people and break things for a living. You are not politically correct and don’t necessarily belong always in polite society.”

Senior military leaders look on as President Trump speaks at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30, 2025, in Quantico, Va.

(Alex Wong / Getty Images)

Which sounds exactly like the kind of guy we should sent in to do crowd control at the Olympics. But before you dismiss the entire performance as strongman cosplay, consider how indifferent most Americans are to threats that the military will soon roll into Portland, Ore., or even our acceptance of troops in Chicago.

After L.A. and Washington, D.C., Trump has done exactly what he set out to do: Reduce our alarm at the use of the military on our streets so that it seems normal, almost benign. In fact, many now agree that this is the way to go. A recent study from the UC Davis Centers for Violence Prevention found that “nearly one third of respondents (32%) agree at least somewhat that the current federal government ‘should use the military to help enforce its policies.’”

Yikes.

It is, in fact, not OK. Protesting citizens are not the “enemy within.” Democrats are not the enemy. Jimmy Kimmel is not the enemy. Heck, even tech-bro libertarians aren’t the enemy, no matter how arrogant they are.

But the last few days have seen the president, through executive orders and speeches, label all dissent and dissenters as enemies — even using state agencies to do it. After the government shutdown, the Department of Housing and Urban Development displayed a banner on its homepage that blamed the “Radical Left.”

So the president has defined the “enemy within” as those who oppose him, and now informed the military personnel that they “have to handle it.”

Armed members of the National Guard patrol on Aug. 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

(Andrew Harnik / Getty Images)

What about the ‘beardos’?

That Hegseth, so clever. In between celebrating death and violence, he found time to attack female service members, “weak” men, those who would dare investigate wrongdoing in the military and of course, the most dreaded of insurgents: the “beardos.”

An apparent mash-up of “beard” and “weirdo,” which would please most eighth-grade boys, Hegseth used the term to describe what he said was an “unprofessional” look of some soldiers that is henceforth forbidden.

Of all the crazy and concerning in his 45-minute rant, why do I care about this moment?

Those beardos are mostly Black and brown men. Black men are prone to a shaving bump condition called pseudofolliculitis barbae and are sometimes granted permanent shaving waivers because of it. Hegseth wants to kick out of the military men with this painful condition who don’t shave.

It’s likely also aimed at Sikh service members, who grow beards as part of their religious observance. Until now they’ve been granted exemptions too. While this is a small number of servicemen, it’s significant that Hegseth’s “unprofessional” policy targets minorities.

Hegseth made it clear what he thinks of inclusion in any form, dubbing it an “insane fallacy” that “our diversity is our strength.”

Instead, he argued that it is widely accepted that “unity is strength.”

The troubling idea there is the confusion between unity and uniformity. Can’t a Black, bearded soldier have unity with a white, clean-shaven one? Can’t a female soldier share unity and purpose, a American identity, with a male fighter? Of course.

But Hegseth, who fired top Black and female military leaders this year, was never really talking about unity, was he? At least not the pluralism that has defined American unity until now.

The bipartisan flop

Let’s bounce to JD Vance, a “beardo” whose humorlessness has become his defining trait.

“There’s a lot of emergency healthcare at hospitals that are provided by illegal aliens,” he said on Fox News, in his ongoing press tour to blame the government shutdown on Democrats. The line here, a false one, is that Democrats are demanding the federal government pay healthcare costs for undocumented immigrants.

“We turned off that funding because of course we want American citizens to benefit from those hospital services,” Vance said.

Maybe if immigrants weren’t eating so many cats and dogs, they wouldn’t need so much healthcare. But I digress.

What Vance is maybe alluding to, disingenuously, is federal law that says anyone who enters an emergency room must be provided lifesaving services. So if an undocumented immigrant is in a serious car accident and is taken to a hospital, it is required to at least stabilize the person.

The same law was used, much to MAGA consternation, to protect some abortion services in dire cases — a protection Trump largely undid.

This raises the question, should we just let seriously injured brown people die in the waiting room because they can’t produce a passport?

But it’s also true that some states — through state funds — do insure undocumented immigrants, especially children and pregnant women. California is one of the few states that offer undocumented residents of all ages and genders access to its Medi-Cal coverage, though Newsom was forced by budget concerns to scale back that access in coming years. But states that do offer this coverage are, through a quirk in federal law, reimbursed at a higher rate for emergency services, also likely what has Vance in a tizzy.

The rationale behind offering this insurance has been proved out multiple times — preventative care is cheaper than emergency care. Give a guy a prescription for heart medication and he may not have a heart attack that lands him in the emergency room.

Federal programs, though, aren’t open to noncitizens, and no federal dollars are used to support California’s expansion of healthcare to undocumented people. That ban includes folks who want to buy their own affordable insurance through the marketplaces created by Obamacare.

The real issue around insurance and the shutdown is how much the cost of this marketplace insurance is about to skyrocket for average Americans. About 24 million Americans get their health insurance through these plans, with most receiving a tax credit or subsidy to help with the costs. The Republican plan would take away those credits, leaving consumers — many in the middle class — with premiums that would at least double in the coming year.

It is somewhat shocking that Democrats are doing such a terrible job getting the word out about this — instead going on the defensive to the claims about undocumented insurance. Average people — Republican or Democrat — cannot afford a doubling of their insurance costs. This is a bipartisan issue. All Americans want affordable healthcare.

We should not sacrifice affordable insurance in favor of billionaire-friendly policies and because Democrats are fumbling an easy message.

So, unfortunately, in a week of chaos, yes, it all matters.

What else you should be reading:

The must-read: Here’s how the U.S. government shutdown will impact California
The what happened: Pentagon plans widespread random polygraphs, NDAs to stanch leaks
The L.A. Times special: Jane Fonda, derided as ‘Hanoi Jane’ and a traitor during the Vietnam War, is a modern-day force in Democratic politics

P.S. I’m starting a propaganda watch, because it’s becoming off the hook. This is from the Department of Homeland Security. “Defend your culture.” You mean, like, your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free?

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Former US vaccine chief Demetre Daskalakis says the country’s health department is being led by a ‘chaos agent’ who is putting vulnerable people in harm’s way.

Dr Daskalakis was one of three directors to resign in August, following a decision to fire the head of the Centres for Disease Control, Susan Monarez, after her months-long dispute with health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.

Since then, Dr Daskalakis has publicly criticised Kennedy, saying he is knowingly dismantling the country’s vaccine programme by sidelining experts and pushing his own ideology.

One Married At First Sight couple was forced to get creative after a class 3 cyclone hit the area they were staying at for their honeymoon

Married At First Sight UK newlyweds Bailey and Rebecca were forced to get creative after a class 3 cyclone left them stuck in their hotel rooms during their honeymoon. When Rebecca walked down the aisle, she was initially unimpressed with Bailey as she revealed she was looking for an ‘alpha male’.

“I’m not sure if he’s alpha or not. He’s not my type,” the 32-year-old said in a confessional. However, Bailey has seemingly won her over with his romantic gestures during their honeymoon trip after he organised a sweet date when the hotel restaurants shut down due to a cyclone.

In a first look clip shared with The Mirror, Bailey is seen throwing rose petals onto the bed while Rebecca finished getting ready in the bathroom.

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“Because of the cyclone, the restaurants are all closed in the hotel tonight so Bailey has told me to get dressed up and he’s going to sort it,” Rebecca said in a voiceover.

Bailey placed a plate of food in the middle of the bed, lit a few candles and poured them two glasses of rosé wine. When she emerged from the bathroom, an impressed Rebecca told him: “Wow, this is so nice.”

“It’s so nice to see him being really romantic and gentle and go to loads of effort for the date,” she told the cameras.

“Is this what you do for all your first dates?” she asked her new husband after they took a sip of wine. He cheekily answered: “No, only for you.”

Before their wedding ceremony, Rebecca discussed her ideal partner, stating: “I’m attracted to the alpha male. I’m attracted to the big man that can lead me by the hand.”

She added: “My standards are very high, I like to be in order and I like things to look nice. I won’t settle for anything less than perfection in my life and I feel the same about my relationships.”

Rebecca explained: “I’m attracted to the alpha male. Somebody tall, confident and who’s sure of themselves,” before adding she hoped an “alpha male” would be waiting for her at the altar.

“I’m picturing a man who’s got stature about him, I want him to be a dominant figure. I’ve walked away from something before because I didn’t want to settle. If they don’t tick enough boxes for me straight away, I will say how I feel,” she said.

However, when she finally met her new husband, the contestant admitted: “Alarm bells are going off in my head. He’s not my type.”

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CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN was booed back at Brentford in United colours for having the temerity to join England’s biggest club three years ago.

And Bryan Mbeumo can expect similar treatment after the rancour around his transfer.

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United felt Brentford attempted to railroad Mbeumo into joining Tottenham or Newcastle United, convinced that he would be on a lower wage that would then drive up his transfer fee. Mbeumo joined United for £65, rising to £71m.

When Brentford finally relented and sold the AWOL Yoane Wissa to Newcastle on deadline day, it was for £50m plus £5m in add-ons. 

Wissa is an actual striker and scored as many goals as Mbeumo last season, which undermined Brentford’s belief that they could have recouped more from Spurs or Newcastle for Mbeumo. 

Xavi Simons and Nick Woltemade, Tottenham and Newcastle’s most expensive summer signings, were not as costly as Mbeumo.

The press room at the Community Stadium is so tight you tend to literally rub shoulders with colleagues. Staff from United and Brentford may keep their distance.

MAIN ATTRACTION

KOBBIE MAINOO is out of the United side and one of his closest teammates, Alejandro Garnacho, was out in the cold before he left last month.

But Mainoo has a new best pal in Leny Yoro.

Mainoo and Yoro have grown close since the latter joined United from Lille last summer.

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Mainoo started learning Spanish while he was out two years ago as Garnacho and Amad are both fluent in the language.

Garnacho remains tight with Amad – the pair are represented by the same agent – as they demonstrated with last week’s infamous Instagram Story that Amad received online abuse for.

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Mainoo is something of an outlier in that he has gravitated towards foreign teammates.

Although Yoro spoke impeccable English at the time of his £59million transfer. 

PORT OF CALL

PORTUGUESE pair Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot both attended the Lewis Capaldi concert at Co-Op Live after last week’s victory over Chelsea.

Members of the Fernandes family had flown over from Portugal for the occasion.

Or to provide childcare for his two children.

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CARR INSURANCE

THE NEW home matchday schedule for United players to report at Carrington before boarding a bus for Old Trafford caused confusion for some of the younger squad members last month.

A handful of youngsters assumed the team coach would ferry them back to the training complex after the game, where they had naively left their vehicles.

Senior players are usually dropped off at Carrington by a spouse or confidant and so their vehicle is in place at the stadium post-match.

Some stranded junior members of the squad had to get Ubers to the training base after a game to be reunited with their vehicles.

Erik ten Hag scrapped United’s pre-match stays at The Lowry Hotel in 2022 and the squad would arrive four hours before kick-off for home games.

Ruben Amorim has opted to delay United’s travel time and they now tend to get to their ground an hour-and-a-half before kick-off.

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HARDY ABLE

UNITED are in the process of signing teenage goalkeeper Charlie Hardy from Derby County.

Hardy, 16, has played five times for England Under 16s and is going through formalities to complete a move to United. 

He was named on the bench against United U18s when he was only 14 last year and made his debut for Derby U18s at the age of 15.

As a category one scholar, Hardy can move to another English club at any time over the course of the season.

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PELL RINGER

MANUEL PELLEGRINI thinks Antony just needed an arm put around him and a club that makes him feel important.

United reject Antony, 25, has been reborn at Real Betis after a miserable two years at Old Trafford.

The Brazil winger sparkled after joining Betis on loan in January and made the move permanent after long talks brought a deadline-day switch for up to £21.6m.

United included a 50 per cent sell-on clause in the deal for Antony, who followed a classy assist with a late goal to secure a 2-2 draw in Wednesday’s Europa League opener against Nottingham Forest.

Before the game, Betis boss Pellegrini, 72, said: “I try to make them feel the best so that they can also give me their best.”

Antony is much better suited to La Liga, where he is more comfortable with the ball at his feet and not so physically pressed.

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